It's Just Fiction

Well Played

It was by now the third of January and as the holiday madness settled down, the families have found their balance in the new year. Snow was still covering the streets from the heavy snowfall that had come down a few days prior. Although it was cozy enough inside the home to wish to stay in, Björn couldn't. He had much work he sought to get done and his motivation to do it came back down to the love of his life and his family. He aimed to finish everything so he could return quickly again.

Agnetha rose early that morning, from the minute she had felt Björn begin to stir from beside her. Björn would be gone for five days and she was not set to miss a minute of him, even if it is an inevitable result. In the early morning they had coffee with small bites to eat. They exchanged words as Björn explained to her what his work would consist of and all the projects that would occupy his time. Agnetha giggled into her mug as she couldn't help but think that the workaholic before her had never changed. She loved him for all he is.

By noon, Björn pulled out his phone as he received a reminder drop down from the top of the screen. He inwardly groaned that he had forgotten a certain event that would miserably put him in the wrong position if he missed it. He also had remembered it's the third of January which meant his daughter, Emma, had just turned 39. He'd be out of town for more than one event, but he simply couldn't do much about as there was much to start on before anything is even close to being finished.

He searched through his contacts until Lena's name had come up and took a large breath before dialing.

"Hey," he greeted as he shoved his Macbook into his briefcase.

"Hi, how are you?"

"Good. You?"

"I'm fine, I uh, called because of tonight's show. When were you planning to go?"

"It's at 7, maybe 6:30," she answered.

"I was just thinking, it's Emma's birthday. Would you like to take her instead of me? I think she'd enjoy the play."

"She's out of town, you know that." She paused for a moment. She knew him well enough to understand him. "If you can't come, it's fine, we can forget about it."

"What? No, I didn't say I couldn't be there," yet, he thought to himself.

"We'll just not go this year. We don't have to. We've seen it many times anyway." He sensed she may have felt upset because she knew where he would take it and didn't want to bail on her. He shifted a little on his feet and looked over at Agnetha who was opening the refrigerator and communicating with Nike at the same time trying to see what she wanted.

"No, no it's not that," he stopped her to give himself time to think. He paused as he thought and then added, "do you mind meeting there?"

"Yes, that's fine."

"See you, then," he smiled. By the time he ended the call, he kicked himself on the inside as he thought about how to solve his problem. He needed a third person for what he had in mind but as he looked at the time on his wrist his heart jumped. He should have left the house ten minutes ago as he had a flight to catch. Björn threw the briefcase over his shoulder and went past the door, saying goodbye to whoever he passed by on the way until he got to Agnetha in the kitchen. He put an arm around her quickly to get her attention and gave her a quick smooch that had been the kind to say it isn't the last.

"Come, sit down for a minute I made you a sandw–"

"Can't baby, I've got to go." She watched him hurry out the door as she held the sandwich in her hand, wrapped perfectly at the bottom with napkin. "I'll call," his voice faded. Agnetha barely turned towards the counter before she heard the door open again. "You made me a sandwich?" Björn poked his head back through the door.