It's Just Fiction

Pests Not Pets

That rainy afternoon was easily lazy. Quarantine was still a bore and there were not any places anyone had wanted to go. Trips to the store were made and that was just about it, but on this day, there was nothing that needed to be completed. Agnetha had felt she didn't even need to water her plants as mother nature was taking care of it already, the tree house that can be seen from the short distance was in quarter completion and there was nothing truly to aim for while it is wet out. Björn had been seated in the sunroom listening to music as he read when a thought had struck him. Why hadn't I thought of it sooner, he wondered. He brainstormed on his own for a half an hour when he decided, why the hell not? It would be perfect this time of year and he was thrilled. His love walked in with a cup of coffee and sat beside him as she thoroughly thought of what projects the home needed. She had always been into her garden and was always joyed to see things being done. Her thoughts were finished when Björn interrupted them.

"Do you know what I just remembered?"

"Eurovision."

"What? No."

"Oh," she chuckled. "You always talk about it this time of year. What'd you remember?"

"The summerhouse."

"On Hölö?"

"Yeah. I'm thinking of it now, it would be so great to be there. There's the sea, we can go by boat, sit by the rocks. We can extend that weekend we had and make it into our new quarantine zone," he chuckled. "You've never seen it– the house," he remembered. "I think you'd love it."

"Saw it in pictures. But I don't want to leave the kids."

"We don't have to necessarily leave them. We can come home whenever we want, they can come whenever, but why not to put it to use? This time of year is perfect. The house is very open and just think now beautiful it is. A little isolated."

"Yeah... I'm sure it's lovely to be there, but why would we stay there if we are here?"

"Why do we often go back and forth between here and my flat?" he answered with a question. "Maybe I don't need it, you know, my flat, anymore. I should get rid of it, but it's the same idea. The summerhouse just a summerhouse in the archipelago. The flat is a... winterhouse in the city? Hm." Agnetha threw her head back and laughed.

"We put your flat to good use more than I can count," she answered. "But it was your flat. Not yours and Lena's," Agnetha spoke quietly. "I don't know, maybe it is weird for me to go. To be there. When we went to Viggsö, it was the small cottage and it was nice—"

"It's the same, just a bigger house. She didn't go there as much as me. It was just another side thing. I liked taking my boat there, and the kids always loved it. I liked being secluded at the house. It's like being here, where no one finds you."

"That means I have to pack again, doesn't it?" she sipped from her mug.

"Take my advice," he held her cheek and looked at her. "Don't bother packing more than your robe."

They were on a new agenda the next day. Björn had hired a team to freshen up the place, and then visited the house to stock food and other necessities. Agnetha didn't hesitate and began to pack things she needed, yet another time, just the same with Björn's items and they left the house with a few bags and Peppa the very next day. Björn figured the scenery would be perfect for the dog and he was now a part of their family. They had nowhere to give him away and no heart to do so.

The route was first to Björn's old home in Djursholm, which was now Lena's. Agnetha was not hesitant to reject once she remembered that Björn was to take his own boat to the archipelagos as she felt awkward to pass by Lena. She didn't know that she had the strength to do it, but Agnetha remembered the little fact that Lena and Marc were a thing. Along the way, Björn had seen his and Lena's dogs, Ares and Laban, and smiled as he greeted them. He insisted to take one of the dogs. Agnetha tried to change his mind, reminding him that Peppa and Ares in a boat, perhaps wouldn't be a good idea. It wasn't the first time it was done, however, so Björn was able to get his wishes.