Chapter Text
Once more, mother and daughter returned to the party, seeing that everyone else already had the pointy hats on. Johanna received a few congratulatory greetings since it was her special day, but thankfully no one commented on their absence. It was a private matter and she’d already come close to embarrassing her daughter in front of everyone, saved only by Tildy playing deus ex machina at just the right time.
“Johanna!” Erika’s voice came over the murmur of the crowd, standing over by the counter as she finished setting up the candles. “We’re just about ready to cut the cake, so grab a seat!”
The woman smiled and did just that, as Erika positioned the homemade hunk of pastry in front of her and had her son fetch a cake cutter. “Alright, everyone! It’s time!”
The only person being embarrassed today was Johanna, because she now had to sit in her chair, as a grown adult of thirty-two, while a bunch of people and creatures sung her that song:
“Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday, dear Johanna! Happy Birthday to You!”
It took everything in her power not to hide her face in her hands, blowing out the candles rather quickly after that as everyone applauded.
That’s not to say this was the primary reason Johanna disliked celebrating her birthday–although it was up there. And it wasn’t her introversion, either, but something deeper she couldn’t explain. Rather, it had always felt like something was missing, or someone…
Astrid! It took until now to realize this, as Andrew went about cutting the cake and passing out hunks of it. She hadn’t shown up for the party, or even acknowledged this event. Hilda’s yearly homemade card was her usual reminder of a day she’d otherwise forget, but her aunt’s phone call would usually follow…
But that wasn’t important right now. Worrying wouldn’t bring more people to this party that Johanna wanted, since it was a little late for that. So, she may as well enjoy the party as it was.
——————————
The rest of the party didn’t stand out very much. Hilda hadn’t thought to plan any parlor games, nor did Johanna miss them. It might make for a sort of ironic fun, but she wasn't interested in finding out. Besides, it was nice talking to some old friends, especially Erika and Andrew; they were somewhat mutual friends since Hilda and David were so close.
Frida’s parents, on the other hand, Johanna wasn’t even on a first name basis with either of them. And frankly, given how…different their approaches to parenting were, she decided that it was probably better that way. Knowing Hilda, she would’ve tried to invite them anyway, but Johanna wasn’t surprised that they hadn’t shown up.
Soon, the party had mostly cleared out, save for the residents of the flat and the old couple. Tildy was still talking with Frida in the living room, so there was no sense in interrupting them, while Mr. Ostenfeld…was on the cusp of falling asleep. Old person, comfortable couch, long conversation in which he had no stake–ideal conditions for onset drowsiness.
“Mum?” Hilda’s voice brought her mother’s mind back to the present, and she looked down to see the blue-haired girl sitting next to her. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, well…” Johanna let out a sigh. “...I don’t mean this as a criticism, but…I wish Auntie Astrid were here.”
“Me, too.” Hilda shook her head. “I sent her an invitation, and I even called ahead. But she said that she couldn’t travel, because she was dealing with a lumpy bagel, or something.”
Johanna rolled her eyes at that old excuse. “You mean lumbago?” She wouldn’t tell Hilda this, but the woman’s professed lower-back pain had a way of only ever flaring up at the worst times: be it parent-teacher conferences, holiday trips, helping them move into the flat–practically anytime she didn’t feel like leaving Tofoten, with only a few exceptions. “That’s been a problem with her for a long time.”
“Gee, that’s too bad. I was hoping I could introduce her to David and Frida.” Hilda toyed around with a little bit of leftover cake on her paper plate, the sharpness of the line having gone over her head. “But she’s not feeling up to it, then…”
Or maybe it hadn’t. Perhaps Hilda had understood it, and was content to throw Johanna’s own words back in her face, choosing compassion instead of carrying a grudge. An example that her mum might as well follow. “...then she shouldn’t force herself. Of course.”
Hilda then looked up. “Oh, but she’ll probably still make her yearly call later! I told her not to do it this morning, so that you might not remember your birthday, and the surprise would be more likely to work!”
Johanna gave Hilda a smile–this girl was full of love and earnestness, willing to go through all of this trouble for her. Astrid wasn’t a bad person and neither was Anders–they were both just set in their ways, her by sticking around in the village of fairies and him by hopping from place to place with no regard for the effects of his broken promises. Johanna knew better that Hilda wasn’t like them, and acting on her own bad feelings would be taking a step in the wrong direction.
Just then, there was a knock at the front door, and Johanna got up to answer it. She pulled the thing open and was greeted by a familiar face: the cute librarian from earlier today. “Oh, it’s…you.”
“Kaisa!” Tildy’s voice rang out from the sofa. “I was beginning to worry you wouldn’t make it.”
The librarian looked around Johanna to her supposed teacher of yesteryear, giving a confused expression. “Make it to what?”
Hilda got up as well, walking over to face the well-dressed woman. “We were having a birthday party for my mum, so we sent her on an errand to keep her busy while we set up. I didn’t ask you to come, because you said you didn’t like parties.”
Johanna expected a retort from the woman, something akin to a negative reaction over having been assumed to automatically sit out. But it never came: “That’s true, actually. But that’s not why I’m here.” From the depths of her cloak, Kaisa produced a single textbook, none other than the same Johanna had left on her desk while storming out. “Hilda’s antics aside, I will need a decision on this. I already put down the information for this book under your name, but you weren’t clear on its fate: are you returning it early, or did you actually want this?”
Johanna was back to this dilemma. “Um…” In all of the bustle of the party and the situation with Hilda, she’d never gotten around to asking if this part was actually true. “Ms. Pilqvist, are you certain Frida’s allowed to read this?”
“Why, of course!” Tildy got up from the sofa and walked towards them. “She’s been excelling through her lessons at a very productive pace, so I see fit to celebrate her progress. And what’s a better reward than experimenting with trace amounts of iron content in conjuring?”
So that was the deal with the hemoglobin, apparently. But in lieu of Frida’s actual parents, Johanna felt a bit of worry float up to the surface. “Right, and you’re going to use…blood?”
“Pig blood, to be exact. It can be purchased from the local butcher’s shop.” Tildy took the book from Kaisa’s hand using a blue veil of magic and sent it over to Frida’s waiting hands. “There are some things in that book that require human blood specifically, but it’s in a section that’s far too advanced, anyway; Frida would never be so irresponsible.”
Johanna breathed a sigh of relief at that. “That makes sense.” She then turned back towards Kaisa, and for whatever reason felt the compulsion for small talk return. “So, not a party person?”
“Not really.” The woman gave a small smile. “All I ever do is stand in a corner for two hours straight, with the same drink in my hands.”
Johanna chuckled. “Fair enough. I’m not much for most parties myself, but Hilda really outdid herself with this one.” Her attention then turned to the remaining cake over on the table, which was less than half of its original size, but would likely last for days in the fridge afterwards. “While you’re here, would you like a slice?”
“Oh, no.” Kaisa seemed nervous all of a sudden. “I wasn’t invited, and the icing is basically pure sugar, so at my age…”
But then Tildy cut her off. “Oh, nonsense! You’re only twenty-nine years old, and you’re practically skin and bones. Live a little, why don’t you?”
Twenty-nine? From where Johanna stood, Kaisa looked even younger than that. But that didn’t matter, as Kaisa actually seemed to mull it over. “Well…alright. But just a small piece.” And so Tildy led her towards the table, turning her head back for a second to give Johanna a…knowing look, like how older relatives would greet your adult friends when they thought there was something there.
Hold on…did she know?! Was this another ruse?!
Johanna sighed and decided not to even handle that right now–she’d had enough for one day. Except, now that she was in the doorway, her eyes fell upon the wagon of stuff parked outside the door, with strange objects overflowing from it…
“Oh, right.” Hilda’s voice answered her mother’s question before it was asked, following her gaze to the pile outside. “That’s for the Sparrow Scout Jumble Sale. I missed out last year, so I thought I would get ahead of things. Tontu was storing it for me before the party, but he needed the walkway to transport the cake safely, so…”
Johanna stopped her from overexplaining. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” So that wagonful of objects wasn’t related to any of these events, but were earmarked for an event that would take place a little more than a month from now. “Just make sure you put it all back before going to bed tonight.”
“Okay, Mum.” Hilda answered, and then…looked a bit nervous, her hands fidgeting in place for a second as if unsure what to say. “Can I do one more thing for you today?”
Johanna’s first impulse was to say no, since Hilda had already gone above and beyond, through emotional fire and brimstone, to make this all happen–she’d done enough already. But then again, her mum ought to hear her child out. “Like what?”
But there were no words–Hilda simply opened her arms and wrapped herself around her mum’s middle again. Johanna felt her heart warming at the gesture, roundabout though it was, but gladly returned it.
“Happy birthday, Mum. I love you.”
“I love you too, Hilda.”