~*~Singer & The Soldier~*~ By: Ree

CHAPTER 111….

It was hard to get Adam to go to sleep when they got back to the Hotel, nearly impossible, actually. He wanted to talk, to go over everything they had seen, to ask question after question, some of which Urs or Izzy had answers for, some they had to explain that they really didn’t know but would be happy to help him find out.

He finally crashed, suddenly, still with one of the books from the Observatory gift shop across his lap, looking at the pictures of stars and nebulae that had been taken by the high powered telescopic cameras, leaving his exhausted parents silent and spent from the evening they had just enjoyed.

Finally Urs began to chuckle softly.

“I’d say that outing was a success.”

Izzy snorted a laugh and eased the book off Adam’s lap, closing it and adding it to the pile of pictures, brochures and data that was beside the sleeping boy.

“And just think…he’s only 2…how obsessed is he going to be at 4…or 14? I felt so totally out of it when he was talking to the Assistant Professor…what was his name?”

“Klaus …we went to the Academy together and he played drums in Conspiracy, then I lost track of him for a while…next thing I knew he was studying the stars and had become a computer geek.”

“He’s very nice…and so patient with Adam… and that advice he gave us will really help to give Adam a rounded education so he can go in any direction he wants as he matures.”

She rose wearily and was about to pick Adam up but Urs frowned at her and gently pushed her hands away, lifting the sleeping boy easily.

“No heavy lifting for you, Little Mami…you can be in charge of finding jammies.”

“Urs, I’m not feeble, just pregnant…and mentally exhausted…be my guest…your work didn’t finish with having fast swimmers and an eidetic memory….it’s amazing how much science you remembered from secondary school…I never could keep the planets straight and yet you rattled them off as if you had just studied them last week.”

“Ja, I surprised myself…”

He carefully put Adam down on the cot in the second bedroom and began unbuttoning, unzipping and removing while Adam tried to bat him away in annoyance.

Softly crooning Adam’s current favorite song, Christopher Robin, lulled him and within minutes he was in his jammies, gently kissed and tucked into bed.

They stole from the room and laughed as they leaned on each other in the connecting bathroom.

“I could easily sleep standing up,” Urs said as he nuzzled her neck and she purred against his chest.

“Me too… I think the bed makes more sense…but I have to brush my teeth…whatever that soda was you bought in the Planetarium was so loaded with sugar it’s making my mouth feel all fuzzy.”

“That will be the last sugary soda for a while, Liebe…you have to watch your sugar intake, your cholesterol and guard against gestational diabetes.”

Izzy laughed and stripped off her shirt, moving to the sink to rinse her toothbrush and apply paste to the bristles.

“Yes, Dr. Buhler…you have been paying attention to the warnings in your manual.”

He joined her at the second sink and grinned as he did the same thing with his own toothbrush.

“Of course…I’m going to be watching you like a hawk for the next 8 or so months…by the way are you taking vitamins yet?”

Her mouth was all foamy when she laughed and she dribbled down her chin, smiling and wiping it off with a tissue.

She held up four fingers and he nodded…4 days…the day she learned the test was positive. He smiled smugly then sprayed foam on the mirror when she nudged him in the ribs, none too gently.

In deference to Adam being so close Urs wore his jockeys and Izzy donned a sleep tank and shorts. They lay spooned, legs twined and his long arm over her with his hand on her breast, her head back against his shoulder, safely cuddled in his arms.

“We don’t do this very often…it’s nice…makes me feel loved and safe.”

“You are loved…and I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe…thank you for another perfect day, Liebe.”

He was already drifting away but heard her drowsy response.

“All my days are perfect…because you love me.”

**

They spent the day relatively quietly, just enjoying being a family, helping Adam play with his toys from Legoland and browsing through all the information he had brought back from the Planetarium. Adam and Urs spent some time discussing the perfect location for the posters of Nebulae they had purchased because Adam just couldn’t live without them, deciding on just the right spot in his room and making plans to use snow-mobiles to go up to ‘the little house’ if the weather would allow…waiting until spring just seemed too far away.

They did go for a walk before lunch, briefly viewing the remains of ‘The Wall’ and explaining how Berlin had been divided for such a long time and that this remnant was a reminder that all people should try to get along…War was a concept he wasn’t quite ready for and cruelty had played far too great a part in his short years already to dwell on it.

Right after lunch Adam went down for a nap and Urs turned on the BB monitor, locking the connecting door to ensure privacy and tenderly shared love with Izzy, their last chance before the flight they had to catch just after 6. With the newly revised schedule he wouldn’t be able to come home until a few days before Christmas Eve, just enough time to pick up the paperwork for their wedding and relax into the holiday preparations.

“I’m sorry I can’t be there to help more, Liebe…thank you for being so understanding,” he said softly against her head as they cuddled and cooled off.

“There’s no need to thank me, you silly man…I know where you would rather be, but I also know how important these promos and special events are. I signed on for the whole package, not just the fun times…we’ll have lots of time to do things together after the holidays and before you start the tour…and Adam and I will be with you as much as possible…I looked at the schedule and there will be some nice week or two week breaks when you will be close enough to come home and recharge your batteries…it will work out, you’ll see.”

“Have you decided on a part time doctor so you can travel?...and what about your licence?...do you have to take a test or something?”

“Yes, I do but not until the end of 2009…my International licence is good until then…and as for another doctor, do you remember the doctor from SAR that I had to bring back from South America? He’s looking for another position, one that isn’t as taxing and is willing to relocate. His wife is Austrian, so living here would be ideal for her…he’s supposed to be re-assigned to temporary duty at the Retreat, starting on January 10th so they hope to arrive about the 5th.”

“Sounds like you have everything under control…have you left anything for me to do? It kind of seems like I’m unnecessary…”

“Urs Toni Buhler!! How can you even think that? You are the heart of Tranquillite, the reason we all are trying to make it a haven for you to come home to…there’s a very large emptiness when you are gone, a void that only your presence can fill…and if it’s work you want there will be plenty of that…we need to plan the garden before spring… we have to buy a vehicle and you definitely don’t want me doing that…I know how to drive and fix minor things on poor old Flossie but a good solid car is something I know nothing about…Adam is counting on you to check out the Observatory, I need you to organize the instruments and the Lounge…there’s music to arrange for the reception….and CHRISTMAS!!! WE CAN’T HAVE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU!!!...and….”

He was laughing now and put his hand over her mouth, silencing her tirade.

“Alright, I get the point…I guess I was kind of feeling sorry for myself…and I shouldn’t…just promise me that you won’t take on too much…get Hugo to go up the ladder to put up decorations and NO heavy lifting!!...and make an appointment for the week in between Christmas and New Years to see that baby doctor. I want to be really sure before we say anything to the family.”

“Just remember one thing…there’s a Bryan Adams song, I think it’s from the Robin Hood movie…he says ‘Everything I do, I do it for you’…that’s how I feel about what we’re doing with our home…we’re a team, you and I….you are doing your job, and I’m doing mine so that when we have time together we can really BE together and enjoy our life.”

He kissed her silky neck and murmured in her ear.

“How did you get to be so wise?”

She smiled and reached back to tug on his hair.

“I have a very skilled Swiss Lover…and he taught me how precious life is. I don’t plan on wasting one moment of it.”

He was silent for a few minutes but she could tell exactly what was on his mind when his hands strayed from her belly to fondle her breasts. Still she said nothing, just enjoying the warmth that crept over her until finally he murmured against her head.

“Adam should sleep another half an hour, I think…Encore?”

She turned in his arms and smiled, leaning her face to his and stroking his lips with her tongue.

“I thought you’d never ask…”

**

It was nearly time to leave for the airport when Adam had finished his nap. Urs took him in the Lounge for a snack and to make sure that all the pieces of his Lego travel kit had been packed…and for a last chat and snuggle before leaving, while Izzy cleared up the last bits in the bedroom.

“I’m going to miss having you to play with and talk to,” he said to his son as they snapped the case closed and Adam put it beside the luggage in the hall.

“Me too, Papa…Mama plays too but she doesn’t know much about Lego.”

Urs laughed and picked him up, crossing to one of the Lounge chairs and sitting with Adam on his lap.

“No…that’s kind of a guy thing I guess…but we love her anyway, don’t we?”

“Whole bunches!!”

“While I’m still here working would you make sure Mama is alright? Make sure she doesn’t lift heavy things and takes her vitamins every morning, just like you do…we have so many fun things to do when I get home that we don’t want Mama to be sick…and if you see her lifting heavy things tell her Papa said not to and get Hugo or Onkle Gerd to do it…I’m counting on you to be my helper when I can’t keep an eye on her.”

“I Promise, Papa…I’ll be a good helper!...and I keep my promises too!”

“Good…that very important…and I promise that when I come home we’ll see about that small piano that’s just right for little hands.”

Adam hugged him around the neck until Urs was sure his eyes would pop out, then leaned back, looking out the glass doors to the balcony, his eyes huge in wonder.

“Something is happening outside…is that snow? I saw it in my books…is that it?”

Indeed it was snowing, not heavily but enough that his quick eyes caught the fluttering flakes as they drifted slowly past the balcony on the way to the ground.

He scrambled down and raced to the windows to look out, rattling off questions to Urs too fast to answer them all.

Urs explained that snow wasn’t just frozen rain, though that was the simplest answer. It was formed in the clouds when the moisture content became so cold that it froze into many different shapes and forms, prisms, hexagonal shapes very like tiny pencils, dendrites, stars and the form it took depended on the temperature of the air as it fell to the ground, sometimes partially melting and re-freezing to become sleet.

“It’s something you can study in meteorology when you learn more about numbers…but for now, the important thing is it gives the earth a chance to rest from producing the things we need to keep us alive and healthy and when it melts in the spring the water it makes helps our rivers and lakes fill up again.…and we can go skiing on it…this winter you can take lessons with skiis and I’m sure Stefan and the other children will have a sled or two that you can all use to play on the hills at home.”

Adam looked up as Izzy joined them and grinned.

“It’s snowing, Mama…I think I like snow!”

“Me too! Just wait until you see Papa ski…he flies off the top of the pistes…that’s ski hills, Luv.”

They donned jackets and boots and headed out of the suite. Adam tugged on the small case that Izzy had picked up, taking it out of her hands with a serious look.

“No heavy lifting, Mama…I’ll take this one.”

It was almost more than he could lift but fortunately he only had to cart it to the larger one and clip the two together.

Izzy watched, amused and touched as he struggled but not wanting to spoil the moment for him. She glanced at Urs with a raised brow but he just smiled as he tugged the strap a little closer to the clasp….and they were off.

Urs rode with them to the airport, they said their goodbyes in the limo and he watched for a moment as his little family, hand in hand and accompanied by a porter with the luggage, walked through the doors into the terminal. Just before the doors closed they both turned to smile and wave at him as he sat with the window down, watching.

He missed them already.

**

CHAPTER 112…HOME AT LAST

The two weeks went by in a flash but everything that needed done, was.

Gerd and Sally had moved into one of the guest cottages behind the Chateau, staff had been hired, some of them already working to keep the Retreat clean and to do the final organizing, Urs’ motorbikes had arrived and were installed in the new workshop along with a truck load of tools and parts that Izzy decided he would enjoy arranging himself. The usable furnishings from storage had all been refinished and spread out among the various houses on the estate, even a great many of the wardrobe items had been refurbished, two in particular that Izzy was ecstatic about since she and Sally wanted to use them for the wedding….. the rest had been used to decorate the Chateau in keeping with the military and old world theme.

Hugo and his sons had done an excellent job of Holiday decorating inside and out at Tranquillite, leaving only the 18 foot tall balsam fir in the Lounge to be done when Urs got home…and the studio was a thing of beauty thanks to the team of professionals that Simon had sent to do the work…She could pay for some of the actual equipment but the services of the techies was a wedding gift he said when she tried to re-imburse him.

She glanced at her watch and smiled. It was almost time.

Quickly she ran up the stairs one last time to check that the door to the top floor was securely locked, raced down and made sure the elevator door was secured and behind a large tapestry that had been found in the store room and cleaned for just this purpose, then a little more sedately wandered through the main floor, pleased that everything was perfect for the arrival of the heart of the home.

‘Gott…I’m becoming just as corny and romantic as Urs is…but it is how I feel…there’s something missing when he isn’t here…and it might not be a very modern attitude but I do believe in the man being the Man of the household…he makes it easy to think that way…he’s so gentle, strong but gentle and considerate…if he was a bastard then I might re-think my position…but if he was a bastard we wouldn’t be together anyway…’

Marta, Zus and Adam came in the kitchen door, all laughing about Homer who hesitated, seeming to know after all the reminders that outside was the place to shake off the snow he had accumulated on his jaunt out in the yard.

He shook vigorously then stepped in on the rug where everyone took their boots off and waited patiently while Adam dried the huge paws, getting a few doggie kisses in while his boy was bent over near his head.

“We have to go pick up Papa soon, Adam, so make sure you use the bathroom. Zus, thank you for the loan of the car.”

“You sure you don’t want me to drive you Klein Elfe? It’s no trouble,” he said with a smile, using the sobriquet he had adopted…he said it fit her since she was so tiny and flitted around like a busy little elf doing 20 things at once.

“Of course not…you two haven’t had a moment’s peace and quiet in the two days you’ve been here…you’re supposed to be on holiday you know…I’ll drive in and Urs will likely drive back…and it’s only about 35 minutes…the roads are excellent and no snow forecast for today.”

“It’s so different here than around Willisau…” Marta said as she took her jacket off and hung it on the hook by the door. “Yes, Adam, of course you may use my bathroom….when we left home the snowbanks were head high already.”

“One thing you could do for me is make sure the outside lights come on at dusk…they’re on a timer so they should but I really want Urs to see Tranquillite all lit up.”

Marta laughed and came over to hug her.

“Like I said the first 3 times you asked…Yes!!! We will make sure the lights are on…could you be just a bit excited about a certain lyric tenor coming home for a while…or is this wedding jitters?”

Izzy laughed and blushed a bit.

“It’s just that he hasn’t seen what we’ve done…and all of a sudden everything is happening at once…Urs will be home, nice and early I might add, Cody at long last made contact and is driving in from Milan…and he’s bringing a woman with him…he never does that…my brother is the King of the one nighters usually…and Urs insists that we are doing something special for our wedding, even though we have to post-pone it a few days because of Christmas but he won’t tell me what or where. Do you know?”

Marta laughed and shook her finger at Izzy.

“It won’t do any good to try and get it out of me…who do you think taught Urs how to keep a secret?”

“Are we going now?” Adam asked as he hurried back, looking at his mother eagerly.

“Yes…grab your boots and you can put them on at the front door.”

They were off in a flurry of waves and ‘Drive carefully’s, going slowly through the village since all the children were home, off for the Holidays, and soon were on the well plowed road heading for Geneva.

**

Because of the holidays the terminal was extremely busy. Izzy offered to pick Adam up so he wouldn’t be trampled and could see better but he was having none of it, refusing with a serious look as he said that he was too heavy for her.

‘He’s been doing a lot of that lately…I wonder if Urs is behind this ‘let’s protect Mama’ attitude…I thought he’d have a hissy fit when I went two steps up on the ladder to adjust that string of lights…yes, I think I detect the protective hand of my Swiss behind all the care and attention I’ve been getting lately…I swear Adam even counts my vitamins to be sure I’ve taken them…’

She smiled sweetly and inched them forward to the railing so Adam could stand on the ledge, his arms over the rails to watch for Urs.

The arrivals board changed suddenly and she explained that the flashing letters meant that the plane had arrived…now Papa just had to collect his luggage so it wouldn’t be long…he would have already gone through customs when they landed in Zurich.

Sure enough he burst through the doors less than 20 minutes later, moving at almost a jog, well ahead of most of the other arriving passengers.

He spotted them immediately…it was difficult not to since Adam wiggled under the railing and ran at him, grinning and shrieking ‘PAPA!’ in full throated happy little boy scream. Urs dropped to one knee and held his arms open, picking him up for a hug, his eyes locked on the beaming woman who waited patiently for her two guys to come to her.

‘Gott she looks wonderful…she’s glowing…it always surprises me how lovely she is…so natural…and so MINE!’

A very relieved porter came through the doors, happy to see the owner of the cart full of luggage waiting for him at last.

“You’ve been shopping,” Izzy said with a laugh as she spotted the amount of luggage he had and he came through the crowd to wrap his free arm around her shoulders.

“Not my fault…the guys sent some things for you and Adam …and yes I did shop a bit in Paris…and Amsterdam…and a few odds and ends in London…Lets get out of here…how far away are you parked?”

She wrapped her arm around his waist and they followed the porter out the sliding doors into the winter air.

“Not far…we got lucky and got a space in the second row, right opposite the doors.”

Urs paid at the automated meter while Izzy took the porter to the car and helped find places for all his luggage. He and Adam joined her and he deposited Adam in the back to get in his car seat and turned to her, pulling her gently to his chest.

“At last…,” he murmured as he claimed her mouth, staying where he longed to be long enough that Adam began chanting ‘Kissy face! Kissy Face!’. Even then he drew away slowly, pleased with the way she clung to him, her eyes opening slowly as if drugged.

His hand slipped inside her coat and spread across her belly.

“How are we?”

She smiled and patted his cheek.

“WE are fine…I went for the HCG test a couple of days ago and talked to the doctor after on the phone…of course it was positive, so now I have an appointment for an ultrasound on the 29th and our first checkup…you can come too…we can see the pictures together.”

“HCG…I know what that is…Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin…elevated levels means you are pregnant.”

“You’ve been reading your manual,” she said with a laugh as he opened the passenger door and seated her.

“All of them…I have three now.” He smirked as he shut the door and listened to her laughing while he went around to the driver’s side.

“You are a really adorable man, Urs…even if you never do anything by halves…”

He reached over the back seat to tug on Adam’s seat belt, complimenting him when he found it done up properly.

“Has Mama been behaving?”

“Most of the time…Hugo helps me keep an eye on her.”

“Stop it you two…I’m right here…don’t talk about me like I was deaf …and you, my Swiss…we have to talk about you siccing your watch dogs on me.”

“Hush Woman, I’m driving….” he said and started the engine, shooting her a cheeky grin which made her laugh.

They caught up on what had been happening in each of their lives while he expertly drove the short distance through the darkening evening to Reve.

He was tired…she could see it in the shadows under his honey/amber eyes…maybe had lost weight but only a few pounds…his cheekbones were a bit more prominent to the eyes of someone who knew every contour of his body so well. But there was an air of vibrancy about him that increased the more they talked and the nearer they came to home.

“I’m so excited about seeing what you’ve done…reading between the lines from our e.mails I think I’m going to be pleasantly surprised…and so looking forward to being home…those last few days were such a whirlwind of events that I can hardly keep them straight in my head…that’s another reason the shopping got kind of out of control…I think I was sleepwalking part of the time.”

“We’re having Rosti for dinner, ‘cause Ambra knows how much you like it…and a chocolate cake that Mama made, all by herself.”

“Wonderful!…I’m so tired of restaurant food…I think the last few days I survived on coffee, yogurt and fruit…everything else made me gag.”

He turned his head briefly to look at Izzy.

“Speaking of gagging…how’s your tummy in the mornings? According to the books…”

“No problem, but then I didn’t with Adam either…I tire easily but even that’s getting marginally better…right after lunch it’s like someone threw a switch and I run out of steam, so I put my feet up for half an hour and then I’m ready to go again.”

They were winding inland now, away from the shores of the lake. The twinkling lights of Reve began to be visible through the avenues of trees along the verge until they rounded the last curve and the gates were before them, the iron summer urns still in place but filled with dried branches and faery lights, the gates open below an arch that dripped with more lights, huge red bows and shining silver glass balls hanging from ribbon laced silver chains.

Urs slowed as he turned in under the arch and the long lane beckoned in front of him, tiny white faery lights on all the bare alders and the glow of the Chateau just visible through the trees.

“I feel like I’m about to enter another world…” he said softly as they continued.

Izzy lay her hand on his thigh, giving him a little squeeze when she felt his muscles quivering.

They stopped again just before the curve of the drive into the Chateau, drinking in the sight of the Retreat festooned with lights along the eaves, in the windows, among the shrubbery out front, the wall to the village similarly adorned in white bulbs, the stone arch of the drive into the village outlined in bright red with a decorated tree on each side in more of the metal urns.

Every house in the village was decorated, most different according to the tastes of the occupants, something that could have looked like a hodge podge but blended together nicely, creating a festive atmosphere that matched the huge tree in the center of the square…it had been done as a community event, complete with treats, hot drinks and robust carol singing.

And then they approached Tranquillite…Izzy had gone for subdued but festive, sticking with a silver, red and white theme…silver glass balls and red bows on the shrubbery, especially around the doorway and on the steps, white faery lights that outlined the building, the garland around the doorway, the twisted vine wreath on the door. The curtains were drawn back to reveal the cozy interiors of the rooms, furnished now, inviting, lights on but subdued, those that had fireplaces with the flames reflecting off the windows.

“Welcome Home, Love,” she said softly, not wanting to spoil the mood as he sat for a moment transfixed with the sight and the warmth that flooded him, knowing that it had been done for him.

He coughed and cleared his throat, taking a moment before he could answer Adam’s “Isn’t Home pretty Papa? We worked and worked to get it just right!”

“Ja…it’s incredible, Adam…”

Hugo and his two sons came around the corner of the house, intent on unloading the car and refused Urs’ help though they did welcome him home with huge smiles. Izzy tugged on his arm on one side, Adam on the other and, laughing, they trooped up the entry steps to enter the house.

The first thing he noticed as they stepped in the door and divested themselves of boots and coats, hanging them in the roomy closet, was the scent…a subtle mixture of furniture polish mixed with the heady aroma of the cut flowers in vases on the polished tables he recognized from storage and over it all the enticing scent of cinnamon and chocolate….it smelled like HOME!

Slip-on house shoes waited in the closet for all of them and he put his on, looking in approval at the large section on the rods which contained his leather jackets, knee length formal coat, ski suits and the favorites of his denim jackets.

“This is handy…no running all the way upstairs if I want to go out for something…very Swiss and logical, Baby,” he said with a grin.

“I’m not just a pretty face you know,” she answered as she tried to curb Adam’s impatience.

“Let Papa see what we’ve done, Luv…Quietly!”

She had gone for warm and welcoming but uncluttered, the foyer mostly small tables or sideboards with flower arrangements in keeping with the season, the Lounge containing items he recognized as well as new pieces: the silk covers he had purchased while in Japan and never got around to using, now on fluffy throw pillows on the new, long, caramel leather sofa that fronted the fireplace, leather wing chairs in rust and cinnamon on either side to form a conversation grouping around the large square wood and glass coffee table, the muted tones of a cleaned Persian carpet from storage the perfect accompaniment to separate the area from the rest of the room.

Just as they had envisioned that first day, the grand piano took pride of place as the center of the music area, the French windows to the side yard now draped in velvet, as all the windows on the lower floor were but with gauzy white under-sheers, several easy chairs and small tables nearby for those who wished to listen and stringed instruments on stands arranged in a half circle with small but comfortable chairs behind.

A tapestry of Reve back in the early 1800’s hung on one wall, refurbished, the colors as vibrant and alive as they had been when it was first made. The only other adornment were two cabinets of burnished walnut that flanked the doors to the library {housing a well stocked bar in one and a music system, sheet music and CD’s in the other} and padded bench seats built into the windows on either side of the fireplace, over top of the supply of wood brought in to keep dry.

Ambra, or someone, had turned on some of the squat smoky glass lamps on the small tables scattered about near chairs, making the room warm and inviting.

“It’s beautiful…I like that you haven’t got a lot of stuff laying around…clutter drives me bananas…but I guess you know that,” he said as he reached out to touch the silk covers on the pillows. “At last there’s a place for them…they look perfect here.”

“You look worn out, Urs…how be we go for dinner and let you look around later…or even tomorrow?”

He wrapped his arms around her and leaned his head wearily against hers.

“I’m sorry…I know you’ve worked hard to make every thing just right…and what I’ve seen so far makes me feel very special…I love that you’ve used things I’ve had for a while to make this really OUR place, not just yours, but ours…but I’m suddenly so tired I can hardly see…let me go wash up and change and I’ll meet you in the kitchen…ten minutes, Alright?”

Izzy sent Adam off to the kitchen where she was sure Marta and Zus had gone to give them some privacy and watched as he went up the stairs.

‘He really is tired…look at how he’s taking the stairs, his steps leaden, heavy…No fever, I managed to feel his forehead when he leaned against me, so it’s exhaustion, not sick…lets see, they were in Oslo, the US, Puerto Rico, Oz, South America, Canada, Spain, back to the UK and Europe…I’ll bet he hasn’t had more than 2 hours sleep out of 24 for the last 2 weeks…and he’s probably existing on coffee….it’s no wonder he’s so tired…I’ll have to get him into bed early tonight…and just to sleep…’

She went on out to the kitchen and joined Marta, Zus and Adam. Gerd and Sally wandered in a few minutes later and it wasn’t until over half an hour went by without Urs re-appearing that Izzy slipped out to jog up the stairs and look for her weary mate.

Just as she had suspected, when she opened the suite door quietly, he was sprawled on the bed, stripped to his shorts, still a bit damp from a shower but so out of it that he didn’t stir when she lifted his legs onto the bed and pulled the pillow down to inch under his curly head.

She smiled and kissed him very gently, pleased that even in his sleep he leaned slightly into the kiss…then she dimmed the lights, covered him with the velvety duvet and stole from the room…he would be hungry and annoyed in the morning but rested and at the moment that was the important thing.

**

CHAPTER 113…Christmas Prep

He slept for 15 hours, only waking up sufficiently just before noon the next day to stagger into the bathroom. Bladder relieved, he washed his hands and foolishly glanced in the mirror.

‘Gott!...I look like I’ve been in a train wreck!...and I guess I missed dinner….hang on…my beard doesn’t grow THAT fast…what in hell time is it?’

A little perkier now that he was curious he strode into the bedroom and glanced at the small beside clock.

Ten minutes before 11..so he had slept for about 3 hours…that’s why his stomach felt so empty…unless…he went to the window and pulled the drapes back to reveal a clear, bright sky, the sun glinting off the snow covered fields…it was morning!

Both sets of pillows on the bed had been pulled over so the occupants could sleep crosswise…he remembered now, leaning back in the comfort of the duvet, intending to just relax for a moment…and that was all. It looked like Izzy had joined him, sleeping alongside rather than waking him by trying to move his heavy body.

He looked for his luggage, got distracted when he noticed the large pillows on the carpet near the fireplace…she had taken his suggestion and bought some that would be perfect when they lay on the carpet watching the flames. Not much else had been changed in the suite…a crocheted throw he recognized from Tribeca was draped over the sofa, an elegant secretary had been refinished and was against one wall with an upholstered chair pulled up to it and her closed laptop on the top…and he still couldn’t see what had been done with his luggage….perhaps in the dressing room.

He opened the double doors, pleasantly surprised to find the inside of both holding full length mirrors… and grinned as he looked around. She had really done a wonderful job. A bench seat was in the center, perfect for putting on boots or sitting to admire your partner getting dressed. Each side was lined with closed frosted glass doors that hinted at the contents within…shelves for tees, sweaters etc., rods for his suits {that took up two spaces}, tiered rods for shirts and jeans, casual pants, a roomy area for luggage storage, drawers that when pulled out revealed his watch collection, shirt studs and cuff links, or her jewelry, a whole drawer of scarves, another of gloves and mitts, on her side one with purses, on both sides neatly folded underwear, and sox just the way he liked them, each folded inside the other and in a small cubbyhole, arranged in colors.

The area that made him grin was the shoe storage…hers was a small section…his took up the end wall from floor to ceiling and had a concealed polishing station built in, a bench that flipped down above a selection of polishes and waxes, brushes and cleaning cloths, shoe trees and fabric softener sheets {for odor control}.

He back tracked, found some clean clothing {and his unpacked luggage that she must have seen to last night} and went in search of his family.

Izzy was in the kitchen with Marta and Ambra, all of them busily making treats for the upcoming reception/Christmas party, the shelving above the pastry work station already lined with trays of cooling goodies. Adam was nowhere to be seen at first until he spotted movement outside, through the windows full of herbs and geraniums…Zus, Adam and Homer were enjoying the fresh snow.

He watched from the doorway as Zus threw his head back and laughed at something Adam said.

‘I like this guy…he fits right in with the family…and look at Mami…she heard him laughing and it made her eyes sparkle…and she’s had her hair done differently…I like it…’

After years of having long hair that she usually did in a plait, Marta had opted for a shoulder length cut, side part and a sleek straight do with only the ends curled under. It framed her face now, giving her a more youthful, appealing look.

“Here’s our sleepy Lord and Master,” Marta said, grinning as she caught sight of him in the doorway.

Izzy looked up and smiled, wiping her hands on the towel tucked into the waist band of her jeans as she came over to him.

“Feel better now? You must be starving…want a coffee to start with?”

“Ja…but first…”

He wrapped her up in his arms, holding her close and bending to kiss her.

“Thank you for letting me sleep, Liebling…that’s the first bed my body has been in for days…we didn’t even bother with hotels the last few days, just the reclining seats in the planes…let me tell you, there’s an art to shaving and getting presentable in one of those airplane bathrooms …and we all have the bruised elbows to prove it.”

“Never mind…you’re home now…lots of room here and you don’t even have to work at being charming.”

She lead him to the table, Ambra brought him coffee and he caught Izzy’s hand before she could get away.

“I haven’t seen much except our suite but you’ve done an amazing job, Luv. The dressing room is wonderful, I love the pillows…and I really like the way you’ve integrated our things into the décor as if they’ve always been there. Seeing stuff that brings back memories makes me feel at home.”

He rested his head on her stomach with his arms around her waist and her hands in his hair, relishing the closeness for a moment, no words necessary.

She bent down and kissed the top of his head gently.

“Have your coffee Luv…we’ll have lunch a bit early so you don’t pass out from hunger.”

He sipped at his coffee while she went back to baking, going briefly to the work area to steal a couple of squares before being chased away. Adam, Zus and Homer came back in, Adam spotted his Papa and forgot about snowy boots, making a bee-line straight for Urs who scooped him up for a laughing hug and carried him back to the rug to get brushed off.

Zus had been left to attend to Homer, finished, took his own outer wear off and slid into his slippers to come in rubbing his hands, his hair still wet from the snowball Adam had managed to aim properly.

“He’s getting a good arm…baseball might be in his future…”

“Don’t think that’s going to happen…we’d have to move to the States or Canada and we like it here.”

“Or Japan…but he’ll be too tall for Asian teams… well, you look rested…and hungry…you ready to do the tree today?”

Urs laughed.

“I have a vague memory of a naked tree in the Lounge last night…and I think I got your car back in one piece…I should have let Izzy drive, I was so tired.”

“No problem…I’m insured…say did you guys ever think about making another Christmas album? We’ve been listening to the first one and I’m so impressed with the quality of your voices as a group and individually…did you ever think about one with the Vienna Boys Choir? A friend of mine is an assistant choirmaster there and I think might be very receptive to the idea.”

Adam climbed up on Urs’ knee and listened patiently while the two men discussed the pros and cons of making another Christmas CD, sneaking little bites of the square Urs hadn’t finished yet until there was just one little corner left. Urs noticed but pretended not to then made a big deal of it, claiming that pixies had stolen his treat until Adam burst out laughing and admitted he did it. Of course that meant a serious tickling until the poor child had to run for the bathroom in his Oma’s suite or risk an ‘accident’.

When they had all settled down to an early lunch Urs told them of the hectic schedule the guys had endured the past 2 weeks.

“It’s so good to be home…and to see everything that’s been done…I’m so tired of planes and hotel rooms, restaurant food…I don’t even want to think about work for a couple of weeks.”

“Good, because we’re going to have a full houseand we need you here to be host. Cody finally got in touch, one of his e.mails that leaves more questions than answers. He was in Milan, with Martine, I think that’s her name, remember the lady from Quebec?...anyway, they’re driving here and should arrive, maybe tonight…and Simon will be coming for Christmas Eve, staying for 2 days only…and some of the relatives that live far away are going to stay here or in the Chateau…and Zus’s cousin is coming right after Christmas…oh and Sally’s parents too.”

He grinned at her, amused at the excitement he could see in her eyes.

“Crowds like this I can handle…sounds like a party! So we better get the tree done tonight…”

“Papa, Mama telled me…told me…Haha!...I beat you!” Adam began and collapsed in giggles when he corrected himself before Urs could. “Mama TOLD ME about what they do for Christmas in Canada…they hang pretty stockings up and Father Christmas puts little presents and treats in them while you sleep…Mama made stockings with Ambra’s sewing machine for every body…well, all the children….I like Baby Jesus…I wish he was still here.”

Urs smiled at his son and reached out a hand to place on Adam’s chest.

“He is, my son…in here…you are a gift of love from Gott to us and so long as you love someone, Jesus lives in that love, in your heart.”

No one at the table laughed…it was corny…and so Urs, his deepest feelings released in a few heart felt words. The feeling of love, of family was strong in the silence that followed, broken and back to normal introversion after a moment of pure, raw love. Urs received a tender kiss on the cheek from his Mami and Izzy cleared her throat so she could speak.

“More Streudel, Urs?” she said as she passed it to him and rested her hand on his arm for a gentle squeeze.

Their eyes met, full of promises that each knew would be kept…the moment was filed away to be treasured later. For now, they went on with their daily lives.

**

The ladies went back to finish their chores after lunch while Adam, suitably warned by a frown from his mother to keep secrets, took Urs on a tour of the house.

Urs was impressed with what had been accomplished, with the integration of old pieces into the rooms, carpets, refurbished furniture, especially liked the office area she had set up for both of them, very utilitarian but light and airy as well…it would be easy to settle into doing paperwork, research or correspondence in here. The family room on the second floor contained the entertainment center, games, television, his old sofa from Chelsea, a hexagonal games table that would be ideal for poker if anyone was fool enough to play with Izzy and comfy chairs big enough for two to curl up in to chat, watch TV or merely zone out and watch the flames of the fireplace.

He did question Adam about the locked door to the top floor but received a blank stare and the zipping motion that indicated a zipped lip.

“A secret is it? No Hints?”

“Can’t!...If I tell that means no desserts for a week…”

Urs feigned mock horror at such a punishment.

“Well we can’t have that happen…especially since I’ve seen what they’re making downstairs…can you tell me when I will find out?”

Adam thought seriously for a moment, decided that at least that much was safe, unzipped to quickly say “Christmas” and zipped up again, not even breaking down except into laughter when Urs tickled him.

Izzy found them a couple of hours later in the play room, busily constructing a space station out of the new motorized Lego blocks.

“You two were so quiet I thought you had fallen asleep again.”

Urs looked up at her and grinned.

“Too busy…I love what you’ve done, Baby…everything looks clean and fresh, very inviting and somehow as if it had always been that way…and your little secret keeper wouldn’t tell me why that door is locked…don’t suppose you will either, I guess?”

“Good boy, Adam!! Of course I won’t tell you…you have to wait. The gatehouse phoned to say that Cody is on the way in.”

That was enough to galvanize both of her guys into abandoning the half finished space station and follow her from the room, chatting about how happy they were to see Onkle/Brother/friend Cody after such a long absence.

**

The silver Porsche pulled sedately into the parking area just as they opened the large double doors and stepped out onto the swept clean front step.

“No question…that’s Cody…I wonder if it’s his or a rental,” Urs said with a laugh as Izzy huddled beside him, rubbing her bare arms against the cold air.

“Jealous?” she asked with a grin.

“Nein…I’d rather have a Harley.”

Cody unfolded himself from the sporty car, looking when he stood erect as if there was no way he would ever fit that large body in such a small vehicle. He went around to the passenger door, opened it and offered his hand to the occupant.

“She’s tall…that’s good,” was Izzy’s first comment when the slender woman stood, resting her hand on Cody’s arm for a moment to softly say something then looking towards the house with a smile.

“And friendly,” Urs murmured before raising a hand to wave and call out.

“Leave the keys…your luggage will get brought in.”

Sure enough Hugo and Hans came around the building…Cody tossed them the keys and put his arm around his friend to come to the little group waiting on the steps.

“Christ, I knew from what you said that this place was big, but I kind of felt like I needed a passport…is this another frigging country? It’s big enough.”

“Here we go again,” Izzy said with a laugh and a wry smile. “Watch your mouth, Big Brother…you aren’t with the troops now. And get up here for a hug.”

He sprinted up the last few steps, leaving his companion to follow indulgently behind.

“G…gosh you look great…you’ve been taking good care of her, Bird,” he said as he hugged her, lifting her off her feet then putting her down to twirl her around and get a good look.

His friend reached his side and he put his arm around her shoulders, giving her an apologetic smile.

“Urs, Iz…and Adam!…look how much you’ve grown!!!...this is Martine…my wife!”

After the flurry of squeals from Izzy, hugs from everyone and congratulations, the laughter calmed enough that the nearly over whelmed woman could speak.

“I know how you feel…I’m still getting used to it myself,” she said in excellent English with a fairly heavy Quebecois accent.

“Sometimes you just know it’s right,” Cody said with a shrug and an affectionate look at the pretty woman, brushing his large hand softly over her shoulder length blonde hair. He caught the smile on Izzy’s face and withdrew his hand then crouched down to be on eye level with Adam.

“You remember me?”

Adam smiled then laughed.

“Of course…you’re my Onkle Cody but you don’t have your soldier clothes on. We found some very old soldier clothes with helmets,…mori…mori…” he glanced up at Urs for help and Urs stage whispered ‘Morions’. “…Morions with big fluffy feathers.”

Cody held his hands out to Adam and picked him up when the boy went quite willingly into them.

“Swiss Guard dress uniforms, sounds like…I’d like to see that. Don’t look so surprised, Freckles…I read you know!”

They went inside, Izzy linking arms with Martine and the men right behind, talking about the drive from Milan and the car Cody had splurged on for the trip.

“When these guys stop monopolizing the conversation you’ll have to tell me about your whirlwind trip to the altar. Since Urs and I’ve been together I love to see the people I care about sharing the same love of life and you both seem very happy.”

Martine laughed, then stopped for a second to shed her coat and look around.

“What a lovely home! So no third degree about trapping your brother? Cody thought you might be a bit… concerned. He said you were tough.”

“Not a chance…I’ve mellowed…and it’s about time he settled down with a good woman. Would you like to see your suite and freshen up? I don’t know about you but the first thing I always want after a long drive is the Lav.”

They turned and went up the stairs, expecting the men to follow and smiling at each other when it happened.

“They are so like obedient little puppies,” Izzy said softly to her sister-in-law. “Keep your promises regarding treats and they’ll follow you anywhere.”

The hall lights came on in sequence as they moved along the polished floor, past several refurbished display cabinets that held family photos or the collection of raw minerals that both Izzy and Urs had collected in their travels and didn’t want to convert into jewelry.

“Motion sensors, during the day and a timer at night…all on automatic and connected to the batteries where we store the solar power,” they heard Urs explaining to Cody who had commented that it must be expensive lighting the windowless hallways 24/7.

‘Libellule’ the brass plaque at eye level on the door to the suite said, a discrete, small, hand sized dragonfly made of brass and blown glass affixed to the first letter of the name as a translation for anyone not speaking French.

The suite itself was as most of the rooms that Izzy had decorated…tidy, colorful with the soft-sand painted plastered walls, brown tones in the sofa and chairs, shades of turquoise for a splash of color in the throw and pillows and subtly in the carpet in front of the fire, soothing creams for the fluffy linens on the King sized bed, the refurbished head and foot boards of the sleigh bed frame gleaming with the patina of age and care, the ensuite re-tiled in a soft tan marble with thick warm chocolate towels hanging on the heated rails, a touch of whimsy in the blown glass dragonflies that appeared on the tie backs of the velvet drapes, another perching on the shade of a lamp. Even the kindling had been laid in the stone fireplace but not yet lit.

“How lovely!” Martine exclaimed as she looked around.

Urs beamed with pride, coming to Izzy and wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“I only saw it myself for the first time this morning. Izzy…and Adam… have been busy while I was away working. We’ll leave you to get settled in…come down when you’re ready…we’ll be in the kitchen since that’s where we usually end up….left at the bottom of the stairs and straight to the back. Again, Congratulations…we’re really glad you came to spend this time with us.”

Cody set Adam down and laughed when his nephew scuttled to the door, turning back to announce that if Cody liked playing he could share the project Papa and him were working on with the new Lego.

They passed Hugo and Hans in the stair well, exchanging grins when Urs remarked that he wasn’t sure how so much stuff had been crammed into such a small car.

“He looks happy…and Martine is lovely…she could be a model with that face and body.”

“Not my type…very small rack,” Urs said softly enough that Adam, a few steps ahead of them, couldn’t hear.

“Oh You!!!...You’re such a MAN!”

He grinned and caught her hand in his.

“Isn’t that fortunate?…I mean, since you seem to like the accessories I come with.”

“Accessories!!! I’ve never heard it called that before.”

They couldn’t pursue the banter since Adam turned with an inquisitive look on his little face…and Sally and Gerd came through the front door, breathless as if they had been jogging in the cold air.

“We saw that cool little car going past the Chateau and figured it either had to be Simon or Cody…and since it’s couple of days early for Simon, where’s Cody?” Sally said in a rush as they both shrugged out of jackets and boots.

“They just wanted to freshen up after the drive, so they’ll be down in a few minutes,” Izzy said, glancing at Urs and smiling when he nodded his silent agreement…news about the marriage was Cody’s to share so they wouldn’t tell yet.

“Kitchen?” Gerd asked and Izzy laughed.

“All these rooms and yet we still end up in the kitchen…”

“We may not be aristocrats but at least we have our priorities straight…that’s where the cookies are,” Urs teased as they made their way down the lengthy hall.

**

CHAPTER 114…CODY’S NEWS

Marta and Zus were already sitting snuggled in one of the roomy Lazy Boy chairs that Urs liked, Ambra was putting a few last items on the cart which would go to the dining room for dinner and Homer was zoning out from a busy day, in one of his favorite spots on the carpet in front of the fireplace. He stirred when Adam sat down beside him, rolling to expose more of his belly for his boy to scratch.

Izzy plopped herself down on Urs lap.

“Get your own chair, Woman,” he teased but trapped her with his arms around her slim hips, one hand possessively on her belly.

Marta raised her brow at the gesture but said nothing…not in front of the others.

“I like it here,” Izzy retorted with a grin. “Sal, Urs and I are using Zus’ car to go into town in the morning, so if you need anything make a list and I’ll pick it up. We’re still arguing about who gets to drive the new car home.”

“What are you getting?” Gerd asked, ready to discuss it since he was thinking of replacing his truck with something different.

“We aren’t sure,” Urs answered. “Probably a hybrid of some kind…it seems silly not to take advantage of all the power we have available here…and of course gas prices keep shooting for the moon.”

“We need to get a van of some kind for the chateau as well…and maybe even a truck or cube van for supplies,” Sally added and the brothers nodded in agreement but Urs added a comment.

“We should talk to Claude about that …he may have an extra from the vineyard that he would be willing to transfer ownership of to the Retreat…might as well have the equipment where it’s the most useful.”

They heard footsteps and voices in the hall and all eyes looked to the doorway. Martine and Cody came in, both changed into casual clothing and laughing as they held hands and entered the cozy kitchen.

“I can see why you end up in here. What a pleasant room!” Martine said with a smile.

Izzy waved at the spare seating on the sofa and laughed.

“I have an ulterior motive. I’m learning how to cook and I like to watch how Ambra puts a meal together. Do you cook, Martine? ..and do you have a nickname?”

“Yes I do…actually I’m a chef…next month I start a new job at Le Masion d’ Guillame in New York as exceutive chef.”

“And at home her speciality is grilled cheese sandwiches… go figure,” Cody added with a grin.

“One time only…and I’d just finished working 19 hours straight…AND you didn’t have broken arms, Sport!”

Izzy chuckled, as did everyone else but her laughter was because she was happy to see that Cody’s new wife wasn’t afraid to speak up.

“And as for a nick name…Cody calls me Marty.”

Ambra announced that dinner was ready and they all went down the hall into the dining room. It was the first time Urs had seen it all done up, the chandelier repaired, the lovely old table from the storage room refinished and set with some of the exquisite china from the butler’s pantry, the chairs re-caned and with new modern seat covers and slips on the back in a rich padded raw silk fabric.

“We found the table and chairs in storage…and the matching sideboards…the guys did a remarkable job refinishing them I think,” Izzy said as they all took their places and Urs did the honors pouring some of the estate wine into goblets all around…except for Adam who wrinkled his nose in distaste.

The conversation flowed around the table as they caught up on news: Izzy and Adam’s escapade in the well, the work on the estate, how everyone in Tribeca was faring, finally announcing the news of Cody and Martine’s marriage and delving into how the happy couple had met.

“He used to have a thing with my sister, Monique,” Marty said with a laugh.

“Only because she’s your twin…and I hadn’t met you yet.”

“I was in Paris, working as an Assistant chef and when I left there and moved back to Montreal there he was, visiting my sister…I walked in on a huge argument.”

“Actually your sister was trying to kill me…she was throwing things at me, almost faster than I could duck.”

“Cody and Monique were just comfortable friends…and she met someone…Cody didn’t approve, said the guy was a brute and a loser… and they were talking about it…I walked in and he did a double take…and she clocked him, out cold with the imprint of a frying pan on his hard head. She took off for a week-end with her new boyfriend and by the time she realized Cody had been right it was too late. I had nursed him back to health and wasn’t about to let him go.”

“That was the last week of September…right after I got back from….my last mission. We got married December 8th and have been touring around Italy since then. And you might as well hear it now…My hitch is up in February…and I’m not going to re-up. I’ve accepted a position as a counselor with the city of New York…I’ll be stationed at the Youth Center in Tribeca.”

Unexpectedly Izzy burst into tears, happy tears they discovered when she calmed down enough to speak in sentences.

“When I was still in the service I didn’t worry too much about you…with some kind of twisted logic I decided that if I could manage without incident then you could too…while I was a prisoner I worried about you all the time, where you were, if you were safe…and now that my life is so serene…well sort of…I’m back to worrying again…at least I was and now I don’t have to…I’m very happy for you, Big Brother…you’ve always been really good with young people so this is a perfect fit for you.”

“This is a real plus for you and I, Iz…remember we had planned to look for a woman for Cody…and the Big Guy has done it himself,” Sally said with a grin at the big soldier.

It wasn’t much later that they all adjourned to the Lounge to decorate the tree. Adam worked diligently on the lower branches for nearly an hour, making sure that every branch had lights both on the tips and inside the wide branches, before Izzy convinced him that he needed to go to bed and could see the finished tree in the morning. He was reluctant but worn out and gave his Papa, and everyone else, good night hugs and kisses, allowing Martine to carry him up the stairs and help Izzy get him into bed.

“He was really worried about you,” Martine said as they tidied up the few toys and put Adam’s laundry in the bin, moving across the hall into the master suite so Martine could use Izzy’s laptop to send her sister a safe arrival e.mail.

“Cody? It’s an old habit…he’s always taken his role of Big Brother very seriously…that’s why I was so sure when I was a prisoner that he wouldn’t give up looking for me…I wasn’t surprised to see him in the camp when they found me…seeing Urs surprised me but not Cody.”

Martine finished the few lines of message, sent it and closed the computer again.

“I hope you don’t mind…he told me what you went through, some of it anyway…what a ghastly experience.”

Izzy had tidied her hair and turned now to sit on the sofa, smiling as she shook her head.

“It’s not a secret…actually with Urs’ help I’ve managed to put it all behind me now…..and in a way I think it was harder on Urs than it was on me…I had the pregnancy with Adam to give me a goal and then trying to see that he stayed as healthy as possible…between that and the work load that was forced on Sally and I there was no time to brood much, certainly no energy. It was loving Urs so completely and wanting to get Adam out of there and to his father that kept me going…Poor Urs floundered, fighting what he felt for me, wrestling with himself because he felt our separation was his fault, when in fact we both acted foolishly…and then when he found out about Adam and that I was alive…I’m very proud of the way he reacted, taking on a mission that was totally out of his area of expertise, putting his very life on the line to rescue me, at the same time bonding with Adam and assuming the role he was always meant to have, that of a loving father. He is truly an amazing man and I feel blessed to have him love me.”

“And no after effects from the captivity?”

Izzy laughed as they both rose and headed back downstairs.

“No time…my life is so full, so happy…I rarely even think about those 2 years now…it’s almost like it happened to someone else.”

Cody and Urs took a break from decorating to take Homer out in the back yard, leaving the other four to finish with the garlands before they would start on ornaments…the 22 strings of lights were already in place on the tall tree.

“I’m glad you decided that the dog needed to go out…I wanted to talk to you alone,” Cody said while they stood in the shelter of the overhang waiting for Homer to find just the right spot.

“What a surprise! And here I thought you had developed a thing about watching dogs taking a leak.”

“Watch your mouth, Bird…I might be retiring but I can still take you!”

Urs laughed and didn’t reply, waiting for whatever it was his friend wanted to discuss privately.

“My last job was kind of unofficial…I was on leave but I got an e.mail from Columbia. Seems that El Jefe had disappeared, Eduardo, the guy who was so vicious to Freckles and Sally….his second in command too. We didn’t know if he was running or what so I went down, you know me…I felt there was still a score to settle…the whole trip was kind of on the QT though unofficially General Haggerty knew about my trip. It took a few days but we finally pieced the story together.

“Seems Eduardo took a fancy to a little medic, one that Izzy and Sal had trained…she resisted, they raped her, beat her so badly she died…her young boyfriend came back from a mission he had been on and freaked out…got the two of them alone, hamstrung them and dragged them into the jungle…he staked them out and sat back to watch the wildlife finish them off…then he vanished.”

Urs shuddered, then asked a quiet question.

“Are you sure it was them? I mean I doubt there was much left and forensics wouldn’t do much good out there in the jungle.”

Cody smiled, an evil grimace that was fitting for the moment.

“One of Eduardo’s prized possessions was a Polaroid camera…the one he took pictures of Freckles with…while the kid waited for them to suffer and die he took photos and he left them behind…fortunately some were while they still had faces, so yes, we’re sure. I don’t know how far Freckles and Sally have come since they’ve been free, so I didn’t want to just blurt it out…but I think they’ll sleep better if they at least know that both of those creatures are gone.”

Urs was silent for a few minutes, watching the dog but not seeing anything except in his mind’s eye…the camp, the emaciated condition of Izzy when they first saw her, the evil man who would have raped her again that night if he hadn’t been interrupted, the fear in her eyes when she fought him, the bruising he had left on her sweet face, the terrible marks of torture and depravation on her body, the nightmares …so many memories that he thought were buried and now, here in this peaceful place, alive once more.

“She’s pregnant…I don’t want her upset…it was so hard for her last time…I want her to be happy now, to enjoy letting our baby grow inside her body…as far as I know she’s managed to put all that behind her…we don’t keep secrets from each other…except the fun things…so I think if she was having problems with old memories I would know. Scheisse…don’t tell her I let it slip about the baby…we haven’t told anyone yet. I will tell her he’s gone, maybe not all the details, but I’ll find a good time and tell her so she can have some closure…and I’ll tell Gerd, let him decide what and when to tell Sally.”

“And you…how do you feel now that you know?”

Urs stared at Cody for a moment then turned away and whistled for Homer, petting his shaggy head when the dog raced over to him. He met Cody’s eyes again and his mouth twisted in a tiny smile.

“A year ago it would have made me throw up…now, after what I’ve seen first hand and the condition of the woman I love when we got her back…I feel content…it was justice…and I’m glad he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Cody stuffed his hands in his pockets and Urs knew that he was thinking something but not sure about saying it yet. It was a family trait, so like Izzy that it made him smile.

“You got her pregnant already…haven’t you heard of condoms, Bird? She needs time to get strong first.”

Urs bristled at the censure he heard, then calmed himself. This was just the over protective brother talking, sort of like he had been about Adam before Iizzy gently made him see reason.

“I like you, Big Brother or I would remind you that it’s a decision that is up to Izzy and I…and Gott, not you. We both want this and she feels ready. We’re both happy about it, especially since this time we can share the experience… can’t you just be happy for us?”

Cody glared at him, then his mouth slowly relaxed into a slight smile.

“Don’t expect me to admit that I’m sorry…”

“Scheisse…of course not…that would be a sign of weakness…at least you didn’t make me bleed this time.”

Urs whistled for Homer and turned for the door, throwing his arm around Cody’s shoulder and grinning when he heard the reply.

“And have Freckles rip me apart? Not ****ing likely!”

They went back in and joined in the decorating, made valiant efforts to sample everything in the well stocked bar and by the end of the evening had succeeded in elminating all conscious thought of everything, including their private conversation, from their minds.

**

CHAPTER 115…THE CIVIL SERVICE

The next day was the 23rd, the last day that Urs and Izzy would be allowed to share a bed. When night fell he would move to the Chateau until after the wedding in the chapel.

He had agreed to being parted, way back when they first discussed getting married and decided on a date, but now that the time had approached he wasn’t so sure that it was a good idea.

“Technically we will be married,” he commented as they used the Peugot again and drove into town, very early in the morning. “I mean once the civil service is over you will be my wife, so….”

“Urs, we agreed that until we’ve had the service in front of the minister that we would wait…it’s only 24 hours…look at how long we’ve been apart when you travel.”

“That’s the point…I’ve been without you in my arms for 2 weeks and slept through the first night home…it doesn’t seem fair to have to spend the night with the guys.”

Izzy laughed and reached over to rest her hand on the smooth fabric of his grey worsted suit.

“Are you going to pout? It really isn’t an attractive look for you, Luv.”

They had both dressed nicely for the trip to the Licencing Office and the tour of the car dealerships, Urs in his gray suit, no tie but a deep burgundy silk shirt and his knee length black cashmere coat with the soft scarf and kid gloves, matching kid boots to complete the outfit.

Izzy had opted for cream, almost head to toe, a creamy white wool coat over a 3 piece suit of cream cashmere, the short jacket in matching lace, the skirt just above the knees and soft caramel suede boots that came to mid calf.

“You look like a vanilla ice cream cone…I have such an urge to nibble,” he said with a glance at her and a tender smile.

“It isn’t going to work, Urs…you can play your seduction games all you want but I really want you to keep your promise…it’s bad luck for the bride and groom to spend the night together and I’m not taking any chances…this is forever, you know…trust me, it will be worth the wait.”

“You always are Liebling…that’s the problem. Alright…I can’t argue with you…my head will start pounding again. PLEASE!!! Don’t ever let me get into a drinking contest with your brother again…he looked fine this morning and I just wanted to dig a hole and disappear.”

Izzy tried not to laugh but failed and consoled him with a pat on his leg.

“You did look pretty sad when you finally managed to stagger into the bathroom…but it didn’t affect your demonstration of how to use your…accessories… last night…I loved the way you flopped on the bed when I finally got your clothes off and held your arms out, croaking “Take me, Woman!! I’m all yours!”…so I did!!”

“I don’t croak! I have NEVER in 37 and a half years croaked!”

“Until last night…never mind Luv…your Little Soldier did a lovely job…you have him trained very well.”

He glanced at her again. She looked smug, a little flushed…and he wished that he could remember.

**

They were both silent as they went down stairs in the elevator, officially, according to the government, Herr and Frau Urs Toni Buhler. They stepped off on the main floor, Urs took her hand and tugged and she followed quietly, almost as if she were in a daze. He was aiming for a tiny cul-de-sac by the doors to the parking area, a spot that always held the building directory on a chrome easel and he pulled her in behind it, pressing her against the wall.

“I’m sorry…it’s the law and he probably does these so often he doesn’t even think about the importance to the couple.”

He was referring to the bored clerk who took their papers {along with the fee} in a monotone and, without any preliminaries, opened a worn ledger to begin the joining of yet two more people in marriage.

The whole episode was done in a rush, as if the clerk was late for something and wanted it DONE so he could get on with more important things. There was no mention of love, of commitment, just the laws that would bind them together, done in a singsong voice, by rote, expecting few responses, acting impatient when they didn’t understand the cues and mumbling the words at the end.

They had both stood quietly, waiting for more and the clerk looked up with impatientce.

“You’redonecongratualtionsnextplease.” He pushed the signed and stamped papers at Urs and looked over Urs’ shoulder at the couple awaiting their turn, but to buy a dog licence. “Next!”

“I don’t feel married,” Izzy said timidly and when she looked up at him he groaned. Her eyes were bright with tears.

“Neither do I, except in my heart…it will be different tomorrow, Liebe…everyone we love will be there, sharing the moment, happy for us…and with us…and Gott will be there, rejoicing in the ceremony when two of his children eagerly accept the life he wanted for us…when we hear the words tomorrow it will BE real…and we will feel it.”

He kissed her gently and rocked her in his arms until he felt her relax against him, wanting to go upstairs and pound on the bored, unfeeling clerk but even more, wanting to comfort her.

“Now, about tonight….when does my banishment start?”

**

Izzy insisted that he drive the new car home and was glad she did when his face lit up with delight as he announced that it was the first time in his life he had ever owned a brand new, off the lot, vehicle.

“When I was growing up we rarely had the money for a different vehicle, never mind a new one. Gerd and I, and even Mami, had to learn how to keep our old clunkers in good shape so they would last. You sure, Baby?”

“I’m sure…Flossie would be extremely jealous,” she answered, referring to the battered old truck that had been in storage while she was a prisoner and that she had sold to Trudi for $1.00 when she was last in Toronto.

She followed him in the Peugot, driving to the market and chuckling as he parked the pristine Lexus, Copper Brown Mica, exactly the color they had wanted, choosing a spot far away from the stores…and the other vehicles parked in the sparsely populated lot.

It didn’t take long to find everything on the short lists they had from Ambra, Sally, Dee and pick up the few items they wanted for themselves.

Urs packed the cloth bags that Ambra had given him, then carried them out to the cars, refusing to let Izzy help.

“Are we going to spend the next 7 months or so keeping me from lifting anything heavier than a glass of juice?” she asked with a smile.

“Maybe…I have to justify the fact somehow that a woman like you would be willing to spend her life with me. If not for my muscles, then what?”

“Urs Buhler! Are you fishing for a compliment? Or do you maybe need reassurance?”

“Woman, you have me at a disadvantage…my hands are full or I’d hug you until you squeaked. I don’t need reassurance…I know you love me…for sure I love you…and I’m looking forward to making what we have official…and public.”

He grinned at her and raised his arm to allow her access to his pocket so she could get the keys to the new car. It took a moment of fumbling to find the right button to raise the trunk door, in the process flashing the lights, unlocking all the doors and briefly turning on the alarm…but finally she found it and stood back while Urs laughed at her and placed the bags inside on the thick tan carpeting.

“We should get a liner for the back…you know, to keep the carpet clean if we have messy or wet things to cart around,” he said, not to anyone in particular but more as a reminder.

“And a nice first aid and emergency kit…I like the little space they’ve provided for that sort of thing under the back seats.”

“It’s actually a law here…like the one about keeping your car clean…you can get a nasty fine if you get caught, I think it’s three times.”

“Well, I’m quite proud of the decision we’ve made…it’s fuel efficient, has lots of neat features, safe, you got a great deal because of paying cash and taking a floor model…and it’s pretty as well.”

Urs chuckled as he hugged her, so happy that she had put the rushed civil ceremony out of her mind now.

“That poor salesman didn’t stand a chance once we double- teamed him…it’s after lunch time…you should eat…and I think my stomach has settled enough that I can now…soup and sandwich okay with you? I know a little place.”

“Perfect!”

They had lunch at a tiny Inn just before the junction with the highway, not too busy since it was almost one in the afternoon.

They were seated opposite the crackling fireplace in the low ceilinged dining room and served by the chef’s wife who actually suggested a wine from Reve that would be perfect with the beef/barley homemade soup that was the soup of the day. Urs ordered a thick sandwich as well, made from locally cured ham, spicy mustard, lettuce and several slices of a local cheese on crusty home made bread. Izzy opted to just have chunks of the bread to dip in her soup and smiled as she watched her almost husband enjoying his meal…his appetite was definitely back.

“Did you hear from Simon?” she asked as he slowed down and sipped his wine.

“Ja…he should be here before noon today or tomorrow… and I got an e.mail from David…he’s in Denver, apparently doing nothing much but running the snowblower since they keep having major blizzards…he’s actually thinking of looking for a home base somewhere in the area if the weather clears after Christmas…he still has that apartment in New York, remember the one we helped paint?…that was fun.”

“Maybe you should consider having a second base too…maybe in London since you spend so much time there.”

“I thought about it…it’s something we can talk about…I think with two children it might be better to go for a house, like Seb did…doesn’t have to be the size of Tranquillite but it would be better for all of us than a hotel. And property is always a good investment.”

Izzy looked thoughtful for a moment then smiled and waited while Urs checked out the dessert menu…he settled for a slice of Nusseltorte and offered her more wine while they waited for it.

“Thanks Luv. but one glass a day is my limit…I’m surprised you didn’t read that in your manuals.”

He grinned at her and braced his elbows on the table.

“You have a question…I can see it brewing.”

“You know me too well, SS…I was wondering if you would feel comfortable giving me some advice on what to do with the money I’m letting sit idly in the banks….or if I should maybe open an account in Andorra like you did and have an advisor? We’ve never talked about finances or any legal matters…I’ve avoided the subject actually…didn’t want you to think I was after you for your money.”

“Rest easy…I know it’s my body, not my money!!” he said softly so the approaching waitress wouldn’t hear.

When the woman left he ignored the tasty looking dessert and reached across to take her hand.

“Everything I have is ours, not mine…money, property, investments…From the few little things you’ve let slip I know you’re concerned about the way we seem to be spending money like drunken sailors but I don’t want you to worry…yes, we’ve spent a lot of money lately but I have a lot for the first time in my life…and we haven’t been silly with it, buying things that won’t last or we don’t really need…Reve is an investment…and in a very important way the things we’ve bought for Adam are too…we need to stimulate that amazing little mind of his…and the car…well I need to know that you and Adam are as safe as can be when you travel…and before I leave on the tour I want us to visit my lawyer with our official documents in hand to prove that we are a couple and have everything put in both of our names…no reservations, no contracts in case of divorce since there will never be one…this is forever and I want us to start out as we mean to go on…I will never leave you…I will give you your freedom if you ever ask it of me, though it would destroy me to do so.”

“Oh Urs…I will never ask, not for any reason…I can’t conceive of a future without you in it….and when we visit the lawyer I’ll find out how I can have my possessions put in OUR keeping as well…”

His hand tightened on hers and that sultry look she knew so well darkened his eyes.

“I need you…”

She felt her cheeks flush, caught her breath and decided to tease him out of his randy mood since there wasn’t anything they could do about it…unfortunately.

“I saw the sign when we came in…this is an Inn,” she said with a grin that faded instantly as he surged to his feet.

“Hold that thought…” he left the table abruptly, bypassing the waitress and going directly to the chef/owner who was resting from his busy lunch time with a slice of torte and a coffee.

Izzy saw him lean over the chef, briefly showing the stamped licence and the rotund man smiling as he rose to go behind the desk near the door and reach behind his confused wife for a key from the rack.

Mere seconds later Urs had grasped her wrist to lead her through a door at the end of the dining room and they were going rapidly up the curved stairs to the second floor, dessert forgotten on the table, both of their coats still hanging near the entrance.

He was all thumbs trying to get the door open and she laughed, leaning against the wall, eager too but in a giggly mood because the whole thing struck her funny.

“Minx…you aren’t helping…” the door swung open and he grasped her wrist again, pulling her into the room, shutting the door a little harder than he had planned and leaning her against it as he devoured her laughing mouth, his hands trying to find the lock and secure the door.

Her laughter became moans, all thoughts of humor fleeing as the urgency that consumed him overcame her too.

Neither of them noticed the cozy atmosphere of the small room, the clean linens, the attached ensuite…they stayed locked in an embrace and somehow managed to not trip each other as they crossed the room to the high soft bed, buttons coming undone, zippers unzipped, heated flesh exposed, a trail of clothing dropping to the floor until they fell naked on the bed, joining their bodies and sighing with contentment as they paused.

“I love you, my Isabella,” he murmured against her neck as he thrust his hips gently.

She cupped his head with her hands, wrapping her legs high around his waist.

“And I love you, only you…”

With gentle, tender thrusts, kisses and moans the impersonal haste of the clerk vanished from their memories as they consummated their first wedding, the loving somehow at last making them feel…. married.

**

Two hours later, when they made it back downstairs to enter the dining room, their table had been cleared but Urs’ abandonded desert was in a take-out container behind the desk. The waitress beamed at them, offering congratulations on their nuptials as Urs paid for lunch {and the room} with a very large tip…Izzy busied herself, hiding her flaming red face in her coat collar as she did up her buttons, nearly choking on a groan as the chef called out congratulations from the kitchen doorway and the two tables of people having afternoon tea clapped.

Urs was almost choking as well, but from laughter as he hustled her out the door, bursting at the look on her face as they neared the Peugot and he leaned down to kiss her.

“Well, we are legal you know…you don’t need to be embarrassed.”

“It’s just that both times we…they were just downstairs….. they knew what we were doing…I wonder if they told those other people?”

“Maybe…actually I could faintly hear them talking so I don’t think the rooms are very soundproof…you should have shown some restraint, Baby…once made us legal…twice was just being greedy.”

“RESTRAINT? I didn’t notice you going all soft and disinterested, Super Stud!” she said, struggling futilely against his chest while he laughed at her.

“Not my fault…you know I can’t resist you…” He threaded his fingers through her hair, immobilizing her head and kissing her with butterfly kisses across her face until she melted against him and sighed.

“Now how am I supposed to drive when you have me all boneless and dazed?”

“Slowly…” he said with a cheeky grin and a squeeze of her bottom.

He settled her in the Peugot, stealing one last kiss before he went to the Lexus and found the right button to unlock the door immediately. She let him take the lead, smiling as she thought about their day, deciding to extend his curfew to midnight…the rule was to not see each other on the day of the wedding, not actually for 24 hours…yes, midnight would be better, would give them more time to…..

‘Gott, I’m becoming obsessed…bloody hormones…and I’m not even in the second trimeseter yet…or is it just him?…that gorgeous man…and having to be without him, then when he’s home all he has to do is breathe and I want to jump him…well enjoy it while you can girl….I wonder if he’ll still want me when I get big and awkward…there we go with the hormones again…STOP IT!! Have a little faith…we’re like rabbits, the pair of us…odds are this baby won’t be a year old when the next one is born…’

She laughed as she followed behind the Lexus, picturing herself still nursing one baby and swollen with the next…actually it was a thought that, strangely, made her smile…

CHAPTER 116…Last Minute

There was nothing left to do except enjoy the company of family and friends. All the ‘Last minute’ things had already been done well before the last minute, the new car had been admired {by the women for the color and the safety}, by the men who drooled over the specs for the Lexus Rx 400h, AWD, DVD based GPS, reverse monitor, Air Bags with the sensor which would not deploy if the passenger in a seat weighed less than 30 Kilos, the Bose stereo and on and on, circling the vehicle like lions at a kill while the women went back in the house…

Simon, who had arrived while they were in town, was the first male to give up, the New Car Admiration Society not something he was a novice at…he actually couldn’t remember buying anything other than new except for his antique Baby Blue Rolls.

He joined the ladies in the Lounge, cupping his mug of coffee to warm his chilled hands and smiling at Izzy as she asked him how his flight was.

“Good…I brought the jet…it’s so much nicer than traveling commercial, especially in this busy season. You look well, Bella…much better than the last time I saw you.”

“Thank you…this place…and Urs, have been good for me…have you settled in your suite? Is there anything you need?”

“Yes, I’ve settled in nicely…it’s lovely…I’m in Hiboux {Owl}, which seems rather appropriate…and no I don’t need a thing…you seem to have thought of everything.”

“I thought you might have brought your mother with you…I know you often spend holidays with her which is why I included her in your invitation….we certainly have enough suites if she still would like to come.”

“Mother has developed a new lease on life in the past years and is constantly on the go…at the moment she’s off on a Senior’s tour of the Orient with a bunch of friends…she won’t be home again until mid January and then only briefly before she goes to the Bahamas for some serious sun worshiping. I’ll talk to her via satellite on Christmas Day.”

“Good for her! I hope Urs and I have that kind of stamina when we get older.”

“Well I don’t have it…just reading her itinerary I need a nap after.”

The other men came back in, teasing with cold hands on any bare flesh they could find or huddling at the fireplace to get warm but all enthused about the new car.

Claude and Dee arrived, with all five kids in tow on a long toboggan and after the chaos of stripping off outerwear, sent all the kids up with Adam to the play room until dinner time, then Adam would be going home with them to spend the night.

Ambra had kept one of the day maids over to serve dinner, though it was a homey affair with everyone pitching in and the food on platters, passed around the beautifully laid table. The children all ate in the kitchen with Hans and Horst in charge while Hugo helped Ambra plate the desserts and occasionally kept the noise level down to an acceptable roar.

“Why do we have to go to church tomorrow?” Amelia asked Stefan, being quiet while a church service droned on not her favorite thing.

“We don’t…we’re going to the chapel to watch Onkle Urs and Tante Izzy get married.”

“What’s getting married? Is it like confirmation?” Denys, the 8 year old asked, busily stuffing pasta in his mouth.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full…it’s gross…no, it’s when you promise in front of Jesus that you will stay together and make more babies.”

“In Tante Izzy’s belly like Maman did with Roger?” Amelia asked, smirking at Denys when she spoke with her mouth empty.

“Then would I be a brother, just like you are?” Adam asked with his eyes lighting up in interest.

“Yes…”

Horst decided that there had been enough baby questions and before it was asked how the baby would get in Tante Izzy’s tummy he changed the subject.

“Did you all see the stockings Mme. Bella made for Father Christmas to put presents in? Tomorrow night you can hang them by the fireplace or in your rooms and in the morning they should have treats inside,” he asked, winking at his brother who smiled, fully aware of the reason for the subject change.

“I want candy in mine,” Amelia called out, forgetting about the empty mouth rule and dribbling on the pretty smock that had been put over her good dress for just this reason.

“You always want candy…I want some Lego like Adam has with the little motors,” seven year old August interjected as Hans rescued his glass of watered down red wine before the energetic emphasizing of the statement toppled it to the floor.

“If Father Christmas doesn’t bring you some you can have some of mine,” Adam offered. “…. but not the ones Papa and I are using to build the Space Station.”

Roger happily listened to his siblings chatting, banging his spork on the tray of the little chair that Adam had let him use for dinner and in general making a fine mess of the food in the plastic dish in front of him.

In the main dining room the conversation was quieter though there was a great deal of laughter as the topics flowed from one end of the laden table to the other.

Simon had regaled them with tales of dealing with the contestants on his TV show, claiming that his ear drums were permanently damaged from some of the acts put on by the people who thought, mistakenly, that they had talent.

Martine made Izzy feel much less inept in the kitchen with stories of disasters when she was learning her trade and Marta totally embarrassed her sons by revealing secrets from their child hood that had everyone gasping with laughter.

“They were bad enough separately, but together…it’s a wonder the girls weren’t put off males entirely…and then when the girls became teens they had to deal with 2 older brothers who made their lives miserable…checking out the boyfriends, following them on dates, waiting up and opening the door to keep the good night kisses brief. Urs was very skinny then but he had this way of flexing his shoulders and staring that sent many a boyfriend scurrying for the road after a very quick peck on the cheek.”

“It’s a skill I plan on refreshing if this baby is a girl,” he said, smiling at Izzy way down at the other end of the table.

“Congratulations!”

“When are you due?”

“Early August…and Urs should be home then.”

“Mid July for us,” Claude said with a shy smile, setting off another round of cheers and congratulations.

“It must be something in the water,” Gerd said and had everyone howling with laughter when he turned to Sally, took her water glass and demanded that she only drink wine while they were on the estate.

**

Gerd and Sally had to leave to pick her parents up at the airport and gradually the rest of the dinner guests made ready to depart, some tired from traveling, some just wanting to give Urs and Izzy a few minutes of privacy before Urs went off to the Chateau to spend the night.

The children had already gone off with Hans and Horst and were, presumably, tucked into their beds at the Home Farm after enjoying a short ride in one of the sleighs with Inky pulling them over the snowy roads.

Urs and Izzy had made themselves scarce, as had been expected, while Zus, Marta, Claude and Dee and Simon relaxed in the Family room…Cody and Martine had gone for a walk to help digest dinner and Ambra had finished up in the kitchen and departed for the cottage with Hugo…the house was at last peaceful, living up to the name.

“It will be hard on them, Urs being away on tour while Izzy is carrying,” Dee said as she leaned on Claude in one of the big Lazy-Boy chairs.

“She can travel with him part of the time…and I’ve seen the schedule…they’ve planned it so there are a few 2 weeks chunks of free time,” Marta said, just a bit defensively.

“And the corporate jet will be available…it’s a much more relaxed way to travel …” Simon added.

Claude cuddled his wife closer and laughed.

“If Izzy is anything like you are, Maman, she will have so much energy Urs may have to nail her feet to the floor…just like I always threaten with you.” He addressed the room in general as she blushed. “Dee always tackles all the projects that we’ve put off when she’s pregnant…like painting the whole house, taking the kids camping… remember when you were getting close that fall, I think it was with Denys…you were still putting down jars of jam when your contractions started and you insisted on finishing the batch before you would get in the car. We almost didn’t make it to town that time.”

Urs and Izzy had gone up to their suite, the excuse being to make sure he had everything he needed to spend a night in the Chateau and get ready for the ceremony there. In actuality he had already packed and his tails had been taken to the suite in the Chateau earlier in the day, had been steam pressed and was hanging with his shirt and other gear in the spacious closet in his temporary quarters.

He chuckled as he pulled Izzy into his arms, holding her against his chest and rocking her back and forth.

“It’s funny but I find I’m quite enjoying the anticipation of holding you, wanting you but knowing that we must wait until after the service. We’ve had such a roller coaster relationship…first making love when we hardly even knew each other, though I will never forget it or regret the way it happened…then being so involved with each other for such a brief time, then being apart for such a long painful 2 years…and now back together and until recently never apart…I think the time we were separated I came to know you and myself better than I had ever thought possible…I know what I want out of life now, what is of utmost importance…I don’t think of relationships that same way I did before.”

“What do you mean?”

“Before I met you and learned what real love is, whenever I would think about being in a close relationship with a woman there was always that knowledge in my mind that if it didn’t work out we could end it…it was kind of an escape clause, something I accepted as part of the package. With you, I don’t feel that…I don’t want this to ever end, don’t want an out…the thought of ever being without you scares me to death. I’m not perfect, my Little Love…I will try to never hurt you, you know that. I can Promise to always love you, to show you respect, to be honest with you even if it hurts…but I can’t promise to never fail you…can you Promise to never leave me, in spite of the fact that I may not live up to your expectations at some point?”

“Don’t borrow trouble Urs…we’re both human, both subject to the frailities that come with being imperfect beings. I love you the way you are, honest, caring, natural…you are a wonderful father, a tender, thoughtful lover, a partner any woman would be proud of. If we have problems some time in the future, we’ll deal with them, together. I will never leave you, unless you want me to go.”

They indulged in kisses that fanned the flames never far below the surface of either of them, caressing skin that quivered in anticipation and laughing as they broke apart.

“We are supposed to be waiting until tomorrow,” he said with his eyes dark and smouldering.

“Then you better not lean against me like that. Your Little Soldier is distracting my good intentions.”

He sighed and moved away from her, adjusting the bulge in his jeans and checking in the bathroom again for his packed shaving kit, just to put some distance between them.

“Did you know about Dee?” he asked when he came back and rested his hand on the barely visible bump of her tummy.

“Yes…she told me when we bought the test strips…I think everyone was happy for us when you told them…”

“Especially Mami…though I think she guessed…she likely saw the way I can’t keep my hands off your tiny bump and figured it out…not much gets past her.”

“Speaking of bumps, I’m really going to have to watch my diet. I don’t remember showing this early with Adam…but then I had been sick and by this time I was in the camp. By the way, will you let me play doctor and give you some diet suggestions for during the tour? I hate to see you so run down, so tired…there are things you could be careful of to give you more energy even while on the road…like for instance you should be taking a multivitamin…and asking to have the suite frig supplied with yogurt for that sensitive tummy of your…look at it as supporting me with my gestation routine.”

He lifted her under the arms and spun her around, laughing as she clutched at his arms.

“Baby, you can play doctor with me anytime.”

He kissed her again and they left the suite, going downstairs with her arm around his waist and his around her shoulders, snugged up to his side.

In the hallway he kissed once more, stroking her face gently with his hand.

“When I leave in a few minutes the next time I see you is when you come to me in the Chapel…and make me complete…I love you, my almost wife.”

“Don’t stand me up, SS…Dee told me where the dungeon key is and I’ll hunt you down…I love you, Urs Buhler…don’t ever forget that.”

There was a mass exodus of men from Tranquillite, all of the males having decided to share Urs’ exile, secretly hoping to get him falling down drunk and to play poker for most of the night.

The ladies stood on the steps for a minute, watching them leaving, the banter as the guys teased Urs coming back to them clearly in the crisp evening air. Claude had peeled off the group to borrow the Peugot and take Dee home, planning on catching up to the others in a few minutes.

Izzy shut the door and turned to face Martine and Marta.

“This is harder than I thought…it’s going to be a long night,” she said with her eyes suspiciously glistening.

“Nonesense…SLUMBER PARTY!!...my suite…go get changed and bring your polish, creams and other junk down…I’ll make the hot chocolate!” Marta said, giving both women a push towards the stairs.

**

The men were heavily into a poker game when Gerd arrived back from the airport with Sally’s father in tow.

After introductions all around, another round of drinks was poured and Sam, the tall, fair-haired doctor from the Catskills, sat in on the game, surprising them all with a well honed skill.

“I’ve played with Izzy,” he said with a laugh… “She taught me some of her tricks.”

Urs leaned back in his seat, studying the group around him. Except for Cody’s competitive streak he wouldn’t change a thing about any of them…well, and Gerd too but that was a brother thing. Actually even the way Cody always challenged him wasn’t a bad thing…it was just the way he was and usually fun. Tonight however the big man was going to be sadly disappointed if he thought to get Urs drunk. He wanted to be completely sober tomorrow, ready to enjoy the feelings as he pledged himself to Izzy and she to him, before Gott and their friends….he was still sipping gingerly at his first snifter of an excellent Courvoisier when Gerd arrived.

He wasn’t an overly religious man, though he did believe and revered the Lord. Like most things other than music he was private about his feelings regarding religion but intense at times. The wedding service at the clerk’s office had been to appease the government, and as such had little importance in how he felt. This ceremony was different, a commitment to not only Izzy and himself, but to the Gott that he worshiped, albeit privately.

“Hey, Big Brother…no daydreaming about your bride… either fold or ante up!”

Urs literally shook himself, shelving deeper thoughts until later when he was sure he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

**

The ladies had smeared green stuff on their faces, hair tied back, and took turns painting each other’s nails, on hands and toes, talking about the wonders of Italy in the fall, getting to know each other better as Martine told some of her family history and food service training. Marta asked what Izzy remembered about her parents and she spoke fondly of them, the family history of her mother’s Irish heritage, the trials they had gone through during their escape from the Potato Famine to relocate in Canada, her father’s lineage that of more recent refugees, from World War II, and his long service in the military.

“Dad was lucky…he was smart and was befriended by a career soldier who took the family in, helped to educate their only surviving son, Dad who was about 16, and helped them get established in Ontario when they arrived from Spain. Mom had a harder time. Typhus decimated the family so that Great Gran Abigail was the only member to survive the journey. Her health was never good after, though she did marry and produced twin girls, one of whom died shortly after birth, my Granny Siobhan being the other. My Mom was a twin also, born 11 months after my Granny married, apparently a big surprise since Gran was 41 when she married a teacher from the local Seconday School….Mom’s twin was lost in a swimming accident at 3 years of age, something that always tore at her…she made me take swimming lessons almost before I could walk….and I had Adam in the water at under a year.”

“I can’t have children,” Martine said softly and both women sympathized with her.

“I don’t think I would want to anyway…Cody teases me about it and I’m alright with that…it’s been a long time and I’m kind of used to the idea now…I had cancer which resulted in a Radical Hysterectomy at 24…it seems to run in the family…my aunt, mother, several cousins…Monique has been through it but survived too thanks to chemo. I really don’t want to pass this on to another generation. Cody and I talked about adopting and we may…older children, the ones nobody wants…we’re both over 40 so we’re past the baby stage now.”

“I agree…Urs and I want to stop before I hit 40 so the kids are grown by the time we hit the 60’s…young enough for us to still enjoy life on our own and old enough for the kids to be somewhat.independent.”

Marta laughed.

“YOU WANT TO STOP? Good luck!!! It’s a hard habit to break!”

**

Izzy’s cell phone on the night stand purred the melody of Isabel at her just as she adjusted Urs’ pillow yet again, trying vainly to get comfortable in her lonely bed and go to sleep.

She grinned as she rolled over to reach for it, knowing exactly who would be on the other end.

“Urs?”

“I needed to hear your voice just one more time…were you sleeping?”

“No…I’m so glad you called…I’ve been waffling between sneaking out of here and trying to find you at the Chateau or getting up and playing some boring games on the computer. I miss you, even more than when we’re a continent apart.”

“Mami would catch you…she always seemed to know when Gerd and I tried to sneak out. I miss you too, Liebe. I’ve got the drapes open so I can look at the stars…it’s a beautiful night, so clear and frosty…a good omen for tomorrow I think.”

“Hang on a minute…I’ll be right back…”

He waited patiently, relaxing into the soft new bed linens in the refurbished suite, enjoying the fresh clean smell of laundry soap and furniture polish in the bedroom…and then he heard her jump back into their bed and the rustle of the duvet as she drew it over herself again.

“I opened the drapes here too so we can look at the same stars…It reminds me of what we saw at the Planetarium in Berlin…what an amazing show that was! Every time I go in Adam’s room and see the posters you two put up I think of it.”

“We spent some time laying on his bed, staring up at the Crab Nebula with the lights off…those little stick-on stars we put around it give off just enough of a glow that it’s like really looking at the sky…it was a great idea Mama….Izzy how much longer until we can feel the baby moving?”

Her hand strayed to her tiny bump, the place he liked to rest his hand when they spooned in their bed.

“Only a few more weeks…for sure before the tour starts…and only 5 days until we see the first pictures…we should start thinking about names soon…with Adam I was so sure he was a boy I didn’t even pick out a girl’s name really…”

“Will the pictures show the sex this early?”

Izzy chuckled.

“Not with any accuracy…do you want to know?”

“Ja…Nein…Maybe…It doesn’t matter really…I’m just so happy to be sharing this with you…Baby, you bring so much to my life…sometimes I get scared, thinking it might be a dream and I’ll wake up and find that none of it is real…”

“Me too…but then I touch your heart on my chest or hear your voice or Adam comes barreling into the room for a hug, full of laughter and so like you…and I wonder what I ever did in this life to make me worthy of such bliss. You make me so very happy, my Swiss.”

“I love you, Isabella, mein Schatz…..and I can’t wait for tomorrow when we will really be married. Now snuggle down in our bed and rest that precious body…the two of you need some rest.”

“Urs…will you sing Ti Amero for me? I want to hear your voice as I fall asleep…”

She smiled as he began, closing her eyes and letting the music and an image of him waft over her, whispering ‘I love you’ when her troubadour faded and so did she, both gently closing their cell phones and easing into dreams of the future…. together.

**

CHAPTER 117…THE WEDDING

The Pastor called to remind them that he would be arriving at half 6 in the evening, making Izzy laugh when she disconnected the call after chatting for a few minutes.

“Did he honestly think we would have forgotten?” she asked Marta, giggling as they sat in the warm kitchen sharing a moment over a very late breakfast that they had put together themselves since Ambra had gone to the Chateau to help organize the food for the reception. Even Simon had abandoned the house to the ladies, returning in the early hours to sleep, waking after only a few hours sleep and going back to the Chateau and the company of the men, suit bag in hand long before the women put in an appearance in the morning.

Marta smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“He’s just being thorough, Kinder. Have you talked to Urs this morning?”

“No…we did talk for a while last night and agreed to not go over board and check in every half hour today…it would make the day seem to drag in half hour segments. He’s going to be busy for a while anyway…he refused to let me do anything to the chapel and he’s doing it himself…when I talked to Gwen she said she saw a florist truck going by about half an hour ago so I think he must have ordered a few things for the chapel as well as the bouquet…I do hope he didn’t get a big one…I always think they look kind of tacky.”

“Have faith, dear…he knows what you like. Your gown is in plastic, just inside my suite…and the veil…the company you sent them to did an amazing job. Oh and I have something for you from Herr Copf…I didn’t want to give it to you before in case Herr Snoopy found it.”

She went to her suite and came back moments later with a small blue velvet ring box.

Izzy opened it and felt her eyes moisten.

“It’s perfect…he does beautiful work.”

She held out the open box so Marta could admire the wide platinum band with the single diamond embedded in the polished surface.

“It matches the one Urs had made for me, though mine will be narrower…Urs doesn’t know they match…in fact he may think I’ve forgotten that we talked about him wearing a ring back in Columbia…he was eager to wear one then but hasn’t mentioned it since…I sure hope he hasn’t changed his mind.”

Marta handed the box back with a small smile.

“You know our Urs…he seldom does once he’s made a decision…and he won’t break a Promise.”

Martine came in looking all fresh and cheerful. She kissed Marta on the cheek then went to Izzy and gave her a hug and a kiss.

“Nervous?”

“Shaking!!”

“That’ll calm down once you see him in the chapel…we had a very small affair, in Monique’s condo…Cody stayed the night at a nearby Hotel, under protest I might add, and just arrived 5 minutes after the pastor did…when he walked in and I peeked out the bedroom door to see him all my butterflies left. The man looks amazing in his dress uniform….and by that time his hair had grown back in from where my sister hit him with the frying pan.”

“Urs is going to be wearing his ‘uniform’ too…no Marta, don’t panic…not jeans, boots and a tee shirt…the guys are wearing tails for the last act on the tour and Urs is wearing one of his for the service, the one that fits well…they must have had several tailors making them since they don’t all fit the same…and wait until you see Adam…Urs had one tailor-made for him, just like Papa’s…I’m not supposed to know but the tailor let it slip.”

They finished a leisurely breakfast then Izzy took her gown upstairs to have a long relaxing bath.

**

Urs body clock woke him as usual just after dawn…he got up and used the facilities then went back to the cozy warmth of the bed, thinking to ease into the day with thoughts of his beautiful bride…and promptly feel asleep again, not waking until nearly 10 when Gerd pounded on his door and came in.

“The florist is here…both vans…what did you do, clear Lausanne of posies?”

He erupted out of bed and threw the door open.

“It’s a little chapel but a big reception venue…I want everything to be perfect for her…stall the guy with coffee…I’ll be down in 5 minutes.”

He dressed quickly, ran his hand over his stubble and decided to wait to shave so he would be fresh for the service.

Ambra was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when he clattered down them two at a time, holding out a thermal container of coffee. He kissed her cheek, blessing her for the thoughtful gesture, making her blush furiously.

“Ambra, Mme. Sally knows where I would like the flowers put in here…I’m going to the chapel with the florist to see that it’s perfect too…is everything under control?”

“Oui, M. Urs…controlled and happy…the village girls have worked here before so they know where everything is…we will make this a very special day.”

He almost ran out the entry doors, confused for a moment when he saw one man unloading a van but that the second van was missing a driver.

“You said 5 minutes…I didn’t think you meant a real five minutes,” Gerd said from behind him as he hustled the driver out the door, collecting the coffee mug and passing it on to the driver of the first van as he came up the steps with a bucket of flowers in each hand…and now a coffee mug stuffed in his apron pocket.

Urs and the driver unloaded at the chapel, placing the tubs of flowers in the entry. He signed for the delivery of both vans and watched for a moment as the driver negotiated the turn into the village square then disappeared from sight.

It was cool in the chapel, not cold since the thermostat had kept the heat on but was just turned low, the timer set for 5 in the afternoon to raise the temp so it would be pleasant for the 7 o’clock service.

He shut the wide wooden doors, slipped his boots off to keep the shining slate floor dry and stepped inside, on the freshly vacuumed deep burgundy carpet that ran the length of the building, from the reception area to the altar in front of the tall stained glass windows.

It was a lovely, though small, chapel and had been cleaned only a few days before, the glass gleaming in the smaller versions of the Rose Window from the Cathedral on the sides and a three paneled depiction of Christ’s Ascension at the end, the wooden pews with their patina of age softly glowing. It sat about 80, if the parishoners were friendly, no choir loft, only a small door at each side of the altar, into storage on the left and a private changing room for the parson on the right. The plain gold cross of the Reformation church had been found in the store room and now stood, refurbished, on the antique lace altar cloth, the Duc’s family Bible open on a tall, carved wooden stand just beside the steps leading to the altar.

Urs strode to the Bible first, curious to see the additions that Claude had shyly mentioned to him the day of their tour.

Yes, there it was…a new series of pages, beginning the new dynasty.

It was lovely work, something that Dee had apparently practiced for months before committing pen to paper and the effort showed in the lovely old script….their marriage, and in succession, the births of their children under a heading which bore their Family name…and on the opposite open page, only the heading but done in the same ornate script:

BUHLER

After todays service their names, wedding date and Adam’s birth would be added to this page.

‘I don’t know her name…isn’t that amazing…all this time, everything we’ve been through and I don’t know Izzy’s full name…’

He laughed as he slipped his jacket off and went back to the reception area to begin placing the flowers in the proper spots. It took an hour even though the ones not in perfect arrangements in crystal vases were in small vials of water. He placed Izzy’s small bouquet {she didn’t like large, showy arrangements} and the single roses for the female guests, the buds for buttonholes of the male guests, on the refectory table in reception, the small arragement on the registry table set off to one side of the altar, checked the sound system to be sure that the music was ready, made sure the lighter was handy for Hans to light the candles when he arrived, then stood in the entry to survey his handiwork one last time.

The sun sent a shaft of light in the end windows, reflecting off the cross as he watched, making it shimmer and casting splashes of color across the surface of the lace cloth.

‘Another good omen,’ he thought and laughed at himself for being superstitious.

He slipped his boots on, grabbed his jacket and left, stopping on the top step to pull his leather gloves on and smile at the woman who was giving the steps a last sweep.

“Good day for a wedding M. Urs,” she said with a huge smile.

“It is, Hilde, that it is…you are coming to the reception I hope…and bringing the children and grand children?”

“They were very excited when they arrived for Christmas and found out about the wedding…my son Leo can remember working with you when you were both teens…and I told him how much we love your lady and son…Mme. is always so willing to help out whenever anyone is not feeling well…. even when she was still wearing that sling from the terrible accident, she came to our home to be sure Luc was recovering from the cough he had…. May you have a long and happy life together…and many more children.”

Hilde blushed scarlet, surprising herself by being so bold but Urs just laughed and thanked her, waving as he headed off to the Chateau and the possibility of some lunch, his smile changing to a grin as he thought ‘We’re working on it, Hilde…’

**

The professional photographer that Urs had checked out and hired arrived mid afternoon, greeted Urs warmly then told him to just pretend both he and his assistants were invisible. Urs had asked for candid shots, as well as the more formal ones during and after the service and the man was eager to comply, taking shots of the Chateau as he wandered about, the bustle of the staff preparing the ball room, the arrival of Adam with Claude late in the day {after his long nap}, even a trip to the stables to immortalize the preparations of the horses and sleighs which would be used to transport the bridal party. His female assistant was similarly occupied at Tranquillite, taking discrete pictures of Izzy getting ready, well pleased with her efforts when she was at the right place when Izzy came down the curved staircase, almost glowing with anticipation, illuminated by the setting sun coming through the windows, looking ethereal and as if she had entered from another century in her antique gown.

The restoration cleaners had done an amazing job restoring the damage of over 200 years of storage. The fragile Chantilly lace from France had been brightened to an ivory white, the few tiny breaks in the veil repaired invisibly. It floated from the small pearl encrusted cap over Izzy’s curls, skimming her back and shoulders as it fell to just below her waist, briefly touching the swell of the ruched bustle at the top of the short train. The dress itself was completely lace over the finest of shimmering Chinese silk, sprinkled with tiny woven-in seed pearls, no doubt brought by ship from what was at that time known as Cathay…it was form fitting but also covered her body completely, as was the custom in parts of Europe in the early 1800’s, the neck line high and snug around her throat with a tiny ruffle of pearls and lace that almost framed her face, the shoulders poufed, just a bit, sleeves long and coming to an elegant point on the back of her hands…the bodice hugged her curves, outlining her breasts, dipping in for her still narrow waist, smooth over her hips and flared in the back from below the knees for ease of walking and to form the short train. Her only jewelry {that could be seen} were the diamond and pearl stud ear rings that had been her mother’s…and the hidden heart pendant under the bodice of her gown.

Cody stepped forward to meet his sister at the bottom of the stairs, having arrived only moments before to escort her to the chapel, speechless when he saw this vision of his sister seeming to come towards him out of time itself.

Adrianne, the photographer, shook herself back into the present, snapping several shots of the giant soldier in his dress uniform greeting the bride, inwardly sighing as they made her job easy by being visual perfection.

“Your mouth is open, BB,” Izzy said with a smile but in a whisper as she took her brother’s hand, as always, proud of the way he looked in the almost formal tuxedo look of the dress uniform: polished buttons flashing, the row of color from ribbons and medals adding just the right amount of flash on the short, tight jacket, his white gloves and the white cover {hat} tucked under his arm, as gleaming as the small amount of collar peeking out above the crossed ribbon that served as a tie.

“You clean up pretty good, Freckles,” he whispered back, grinning as he placed her hand on his arm and led her to the foyer.

The silver fox, velvet and peau de soie, full length cape that was part of the ensemble, had been designed for elegance, not warmth, but Izzy chose to wear it since they were only going a short distance. Sally, Martine and Marta helped her put it on without disturbing her dress or veil, then donned their own winter coats while Cody shrugged into the knee length cape that was part of his dress uniform.

Hugo was waiting with the sleigh at the end of the wide red carpet that had been laid over the damp ground and stairs, Inky in the traces looking frisky and freshly groomed, feathers and mane fluttering in the light breeze and the brass bells tinkling. After only a few moments while Cody got the ladies settled and covered with warm fur robes, they were off in a swirl of snow and the jingling of the shiny bells that adorned the harness on the eager Friesian.

**

At the Chateau Bucephalus had been teamed with Manny {Mandracus} to pull the larger but equally decorated sleigh, with Horst handling the reins and they waited, stamping impatient feet in the light snow cover at the bottom of the carpeted stairs for the group of men to come out and board.

Inside the building soft music played but there were few other sounds except subdued voices and the slap of shoes on the stairs or the highly polished floors as the men gathered in the huge entry.

Gerd had appointed himself as assistant to the ring bearer, Adam, since Urs had long since lost the ability to breathe and make decisions. Onkle Gerd helped the formally clad {and beaming with pride} little boy into his coat, insisting on his wool cap even though Adam didn’t want his curls messed up, checked his own pocket for the ring for the hundredth time and started the exodus by carrying Adam out to the sleigh.

Small groups of people greeted them with waves and smiles as they wound down the drive, under the arch in the wall, and through the village street and the square, people in party clothing under their winter coats heading either for the chapel to catch a glimpse of the bridal party or off to the Chateau to await the arrival of the newly married couple. The sun seemed to be rolling along the jagged tips of the mountains as if loath to leave without a glimpse of the party going on in the festively decorated village.

“Is Mama at the chapel?” Adam asked and Urs blanched.

“I hope not…Are we late?”

Simon laughed and held his wrist out so Urs could see the Rolex above the edge of his glove.

“Don’t be silly, Buhler…when are you ever late?”

“Right…it’s just I thought…I mean…ach!…I don’t know what I’m thinking…”

They passed Sally’s parents, Sam and Joanna, just before the chapel, the couple having opted to walk so they could leisurely see the village…the other sleigh had not yet arrived and Urs managed to breathe deeply in relief.

Coats were shed, rose buds put on, passed out by formally clad Hans who had the duty of greeter in the reception area and everyone except Adam, Urs and Gerd entered the chapel to find seats. Moments later Zus had attended to the sound system and the gentle strains of a Mozart track {Serenade in B flat}wafted over the nearly full chapel.

Sam and Joanna arrived, were helped with their coats and flowers, taking a moment to speak softly to Gerd as Urs paced the confines of the area.

“He looks ready to run,” Sam commented with a nod towards Urs and a smile at Adam who followed behind his Papa, imitating his pacing.

“No, I think he’s worried she won’t show up…it’s as close to a panic attack as I’ve ever seen my usually cool and calm brother. He’ll be fine once she’s here.”

‘What is it the books say?...something about hormones, about mood swings? …why is my memory failing me today, of all the days it could be fallible?...Please, Gott…don’t let her change her mind!!...I know I didn’t understand the importance of marriage before…not until I met Izzy…my precious Izzy…I want to belong to her, to make this commitment…you have blessed us with so much already…it’s time…time to acknowledge your blessings publicly, to open up and share, with each other, with those who love us…even with the loyal fans that have stuck with me though I tried to keep them shut out…no more! ….I will keep my Promises…to you, to Izzy, to my children…my children…look at Adam…he’s so smart, so like both of us but more…and this new baby…will he…or she…be like Adam?...it doesn’t matter…I love her…or him already! ...Ach, Gott, is that the sleigh I hear?’

The sound of bells on an approaching sleigh made all sense desert him and he almost succeeded in opening the outer doors to look out. Gerd stopped him with a calming hand on his arm and ushered both him and Adam to the interior doors. Hans opened them just as the second Mozart track {Piano Concerto #21, the Elvira Madigan Suite}was coming to an end…it was the signal for Urs, Gerd and Adam to enter the chapel and walk forward on the carpet to stand in front of the Pastor who had just entered. There were soft murmurs as the two men entered side by side, Adam in front and beaming a toothy smile at people as he went by. They made an elegant picture, all three dressed in their formal tails, white shirts stiffly starched, the pleats showing razor sharp in the shirt fronts above the silk vests and cummerbunds, Adam and Gerd with white rosebuds pinned to the lapel, Urs with one that matched Izzy’s bouquet.

The Pastor, all in black with his white collar, waited patiently, an old hand at this ceremony, smiled at Urs, recognizing the tension that was making him almost visibly shake.

“Nice job on the chapel, young man…she will be pleased,” he whispered to the nervous groom, as he had hoped, the comment making Urs relax, just a bit.

The music changed to O Holy Night, done by Il Divo, an appropriate track they had decided since it was Christmas Eve.

There was a stir in the air as the bridal party entered the confines of the reception area, divesting coats and capes and the women fussing over Izzy’s gown.

Hans passed out the roses to the ladies and made a tiny bow to Izzy as he handed her the small bouquet of her favorite Talisman roses, the soft orange/yellow tinged with coppery red nestled in a nest of greenery, Stephanotis and a few white carnations for the scent.

She raised it to her face and took a deep calming breath, smiling at Marta and Martine as they kissed her cheek and got ready to enter.

‘He did all of this for me!...What a thoughtful, caring man he is…my favorite flowers, of course he would remember, that’s how he is…and the white carnations he added for the scent, even in that large vase on the reception table…and I’ll bet there are more inside…How absolutely perfect!...When I was a very little girl and dreamt of one day marrying I had no idea of the feelings this day would bring…even when I was older, during those days when all I had in my life was my work, I couldn’t conceive the emotions that would fill me…this man has changed so many things in my world… everything I am, or want, or have revolves around him…and it feels right…Danke, Gott…for what you have given us, for the joys you have blessed us with, for the love of this good man…’

The doors opened and Martine and Marta slipped inside, accompanied by Hans who escorted them to the front pew then withdrew once more. Marta reached out to pass the groom’s ring to Gerd then settled back in her seat next to Zus who took her hand in his and radiated pride that this lovely woman in the dove grey silk chose to be with him.

Martine, dressed in a three piece, dusty rose velvet and lace suit sat next to the space saved for Cody, looking poised and elegant as she quickly winked at Adam who blinky winked back at her with a cheeky smile that made those around them laugh quietly.

Back in reception Cody took Izzy’s hand in his and chuckled as Sally stood by the doors doing some deep breathing to calm her own nerves.

“Too late to run now, Freckles…anyway with the training I gave him he would hunt you down and drag you back here…the man really loves you…and he’s a good partner for you…someone who will never let you get bored, never hurt you, who will keep his promises, who will always challenge you to better yourself…and who will make amazing babies with you…Mom and Dad would have liked him.”

O Holy Night finished, there was a very brief pause and then the opening notes on the piano signaled the doors to open once more, this time staying open. Urs voice filled the chapel as the recording of Ti Amero started…. the 2 men and little boy looked towards the entry when the pastor looked there and smiled.

Sally stepped into view, tall, slender, dressed much as Izzy was in an antique gown, this one full skirted and in a delicate soft yellow silk, a coronet of roses in her upswept hair that matched the small bouquet of white rosebuds in her hands, something she was thankful for since her hands were shaking uncontrollably….until she looked at Gerd and felt herself relax, filled with the love she could see in his eyes.

She reached the front just before the orchestral interlude, perfect timing, she thought, since that was Izzy’s cue.

Everyone rose to their feet. The bride was outlined in the doorway, spotlighted by a shaft of sunlight that just at that precise moment flashed through the windows before sinking behind a cleft in the mountains.

Her eyes skimmed over the chapel, missing nothing: The Talisman rose and carnation spray on the end of each pew, the white satin ribbon that tied them together draped over the carved endpost, the flickering tall white candles in sconces or candelabra, the congregation who had risen to their feet to gaze at her with smiles, each of the women holding a Talisman rose, the men with white carnations pinned to their lapels, the huge arrangements at each side of the altar, the open estate Bible on the stand with one rose laying on a mostly blank page…and the man whose eyes drank in the sight of her, who looked eager to rush to her side, his hands raising slightly from his sides as if he wanted to hold his arms open for her to come to him.

Cody stepped up beside her, placing her hand on his arm but she neither felt it nor acknowledged his presence. Her eyes had found him, this man she loved, waiting for her at the altar, his eyes bright and locked on hers, that lovely curly head glinting with copper and brown highlights in the last stray shafts of sunset, his mouth curved in a smile that eased her nerves, that made her want to run laughing into his arms.

Urs wasn’t sure his legs would hold him in place as he watched Izzy coming toward him, one hand on Cody’s arm but her eyes locked with his, a small smile on her face. It wasn’t nerves any longer…he wanted to rush down the aisle and gather her into his arms, hold her there forever…and he knew she felt the same, saw Cody reach up with his other hand to pat her hand, saw his lips move in a whisper just as Gerd touched his back and murmured, “Steady!”

Somehow she reached the altar, reached his side though she never could recall the journey, just a floating feeling as she neared…and stopped only inches away from him, totally unaware at this moment of anything except his smile, his eyes….

It was difficult but they unlocked their eyes and faced the pastor as the congregation sat and he began the ritual that would join them in marriage.

This was different, not the impersonal reciting of words that had little emotion as in the clerk’s office. There was a feeling of reverence, of rightness in the words that the Pastor spoke, a feeling of permanence, of timelessness, as if they were the first couple to ever make this commitment to each other and to their Saviour and yet a feeling of honoring a tradition as old as time itself.

The Pastor spoke of the sanctity of the vows they would take, the importance of family, of respect…Urs stole a glance at Izzy and she smiled at him, making his breath catch in his throat.

No one challenged the Pastor when he asked if anyone objected to the marriage and he moved on.

Cody had just responded to the question of who would give the bride to this man, put Izzy’s hand in Urs’ and sat down beside Martine, when the Pastor felt a tug on his pants leg and looked down.

Adam had decided that he had enough of standing around … if Onkle Cody could sit, he wanted to sit too. He dug the two rings that Onkle Gerd had given him out of his pocket and held them up, pulling on the preacher’s pant leg to get his attention.

The Pastor bent over with a grin he couldn’t control and held his open Bible so the rings could be placed on it…and Adam scurried off to sit with his Oma who was trying desperately not to laugh.

And so without any more deviations from routine, the short service continued: Vows were given freely and with feeling, rings were blessed and exchanged, Urs helped Izzy to kneel, holding her hand as they both received a blessing, they rose together, were pronounced as joined in marriage and urged to kiss, though it was hardly necessary, in fact could not likely have been prevented.

Zus clicked on the sound system once again for more Mozart {Sinfonia #40} while the newly-weds went briefly to the small table at the side to sign the register and other official documents with their witnesses, Gerd and Sally. Then the Pastor introduced M. Urs Toni Buhler and Mme. Dr. Isabella Siobhan* Buhler to the congregation and the smiling couple made it a few steps before being mobbed by well-wishers.
{*pronounced Chivon, an Irish family name from Izzy’s grandmother}
**

CHAPTER 118…WEDDING NIGHT

It wasn’t until after the service that Urs and Izzy were aware of the family present at the service…his sisters had arrived early in the day with their families and Dee had housed them in two of the empty but furnished residences, Nadia and several single cousins in another, the latecomers of aunts and uncles and more cousins, who arrived just before the wedding, going now to the Chateau to stay over night for the family Christmas party the next day.

Both of the sleighs were outside the chapel and began ferrying the ladies in their finery to the Chateau while the men walked and joked, remembering their own nervous trips to the altar and looking forward to sampling whatever was on offer at the reception bar.

Izzy and Urs waited until the Pastor had gone in a sleigh with Marta, Sally and Martine, then slipped quietly into his little change room for a few stolen moments of privacy.

“If I had known what it would be like I would have carried you off and married you with only Gerd and Sally present… I don’t remember ever being so nervous,” he said as he touched her face tenderly, almost afraid to disturb the perfection of her appearance.

“And I would have encouraged you!...but it was worth it…you look amazing, Urs…I almost pulled up my skirt and ran to you.”

“We were born in the wrong century, Liebe…you look like you traveled through time to be with me…you are even more beautiful today than you usually are…”

He trailed kisses over her face, as always in moments of extreme emotion escaping into his Mother tongue, whispering to her as his lips gently worshiped her, his hands softly pulling her against his chest.

“Mein Weib…Mein Kompagnon…Mein Geliebte…ABBAUEN!”
{My wife…my partner…my lover…MINE!}

She tried to speak but he wouldn’t let her, taking her mouth in a kiss that spoke of all the suppressed emotions he had kept bottled from the moment he saw her standing in the shaft of sunlight, the moment he knew he would always remember, just before she gave herself to him forever.

They broke apart because of a timid knock on the door to the little room.

“M. Urs? Everyone has gone…I will wait with the sleigh for you.” Hugo’s voice sounded slightly choked as if he was trying to hold in laughter and Urs sighed, then looked down at Izzy with a smile.

“Very tactful, our Hugo,” he said softly to her with a grin, giving her one last kiss…for now…. then straightening her veil before opening the door.

He helped her with her cape, admiring the softness of the velvet and white fox fur, remarking again on her perfect choice of an ensemble, lifted her into the sleigh to the amusement of Hugo and they snuggled under the thick fur robe as they jingled their way to the Chateau.

Izzy had slid her hand under his beneath the warmth of the robe and smiled at him as he squeezed it.

“So, my Pretty Lady…do you feel married this time?”

She laughed and snuggled closer.

“Oh yes! Very married…and very happy.”

“Me too,” he said and bent his head down to kiss her once more.

**

They had decided against the usual speeches, rituals, separated bridal party and more formal reception, opting for an informal gathering of family and friends, more like a family Christmas Eve celebration with buffet tables of food, an open bar, round tables scattered through the spacious ballroom and a central square for dancing to the taped music playing over the hidden speakers, again a party like the one in Tribeca that they had so enjoyed.

Izzy took her veil and cap off shortly after arriving and the toasting by everyone with a glass. They had been very firm about their ‘no presents’ policy, though they did themselves have the Bonus envelopes for the staff and Christmas stockings {and accompanying bags of gifts to fill them during the night} for every child present, which they distributed by going from table to table with one of the maids pushing an antique tea trolley loaded to the top and thanking the partiers for sharing the day with them…and wishing them a Happy Christmas.

Their left hands with the matching rings were oohed and aahed over again and again, even by Adam who had left his young friends, old and new, long enough to come and give them both hugs and announced that he was happy they were wearing ‘his’ rings ‘cause now he didn’t have to worry about losing them {even though Gerd had kept them safely in his own pocket until the service started}.

Ambra threaded her way through the crowd after about an hour of mingling and shooed them off to get something to eat, mentioning that the nook beside the kitchen was quiet if they wanted to escape for a while.

Only a few minutes later they did exactly that, Urs carrying both plates as they tiptoed down the stairs to the basement kitchen and collapsed on the solid old chairs at the wooden table.

“How long do we have to stay?” Urs asked between bites.

Izzy laughed and swatted his fingers as he tried taking a flaky roll off the side of her plate.

“Long enough to be polite I guess…though I don’t think many will miss us…I think everyone is having a good time…Did you see Nadia dancing with Simon?”

Urs head came up and he frowned.

“He’s too old for her!”

“Urs!…they were only dancing, not making out…Simon is a lovely man…that gruff thing he does on the TV show is all an act.”

“I know that…and he’s still too old for Nad.”

“Gott, I hope this baby is a boy…a poor little girl wouldn’t stand a chance of ever marrying with you for a Papa…”

He stared at her, wide eyed.

“I never thought of that…if she’s a girl, then some day some man will…I mean she’ll want to…you know…”

“Have sex…yes Urs, that’s the way it works…just like we did.”

“Out of the question until she’s older!!!…”

“Older than I was?”

He stared again, his food forgotten.

“You were 30 that first night in the cottage…Izzy I don’t want to think about this…we’ll just have to raise her right so she can make good decisions…and hope she’s as happy as we are…and Adam will keep an eye on any boyfriends!”

He smiled smugly, having worked out everything to his satisfaction. He wouldn’t think about it tonight, the idea of his daughter in 20 or 30 years having sex with some stranger…no, tonight he planned on being busy thinking about himself having sex with his WIFE. He glanced at Izzy and laughed when he saw her grin.

“You little Minx!!…You know exactly what I’m thinking don’t you?”

“You bet!” she said trying to keep her laughter quiet. “Odds are it invoves something called foreplay…”

“Maybe the second time…don’t forget we missed a night.”

The laughter gave them away and a few minutes later they left the group of kitchen staff who had drifted in to wish them well and went back to the party.

“Look Urs…there’s a Baby Jesus in the manger now,” Izzy said as they glided past the crèche that had been used for over 100 years in front of the Chapel. It was well past midnight on this clear starry evening and the party was still in full swing. They had kissed their sleeping son Good Night on his bed of coats behind Marta’s chair, done the tossing of the bouquet thing {minus one rose that Izzy kept as a momento} and escaped with Horst out to the waiting sleigh, leaving Sally and Gerd to be teased by the family since she had caught the well aimed missile.

“I wonder who did it this year…it’s always a secret…it just appears as if by divine intervention just after midnight…I love old traditions like that…it gives me a feeling of awe, knowing that some things last, maybe forever.”

She snuggled against him, one hand inside his coat and against his chest, trying not to think of the warm body that she could feel through his shirt.

“It’s one of the reasons I chose to wear this gown…your affection for the past…that and it seemed such a shame to waste all the labor of love that had been put into it…just think of the hours, maybe weeks of work the nuns in France went through to make this lace, weaving the tiny pearls right into the fabric…and the way it had been stored, wrapped in layer after layer of such fine Egyptian cotton, as if whoever put it away knew that some day another lucky woman would take it out and wear it on her wedding day.”

“I think the old Duc would have been very happy today…he had a deep respect for antiquity yet was also eager to embrace the future. His only real failing was that he wasn’t very realistic about financial matters…not that he personally lived beyond his means but he did tend to keep doing things for the estate and for his people that he could ill afford…I think those last few years Claude had a hard time keeping the estate solvent.”

“…and now…?”

He smiled down at her and patted her hand.

“Not to worry, Liebe…all it took is an infusion of funds so things could be run properly…we’re already showing a profit, even with all the restructuring…after less than a year of new management….. I think everyone will be very pleased when they see the size of their Christmas bonuses.”

Horst waited until Urs had carried his bride into Tranquillite then headed for the stables to groom Inky and bed down himself for the night. Hans was already there, just completeing the grooming of the other two Friesians, the last of the horses used on this special night…ferrying the partiers would be done either on foot for those still able to walk, or in vehicles from the parking lot near the village wall by designated drivers.

“It went well, I think.” Hans said, tossing Horst the pick for Inky’s frogs. “Did you get a chance to eat? Maman was going to bring me out a plate but M. Urs invited me in to get warm and have some food.”

“Me too…what a spread. You staying here tonight?” Horst said, tapping Inky’s leg so the horse would obediently raise his foot, his comment meaning the tack room where the boys often crashed on the sofas.

“Might as well….I heard him talking on the way back…he mentioned a nice bonus for all the staff this year…I wonder if that includes us? I didn’t open mine, just gave it to Maman to take home.”

“Likely…they both are very fair men {meaning Claude and Urs}…I’m putting mine in my college fund…”

Horst finished Inky’s feet and put the pick back on the tool rack, scooped up a tin of grain to fill the feed bin and took the brush to begin on the thick winter coat.

“Mine too, except…I really would like to take Magdalene to the cinema, so I may spend a little bit…she was serving tonight, did you see her? She’s the one with the big jugs, almost as big as Mme. Mon dieu I’d like to get my hands on those if she goes out with me!”

Hans took another brush and began on the other side of the contented horse, both boys talking about the girls and women at the party, discussing their finer attributes as teenage boys are apt to do the world over.

**

The Mme. Horst had commented about was busy having her attributes admired by her brand new husband, not the physical ones, not yet, but the attention to detail that she had shown in readying their suite for this special night.

Before dressing for the ceremony Izzy had placed candles in glass chimneys or holders around the room, clusters of small ones that gave off an elusive scent, tall pillars that flickered with light, others nestled among arrangements of white or red roses, just like the white and red rose petals strewn across the new red satin sheets on their bed and the carpet in front of the crackling fire, all of which Hugo had lit as a side trip on one of his many runs with the sleigh.

“How perfect!” Urs murmured as he took in the preparations and reached for her hand to raise it to his mouth for a gentle kiss on her fingers. “…and how in keeping with the time warp we seem to have been in all evening….actually since I saw you in that last shaft of the sunset in the doorway…I thought my heart would burst when you stepped towards me.”

“Did I? I only remember floating…and drowning in your eyes. Urs thank you for the flowers in the chapel…I’ll never be able to catch the scent of carnations again without thinking of entering and seeing you waiting for me.”

His arms were around her now and he sighed.

“There are a million little buttons down the back of this dress….and there’s no way I can act like a caveman and rip it off you…though that’s what I’d like.”

Izzy looked up at him and smiled sweetly, a wicked glint in her eyes.

“If you had less of your finery on I could maybe offer a suggestion…I have a treat planned for you, my husband, something to take the edge off so we can go slowly the rest of the night.”

He had no hesitation about removing his ‘finery’, not like he did about the antique splendor she wore and in seconds he was down to only black satin shorts…..which she stripped away with one swift movement of her hands in the waist band.

She pushed him backwards until he felt the upholstered chair at the little desk behind his legs. When he was seated she knelt at the side of his long, muscular legs and leaned over, fluttering kisses down his chest, across his stomach, running her hand up his thigh, making ‘MMMMM’ sounds when his member rose from the curly nest it had been semi-resting in.

“Buttons…” she whispered, reminding him, as her hand wrapped around the base of his now rigid shaft, the expelled breath from speaking wafting across him and making him shiver…and stiffen.

He started on the buttons…she started on him, licking the length of him, wrapping her tongue around to inflame the underside, then blowing gently on the wet surface, rubbing the palm of her hand over the head until a few drops of pre-cum glistened, licking her palm as she looked up at his glazing eyes and reminding him again.

“Buttons, Lover…”

She continued, slow and gentle, too gentle, making the build up of expectation throb through him, making even his curly hair alive with need. He developed a rhythm: work one of the tiny buttons through the loop on the upward stroke of her hand on his shaft, breathe, move to the next one on the downstorke…then her mouth enclosed him, working in sync at first, the warm, wet sucking beginning gently, the buttons seeming easier, faster to slip through the loops…her hand left the base and fondled his swollen sacs, the other behind him, caressing his back, around to the side to scratch lightly across his sensitive ribs. And suddenly she left him, rising to her feet and slipping out of the gown, laying it across the nearby sofa with the thin undergarments and returning in seconds, this time nudging his legs apart as he leaned back in the chair, his body on fire, craving more.

Now unexpectedly she alternated the rhythm, pulling down with her hand to move the taut skin as her mouth closed over the head and sucked upwards, creating an exquisite pulling sensation that made him groan…the soft kneading of his sacs continued, included gentle tugging that just bordered on painful ecstasy, making him gasp her name again and again….he lost control, his hips writhing, pushing deeper into her mouth, his hands spasming in her hair….she swirled her tongue around the head and dropped her hand to caress the flat area behind the sacs, pressing gently towards his back, making something inside vibrate with spasms…and he couldn’t hold back, didn’t want to, submitting to the intensely exquisite feelings of ecstasy that carried him away as he exploded, crying out her name as his entire body stiffened and he emptied into her throat.

Urs collapsed back into the chair, shaking, gasping for breath while she licked up the semen from around the still purple head, gently pulling the foreskin back and sucking up the few drops that had escaped. He felt her straddle his hips and use her hand to guide his still hard shaft across her wetness, felt her breasts against his chest but could only weakly move his arms up to hold her loosely.

“Share…” she said leaning forward, open mouthed, to raise his head and kiss him, tasting of sex, gentle, yet the thrusts of her tongue demanding, infusing him with a strength he didn’t know he still possessed as she left his mouth and cradled his head on her shoulder.

“Mein Gott, Geliebt…what did you do to me?” he murmured against her neck, his arms and hands still shaking as he held her.

Somehow they wound up on the carpet in front of the fire, laying spooned, both facing the flames.

Urs slid down a bit on the pillow they shared, resting his mouth against the side of her neck and making her turtle and giggle when he spoke.

“You’re so juicy…I didn’t expect you to be so wet when I was the one getting all the pleasure…”

“Not true…ah yes, touch my breasts again…that feels so good…I love giving you a BJ and knowing that I’m the one making you hard, giving you so much joy….it’s a turn on for me…”

“That thing you did…when you changed the rhythm… incredible…and then below my sacs…”

“The perineum…your P spot is just inside there…I hoped you might like it…”

“Like it? I thought I’d died and gone to heaven….Baby, you give the best BJ I’ve ever, EVER had….this was a wery, wery good idea….now it’s my turn.”

He raised up on one arm and pushed her flat, bending down to lick her breasts, then slowly lowering himself until his body covered hers like a warm, heavy blanket. Gently he started a trail of kisses down her neck and across her chest, tasting her skin, his hot breath on the wet areas making her shiver with sensation and writhe under his recovering body.

She could feel his penis filling again as he enjoyed her quivering responses, her gasp as he pulled on one swollen nipple with his strong teeth and kneaded the other lightly. He slid down her body sucking her tingling breast and running his fingers down her tummy to lightly touch her mound.

She spread her legs apart, bucking against his hand and gasping with need.

“Touch me! Harder!”

He left her breast, smiling as he crept up to her mouth, not the direction she had hoped for and she tossed her head in frustration.

“Shhhh…not yet, Liebe….how many times would you like to cum tonight?”

She remembered the last time he had asked that question and felt her body tingle with anticipation.

“No holding back tonight, no control….I’m going to use you in ways you never dreamed were possible, take us both to heights no one else has ever reached….You are such a tasty little thing…lets try for a new record, shall we? Are you ready for me, my little wife?” His mouth filled in the space between his murmured words, nibbling on her neck, teasing her nipples, sucking her skin until she moaned, his hand now on her mound, delicately touching where she longed for him to be, teasing with light fondling that was driving her mindless.

Uncontrolled Urs was something she had only experienced small tastes of before and she felt herself quiver, both in lust and a slight frisson of fear, quickly forgotten as his hands and mouth began to move over her body, touching, bringing to the brink then easing off, playing her body like a toy until she knew nothing, felt nothing but his hands, his mouth, his body joining with hers to become one writhing mass of pleasure that could feel nothing but joy, unending, exquisite joy.

All his considerable skills came into play as he pleasured her, and himself, worshiping her in every possible way except rough, never letting her finish completely into the satiation of after shocks, driving her up again and again with tender strokes, caresses, with fingers, mouth, shaft, with humming against her quivering groin, murmuring in tender ears, tasting, nibbling gently, licking and sucking on swollen nipples and clit, on tender flesh to leave marks of loving, Tantric exercises that left them both vibrating with the need to be joined again….and when she thought she could bear no more, just before dawn, in their bed on the rumpled red satin sheets, sharing love one more time, slowly, langorously, one more affirmation of their undying love.

**

CHAPTER 119…CHRISTMAS

“Merry Christmas, little wife.”

She felt his breath on her cheek as he woke her and the scent of freshly brushed teeth, mingled with the musky aroma of loving that still pervaded the room.

“Merry Christmas, my own special husband…I suppose this means that Adam is awake…”

“For awhile….I didn’t have the heart to wake you…you looked so cute, pulling the duvet up over your head when he started making sounds. He’s sitting on his bed emptying his stocking…that should keep him occupied for a few minutes.”

Urs pulled his pillow up against the head board and sat with his back against it, rolling her still limp body into his arms to cuddle against his chest, dressed, she discovered, only in his shorts for the quick visit to see their son.

She still hadn’t opened her eyes but smiled as she felt his hand tracing an outline below her breast.

“MMMM…I do good work…” he said and when she peeked up at him he was smiling smugly.

“You certainly do…but which time are you bragging about? I feel like a very large group of men ran a train on me….and they were all named Urs.”

He laughed and traced the outline again.

“I was speaking of the nice love bite…right here…but then I do believe you left a few marks yourself.”

“Just establishing ownership, Geliebt… I’ve heard that branding with a hot iron is illegal….and not nearly as much fun.”

Her face was at the perfect position and she couldn’t resist, leaning forward and licking his flat nipple and making him groan as it rose in pleasure…and making her giggle when he hugged her.

“Behave, Woman! I have no resistance to you after what you made me do last night.”

“MADE you do? I don’t remember you complaining… actually, I thought you were amazing…. The way you kept taking me up again so quickly, making the feeling last and last…that thing you do with your tongue…My god, Urs, what an incredible night!”

His voice was husky as he raised her up so he could kiss her, then whisper against her neck.

“You inspire me, my little Love Godess… all I have to do is touch you and I get rock hard…the taste of you drives me wild…usually I can somewhat control what I feel but last night…I didn’t want to be controlled…I wanted you to know how you make me feel, to experience it myself and with you, like I never have allowed myself before, not with anyone. Loving you and knowing you love me makes what we shared last night possible.”

“We are so lucky to have found each other….twice…my life would have been so empty if you hadn’t rescued me from that camp and that evil man.”

He felt her shudder as the spectre of Eduardo invaded their happiness.

‘Now…this is the right time so we can start off this new era of our lives without the memory of him hanging over us.’

“Liebeling, I have something to tell you…and I hope this is the right moment. When Cody first got here he told me that Eduardo and his buddy are dead. They were both killed by one of the other rebels, rather gruesomely, and it has been confirmed. The evil they did towards you and Sally can’t be done to anyone else, ever again. I didn’t want to upset you but you do have the right to know.”

She leaned back and stared at him for a moment, her face pale and eyes wide, then sighed and curled up against him again.

“I haven’t thought about that time or him for weeks…and now…I can think about it but it’s like a distant memory, like remembering being sick with the flu or when that rebel slashed me with the machete…not pleasant but not upsetting either…almost as if it was something that happened to someone else. Still I’m glad they are gone and can’t hurt anyone else. And I understand why you didn’t tell me right off. You were protecting me again…Thank you, Luv, but there’s no need. He can’t hurt me…nothing can hurt me so long as I have you.”

She reached up to kiss him, gently, tasting his mouth, pressing against his bare chest but with none of the desperation he would have expected if she was upset.

“I’m really glad today is Christmas Day,” she said snuggling against his chest again.

“Greedy! You just want to see what Santa brought you.”

She laughed and stretched, trying to get her body ready to be mobile.

“No…well, yes there’s that too….I just figure you would want to do something if it wasn’t for the presents and dinner…you know like cross country skiing and after the way my body was used last night I don’t think I’m capable.”

“Actually I think we better hurry and shower before our son gets impatient…”

She wiggled out of his arms and bounced off the bed, scurrying into the Lav. He rose and went into the dressing room to get clean clothing for the day, tidied the bed a bit, then when he heard her brushing her teeth wandered in to join her, turned on the shower and stepped in.

“Did I remember to tell you that I picked up a bunch of those new Reach floss packages that we both like? I put them in the drawer…they should be selling them here soon if they are in the UK now.”

She joined him in the shower, taking the sponge from him and soaping his back with long strokes.

“We can get some more just in case when we go to the US for the Purple Ball….turn, Luv so I can do your front….Urs, I was wondering…”

He turned around and grinned at her.

“Whatever it is, the answer is yes! How could I possibly say no to you after last night?”

“Be serious!...I was just wondering if you really have your heart set on going away for a couple of days…have you already made plans to go somewhere?”

He took the sponge and began soaping her back, dropping a fluttery kiss on the nape of her neck that made her shiver.

“I though all brides expected to have a honeymoon somewhere away from everyone…I haven’t made any bookings but I thought we would maybe just go skiing or to a spa…I’m sorry Baby…I should have made all the arrangements but it was so crazy when we got back to Europe…pick someplace that you’d like to be and I’ll take care of it.”

“Here…I would really love to be here, with you…we really haven’t had a chance to spend much time here together …and there’s so much to see and do…and we could go skiing, there’s a lot of places nearby…would you mind if we stayed here, a Tranquillite, together?”

He wrapped his arms around her slippery body and held her close.

“Woman, I love you so much…to be honest, the thought of getting on another plane and flying off somewhere …lets just say that it makes my stomach churn….but I would have done it if you wanted a honeymoon…honestly, this is where I want to be too…we’ll be off soon enough for the Inauguration thing in the US…and we can take a couple of days to revisit some of our favorite spots in New York while we’re there…but no bridges.”

She laughed and turned in his arms, letting the water pour over them and rinse off the suds.

“It’s winter, I never do the Bridge in winter…and anyway no bridges until after August…but caves might be a nice idea…Dee says ours aren’t dangerous and they are warm from the storage batteries.”

Urs had left the bathroom door open and they could hear Adam singing so they hurried through shampoos and conditioning, both with ideas about their Home Honeymoon, some silly that made them laugh and some that made eyes sparkle with interest.

**

As soon as Urs was fortified with a steaming mug of the coffee that Marta had made in the big urn, Izzy and Adam took him through to the tapestry that was hanging on the wall in the anteroom. Adam started giggling when Urs thought that he was being given the lovely tapestry and could hardly talk when he was supposed to tell Urs to move it.

“Off the wall, Papa…it needs to be off the wall…”

“But it looks wery nice there, Sohn…”

Izzy tapped him on the arm and smiled at his obvious confusion.

“It’s on a rod, Urs…slide it over out of the way.”

He did and exposed the double doors to a neatly concealed commercial elevator.

“It has funny doors, Papa…when you slide one up the other goes down.”

As they rode up to the top floor, he still looked puzzled and Izzy gloated. This was one secret she had managed to keep from him.

He was stunned speechless.

The techies had done an excellent job of the recording equipment, then Adam and Izzy, with some help from moving men, had furnished it with all the extras: sofas’s, lamps, chairs, both office and lounge, a small frig for cold drinks, an espresso machine, office equipment that would be handy for writing scores, reams of paper, blank reels for recording, 2 pianos, some of his guitars hanging on the interior wall, a medium sized conference table and in the booths, several styles of head sets and mics, stools for the idle times and stands for additional instruments and equipment.

“The installation was a wedding gift from Simon…and the rest…from us…Merry Christmas, Geliebt.”

He was going from one board to the other, touching the intricate dials and switches reverently, picking up the Bobble head Ozzy Osborne she had purchased on a whim and laughing, finally turning to them with a smile that lit up his face.

“It’s perfect…and so thoughtful…and I love you both wery, wery much…Danke.”

He hugged and kissed them both until Izzy thought her ribs would crack and Adam wiggled to get down so he could get a closer look at all this great stuff he hadn’t been allowed to play with…yet.

It took a bit of coaxing but they finally got Urs back downstairs and into the Lounge to join the others and let Adam do some serious present opening.

**

As was the custom among the large Buhler family they didn’t go overboard with gifts {in public} for the adults.

Everyone who had stayed at the other houses or the Chateau wandered in gradually, helping themselves to the buffet breakfast that had been laid on for them by Marta and Izzy who merely had to nuke some of the items that Ambra had prepared the day before or crack eggs into the electric griddles that were set up on the long tables…the children were another matter, scarfing down the minimum amount of food and soon were sitting with all their new treasures in a sea of shredded wrapping paper, laughing and showing each other yet one more wonderful thing.

Urs’ suspicion that Mami had guessed about the baby was proven right when Izzy opened a gift from her to find a lovely hand crocheted baby blanket.

“It was made by my Oma, when I was carrying Urs…I know how you like old things,” Marta said wistfully when Izzy hugged and kissed her. “I do too, so I saved it for his children.”

Izzy was going through the lapidary and jewelry making equipment she had received from Urs, marveling at the clarity of the microscope, one she had longed for but never before owned, and checking out the small leather bags of raw gemstones when Adam came over to her and beckoned her to lean over so he could ask her something.

His whisper needed a bit of work, actually could have been clearly heard several feet away but she smiled and nodded when he asked if it was time.

Quickly he ran over to where Urs was talking to Simon and tugged on his arm.

“Papa, will you go out back with me? I need to take Homer out…and return the tools I used on Mama’s PC to ‘the Shed’.”

Urs raised his brow in surprise.

“We don’t have a shed, Adam.”

“Yes we do…it’s behind the store room.”

“Ahhh, Adam…what were you doing to Mama’s computer?”

“Taking it apart…I needed to see how it works and fix it for her.”

Simon burst into laughter.

“And how does it work now?”

“Better…but her laptop is really getting slow…..she needs to store some of her files on a thumb drive.”

For a minute Urs thought he might have to perform CPR on Simon, but his friend and boss began laughing.

“He obviously doesn’t take after you when it comes to computers, Buhler.”

Urs followed Adam out to the kitchen where Homer was hiding out from the hordes of people in the Lounge. They put jackets and boots on, collected the little case of miniature tools and headed out with a very relieved dog.

“I don’t remember seeing a shed back behind the store room…is it attached to…..” Urs stopped walking and shook his head as the old looking building came into view, the weathered stone and slate roof very like the other buildings on the estate, easily as long as the store room though not as tall, 4 large garage type doors taking up most of the front and a smaller door near the end. There were two large, round ventilation units on the roof, the only things about the building that looked relatively new.

“I really thought I knew every inch of the place…” he muttered to himself as Adam opened the small door and stretched up to click on the lights.

Then he stepped inside.

“Merry Christmas, Papa! Mama had some men come and make this for you…and I helped too.” Adam chortled with glee at the amazed look on his Papa’s face.

His bikes were all parked neatly, even the ones that had been stored at Mami’s, some with the covers over them, others just as he had last left them with the parts neatly arrayed on drop sheets. A couple of rolling carts with parts and tools waited against the interior wall, a large red metal cabinet on wheels as well. Along the end wall a shelf had been built with a peg board above it, plenty of space for the still boxed tools that were stacked on the metal shelf. Everything a man could want for working on the bikes had been thought of…drip pans, air compressor, ceiling hoists, racks for cannablized bikes…and still there was enough room at the far end to park the car…or bring home more bikes.

“Do you like it?….Was it a good surprise?” his son asked with a little concern when Urs still hadn’t said a thing.

“It’s a wonderful surprise, Adam…the very best!” he answered, his voice a bit gravelly since his throat was constricted with emotion.

“Look what Mama got us…”

Adam ran over to the first large door and pointed to the rack beside it.

Urs recognized his old red helmet but beside it was a new one, silver with red lettering that spelled out Izzy’s name and a small red one with Adam in silver.

“Mama said you should put the tools away where you want them, ‘cause she doesn’t know about tools and stuff..…but I borrowed these for a couple of days. I would have asked first but you were working.”

“This is…it’s so amazing I don’t have the right words…”

Left to his own devices Urs would have stayed in ‘the Shed’ and sorted through the tools, perhaps done some puttering on the Triumph…but with a house full of people he couldn’t, so he gathered Adam up for a hug, put him on his shoulders for a ride back into the house, clicked the light off after one last look and went out to see if Homer had finished and was ready to go back in and get warm….he hoped that Izzy would be in the Kitchen so he could hug her until she squeaked.

**

Most of the residents on the estate had gone off to be with family during the day but at one point or another they returned and dropped in for a few minutes at Tranquillite. Those with children only stayed a few minutes, since the little ones were mostly asleep already after a long and happy day which had started with the new tradition of full stockings, something that would become a yearly routine at Reve from this Christmas onward.

Even without Ambra in the kitchen, dinner had been accomplished as it had for years, as a family effort, controlled chaos that turned into a meal of great food and laughter with the usual result…people too full of good food to do much more than groan and collapse in the nearest chair. Ambra, Hugo and the boys came in the kitchen for a few minutes on their way back from her sister’s in Lausanne, stayed long enough for one quick drink and a surprised look at the neat and tidy room, then went off for their own beds, just like many of the tired guests were doing.

By midnight everyone had gone and the host and hostess were in bed, re-living some of the funny or emotional points of the day, satisfied that this first Christmas in their new home had gone well.

“Gerd hasn’t lost his touch on the guitar over the past year…I really enjoyed listening to you two playing with the cousins…and you on the piano…have you been keeping your skills honed? The Pathetique has always been one of my favorites.”

She could feel him smile against her neck before he answered.

“Mine too…I think playing piano is something like riding a bicycle…you never really forget how…my favorite part of the mini concert was Celeste on the violin…she’s improved so much in the past year.”

“She was just about bursting when you told her how well she had done…I think all of the children really look to you as an example when it comes to music…and getting a nod of approval from you really makes them happy.”

“Well I’m a firm believer in giving praise where it’s due. Speaking of which…you did an excellent job with the workshop tools…How did you know what to get for ‘the Shed’?...you realize that the name is going to stick don’t you? Even Claude called it that.”

“I went into Lausanne to that bike shop near the market and smiled nicely at the owner…he made out a list of things he would want if he had a workshop at home…there are advantages to being a woman in a man’s world you know.”

Urs kissed her on the shoulder and slipped his hand under her short nightie to splay across her bump, wiggling a little closer to her back as they lay spooned.

“Did you get the Sapphires in Oz when you were there? The color and clarity is exceptional and that usually means they came from Australia.”

“Ja, and the opals…I’ve been collecting every place we went that is known for it’s gemstones…I even bought myself a loupe so I look like I know what I’m doing…and Trudi got me a few as well…I had everything sent to Mami and she brought them with her…except the pearls from Japan…I packed those in my luggage since I was going to be home soon.”

She was quiet for a few minutes, relaxing against him and he felt her start to drift off.

“Izzy…thank you for making today so wery…very… special for me…just when I think I love you more than any man ever loved a woman…I realize that I love you more…every day a little more. You make me very happy!”

Her voice was soft with sleep when she answered.

“It’s so easy to love you….and I do…I always will….”

CHAPTER 120…THE CAVE

After all the excitement of the past few days the next days were wonderfully relaxing.

Urs had given Ambra a few days off, Hugo too though he appeared early in the morning, shovel in hand, to clear a skim of fresh snow off the steps. Everyone pitched in to cobble together meals using the leftovers from the Reception and Christmas, the children visited back and forth to share new toys and the next big events, New Year’s Eve and the opening of the Retreat loomed in the future, though New Years would be relatively quiet with most of the families doing their own thing.

Izzy and Adam helped Urs organize his new tools out in the Shed, Adam wearing his new helmet and carefully standing on the metal shelf to draw the outine of each piece with a marker after Urs had found the perfect spots on the peg-board.

In the afternoon, while Adam napped and Marta and Zus were absorbed in one of the new jigsaw puzzles he was addicted to, Izzy and Urs decided to explore the tunnels which ran under most of the village including the Chateau and Tranquillite.

Suitably clad in old, warm clothing, hiking boots and armed with flashlights, they headed down the stairs which were hidden behind a panel in the office wall.

“There must be ventilation to the outside…the air isn’t the least bit musty or damp,” Izzy said as they reached the first landing, so far not needing the flashlights since there were working fixtures just above Urs’ head along the wall.

“At one time the Duc used some of the tunnels for storage and had ventilation put in…and heating from the solar panels after they were installed…there’s a nice Safe room under the Chateau…and a wine cellar that’s temperature controlled…some of the older tunnels haven’t been wired…it’s just too big a job since there really are miles of the things with little rooms off to the sides…I think once, long ago, they were used as barracks for soldiers…when Gerd and I worked here in the summer, we used to come down here with Claude and a couple of other friends …we would ‘borrow’ a couple of bottles of the Duc’s booze and get blind drunk…watch your step here, Baby…there’s a loose stone.”

They looked into rooms that had at one time been used for storage, still containing roughly made wooden shelving, further on one that had been forgotten that still contained an empty wooden trunk with a broken lock and nothing else except years of dust.

They left the main tunnel, taking one that angled off to what Izzy felt was the west, then had gone down further on a narrow set of steps carved out of the stone, the walls now a little rougher, the stonework narrower and ahead of them the tunnel branched left and right with a couple of rough wooden doors on the sides.

“It’s easy to get lost down here but see the arrows?...Gerd painted them on after he came down here with a girl, one of the maids from the Chateau…his plan was to get lucky for the first time but they got hopelessly lost and spent about 9 hours trying to find their way back out…the next day he came back down with a can of paint and marked the exit.”

Izzy chuckled.

“I hope it was worth it.”

Urs shook his head, laughing.

“Afraid not…he was about as lucky as I was the first time…he lasted all of 30 seconds and she was furious with him…she ran off and by the time he caught up to her they had no idea where they were.”

“It’s a good thing we’re a resilient species…if we all gave up on sex after our first unfulfilling experience the human race would never have flourished…and I don’t think the first time is great for many people.”

He turned to grin at her and she shook her head.

“No, I am not going to give you details about my first time…lets just say that the first time I’d want to remember was in Bancroft…and you were amazing.”

“I was inspired by my partner…” he said with a chuckle and stole a quick kiss.

They went on, peeking into the rooms, some with wooden doors, some without any means to close them off.

“This area is very different from the one I accessed by the kitchen…this looks ancient and the other one seems like a newer addition.”

“I think so too…Claude and I think that section was redone during the Second War to house escaped POW’s…France is only about 2 miles, up and over the crest of the Jura and we were neutral but it still wasn’t really safe for escapees to be out in public…a lot of Nazis were moving about freely in this area, based in Geneva and people they didn’t like had a tendancy to disappear…the way that first room is set up it would have been perfect for doing things like working on forged passports and other documents…and just down from there you can still see old bunks built against the walls. The Duc may have been involved with the Underground, though he would never admit it to us when we asked.”

They came to another junction, again with a blue arrow painted on the wall pointing back they way they had come but now without lighting on the stone steps that lead down.

“Tired? We don’t have to go on.”

“No, I’m fine…are all the rooms empty like the ones we’ve passed?”

“These ones are…there’s something I want to show you, if all these steps don’t tire you out…it’s two more tunnels that slope down then through a natural cave…that puts us pretty deep under the paddock to the north of the stables.”

“Lead on…you got me at the word cave,” she said with a laugh.

They went on, using the flashlights now, the floor rougher, the walls not as smooth, the tunnel getting too narrow to walk side by side, in places being just barely wide enough for them to go on and the occasional openings to left or right merely caverns both large and small that looked natural but as if they had been widened in some long distant past, some of the excavation debris simply piled at the sides. Once there was the sign that at some time people had spent some time in one of the caves, the remains of a fire still evident as well as an empty wine bottle and a small pile of firewood that must have been brought in since there was nowhere underground to find it.

As so often happens when exploring underground suddenly they emerged into an area where a fresh breeze touched their faces and in front of them a jumble of large boulders partially barred their way. Urs clicked his flashlight off…Izzy dimmed hers by placing the faceplate against her thigh and gasped when she could still see her surroundings fairly well.

“Where is the light coming from? Is there an opening to the outside?”

“Sort of…it’s what I wanted to show you. Here, take my hand.”

He lead her around and between the boulders, helping her up and over some until they came out on a flat area. The sound of running water came to her, not a huge stream she thought judging by the trickling sound and she tried to see it in the dim light.

As their eyes adjusted she could see that they stood above a relatively flat surface of bedrock not far below, perhaps 5 or 6 feet but easily 20 feet across and several hundred feet long. In the center a small stream of water moved sluggishly, fed by a small but high waterfall that oozed under a frozen cap to splash gently on the boulders at the base and disappearing finally into the far end rock wall.

The light was coming through the ice cap on the waterfall, from the surface stream, a smallish fissure that the stream passed over and now, with winter and a frozen crust, letting little actual run-off into the cavern.

The cavern wasn’t huge, probably no more than 40 or 50 feet from the stream bed to the arched stone roof, pillars of stone providing support for the paddock above and aided by randomly spaced stalactites and stalagmites that had joined in now connected green tinged limestone and granite spears, giving the whole cavern a cathedral appearance.

“It’s beautiful,” she said as Urs came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

“I don’t think anyone else has ever found this spot…I came on it accidentally once and I’ve been back a few times when I’ve had something to wrestle with…it always bothered me that I left that wine bottle…but I was young and not quite so concerned about things like littering then.”

“You were trying to make a life altering decision.”

“Ja…I had the chance to go to Amsterdam to study…but it meant leaving home for the first time…and leaving Mami to cope alone with the family…she encouraged me to take the chance but I was so torn…I knew how hard it was for her to manage just on her pay…and I didn’t know if I could make enough in a strange place to pay tution and living expenses…I was so afraid of failing.”

“What made you decide to go for it?”

“I spent the night in the little cave and in the morning I came in here and thought about it until I was sure my head would explode…then I realized that I was more afraid of getting old and knowing that I had never even tried. It still wasn’t easy to go but it felt right…and 17 years later I’m back again and now I know it was the right thing to do.”

She turned in his arms and rested her face against his chest.

“This place is your Brooklyn Bridge.”

He kissed the top of her curly head.

“I knew you would understand.”

They found a spot to sit on a flat rock and opened the thermos of coffee that Urs had packed in the light backpack, sharing the mug/cap to warm them.

“It’s very pretty and brighter in the summer…warmer too…the light is more intense and not diffused by the ice…and the stream is wider since the one above runs faster and deeper. It makes a sound almost like music, especially where it bubbles under that rock face to eventually come back into the open just the other side of the boundary… actually, if we get that acreage next door it will exit onto our property again.”

Izzy smiled and pointed to the edge of the narrow strip of water slowly flowing across the lower floor.

“Another reason the light is brighter in the summer months is reflection…see the sand along the bottom, right near the water…that faint greenish color combined with the basalt and gabbro means that it’s metamorphic rock with a fair amount of chrysolite…also called olivine or peridot by the French. It’s one of the most common minerals in the world, very useful, erodes slowly since it’s a 6.5 or 7 on the Mohr scale…it’s actually been found on Mars and in meteors, in the dust of new stars and I’ll just bet that if you looked you could find a few gem quality stones when the stream is low like this. It crystallizes very slowly, takes centuries actually so even though it’s abundant as sand and hard to discern mixed with the more common silicas, it’s a lovely gemstone and worth the hunt.”

She smiled at the glint she saw in his eyes as he scanned the sandy area.

“Let’s look for one…just one, for us…not to make jewelry, just for a memory.”

“This is your special place, Urs…you should be the one to find it.”

He stood and held his hand out to her.

“Nothing is special to me now, unless you share it with me…”

So they clambered down off the rocks and crossed the dry area of the stream, their boots crunching in the sand, marveling at the beauty of the tiny specks they could see, finding a scant few that were the size of beans, not a huge quantity but enough to make them marvel at Nature’s bounty until finally just before the stream plunged into the opening in the rock wall the glint of translucent green caught their gaze. Urs reached into the crevice where it lay trapped, almost as if waiting just for this moment…he carefully dug out the hexagonal shard, the size of a large peanut, and held it carefully between his thumb and index finger, letting the light play over the surface.

“This one…”

“Perfect!!”

He wrapped it in a clean tissue, placed it carefully in a zippered pocket of his light jacket and they reluctantly went back to the outside world, making one more stop… to collect the empty wine bottle on the way.

**

“I’ve got an e.mail from Frau Amida,” Izzy said from her desk.

They were in the office both absorbd on their PCs, the rest of the house quiet…Simon was off to the Airport, Adam was in bed after another full day, Marta and Zus had gone to the Chateau cottage to play cards with Sam and Joanna and they had taken this lull in entertaining to catch up on correspondence.

“She’s going to arrive early A.M. on the 30th unless we object…and I don’t see any reason to…do you?”

“Nein…I’m anxious to meet her…can she stay a couple of days? I’d like to talk to her but also to see her with Adam.”

Izzy smiled as he came over to rest his hands on her shoulders, bending so his head was beside hers to read the short message.

“Ah, good…she says her plans are flexible…I have so many things I’d like to ask, but more importantly I’d like to see how she really is…we need more than just a normal teacher, someone who can be a friend as well and who understands the importance of Adam being allowed to be a regular boy part of the time…training his mind is important but so is keeping his body fit and developing social skills.”

Izzy turned her head and gave him a quick kiss.

“You’re preaching to the converted, Luv…Been there, done that…and don’t want Adam singled out like I was…I was so isolated as a kid…Mom and Dad tried to cope but they didn’t understand how tough it was for me to make friends….the kids my age thought I was nerdy, a bookworm and the ones actually in my classes at school wouldn’t be caught dead hanging out with a kid so much younger. You were lucky in a way…the field you chose is not so limiting socially…lucky for me too since I now have an ever expanding network of friends that I borrowed from you.”

He chuckled, caressing her neck with his long fingers then going back to his own desk and computer.

“When I was in Conspiracy the guys I regularly played football with used to hang around…all those girls, you know, and I just didn’t have time to take care of them all…why is it that girls are drawn to musicians?”

“I used to think it was the Bad Boy image but now I don’t know…none of you guys give that impression and look how the women adore all of you.”

She turned in her office chair and appraised him, trying to be serious.

“If they only knew…you really are a typical male in some things…you leave the toilet seat up…which by the way drives me wild in the middle of the night…you love getting dirty and working on your bikes…you think no one notices when you pass gas…”

He had the grace to blush but defended himself.

“Only when I’ve been drinking beer…and better out than in…hurts!”

“At least you’re tidy…no dirty socks thrown into corners…and thoughtful…and naturally romantic…I think I’ll keep you in spite of a few minor flaws.”

“Too late anyway…we already married… twice …and I know how you are about keeping promises.”

He gave her a smug look that made her laugh as she typed in a reply to Amida.

An hour later Izzy was deeply involved in the files of the first patients that would be arriving in a little over a week when Urs shut down his PC and stretched before coming over to massage her shoulders.

“You nearly done? I can hear a slice of that Mango cake you made calling to me from the kitchen…BTW excellent job, Luv…I think it’s become a new favorite of mine.”

She sighed and began closing down her PC as well.

“That feels heavenly…I didn’t realize that I had tensed up from sitting so long…did you send the e.mail to the mods so Aneliese can post?”

“Ja…she should be getting the package with the letter and photos today or tomorrow since I sent it by courier…nice lady…and she kept her promise…we’ll see how quickly she posts.”

They had drafted the letter together, deciding to let the discrete Dutch fan announce their wedding but giving the mods a heads up that it was with permission.

Dear Aneliese: Thank you for keeping your word about holding our Christmas Eve wedding secret until now. As promised we’ve picked two of our favorite photos from this very special event and signed them with our newly consecrated name. Isabella is wearing a 200 year old antique gown of Chantilly Lace {so she tells me}…I just know that she looked amazing and took my breath away….our ceremony was with the family in attendance, quiet and very special, and thanks to you very private…we both are very, very happy.
I have cleared the way for you to post the announcement and photo on the Official Forum…and as a thank you, please check at the box office for the tickets for yourself and the girls to the inner circle at the concert in Rotterdam on March 11th….we hope to see you there…Urs and Isabella Buhler

The photographer had done a lovely job of the photos and they had chosen two, one of them together, both laughing, just as Urs lifted Izzy into the sleigh, the other a full length shot taken at the altar with the tall stained glass windows behind them, just as they were standing facing each other about to kiss to seal their vows.

They went to the kitchen for cake, carried it up to sit in front of the fire while Urs ate his and half of Izzy’s, then just snuggled quietly for a while watching the flames and talking about tomorrow when they would see their baby through the magic of ultra sound.

**

CHAPTER 121…BABY PICTURES

The office of Docteur Hebert was in a medical complex, the building very baroque on the outside but with a modern interior that housed labs, x-ray and ultra sound shared by the various offices.

As a specialist in OB/GYN Dr. Hebert had a large gallery of photos of ‘his’ babies on the wall in reception. Urs and Izzy checked in with the receptionist then glanced in amusement at some of the photos before sitting in the comfortable chairs to fill out the forms on the clipboard the young woman in reception had given them.

“Why do they need to know about any childhood diseases we’ve had?” he asked as he busily ticked off things like mumps and measles in his section of the papers.

“Doctors don’t like surprises…if you had all the normal stuff as a kid then you probably will pass on the antibodies to any baby, making him resistant to catching anything in the early years. That’s why they ask about families too. Family history can be very important when you consider genetics…like with Martine and the tendancy for women in her family to get ovarian cancer…it hasn’t been proven but it does seem to be prudent to check frequently.”

Urs took the finished forms back to the pleasant young woman, received his plastic medical coverage card back and went back to sitting with Izzy.

Several other couples were waiting their turns, in varying stages of gestation: one woman, like Izzy hardly showing at all, another, right next to them, perching on the edge of her seat with her knees spread, her hands supporting an enormous tummy that strained the maternity gown she wore. Her husband was rubbing her back in slow circles and smiled as he caught Urs looking their way.

“Five,” he said and his wife looked up and grimaced.

“And a month to go…I’ll explode!”

Izzy smiled in sympathy.

“Fertility drugs?”

“Yes…we tried for 6 years and nothing happened…so we decided to go this route…if I can manage another week or two Dr. Hebert may do a C Section.”

“Hang in there…36 weeks or more would be ideal for the babies….do you have help when you bring them home?”

“Yes…my mother is already with us… when are you due?”

“Not until early August I think…today is our first ultra sound.”

The couple were called in to see the doctor and Urs took Izzy’s hand, rubbing his thumb over the back as he smiled and leaned closer.

“It’s like a club…the way you girls and even the husbands bond without knowing each other…can you imagine having 5 at once?”

“No and I wouldn’t want to…there’s no way I would say anything to them but the health problems can be enormous … birth defects, low weight, slow development…our bodies weren’t designed to have more than a couple at a time.”

The meeting with Dr. Hebert was short but friendly. He had glanced through the forms they had filled out then enquired as to their lifestyle, nodded his head in agreement as Urs explained his work, that they planned for Izzy to join him off and on during the early months and Izzy touched briefly on her former career in the military.

“And your first gestation, Mme. Buhler…were there any complications that I should be aware of?”

“I had been ill before I conceived, with Dengue, and was on several courses of medication. I did have one spotty cycle after I conceived so it was a surprise to me when I realized what had happened. The remaining months were uneventful…stressful since I was a prisoner, but I had no outward signs that Adam was in distress…and delivery was normal, we had no watches but we think about 11 hours from transition.”

“Bon!” the docteur said rising from behind his desk.

“If you go with the nurse I would like to examine you…M. Buhler if you would please wait in reception…the nurse will come for you when it is time for the ultra sound.”

Urs was reluctant to leave her but she patted him on the arm and smiled.

“It won’t be long, Luv…and I won’t let them do the pictures without you.”

Izzy was weighed, measured, BP taken, all the things necessary to establish a base line for comparison on future visits, then examined by Dr. Hebert.

“How much weight have you gained thus far?” he asked

“Three and a half kilos…more than I did with Adam at this stage but food was a bit scarce in the camps.”

“It is a little more than I would like to see at this time…you may have to cut back on desserts for the next few months… but your body may be compensating for the starvation diet of your captivity, so some of this could be a natural weight gain to get you back to normal. Now if you would just go with the nurse we’ll let your anxious husband see his baby.”

She was safely laying on the narrow bench type table when Urs came in the dimly lit room.

“M. Buhler if you could go around to the other side of the table so you can see the monitor we’ll get started,” the technician said with a smile as she squirted a cool jelly on Izzy’s almost flat tummy and sat down to begin adjusting dials. She reached out with a stethoscope looking thing and began running it over the greasy spot on Izzy, adjusting the dials with her left hand, starting high up under the breasts and moving in slow circles.

Izzy held her hand out to Urs and he gripped it tight, his feeling sweaty so she knew he was nervous. She squeezed his hand and he tore his eyes from the monitor long enough to grin at her and mouth ‘I love you!’.

None of what he was seeing made any sense to him. There was a dark area with some pale lines, further down a few minutes later something that pulsed, another just like it but in a different location, some whitish solid blobs that weren’t doing anything…he didn’t want to appear dense and ask to have an explaination… until he heard Izzy gasp and her hand tightened around his fingers.

“What is it? Is something wrong?” he asked ready to go into full blown panic mode.

Izzy was crying now, the tears pouring down her cheeks but she managed to stop long enough to smile at him and whisper… “Two!...there are two babies!”

Urs was hugging Izzy when Dr. Hebert came hastily into the room, summoned somehow by the technician. One glance at the monitor and he nodded in agreement.

“Twins…that explains the weight gain…and very healthy, dizygotic, well placed placentas…I know it is rather anticlimactic but I would like you to finish the scan of ALL the quadrants and then when you are dressed we’ll talk further…Congratulations!”

“Can we have a copy?” Urs asked and the techie smiled.

“Of course…see here this is one twin with it’s own little amniotic sac and placenta…and this is the other…this is the head here and these little nubs are growing into arms with hands and fingers…and…did you want to know the sex?”

Urs laughed.

“Too late…if you can tell, I’m sure our little Doctor here can.”

“Boys, I think…both boys….” Izzy said almost reverently.

“It is hard to tell at this stage unless the fetus moves to the right angle but I think so too….actually this one seems to have an erection…they often do in the womb.”

For some reason this embarrassed Urs and he was glad the room was dim as he felt his face heat.

It was only a few more minutes while the technician scanned the rest of the uterus and pelvic area then promised to print off a nice clear copy for them to take home. She left them alone then and Urs helped Izzy wipe the rest of the jelly off her tummy before lifting her off the table and holding her gently.

“You are such a little over achiever! You do realize that we’ll need a bigger car, don’t you?”

She laughed but sounded a bit shaky and he peered down into her moist eyes with concern.

“Liebeling, what is it? I thought you would be happy.”

“I am…but…twins usually come early and you might not be home in time.”

He laughed and hugged her, kissing her on the brow.

“These are Swiss twins, Love…and you know how the Swiss are about being punctual…you know what you always tell me… ‘don’t borrow trouble’…we just have to do the best we can…right now I just want to get out of here and hold you…you make me so happy, my little wife…”

He kissed her gently then helped her get dressed, teasing that if she thought he was over protective before just wait…now with this wonderful news he was going to be worse.

Dr. Hebert saw them in his office a few minutes later, going over the few things that he felt needed stressing.

“I’m sure you are aware of the necessity of frequent checkups and the importance of diet but I would like to stress a few things for the benefit of our non-medical parent. Your normal weight I believe would be in the 53 to 56 Kilo range or about 120 pounds in American measure…I believe that most of the weight you have gained already is your body merely replacing what you lost during your confinement since today your weight is just over 49 K which would be 108 pounds, slightly underweight. You need to gain some muscle mass along with the weight of your babies, aiming at a total of around 60 to 65 K…mild exercise of course, nothing high impact, good food with lean protein, take your multi-vitamins, watch your sugars and absolutely no unpasteurized milk products.

“We will follow your babies’ progress with ultra sounds every 3 to 4 weeks as your schedule permits. I would like you to have a 4 oz. serving of red wine daily…I believe you have a ready supply at hand.”

They smiled at his little joke.

“You said dizygotic twins…what does that mean?” Urs asked.

“Non-identical twins, possibly different eye or hair color, different bone structure…each has it’s own amniotic sac and placenta and was conceived from two separate eggs by two separate sperm. Any other questions?”

“Due date…my estimate is early August,” Izzy said.

He nodded.

“If you manage to go full term…in your third trimester we will discuss delivery, the possibility of early delivery if necessary or a C section…yes I know, you would prefer to do it the natural way but we must leave our options open.

“There is a distinct possibility that you, Mme Buhler, have inherited your maternal genes and regularly produce two ova with each cycle…I believe you mention in your history that both your mother and grandmother were twins… possibly the reason for the single conception in the case of your first child was because of the illness you had prior to ovulation….or…” Dr. Hebert looked up and caught Izzy’s tiny shake of the head and frown and didn’t finish what he had been about to say.

“Or it could have been the medications I was on….” she volunteered to fill the void but her face had paled and Urs noticed, filing it away to talk about later.

“It’s something we will have to be prepared for with any future pregnancies. Now I would like to see you for a regular checkup before you begin traveling…you can make an appointment with the nurse. Again, Congratualtions to both of you.”

The doctor handed Urs the print out of the ultrasound, shook his hand then Izzy’s and they left, trying not to look too obviously ecstatic but failing as they walked out with arms around each other and dreamy smiles on their faces.

In the car Urs pulled Izzy into his arms the minute his door closed and kissed her gently then just held her close, letting his emotions take over for a few moments.

He released her but clasped her hand, glancing into the back seat and laughing.

“It really is going to be too small, you know…3 car seats and a nanny…plus all the gear….and I forgot to ask him about sex.”

“Boys…you heard that in the ultra sound room…”

He looked at her and grinned.

“Sex…for us…not gender….I need to know if it’s safe for you…”

“Urs, I’m a doctor, remember…unless we suddenly get into S and M there’s no problem…maybe a bit awkward the last few months but I have faith in your inventive abilities.”

He started the car but just let it idle for a moment and turned to her with a huge grin.

“Twins!! We’re going to have twins!!”

He felt like rolling the window down and shouting the news to the people on the street but controlled himself…barely.

They were almost back at Reve when he remembered that look and the aborted conversation in the office.

“Izzy, we made a promise to each other…no secrets…what didn’t you want the doctor to tell me? Is it something that I should worry about?”

She looked pale again when he glanced at her and he scanned the road ahead for someplace to pull over so they could talk. By the time he parked she was trying to hold back tears and he just held her for a moment trying to calm her.

“Baby, you’re scaring me…please, talk to me…”

“I should have realized…I’m a doctor, I should have realized…but I was so upset because I thought you were gone, that it was over between us…and I couldn’t have done anything anyway…”

She wept against his chest for several minutes, calming slowly and drawing in shuddering breaths at last until she began to tell him what the problem was.

“Sometimes when there are two eggs that get fertilized or even one that divides, the second fetus isn’t viable and the body rejects it…it’s called an invisible twin because the mother doesn’t really know that she had two babies since the second one never actually develops…that’s what the spotting somtimes is with women who were very regular…and I always was…it’s not a normal cycle like she thinks, it’s the body rejecting the …the other baby. It’s likely that Adam was a twin and my other egg wasn’t viable, probably due to the Dengue. I …I must have lost one of the babies you gave me…I feel like I’ve failed you.” She began crying again, deep body-shaking sobs that made his heart ache.

He slid the seat back, pulled her into his arms and just held her, making shushing sounds and rocking her against his chest until she calmed, his mind working frantically trying to sort out the information she had given him and make it fit with what little he knew from the manuals. When she stopped crying again, he wiped the tears from her face with his fingers, found her some tissue to blow her red nose then cradled her against his chest while he tried to soothe her.

“Izzy from what I’ve read and what you told me, IF there was a second baby when we conceived Adam, that second egg COULD have been fertilized but nothing happened…it didn’t become a fetus, didn’t attach to the wall of the womb and was swept away just like it would have been with a normal period…am I right so far?”

She nodded and looked up at him, beginning to see where he was going in his very Swiss, logical way.

“Then it was very little different from what happens with your regular cycle. Perhaps that’s the reason that Gott made us the way he did…our bodies combine, egg and sperm, but the essence of life doesn’t really begin for a few weeks after that initial combination…otherwise each time you have a period and an egg is discarded, each time I ejaculate and hundreds of little sperm are wasted we would have to go into mourning for the babies we lost. And you couldn’t have managed with two babies in that camp… likely wouldn’t have even managed to carry them long enough for either to survive…We are blessed to have Adam…don’t dare to feel like a failure because your body rejected a baby that never was alive…”

She shuddered in a breath and looked up at him.

“Thousands…not hundreds, thousands of sperm…and you’re right…I shouldn’t let it upset me so…and I should be thankful we have Adam and these babies…it’s just…I feel like I need to at least acknowledge that there was another, even if it was only for a few seconds…”

“Do something for me, Liebe…we’re almost home…hang on for a few minutes, please…for me?”

She nodded and he put her back in the passenger seat, adjusted both seatbelts and headed out again, holding her hand tightly in his as he drove the last stretch to Reve.

They hadn’t spoken at all on the remainder of the drive, both trying to keep their emotions from over whelming them again until he came to a stop in front of the steps into the chapel.

Urs got out of the car and came around to open Izzy’s door, took her hand in his and started towards the steps.

“Let’s just make sure that Gott knows he has another little angel with him.”

Izzy slipped her arm around his waist and they went up the steps into the chapel.

**

It was quiet when they reached Tranquillite, Ambra and her family away visiting relatives and only a note from Marta to say that she and Zus had taken Adam out to join a group of other children on the tobaganning hill and would be back after lunch at the Home Farm.

They changed into casual clothing and went down to the Family room. Urs lit a fire and they curled up together on one of the sofas to listen to one of their favorite classical recordings of Beethoven Piano concertos…at least that had been the plan but Izzy promptly fell asleep, emotionally drained from the news and the hormones that had contributed to her losing control. She tried to fight the lethargy but Urs snuggled her down across his lap, softly caressing her arm and she drifted off with her face turned so that her breath was warm against his stomach.

‘Going to the chapel was what we both needed…especially Izzy…Gott she was so upset!...if that’s what happened then we have even more to be thankful for…we could have lost Adam too…I feel the loss too but it must be gut –wrenching for a mother…they spend 9 months bonding with the little being inside them…to lose a child must be the most terrible thing that can happen to a woman…I hope she’s at peace now…it tears me apart to see her cry, even though I know some of it is her hormones because of the twins…Gott, wait until Mami hears!...more tears, I’d lay odds on it!....We’ll have to make other plans for the nursery…and see about a nanny…with Izzy working part time at the Retreat I don’t want her to have to cope with two babies alone… and I’m selfish…I want her to myself some of the time….I wonder if Frau Amida will be able to do both jobs…or if she will even be interested now?’

He leaned his head back on the sofa and fell asleep too, neither waking until Adam came running in to tell them about sledding and lunch with the kids.

**

CHAPTER 122 …AMIDA


Urs was right about Mami crying when she heard the news.

They had gone down to the kitchen so Izzy and Urs could throw together a quick lunch since they had slept well past noon. Adam climbed up on the sofa and was almost instantly asleep, tired out from all the fun he had with the other children and Izzy puttered, taking out some leftover roast to make sandwiches and nuking some of Ambra’s home made soup from the freezer. Urs went out to the car for the envelope with the ultrasound picture to show Mami and Zus.

Marta had just poured a coffee for herself and Zus when he came back in and Izzy left her preparations to come over and see the reactions to the ‘unvieling’.

Urs lay the black and white film on the table and grinned as he pointed to the first little outline.

“This is our son,” he said proudly, then moved his finger to the other side of the picture. “…And this is his twin brother.”

His audience stared, mouths gaped, heads turned to stare at Urs, then Izzy who smiled and nodded…they looked again, then finally found their voices.

“Twins!” and the start of tears from Marta.

“Mein gott! Congratulations!” from Zus who gathered Marta into his arms and shook hands with Urs over her shoulder.

When Marta had stopped crying and was happily talking again, Izzy went back to preparing some lunch, brought it to the table and sat down with them while Urs finished explaining about her mother and grandmother. They didn’t mention the possibility of the ‘invisible twin’ since it was a private matter that they really felt no need to share.

Typically male, one of Zus’ first comments was… “You’ll need a bigger car”, which made the expectant parents laugh.

“We already thought of that,” Urs said with a grin. “We’ve got 7 months to work that out….and 2 of everything. But for now we’re just going to enjoy the fact that the doctor is pleased with Izzy’s health and says the babies are doing fine.”

“Amida will be happy…she loves babies and she’s good with them…it’s one of the things she missed, working at that school. She’s coming to be interviewed tomorrow isn’t she?”

“Yes…I didn’t offer her the position when she was here before because I wanted Urs to meet her first…now I’m wondering if 2 babies to care for when I’m working and Adam to teach might be too much to ask of her.”

“You will have to take time off from the Retreat for a few weeks at first until you get into a routine so you could see what kind of schedule the babies are on…play it by ear Doter…you can always get a nursemaid in for a few months under Amida’s supervision when you go back to work…just until the boys get into a routine of their own.”

“And I’ve seen you in action, Kleine Elfe…you’re very good at organizing….and I expect that a certain lady will be here often to help out.”

Izzy looked at them and grinned.

“We don’t do anything by halves do we? Life is never dull in this family.”

“Eat your lunch, Liebling…you’re eating for 3 you know,” Urs said with a grin as he reached for his sandwich.

Izzy laughed at him.

“You were dying to say that weren’t you?”

But she dutifully started on her lunch, joining into the happy chatter between mouthfuls.

**

Urs decided he liked Amida 10 minutes after he met her…but he kept this to himself while he began to go through the questions he had amassed to ask her.

She was a pleasant looking woman, mid to late 50’s with a wiry frame, a little taller than Izzy and with her gray hair cut short in a casual bob, no makeup except a little on her eyes. She had a ready smile, very genuine, sparkling pale blue eyes, a firm handshake and a pleasant alto voice.

They went in the office to have a chat and Urs sat behind his desk at first, glancing through the references she had passed him, though he didn’t read all of them, just a quick skim, preferring to trust his own instincts over what former employers had to say.

“I do apologize for putting you through this inquisition, especially since you have gone to the trouble of coming so far, but I’m sure you will agree that chosing a tutor for Adam is of utmost importance at this stage of his life.”

“Absolutely…I would think much less of you as parents if you were casual about it…go ahead, Herr Buhler…I’m tougher than I look…I can take it,” she said with an easy smile, sitting back comfortably in the chair and crossing her legs at the ankles.

“I’m not sure how much you’ve been told about our history, so I’ll touch on it briefly. Izzy, my wife, is a Doctor who until recently worked for the Canadian military, attached to the UN. Right after she learned she was pregnant with Adam she and her nurse were taken prisoner in Columbia and held for 2 years and 5 months under terrible conditions. Adam was born in the camp.

“When we got them out he was malnourished but even then he spoke both English and Spanish, knew his alphabet, could count to one hundred, had learned his colors and a number of songs. In the 5 months he has been home he has developed better speech patterns, learned how to read, can do simple math, is developing computer skills and at last knows what it is to have friends his own age and how to play with them. His motor skills have improved now that he isn’t having to keep quiet and almost invisible so his mother won’t be punished. He can and has taken computers apart to understand how they work, can name off every tool in my workshop, is reading about space and stars, and can pick out simple melodies on the piano. He has this intense urge to KNOW things, to understand what makes them work, to explore…we have no idea what his limits are but we want to give him every opportunity to continue to enjoy learning. Izzy and I have neither the time nor the skills to give him all he needs, though we do try…and that’s where you come in.

“I see by the paperwork you have given me that you speak several languages…perhaps we could start with that. Adam is fluent in Spanish and English of course and through the children he plays with is learning French…I have been teaching him a certain amount of Schwiezer when I am home but I do travel quite a bit at times. Some of the staff speak German so he has a small amount of that as well but we would like him to learn more of course.”

Amida nodded in agreement and smiled as she responded.

“I am fluent in Schwiezer as well as German, French and English…my Spanish and Italian are limited but I have a good ear for languages and have no difficulty picking them up.”

He chatted for about 20 minutes, switching back and forth between the languages she claimed to be proficient in and found that she not only could speak them but had a decent accent. They covered a wide variety of subjects: her attitude about sports, about adherence to strict routines {she didn’t like to be rigid}, computer skills, any musical knowledge, whether she had a good driving record, her willingness to travel, any health problems she felt they should be aware of, discipline and punishment if it should become necessary.

“I believe in teaching a child the consequences of their actions, removing a favorite toy temporarily, restricting treats. I do not believe it is ever appropriate to spank or slap a child though in extreme cases a time out may be necessary and I like to establish a specific place for this, usually in a corner on a chair. Nor would I ever send a child to bed without his dinner as punishment…in my opinion it would be detrimental to his overall health and should not be done. I also believe in praise for a job well done, in acknowledging an attempt even when it isn’t completely successful.”

“It would help me to know just what method of teaching you would use with a quick two year old…” he continued in French.

Amida leaned forward slightly and smiled at him.

“Perhaps it would be easier for me to just explain what I believe your son needs and then we will see how close we come to agreeing…it may save time.”

When Urs nodded and tented his hands, leaning back in his chair, she continued.

“I’ve met Adam twice now and was very taken with him. He is a very talented little boy…but he is a little boy. I believe he needs to be encouraged in whatever subjects interest him, incorporating the appropriate amount of reading, language and mathematic skills in a relaxed, informal way that remains fun, to allow him to fully explore whatever his fertile mind wants to learn. I think he needs the stimulation of other children, of playing since that in itself is a learning experience, socializing, keeping his body as fit as his growing mind, a very loosely structured classroom time that is fun as well as instructive. There will be time enough when he goes to regular classes in formal schools to have a regimented routine and he can enjoy those also once he has learned good study habits here at home in a pleasant atmosphere. By that time he will understand that he is different from the other children when it comes to ease of accumulating information and retaining it …it won’t be a shock to him and he will be able to adjust his pace accordingly. By this I don’t mean that he should hold back but I think you’ll find that he will consider it fun and a challenge to look into subjects he skimmed the surface of in school, going into more depth on his own time. School will be more for the social aspects, the sports and to appease the school boards with their tests and formal levels that have to be reached. Children like your son have a burning desire TO KNOW…it isn’t a chore like it is with most children…it’s their passion…I’m sure you’ve seen it already in Adam. He needs to be exposed to all sorts of interests until he decides where his goals are somewhere down the road…and to have the basic education to aim for those goals once he has decided. I can help him do that, without dampening the passion he has for knowledge.”

“And what role do you see his mother and I playing in this…this encouraging of our son to learn all that he can?”

She smiled again.

“You have found your passion…your wife as well and both of you will, I’m sure, continue to provide beautifully for your son and be supportive in his efforts, while I would do my job of helping him reach his potential…but the bottom line is that we must work as a team and there is always a Captain of every efficient team…that would be your role, Herr Buhler, yours and Frau Buhler’s…I would hope that any decision that must be made would be openly discussed among us with the final word being yours. I too have a goal…when I finally pass from this mortal world to meet my maker I would like to know that at least one bright little mind has achieved his dreams in life…and had a marvelous time getting there because I helped him.”

She could see Urs visibly relax as he sat forward with his elbows on the desk and smiled a real, dimpled smile at her.

“We have some other rather astounding news that we just learned yesterday, something that may have an effect on your decision to come to us or not. My wife is carrying twins, boys, due about August…technically the position is as nanny/tutor, but we are not fancy people and I like to think that whoever comes to us would be able to integrate as part of the family… and there will be two more babies in our family in around 7 months….. I wondered how you feel about taking some of that load off Izzy’s very busy shoulders? We have some time to see just how busy you would be with Adam and if there would be sufficient hours in a day to help with the babies…if it doesn’t seem reasonable then we can hire extra help…we are rather new at this so we have no real idea of the logistics yet.”

“Twins…how marvelous…I think you’ll find if Frau Buhler returns to work soon after the delivery that you should have a full time nurse, at least for a few months…once they have a routine settled it may not be necessary and when she is working again it will depend on her schedule…and as for myself, it wouldn’t be healthy for Adam to have me looking over his shoulder more than a few hours a day…not this early in his development….and I love caring for babies…I put myself through University by working evenings and week ends in a Creche.”

Urs stood and came around the desk, leaning on the corner of it for a moment.

“Will you stay the night…perhaps even spend a quiet New Year’s Eve with us?” He smiled and continued when she quietly said she would love to. “We’ve had enough excitement recently with the wedding and Christmas so really have nothing planned…and Zus and Marta are staying over so it will just be family. I would like to speak with Izzy for a few minutes, though I believe I already know her wishes… and then later we can discuss all the details… Welcome to Tranquillite, Frau Amida.”

They shook hands and left the office, heading for the kitchen where Urs was fairly sure everyone else was waiting impatiently.

**