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

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN..PROMOS

They were first out on the sidewalk waiting for the bus, something that didn’t really surprise Urs. He was almost always the first one out, part of his Swiss makeup he assumed and Izzy, with her military history was accustomed to keeping to a schedule.

The morning was cool but dry for a change, the street lights still on since the sun had not quite showed it’s face yet and they stood with his arms wrapped around her, keeping her cozy and warm.

Her hair was still damp from their earlier shower he found, as his mouth rested on the top of her curly head, and filled his senses with the delicate scent of some exotic flowers that had been the aroma in her shampoo…the same shampoo and conditioner that he had lovingly washed her hair with after they indulged in gentle morning loving.

She leaned back against him, enjoying the closeness, thinking how different this waiting was from the times she had waited with tension for a military transport that would take her to yet another trouble spot.

‘My god how he fills my heart and senses…I dream of his laughter, of that smile that lights up a room, those eyes that tell you exactly what he is feeling…he leaves a room and the air goes with him, only to return when he does…and yet when I know he will be back soon, I still feel connected, complete…how can I give this up and go back to my life before I met him? I need to do some good in this crazy world but there are other things I could do, other organizations that wouldn’t mean so many separations…or so much hazard…Maybe it’s time to think about retiring…this feeling I have for you, Urs, is far stronger than the adrenal rush I get facing rebels, guns, jungle, all of the things that used to be part of my existence…oh Girl, you’ve got it bad!!! Now all I want is to be with him when possible, to learn to cook for him, to make him a home to escape from the hectic life he has to lead…to create a life from the joy we give each other…WHOA!!! …he hasn’t even said he loves me and here I am wishing for a baby….Horse before the cart, Girl!!!..Slow down, take it one step at a time!’

“You tired or just thinking?” he said against her hair and she chuckled, turning her face up to look at him.

“Thinking about how happy I am…how much I love being here with you…about lots of things…you know how the mind wanders when you let it…Urs…do you like children?”

The question slipped out and she wondered if he would be put off by her asking, if she was perhaps pushing a little too hard.

“Love them…someday I want a houseful…I tease about my family but secretly I want what we had when I was younger…” He frowned then and looked at her in question. “Is there a hidden reason for this question?...I thought you said we didn’t have to worry?”

“Relax, Big Guy!! I’m still on the pill and no, there isn’t a hidden meaning…I just wondered what you felt about being a daddy some day.”

“Looking forward to it…when I can do a good job…I want to buy a place in Switzerland, somewhere in the countryside but close enough to a major center to keep up with my work…but first we have to make a success of this project.” He turned his head to glance at the entryway as first David, then Carlos and Seb came down the couple of steps and joined them.

“The bus is late…33 seconds, so you lot are lucky,” he said with a grin, noting that Carlos looked to be asleep on his feet, Seb hadn’t shaved and David, as always was grinning, ear to ear.

“Good morning to you too, Swiss,” David said with a laugh then pulled Izzy away from Urs to snuggle her and kiss the top of her head. “And to you, pretty little thing…how do you manage to look so perky this early?”

She was laughing as she greeted Carlos and Seb, patting Carlos on the cheek when he attempted to give her a bleary eyed smile.

“Did you sleep at all, Carlito?”

“Si, pocito…mi dulce Felicia, she phoned me just after returning to the flat and we talked…and talked…the woman does not ever run out of things to say.”

The bus rumbled down their quiet street, stopping with a hiss of airbrakes and they boarded, letting Carlos go first while the luggage was stored underneath. He had the seat reclined and was beginning to snore when the others passed his seat and shed coats before sitting in their chosen seats. The band members, only a few since the entire troupe wouldn’t be needed, where already on board and most were napping.

Izzy and Urs found a pair of seats towards the back and settled in, pushing the arm rest up between the seats so they could sit closer.

“Want to nap until we get out of London? There won’t be much to see at this time of day.”

“Do we go across any of the bridges?”

He looked at her in surprise, thinking it was a strange question, then guessing why she was interested.

“DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!! We are NOT climbing the Tower bridge…or any other bridge in the UK!!”

She pretended to pout then flipped herself around to lay her head in his lap.

“We’ll see,” she said with a grin and closed her eyes.

**
The changes in Urs were obvious to the people who were with him daily. He laughed more often, smiled easily, a real smile, not the one he was so good at faking…he was even easier to talk to about personal things, though there was still a line that couldn’t be crossed…it was just set a lot lower than before Izzy.

And his voice improved, if that was possible…there was more passion in the vocals, more feeling in the words, more flirty looks and blinky winks to the avid fans.

He and Izzy spent a great deal of time together but both were sensible enough to know that they also needed time apart, time when Urs could pursue the minutiae of his burgeoning career, time when Izzy could sightsee some of the places she had missed on her trips to the UK in the past.

She had decided that the best thing she could do to help him cope with the pressure of the traveling was to create an oasis of calm and peace for him, so in the evening, over dinner, they would share the photos she had taken with her cell phone: an aerial view of Oxford University taken from the Clock Tower {she claimed that she had taken the stairs to reach the top, not climbed the outside walls, but he wasn’t sure he believed her}, the entryway of a pretty home that caught her fancy in Nottingham, the outdoor Market in Manchester.

It was a happy existence, the alone time or his working time, the tender catching up with events in the evenings, massages of knotted muscles, long foamy bubble baths, the laughter at silly things they shared…and of course the loving which was always new, exciting or tender, never far from the surface, needing only a glance, a touch, a sigh, to kindle the flame.

The guys spent their days with meet and greets, TV interviews, the occasional short concert of 2 or 3 tracks, shuffling from one venue to the other in a dizzying round of public appearances that left them drained at the end of the day. Still they seemed to thrive on the stress and pace, joking when they relaxed over dinner in the evenings, sleeping on the sometimes short bus rides or playing cards, even inviting Izzy to pay poker with them.

It was only a short ride from Nottingham to Sheffield but they got caught in a construction zone and the bus inched along a few metres at a time. David suggested they while the time away playing poker and teased the others until they joined him, turning the chairs around and clipping the little table into place between the seats.

“Izzy, do you play?” Seb asked and she lifted her head from the journal she had been reading, laughing.

“It’s a required course in the military I think. We do a lot of waiting for orders or for someone higher up to make a decision, so it helps to pass the time. What are you playing?”

“You really want to lose your hard earned money? We play with real money, Baby,” Urs said with a grin as he dealt the cards out and paused in front of her, just dealing a round ‘up’ to see who had the high card and would be first dealer.

“Oh I think you lot look like easy marks…dealers choice?”

“We usually play 7 card Stud,” David said…”It’s the one we all know.”

Sebastien ended up as dealer. He dealt around the table in rotation, 2 cards down to each and one up while every one anted into the center, one pound each.

Izzy peeked at her cards carefully, her face giving nothing away, then glanced around at the others. Urs looked smug, Carlos’ eyebrow wiggled a bit, Seb appeared resigned and David was stone faced…she would have to watch him carefully for his ‘tell’.

After a round of betting they each received another card face up, more betting, then twice more the same routine and at the end, one more face down card.

Everyone flipped their hole cards over and chose their 5 best cards for their hand, discarding the remaining two. She kept a 2 of diamonds from the table and discarded the other card, the King of Hearts, along with cards from her hidden cards in her hand…then the Showdown went around the table with Izzy second last since she was to Seb’s right.

Carlos spread his two pair, Aces and Queens, on the table and grimaced, not happy with his hand. David did slightly better with 3 tens, Urs had a low Spade flush…and Izzy had 4 twos which beat out everything including Seb’s low Straight.

“I think we’re in trouble,” Urs muttered as the deal went to Carlos and Izzy swept her winnings from the center.

“I’ll be gentle with you…I promise!!” she said, blowing him a kiss…and then proceeded to clean them out.

**
Two weeks into their criss-crossing whirlwind promo tour they made it into Scotland, the UK part nearly over.

It had been fun and for Izzy was a revelation of just how much pressure the 4 men were under. Plans changed constantly, not deleting any venues but adding more as the opportunity arose, sometimes leaving few hours for personal time or silly things like sleeping in a real bed instead of on one of the bus trips.

Over the days, and nights she had watched without seeming to, learning more about this man she was falling more and more in love with daily…what he liked to eat, how he disliked having anything tight around his wrists, how thirsty singing made him, his need to work out often to keep his body flexible, the way he was so tactile with her but hated to be touched by strangers unless he initiated the contact. They grew accustomed to sharing intimate silences when just a look or a sparkle in the eyes would speak volumes that no one else was privy to, argued volubly about headlines in the local papers then shelved the disagreement with no hard feelings and went on with the ordinary events that make up a life.

And Urs learned that the large shoulder bags she invariably carried housed treasure troves of exactly what was needed in almost every emergency. Like the time he was frowning when they had only about 10 minutes before leaving the green room and almost lost his temper with the wardrobe girl.

He was struggling with his cuffs under the edge of his jacket sleeve and muttering under his breath about having to do up the buttons.

Izzy had come in the green room and after watching for a few minutes came up to him.

“I can fix them, Urs…take your jacket off.”

“There’s nothing you can do, Bella…it’s not my shirt and the sleeves are way too long so I have to have the buttons done up…Scheisse…I’ll either be thinking about it or uncomfortable for the whole interview.”

She insisted so he took the jacket off and she pulled a tiny sewing kit out of her shoulder bag, undid the buttons and folded a seam in the sleeve above his elbow.

“This happens sometimes when we have to borrow a dress tunic…hold still now, I don’t want to jab you.”

Quickly she basted the fold in place, making the sleeve shorter, did the other arm and when he put the jacket on the sleeves were now a perfect length…and he had a slightly thicker bicep on each arm but at least he didn’t have to do up the cuffs.

He kissed the top of her head as she bent over the bag putting the sewing kit in the proper little pocket.

“I’m sorry to be so petty…I’m maybe a little strung out from the extra interview they had us do today…that reporter was really nosy and I let him kind of get to me.”

“Well that’s the past and there’s nothing you can do about it. This one might be really nice so you owe it to yourself to go out there thinking positive…turn on the Divo charm…and think about how this is the last one for today.”

The assistant came for them and all four of the men gave Izzy a hug as they left the green room and she slipped her shoes off to curl up in one of the chairs and watch the interview on the monitor high up on the wall.

The cumulative Divo charm was at it full power as the guys filed onto the stage, shook hands with the host and fielded questions, joking, laughing, smiling at the camera, graciously performing with the in-house band and reacting perfectly to the screaming and applause from the audience…another success.

**

In Edinburgh, they would have a one day layover for a special event and a very brief respite in the traveling.

This time the event was a dinner and meeting with some recording industry big shots and Urs received permission to take Izzy with him, though he would be expected to mingle and socialize with all the ‘money men’. Management would be attending as well and he wondered idly if it was thanks to Alicia’s insatiable curiosity that Sam had agreed to allow Izzy to be his date.

He thought about the blunt refusal when he had first broached the question of accommodations, offering to pay for the extra suite so that they wouldn’t have to share with Sebastien…only a few hours later Alicia had come to him saying that Sam had changed his mind…all of the singers would have their own suites this time and if his lady friend {her words} had suitable clothing she would be welcome to attend the dinner in Edinburgh. She even offered to take Izzy shopping if necessary but Urs politely declined.

“Are you comfortable with this thing tonight, Liebe? I have to go but you can opt out if you like…I’ll find an excuse to leave early.”

She looked at him in surprise.

“Are you afraid I’ll embarrass you? Urs, I won’t let you down…trust me.”

“Nein…I’m always wery proud of you everywhere we go…it’s just that you won’t know anyone and ….and that woman I mentioned before, the one who came to my room…she will be there and might give you a rough time with nosy questions…I didn’t want to put you in that position of having to be polite to someone like her.”

‘Mein gott, I hope honesty is best…I can’t lie to her…and like David said, tell her about things like Alicia and her persistence since she will find out anyway.’

“OH you mean Alicia, Sam’s assistant…I’ve noticed the looks she gives us…she really doesn’t mean any harm…I can handle her, Swiss…without drawing blood…you’ll see.”

She laughed and motioned for him to turn around so she could admire how he looked in his tuxedo.

His black tux was perfectly tailored for his toned body, even the silk cummerbund fitting smoothly around his slim waist. He wore a glaringly white Egyptian cotton and silk shirt with a tiny pattern that was more a shimmer than an obvious design, the top 2 black onyx studs undone to show a hint of sculpted, hairy chest, his spinel ring…and his trademark black leather half boots completely encrusted with black beads that glittered as he walked.

“Very elegant!!...I like your hair that length…not too long or too short and just a hint of curls at the ends…the stylist did a great job…you clean up really well, Swiss Rock God.”

“Who? What did you call me?” he said as he faced her again, laughing.

“That’s what the girls on the Forum call you…because of your past and your yummy looks…now go join the guys while I get dressed…you always seem to be more interested in taking my clothes off than helping put them on.”

She had her hands on her hips, smiling at him and he groaned at the delicious picture she made, dressed only in a lacy black thong, silver stiletto heels with some kind of green beads across the strap and whisper thin black hose that were staying up by themselves. Somehow she had controlled her hair into a sleek, swept back pouf with curls only at the back, held in place with hidden silver pins that made it look like she had scattered tiny Emeralds through the curls.

“I never really noticed before what a long, lovely neck you have,” he murmured stepping closer to inspect the Emerald drop ear-rings that hung from her ears…she warded him off with a laugh, giving him a gentle push towards the door.

“Go!...you don’t want to be late do you?...Urs, if you don’t give me some space to get dressed maybe I’ll go like this…now wouldn’t that have the tongues wagging?!!!”

He left, knowing better than to call her bluff…he had, after all, played poker with this woman!

**

‘Thank goodness I gave the possibility of a formal affair some thought when I packed for this trip…I think the Vera Wang will be perfect, not too revealing, not cutsey and not drawing attention to myself… much….after all this is HIS night…well theirs actually…I’m only window dressing and that’s how I like it…and I get to see the infamous Alicia up close and personal…surely she won’t cause a fuss at such a big do…well, if she tries, I’ll just have to handle her…gently of course since I fully understand why she’s fixated on our gorgeous Swiss…’

She draped a scarf over her hair to keep it tidy and dropped her dress down over her body, wriggling the built in bra into place and reaching to the nape of her neck to do up the thin collar. The hidden side zipper pulled the fabric in so it skimmed her lithe body. She gently removed the scarf, folded it and replaced it in her bag, then went in the Lav with a small makeup bag to apply the tiny amount of makeup that this evening called for.

A last mist of Escada and she was ready, collecting her small beaded bag, turning off the lights in the suite and heading out of the room to join Urs.

As the only one with a ‘date’ the others had opted to congregate in Urs’ suite and they had just arrived, all looking poised and stunningly handsome in their tuxes, coats draped over the back of one of the Lounge chairs. As one they looked up, stopped talking when they heard the bedroom door open and watched in appreciation as Izzy glided gracefully into the room.

Urs heard the soft comments of the others but his eyes were fixed on Izzy, this vision that was HIS, this woman who unknowingly exuded grace and sexuality without even trying.

A simple full length peau d’soie silk dress outlined her figure as she floated towards him, her walk different because of the high heels that forced her back into a sensual arc…a high narrow lace collar encircled her creamy throat, long sleeves ended in lacy scallops that skimmed the back of her French manicured hands, the line of the dress was smooth and unbroken, falling from the neck to hint at the curves beneath all the way to her ankles, a slit up the left side to just past her knee to allow for ease in walking, with just a hint of the same lace at the apex of the slit.

She smiled at him and he responded, making a motion for her to turn so he could see the back, then groaning when she did and he found himself staring at a lovely expanse of bare skin, the dress open completely to just below her slender waist, one final tiny scallop of black lace modestly covering the beginning swell of her bottom….a Vera Wang original at its understated, elegant best.

The light in the room played in shimmers over the dress as she turned to face him again, neither paying any attention to the others as they locked eyes and spoke volumes without saying a word.

Urs reached for her hands and kissed her fingers lightly.

“You look amazing!! But then I didn’t doubt that you would.”

The suite phone beeped at them, breaking the trance they were in and Urs laughed as he answered.

“Thank you. We’ll be right down.”

He replaced the handset and announced that the limo was waiting, for once not remarking that they were late…a minute and 17 seconds.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT…THE DINNER

Izzy was never quite sure later if they were actually in the magnificent Holyrood Castle or merely attached to it, but they did go up the long drive that was the only access to the impregnable edifice and stopped at an arched gateway to be met by kilt wearing guards. They stepped out onto a thick red carpet and were guided inside, down some wide stone steps and into a spacious reception area, where a formally tartan clad young woman took charge of their coats and a tuxedo clad aide {again wearing a kilt} welcomed them to the festivities.

“If you would permit me, Madam?” he said offering his arm to Izzy who smiled demurely as she accepted, leaving the 4 smiling men to follow them into the elegant, enormous, high ceilinged hall and to their table.

Alicia, Sam and Garry were already at the table when they arrived. There was a flurry of greetings while they all chose seats then looked around at the rapidly filling room.

There was a literal sea of black tuxedoed men wandering about with ****tail in hand, chatting with friends, back slapping, networking with new friends and old, most accompanied by their dates who could be slotted into categories by the fixed or real smiles on their cosmetically enhanced faces. Of course there were the exceptions, the natural beauties, the women executives, the partners eager to do their man proud and to aid him in his rise on the corporate ladder.

Urs leaned close to Izzy and smiled as he commented….

“This looks like a gathering of penguins…I hope they keep the speeches short…nothing is worse than trying to appear interested when all you want to do is fall asleep.”

Izzy giggled quietly and nodded, busy trying NOT to look at Alicia who hadn’t taken her eyes off of Urs ‘date’ since they arrived.

The sommelier poured the new arrivals some of the champagne already beside the table in buckets and left with a bow. Seb tried his and announced that it was acceptable, not wonderful since it wasn’t French, but palatable.

“Interesting outfit, Miss Santores,” Alicia opened what was to become her first biting comment of the night. “Wal Mart? I believe it’s a favorite shopping spot in North America.”

Izzy smiled graciously at her, noting and ignoring the flame red, strapless gown that showed far too much of Alicia’s limited resources. She felt Urs tense beside her, but didn’t turn to look at him, even when his hand sought hers under the cover of the table.

“Oh, did you see a copy there? They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…Vera Wang will be so pleased that her original design has already been copied.”

She stared, smiling sweetly, at Alicia for a heart beat longer, then deliberately turned to speak to Sam, ignoring the strangled sound coming from Urs as he tried to contain his laughter.

“What an interesting job you have, Mr. Dixon…I do hope you don’t let this lot give you too much of a hard time?”

“Please call me Sam…I almost don’t recognize my full name anymore. See this grey hair? When I started with Il Divo it was thicker and jet black.”

The conversation flowed around the table, but Alicia didn’t participate, still seething from the effective put down of Izzy’s ‘sweet’ comment. A few people dropped by the table to schmooze with Sam, Garry or the guys, not the real money men who would wait for the Divos to come to them…status was everything in this world.

The appetizers came, enticing trays of little canapés on crackers or tucked into tiny endive spears, a bowl of ice with pink fan tail shrimp hanging on the edge, the tart dipping sauce centered in the middle, a crystal platter of small toast circles topped with herbed cream cheese and thinly sliced lox, mushroom caps stuffed with something that looked creamy and then broiled, thin slivers of truffles used as decoration…for a while they were busy, discussing the food, passing it around and sampling the delicacies.

The soup course followed, a thick, chilled apple/squash creation with a dollop of sour cream in the precise center and served in crystal goblets…heavenly, according to Izzy’s first tentative taste and Urs agreed when he tasted a tiny bit. She noticed that for some reason it wasn’t appealing to Alicia though everyone else at the table would have easily had seconds if it were a more informal affair.

The fish course was Salmon, something that Izzy had never developed a taste for, but she ate most of her small portion to be polite.

In rapid succession they were served the rest of the meal: Kobe steaks, all done medium because of the huge crowd of diners, tender and juicy, served with wild rice and fresh vegetables that had been steamed to perfection, then in the continental manner a cleansing salad was served before the dessert trays that made Urs’ eyes light up with anticipation.

The wine flowed, changing whenever appropriate to complement the meal, though most at their table indulged with discretion…they were after all, the guests of honor and on display…it wouldn’t do to tipple too much.

Soon after the last of the used plates and utensils had been unobtrusively cleared by the excellent staff Urs leaned over to whisper in Izzy’s ear.

“Sam just nodded that it’s time, Liebe…we need to go mingle for a while, meet some people…do you mind if I leave you alone for a bit?”

She smiled at him, giving his hand a gentle pat.

“Of course not…go do your thing, Swiss…charm their socks off…I’m going to visit the ladies and then have a look at the display cabinets we saw in the foyer on the way in…something about the history of the Castle I think…I’ll wander a bit and find you when I come back.”

He chanced a quick kiss on the brow, inhaling her elusive fragrance and thinking how lucky he was. They both rose, Urs to join Sam and the others and Izzy to smile politely as she made her way through the sated diners to the entry.

She glanced back when she reached the door and laughed a bit…just as she expected, Alicia had gone with the men…the poor woman…she must have been torn, having to decide between following Izzy and trying to verbally best her and going with the guys so she wouldn’t miss anything she might find important.

The Ladies was a bit unusual but very nice, she found when she entered…a large area with stools and mirrors for adjusting makeup and large marble and stone cubicles which had the usual facilities, plus a sink in a marble vanity, complete with a vase that held a spray of pale yellow phalenopsis orchids and an assortment of hand creams beside a stack of glaringly white hand towels.

It was nice to be able to brush her teeth with the little toothbrush folded up in her beaded bag…she did just that, feeling immensely refreshed but popping in a whisper thin sheet of breath freshener that dissolved on her tongue… There now, that was better!!

Alicia was in the outer room when she came back out, seated in front of the mirrors and repairing her makeup, next to a matronly woman who looked up when Izzy entered and smiled as their eyes met.

“Lovely dress, dear…Vera Wang, isn’t it?” the woman said turning to rise, her grey sheath of lustrous silk fairly screaming ‘money’ but simple and demure… She held her hand out to Izzy.

“Mona Arpel…my husband is a Vice President at Sony… and I believe you are here with the Swiss Divo…my, I do love their music.”

“Isabella Santores…yes, Urs was kind enough to bring me along tonight…they really are quite amazing as a group…my nurses introduced me to their music and now I listen all the time.”

“Your nurses? Have you been ill?”

Izzy laughed lightly, placing her bag on the vanity and reaching in for the tube of lip gloss which was the only makeup she had brought.



“Actually, I’m a Doctor…with the Canadian Armed Forces and on leave at the moment.” She felt rather than saw Alicia’s quick glare and heard the hiss of her indrawn breath.

She applied a thin swipe of gloss and replaced the tube, listening to the older woman prattle on, accepting her offer to ‘Come and meet my husband’ and walking out with her, both on a first name basis before they even reached the door to the Ladies…and leaving Alicia in lonely, seething silence.

**

Divide and conquer being the rule of the evening, the Divos had split up, circulating through the room and shaking hands with various executives, chatting about the upcoming tour, their feelings about the success of the venture, anything positive which may in the future loosen the tight hold that Management had on the purse strings.

Urs was listening to a particularly pompous VP who apparently knew very little about the mechanics of putting on a concert/tour but was a wealth of information about balancing books…he looked up across the room and spotted Izzy, chatting with a very attractive older woman and a silver haired man. They were laughing about something and when she moved her head she saw him looking at her and smiled before turning her attention back to what the gentleman was saying.

‘I should have known better than to worry about her…of course she’s used to dealing with these sort of people, maybe even more than I am…she likely has to attend all sorts of UN functions and play the ‘Officer’…and she’s smart…she certainly put Alicia in her place when we first sat down…’

He smiled as he thought of it and turned his attention back to the accountant, hoping the man would soon wind down so he could mingle once more.

Sam came to his rescue moments later, taking him away to meet someone else and murmuring as they made their way through the crowd… ‘Your eyes were beginning to glaze over…thought I should rescue you… he’s a nice man but such a windbag…’

In the musical chairs way of this sort of function, the man he had seen Izzy talking to was now with a group of other money men, the women long gone to chat with someone else. Sam introduced him to Howard Arpel, a Senior Vice President and the other men shook his hand, giving their names then drifting off to talk to someone else when Arpel dominated the conversation with the younger man.

“Ah Buhler…I’ve had some very interesting conversations with the other members of your group…I do dislike it when you lot are called a “Boy Band’…not a ‘Boy’ among you…but I suppose ‘Man’ Band does sound a bit awkward…” he laughed at his own witticism and Urs smiled dutifully. “I’ve just met your charming companion for the evening…Dr. Santores…delightful woman…now perhaps you could explain to me about this new set that management thinks is necessary for the tour…the transportation costs on it will be enormous and I’d like your take on the necessity.”

Urs was amazed at how this pleasant man could switch from genial party-goer to business man but held his own nicely, answering questions, explaining the need to present their concert in a memorable way, especially the first time out when an impression would need to be made. They chatted until Howard, Arpel’s first name, offered after a few minutes of more formal conversation, was satisfied and agreed with the concept.

“Thank you, Urs…I’ve never managed to get Management to explain things to me in quite such a precise, logical manner…for some reason they seem to be intimidated by me and stutter a lot.”

He laughed and clasped Urs around the shoulders in a friendly manner.

“Now I believe there are a couple of lovely women being bored to tears by that old windbag, Finkel, but too polite to slink away…let’s go rescue them before they have to be resuscitated…I believe the speeches are about to start anyway.”

And so they did just that, collecting their ladies and parting to wend their way back to their tables, Urs doing what he had been eager to do all evening…guide Izzy with his large hand on her bare back, feeling her muscles and satiny skin moving under his fingers as they walked. He smiled down at her, leaning his head a bit to murmur… ‘Thank you, Liebe!’ and ‘Later’ when she raised her brows to look at him in question.

**

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE…SNEAKING OUT

The speeches were fortunately brief, an exception to the rule at this kind of gathering. The Divos were required to stand to be individually introduced, using their professional smiles to charm the crowd, then when the speeches were done they were officially ‘Off Duty’.

A small band began playing an assortment of music, tunes that were a little staid for the younger guests but greatly appreciated by the older ones who crowded the dance floor and glided, fox-trotted, two stepped and waltzed to their hearts content.

The bar was opened and a steady parade of guests took advantage of the free drinks, the noise level rose and before long the music got a little livelier as the younger crowd made requests and the older ones loosened up a bit.

“Do you dance?” Urs whispered in Izzy’s ear and she could tell from his tone that he was hoping she would say NO.

She laughed and nodded just a bit.

“Quite well actually…but it isn’t a passion of mine…Urs, I know you don’t like to and it’s not a problem…I’m content to just be here with you and listen to the music.”

Unfortunately it was not to be.

The windbag, Finkel, was the first to approach and ask Urs’ permission to dance with Izzy. She graciously accepted and endured his chatter as they made several circuits of the floor. Urs felt honor bound to cut in and rescue her, only completed one circuit when he was replaced by one of the VP’s who traded his wife for Izzy, claiming that he wanted to continue an interrupted prior conversation about the UN.

And so it went for the next hour…they both worked the room, chatting with partners who changed frequently, smiling at the guys when their paths crossed as they did the same duty, until the band took a break and they were able to return to their table.

“You’ve been wery patient, Liebling…but I think we’ve done our duty…what do you think about vanishing?”

“Yes, PLEASE!!! I’m SO ready!” she whispered back to him and he grinned

He leaned over to David on his right and quietly told him they were leaving.

“Not far behind you, buddy…if I have to dance with one more short, fawning matron who makes remarks on how tall I am, I’ll start laughing until I fall down.”

They tried to leave as discretely as possible but were stopped several times to chat with various executives.

Howard and Mona suddenly appeared, the VP putting his arm around Urs shoulder and smiling as he chatted about the evening, Mona taking Izzy’s hand and asking her to drop by their home if they came back to Edinburgh.

“I promise, you would have a lovely weekend if you come to visit…we have acres of land that you could wander on and refresh your spirit…we live quite simply, not anything like this.”

Suddenly they found themselves in the foyer, Urs and Howard shaking hands while the invitation was extended a second time and Mona gave Izzy a hug and a gentle nudge towards the coat check.

Urs glanced back at the entry to the ball room when they had retrieved their coats and waved at the older couple, unnoticed since they were indulging in a cuddle before entering into the fray once more. He chuckled and hugged Izzy’s shoulders.

“Nice couple…I like them.”

“Me too,” she said with a grin as a kilted attendant opened the door and another flagged their limo to approach when Urs handed him the chit with the number.

**


“I’ll be glad to get back and take these shoes off,” she said as they nestled together in the back of the roomy vehicle, wiggling her feet in the thick carpet.

“Take them off now…no one will see,” Urs said with a cheeky grin, pulling the skirt of her gown up a bit so he could see her moving feet.

“I’ll never get them back on when we get to the hotel…how would it look if someone took a picture and it was in the tabloids tomorrow… ‘Urs Buhler of Il Divo arrives at a posh Edinburgh hotel with his date…barefoot!!’ …no thanks…I’ll wait.”

He laughed and draped his arm around her shoulder to give her a hug.

“You are a funny little thing…I doubt that there will be photographers lurking at the Hotel.”

She was quiet for a moment then softly asked about his name.

“Urs…I like your name…it’s different and suits you somehow…is it common in Switzerland or did your Mother have a thing about Latin…or bears?”

“No one has ever asked me that…I’m always amazed at the way your mind works…it goes off in tangents completely unrelated to the moment or events…what made you think of my name?”

She turned to grin at him and shrugged.

“I don’t know…I just like the sound of it…it rolls off the tongue so nicely.”

He laughed again and nestled her head against his shoulder, breathing in her fragrance as he settled back in the seat to give her a quick history lesson.

“Back in the 7th Century an Irish monk came to the Jura Mountains and went into retreat in a cave. His name was Ursinicus and he was a disciple of St. Columbia. He built a Hermitage along the river… eventually he founded an order of Benedictine monks who established a monastery, now called St. Ursane, south/west of Bern in the Jura on the river Doubs right where it makes a 180 degree turn to flow due west into France and out of the mountains. The town is very tiny, only about 800 people but they have some marvelous caves, including Ursinicus’ cave which can only be reached by climbing up the 180 steps carved into the rock face and the Grottes de Reclerc and Prehisto Parc. It’s a tourist destination now for the caves and in August for the week of Piano recitals and later for Les Rangiers, the annual Road Race on the twisty mountain roads. The bridge over the Doubs has a statue dedicated to one of the monks, St. John Nepomicene who is the Saint of Bridges…if we ever go there you should get a medal to take on your climbs.

“Another claim to fame is about one of your countrymen… John Howe from Vancouver …remember him…he did much of the art work for Peter Jackson’s Trilogy, Lord of the Rings and he lives part time in St. Ursane. So the name Urs is a shortened form of Ursinicus or the French Ursane and it’s used now and then in my country. Mami liked it and was fascinated by the story about the Irish monk who came so far from his homeland for the peace of the mountains… I like to think that naming me after him predisposed me to love nature and the peace, the quiet of the woods and mountains.”

“That’s beautiful…much nicer than just being named after some dead old queen…thank you for sharing that with me Urs.”

“Silly woman…Isabella is a beautiful name…especially when it’s pronounced the Spanish way like yours is…Reina EEEzabella…I like it. We actually do a love song about a woman named Isabel…we might put it on the next album….if of course there is a next album.”

“Wow…I’ve never been immortalized in song before! Will you let me hear it?”

“I have a demo tape at the flat…we can listen to it at Christmas…or before we go to Paris.”

She was quiet again and he waited for the question he felt brewing this time.

“Urs…do you like art galleries?”

“It depends…on the exhibits and who I go with…I can’t stand rushing through or people who chatter all the time…I thought we might try to get to the Louvre if you like that sort of thing.”

She twisted in her seat and threw her arms around his neck in a stranglehold.

“You always know just the thing to make me happy…Oh I can hardly wait…and I promise not to talk too much…art galleries are about on a par with churches as far as I’m concerned…they need to be shown respect.”

She was content to be snuggled against him for the rest of the trip, both thinking about how much fun they were going to have.

**
“Tired?” he asked when they entered the suite and were hanging up coats.

“Not really…just glad to be alone with you…I’ve had enough of people for the night.”

He turned on a few lights, dimmed them and moved over to the built in stereo to click on a CD, then turned and held his arms out to her.

“May I have this dance, Liebe?”

She glided into his arms and moved in rhythm with him, his hands on her waist and her arms around his neck, bodies touching and moving in sync. It was exquisite torture, feeling muscles playing under clothing and skin, listening to him humming along with the music, never missing a step as they moved slowly about the Lounge…

“MMMMhhh, I’m so glad you didn’t follow your namesake and become a monk,” was her comment as she felt his body reacting and he chuckled against her head.

“Exactly why I didn’t want to dance much with you at the ball room… Thank you for being so supportive tonight, Liebe…you really charmed all those executives…and you looked amazing!! I’m always so proud to be seen with you but tonight…tonight was wery special….you might not realize just how much help you were in making those stuffed shirts receptive to us.”

“I want you to be successful in this adventure, Urs…and if I can help in a small way, it makes me happy.”

“YOU make me happy…..” he murmured and stroked his hands over her bare back, leaning his head down to kiss her gently on the neck…their feet stopped moving, she tilted her face up to give him access to her eager mouth…and they began a more intimate dance, creating their own music of sighs, moans and gasps of intense pleasure.

**

It was late morning when they were in the transport on the way to the airport in Edinburgh and Izzy’s phone began insistently beeping.

She glanced at the caller ID and grimaced, an act that made Urs’ heart thud…it must be her work.

“I’m sorry Urs…I have to take this…..Santores…Yes Sir,” she answered and he nearly groaned out loud. She had become more military, slipping into her other personae , her back off the seat rest, chin up and face serious as she listened to something on the other end of the connection.

Conversation in the limo ended as the others tried to be inconspicuous but couldn’t help listening.

“Yes, Sir…I’m actually on my way to Edinburgh Airport at the moment, Sir…but I’m on leave and my kit is….oh I see…thank you Sir…I’ll do my best.”

She disconnected and slumped back in the seat with her eyes closed for a moment.

“I’ve been recalled…damn him!!! He was so sure of reaching me that he’s had my kit sent on…he actually had someone go in my Base quarters, got my extra uniforms and equipment and had it sent here…”

She sat up, opening her eyes and looking at Urs, moaning when she saw the sadness on his face, both of them so upset that they had become unaware that they weren’t alone.

“Urs, I’m so sorry…that Captain who called a few days ago…he screwed up…he’s dead, my Corporal too….. and General Haggerty wants me to take his place, ASAP. My transport should be at the airport soon since it only has to come from Germany.”

“It’s not fair…you’re still on sick leave…and I don’t want you to go.”

“I have to, Urs…you know that…I’ll contact you as soon as I’m able and catch up with you…DAMN!...we were having such a good time…and I was so looking forward to seeing Paris with you…all I’ve ever seen is Orly and that was at night.”

She could see that he was struggling, trying to make the best of the situation and not cause her any unnecessary stress…but that he didn’t like what was happening. He took her hand in both of his, holding it tightly as if his grasp would keep her from leaving.

“I guess you don’t know how long it will take.”

She sighed.

“General Haggerty didn’t go into details but I assume that if things went so badly that there are casualties it make take a while to smooth things over enough to even start talking….I’m sorry…I just don’t know. As soon as I can I’ll e.mail you and we can make some plans.”

‘And what good will that do? We made plans for this time off and they called you in anyway…keep your thoughts to yourself, Looli…she has enough on her plate without you adding to it…the guy is dead!!! What about the danger to you, Liebe? You could wind up just like him!!’

He could feel a burning sensation in his stomach and swallowed rapidly, trying not to let the nausea overwhelm him…not now…not when it would upset her to see him so distressed. Later…he could panic later!

**

Urs felt the comforting presence of the other members of Il Divo joining him as he watched the cigar shaped grey/brown jet lumber ponderously down the runway, the emblems for Canada and the UN glaringly bright on the fuselage. It eased off the tarmac and floated upward, wheels retracting, banking left slightly as it gained altitude, then straightened and seemed to gather speed as it arrowed into the cloud cover over this area of Scotland.

“Allez, mon ami…Eet is time to board…” Seb murmured, putting his arm around Urs’ shoulder, his heavier than usual accent betraying his own distress and turning Urs away from his intense scrutiny of the clouds where she had disappeared.

“The little Bella is a strong woman…she will come back to you…and you must carry on until she does.”

Urs glanced at his concerned friends, even David’s face showing sadness for a change and tried a half hearted smile.

“I seem to be wallowing in self-pity…ENOUGH!!...lets get on with it…”

He didn’t fool them, not for a second but they appreciated the attempt and played along as they entered the building, sought out their gate and boarded the flight to London, carefully not mentioning Izzy or the forced separation that had ended such a happy time.

**

After the cold and damp of the UK it was difficult to make the transition to the dry sand of Kabul…and the dust, the squalor, the predominate air of tension, the scent of decay and cordite. Izzy checked in with the Base UN liaison, received her orders and within an hour was boarding one of the huge gun-ships for a lift to her team, far to the north/east in the Hindu Kush Mountains, almost on the border with Tajikistan at the tiny village of Eshkashem.

She read her orders enroute, shaking her head in dismay at the foolishness of the raw Captain on his first tour of duty …secretly she wondered what her superiors had been thinking, sending a new man into such a volatile situation…of course in the military you didn’t question your superiors, so she kept her musing to herself.

Apparently the Corporal and Captain were victims of a roadside bombing, something that she was sure would have been due to the impatience of the new Captain. She had spent a good many tours with Corporal Peter Clancy, knew him to be an excellent driver, very skillful behind the wheel and with a great instinct for sussing out danger…many times over the years they had avoided a similar fate because of his ‘gut’, an instinct which warned him that something was not right…Sally would have more details….the report in front of her was merely the bare bones of the incident.

The current mission was to secure the release of 7 hostages, employees of a company hired by the provisional government to repair damage to a pipeline. A ransom had been demanded, counter offer made but everything had been put on hold while the tension from the bombing was so fresh…nerves among the troops in the area were strained nearly to breaking and it was expected that if the negotiations weren’t finalized soon, before some fool opened fire in a nervous panic, that the hostages would be doomed.

Refugees were at the moment pouring into the tiny village, straining the resources, since Tajikistan had closed the border in agreement with the Provisional Government…they were not eager to have those who had planted the bomb escape into their country, preferring to divert them to Pakistan since everyone assumed that the equipment used had come from there…in short it was a boiling pot that could at any moment over-flow, putting everyone in the area in extreme danger.

They landed in the secured compound and Izzy was relieved to see Sally striding towards her as the dust storm created by the gun ship swirled around her. Out of habit she had pulled the scarf that was part of the desert uniform up over her mouth, shivering a bit since they were at a fairly high elevation and it was colder here…

‘Welcome to Afghanistan…the land of extremes…weather, culture, danger….at least Sally never changes…how does she always keep so calm?’

Sally saluted, then grinned as she reached for Izzy’s duffle and slung it over her shoulder.

“Good to see you Major…sorry your time with that gorgeous man was cut short.” The last was delivered quietly so none of the others nearby could hear.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Pete had one of his feelings about a bunch of wrecked cars at the roadside, mentioned it on the radio and started to cut out across the sand…the Captain wasn’t having any of it and ordered him back…just as they got abreast of the wrecks this little kid, about 10 or so, stepped out from behind one and opened up with a Tech Nine and Pete had to swerve right into one of the vans…it went up like a rocket, took the kid too…we were in the truck to the rear with Corporal Triedel driving…he had slowed and it just blew out our windshield…a few cuts from the flying glass…we were lucky…if the kid had waited another 10 seconds he would have got both vehicles.”

“….and the negotiations?”

“On hold…tension is pretty high…the mullah is a good man, except for the usual dislike of strong women, of course…he claims his people were not responsible and I believe him…there’s so many refugees flooding into the area and of course that means a lot of infiltrators hiding among the legitimate civilians…it’s impossible to weed them all out.”

Izzy nodded. Infiltrators were always a problem when masses of people swarmed into the compounds looking for aid…and the disrespect of women, well that came with the territory…it was one area where being a female was not an advantage. The negotiations would have to be played differently here than usual.

“So when do we get to meet this head man again?” Izzy said, waving away the jeep and driver that had been laid on for her…she needed to walk and get some of the kinks out after the long transport to get here.

Sally sighed and shrugged her shoulders as they headed into the heavily guarded town, the military presence evident every few feet with armed soldiers on patrol among the thin, scurrying children and burkha clad women who followed a few paces behind their husbands, the unique knotted turbans of rank or status on the men matching their flowing long robes and baggy draped pants.

A few vendors had set up rickety stalls along the roadside but the meager supply of fruits, vegetables and still live, scrawny chickens or goats was hardly worth a second glance. At the far end of the narrow street she could see a high metal fence and a long line of people waiting, some sitting in the sand waiting their turn to be searched before being allowed into the refugee compound….. beyond the fencing rose thin columns of smoke between the white UN or multicolored makeshift tents as families tried to subsist on the portion of rice and dehydrated foods allotted to them from the twice a week UN air lift of food.

They turned in to a fenced compound that looked more orderly, the huge Red Cross painted on the white-washed canvas roofs indicating that it was the medical center.

“We have quarters here…I told the Commandant that you would want to help out in the Infirmary as usual until we can get back to the mullah…they’re so swamped with all the people coming in, mostly dehydration, blisters, malnutrition…and of course we’re inoculating those that will let us….Triedel is doing some Bag and Tag* and the Techs are both assisting as orderlies…I’m in surgery when you don’t need me. This is us…I figured you’re used to sharing now.”

*{Military slang for Morgue work}

Izzy looked at her friend and grinned.

“Well, even if we leaned that way, I doubt if you could take me where he does….not even close.”

Sally laughed and stood the duffle beside one of the narrow cots.

“He’s that good is he?”

Izzy smiled.

“You have NO IDEA!!”

**

CHAPTER THIRTY…COPING


On the opposite side of the world, in Paris, the man in question was just rising from a twisted mess of sheets after a restless night. He sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes, his head lowered to his hands, scrubbing at the overnight growth of stubble and trying to get his eyes to focus.

This restlessness was fast becoming a habit, one he would have to work out a solution to or need makeup even when he WASN’T on stage.

He laughed wryly at the thought…

‘I can just see the comments in the tabloids… ‘Is the mysterious Buhler of Il Divo gay?...or disfigured? …does he wear Revlon or Estee Lauder?...what is he hiding?’

He rose wearily and wandered into the bathroom, turning on the taps in the shower to let the water warm and studying the shadows under his sad eyes.

‘What are you doing right now, Liebe? Are you missing me, even half as much as I miss you? Are you safe, working, sleeping, with your team?.... I can’t even figure out the time since I don’t know which part of the world you’re in…finish what ever it is, where-ever you are and come back to me….and Please Gott…keep her safe!’

Urs stepped under the spray from the nozzle and let the water run over his head, streaming down his body in a soothing cascade. He smiled as he thought of the long showers they had taken together, laughed outright at the ones in the cramped little shower in New York…those had meant some nasty bruises on the elbows but were so worth it. Just the memory made his body stir and he laughed, looking down and muttering ‘Not today, Little Soldier…she’s not here!’

He scrubbed, shampooed, conditioned and rinsed, stepping out onto the fuzzy mat to dry off and work on controlling his wild hair…finally gave up and pulled it back into a low tail, thinking about getting it trimmed, just a bit…the longer it got the more of a problem the curling was.

He hadn’t bothered to make any alternative plans for the day but really didn’t want to occupy himself with the itinerary he had planned for himself and Izzy…seeing the Eiffel Tower without her didn’t appeal to him…been there, done that…and the Louvre was a place where you needed someone to share the wonder of the great art kept inside the glorious edifice…even strolling along the canals or seeing the Arc held little appeal without someone special to share it with.

He sighed and decided that he would take advantage of the excellent gym in the Hotel, then breakfast in one of the little cafes. In the afternoon they had appointments for meet and greet, this evening an interview with a local TV talk show and that would take care of most of the day. Tomorrow was to have been a free day, the one when he had planned on taking Izzy to the Tower or maybe rent a bike and leave the city behind…it would have been so nice to actually be on a bike again since the opportunity had never arisen in the UK….oh well, time enough in the morning to find something to fill in the empty hours.

He pulled his gym strip out of his luggage and got ready to work out.

**

By the time Urs had finished in the gym and showered again, his friends were mobile and heading down to the restaurant for breakfast. He called David, got no answer, tried Seb and Carlos with the same result and laughed at his foolishness.

‘It’s just gone 8h30…they will barely be up and trying to find coffee…I can probably catch up with them in the café…today is not a good day to be alone…I’ll only start worrying about her again and that won’t do any good…’

He stuffed his keycard in his pocket, checked for his wallet and headed downstairs, clattering down the stairwell rather than wait for the lift which always seemed to take forever, his only complaint about this luxury hotel.

The guys still had menus when he walked into the café and waved the hostess away, pointing at his friends and smiling. David spotted him and waved him over.

“Your hair is still wet…does that mean you actually slept in?”

“Nein…it means I’ve been to the gym and had a second shower…”

He pulled out a chair and nodded to the hovering wait staff that Yes he would like a coffee, waited until it was poured then heaped two spoons of the grainy light brown sugar into it.

“’Ave you heard from Isabella yet?” Seb asked innocently, then yelped when Carlos kicked him under the table. “Oh…I forgot…well too late now…so, ‘ave you?”

Urs frowned at him, his forehead creased as he thought about what he had just seen and heard.

“What do you mean you forgot?...you forgot what? …you guys made a pact to not talk about her didn’t you?...she’s not dead you know, just away!”

David cleared his throat and leaned slightly on the table, trying to explain.

“We…uh…we thought it might be easier if we didn’t remind you that she’s gone …somewhere…you really were moody yesterday… and we understand how much you miss her…so…”

Urs relaxed back into his seat and smiled at his concerned friends.

“You know, sometimes I just want to whomp you guys up side the head like that guy on NCIS does to the Looli who works for him…and then you do something so thoughtful…I’m sorry if I took my bad mood out on you yesterday…I suppose I’ll learn how to handle these separations…it’s just so hard knowing that she could be in danger and not even knowing where she is or for how long. She’s been injured a few times, you know, not just that one time we saw on the video.”

The waiter came back and began taking orders. David tried to get Urs to take his menu but Urs shook his head, claiming a slightly queasy stomach.

David gave him his best imitation of ‘The Look’ he had seen Izzy use a few times and Urs laughed.

“Nice try, Stretch…alright…rye toast and fresh fruit …Merci.”

“I know just what you need to cheer you up…you need to go shopping!! I know a street, not far from here, with nothing but shoe stores!”

Seb’s offer made Urs laugh and they all relaxed, planning their morning of freedom.

**


Somehow the time went by, filled with travel, browsing guitar or shoe shops in Paris, then New York, more travel, mini concerts, tree lightings in the cold of Rockefeller Plaza, then in the sticky heat of a mall in Washington, hours of working out in various gyms in the hotels and restless nights alone when idleness meant thinking of Izzy and dwelling on all the bad things that could be happening.

He survived on coffee and on the quiet companionship of his friends, doing his job, just as she was, waiting to hear from her, each day checking his e.mail then going for yet another coffee when there was nothing, trying to convince himself that no news was good news.

At last they were done and in the airport for an early morning flight back to the Continent, one more short assignment then off to their various homes for their holidays.

They waited quietly in the first class lounge, trying to wake up with the strong coffee that the attendant was pouring and flustering the poor woman with the combined Divo charm.

Many time zones away, Izzy was attempting to down a coffee at that moment as well, the thick, mud colored swill that the mess tent claimed was coffee. She grimaced but valiantly swallowed, smiling wryly at the older doctor who had worked beside her in the infirmary for the past 11 hours, doling out care to an endless stream of people who didn’t really understand this conflict, just knew that their way of life had been violently changed, that they were sick, hungry, homeless and that it was good to see a friendly face smiling and helping, even in a small way.

“At least they’re consistent…no matter where in the world the Army cooks make coffee it all tastes like something nasty died in the urn.”

“And we all complain about it, but drink it anyway…I think the rush is over now…at least until tomorrow…the night staff will handle any emergencies that come up during the evening…. scuttlebutt is that most of the camp will be bugging out, starting first thing in the morning…a few of the drivers were in getting supplies for their med kits….you going?”

Izzy shook her head.

“I heard the same thing…they said there’s a new camp in Tajikistan at Konagh and that the refugees will be allowed across there…No…I have to meet with the Mullah here, so my team is staying. Lt. Carruthers is working out the logistics now.”

“My wife used to be just like her…reliable, full of energy, someone you could always count on. She’s after me to retire but I’ve been working since I was in my late teens at one thing or another and I just don’t know what I’d do with my time if I retired. I have another 3 years to go on my 20 and I kind of dread the thought of starting over at something else.”

“Do you have family, Bruce?”

“No…we just never seemed to get around to it so now there’s just the two of us. Anne does a lot of charity work to keep busy.” He paused and laughed lightly but not in amusement. “We don’t even have a home,, not really. We’ve moved around so much over the years we never got around to buying a home base either, usually just live on Base. I think in a way it’s easier for me than for Anne…at least I have my career, something I can work at and keep current on with seminars and courses on new discoveries. But she never complains…I got very lucky when I married that woman.”

The older man got wearily to his feet and held his hand out to Izzy.

“Good job today, Santores…Nice working with you…keep your eyes open and your head down.”

“You too,” she said as she half rose and shook his hand, then watched as he left, an old soldier with numerous campaigns under his belt.

‘Nice man…will I end up like him? Tired to the bone, going from one disaster to another, making the Army my life and worse than Bruce not having anything to go home to? It didn’t seem like such a bad life before…but now that I know there’s more, could be more…somehow it seems empty…is this what happens when you ‘burn out’?...Maybe it’s time to start thinking about the future, about a life outside the military…why do I keep doing that?...There’s no maybe about it…I have to look into what’s available…if only Urs would tell me how he feels…is he afraid of commitment?…is that what’s holding him back?...should I tell him how I feel?...I don’t want to be first…what if he breaks up with me if I seem too pushy?… ARGH!!! …what’s the matter with me?…I make decisions all that time that have a major effect on the life or death of people and I can’t even make a decision about my own!! Why does loving someone have to be so…so confusing?’

She noticed Sally winding her way through the long tables and approaching her with a grin.

“All arranged,” her friend and second in command said as she slid onto the bench opposite Izzy. “This should be an easy one…Sergeant Ansat will be your ‘voice’ since the mullah refuses to speak directly to a woman who is not a family member…he’s already talked to the Mullah’s second and it sounds like the man is eager to get this done…he actually has the hostages housed somewhere in the village, waiting for the transfer. I lined up the trucks with good, experienced drivers, the Commandant is leaving us a team as guards and two Hueys and the QM says that the ransom is ready whenever we are….and I got us burkhas to wear tomorrow…I know they aren’t regulation but it shows respect and I think you’re right to decide to wear them…I’m leaving my body armor on under mine though.”

Izzy laughed and nodded.

“Me too…at least it will only be for a few hours.”

Their mood was upbeat as they exited the mess tent and made their way to the cramped quarters they shared, talking about returning to Kabul, then the US, making plans for Christmas and Sally teasing as Izzy got a dreamy expression on her face, thinking about her planned reunion with ‘that gorgeous man’.

**

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE…CONTACT

Urs sat in the departure lounge of the airport in Geneva trying to generate more enthusiasm for the upcoming holiday at home. His self pitying mood was in full force today, something he hoped he could overcome before reaching home since Mami was adept at sussing out how her children felt even when they said nothing.

‘If I just knew where she was…or had some idea if she’s going to be able to join me again…Me, Me, Me…how about thinking about how she feels you selfish bugger…she’s probably stuck in some terrible place with only her team for civilized company…not much holiday spirit in the places they keep sending her…or am I reading too much into the good times we have together…we don’t do anything very wild and exciting…well most of the time…but there’s just something so…so comfortable about being around her ….we seem to be on the same page most of the time, even when we disagree about something….there’s so much to still learn about each other, more every day it seemed while we were touring around the UK…I love how she doesn’t make a big deal out of things, just goes ahead and makes my life so much easier…and the way she lives in the present, no bearing grudges or having arguments hang on for hours like some women I’ve known…am I being selfish to want to spend more time with her? Probably…but I can’t help it…she’s become so important to me, so quickly….if I just didn’t worry so much about these missions she goes on…’

He glanced at his watch, noted that he still had half an hour before the flight was due to board, thought about having another coffee but still had the taste of the last one in his mouth, bitter and strong, and decided against it. the flash of orange from his closed laptop caught his eye and he decided to check his mail…just in case….nearly cheering when the window opened and he saw that Messenger was flashing at him with the little window he had been waiting for… ‘Major Medic..Conversation’

His fingers felt fat and clumsy as he tried to hurry and sign on, finally calling up the screen to read:

‘Major Medic says: Taking a chance…are you there?’

‘Looli says: You bet…I check every hour …Good news I hope?

‘Major Medic says: I’m booking flights…where are you going to be in the next 48 hours?

Looli says: At last!!! Actually I’m in Geneva, just waiting for my flight to Luzern, on my way home to Willisau… I’m so happy to hear from you!!!

Major Medic says: Is that invitation for Christmas still open? I can hitch a ride to Germany and if I’m lucky, another to Switzerland…

Looli says: Silly Woman!!…I miss you so much…Of course I want you here, where you belong…what can I do to help?

Major Medic says: Just be your adorable self!!

Looli says: I am never ADORABLE!!! Puppies and kittens are adorable…I’m manly, mysterious, slightly dangerous…the PR department NEVER calls me adorable!!!

Major Medic says: What do they know? They’re likely a bunch of stodgy old men…Urs, How big is Willisau?...I need to go shopping…I don’t have any gifts for anyone…oh except for a few things I e.mailed Trudi to send me with my clothes…they should be at the Base in Germany when I get there….there just wasn’t any time to do any shopping here or a place to do it that hadn’t been bombed out.

Looli says: No problem, Liebe…we have lots of time and the important thing is that you will be here with us…I can’t wait for you to meet Mami…

Major Medic says: I thought I would be nervous but I’m not…I decided that someone who raised you through all those years of bikes and heavy metal and still loves you must be a really nice, tolerant person…. Have to go…lull in the rockets so we have a window of op…will call from Germany.’

Suddenly she was gone, leaving him staring at the screen and the words that fairly jumped out at him… lull in the rockets… window of op…bombed out?...Rockets?....Op? …maybe opportunity…where in H**l was she?

**

Just outside of Kabul, Afghanistan, Izzy and her team ran for the idling chopper, bent low to make a smaller target and to avoid the swiftly rotating blades, their duffles slapping against their backs as they shepherded the released hostages in a clump of anxious bodies.

It had been a night of round after round of mortars from a hidden location, stilled now, hopefully long enough for them to get off the ground and out of range.

This time it seemed that whoever was sending the barrage at the camp was an amateur, the rockets fortunately not heat seeking and not particularly accurate but deadly enough to be taken seriously.

They clambered aboard, hostages first, then the military passengers, all crammed onto the hard seats or the floor while the gunners watched for flashes that would indicate another salvo about to start.

The pilots had them slipping sideways and airborne so fast that most weren’t aware of the movement until a casual gaze down revealed the dimmed lights of the camp, spread out in a precise pattern over the rapidly receding ground.

A collective sigh of relief was heard when they dipped behind the nearest range of rocky, sand strewn dunes, following the dry wadis for some distance before climbing to cruising altitude, nose down slightly as they gained speed.

The noise in the body of the craft was deafening, making conversation impossible…but that was alright since everyone seemed content to just re-live their memories of the past few days…memories that had seemed unending at the time but had culminated in the transfer of the ransom and release of the prisoners.

Izzy had been pleasantly surprised at the ease of the negotiations when the Mullah had at last agreed to start talking.

Often that sort of thing took days, meeting after meeting, offers and counter offers, feigned insulted feelings as each side tried for a better deal, resignation when the pot was sweetened enough to make it appealing, tension when the actual transfer was done. Added to that this time was the restraint she had to show at the implied disrespect for her because of her gender…in the long run that held little importance and she thrust the niggling annoyance from her mind.

She glanced around in the dimly lit interior at the other passengers, most sleeping in spite of the racket from the rotors.

The hostages had been treated well, everything considered…most were a little dehydrated, all were tired and relieved to be free, only one, the wiry, aggressive young man from Missouri, had been injured at all and from what his friends said that had been his fault…it never is a wise thing to get in the face of a nervous, armed guard who is doing his job, as he sees it and quite willing to use whatever force is necessary to accomplish his goals…no matter…she was sure the company would pay to have the missing teeth, from the accurate jab of a rifle butt, replaced.

A hand came into her field of sight and she turned her head to see that Sally was offering her a bottle of water. She accepted, mouthed her thanks and watched as her friend leaned back against the skin of the craft, not likely sleeping but at least resting.

Not for the first time she thought about how fortunate she had been to have been assigned the raw young nurse on her first tour with the UN team. They had connected immediately, forming a loose friendship that easily switched from formal and military, to friendly and casual when the opportunity arose. She was a quick study, this tall, slender woman who just happened to be both a nurse and a soldier, skilled at organizing, calm and cheerful most of the time, slow to anger, quick to forgive and quietly ferocious when the situation required action. It was a given, though unspoken between them, that each would give their life in defense of the other and had, in fact, almost done so a few times. In spite of the regulations, Izzy always supplied Sally with a weapon when they were in the field, giving her the spare Sig Sauer that she was allowed as a Major, taking it back, cleaned perfectly of course, when the operation was over. That was the one Sally had kept ready, under the voluminous folds of her burkha when they met with the Mullah…it was already back in the holster and in Izzy’s duffle.

She capped the water bottle and slid it into one of the many pockets in her uniform, leaning back against the wall of the chopper and closing her eyes as she smiled and thought about how confused Urs would have been by the last few words of her IM….and how happy he had seemed to hear from her.

‘If I give this up, will I miss it?...not for a second…I think I’m ready to move on…and now there’s so much to look forward to…if only I knew how he feels…I don’t need to work, not for the financial part of working, the stores more than make enough, but I think I would go mad if I had nothing to do….Oh Urs, so much depends on what you want from me, on what you are willing to give me…thank God there is time off between assignments so we can be together, maybe even make some commitments for the future…that’s the bonus of working for long stretches, 24/7 for sometimes a month or more at time…the down time we earn is ours to do as we please…tied to our cell phones of course and on call at a moments notice….OMG how I’ve missed him…I can’t wait…these two days of travel will seem like forever…’

She pictured his smiling face, the crinkled eyes, the dimpled cheeks, that glorious, toned body… and dozed. Sally opened her eyes and glanced at her friend, saw the smile and knew just who she was dreaming about.



Urs pulled the rental into the curved driveway of the family home in Willisau and sat for a moment listening to the cooling motor ping, just looking at this place where he had spent so much of his life. The memories swirled through his head, making him smile as he thought of all the happy times, the family together, laughing, enjoying life even though it had at times been a struggle.

He still liked the simple things, even more now that the luxuries of life were available to him…..Home cooking, a fire warming the room on a cold winter night, the quiet of a house with his loved ones sleeping, safe, warm and well fed or sitting in the Lounge, pursuing a project and looking up to share a smile now and then….the door opening to allow his friends into the house, lured inside from a riotous snowball fight by the scent of baking cookies, the assurance that Mami would be there with a hug and the huge old jug that had held hot chocolate for more years than he could remember, ready to warm cold hands and innards after a day of skiing…the comfort of her arms when he arrived home from school coming down with the latest bug that was infecting the students…rushing in to shout that he had been accepted by the conservatory and whirling his ‘best girl’ around the kitchen in an over flow of joy…these were the things that always filled him with joy when he arrived home, far too seldom lately.

Eager now, he opened the door and stepped out of the car, hurrying to the never locked door and walking in. He took a deep breath of the aroma in the foyer…YES!!! She had been baking!!

His face was wreathed in an eye crinkling grin as he toed off his boots and tried to sneak up on the woman who was at the counter in the kitchen, busily transferring some ginger cookies from the cooling racks on to a plate.

“Sohn, if you put your cold hands on me I won’t guarantee not to drop these cookies I made for you,” she said without turning around and he laughed.

“Your 6th sense is still working I see,” he said, reaching around her to try and snatch one of the fresh baked treasures.

**

She slapped his fingers lightly then turned and smiled the same dimpled grin that adorned his face, the same hazel eyes that sparkled with love and mischief, her hair thick and tending to curl wildly but silver/grey, all these similarities packaged in a shorter, older, softer body that was still strong and straight even after all the years of work to raise her family of 5 children without the aid of her husband.

Urs bent down to hug her and kissed her cheeks, inhaling her scent, the fresh aroma of baking mixed with the light floral that she had worn for years.

“It’s a mother’s sense, not 6th, developed from years of trying to keep ahead of naughty children. Welcome home, mein Sohn…I’m so happy that you arrived this early…the kinder will not come until closer to dinner so we have time to visit first. Your room is ready, all nice and fresh for you…if you take your bags up I’ll just finish here and put on some coffee…we can sit and talk, catch up before the noisy ones get here.”

She watched him cross the kitchen to collect his bags from the foyer, his stride long and loose, cat like, this boy she had helped grow into a man that made her heart swell with pride.

‘He looks happier, more …complete somehow…but did I see a hint of sadness in his eyes as well…this new woman in his life…is she good for him?...he asked about her staying with us for Christmas but said he didn’t know if it was definite or not… of all my children you are the most vulnerable, my little Urs, the one most likely to be hurt, to hide your feelings deep inside and let your heart be broken…I want so much for you to be happy…sometimes being a mother is like walking a tightrope…’

She finished with the cookies, putting some on a plate for his return and setting the kettle on the burner to make fresh coffee.

**

‘Some things never change,’ he thought as he entered the room he had spent so many years in.

He put his bags against the wall and looked around…the walls were still covered with photographs of his childhood…friends, family, skiing, the album cover from the CD that ‘The Conspiracy’ had made. He chuckled over the long hair and sneering look that was what the photographer had asked for…how terribly out of character!!

Mami had made the bed up with fresh linens, not new, just fresh and clean: his favorite old patchwork duvet, the squares all of dark velvet, reds, blues, gold, black…soft and welcoming after a day of racing around, first at school then out on the slopes or hiking on the mountain, motorbiking even when he was too young to do it legally. He remembered when he had graduated to the larger, double bed…what a sense of pride he had that day…he was finally old enough and tall enough to be entitled to an adult sized bed. Of course he had been too young to share it with anyone but he remembered the feeling of being able to spread out without falling off the edge.

He unpacked, putting his clothes on hangers in the nearly empty closet and in the dresser drawers, running his fingers lightly over the spot where he had cut his initials in the wood…and remembering the punishment he had received for doing it to the brand new piece of furniture. Each stroke of the axe as he worked on the cord of wood he had been ordered to produce had reminded him to have a little more respect for things that had to be purchased with a great deal of sweat.

He sat in the comfy old lounge chair for a moment, wondering inanely when it had become smaller…he was sure that there had been more room to curl up with his acoustic guitar across his lap when he was learning how to play.

‘There’s room for Izzy in this room…now I just have to figure out how to learn if Mami would be upset to have us share a room…Mein gott, Man…you aren’t a kid anymore…she likely realizes that you aren’t a monk.’

He laughed at himself and checked out the connecting bathroom, leaving his shaving kit on the vanity and washing his face and hands…traveling always made him feel so dusty for some reason. Then, all nice and clean, he went down to beg for some cookies…and to address the questions that he knew she wouldn’t ask but was itching to have answers to.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO….AT LAST !!!

The layover in Turkey seemed to last forever, especially since they couldn’t leave the Base and browse in the nearby shops…it was undecided exactly what time they would be leaving so had to be ready at any moment.

Izzy and Sally found a poker game going on in the hangar mess and tried to keep their minds occupied by fleecing the enlisted men.

An hour into the game Sally received the call that her flight was ready to board. She would be going on to the UK then to the US, possibly on another assignment temporarily with a different team after Christmas.

She formally bade Izzy a good Christmas, her little smile and the secret wink as she was leaving the only indication that her words had a more personal meaning.

Izzy won a couple more hands but her mind just wasn’t on the game and she lost the next 3 in a row.

“Gentlemen, my mind just isn’t on the game…I’m out…if anyone is looking for me I’ll be in the commissary downing some of the mud they call coffee.”

She had just finished her second cup when a Corporal came to find her, saluting and delivering his message at her nod.

“Your flight is ready Ma’am, if you would care to board…I’ve already loaded on your gear.”

AT LAST!!!

The reason for the delay became obvious once she was on board.

This was a medical evac, sending wounded personnel to the Base in Germany for long term care and one of the wounded had required emergency care before boarding.

Izzy introduced herself to the attending medics, offering her aid enroute if it should become necessary and strolling through the racks of stretchers, reading charts when they were airborne.

Most of the men were cheerful in spite of their conditions, teasing the two nurses who were working the flight, wanting to tease the pretty doctor but loath to do so because of the military caste system…she was after all, a Major, someone who had to be treated with diffidence.

‘I’m tired of being treated as a pariah just because I have more stripes on my sleeve….that’s one reason I’m so comfortable with the Divo guys and with Urs in particular…after that first few minutes with the Divos they just treated me like one of them…and at first it was because I was female that they came on so strong…it had nothing to do with my rank… and Urs…well he doesn’t discriminate…he seems to treat everyone with respect….he accepts me as I am, weaknesses and all….not long now…10 hours more or less to Germany, then if I’m really lucky another 3 or so to Lucerne…what did he call it in Schweitzer?... Luzern?... I’ll call him as soon as I get in…OMG…I can’t wait to hear his voice…’

One of the medics had a question about a patient and she went with him to check on the soldier’s wound, not aware that her eyes sparkled with happiness at the thought that she was almost home…HOME…wherever he was, that was home for her.

**

Marta watched as Urs talked about this new woman, alternately sipping on his coffee, munching another cookie off the rapidly emptying plate, and covering most of the questions she didn’t want to ask, as if he could delve into her mind.

His face was animated as he talked, using his hands, sometimes dangerously when they held a steaming mug of coffee, but then he had always been one who couldn’t keep his hands still.

“She’s bright, energetic and funny…did I tell you she’s a doctor? She doesn’t look old enough but apparently she was a whiz kid in school…I’m not surprised…she picks up things so quickly…in some ways she reminds me of you, Mami…except she can’t cook…I think she was always too busy with school to have to learn how…but she’s strong and honest, caring and adventurous…we like so many of the same things…the outdoors, sports, music, even rocks, though she knows a lot more about them than I do…and she’s adaptable…in the bush she wears ragged clothing and looks like a camper, but when we went to a posh affair on the PR tour she looked like a model straight out of a magazine and charmed all the big shots at the party. The down side is that she works at a job that sends her into dangerous places at a moments notice …she’s been wounded a few times…and I worry when she’s off on assignment…actually I let the stress get the better of me until I was almost ill. I have to stop doing that.”

“Have you talked about this? Maybe Isabella isn’t aware of how much it bothers you?”

He sighed and shook his head.

“No…I don’t want to place demands on her…we agreed right from the start ‘No strings attached’…and she has enough to handle without thinking I can’t handle the separations…after all, I travel a lot too.”

Marta thought she could see that just talking about it the stress was building again in this beloved son of hers and decided to tackle another of the unspoken subjects.

“When you go upstairs, Urs, air out the guest room with the little balcony…I wouldn’t want it to smell stale when your friend arrives,” Mami said as she went to the counter to plunge the French Press coffee and bring it to the table once more.

He was still trying to figure out how to find out if she would be offended if he wanted Izzy to stay in his room, when she came back to the table and poured him another coffee.

“Or your young lady could share your room…the choice is yours…sometimes I forget you are no longer a child, Sohn.”

He smiled and reached out to take her hand.

“I didn’t want to ask in case you disapproved…Isabella is very special to me, Mami…we could take a room in the Hotel if sharing one here makes you uncomfortable.”

“Nonsense…I have 5 children and not one of you was an Immaculate Conception…this woman makes you happy…I can see it in your eyes when you talk about her.”

“Yes…when we’re together it’s like I’ve woken from a long, disturbed sleep…unfortunately we both have to travel with our work, a lot, so our times together are limited….and as I said before, her work can be dangerous.”

She watched as a look of sadness came over his face again and he toyed with his coffee mug, moving it about on the place mat. This was something he really was concerned about…even her diversion of the sleeping arrangements hadn’t freed his mind from it.

“Life is constant compromise and adjustments, Urs…if this is something worth having it is also worth working for…you will not always have to work so hard to be a success at the life you have chosen, so the traveling will lessen.”

He didn’t look convinced and, not wanting to appear to interfere, she let the matter drop….for now.

** ‘‘Rats…it’s the middle of the night…I should have waited…he’ll be asleep…but if I had waited then what? Sit in the airport until morning and call him…NO… this is better…he won’t be angry with me, I’d bet my life on it….’

Too late now, the connection was made and the phone began to ring…almost as if he had been expecting her call it was answered just after the first ring, his voice sleepy but clear and making her heart thud when she heard it.

“Urs…it’s me…I’m sorry to wake you…”

“I thought I was dreaming…actually I was, dreaming about you and then I dreamt the phone rang…Where are you?”

“About an hour away…they put the rotors on auto-rotate so it would be quiet enough to call you….there was no time to call when we landed…they shuffled me off to another chopper that had been held and we were off…I’ve been fighting with myself whether or not to wake you for the past hour and a half….the pilots want to know if there’s somewhere to land in Willisau or should they drop me in Luzern?”

“The football field…I’ll drive over there and leave my headlights on, pointed out over the field…Baby, I’m so happy you woke me…I would have been peeved with you if I learned that you spent the night in the airport instead of here where you belong.”

“So you aren’t going to beat me?” she said with a laugh.

“I’ll think up a suitable punishment….Liebling I can hardly wait…it seems like so long since I held you.”

Even before the call ended he was out of bed and grabbing clothing from the closet, his agile mind planning what he needed to do. He stopped with his tee shirt just barely over his head and did a little jig, raising his hands overhead and bursting into laughter. Too late, he thought about the others in the house and felt mildly guilty…actually he hoped that someone was awake so he could share this feeling.

He was just doing up the buttons on his jeans when he heard soft tapping on his door.

“Urs? Sohn, are you all right?”

There it was again, that 6th, or whatever number it was, sense that mothers seemed to have. Her bedroom was on the far side of the house…there was no way she could have heard him.

He threw the door open and wrapped his arms around the small woman, hugging her to his chest and laughing.

“Everything is fine…she called…she’s almost here…they’re going to land in the football field…”

Marta gave him a rib cracking hug and leaned back to look up into his smiling face.

“Then I will meet your Isabella in the morning…I will go back to my bed and let you two have some privacy…I’m sure there are many things you want to…talk…about.”

“MAMI!!...You are so naughty…but, thank you.”

She merely smiled, patted his cheek and was silently gone back down the hall before he could say anything more.

No one else stirred as he took the stairs two at a time, rammed his feet into his sno-boots, grabbed his jacket, keys and gloves and sped out to the rental.

He glanced back at the house as he waited for the engine to warm. No lights in Gerd’s room…just as well since he knew that his brother had to work in the morning. Of the girls, only Nadia was still living at home, Inga and Mariah both having their own places with their husbands…her room was dark also.

They had all been home for dinner that first night, bringing their husbands and children to welcome him home. It had been like old times with everyone around the large table in the kitchen, passing the platters around, fighting over the largest pieces of schnitzel, laughing, talking, catching up on the news, especially the imminent birth of Inga’s third child. She had allowed Urs to place his hand on her swollen tummy to feel the baby exercising, something that left him with a feeling of awe when he felt not just a flutter but a good solid series of thumps.

He started the car and eased out of the drive, turning left and from habit driving to the football field just at the edge of town. There was a fresh dusting of snow over the surface, not nearly as much as in the years when he had been a young athlete, years when he had tried to balance the need to work with the urge to play.

‘Global warming,’ he thought, remembering the mountains of snow they had endured with pleasure every winter only 20 odd years ago. ‘So much has changed while we went on with our lives in ignorance …or apathy…well no more…it isn’t too late…we know now…and we can still do something about it…’

He pulled into the parking area at the side of the field and hit the high beams of his headlights, adjusted the angle of the car a bit, tried the lights on low and then went back to high. He turned off the lights and the motor and stepped out of the car to lean against the fender, listening for the sound of an approaching helicopter in the stillness of the night.

It was crisp and clear tonight, perfect weather for their flight, the sky sparkling with a million stars and the moon at ¾, an almost full circle of milky white with shadows that he assumed were craters. The light snowfall earlier in the evening lay softly twinkling like a crushed diamond cover over the field, unbroken except for a lone trail of small footprints, likely a dog out for a stroll. For the first time in nearly 30 years he was so full of the joy of life that he had an over powering urge to make a snow angel…he looked around and laughed at himself…it was nearly 3 in the morning…of course there was no one to see.

Still laughing he lay in the snow and batwinged his arms and legs, got up carefully and looked down at his creation. Perfect!! That had felt good!!

He glanced at his watch…47 minutes since she called… soon…very soon he should hear something. His eyes tried to pierce the darkness to the north east, watching for the running lights…about an hour she had said…well, it was almost that long.

He almost missed it. The lights were winking, faintly at first then brighter as he was able to discern the muffled sound. He quickly started the engine and flicked on the headlamps, stepping back out of the car and watching the winking lights get closer, morph into a dark shadow, then a shape, then a solid form and finally into a glaring bright searchlight that flicked on and panned over the lit up field…gently the aero-dynamically impossible craft lowered to the ground and the door on the side slid open. A uniformed man, still wearing his helmet and headset, leapt out, reaching back for a small figure in civilian clothing, then once again for a long duffle bag. He deposited the bag on the ground and vaulted back inside, waving briefly to the smaller figure before shutting the door.

She didn’t even see the farewell gesture. The minute her feet touched the snow she was running towards the laughing man who had started across the field towards her. The distance narrowed until at last she took a flying leap into his open arms and attached herself to him from mouth to toes.

“Liebling…..”

“Again…kiss me again…”

“Mein Gott, you taste so good, feel so good…”

“Urs…” she started but words failed her and she just leaned into him, devouring his mouth, grinding her body against his and moaning when she felt his reaction.

“Me too…” he replied, prying himself away from her to take her hand and almost drag her toward the glowing head- lamps of the car.

They were half way when he started to laugh again and let go of her hand, turning to run back across the field for the duffle bag that sat in lonely silence, forgotten in their haste.

Urs opened the back door of the rental to put the duffle in but hesitated and looked at Izzy.

She shook her head and smiled.

“I want to LOOK at you…I can wait…just barely.”

He chuckled.

“Just as well…it’s been a long time since I made love in the back seat of a car…I think my bedroom will be much better…and we’ll leave the light on.”

He tossed the bag in, shut the door and folded her into his arms for a moment, breathing in the scent of her, feeling the warmth of her face against his…and laughing when she added a comment.

“But not if you take too long getting there…LET’S GO!”

“So where were you?” he asked as they drove through the night, her hand resting under his on his thigh.

“Afghanistan…it was a lot of hurry up and wait until we were ready to leave then someone opened fire with a rocket barrage on the camp in Kabul…they weren’t very accurate so there was more property damage than anything…Sally says HI by the way.”

“Has she gone back to New York?”

“Yes…she’s actually an American and her family is based in the Catskills so she’s hoping to get home for the holidays…Urs, is your mother okay with us staying over…I mean will we have to sneak out to…”

He laughed and squeezed her hand.

“My Mami is a mind reader…I didn’t know how to ask her but she just made it easy, offered us a choice…she’s much more ‘with it’ than I thought…and she’s sleeping soundly on the other side of the house. We may be subjected to some teasing from my brother though.”

“Brothers I can handle…I so want your Mami to like me…well the whole family really but mothers are so important.”

“Right now, you are what is important in my life…I worried so much about you while we were apart…you aren’t hurt this time are you?”

She pressed her fingers into his thigh, laughing when he groaned.

“Not even a bruise…are we almost there?”

“On the hill side, just ahead…we’re on the second floor, the only room with a light on.”

They parked, collected her bag and crept into the house, trying not to make any noise as they went, divested themselves of outer clothing and boots, then tip-toed up the stairs. Now, Urs didn’t want anyone to be awake…the feelings he had now were not something he wanted to share with anyone…except the woman at his side.

Strangely, the urgency they had felt in the car eased when they were safely in his room with the door closed, not locked since it was never necessary in this house.

Urs put her bag out of the way against the side of the dresser and opened his arms to her, folding her into them and just holding her close for a long moment while they breathed in the scent and warmth of each other.

Izzy’s hands crept under his tee shirt to splay across the muscles of his back and she sighed with the pleasure of feeling his smooth skin under her palms and fingers.

“I missed this…the warmth of you, the texture of your skin…no one touches you in the military, not skin to skin except maybe a brief hand shake now and then…I love the way you are so tactile, always touching me, a stroke on the cheek when we are in public, the way you like to hold hands, the little kiss on the neck when you pass behind me now and then, the way we snuggle on the sofa or in the hammock, just talking but touching gently. You are so full of tenderness and romance…you make my heart swell with emotion in so many ways.”

“I’m not the same since I’ve met you…I guess I’ve always been a bit of a romantic but no one ever let me just be me.... with you the closeness is most important…making love is…is like the whipped cream on top of an awesome dessert…not necessary but incredible when it’s given so freely.”

She nestled closer, then murmured from the region of his chest.

“Urs…”

She felt his movement as he looked down at her and smiled.

“Let me look at you…”

He released the grip his arms had around her body and stepped back, his eyes filled with a sultry, smoldering look as he began slowly removing his clothing, teasing mercilessly by folding each garment neatly as it came off, slipping the belt through the loops inch by agonizing inch, watching her as her little pink tongue wet her lips and she moved to the bed, kneeling and starting in what seemed slow motion on the buttons of her shirt.

When had his jeans ever had so many buttons, each one requiring attention, the straining fabric gaping further and further as each metal disk slid through the opening? Finally they slid to the floor and he ran his hands down those strong, matted legs, over his feet, taking his socks off as well in one smooth motion, then straightening again to gasp as her shirt slipped off and he could feast his burning eyes on the lacy green bra that barely contained his ‘Toys’. He felt his mouth salivating as he watched her undo the front closing and ease the lace off.

“Time for dessert…” he murmured, stepping closer to the bed and hooking his fingers in the elastic waistband of his bulging Calvins.

“Or two…” she said, reaching out as the shorts slipped to the floor.

As promised, they left the light on.

**

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE…Meeting Mami

It wasn’t a dream…even before his eyes opened he was aware that she was really here, nestled against him, breathing softly on his skin, one arm laying gently curled on his chest as he lay on his side and draped one long leg over hers to hold her close.

He remembered waking in the wee hours of the morning, likely his body clock thinking that he should be up and moving about, the feeling of loss infusing him for a moment as it had for weeks until he became aware of her soft body snuggled against him. The panic had ebbed instantly as he kissed her shoulder gently and relaxed, drifting into contented sleep once more.

‘This is what I need…this feeling of completion, this closeness…I want her next to me every morning, safe, mine, only mine…I hate having to share her with the Army, with her team…is that selfish?...I guess it is…my precious Bella… why does life have to be so hard?...’

She stirred and wiggled closer. He watched as her breathing changed, her body preparing to wake, finally her eyes popping partly open and her head tilting to look up at his face and smile.

“Good morning…or is it afternoon? It feels late.”

“Good morning, Liebe…I’m learning all sorts of bad habits…I haven’t even looked at the clock this morning…but I think it’s late too…actually I’m pretty sure I heard Gerd getting up to go to work about 6, just as we were falling asleep.”

She rolled onto her back and stretched, arms above her head and body long.

“Well so much for creating a good impression the first time I meet your family. They’re going to think…”

His hand came up over her mouth as he leaned over her, followed immediately by a gentle mouth that caressed her lips.

“They’re going to think you didn’t arrive until nearly breakfast… and that we made love for hours…wonderful, incredible, mind blowing love ….”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and smiled.

“It was, wasn’t it? You really are very inventive, my Swiss Lover… Urs…we need to air this room out…and shower…It smells like a bordello in here…not that I mind but if your mother comes in….”

He roared with laughter, rolling away and standing beside the bed with his hand held out to help her out of the soft covers.

“She won’t, not without an invitation…but the shower…I agree…it’s just through there…go ahead, I’ll be right in.”

He went to the double doors leading onto the balcony and threw them open, letting the chilly morning air inside…it was technically still morning since there was a good 10 minutes to go before noon he found when he finally looked at the clock.

Izzy yelped when the cold air brought goose-bumps out on her skin and she scurried into the bathroom.

He had a curious look on his mobile face when he came in and shut the door.

“You said it smelled like a bordello…and you would know this, because…?”

“Professionally…” she replied as she fiddled with the taps in the shower. She heard nothing but silence and turned to see that he was motionless, his face pale as he stared at her.

“As a doctor, Looli!!! Bordellos are common everywhere in the world…and sometimes we have to attend to some over zealous soldiers or civilians who get into things that require medical aid…Urs, did you actually think I worked in one?” she bent almost double with laughter as his face went red.

“Where’s your Swiss logic now? I would have been considerably more experienced that first night in the cottage if that had been my second job.”

“Sorry…it just sounded so bizarre…I didn’t think…are you mad at me?” he asked coming within slapping range and tensing just in case.

“Terribly…as punishment you can wash my back…and no hanky-panky!!”

She borrowed shampoo and conditioner from him rather than brave the cold air in the bedroom and let him wash her hair once he had promised to behave, a promise that he kept…sort of.

“Not shaving this morning?” she asked from her perch on a small chair in the bathroom when they had exited the glass enclosure and dried each other off.

“Not on holidays…maybe I’ll even grow a beard…”

“The rate your beard grows that should only take you about 4 days… you have an over abundance of testosterone, my Swiss….so other than feeding me to the proverbial lions what do you have planned for today?”

He came over and nibbled on her still damp neck.

“Well, first I’m going in the other room and shut the balcony doors…then we’ll get dressed and go down to see what Mami has for brunch…if you survive meeting her, then I’ll take you on a tour of town…we can play it by ear.”

His words kept echoing through her brain later as they went down the stairs, hand in hand…..’IF YOU SURVIVE MEETING HER’….

She couldn’t remember ever being so nervous…and his comment, though she was sure it was said to tease, didn’t make it any easier…but the cheerful woman in the kitchen did!

Marta heard them coming and turned to watch the doorway, drying her hands on a linen towel as she waited. The moment they walked in the door she beamed a huge smile at them and advanced with her arms wide, much as Urs did when he welcomed her back.



“I’ve been so nervous and impatient waiting for you to sleep out your travel tiredness…at last you are here!!! Welcome, Isabella!!”

She hugged Izzy and gave her a motherly kiss on the cheek then led her to the table which was partly set with utensils and plates.

“Sit…Please sit…the first hour you are a guest and we serve you, after that you are family and you help…I have brunch almost ready…I started it when I heard the shower running…Urs, the coffee is ready…..Sohn, she is even prettier than you said.”

Urs grinned at Izzy, fully enjoying her stunned expression at the welcome she had received…it wasn’t often that he had the chance to see her at a loss for words.

Very quickly the two women bonded and teamed up to tease the only available target…Urs.

Marta told Izzy of some of the escapades he had gotten into as a youth: being caught sneaking in after curfew, taking the family car out late at night to see if he could actually drive it,, how sick he had been the first time he went out with the guys and came home more than a little drunk, the call she received from the local pub owner when he used someone else’s ID to get in for a beer…the best was the phone call from the local pharmacy {this one he didn’t know about until now} to inform her with well meaning, but misplaced interference, that he had just been in to purchase condoms…her comment to that had been ‘Danke Gott…he’s wiser than people give him credit for!’…Izzy in turn described his reaction to finding out they would be climbing up the famous Brooklyn Bridge and how much like a drowned rat he had looked when they first met…carefully omitting what followed soon after.

Brunch was hearty and most welcome after camp food, and the gusto with which she attacked her meal made Marta happy…another side effect of being a mother…wanting to ensure that everyone was well fed.

They cleared the dishes together, Marta proudly showing off the new super quiet dishwasher that Urs had gifted her with… an Un-birthday present that he was in the habit of providing now that his finances would allow such things.

“Self defense…I did enough drying dishes when I was young,” he said by way of explanation but his red cheeks were evidence that it was really because he wanted to share his success.

Marta watched the interaction between this likeable young woman and her son, looking for clues that would tell her just how strong the relationship was.

‘She loves him…I wonder if he knows? It’s the little things that give her away…the way she buttered his toast for him, just the way he likes it, right to the edge of each piece and into the corners…she even knew which of the conserves he would want….the automatic way she has of making things more convenient for him…moving the sugar closer, pouring more coffee without being asked…the way she really listens to what he has to say…and the way she touches him lightly whenever possible, so gently, with such tenderness…I like this woman…I think if he asked, she would do anything to make him happy…but she isn’t a push-over…no, this is a strong, independent woman…he would have to ask…’

“You young people don’t need to feel tied to my schedule…make your own plans and if you are here for meals I will of course feed you. Urs, you know my kitchen is never without a quick meal to be had.”

He smiled at her, not bothering to comment since it was common knowledge among the family that Mami had an inbred duty to feed the world.

“We thought we might wander about town a bit today…I think we’re both too tired to do any skiing so I thought maybe tomorrow for that.”

“Urs, could we walk? I’ve spent so many motionless hours on planes lately that I need to stretch my legs a bit. Just how big is Willisau?”

“Bigger than Bancroft but not by much,” he answered with a laugh. “We’ll walk, then have dinner at the pub, maybe catch up with some old friends…and my brother…he usually stops for a beer and a game of darts before heading home.”

Marta laughed as she straightened the few items out of place in her tidy kitchen.

“Frau Schuter will be so disappointed…she called this morning and when she learned you were home invited herself over this afternoon…actually it was a very satisfying call…I let her know that you have been home 2 days already and she was peeved that she didn’t know earlier….she still has hopes of a match between you and that simpering daughter of hers.”



"Scheisse!…sorry Mami…all the better if we go out so I don’t have to be nice to her…Karla can’t string three words together without giggling…and all she talks about is her clothes, other girls and movie stars…I wouldn’t even wish her on Gerd.”

“Your brother does fine without resorting to your rejects, young man!! He will find just the right girl…someday.”

Izzy laughed at the banter between them, thinking that Gerd sounded a bit like Cody…flitting from one woman to the other without ever making a commitment…her smiled faded as she wondered if it was a family trait shared by the Buhler brothers.

They brushed teeth and dressed for outside, not heavily since it was bright and clear out and they would keep warm by walking. Out of long habit Urs checked the supply of wood for the fireplace and decided to add to it, bringing in a good sized armload and laughing at Izzy who managed a considerably smaller one with her ‘chicken wings’.

Chores done, they were off, walking down the driveway that some unseen city worker had plowed earlier in the morning and onto the main road leading into town.

It was beautiful out, the air clean and refreshing, the sounds of the village wafting up the slight incline to them, a dog barking as they passed the yard it was confined in, children laughing as they played in the snow. A few of the neighbors called out to Urs and he waved, speaking briefly to them but not stopping to visit.

“So are you going to play tour guide? I don’t know anything at all about this part of Switzerland…is it very old, this area?…it seems that all of Europe was settled such a long time ago…the history is incredible compared to the few short years that Canada has been settled.”

He took her gloved hand in his as they walked along, pointing ahead of them at some of the town that could be seen.

“The town is actually very old…I think it was from 1634 or there about but in 1704 there was a big fire and a lot of it burned. It was rebuilt as a walled town, in a rectangle and a lot of the old buildings were restored. In the summer we get a lot of tourists who like to hike in the mountains…the hiking trails start at the Monastery, St. Urbans, not too far from here and go up the Napf…it’s about 30 K and takes a long time so they camp overnight…we could do that one time if you come back in the summer.”

“Have you ever done it?”

“Not for years,” he said with a whimsical smile. “I worked as a guide one summer and that was enough for me…too many tourists and you have to watch them like a hawk or they do silly things that can be quite dangerous. I like it here in the summer though…we have all sorts of Festivals…Jazz, Blue Grass…even gold panning.”

She stopped and had a strange look on her face, then shook her head and continued, rummaging through her small shoulder bag as she walked beside him.

“You look like you forgot something? Is it important?”

Izzy laughed and murmured “You might say that…my pill…I don’t remember taking it when we finally rolled out of bed this morning.”

“You mean THE PILL…the important one?”

Izzy looked up at him and laughed.

“Don’t panic Big Boy!! I’m only a couple of hours late…it’s a new prescription because the other ones were making me nauseous…my brain isn’t used to looking for the blue case after all these years of the pink one…Sally picked it up for me at the Quartermasters when she restocked the med kit in Kabul……That and my Fever meds…the Base doctor changed that too.”

“We’ve been really lucky so far…”

She found the small blue pill case, popped one out and swallowed it easily without water.

“Yes, we have …I haven’t had to close the Bordello down once when we were together,” she said softly with a grin as she tucked her hand back into his.

“You aren’t going to let me forget that are you?”

“Probably not…but I won’t tell anyone else…it will be our own private tease.”

The wandered down the sidewalk, turned a corner and suddenly were in the main square and Izzy cried out at the sight in front of her.

He hadn’t told her of the Christmas Market, wanting to surprise her and indeed she was. The square was lined with booths exhibiting hand made or home baked goods, carvings, cakes, cookies, clothing, toys, decorations, everything themed for Christmas in a colorful display that stretched all the way down both sides of the street.

“Oh how lovely…why didn’t you tell me? Look, hand made scarves…that combination of colors is so pretty.”

She dragged him from one booth to the other, examining the merchandise, chatting with the owners and exclaiming over the unique workmanship.

“Oh, Urs…I can Christmas shop here…is this on everyday?”

“Today, then 2 more and it’s over for another year. There’s usually a booth for Herr Copf…he makes jewelry…I thought you might like to see it…I think it’s down towards the end of this row.”

“Oh, you wonderful man! I brought a piece of Lapis back with me that I did so want to make into a pendant for Marta…I thought I would have to just promise to do it but maybe…”

“Maybe…” he said, thinking the same thing. “Let’s find him and see.”

Heinz Copf was overjoyed to meet someone who had a similar interest and within minutes of being introduced, he and Isabella were deep in technical discussions about the merits of tumblers, faceting machines and the difficulties of finding reputable dealers in gemstones.

Urs stood off to one side, amused by the bonding between this elderly man and his much younger girlfriend, their love of gemstones bridging the gap in years easily.

‘I love how she does that…adapting to new people, able to talk easily to them without being condescending…is it a skill that she learned in the Army or is it just natural?... Natural, I think…there isn’t anything phony about this adorable woman at all…and Mami likes her…a lot!!!...I can tell…and it pleases me so much…’

“Urs, I’m sorry…we kind of left you out of the conversation…Heinz has offered to let me use his workshop to make a pendant for Marta…of course I’ll pay for the materials I use…No, Heinz I insist…”

They were off and running again, discussing what he had available and what time would be convenient for him. Urs spent the time browsing through the items on display, choosing several pins for his sisters and, on impulse, a pretty Jasper pendant which brought back a memory of the conversation he and Izzy had in the truck…it would make a nice gift for Izzy with a meaning only they would be aware of.

Their arrangements finalized, Izzy and Heinz turned their attention back to their ignored friend.

Izzy knew immediately that the Jasper was for her and burst into laughter as he fastened it around her slender throat.

“Do you think I need this, Swiss?” she teased thinking of how she had told him that it strengthened endurance when they discussed the medicinal properties of gemstones.

“No, but it can’t hurt,” he said with a grin, admiring the way it looked against the black of her sweater.

Urs paid for his purchases and they left to browse through the rest of the stalls, waving a cheerful good bye to Heinz until later.

**

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR…New Friends and Old


Izzy had arranged to meet at Heinz’ workshop after dinner so they made a quick trip home just as the sun was dropping behind the Napf to drop off their purchases {toys for the children, small pieces of art work, handblown glass and a selection of the lovely scarves that had first caught their eyes} and to pick up the little packet of Lapis Lazuli, some that Izzy was going to polish and turn into jewelry, some that she planned to give Heinz as a gift for being so accommodating.

They timed their trip home with care, checking out the occupants of the kitchen quietly through the window before going in…it wouldn’t be fun at all to burst in, not in the middle of a visit from their persistent neighbor with the boring single daughter.

Twice on the way back to the pub they had to stop when they met someone on the way home for dinner who was pleasantly surprised to see Urs after his long absence. He mentioned that they were off to the pub and promised to be there for a few hours when his old friends said it sounded like an excellent excuse for a quick beer when they had eaten.

“Urs, why don’t you stay at the pub while I do my thing with the Lapis? There really wouldn’t be anything for you to do, and your friends are really looking forward to catching up on what you’re up to.”

“You don’t mind? Heinz and his wife are really good people…I went to school with their kids.”

“Of course I don’t mind…just think of the happy reunion again when you come to pick me up,” she said with a flirty smile.

“You’re becoming a tease, Liebe…and I think I like it,” he said and picked her up to toss her in a snowbank and rub snow on her laughing face. The wrestling could have got out of control except for the passersby who stopped to watch, encouraging him to kiss her…so he did, then pulled her to her feet and they continued on.

Gerd was already in the pub when they arrived and Izzy picked him out of the crowd instantly when they entered.

Just a smidge taller than Urs, a few years younger and his body softer, as if he didn’t work out much…. the rest was a mirror image…wildly curling chestnut brown hair, almond shaped eyes that leaned more towards copper than hazel, the same wide, dimpled grin…a more outgoing, louder, baritone version of the man whose arm tightened around Izzy as his brother advanced with his arms wide, clearly eager to scoop her into a bear hug.

“Hands off, Baby Brother…I might have to hurt you!”

Gerd laughed and ignored him, lifting Izzy off her feet and kissing her on the icy cold cheeks before putting her back down.

“Shy one aren’t you, Little Brother? Nice to meet you…I think.”

Izzy grinned at the boisterous man, noting the boyish look about him, wondering how he could possibly be so very different in character from his very private, usually controlled sibling….but then, she and Cody were poles apart in temperament too.

The table he had left erupted in laughter and beckoned for the new arrivals to join them, most calling out to Urs, happy to see him after a long absence, even happier to have a new female in the pub to try to impress…depending of course on how protective Urs was of her….it was a guy thing, one Izzy fully understood and put to rest immediately by refusing a seat between two of the men and offering to sit on Urs’ lap with the comment ‘since that’s where I belong anyway’.

‘Ownership’ established, everyone relaxed. A chair was grabbed from another table and squeezed in beside Urs, introductions were made and the empty jug of beer in the center of the table vanished to be replaced by a full one, with two extra steins.

The accents were heavy and the conversation fast but Izzy managed to just barely keep up with the Swiss version of German, with a little whispered help from Urs who knew she struggled with some of the Schwiezer slang.

“How long are you home for Urs?” the towheaded man to her left asked, leaning on the table and smiling at Izzy as he tried to capture Urs attention.

“Till after the Holidays…we start the tour the last week of January in the US but there’s some Promo work to do first… It’s so good to be home….this past few months has been one hotel after the other…half the time I wasn’t sure where we were.”

“Poor man,” Eon, she thought his name was, said sarcastically but with a grin. “All those fancy hotels and aeroplanes, the hordes of women chasing after you…tough life!”

The man on the other side of Urs laughed as he poured from the new pitcher, passing a stein to Izzy, then another to Urs.

“At least you settled on the prettiest one….do you sing too, Fraulien?”

Izzy chuckled and took a sip of the dark ale before answering.

“Not when anyone can hear me…I work for the UN.”

Urs flagged down the busy waitress and asked what the special was tonight, raising his brows at Izzy when he learned that it was one of his favorites, Alpermagrone. She nodded and he held up two fingers…dinner ordered he went back to fielding the multitude of questions from these old friends he hadn’t seen for a while, some for years.

Over the next hour they had dinner and chatted with the constantly changing group around the large table, most of the men having one or two drinks then heading home. Gerd opted to eat at the pub as well and gradually found himself seated next to Izzy. They talked quietly about his work at the local clinic where he was a technician in the MRI lab and her work with the UN.

“I play part time as well,” he told her after they had thoroughly discussed the excellent facilities at the Clinic. “Urs’ old group still exists and I play guitar with them on the weekends…all of us kids took lessons in one thing or another…Urs was the only one disciplined enough to take it further, but the girls sing in their church choirs and their kids take lessons too.”

Izzy laughed and admitted that her skills in music consisted of turning on the stereo or playing a rousing rendition of Chopsticks on the piano.

“Urs could teach you how to play…he taught for a while in Amsterdam.”

She laughed again.

“I think he has quite enough on his plate at the moment…and I’m happy listening to him…my hobby is working with stones, making jewelry…and I think my generous new friend just arrived to pick me up for a trip to his workshop.”

She had spotted Heinz stepping in the door and scanning the crowded tables.

Urs rose and waved at the elderly man and when he arrived at the table offered him a beer before he and Izzy would head out to his workshop.

“Danke, young Buhler, but I want my dinner…another time…”

They had already discussed whether or not Urs would go with her so Izzy gathered her jacket and the small backpack with her stones, kissed him chastely and promised to be ready to leave in 3 hours when he would come for her. She was deep in conversation with Heinz before they reached the door and headed to his home a few blocks away.

**

“Any more like her back in Canada?” Gerd asked when they had settled down in their chairs again and the table was experiencing a lull, four of the still present men having gone up to play darts, leaving the brothers alone.

“Does that mean you like her?”

“Ach…what’s not to like? She’s pretty, smart and easy to talk to…I won’t ask about the bedroom since I know you would only get that closed down, stern look in your eyes….but you look …content…happier than I’ve seen you for ages.”

Urs smiled at this younger version of himself, thinking of all the times they had come so close to fighting with each other and all the times they had been there, covering each others back…

“Bella is very special to me, GB….there are some things we have to work out, like this traveling we both do and…and the dangerous missions she gets sent on…those tear me apart and I have to find a way to live with them …but when I’m with her I feel complete… like there’s always been something inside me waiting to wake up and now it is….and Mami likes her.”

“Wow…the ultimate seal of approval…don’t let this one get away, Little Bear.”

Urs scowled at him…”Don’t call me that!”

“Or what? Think you can take me?”

Urs grinned, pushed the steins to one side and put his elbow on the table, his hand raised ready to show Gerd just how effective all his working out had been.

And so the Buhler brothers indulged in the time honored tradition of brothers everywhere and arm-wrestled while everyone in the pub watched, cheering on their favorites but since both were, they changed sides constantly, depending on who was winning.

**

It was a short walk to the small house where Heinz and his wife had lived for over 40 years, quickly accomplished since Heinz was eager to get home for dinner and the night air had taken a sharp chill, possibly promising snow by the look of the low hanging clouds.

“Have you always been interested in gemstones and making jewelry, Heinz?” Izzy asked as they walked along briskly, the older man nodding or saying ‘Guten Abend’ to friends as they passed them on the sidewalk.

“Ja…even as a boy I would bring them home…drove my mother wild…she would find stones in my pockets when she did the wash, in little piles under my bed when she ran the mop under there. I think they bought me equipment and shelving in self defense!” He laughed as he remembered his long ago youth. “I went on to study geology and worked in that field for many years…had an accident on a site the year after I met Arielle and when I recovered we married and I became a teacher. Now my children are gone…all have their own families and their own homes…there’s just the two of us and I’m back to making jewelry again…only this time I buy the stones…too old and ache in too many places to go out in the field now.”

Izzy smiled and nodded in understanding.

“I want to get heavily into it when I retire from the Army…I actually have a couple of small stores now, getting ready…people in my line of work tend to retire early…I’ve actually been thinking about it a lot lately.”

“Don’t leave it too late to really enjoy yourself…the biggest regret about getting old, for me, is that I never have that thrill of finding something amazing myself now…I miss it, that rush of adrenaline, that flutter when you uncover something unique that Gott created and you are the first human to ever see it, to hold it in your hands.”

“But just think of all the young minds you taught over the years who ARE experiencing that feeling because you taught them how to look. I know it isn’t quite the same but you can be proud of what you have accomplished in your life….and what you make now will give pleasure to so many people for years to come.”

Heinz laughed and reached out to grasp her arm in a friendly squeeze.

“You sound like my Arielle…. ‘Make something pretty, Heinie…spread the beauty among people who need to be reminded of Gotts bounty.’…..Here we are…our little castle.”

The house was small and neat with a larger addition on the back that he explained was the workshop he had built when he retired from teaching.

“Arielle uses one large room out there for her preserves, the ham we get from my son’s farm and cheese from my daughter’s…she can’t do as much as she used to but then we don’t need so much now that the children only come to visit. Our other daughter married a man from Australia and they live there now…raise sheep somewhere hundreds of miles from a city…she likes it…even learned how to fly a plane to get about.”

“Australia…how wonderful…does she ever offer to send you opals or sapphires? Some parts of Australia are famous for them.”

“Some…I stick with small since the larger gems are too expensive made up for people around here.”

They stepped into the foyer of the little house and were immediately assailed with the scent of baking and dinner, a hearty beef or veal stew by the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen at the back of the house.

A sturdy but short woman came from that area, leaning heavily on a cane as she came towards them, smiling and brushing at crumbs on her apron as she greeted them.

“Heinie…I didn’t know you brought a friend for dinner... Welkommen, Fraulien…Welkommen!”

Heinz introduced the two women as he slipped his boots off and Izzy shook her hand, standing on the small rug by the door, then slipping hers off as well to line up on a rubber mat under the coat rack.

“Danke…Frau Copf…I don’t mean to intrude…I’ve already had my dinner…”


She hung up her coat while Heinz explained about Izzy using the workshop, then he led her through the house and out back to the shop.

It was small but neatly kept, the equipment clean and well maintained if a little primitive. For her purposes it was perfect and she commented on how well equipped it was, looking around at the labeled boxes on shelving that had been hand made, the jars of polishing grit, the stacks of sanding paper, the small tumbler and the two workstations with magnifiers and small vises.

Izzy dug the packet of Lapis out of her small back pack and opened it on the work bench, adjusting the light to center on the raw stones.

It was nearly half an hour before the sound of Frau Copf’s cane tapping on the floor roused them out of their thrall and the two lapidarists laughed guiltily.

“Always I have difficulty dragging him away from any new stones…but those are very pretty…come, Heinie…your dinner gets cold…Fraulien Bella may I bring you some coffee?”

“Please, just Bella…and no, thank you…I’m fine…I’ll just work on the findings while the tumbler does it’s thing.”

She donned safety glasses and heated the silver wire that Heinz had provided with a small torch, wearing thick gloves and poking it into place in the mold until it was just the right shape for the oblong stone she had chosen for the pendant. She set it to cool and checked on the stone in the tumbler, adjusted the grit and set the controls to gently burnish the lovely blue stone with the gold flecks of pyrite that good Afghani Lapis is renowned for. When it was partly done she would take it out and hand polish it with the polishing cloths, carefully, since Lapis was only a 5.7 on the Mohr scale of hardness, diamond being the hardest at a full 10.

She had just finished drilling the miniscule hole for the findings when Heinz came back, supporting Arielle who mentioned that she enjoyed watching the process and often watched Heinz working. She sat on one of the padded stools and chatted with Izzy while she finished attaching the findings and took up the polishing cloth again.

“I will have to come back tomorrow if you don’t mind. The backing needs to cool for 24 hours before I can slip the stone inside, but it shouldn’t take long to finish. Heinz, I really appreciate the use of your workshop. I was very impressed with the work you do, the truly inspired pieces you had on display at the market. If you ever decide to expand your business, I would be very interested in being involved…in a minor way of course, perhaps supplying you with gemstones from Ontario…it’s refreshing to find someone who is so imaginative and enthused over the treasures from the earth.”

He fairly beamed with pride and tried to downplay his contribution, even going as far as resisting payment for the supplies she had used.

“Please…this pendant is a gift for someone and I would not like to think that I owed a debt on it when I give it…let me pay for the supplies, a purely business arrangement…and accept this small packet of stones as a gift between friends.”

Heinz protested but Arielle reached out with a smile and took the packet of stones and the little bundle of Euros that lay under it.

“He is a bad business man…there…it is done and we are going to be friends with no debts hanging over us. Heinie, help me down…when you are done in here come in the kitchen and have some Nussel torte…it isn’t as good as Marta Buhler’s but close, very close.”

The cheerful woman went slowly back out of the work room. They could hear her puttering in the kitchen, setting out dessert plates and putting the kettle on as they tidied the work area, gave the half done pendant one last look and turned off the lights.

CHAPTER…THIRTY-FIVE…Skiing and Sharing Secrets

Punctual as always Urs came for her when the three hours was up. Heinz ushered him into the cozy house, offering cake and coffee but for some unknown reason Urs was anxious to get home with his attractive young friend. He chatted politely while Izzy donned her jacket and boots, asking about the Copf children and amazed that the shy little girl who had been a couple of years behind him in school now lived in Australia and could, and often did, fly her own small plane.

“I really have to get home more often and keep up on the news. One of my friends at the pub tells me that he’s married now with 3 small children and I had no idea. Somehow I still pictured Pug as being carefree and single.”

“Ah yes…the young Eriksens…her mother is ill so Angelique has gone to Bern to care for her…she took the children since they are remarkably well behaved…nice family,” Arielle Copf said with the air of someone who knows everything about her neighbors.

They said their goodbyes and walked out into the cool night air, the cloud cover gone now but the wind that had blown them away brisk and cold, encouraging them to walk quickly.

“Did you have a good time catching up with your friends?” she asked, her shoulders hunched up to her ears after the warmth of the small house.

“Ja…I’m serious…I have to get home more often…so much has changed in their lives….even with Gerd. He got promoted…he’s department head now and takes classes 3 times a week to upgrade his skills in management…I don’t know why he didn’t tell me.”

“Do you e.mail him regularly?”

Urs had forgotten his gloves in the pub and stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep them warm. Izzy pulled on the nearest arm, took his hand and shoved it in her jacket pocket, clasping it firmly and massaging it to warm it up.

“Well no…I just can’t get the hang of this e.mail stuff…and with the time difference I never seem to catch him when I call Mami on my mobile.”

“Urs Buhler, you do fine when we talk on line…that’s a feeble excuse!”

“That’s different…that’s Messenger…and you showed me how to do it.”

She laughed and promised a tutorial on e.mail since he was going to be away from home so much in the next year.

“And how did your evening go? Did you get everything done?”

“Not quite…I have to give the setting, the silver, time to cool completely…then another half an hour of work…and Heinz has a very nice fine chain that I bought from him for the pendant to hang on…what a nice couple they are, so friendly and generous…I had a hard time getting them to accept payment for what I used.”


“Frau Copf is the practical one…I’ll bet she accepted when he wouldn’t…I don’t think he makes much off the stall in the Market…he tends to give things away if the customer really likes what he does.”

They turned down the residential street and stood for a moment looking at all the brightly lit homes, the first time that Izzy had seen them all lit up.

Every house had lights strung from the trees in the yard, some going 20 or 30 feet up into the top branches or adorning the roly-poly snowmen that the children had made in the front yards. The lights reflected off the snow, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that added to the festive look, one home even had music playing sweetly from hidden speakers, something that Urs thought was a CD of the local church choirs singing .

They followed the winding road, going uphill now towards the house on the hill and he proudly mentioned that he had done the decorating outside of Mami’s house with lights he brought from Luzern.

The front here had a number of smaller trees, conifers that he had strung with fairy lights, all white and interspersed with shiny, red glass balls. The leafless birches at either end of the house had been done in more fairy lights with metallic red bows tied around the main trunk, matching the wreaths on the railing of the cantilevered deck and behind the building the tall pines and firs twinkled with silver glass balls and red lights that reflected off the sloped roof and the snowy hill behind the property.

“It must have taken you forever…but what a lovely job!! You have an eye for this, Urs.”

“Not so long…I’m very organized…and it was fun…the hardest part was having to move the ladder about a million times.”

“It looks like everyone has gone to bed,” she remarked when they approached and she noticed that only the outside lights were on.

“Tomorrow is a work day, the last one before the holidays…I thought we might go skiing tomorrow if you like…it isn’t far and the conditions should be perfect…and we’ll be back in lots of time for you to go to Heinz’ when he finishes at the Market.”

“What a nice treat…I haven’t been for ages and the hills in Ontario just don’t compare with what I’ve heard they have here. I’ll need to buy new gear though…”

“Oh I think we can find something suitable for this luscious body and those tiny feet.” he answered with a grin, stopping just outside the door and cuddling her against his chest.

“If we’re going to ski tomorrow does that mean no ‘exercise’ tonight?” she asked burrowing her face into his jacket.

“We need to warm up for tomorrow….”

His hands were already wandering, cupping her bottom and pressing her closer so she could feel how ready he was.

“Are you ever NOT ready?” she said with a smile and nuzzle against his chest. “Where do you hide the ‘Instant Replay’ button?”

He chuckled and ground his hips against her for emphasis.

“You inspire me…don’t need a button to push.”

Once more they tried to be very quiet going up the stairs and into his room, loving this time without the urgency they had experienced the night of her arrival but with a tender, languid, patient exploration, sighs of contentment, moans from requests fulfilled and stifled cries that eager mouths captured as they flew together into ecstasy.

They made one long hump in the messy bed as they shared a pillow and drifted into sated sleep.

**
Since it had been some time since Isabella had skied Urs decided that they would stick to the slightly less challenging hills for their first outing and they drove the short distance early in the morning, arriving just as the lifts were starting their first runs.

Outfitting Izzy hadn’t been difficult, just as he had said, since his sisters skied and had a good selection of outfits and equipment for her to chose from.

Nadia, who Izzy finally met, was about the same size and before she left for work, dug in her closet for her ski jacket and pants, offered a pair of boots that with the help of an extra pair of socks fit well enough.

She had the same Buhler physique, tall but fine and feminine like her mother but with not even a hint of curl in her long, naturally red blonde hair or in the pale blue eyes that smiled constantly. Nad, as Urs called her, had come for breakfast in a neat, professional pant suit with her hair down and immediately after breakfast twirled it around her hand into a tidy bun at the nape of her neck, did up the remaining buttons on her long sleeved shirt and was off to be Fraulien Buhler, the strict mathematics teacher with the kind face at the local upper school.

“She takes after her father,” Marta said with a sigh as Nad breezed out the door, walking with long strides down the lane to the sidewalk and turning right along the street. “I have trouble balancing my cheque book and she can do all these complicated things in her head. And she gets the hair and eyes from that side too…Rolf won’t admit it but I think there was a Swedish relative somewhere in the past.”

Izzy laughed.

“I know how confusing that can be…with Santores for a last name people are always amazed at the green eyes and freckles…Cody looks a bit more like our Spanish ancestors but not by much.”

As luck would have it they were dressed in the same color, bright flaming red, which made Urs happy since it was his favorite color…and Izzy looked wonderful in Nadia’s suit, the jacket just a bit snug, a plus as far as he was concerned.

They headed out going southeast towards Luzern since Urs had chosen Engleberg as their destination for the day. It was a short drive and very picturesque, winding along the freeway through quaint villages then taking the side road that only went to the resort and entering the village nestled around the Klosters, a 12th century monastery that had been rebuilt in the 18th century and was still operational with an open-to-the-public cheese factory and dairy.

They found parking easily, then the booth that rented skis for Izzy and headed to the gondolas, taking a scenic ride on the Rotair, the gondola that went to the top of Mt. Titlis and slowly rotated as it made the trip to afford the riders a magnificent view. Urs pointed out the neighboring peaks and the tiny lakes tucked in to the craggy ridges, the toboggan runs and the excellent ice skating facilities, as well as the 50 miles of pistes and many cross-country ski trails.

She was a bit apprehensive when she saw how steep some of the runs were but he chuckled and held her back when she tried to exit the gondola.

“I think we’ll warm up on something a little less challenging,” he said with a grin. “I just wanted to show off, let you see what real ski hills are like.”

They went back down and boarded a different gondola, not going nearly as high this time.

They started off their first runs on the gentle slopes, letting her get the feel of skiing, and falling, only a few times, then moved on to the next lift which took them higher, to the more ‘adventurous’ pistes. Urs pointed out the one that was posted for experts and she actually hesitated for a moment, deciding whether or not to try it.

“I don’t think so, Liebling…I want you in one piece tonight,” he said with a chuckle and settled the dilemma by pushing off on the moderate slope in front of them…she had no choice really except to follow.

It was all coming back to her now…the way of balancing, the slight pressure on her boots that would encourage the narrow boards under her feet to turn in a graceful arc, the pressure on the poles, bent knees and upward thrust that would take her airborne temporarily. She paused part way down to catch her breath, fascinated with watching Urs as he took the most difficult tracks down the mountain, the snow arcing in a spray of white powder from his skiis as he traversed untouched areas, the joyful way he flew through the air off of moguls, landing with a spring to his strong legs and coming to a stop to look back at her and grin with his arms raised in victory… ‘LOOK AT ME!! I DID IT AND DIDN’T BREAK ANYTHING!!’ she could almost hear his imagined shout as he waved at her to c’mon.

‘OMG it makes my heart thud to see him so free and happy, so full of joy…he’s like a little boy, out playing in the snow…I wish there was time for more of this in your life, my darling man…’

Laughing with shared happiness she pushed off and sped towards him, skiing in his tracks the rest of the way down the mountain, coming to a stop near the lifts to climb aboard the gondola and go up again, skis safely tucked under their arms.



**

Even from this gondola the view was stunning, both the mountains and the valleys spread out below them, sparkling in the sunlight on acres of pristine snow that had fallen the night before, trees thrusting up with caps of frosty powder coating their drooping branches, even a small herd of Ibex on a rocky ridge that watched the gondolas and skiers with quiet disdain.

Urs pointed out the various peaks and tiny towns nestled at the bottom that they could see as they climbed higher. They watched as a few daring souls tried the expert runs, one wiping out and tumbling over and over in a fountain of sprayed powder while everyone in the gondola held their breaths, all breathing a sigh of relief when he got to his feet and continued….no need for the Ski Patrol to rescue this one.

Three more runs and Urs decided that they had earned a rest, motioning Izzy to the many lounge chairs cast about on the ridge of snow, a few occupied with sunbathers, resting up for the next run.

They appropriated a couple of chairs in a prime location and Izzy lounged back in the chair, unzipping her jacket since the sun was very bright and warm. Urs joined her a few minutes later, bearing a cardboard box with steaming tall mugs of chocolate, some thick sandwiches on paper plates and napkin wrapped pastries….just the sight of the food made her realize she was starving.

The sun and glare was so bright that they had both left their sunglasses in place but she could see the huge smile on his face, his dimples deep and teeth gleaming, his lips bearing a rim of chocolate foam that she desperately wanted to kiss off.

She beckoned him to lean closer and did just that, if possible, making the smile broader when she withdrew and sighed.

“You always taste so good, my Swiss…today more than ever with that lovely chocolate… you know if I lived here I think I would ski everyday…in fact I could live right here, on top of this mountain.”

“That’s the nice thing about my country…it isn’t ever far to the nearest hills…wonderful roads to ride on with great views , winter sports for part of the year, amazing hiking trails in the summer months…arts and the modern scientific world not far away in the big cities and history…so much history.”

“Would you want to live here when your career is more established?…you know, to have a home base somewhere in your native country, maybe buy a mountain or something when the money pours in?”

He laughed and shook his head.

“Not a mountain…a forest…and land that I could grow things on…” He hesitated for a moment as if trying to decide to say something then smiled and spoke shyly.

“Actually there’s a place that I’ve coveted for a while, near Rolle on Lac Leman…Lake Geneva to you foreigners,” he said with a quick sidelong look to see what her reaction was.

“Rolle…that’s in the wine making district isn’t it?”

“Very good, Liebling…you’ve done your homework.”

She smirked and shook her finger at him.

“The Internet…it’s amazing what you can learn off it…if you aren’t a techno-phobe. Tell me about your place.”

He grinned at the dig about his computer skills and chose to ignore it, pleased that she seemed truly interested and not just condescending about his very secret dream.

“It’s really old…built in the 12th century and in the same family for all these years until the passing of the last of the line a couple of years ago. The estate is tied up in legalities so it’s been empty except for maintenance staff and the family who lives on the estate and cares for the vineyards. There’s a ton of bedrooms and lots of baths, should be a few more but that’s something I would see to…and a stables and guest houses, one with apartments that was built in the 18th century, houses for work crews…gardens, both ornamental and kitchen, a home farm, orchards, a lovely forest that runs up the foot of the Jura Mountains into France, several streams…it’s my dream home, maybe an impossible dream.”

She smiled and reached over to take his hand.

“It sounds lovely. Don’t give up on your dreams, Urs…it’s like singing at the Met…Dreams can come true if you continue to have faith.”

He squeezed her hand.

“After Christmas, I could take you to see the Chateau…if you like…it’s only about an hour and a half drive…and we could go on into Geneva or Lausanne and spend the night.”

He had mentioned it hesitantly, almost shyly and without asking she knew that it was something he hadn’t told anyone else.

She grinned at him.

“I like…it would be an honor to share another of your dreams…thank you Urs.”

“For what?”

“For sharing with me…you didn’t at first…but now you give so much of yourself to me…it’s like the protective walls you had around your inner self are crumbling and letting me in.”

He leaned over to nuzzle her neck.

“Just as yours are, Liebe…you had such an icy wall at first but I never see it anymore…and I like what you allow me to see now.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she felt his lips caress her neck.

“Uh…Urs I think we should maybe get back on the boards…before we melt the snow up here.”

He laughed and settled back to finish his chocolate, starting on his sandwich, smugly pleased with the reaction she had to his slightest touch.

Izzy grinned and sipped at her drink, snagging the other sandwich when she saw how fast his was disappearing.

‘He’s such a tease…just wait until I get you home, Buhler…you are going to pay!’

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX…Ready for Christmas

When the line up for the gondola got too long they called it a day and packed up their gear, turning in the rental skis that Izzy had needed from the booth since she was so much shorter than Nadia. They took the long way home, eager for showers but not really in a hurry since dinner wouldn’t be for at least another hour or more and they would go to finish the pendant after that. The rest of the evening they planned to just relax at home, chatting with Marta and helping finish the preparations for Christmas.

“There’s a big First Night affair, outdoors, at the Park on New Years Eve. I wondered if you might like to attend,” he said as they drove through the outskirts of Willisau on the way back to Marta’s.

“Music, food, drink and performers, dancing if you have a mind to, ice sculpture competitions and fireworks at midnight… I promise to keep you warm if you want to go.”

“Sounds like fun…I’d love it. Will your family be going too?”

“Nad and GB will and maybe the other girls and their husbands…Mami usually takes the kids and they have their own party somewhere with the cousins, aunts and uncles. I’m not sure whose house it’s at this year. We could go to that if you would rather.”

She could tell by his tone of voice that he was eager to be with his siblings and smiled as they pulled into the driveway, reaching out to squeeze his thigh.

“I think the outdoor thing sounds more our speed…we’ll just dress warm…and will you dance with me? I remember that you don’t dance.”

“Not often…if I have enough glu-wine I might be tempted…I don’t usually have such a squeezeable partner.”

She laughed and dug her fingers in a bit harder.

“Squeezeable? I’m not sure that’s even a word.”

“Of course it is…right next to huggable, sexy and terrible tease in the dictionary.”

When they were out of the car it was impossible to get away from her quickly since he had to gather up his equipment and the small backpack of emergency supplies that every good Swiss carried up the mountain with him just in case of problems, so he was a prime target for the snowball that she scooped up and sent with deadly aim right into the back of his red and white toque. That was but the opening salvo in the war that followed, the equipment forgotten in the snowbank as the snowy missiles flew back and forth.

Mami peeked out the window to see what the shouting and laughter was about and had the good sense to stay indoors but watched as they each scooped and threw, ducked and howled with laughter, then Izzy advanced on him with both hands full and he ran, only getting a few steps before she caught him, leaping on his back with a hand on each side of his head and taking him down into the soft snow where they rolled about, getting thoroughly covered, inside their jackets as well as out, even a couple of good hands full down Urs ski pants.

“Mein Gott, I’m freezing…and wet right to the skin,” he said with a gasp as he tried to catch his breath from the wrestling and laughing, still spread eagled in the snow with Izzy draped over top of him

“Me too…we probably should get up and go in the house.”

“Can’t …I have a Terrible Tease laying on me.”

She levered herself to her feet and grinned down at him, looking adorable with her hair full of snow, chunks of it adorning her outfit and boots and lumps melting inside her jacket….and Urs looked the same.

“Last one inside has to shower alone!” she said and made a dash for the house.

He beat her, using his long legs and superior strength to cheat and vault over the railing on the deck, reaching the door just a smidge before her.

“Didn’t you forget something?” she said with a mischievous grin, pointing down the steps to the equipment and pack, a lumpy chunk of melting snow falling out of her bulging sleeve when she moved her arm.

“But I still win!” he claimed and emphasized his victory with a crushing hug and a kiss that warmed her right to her toes. Then he went down and got the equipment, coming back with a grin and waiting for her to open the door so he could enter…first.

Mami was still laughing at their antics when they entered but she became confused and never did find out why they burst into such gales of laughter that they couldn’t walk when they stepped inside and the first thing she said was ‘TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF! I DON’T FEEL LIKE CLEANING UP AFTER YOU!’

**
It was done and according to Urs was beautiful.

They had gone the night before, right after dinner, to finish the pendant, this time since Izzy wouldn’t be long, with Urs waiting for her, sitting quietly and watching as she carefully eased the polished stone into the setting and tightened the edges, adjusted the findings and placed it on the fine silver chain. Heinz gifted her with a small black velvet pillow that they placed the pendant on, securing it at the back and Izzy wrapped the whole thing in layers of silvery tissue, planning on a small yellow rose corsage that Urs promised they could pick up easily at the local florists as the adornment rather than a bow.

Today they were put to work readying the house with decorations and giving everything a final swipe with the dust cloth, though it was already spotless.

Urs filled the wood bins on either side of the large fireplace, split kindling to make sure they had enough and together they trekked back behind the house into the woods to carefully cut a few pine boughs to add a natural scent to the house.

By mid afternoon Izzy and Marta were alone in the kitchen, baking tray after tray of cookies, Izzy’s job to keep the trays clean and dry at first then to decorate once the morsels were cool enough.

She found that she had a talent for drawing on the gingersnaps, making buttons down the front of the men that she had put smiles on, flowers on the skirts of the girls and ringlets in their hair. Santa was even more fun though the red icing was a dead give away on her lips when she sampled the icing a few times and got teased.

“I think my mother used to make sugar cookies like these,” she said when yet a different kind of treat came out of the oven and, since Urs had gone off on a ‘Secret Mission’ she was the official taster.

“She was a good cook and baker…it’s just too bad my nose was always in a book…I probably could have learned a lot from her.”

“Cooking is not hard, Child…if you like to eat, then you just make things that appeal to you at first…and get a book, try something exactly, the first time, then tweak it a bit to make it your own after that. Soon you will find you no longer need the book for everyday things. Herbs and spices hide a lot of mistakes…and of course if you have a failure in the dessert department…just pour chocolate over it and they will think you are a genius.”

Izzy was busily studding the huge ham with buds of cloves when Urs returned, racing upstairs for a moment before coming back down and entering the kitchen with a smug grin.

He snagged a couple of cookies off the plate on the large table and looked around as if searching for something.

“Don’t bother, Sohn…they are safely put away until tomorrow…you won’t find them.”

Marta was busy fluting the edges of the pies she was about to put in one of the ovens but he wrapped his arms around her from behind and hugged her, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

“I love the aroma of this kitchen…sometimes when I’m away I go into bakeries just to breathe the scent of fresh baking…it helps with the homesickness….are you sure you have the cookies well hidden? Remember I found them last year?”

“And remember the mark my wooden spoon made on your backside when you ran off with a whole tin? You are well over 30, Urs…will you never grow up?”

He laughed and tugged on the tie of her apron but found she had double tied it, just in case.

“Never…at least not when it comes to cookies. And how is the little assistant doing?” he asked turning his attention to Izzy who promised to be a more unaware target.

Indeed her apron fell to the floor and she giggled as he nuzzled her neck, interrupting her careful placement of the cloves in an attractive pattern.

“Your face is still cold…did you have a successful outing?”

“Ja…and nein, I will not tell you. That looks good enough to eat…what can I do to help?”

“We were planning on breaking for coffee as soon as Mami has that batch in the oven…you could make a fresh pot.”

Urs made the coffee, then carried the completed ham out to the cold room while the women cleaned up, taking the time to poke in containers and peek behind boxes since he was already out there….nothing was hidden, except a lovely chocolate torte that he swiped a finger across, then smoothed the frosting, licking his fingers again and scrubbing at his lips to remove any evidence of his crime.

Marta smiled indulgently at him when he returned.

“I knew you would find it,” she said.

“Find what?” His attempt at an innocent look failed miserably.

“The chocolate torte…you have frosting on your chin.”

He grinned and made a half hearted swipe at his chin to remove the evidence.

“Just a swipe, not a bite.”

She laughed and poured them coffees, pushing the plate of cookies closer to him in resignation.

“We were thinking of taking a drive into Lausanne on Boxing Day,” he said when the first cookie was finished and he had washed it down with a steaming swallow of coffee. “Maybe stay over night and come back the next day. Bella hasn’t really seen much of Switzerland except the little we saw yesterday.”

“It’s a pretty area,” Marta commented to Izzy. “And Lausanne is a lovely city…the International Olympic Committee headquarters was moved there in the early 20’s to Mon Repos by Baron De Coubertin…because of the war, you know… and is still there but just outside of Lausanne in Ouchy now.”

“Switzerland is such a country of contrasts…mountains, fertile valleys, wine making regions, history and ultra modern technology, tradition and innovation…and through it all the beauty has endured, the environment is probably the least assaulted by the modern world of any country I’ve been to.”

“Don’t kid yourself, Liebe,” Urs said with a shake of his head. “We have our environmental issues, too…maybe we’ve benefited by the rapid growth of problems in the rest of the world and got on top of ours quicker…hopefully it isn’t too late.”

“Don’t get him started on the troubles with the environment, Bella…we all see the way the climate is changing and do our little bit… you know, the three R’s…Re-use, Recycle, Reduce… but there’s only so much a person can do.”

Urs got a stubborn look on his expressive face.

“If I had my own piece of land I would never cut down a tree unless it was dead or badly diseased…and I would plant at least one for every person living on the property every few years…and…”

“And I would help you dig the holes,” Izzy said with a grin, reaching over to pat his hand in an effort to calm him down. “ I do agree, Urs…I see it all the time when I visit other countries… sometimes the air is so thick it’s hard to breathe…”

“Two ‘tree huggers’…I don’t stand a chance,” Marta said with a wry laugh and got up to answer the phone, carrying it into the Lounge and leaving the ‘tree huggers’ alone.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN…CHRISTMAS

It was Christmas Eve and the family tradition was to go to the midnight Carol Service at the Parish church in town, so everyone bundled up and headed out around 11. It was a slow trip since most of the neighbors were going the same way and their little group got progressively bigger as they passed houses and were joined by more and more people who had to be introduced to Izzy and welcome Urs, the long absent son, home.

It wasn’t the biggest church Izzy had ever been in but was certainly the most filled with the true spirit of the season. Every pew was full to overflowing with many of the younger men taking up positions at the back of the crowded room to give the elders a place to sit.

Urs joined GB at the back and quite enjoyed himself watching as Izzy interacted with his family, laughing quietly at something his Mami said, then leaning forward past Nad to speak to Cara, Inge’s eldest girl who had Tedi, the 2 year old, balanced on her thin knees. She nodded and passed the little boy over to Izzy, waving at her friends from school and relieved that her duty while her Mama was singing in the choir had been taken care of.

Izzy cuddled the tired little fellow against her bosom and soon had him asleep.

‘She really does like children, it wasn’t just something she thought she should say when we talked about it…not that either of us want them soon…or together…but…there you go again, Buhler…getting ahead of yourself… neither of us have time for family, not now… first the career, then love and commitment, then…..we’ll see…. but does it really hurt to think of what a good mother she would be? I mean it’s only dreaming…like the chateau…it’s just a dream… I think it’s just a dream…’

The music from the pipe organ swelled and the choir filed into take their places in the raised balcony, settling in place then softly began singing, the sound swelling more and more as the choir master lead them into the first hymn. The Reverend came in, walking in a controlled rush followed by two acolytes with the cross and large candles and the service began.

Urs couldn’t help but compare this staid and melodious service to the one he had attended with Izzy in Harlem. It was difficult to make a comparison since each in its own way celebrated the same thing, love of this gift of life that the Creator had bestowed so willingly on his children, the utter joy of worship in one, the heartfelt songs of love and praise in the other. He abandoned any thoughts of trying to analyze the differences and gave himself up to the music as most of the service revolved around singing time honored carols.

All too soon the blessing was offered and received and it was over. People collected coats and children, slowly filing out of the building into the crisp night air, wishes for a Happy Christmas were called out and everyone began making their way to cozy homes in preparation for a short sleep and the festivities on the morrow.

Izzy had reluctantly given up her baby sitting job to the boy’s father and held Urs hand as they walked together back to the house.

“I found myself thinking about the church in Harlem,” he said as they walked along the snowy sidewalk, the little motorized plow not having reached this area yet.

She laughed and looked up at him.

“Me too…it was different but the same somehow…the carols were lovely…I’ve never heard them done in German before, the way most of them were written…it made them seem older, less commercial somehow.”

“That’s why I like opera…it’s so appropriate to hear the words done in the original language…you can pick up the meaning just from the actions but the words sound…stilted if they’re translated.”

He snuggled her closer to his side with his arm around her shoulders…hers automatically circled around his waist as they trudged along behind the rest of the family.

“Was that Cody that called you earlier? I know it wasn’t work since you didn’t get all military and stern.”

“OH Urs, I’m sorry…I meant to tell you and then Mami and I got busy sorting out the dishes for tomorrow and I forgot. Yes, he just called to say Merry Christmas…he’s in Montreal with the new girlfriend…Chantal or something I think her name is…he asked about you…” She laughed and stole another look at him.

“I think he’s going to have you vetted…I told him not to but if I know my protective brother…”

“No problem…I’ve covered the evidence of my sordid past very well,” he said with a grin and an extra squeeze of her shoulders.

“I’m sorry, Urs…I have no control over him when he gets in his BIG BROTHER mode…actually at any time really. Cody is kind a force of nature that you just have to accept or get blown away.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Urs said with just the right mix of bravado and trepidation.

Hot chocolate was a requirement when they arrived back at the cozy house, shed their coats and boots and congregated in the kitchen. Every room in the house would be full tonight with the girls staying over, their children bunking in the spare rooms and everyone eager for morning and the arrival of other relatives for the mid day feast.

Once the children had sipped their refreshments and been bedded down for the night the adults sprawled about the spacious Lounge, a few spicing up their chocolate with liberal shots of Swiss liquers, and munching on the Ringli cookies that Mami had produced to ease any hunger pangs.

Urs showed Izzy the art of eating the very hard but tasty cookie that Willisau was known for: break it in half then dunk the end in the hot chocolate to soften it and nibble, bent over to save your clothing from drips.

They consumed more than their fair share then without discussion opted to retire, both eager for some quiet, cuddle time.

Urs was already under the covers when Izzy finished her bedtime rituals of teeth, face, hair brushing and turned out the light to join him. He flipped the covers up to invite her under, flashing a long, lean, very naked body at her and smiling as she wet her lips and dropped her robe before sliding across the smooth sheet to nestle against him, similarly undressed.

“It should be illegal to look as good as you do without clothes,” she murmured against his throat as she settled her head on his shoulder.

“I always wanted to be taller,” he said with a laugh.

“No, you’re perfect.”

“You are wery good for my ego, Piccolo Dottore.”

“If you were taller we wouldn’t fit together so nicely.”

He could feel her body relaxing against his and adjusted his arm around her shoulder, pleased that her hand rested on his chest above his gently beating heart. It felt good, just being entwined, together, safe…the sweet feeling of caring and comfort eased them both into sleep to even sweeter dreams.

**

With a houseful of children there was no sleeping in the next morning…nor any but fleeting thoughts of morning loving since both the young lovers tended to take their time and build the anticipation deliberately, delicately, to a glorious conclusion…not this morning!

The sun was barely caressing the snow that had fallen during the darkness when the sound of little feet echoed in the hallway and door-thumping could be heard over the excited squeals of little throats as they demanded that the adults get up and start the day of festivities.

Urs’ door burst open even though someone outside admonished the opener with a shrill shriek.

“Nein, Tedi!! Onkle has a friend with him! Tedi!!”

The laughing little boy was already in the room and toddling towards the bed, pursued by Cara and 2 younger children that Izzy couldn’t quite get her befuddled brain to remember names for.

She pulled the sheet up to her chin, laughing as she heard Urs groan next to her and leaned out of the bed to scoop Tedi up and deposit him in the region of his Onkle’s stomach.

“Ach!! Mein Gott, don’t bounce, Tedi!” Urs called out, laughing as he lifted the excited little guy off his stomach and raised his squirming body up for a swirling aeroplane ride, landing between the two adults. By this time the two slightly older children had scrambled onto the bed as well and Cara, with the decorum she was trying hard to maintain, was standing at the side, dressed in robe and slippers and grinning.

“Papa threw a pillow at me when I tried to get him up,” she announced and Urs laughed, knowing how grumpy Marc could be in the morning.

“Be a love and go down to make coffee, Cara…once your Papa smells it he won’t throw any more pillows.”

“You smell nice,” the little girl resting full length on Izzy said, her hands on Izzy’s face and big wet kisses raining on her cheeks.

“So do you…like My Little Mermaid bubble bath,” Izzy said with a grin, exaggerating a deep sniff of the tiny hands and using the memory of helping unpack the childrens’ toiletries.

With the ladylike instincts of all her 12 years, Cara figured out that if she wanted the two adults to get out of bed, the room needed to be cleared of little eyes.

“Oma might be in the kitchen, Kinder…we need to have juice before we can see if Weihnachtsmann* has been in the Lounge…let’s go!”
*Santa Claus

There was a scramble as a mass exodus occurred, even little Tedi who didn’t know exactly what everyone was so excited about but was not about to be left behind.

Cara took his hand and grinned at Urs as he mouthed ‘Danke’ at her. She shut the door and they could hear the thumping as the troop raced down the stairs.

He leaned over and kissed Izzy gently, tracing the outline of her face with his long fingers as their lips parted.

“Good morning, Liebe…Lucia is right…you do smell nice.”

“So do you…warm and spicy, that special Urs’ tang that I would recognize anywhere…Urs!! We can’t…” she giggled moving her hip away from something that was insistently poking against her.

“I know…doesn’t mean that I don’t want to….just the feeling of you against me in the morning wakes me up…”

Izzy rolled away from him with a laugh, evading his clutching hands and laughing as she skimmed her robe over her body and raced for the bathroom.

“All you get is a peek this morning, Swiss,” she chortled from the bathroom door, opening the robe to flash him and giggling when she scooted inside and shut the door.

He chuckled and gave her a few minutes, donning his shorts and pulling out clean jeans and a tee from the closet, thick sox from the dresser drawer.

She was brushing her teeth when he went in the bathroom to stand behind her and cup her bosom, resting his mouth against her neck for a moment before moving on to the separate Lav.

They could smell the coffee when they finally emerged into the hallway, both in jeans and tees, Urs as always in a Harley shirt, his favorite red one, and Izzy today wearing a pale yellow one with a rounded neckline and short sleeves. The Sodalite pendant that she was seldom without dangled between her breasts, perfect and brilliantly purple/blue against the softly pastel shirt.

Gradually the rest of the adults in the house congregated in the roomy kitchen, infusing themselves with coffee, now nearly as eager as the children to move to the Lounge and open the gifts that were piled under the tree.

The sun was well up when they finished the last of the presents and everyone was happy, thrilled with the gifts, some funny, some thoughtful, the children and Mami receiving the most as was fitting but the adults helping to play with the new toys, scanning through the new books or reading the liner note on CD’s, everyone exclaiming over Mami’s pendant, a gift that nearly brought tears to her eyes when she learned that Izzy had made it for her. No one understood the significance of the small framed photo that Izzy gave Urs of the Brooklyn Bridge though they were amazed to hear that he had climbed it with her. The other picture she gave him they understood…unknown to both of them Chickie had taken some candid shots of Urs singing at the Met and gave them to Izzy. She had one blown up slightly and nicely framed, the background clearly of an opera house stage, the contrast of him in his old leathers, in a thrall, singing, was exquisite.

He was so overcome that he forgot they weren’t alone and crushed her to his chest, kissing her in thanks as if wanting to consume her totally. Only the cheering of his family made him remember where they were.

And as he had promised, Urs bought her a set of cookbooks, ones that made her laugh when she read the “Cooking for Dummies” titles.

The tiny jeweled compass he also presented her with… ‘so you can always find your way back to me, no matter where they send you’…and the woven hammock she gave him… ‘to help furnish your dream home’ had special hidden meanings that only they understood.

Once the presents were all opened the serious business of the day began…FOOD!!!

All the pre-planning paid off as desserts were brought in to take the chill off, meats were inserted in the copious ovens and buckets of vegetables were peeled and sliced in preparation for waiting pots. Nadia had the chore of providing breakfast amidst all the controlled chaos, which she did admirably, getting the men to ferry the trays into the dining room and mind the children while the rest of the women grabbed what they could without stopping the production lines.

The number of people in the house multiplied hourly, cousins, uncles, aunts and more children arriving until Izzy gave up completely trying to keep the names straight.

In this family music was normal and there was constant melodious sound coming from the Lounge as the numerous instruments in the house were used, first by one group, then another, the tunes almost overlapping since it seemed as if everyone could sing or play something. The predominate sound though was laughter, joyous, uninhibited laughter, infectious laughter, soft or boisterous, booming or tinkling…Izzy thought she had never been in such a happy place in her life.

She stepped out of the steamy kitchen onto the deck for a breath of refreshing air and wasn’t surprised to find that Urs followed her. Often throughout the day she had looked up and found him watching her, their eyes smiling at each other for a brief, tender moment until someone spoke to one of them and attention needed to be transferred to the speaker.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight against his chest, letting her lean back against him for a tender cuddle.

“You totally confused yet?”

“You mean with all the names? Yes, completely…I gave up trying to keep them straight about an hour ago….what a lovely family you have, Urs. Everyone has made me feel so welcome.”

“I knew they would love you….even Onkle Gustav…he told me ‘the Little One can’t be a doctor…I like her!’…he hates doctors…they always try to get him to slow down and to quit having his daily beer…he’s 91 you know.”

“At 91, he must be doing something right…they should leave him alone to enjoy life.”

“See, that’s why he likes you…smart man, my great Onkle!”

“Urs will your Opa Buhler be coming today too?”

“Much later…he isn’t in as good health as his brother, Gustav, so he just comes for dinner and leaves after about an hour. He has a full time nurse now that he gives a hard time to…keeps trying to get her to sit on his lap from what I hear. People say I look like he did 60 years ago but I can’t see it.”

Bella laughed. He could feel her beginning to shiver from the cold and rubbed his hands over her arms to warm them.

“We should go in before you catch cold. You don’t want to be on the receiving end of Mami’s homemade cough syrup…vile stuff…but it does work.”

He turned her around, still in his arms and smiled.

“One thing first before we go in…I need my batteries recharged….seem to be running on empty.”

The anticipation of watching his mouth come closer, his lips parting and that soft, wet pink tongue ready to plunder was almost more than she could bear. He touched his mouth to hers gently, invaded delicately, flicking his tongue across hers and pushing, stroking across the inner surface of her lower lip, sucking her lip inside of his mouth… His kiss was tender, accompanied by a low humming that made her lips tingle as her body melted into his, warming as no fireplace nor fluffy jacket could have, from the inside out, until she clung to him for support.

“You are so good at this,” she said from her spot snuggled against his chest when he released her mouth.

“Hmmm?”

“Making me boneless and light headed, just with that lovely mouth.”

She could feel the laughter bubbling inside of him even before she heard it against the top of her head.

“You inspire me to greatness…I could stay locked to your mouth permanently…but it would be difficult to eat …c’mon…you’re shaking from the cold…time to go back in.”

Isabella smiled up at his sweet face.

“It has nothing to do with the cold…but alright…before Mami sends out a search party for her helper.”

Marta favored them with a knowing smile when they returned to the kitchen but said nothing, merely allocating chores for both of them, secretly pleased to see her son and the woman she had so quickly come to like, so happy, especially today on this joyous occasion.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT…Road Trip

They headed out early the next day, wanting a full day in the Lausanne area and hoping to avoid the traffic from the Boxing Day sales.

Once out of the village the land around them was Christmas card pretty, the lovely snow capped mountains forming a back drop against a crystal blue sky, undulating foothills studded with leafless beech trees or the heavy laden boughs of the conifers, smoke rising straight up in the crisp, still air from the crofts they passed, only the odd person out heading to barns to attend their stock, cheerful and friendly as they waved at the passing car.

Izzy slipped a CD in the player and pushed the play button, laughing at the surprise on Urs face when he heard the first few bars of the opening track and the way he burst into laughter.

“Where did you get that?” he asked as he reached over and cranked the sound a bit louder to the one and only CD that The Conspiracy had ever done.

“Mami burned a copy for me when I told her that I liked Rock and Metal. I’m glad you went in to Opera…this is nice but it’s obvious that your voice was meant for more than the raspiness needed for Rock…the guitar riffs are great though.”

“Thanks…I think…it was fun while it lasted but I think you’re right…I can do more with the talent Gott gave me in the genre I’m in now…and in Opera.”

“And as backup you could always become a chef…” she teased, making him laugh.

“Wait until you see the kitchen in the chateau…it would be possible to house a complete family just in the kitchen area and larders…it’s massive…and has a nice alcove area for eating in, overlooking the kitchen gardens at the back.”

“How is possible to get in to see this place if it isn’t even listed yet because of the red tape?”

He grinned.

“Have you learned nothing over the last few days about the Buhler network of family? Great Uncle Gustav had 9 children, who in turn bred like the proverbial rabbits, producing 53 offspring between all of them…that generation was a little more restrained and anyway who can count that high…one of the third generation boys had the good sense to become a vintner like his father, an older French man that married a Buhler bride. His Papa is more or less retired but Claude is in his late 30’s and runs the vineyard on the estate, lives there with his family ….so he trusts me to look around whenever I happen by.”

Izzy was staring dumbfounded at him, trying to process the information he had so casually rambled off to her.

“Breathe, Baby…by the way that’s an excellent fish imitation,” he said with a grin and she actually shook her slight frame and blinked, still trying to get the lineage figured out.

“Sorry…you lost me completely at 53 offspring…FIFTY THREE?... by the second generation? So what you’re saying is first, your family takes ‘Go forth and multiply’ very seriously and second, you are probably related to every one in the entire country?”

He roared with laughter then sobered as he tried to be serious and think about what she had said.

“Well…ackshully not everyone in the country…more like every third person. So now you know why I want such a large home…just think of the party if everyone visits at the same time!”

They were quiet for a while, enjoying the scenery and the company. Izzy was following the beat of the music, tapping her hands alternately on her legs as if playing air drums, laughing when she caught him looking at her and grinning.

“You probably should have studied music when you were young…you have really great natural rhythm and a pleasant but untrained alto voice…I’ll bet you like to sing but are shy about it.”

“Got it in one, Mozart…I only sing when others are singing so loud it drowns me out…or when it’s just me and the trees….but I love music…I can’t function properly unless there’s music somewhere near-by…I.Pod, stereo, I.tunes on my computer…Il Divo mixed in with all the rest as a nice treat every few tracks….did you know that studies have confirmed that babies in the womb actually hear sounds and you can predispose them to certain kinds of music before they are born? Apparently they respond well to the classics, rock, metal, opera but there isn’t enough tonal quality to some country or to rap, so they don’t react.”

“Does that mean if you ever have a baby you will have to ‘go bush’ all the time so you can sing to your tummy?”

She giggled at the mental image that created.

“Not likely…I’ll merely tape my I.Pod to my belly and let it play.”

A few minutes later he reached over to take her hand and held it against his thigh as they motored along, his eyes never leaving the wide freeway for long, but his mind pleasantly occupied with images of a pregnant Bella, her tummy swollen with child, his child, her green eyes smiling and glowing with happiness, much like Inge when she was gestating…he switched mental gears to a less sensual image when he felt his body beginning to react.

Food…that was always a safe subject.

They had taken a turn north when leaving Willsau, connecting with the A1 going east after a short drive and joining what was then light traffic heading towards Geneva. The volume had increased as they drove along in the early morning cool air, not as heavy as on regular workdays but busy with travelers going to the major hubs to visit friends and family or returning from celebrations the past few days.

“You haven’t complained once that I’m starving you…are you ready for a stop and something to eat? We’re getting near Biel/Bienne and I know a nice little place that serves breakfast all day…”

She grinned at him.

“Yes, Please…Now that you mention it, I am hungry…I was so enjoying the music, your company and the scenery that I forgot about food…this is a truly beautiful country Urs…there’s something breathtaking everywhere you look. I can understand why you miss it so much when you have to travel.”

They wound through the small city of Biel/Bienne and Urs explained that it was the only truly bilingual city in Switzerland, legally that was. All of the road signs were in both Suisse German {Biel} and French {Bienne}, something that traced back to the 13th century. It was the watch-making centre of the country with most of the major companies represented in factories and training centers for watch makers that attracted students from world wide. He slowed and turned down a narrow street, stopping in front of a quaint little inn tucked between two large Bed and Breakfast operations, a terrace outside that would be very pleasant during the summer months and deep set windows with flower boxes that now held some hand carved figurines in a Christmas theme.

This was both a bakery and a bistro, French style and the air inside was heavy with the aroma of fresh baking, making their mouths water almost instantly.

A cheerful, grizzled man with a starched white apron approached them, smiling as he recognized Urs and welcoming him back, offered them their choice of tables and brought coffee, chatting about the holiday season and mentioning that a fresh batch of croissants had just come out of the oven.

They started with a basket of the still warm, flakey and light-as-air croissants, accompanied with creamery butter and a small glass jar of home made conserves. Urs claimed he could have just had the pastry and been happy but ordered a fluffy omelet made with local goat cheese while Izzy asked for hers with wild mushrooms that their server said he had collected himself from a sheltered spot in the nearby woods only this morning.

They shared, each sampling some of the other’s dish and finishing quite easily since the balance of herbs and cheese or mushrooms was perfect and the taste superb.

“That settles it…I have to learn to cook…I think it’s Gunter’s wife doing the cooking back there, not some fancy-shmancy chef from a Cordon Bleu school.”

Urs laughed, still trying to figure out ‘shmancy’ but pretty sure it was some kind of Canadian slang.

“Well done…yes it’s a Mom and Pop operation…always has been…I try to stop here whenever I drive the A1.”

They relaxed over excellent coffee after their meal then collected a foil wrapped box of croissants to take to the chateau and got back on the road, heading out of Biel/Bienne and down the A1 again, this time within sight of the mountains to the west and soon with Lac Neuchatel to the south-east.

The land here was gradually giving way from rocky foothills to field after terraced, rolling field of dormant grapevines, bordered in the foothills by the beautiful tree lined landscape that gave way to snowy expanses of peaks rising into the clear sky.

Urs asked Isabella to call the Hotel in Lausanne and confirm that they would be arriving in the late afternoon as planned and he chortled silently as she rattled off the information to the reservations clerk in excellent French and her best ‘Herr Buhler’s secretary’ voice, coming off as efficient and sorely over-worked as she spoke to the anonymous person who was obviously sympathizing with her on the other end of the conversation.

He managed to control his laughter until she disconnected then chuckled and chanced a peek at her to grin at the smug appearance of her face.

“And you made a comment about my acting ability…that was Oscar worthy, Liebe.”

She grinned and reached out to take his hand, again resting it on his thigh which seemed to have become her permanent position while he drove.

“I’ve found that it is a lot easier to get them on your side instead of explaining all the details. Anyway the suite is being held and we are not to worry since they have your credit card information….but a suite, Urs? We could have shared a room rather than go to all that expense for one night.”

“Only the best for my girl,” he said and squeezed her hand.

‘Be careful there Rock God…you almost made a commitment out loud…but I suppose I am your ‘girl’…at least I hope I am…well it’s a start…I wonder if he’s ever taken any other girlfriends to see the ‘Dream house’?...I may never know…for sure I’m not going to ask…’


He took the bypass around Neuchatel, commenting that on another trip, perhaps on the way back, they would explore the lovely old city…today he was anxious to have her see the chateau and to spend some time there exploring.

“I’ve never taken anyone to see it before…in fact I think Mami is the only living soul that knows about my obsession with the place…you’re different though…once you see it I think you will understand.”

He glanced at her again, feeling her intense scrutiny of his face and smiling when their eyes met.

“You are you know…different that is…you don’t mind speaking your piece, even when we disagree….I can trust you to tell me exactly what you think…about the chateau…and I can try to explain why it intrigues me so.”

She smiled and slid her hands up his arm, resting her face against his shoulder for a quick hug.

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me…thank you…most people find my honesty a bit rude at times…it’s refreshing to be able to just be me and not be misunderstood.”

At Yverdon they left the lovely vista of Lac Neuchatel behind. It was only a short hop now to Lausanne but again they took the by-pass and soon left it too, behind, now skirting along the shores of Lac Leman {Lake Geneva to foreigners as he was so fond of reminding her}.

Izzy was fascinated by the number of sailboats scudding across the crystal clear waters of the Lake, somehow not having really connected sailing and Switzerland together in her mind before this trip.

“When I think about it, it makes sense…you have all these lovely lakes and a population that loves the out doors… sailing is a perfect way to get exercise and fresh air…and the view is incredible. Do you sail, Urs?”

He didn’t answer immediately, having slowed and was easing the car through a bit of tangled traffic just as they passed Morges…someone had had a break down and was being assisted by Road Rescue to get the car off the road and out of harms way.

“Sailing…” he said, refreshing his memory of what they had been chatting about when they had finally resumed speed. “I’ve done some…with friends, you know…I like it though I must admit to not knowing much about the finer points…but I’m a quick study and not afraid of getting wet so the few times I’ve been out I had a good time. What about you?”

“Never been…it’s an elite sport in North America…pretty well limited to the wealthy…but I’d like to go sometime.”

He made a mark in the air as if writing something on an invisible wall.

“Then that’s another thing to go on our To-Do list…we’re almost there…” He slowed and made the turn onto the exit ramp with the signs that announced Rolle, Gimel and St. George.

“That St.George…he really got around…did he slay dragons in the mountains here too?”

Urs smiled at her remark and shook his head.

“It’s a monastery in the Jura…we have a lot of them in Switzerland…I think when most of Europe was involved in wars and conflict the monks came here for the shelter and peace of the mountains and just never left. We can see the monastery on clear days, up in the foothills from the top of the towers of the chateau.”

Just past the tiny village of Gimel, Urs slowed and pulled up to the huge iron gates that fronted a drive winding between avenues of winter ready beech trees.

The snow here was not as deep as in Willisau but the drive had been cleared and the banks on each side pushed back to allow a double lane of traffic that could easily pass each other. The gate was open, a discrete coat of arms on the sturdy grey stone pillars and above the archway a name spelled out in iron lettering….Chateau de Reve.

“So that’s why you get that cheeky grin everytime I call it your Dream house…Chateau of Dreams…how appropriate.”

Just inside the gate was a small cottage nestled against the grey stone wall that seemed to circle the property, looking unoccupied at the moment though a small tractor with a snow blade was parked under the adjacent lean-to garage, only the back end visible past a coniferous hedge. The cottage had a very ancient but well-maintained look about it, squat and solid, of the same grey stone as the fencing, the windows deep set and a second floor with dormer windows just like the many paned lower floor windows…a wide, solid stone chimney shot into the sky from the slate roof, not even a whisper of smoke rising from it at the moment.

They drove on slowly, Urs silently watching as Izzy tried to look at everything at once, even trying to peer around the corners ahead to get a peek at the house. He grinned and wondered what her reaction would be when she finally saw the main buildings.

**

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE…CHATEAU d’ REVE


They came to the end of the avenue of bare trees and slowed, edging to the right around a driveway that circled what in the summer would be a large circular space, presumably of lawn or gardens.

Now they could see the buildings rising into the bright, early afternoon sunlight, squatting cozily in the pristine snow, the slate roofs shining with melt, the many paned windows reflecting the light and seeming to wink at the arriving visitors.

In the front of the main 3 storey-plus building a double staircase swooped in a curve up to massive doors, one on each side up to a wide, railed landing, the entire front of the grey stone and white trim building laced with now bare vines that Izzy knew in summer would be covered with lush green creepers or ivy. At one end of the long building a high, wide arch of more grey stone allowed a peek of other buildings, at least one of which connected to the arc to form a kind of wall around the rest of the property. She could see chimneys and roofs above the arc, a lane with pathways cleared down to the cobbles, the spire of what could only be a small chapel and behind the man made buildings hectares of grape vines and the home farm, snow bound but still in orderly rows on the terraces that stretched upwards to meet the treeline at the base of the majestic Jura mountains.

“This isn’t just a house, Urs…IT’S A VILLAGE!!!”

He chuckled.

“Reve is a working chateau, Liebe, with all the necessary support buildings and accommodation for the staff…and a chapel, stables, caves further back for aging the wine, gardens, orchards…there’s been some extensive renovations done over the years but the owner tried to keep within the historic societies guide lines and most of the modernization is pretty well concealed from the public. I wish it was summer so you could see it with all the roses blooming and the vines laden with grapes…there’s a scent in the air like you wouldn’t believe.”

They eased under the arch and wound past several buildings, through a gigantic courtyard bordered by a variety of buildings, then pulled up in a spacious area in front of a two storey structure with wide doors that identified it as the garage with an apartment above.

Izzy stood for a moment beside the car, gazing around at the well maintained property, the trim sparkling and fresh, the slate clean of moss, not missing any tiles, on this side the expanse of solar collectors on the acres of roof visible but not displeasing to the eyes as they merely looked like giant skylights…this must be what Urs had meant by the modernizations not being obvious.

Behind them at one of the houses the freshly painted door with a Christmas wreath of dried grasses and berries opened and a tall dark haired woman peeked out at the visitors, her face breaking into a smile of pleasure when she recognized Urs.

“It has been far too long since you came…welcome!!” she called out in rapid French as she dried her hands on a white cotton apron and came towards them, her gait more of a waddle than a walk since she was in the ungainly stage of her pregnancy.

“Again? How many is this? Have you and Claude not filled all the bedrooms in your home yet?”

“Ah, you know our Claude…he likes his women fat and since I never gain weight he selfishly keeps me pregnant…only 5, since you seem to be keeping count.”

She kissed Urs on the cheek and he hugged her, turning her to introduce Izzy.

“Dee, this is my very special friend, Isabella Santores… Izzy, Almandine Chastain, the woman who stole my handsome cousin away from all the women in Lausanne.”

“It is a great pleasure to meet you M’Mselle Santores…please come inside…my youngest is sleeping and should not be left to wake alone…she is at the age when you have to watch her like a hawk….Urs, Claude is in the workshop, I think doing some maintenance on the backpack sprayers.”

Urs raised his brow at Izzy, then inwardly laughed at himself…he didn’t need to ask permission, not of this woman…she could handle herself. He did, however, lean against her for just a moment, brushing his hand over her smiling face after he kissed her gently….then he loped off in the direction of the building attached to the garage.

He could hear them behind him speaking casually as they went into the house and smiled at his momentary lapse of judgement. Of course she would be fine with a stranger…this was his Bella, not one of the insecure women he had dated in the past.

“Please call me Izzy…you look so busy…I do hope we didn’t disturbed your routine with our unexpected visit.”

Lightly he heard Dee reply then the sound was lost as he neared the workshop and could hear whistling inside.

Claude glanced up from the workbench when he heard the door open and broke into laughter when he saw that it was Urs, coming over to offer his hand, then withdrawing it when he saw how greasy it was.

“Urs!!...I was just thinking about you the other day…it’s been too long!...No, don’t shake my hand…at least not until I wipe it…I’ve been making sure all the sprayers are well oiled so they don’t seize up in the spring when we need them.”

Urs grabbed his hand in both of his.

“This is nothing…you should see me when I’m working on one of my bikes. So how are you? Still looking about 20 and still with the most beautiful wife in the canton.”

“Ah…so you spoke with Dee then…not much gets past her…she’s like a sexy watchdog, very protective of our home and the kids…and me I guess. And her hormones are raging again…one of the benefits of having babies.”

“You always were a randy devil…and baby number 5…in only 8 years of marriage…trying for a record?”

“Non, just keeping ahead of you…I figure you’re a late starter and when you get going you’ll probably do them 2 at a time. Wasn’t it your Mami that was a twin?”

“Babi…but his twin died from a fever at 3. How do you manage to remember all this stuff?”

Claude laughed and motioned to the opened bottle of red sitting on the end of the work bench. Urs nodded and after the wine was poured picked up the bottle to read the label.

“One of ours…oops…I think about this place so often that in my head we already own it…the 2002…something you kept back for private use?”

“Try it and then I’ll tell you….” Claude said with a grin.

Urs swirled the wine in the goblet, inhaling the aroma before trying a sip and swishing it around in his mouth but swallowing, unlike a regular wine tasting where it would be expelled from the mouth.

“Nice…gentle and with a pleasant after taste of… raspberries? Is it a Mauzac?”

“Good guess…Mauzac and Merlot blend, aged in casks that we infused with raspberries then dumped out the residue…I’ve been doing some experimenting…our production this past few seasons has been phenomenal… the weather co-operated and the new vines are doing well. If there was just more capital to upgrade some of the equipment we could make a bigger profit, maybe not have to work so hard.”

“Nonsense…you would put in the long days anyway because you love it…any news on the legal issues?”

Claude led the way to a comfortable sitting area, an old sofa with thick cushions and a low table in front, as well as a ratty chair that he had rescued as his favorite when Dee demanded new Lounge furnishings.

“Some…they’re fighting over the water rights now…something about the lake being fed by the stream and it’s protected. Dee drew up a document explaining that we are heavily into saving the environment and have no intentions of damming the stream…it just isn’t needed. We should have an inspector coming out any day now to measure our Carbon footprint … we’re ready for him… everything is all in good shape.”

Urs raised his wine in a toast.

“Great news…Maybe by this time next year we can pay off the back taxes and see some nice fat balances in the account to get things rolling…I try not to get too excited but it’s been a dream for so long…and now to have it close to completion…..”

“So you haven’t changed your mind then? I think about our discussion a lot…it just seems that you get the short end of the deal.”

Urs put his wine down and leaned forward, speaking earnestly.

“Claude, don’t put down what you bring to the table…I know next to nothing about running an operation like this…without your expertise, sure I could buy the place out from under you, but what would be the logic in that? I would either have to get someone in to run things, someone who wasn’t family and that I likely couldn’t trust…or let the fields go fallow, maybe sell off portions to other vineyards. You know that would break my heart, yours too. Forming a partnership is the sensible solution…my money as a start up, your expertise and tutoring in the many things I don’t know…everything very business like and fair, 30/30 for us and 40 back into the business, right down the line once we begin making a profit. It can work! And we both get to live on the most beautiful estate in Switzerland as a bonus!”

They chatted for a few minutes then when Claude heard that Urs had brought a woman with him, a special woman, he insisted that they return to the house.

Izzy and Dee entered the stone house through what was obviously the kitchen door…at least one of them since the kitchen was typical of a farmhouse and very large, another door on the side wall that lead out to what was a now dormant kitchen garden. The many windows were deep set with wide ledges and lacy snow white curtains pulled back to allow the sunlight inside. On one sill a blue velvet covered cushion was the throne of a majestic, fluffy black cat who watched the stranger with judging emerald green eyes, after a moment giving the royal consent by lowering her head to paws and resuming a nap.

There was a decided French country air about this large room, the décor mostly in blues and whites with butter yellow accents, the appliances stainless steel, except for a massive stove in bright blue enamel {an Aga it turned out}, counter tops in veined white granite that looked like softer white marble and white-washed beams across the high ceiling that supported a large iron wheel used for a rack for the cook’s copper pots and pans. A large weathered wooden table, the legs painted white and the top wooden with a patina from years of scrubbing, had pride of place in the exact center of the room and it was there that the two women headed as they chatted easily.

Against the long interior wall a small cot was nestled between a couple of arm chairs with handmade wool throws loosely draped on them and a child of perhaps a year lay sleeping inside.

“Our Amelia…she had many sleepless nights this past week…cutting two more teeth…so she is in need of extra sleep now…she will sleep for another half an hour…unless Claude comes in…he is loud…and Amelia loves her Papa.”

“Are the other children at school?” Izzy asked.

“Non…it is holidays…is it not so in Canada too? They will not go back until the first week of January. My sister picked them up this morning to go skiing with her children…they won’t be back until tomorrow and will be unhappy that they missed your visit…Urs always bring croissants from Egge in Bienne…I am a very good cook but a terrible baker.”

The admission didn’t seem to upset the happy woman since she laughed as she brought the coffee pot to the table and snapped open a plastic container of homemade cookies.

“It is safe to eat them…Maman made them for a Christmas treat.”

“I was amazed to discover how huge this estate is…when Urs told me, he didn’t explain, just said it was a Chateau with vineyards…this seems more like a small village.”

Dee chuckled and leaned her arms on the table as she nodded in agreement.

“Originally it was built in the 13th century and of course then it made sense to provide housing for servants and workers on the estate since the nearest towns were so far away, impossible to reach in the winter months. The Duc d’ Brielle had visions of creating a vineyard that would produce wine that equaled or bettered any to be found in France and spent most of his time, fortune and energy either on improving the vineyards or creating babies with his charming wife. Unfortunately with the wars back in France and surrounding countries, as his sons grew they had a tendency to fall in battle and by the 15th century the estate was in trouble…the line dwindled until there was only the childless last member of the original family. Claude’s papa and grandpapa both worked for the family, running the estate and the vineyards…it became home to them. When he was very young and even into his teens, Urs and then his brother for a short time would come for the harvest and work in the fields…Urs grew to love it here, just as Claude does. More coffee, Izzy?”

“Yes, Please…these cookies are really good…your Maman is a good baker.”

Dee laughed as she resumed her seat and the history lesson.

“My Maman does everything well…she despairs of me…actually I think she is resigned to having one daughter who isn’t perfect.”

There was just a hint of bitterness in the words but Izzy wisely didn’t pursue it.

“Anyway the old Duc adored Claude…took him under his wing, so to speak, as the son he never had, sent him to University, knowing that when he was educated Claude would return to Reve…he had extensive work done on the estate, poured money into it to modernize, to maintain the structures, the fields…in fact we found that when he passed on and left the estate to Claude in his will, there was no money left, not even enough to pay the death duties.

“So the estate is in limbo at the moment, the lawyers trying to sort out the taxes, boundaries…Claude keeps the vineyard profitable and the profits go into a fund which pays bills, wages, maintenance…and lawyers fees of course.

“When Urs came to us with his plan it seemed like a miracle…now we just have to wait for the lawyers to come up with a final figure and we should be able to finally see that the will is acted upon…for the payment of the taxes that are owing.”

“So then will you move into the main house, the actual Chateau?”

Dee chuckled.

“Oh No!! It is just too big…and anyway Claude and Urs have plans for it. This house is our home…it has 10 bedrooms, 8 complete baths and a couple of lavs, an outdoor shower area for when the men come in from the fields, a lovely kitchen garden…I will take you on a tour later….Urs house, at least the one he would like to use as a home, is even bigger though it has less bedrooms since some were made into baths and some into rooms for offices and music…but it’s further out and secluded which I think he likes.”

Both women looked up when the door opened and the two men walked in, Urs carrying the foil wrapped box of croissants. He grinned and handed them to Dee, then came over to sit on the chair beside Izzy and reach for her hand, his eyes searching hers looking for…?...she wasn’t sure what.

She smiled and he relaxed, smiling his gratitude for a mug of coffee that magically appeared in front of him.

Izzy watched as Claude approached his wife, patting her tummy gently and leaning in for a soft kiss, clearly besotted with his woman. He was a slightly short man, probably 3 or maybe even 4 inches shorter than Urs but wiry and strong looking from his chosen profession, the barely subdued nervous energy of an avid worker evident in the spring in his walk and the glint in steely blue/black eyes. He was prematurely balding but still quite handsome, his high forehead tanned as was any other exposed skin, the thinning hair a light brown bordering on grey even though he appeared around mid thirties. The fine lines near his eyes bespoke hours spent in the sun, squinting against the glare…or crinkles from laughter…or perhaps both since he did seem to smile a lot, as he was now.

“Ah…so this is why you waited so long…you were looking for the perfect woman…and now you have found her.”

There was no avoiding the swoop as he pulled Izzy to her feet and hugged her, kissing both cheeks and staring wide eyed into her face for a moment before placing a firm muscular arm around her shoulders as if presenting her to the room.

“Just look at that face…adorable…If I was not such a happily married man…”

“If you were not such a happily married man with his wife in slapping distance you would do nothing, fool…I had to chase you until you tripped …it was the only way to catch such a shy man.”

Claude laughed and abandoned Izzy, to her relief, going to his wife for a snuggle which she indulgently allowed him.

“It is our little secret, Non? …that I tripped on purpose.”

They sat around the table chatting for a while, catching up on family news, on Urs’ travels and the upcoming tour, asking Isabella about her work. The baby woke, just as Dee had expected roused by her Papa’s booming laughter and after a snuggle with Claude was transferred over to nurse unabashedly from her mother’s ample bosom.

“I’d like to show Bella around the estate while it’s still light out,” Urs said when Dee had left to change her daughter and put her down to play in a roomy play area.

“Of course…horses or would you prefer the machines?”

“I think we’ll just walk this time…we can see the fields from the upper buildings of the house…we’ll come back maybe in the spring when the tour has a break and the vines have awakened from their winter nap.”

“And after your tour you will stay for dinner, Oui? I think my Dee has a Cassoulet planned and there are leftover desserts from the Christmas feast.” Claude laughed when Urs eyes lit up.

**

CHAPTER FORTY…THE TOUR

They went out into the crisp, fresh air once more and took a moment to look around the cobblestoned central square.

“Alright Herr Tour Guide…now that your secret is out in the open, tell me about this place. Dee told me some history…I had no idea it was going to be so…so BIG!!”

“It’s kind a private little corner of the world isn’t it… almost completely self contained…most of the food is grown or raised on the main farm…that road beyond the garage leads to it… and of course the wine is the main source of revenue…it does well but could do better and will once Claude has complete control. There are nine residences on the property, including the main chateau, plus of course the store rooms, work rooms etc.…most of the houses have between 5 and 12 bedrooms, the chateau has 18 and when the Duc upgraded, he put extra, modern bathrooms in each of them. The stables have 8 box stalls and an enclosed exercise ring, paddocks of course and there are trails that wind past the vineyards and warehouses up into the hills…the wine is stored in caves way over there, see where you can just see the roadway curve behind that hill?...there’s a small chapel, 2 swimming pools plus a lovely little lake, several orchards …and you’re doing your fish imitation again.”

He leaned over to kiss her gaping mouth making her giggle.

They walked past several of the grey stone buildings, empty he said, since only the minimum staff stayed on for the winter months, followed the plowed road around a curve and through a stand of trees, under another of those high arches built into the wall and stopped in front of a long, two story building, again ivy covered and partly hidden behind mature trees.

“What are you thinking?” He murmured against the top of her head as she leaned on the low stone fence around the front yard, his body snuggled up behind her and his arms holding her against his chest.

“I was picturing it in the spring, with a few people coming and going, the roses I can see over there just beginning to bud, those lilacs along the side bed in flower and scenting the air…your Harley would be in that parking space right over there, ready to go for a run and the casement windows would be open to let the fresh air in and the music out….this is your place, isn’t it? I can picture you being happy here.”

“Welcome to my dream, Liebe…c’mon I’ll show you inside.”

It was cool inside, not cold enough for dampness to seep in but the thermostat set low, just enough to keep the place fresh, proof that the solar energy that supplied the entire estate was working efficiently.

“It’s partly furnished but I would like to change some of the furnishings for things more my style…of course that isn’t a priority at the moment,” he said as they loosened jackets and took off their gloves and boots, the later because the marble or polished wood floors were spotless and it would have been a crime to mar them.

The ceilings were high with heavy beams arcing across and crystal chandeliers with the many dangling teardrops sparkling in the reflected light through the windows, the walls of stone or burnished wood with a lustrous patina of age. A central staircase wound from the foyer floor up to a landing where it split to go left and right, again the wood of the banister rubbed from hundreds of hands until it gleamed. On the landing, tall stained glass windows depicted the vineyards, casting shards of colored light across the walls and floor.

“Urs it’s lovely…elegant yet welcoming at the same time…and those stair rails…have you slid down them yet?”

He laughed and nodded.

“A few times…when no one was around….one of the Lounges is just through here.”

He indicated a door to the right and led her inside a room with vaulted ceiling and leather couches arranged in conversation groupings, one in front of a massive fireplace with a mantle big enough for a whole family of cats to sleep comfortably on.

“I’d like to make this into the music room…the acoustics are great in here…and it’s really too big to be cozy.”

“I can see it…a grand piano over there where you could be playing or composing and still see outside through those French doors…you could move some of the easy chairs into a nice grouping for whoever was listening with those lovely little tables in between for a glass of wine…from your own vineyards of course.”

He smiled, entering into her imagining eagerly.

“…And stands with hard backed chairs for playing stringed instruments, maybe even a standing harp right there between those two windows.”

She grinned at him, spinning around in glee in the huge room.

“What an incredible adventure!! Is there a library? You have to have a library!”

“Right through here….” he said moving quickly to a door at the end of the room and opening it, motioning her to hurry and follow him.



And so it went for most of the rest of the afternoon, exploring the place he had his heart set on, planning the rooms, exclaiming over the views from the upper windows, checking out the cavernous kitchen with the double Agas for cooking, the ancient wooden table and roomy dish cupboards, the rocking chair conveniently placed near the fireplace and the spit and grill for indoor roasting, the larder which was twice the size of the kitchen at Marta’s, the personal wine cellar …and the 7 bedrooms, each one equipped with a modern bath and Lav, plus the master suite which took up one whole end of the second floor with walk in closets and dressing rooms that Izzy said she could cheerfully live in.

“The bedrooms all need new mattresses and linens but that’s something that will come later…for now we just have to keep hoping that the timing of the legalities will be in sync with my finances…it does look good though.”

“Dee told me that you and Claude are thinking of going together on the ownership…she didn’t say it but I got the impression that he couldn’t afford the fees and taxes and that you offered to assume them for a partnership…he seems like a nice man Urs…and I’m sure you have used that logical mind of yours and worked out the details…but are you ready for the disappointment if some one else gets in before you do? I would hate to see you lose this place. It’s so perfect for you.”

“The lawyers will tell us before they let anyone else know as soon as everything is finalized…I just have to make sure that my account is adequate to handle it…and before you ask if I can trust the lawyers…remember, family sticks together….the chair of the panel of advocates is my Mami’s third cousin on the Schindler side…or is it the fourth cousin of Onkle Gustav’s wife’s …even I get confused…anyway he’s family so we should be fine.”

“Then I won’t worry for you…Do you know what I noticed when we looked at the terrace and garden out back?” she asked as they headed down the wide stairs to the main floor.

“Ummmm…snow? The herb garden? The horses out in the paddock for some exercise? A unicorn?”

She laughed and swung her leg over the banister, sliding away with a shriek of happiness and calling back to him… “A perfect spot for a hammock!!”

Not to be outdone he followed her, landing with a little more grace than she had as she got to her feet rubbing her bruised bottom.

“It takes practice, Liebe…here let me kiss it better.”

They ended up wrestling on the polished floor and of course he won, pinning her easily since she was laughing too hard to fight back.

“I’m glad you like Reve…I’ve never shared it before…somehow I knew you would understand how I feel about this place and not think I’m crazy.”

She grinned at him.

“I never said you weren’t crazy…just nice crazy…there’s a big difference you know. Now is this nice crazy man going to kiss me, or is this just a tease?”

“Well I suppose I could be co-erced into it…”

She made a feeble effort to wiggle out from under him.

“If you don’t want to, then let me up….”

“Alright, you talked me into it….” he said and captured her face in one hand, lowering his mouth to meet hers and making her sigh with pleasure….and the main door opened, allowing Claude to walk in.

“Mon dieu!! There are at least 8 perfectly good beds upstairs, my randy friends and more down here in the servants quarters…you don’t have to use the cold floor!” he said, coming in with a huge grin on his face.

Urs rolled away, stood gracefully and helped a very red faced little doctor to her feet.

“We…ah…slid down the banister…I was helping her up.”

“Of course…such a gentleman! Dee sent me to tell you that the pool in the chateau has been cleaned recently and there are freshly laundered suits in the changing rooms if you should care for a swim…and dinner is at 5:30…perhaps too early for you city folk but we tend to keep to farmers hours.”

“We’re both only city folk for convenience, not choice…both of us prefer the countryside and the peace of nature….I think we’ll have a quick look at the chateau but skip the swim this time.”

They walked part way back with Claude and waved at him as he climbed aboard a Sno-Cat and headed out to the caves for his daily inspection of the wine aging in the casks and hundreds of bottles in racks.

On foot and coming at it from this angle the chateau was enormous, reminding Izzy of a posh hotel more than a residence.

“That’s what we were thinking of…turning it into a tourist destination…it’s really too big for a modern family to live in…unless it’s a family that likes that kind of rich lifestyle…it’s really beautiful inside and the grounds are well kept…it would make a lovely retreat for someone wanting a quiet holiday.”

Izzy could see exactly what he meant when they had entered through the enormous kitchen at the back of the building and wandered through the 3 floors. The ‘bedrooms’ that both Urs and Dee had mentioned were in fact suites, a couple with two bedrooms and baths plus a sitting room, the formal dining room could be set with round tables or banquet style and would comfortably seat at least 50, perhaps a few more. There was a ball room with a small dais, a foyer that would make a perfect reception area and several smaller rooms that could be made into private dining rooms…and an almost Olympic sized pool in the basement flanked by work rooms, laundry, store rooms, staff quarters and a very well equipped maintenance area.

“I can see why you would consider this too big for a family…it would take half the day just finding the kitchen for coffee in the morning.”

“Dumb waiter,” Urs said with a grin. “The very rich are not often fond of waiting for anything, so coffee would be in urns that go to the upper floors in the dumb waiter for the maid to deliver.”

“Of course…how incredibly gauche of me!” Izzy said with a laugh and a shake of the head. “I guess some people actually still live that way…or drink cold coffee.”

They left the chateau and wandered back to Claude and Dee’s home, stopping briefly in the tiny chapel to admire the stained glass over the nave and the polished pews arranged neatly on each side of a centre aisle. An open registry stood on an easel near the font, listing the births, deaths and marriages throughout the history of the family, the writing flowery and ornate in the earliest entries, the last entry in the spidery script so often seen in the handwriting of the elderly, except for the last date which Claude must have written since it noted the passing of the last of the line, Duc Armand Alesandre Pierre d’ Brielle.

“He knew what Claude and I had planned and asked that we start a new lineage in the registry…Claude doesn’t want to jinx it so he wants to wait until the papers are signed before making any new entries.”

“He sounds like he was a very nice man.”

“He was…It was impossible not to like him…he was wonderful to his workers and a good friend…just not very wise when it came to money. Like a great many people with old money he didn’t keep up with the changes in the world until it was too late…then tried to do too much all at once so there wasn’t much actual cash left when he passed on.”

“It’s a shame he won’t be able to see what a success you and Claude make of Reve.”

“Perhaps he will…his ashes are spread over the vineyards so he may be keeping an eye on us still.”

They walked back to the house with arms about each other, in comfortable silence, stopping once in a sheltered alcove between two empty houses for a snuggle and quick kiss, then hurrying on, eager for dinner.

**

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE…LAUSANNE

The Cassoulet had been superb, eaten in the cozy kitchen since Urs and Izzy couldn’t really be considered company and topped off with a selection of French delicacies left over from Christmas. They shared some of the estate wines, not much since Urs was driving and just about the time that the baby had to go down for the night departed for the half hour drive into Lausanne, promising to come back in the spring but to keep in touch on the computer since Dee was good with it though Claude seemed to have the same mental block that Urs was trying to overcome.

“Do you have a stone from Reve in your collection?” Izzy asked as they slowly went down the winding driveway.

“Actually no, I don’t…I don’t know why.”

She held her hand out to him and when he opened his palm under it, dropped a pretty piece of agate about the size of a peach pit into his hand.

“Agate isn’t very unusual but this one is quite pretty…and now you already own a tiny piece of Reve…it will bring you good luck.”

He grinned at her and slipped the stone into his pocket before chancing a quick kiss of gratitude.

“Thank you Liebe…you never cease to surprise me…I didn’t even see you pick it up.”

“It’s from the walkway up to your house…you were watching that bird at the top of the fir tree…a kestrel I think you said.”

“I was trying to see where his mate was…they never are far apart…kind of like swans, they mate for life.”

“Is it too cold here in the winter to have swans on the lake?…they’re such beautiful creatures.”

“The climate in this area is about like that in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario…that’s why it’s a prime area for grapes.”

“So how involved will you be in the vineyard operations? Are you planning on a new career?”

He laughed and shook his head, easing into the traffic now on the A1 but heading towards Lausanne.

“As a hobby only except for the business end of things…All of the decisions in the growing, making the wine etc. will be up to Claude, though I would like to be more knowledgeable and I’ve never minded physical work…no I like my field…music is my life and composing is my end goal…that and a soloist career as a tenor on the opera stage. I like what we do as Il Divo and there’s no reason once we have established ourselves why we can’t have other interests as well.”

She sighed and smiled at him.

“Thank goodness…it would be such a terrible waste to chuck it all…I can see you succeeding at whatever goal you have in mind but you have such a huge talent for music…it would be like scoffing at this enormous gift you’ve been given if you didn’t use it.”

“Don’t do that!!”

She looked up at him in surprise but saw he was smiling.

“What?”

“Don’t give my ego such a boost and make me want to hug you until you squeal when I’m driving…it’s not playing fair!”

Izzy laughed and rested her hand on her favorite driving spot…his unprotected thigh.

“I’ll be good…is this better?”

He grinned and squirmed a bit when she dug her fingers in gently.

“Marginally…”

“I like to feel the muscles in your leg working…will we be going anywhere near St. Ursane on the way back?”

“Not this time, Baby…if we can get back in the summer we’ll go there…I thought we’d go back on the other side of the lake, through Fribourg…and before we leave Lausanne we need to take a quick tour through Mon Repos, where the Olympic headquarters used to be…it’s a lovely parc now…by the time we walk around to sightsee in Lausanne you’ll be ready for a drive…the city is built on hills and anywhere you go means steep grades.”

“No problem…I’ll have my big strong Swiss to take me Piggy Back if I get tired out.”

“In your dreams, Woman!”

He was saved from bodily or verbal abuse by motioning ahead of them at the imposing edifice of the Hotel, all brightly lit against the evening sky.




“Our home for the night…Lausanne’s Palace Hotel.”

“OMG…I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a place quite so elegant…Urs isn’t this a bit extravagant just for one night?”

“Amex Air Miles…Mami didn’t raise a son who squanders his finances…and you are definitely worth it anyway…”

They pulled up in front of the red carpeted stairs and the doors on both sides were opened nearly instantly by liveried valets who welcomed them in French.

Though they only had a small overnight bag each it was collected by another uniformed young man who followed them up the stairs to the doorman then scooted ahead to lead them to the reception desk.

Urs registered quickly, the porter took the key cards and led them to the elevator where they were whisked noiselessly up to the 11th floor, down the thick carpet in the hall and into a ‘small suite’ which was actually bigger than Izzy’s apartment in New York.

She was surprised to find that the décor was modern rather than sticking to the romantic era of ornate furnishings and woodwork. Instead the suite was done in clean lines of brown tones with splashes of warm orange and yellow, several real fireplaces that were crackling merrily behind their screens and a small balcony that in better weather would have been a lovely spot to view the cityscape below them and perhaps share a bottle of wine at the small table. The bath was an immense affair with separate massive tub lined with jets and a shower with bench seats, double sinks in a marble vanity and a cubicle that housed the lav and bidet, complete with a stand containing current reading material and the spray of orchids in a vase that Hotels seemed to use unstintingly for décor.

It was early, only slightly after dinner for most people so they decided to shower and go out for a walk in the immediate area, perhaps let their feet decide just where they would end up…but by the time they had showered, teased, tested the softness of the King sized bed, it was almost midnight and they had both used up most of their energy in a session of ‘exercising’ that left them exhausted and curled together on the fluffy carpet in front of the fire.

Izzy was draped over Urs chest, listening to his heart beat calming, their legs still tangled and his arm around her side and back, his long fingers lightly stroking her soft skin.

“Your nails are longer on your right hand…no, don’t stop…I love to have my back scratched.”

“I keep them that way…it’s for playing guitar.”

“Of course…I should have thought of that.”

She was quiet for a moment and he waited, smiling, sure that there was a question brewing.

Sure enough…

“Urs…”

“Ja, Liebe?”

“Does this place have room service? I’m hungry again.”

He laughed and rolled them both over, nibbling on her mouth and laughing.

“I wondered how long it would take…it will mean having to find our clothes, you know…can’t let the waiter in the way we are.”

“Only yours…I’ll hide in the bedroom…and Urs…ask if they have any chocolate, you know… the kind you can dip strawberries in.”

Just the reminder of the strawberries and chocolate in New York made his body react and she sighed with pleasure, feeling like she should return the salute she received from his Little Soldier and watching his eyes take on the smoldering look that created a tingle in her stomach.

“I’ll find some, my insatiable, adorable partner….”

It was a few minutes before he could tear himself away from her mouth and heave himself up off the floor, tossed the menu from the desk to her with a grin and retreated into the bedroom in a search for clothing.

**

**

In spite of the late night and the extra shower required to wash off the chocolate residue, they had breakfasted in the Hotel dining room and were outside ready to explore before 10.

Urs wanted to take her to the Rue du Bourg to see some of the old architecture and check out the up-scale jewelry stores on the ground floors, with the added incentive of stopping in a few of the shoe and boot shops.

They crossed Place St. Francois, admiring the Eglise St.-Francois, a 13th century Fransican monastery that had been completely stripped of anything ornate on the inside during the Reformation but restored on the exterior in the 1990’s. Urs claimed that the interior was still bland and uninteresting so they didn’t go in. They turned down the Rue du Bourg and strolled, window shopping until they were drawn in by some of the elegant displays.

Urs wisely asked to have their purchases delivered to the Hotel and when they continued on, Izzy soon realized why. As he had said the city was built on hills and they spent considerable time climbing them, ending up at the square surrounding the Cathedrale Notre Dame.





“Before the Reformation this was a church consecrated by Pope Gregory X in 1275….since then it has been a Protestant church but maintained with all the ornamentation still intact…the stained glass windows, carvings in the vaulted ceilings, even the Pulpit with the carved canopy. If it’s open today I thought we could go up in the tower so you can have the best view of the city and Lac Leman.”

Now Izzy understood why he had insisted that she wear a skirt today and was happy that she hadn’t given him a rough time over his request. Somehow he had known that she would be uncomfortable visiting such a revered place dressed in her usual ‘tourist’ outfit of jeans and a casual shirt.

They went inside after admiring the outer façade thoroughly and got a good look up close at the famed Rose Window, an awe inspiring creation that simply left one lost for words.

And they climbed the South Tower, decorously using the stairs though Urs teased her that she was doing well fighting the urge to hoist her skirt up and climb the outer walls. Unfortunately the lower city and Lac Leman were covered with a thin layer of fog so the view left a great deal to be desired but they at least had a few quiet moments alone looking out at the rooftops of this lovely old city.

By the time they came back down and wandered back towards the Hotel it was well past the lunch hour so they stopped in a small café for a quick coffee and sandwich and to plan the rest of their day.

“You really are a wonderful tour guide, Urs…I’ve heard they can be very impatient and make you stick to a timetable but you just like to wander and take your time…I appreciate that…”

He finished the bite of his sandwich and smiled at her.

“You’re an easy person to show around…you get so enthused about the new things you see that I enjoy just watching you…and it gives me a new appreciation for my country, for the things I’ve often taken for granted, seeing them through your eyes…you’re an unusual woman, Liebling…I like spending time with you.”

He reached over to caress her cheek and laugh quietly when he saw her blushing.

“And you don’t often get compliments do you? They embarrass you…get used to it….I’m just being honest with you…..you ARE wery special to me.”

She looked away from his probing eyes, not sure how to respond but was saved further embarrassment when he skillfully changed the mood.

“I’ll share a piece of that chocolate whatever if you still have room…” he said leaning back in his chair and grinning as he signaled the waiter to come over with the dessert cart.

“Of course I still have room…I’ve walked at least 20 K already today…and all uphill.”

They shared a piece of the double chocolate, hazelnut mousse and caramel flavored crème confection when the waiter brought it and provided two forks, had a second coffee and headed back to the Hotel to collect their luggage, the rather large pile of purchases and to check out.

**

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO…FAMILY TIME

They did manage to see some of Mon Repos but just from the car since it was closed for maintenance during the holidays. That went on their ever growing list of things to do when and if they came back to the area and they headed off up the A12 towards Fribourg.

The fog had slowly lifted off the lake and as if by magic the crystal waters became dotted with hardy souls who braved the chill wind in their boats, white sails springing up and gliding across the light ripples like tutu clad dancers on a stage.

They made one stop in Fribourg since both were tired from the traveling and the late night but Urs insisted that the quaint Musee Suisse de la Marionette was unique and shouldn’t be missed…and he was right.

The building was not particularly attractive, in fact was in the process of restoration with scaffolding and plastic tarps draped over it, ready for the workers who would resume their activities in the New Year. Inside was a totally different story.

There was case after glass case of displays, puppets throughout history, some reproductions but most originals right from ancient shows with their costumes faded through time. to modern puppets used in cartoons and movies, some from Star Trek and Star Wars, Punch and Judy sets, a whole display on how to make the marionettes perform, a section on hand puppets a la Jim Henson and a stage area with tiered seating, small chairs in the front for children and they were just in time for a 15 minute show about a boy and his dog meeting a bear in the woods and convincing the creature that little boys were not a very tasty dish.

It was a fun hour and they set out again, refreshed.

All too soon they had bypassed Bern and taken the turnoff towards Willisau, now both eager to get home and relax in Marta’s cozy house.

“I thought tomorrow we might take the snow-mobiles out on the trails if the weather is decent at all,” Urs said fiddling with the radio and searching for a news station to get a weather report.

“Urs, you don’t have to spend every second with me, you know…this is your break too and if you want some alone time or want to meet up with some of your friends I’m alright with it…I plan on shadowing your mother to learn a bit more about cooking anyway.”

He shot her an amused glance.

“Except for work I seldom do things unless I want to…and I enjoy spending time with you…I might drop by the Academy and see if any of my old Professors are still there…and that would be boring for you so it would be a good time for you and Mami to browse through your new cook-books…you should learn how to make homemade soup first…it’s really easy yet people are always so impressed when they learn you made it from scratch….it was the first thing that Mami taught me.”

“First I have to learn how to be patient and not get involved in some other project while the food is cooking…that’s why I always burn everything.”

“Use one of Mami’s tricks…scrape off the burnt part and if it’s dessert, pour chocolate over it…for a main course you just make a cream sauce…it hides everything.”

She laughed and promised to remember that.

They arrived home just in time for a ‘Leftovers’ dinner for the house full of people…{the girls and their families had opted to stay over since their husbands had the week up to New Years off}…little bits of a lot of the platters left from Christmas so that everyone ended up with an unusual assortment of their favorite things. Izzy laughed when she saw the pitcher of a thick creamy Bearnaise sauce to pour on the reheated veggies but didn’t explain, just heaped her plate and actually went back for seconds. The kitchen was ordered chaos with everyone preparing their own plates but it was also fun, jockeying for space at the Aga, passing the wrapped bowls around to anyone who wanted some veggies, or ham, or the cheese tray, teasing that certain people were cooking for an army at the very least, pulling a tape measure out of a drawer to measure the piece of pie that was taken, in concern that more than a fair share had been cut.

Later in the evening when they were all in the Lounge, relaxing before bedtime she thought back on the meal preparation with fondness…so this was what it was like to have a large family…she filed the scene away in her memory to be brought out when she was alone and needing comfort…and until she left her present position she was sure there would be such times.

**

It was wonderful being back at Marta’s with the whole family there. Morning was more or less bedlam with everyone around the big table, passing bowls and platters of toast or scrambled eggs, consuming bowl after bowl of the Birchermuesli that Marta asked Urs to make, wiping up spills from the younger people and laughter, always laughter.

The great snow-mobile expedition turned out to be a popular activity for most of the adults and calls were made to friends to borrow machines so there would be enough.

Marta and Mariah made lunches for everyone to take and thermoses of hot chocolate or Ovomaltine and by 9:30 the giddy adults were garbed and out the door, waving goodbye to the children who had secret plans with their Oma.


They drove to friends homes and loaded machines on trailers then headed out the short distance to the trails, since riding the machines was not allowed in some areas because of the environmental issues.

Urs and Izzy shared a machine, taking turns being the driver, though Izzy was reluctant to allow him to drive after his first turn since she claimed he was a maniac and knew only one speed…FAST!!!

Teasing aside, it was a beautiful day for it…clear and cold though they were bundled up and felt comfortable, the snow fresh and in most places unspoiled by other tardy riders.

When it was Urs turn again he split off from the others and took a long loop around some hills, going slightly higher up and through some scrub pines until he reached a partly frozen waterfall and stopped.




It was a beautiful sight, the spray frozen in long icicles that hung almost to the pool at the base, the rocks coated with thick crystal clear knobs of ice that glinted like diamonds in the sunshine. He pulled an Artic blanket out of the space under the seat, spread it out in a snowbank and motioned for Izzy to bring the thermos and join him.

“You should see this place in the summer…it’s teeming with wild life, birds, rabbits…if you’re very still sometimes deer as the sun is going down…and the pool is quite deep, perfect for swimming.”

“I can just picture you with your friends, skinny dipping here when you were younger…does Gerd like the wild like you do?”

“He used to…I think since he started working full time he doesn’t do it as much anymore…we would sometimes come up here, just the two of us and camp overnight…we always brought this old cowbell with us to frighten away any bears that came looking for a handout…they aren’t very aggressive and the clatter of that old bell would scare them away….I wonder if Mami still has it somewhere?”

They sat quietly for a few minutes, watching a hawk doing lazy circles over head as it scanned the fresh snow for lunch. Gradually it drifted away and Izzy sighed, wishing it would come back.

“They’re so majestic, the way they just hang there, not flapping those lovely wide wings, just angling the feathers to catch the updrafts…I wonder what they make of us? Do we look like prey or predators to them?”

“I’ll bet the Chute looks like this in winter…have you ever gone up there at this time of year or is the cottage too cold?”

“It’s cool but not unbearable…the fireplace keeps it warm enough…and we do have a furnace in the floor on this tricky little gizmo that clicks on and keeps the pipes from freezing if it gets to a certain temperature…another of the little things Cody’s Army buddies arranged for him. I don’t go up very often though since the quarries are closed because of the snow. I always hope I’ll be sent somewhere sort of civilized so I can stay over and do some searching…but now of course I have a reason to hustle back.”

“We go to Australia on the tour…I’ve heard that it’s a great place for Opals.”

“And sapphires…but it’s a long way from the major cities…you would have to have a spare week or so to do any real looking.”

He laughed.

“I doubt that we’re going to have a spare hour the way they have us booked…never mind, once the touring settles down we should be able to have months off at a time…enough to actually have a life.”

“Maybe by that time the situation with Reve will be resolved and you can work on the property, make the house just the way you want it and learn more about making wine. I think Marta is going to serve some of your wine at dinner tonight…she sure was pleased with that case Claude sent her.”

“I think she has a suspicion of what we’re up to…she always seems to be one step ahead of me.”

“Of course…she’s a mother and that’s her job.”

“Well what’s your excuse? You definitely are not my mother and yet you always know exactly what I’m up to, you anticipate my needs, my moods….I’ve really never met a woman like you before.”

She blushed, an act that he found endearing and he reached out to caress her reddened cheek.

“I love how you do that…it’s actually very stimulating.”

Izzy laughed and threw her arms around his neck.

“You find everything stimulating, you sex fiend…not that I’m complaining…it’s actually quite a turn on to think that I can have that effect on you.”

He growled and feasted on her neck, her ear, her mouth, coming up for air and nuzzling against her curls with barely restrained passion.

“I’d like to take you right here, right now…except we might get frost bite in some hard to explain places. On your feet, my little goddess…time to get back in the saddle…on the snow-mobile.”

It was a few more minutes before they unlocked eager mouths and tidied up from their little picnic. Izzy took one last look for their airborne sentinel, disappointed when the sky was barren and they headed back to the trails to join the others.

**

Inge and Marc had already headed back, they found when they rejoined the others, Urs’ pregnant sister finally admitting that riding on the back of a snow-mobile in her advanced stage was not the most comfortable thing she had ever done… especially since she was forced, by her girth, to wear one of Marc’s old jackets or freeze in her own which couldn’t be done up completely.

Everyone else was now ready to head back to the warmth of home and to see what the children and Mami had been up to.

When they had returned the machines to their friends and arrived back at the house it was soon evident.

The front yard had been transformed into a walled fortress with huge rolled balls of snow as the outer walls and stacked mounds of prepared snowball ammunition. At first sight of the arriving vehicles the first barrage began, snowy missiles flying through the air, sometimes actually with deadly accuracy, and a short war was declared.

General Marta rallied her troops to a valiant effort but the sheer size and enthusiasm of the attacking forces soon overcame the walled compound and little faces were washed, bodies hugged and kisses distributed amid the laughter of all participants before sharing the booty of hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies.

Eventually they all trouped inside and split up to change into warmer, dry clothing, some to shower and spend some snuggle time, the youngest for a well earned afternoon nap.

“Is it always like this with a large family?” Izzy asked as they dried off from a very long steamy shower.

“More or less…sometimes we fight but it never lasts long…someone always makes a joke and we end up laughing…or Mami plays moderator and sends everyone off to separate corners to cool off. She really likes doing stuff with the kids…I guess there’s still enough of a kid at heart in her…I can’t picture her ever getting too old too enjoy having fun.”

Izzy stared at him for a moment then grinned.

“You are more like her than you realize, Swiss. You have your very staid and logical moments but more often I can see the little boy lurking under that calm, methodical demeanor. I hope you never change.”

He came over to pull her off the little chair in the bathroom and snuggle her against his still damp body.

“You see me, the real me, better than anyone I’ve ever known…most people can’t see beyond the quiet and the logic…what David calls my ‘Swissness’.”


Her voice vibrated against his abs when she chuckled and answered.

“Then they don’t care enough to try. To me you are an open book, available to read if you want to…your face is so expressive…and your body language…it’s like we’re extensions of each other, like you let me directly into your mind…it’s a glorious, very special feeling, Urs and I like it…very much.”

‘…and it happens because I love you so much…say it Urs…please say you love me, that you understand and feel the same way I do…’

The gentle tap on the door could not have more poorly timed. Urs sighed and called out, asking for a moment as he released Izzy with an apologetic smile, pulled on his jeans and went barefoot to the door.

“Sorry, Onkle Urs…Oma asked if you would bring in more wood for the fireplace in the Lounge…we’re going to have a concert after dinner. Onkle Gerd has already gone out to chop some kindling.”

“Danke, Cara…are you going to play for us?”

“Ja…I have a new Chopin piece that I’ve been practicing…we need you to do Gabriel’s Oboe so Tedi can play his drum so you have to promise to be very encouraging…even if he isn’t very good yet.”

Urs laughed and promised to do just that, as well as to get the wood.

Cara left and Urs turned back to find that Izzy was out of the bathroom now and completely dressed.

“And I’m going down to help in the kitchen…your mother is a very good teacher…and doesn’t treat me like the village idiot like most people would.”

She kissed him quickly, looking at his dear face with just a hint of something that Urs couldn’t define… sadness? ... missed opportunity?... acceptance? She was gone downstairs before he could ask her and he shrugged it off, pulling out some clean clothes from the dresser and finishing dressing to go for the wood.