*MAN OVERBOARD* BY: Urs Suberbabe (Sue)

Chapter 49
Soon, Very Soon





“Ha det bra!” Annie Joy smiled as the woman moved off to the next showroom. Yes, today was a very nice day, signaling the end of the first phase of her training. She turned slowly around the room checking to be sure everything was in place. This was the first commercial display she’d planned entirely on her own and she wanted it to be perfect.

As a visual merchandiser trainee she reported to Mr. Sandberg, the Visual Merchandising Specialist, and today was the culmination of this phase of her training. He would be coming round just after lunch to see her display. If her design passed ‘The IKEA Way’ standards, i.e. inspirational yet functional, she would move on to the last phase of her training: logistics and sales.

Although she’d still be responsible for maintaining certain studios and activity areas, most afternoons would be free for her to work on the homeland project. For the past week she’d been designing fabric for bed linen, bed covers, pillows and curtains.

“There you are. We thought maybe you were meeting Urs. We’ll wait for you by the door,” Angie said as she waved toward Gabi hurrying toward them buttoning her coat.

“Has he come by to see your masterpiece yet?” asked Gabi.

“Not till after lunch. I’ll be glad when it’s over. Thank God it’s Friday,” Annie Joy sighed. “You two go on. I think I’ll just get some fresh air, maybe walk around the block. I want to be back in plenty of time. I’m really too nervous to eat. Urs is taking me to dinner tonight so I’ll make up for it. I might be late.”

“As in two days late like Angie was last weekend?” Gabi teased.

“I told you ahead of time, Gabi, you just weren’t listening. Karl’s roommate was away for the weekend. We couldn’t pass up a golden opportunity like that,” Angie wisecracked.

“I’m sure I won’t be that…” Annie Joy began.

“Of course not,” the two girls chorused and headed for lunch.

“I’m thinking we’ll see her around noon,” Gabi predicted with a grin as soon as they were out of earshot.

“That’s what you said last week,” Angie reminded her.

“Yes, but now she’s halfway through her training. She’ll be leaving in four weeks.” Suddenly Gabi became serious. “We’re really going to miss her.”

Angie looked pointedly at Gabi. “We aren’t the only ones.”

**********

Annie Joy buttoned her coat, tied her scarf securely around her neck, and pulled her hat down snugly. They had predicted snow showers this afternoon but so far none had materialized. She walked briskly to keep warm and stayed close to the buildings to protect herself a little from the wind.

She half expected Urs to pop in to take her to lunch as he had that first Monday. She pictured him as he stood there waiting just inside the door. He’d arrived unannounced about an hour before the rose—a single red rose. They’d all been waiting for her reaction when she got back to her desk from the morning training. The lone perfection touched her more than an entire bouquet. Evidently the other girls agreed, judging from the choir of oh’s and ah’s. But it was the card that stirred up the butterflies with a whole new kind of anticipation in her belly.

Petit Papillion,
I loved our tour yesterday but you will always be my favorite sight to see.
Urs

He was courting her…and she loved it.

He had laughed when she’d asked if he was on his lunch break. Then he’d explained how they would go into the studio one at a time to lay down their solo tracks. The harmonies would be worked out later and added as a group. So basically it was don’t call us, we’ll call you, at least at this stage of the recording. As long as he had his phone with him he’d be available to go to the studio when they needed him, and that did happen once when they were eating lunch at a nearby mall.

They saw each other almost every day after that, however their routine was anything but. They delighted in surprising each other. There were cartoons or small gifts hidden in pockets, text messages, phone calls to say good morning or goodnight or not say anything at all.

Annie Joy asked to go to the Absolut IceBar and even though it wasn’t his scene he came away appreciating it as a unique experience.






He took her ice-skating at Kungsträdgården and she helped him remember what fun it is to catch snowflakes on your tongue.






He became her quiz master as she worked to develop a detailed knowledge of the IKEA range. Who knew beds were named for Norwegian cities; bedding for plants and flowers? Chairs have men's names like Roger and Joel and Luppio and materials and curtains have women's names like Rosali and Lenda and Ingert.

She was his sounding board when he felt one of the guys took too long laying down his solo tracks or if someone, God forbid, was inexcusably late.

They grew closer and more intuitive about each other’s moods and their relationship thrived. They became experts at simply being together and they did go to the movies and kiss each other senseless, only this time it was Annie Joy who promised, “Soon.”

**********

“Hot legs…” It was Urs.

“Hi, I’m on a five minute break. Has he been there yet?”

“No. He’ll be there about 1:30.”

“How are you doing?”

“Alright…No I’m nervous. I think he’ll like what I’ve done but I’m not sure. What if…”

“I thought we buried all those. Don’t sell yourself short, Annie Joy. He’ll love what you’ve done. They wouldn’t have brought you all this way if you weren’t good. Remember you’re unsinkable. Believe in yourself; I do.”

“Good answer HL. You always say what I need to hear.”

“So do I get points?”

“You mean like in the Newlywed game?”

“Yes, but this time we can be real with each other.”

“It was always real with you HL. It just took me a while to realize it.”

“Hang in there, Petit Papillion.”

“I will Urs.”

“By the time I finish here I’m going to have a message telling me how brilliant he said you are, right?”

“Right.”

“I’ll be there when you get off work.”

“I can’t wait.”

“They’re calling me. Gotta go.”

**********

“Woo hoo!” Urs face split into an eye-squinching grin as he read her message. He hadn’t doubted for a second that Mr. Sandberg would love her presentation. Who could not love anything she did? She was Annie Joy. Everyone loves her. And you, Urs? When are you going to tell her how crazy in love you are? All this courting is fine but now she needs to hear the words. Tell her. She’s waiting.

Yes, he would tell her tonight. His lips curved into a smile, imagining being with her. Then he winced at the thought of the call he needed to make. It seemed old habits die hard he thought ruefully, but she was not an either/or person. She was not like Cecile he reminded himself as he punched #1.

**********

All her life, well at least as far back as Great Minnie, she’d had the patience of ordinary things. Changes in plans, waiting in line, the small irritations that seemed to upset some people rolled off her back. Of course Great Minnie’s refusal to allow any negative thoughts a place to stay in her home might have had a bit to do with Annie Joy growing up to be a both kind of person.

She had just shut down her computer when Urs called, apologizing from head to toe. From the rush of words and heavy accent she could tell he was upset and over such a little thing. So what if he was still at the studio working. Things like that happen. She’d love to come over there and wait till he finished. Now she could see exactly where he worked.

Annie Joy pulled her hat farther down and leaned into the wind as she turned the corner onto Svartensgatan and hurried toward A Side Studio, an unimposing looking business standing shoulder to shoulder with its neighbors, its glass windows shuttered with blinds.




She might easily have missed it if not for the fact that Urs had shown it to her on the weekend. She’d only seen the outside then but now, she thought excitedly, I’ll actually be inside the building where the Il Divo magic is created and her butterflies fluttered with excitement.

**********

“We need your input on a few harmony changes on ‘If I Loved You’. It shouldn’t take too long.” Per looked at the wall clock. “Let’s take ten. We’ve been at this awhile.”

Urs didn’t need to be told twice. He nodded and was out the door into the reception area like a shot. Neither Per Magnusson nor David Kreuger, the producer/songwriter team that was A Side Productions tried to hide their amusement. They’d accidentally overhead part of Urs’ phone call to Annie Joy. Five minutes, they agreed and then they just had to meet the woman responsible for Urs’ mellow mood the past two weeks.

The receptionist had gone for the day so Annie Joy held nothing back as she practically bowled him over with her enthusiastic hug and even more enthusiastic kiss. He laughed, then kissed her again. He felt almost giddy, full of a joyful happiness that could only be explained by being with this wonderful woman. Everything about her delighted him: her sweetness, her femininity, and her stunning sensuality.

She kissed along his jaw; then murmured in his ear, “I was thinking when you’re done here, could we have a quiet dinner at the hotel?”

He pictured them eating a romantic dinner. What a perfect setting when he told her how he loved her. He knew she would love his surprise. Soon, very soon they would be together.

“What a great idea,” he whispered back in her ear and gave the lobe a teasing nibble. Annie Joy’s giggle was cut short as he lifted his head. They were hit by a blast of cold air as the door opened. She felt Urs’ body tense.

His voice matched the drop in temperature, “What are you doing here?”

Chapter 50
Dinner Will Be Late


“And hi to you too Urs.” David’s eyes twinkled at Urs’ private moment suddenly gone public and about to become even more so since Seb was closing the door behind him. “Per called, something about new harmonies.”

“Merde, the wind is terrible!” Seb exclaimed as he pulled off his gloves. He looked inquisitively from Annie Joy to Urs. Although his friend’s eyes were no longer flashing thunder and lightening, his slight scowl warned that he was definitely not embracing this sudden Divo reunion.

Urs’ sighed, so much for a quick getaway. If David and Seb were here could Carlos be far behind? Apparently not. “Madre de Dios! This cold is doing the freezing on my bal…” He mouth joined the rest of his frozen self when he saw Annie Joy. Then just as suddenly he smiled and the sunny warmth of Spain filled the room. “Halloooooo,” he beamed at Annie Joy,” then continued without taking his eyes off her. “This must be the charming…”

“Annie Joy,” Urs supplied as his inbred manners returned along with his sense of logic. The quicker introductions were made the quicker they could get to work. On the other hand, growing up in Texas, Annie Joy had never heard of a quick meet and greet.

She stepped forward, took his hand in both of hers, and began in Spanish, “Hola Carlos. I’d know you and your kiss curl anywhere,” she smiled. His eyebrow waved hello exitedly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she turned to Urs. “Urs has told me so much about you.” Gosh, I don’t have a clue if he understood me. It’s been years since we had to speak Castilian Spanish in Miss O’Gorman’s class.

She breathed a sigh of relief as Carlos continued in Spanish, lowering his voice and leaning in as if to tell her a secret. “I hope it is the good things only, eh?” Time to move on thought Urs as he put a proprietary arm around her waist and steered her toward Seb.

“Bonjour, Annie Joy,” Seb smiled and kissed her hand.

“Oo la la,” Annie Joy grinned as she rolled her eyes and pretended to fan herself. “Urs never told me you were a French ladykiller. It’s wonderful to meet you, Seb.”

Urs suspected Annie Joy and David would have a special rapport being fellow Americans but he knew he had lost complete control of the situation the minute she walked over to him. “Hi David. I had no idea you’d be such a long tall drink of water,” she grinned as she bent her head back to look up at him

“Annie Joy, great to meet you at last. So you’re the one we have to thank for taking the unbearable out of our bear and you no bigger than a minute!” As if to prove his point he opened his arms and she all but disappeared into his bear hug. Carlos nudged Seb in the ribs and gave a thumbs up sign as soon as Urs wasn’t looking and David gave them a conspiratorial wink over the top of Annie Joy’s head.

Urs was thinking the meter had about expired on this bear hug when another country was heard from, so to speak. “Ah, I see we’re all here,” Per said as he and David walked in.

“Hej. Jag är Annie Joy,” she said offering him her hand. “Hur mår ni?”

“Fine, thank you Annie Joy,” David said as he too shook her hand and tried not to smile. Oh yes, Urs has met his match.

Urs rolled his eyes. Scheisse, it’s the bloody United Nations. For once in her life couldn’t she be a little less Annie Joy? At this rate we’ll be eating at midnight.

“You both look so young. I mean there’s nothing wrong with being young it’s just that I imagined you’d be older because you’re so good and that usually takes years and…oh hell, help me out here Urs,” she blushed, totally embarrassed.




He slipped his arm around her and she leaned close to him, glad for the comfort of his embrace. He kissed the top of her head.
“You’ll have to excuse her. She doesn’t get out much. The group home is wery strict. Usually they only release her on Sunday afternoons but they made an exception tonight,” he deadpanned.

The look that Urs and Annie Joy shared as they all laughed was not lost on the others. No matter that they were from different countries, different cultures, different experiences. In essence they were thinking the same thing. Here is a couple that seems to have found magic together, something wonderful and precious and rare.

“Oh you!” she pretended to fuss and pushed him away with a nudge to his ribs. “Get in there and make some beautiful music. I’ll be waiting. Remember you promised me dinner.”

“You heard the lady, let’s get busy,” Per urged, taking charge. And as if a light bulb had been switched on they were suddenly all talking at once as they said their goodbyes and headed into the studio.

**********

Urs might have been right she thought as she rummaged through her bag for a pencil. He was always teasing her about tying one around her neck. Ah, there it is. I’ll bet they’d get a kick out of having a cartoon of themselves. Let’s see. The hardest one first, that will be Per and David. What can I do with music producers, songwriters? Recording music, blending the parts, mixing I think Urs called it. No remixing. Got it!

The rest of them will be easy. Seb forgets his words. What do you do when you forget your words? Of course, you hum! Now Carlos, Latin lover or clubbing? I know which one Urs would pick. I could have him going to a nightclub wearing his concert clothes. Ok David, tall, a tall tenor, tall as a tree, tall as the Empire State Building, tall as a giraffe. Yes, giraffe will work.

**********

“Good choice,” commented Per casually as he handed Urs the music. When Urs looked up at him, Per nodded toward the reception area. Compared to what, thought Urs. Thinking back, Cecile obviously had been a poor choice but how did Per know? He’d never even met Cecile since she hadn’t been interested in seeing the studio the one time she’d visited for a few days.

Urs grimaced as he thought back to that time. He’d felt as if a huge weight had been lifted when he’d put her on the plane to go home. The other Divos had probably felt the same way since the work they’d done while she was visiting had lacked the extra oomph that came out when they were all on. Urs had been on time for every call and although his technique was flawless, the emotion just wasn’t there.

How the hell could I have any emotion left for my music? It was as if I was tied hand and foot to two wild horses and they were sent galloping in opposite directions. I was being torn in half. She wanted me at her beck and call and would throw a fit if our plans had to change suddenly. When I would get to the studio I was emotionally drained from dealing with her. I had nothing left for the music. Per never said anything though. I wonder if the guys clued him in.

Urs’ mouth quirked in a smile and he nodded to the two men in the booth. He adjusted his earphones and stepped up to the mic. Yes, Annie Joy was a good choice, the best choice, personally and professionally. Just listen.

**********



“Anyone interested in getting something to eat?” asked David as Per closed and locked the door to the recording studio and they walked down the hall and into the reception area where Annie Joy waited.

“Me,” piped up David.

“Si, always you want to eat.” Carlos turned to Annie Joy. “He has the, how you say, hollow foot,” he explained.

“Leg, Carlos, it’s hollow leg,” David corrected automatically.

“Bah, foot, leg, no matter. Seb and I already have the plans for the club.”

“Café Opera,” Seb added enthusiastically.

Annie Joy smiled. The cartoon for Carlos would be perfect. Seb might have to explain the irony but Urs had been right about the clubbing.

“How about you and Annie Joy?” Per asked Urs.

“Not tonight I’m afraid. I promised Annie Joy a quiet dinner to celebrate passing her training project with flying colors.”

“Actually he doesn’t want you to see how much I eat. He calls me a human boa constrictor,” Annie Joy confided and when she looked at Urs her eyes softened as she remembered their first breakfast together.

David and Per laughed to be polite. Seb laughed because he had a pretty good idea what Urs’ plans for a quiet dinner entailed. David laughed because he loved Annie Joy’s genuinenesss in telling a story on herself and Carlos laughed because everyone else was.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I like to doodle so while I was waiting I drew a cartoon for each of you. It’s all in fun so I hope you like them.”

Urs thought of the cartoon she’d done for him and his heart felt ready to burst with pride and gratitude at her kind gesture toward his friends. Why should he be surprised though? She was always reaching out to people. He’d seen it before with Paige and even Candi.

She explained each one as she gave them out. “It was a bit of a stretch for you and Per, David. Hope you like it.” They did indeed and promised the next time she visited it would be framed and hanging on the wall in reception.

Click here: Remix

“I thought of you being in such a rush to go clubbing that you wore your concert suit or maybe it was to impress the ladies, si?”
Carlos’ tan deepened. Was that a blush?
“Just be sure you and Seb check the dress code.”

Click here: Properly Dressed

“I used to think that I was wrong.,” Annie Joy sang. Seb chuckled and shook his head. “I couldn’t resist when Urs mentioned those women writing the lyrics for you. If you’re ever stuck again, Seb, just remember alphabetical order, s before w.”

Click here: Can’t learn the words

“David of the high notes, now what could I do with you? Gorgeous singing on the Christmas album by the way. So I combined your high notes with your high-ness. Hmmm, that pun was pretty good off the top of my head.”

Click here: High notes

**********

The first snowflakes began to sift down just as they turned the corner and the hotel came into view. Urs quickened his pace and pulled Annie Joy tighter to him. “You’re amazing, you know,” he smiled.

“I think you have the wrong girl there,” she teased, looking at his red nose. “That’s amazing Grace.”

“Well, you’re my amazing Annie Joy. Those cartoons were a real hit. Thank you for doing that. You seem so comfortable even with people you’ve just met. You just naturally seem to fit in with any group.”

“Well having you there helped you know, just like when you bailed me out on the ship. I certainly didn’t fit in with that group, until you came along.”

“We do make a good couple don’t we?” he said as he bent over to kiss her equally red nose.

“The best, HL,” she said over her shoulder as he held the door. “OH, does it ever feel good to get inside. My toes are numb.”
She pulled off her gloves and hat and ran a hand over her hair to smooth it.

They undid their coats and allowed the air to slowly warm them as they waited for the elevator. Two couples got out at the lobby level and Urs followed Annie Joy into the empty elevator and quickly pressed the button. “I thought we could order room service if that’s alright. I want you all to myself so you can tell me all the details of your triumph.” And I can pick the perfect moment to tell you I love you.

“That sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to get these boots off and warm my feet,” she said as she leaned back against the wall and wiggled one ankle. The way he felt just watching that little boot wiggle Urs imagined his hair would be on fire any minute.

Then the elevator dinged at his floor and they stepped into the hallway. The air was cooler here and he sucked in a great lungful as he held her hand and led her to his door. He was the picture of calm and cool as he opened the door with one fluid motion and followed her inside. Too bad he didn’t close the door in time to keep those damn butterflies out.

It wasn’t that he was nervous, exactly. He just wanted everything to be perfect. In other words he was overthinking. Fortunately Annie Joy was not.

She shrugged out of her coat, dropped it on the nearest chair and looked around the sitting room. “Mmmm nice,” she murmured as she closed the distance between them. A reference to the room he thought, as she placed a light, fleeting kiss on his lips.
But as her arms wrapped around him, her next kiss left no doubt she was not commenting on the room décor.

Suddenly all that mattered was that she was here, that he could hold her like this. She was everything he’d ever wanted, absolutely everything.

The view from his window looked out over the sea. He cupped her shoulders in his warm hands and turned her slightly to the north. “Over there is the Old Town. If you look closely you can just see the steeple of the church we visited.” She leaned back into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her as they stood quietly gazing out at the flickering lights of the city and the harbor.
His warm breath in her hair sent shivers down her spine when he finally spoke. “I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you tonight. I know I promised and you were counting on me. I was afraid you’d think I’d forgotten or that it wasn’t important. I just couldn’t get away.”

Annie Joy turned to him and gripped his shoulders. “You called and I understood. It’s as simple as that. I would never think that Urs. You aren’t the kind of man who breaks his promises.”

The look on her face told him more than she could know. He wasn’t the only one who’d fallen in love. He lifted her hand to his mouth, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. A suspicious shimmer came into her eyes.

She looked away and cleared her throat. “Could I use your bathroom please?”

“Oh, of course, right through there,” he pointed toward the bedroom. “While you’re gone I’ll look at the room service menu. You must be starving.”

Annie Joy told her eyes to focus straight ahead on the bathroom door but they just had to take a quick peek at the huge expanse of bed. Surely it was big enough for three or four people. She blushed at the thought. Then she saw it beside the bed. Had he meant for her to see it? Her eyes misted with happiness. Damn right he had. He knew her too well. But how in the world…? There on the nightstand beside his pillow was a picture of Annie Joy wearing her orange marshmallow.

Meanwhile in the other room Urs had taken it upon himself to read the menu aloud. He was just finishing up the soup course. “…or there’s Classic French Onion with Gruyère Cheese Gratinée. Annie Joy are you listening?”

“Um, yes of course Urs,” came the muffled reply from behind the bathroom door.

On he continued. “Under Pastas and Noodles they have a Pappardelle with Ragu De Nobile, a Truly Irresistible Ragu of Beef, Veal, Pork and Foie Gras, served over Ten…der…”

The menu dropped to the carpet with a soft thud as Urs’ mouth went suddenly dry. Annie Joy stood before him wearing one of his white Armani shirts and a smile.

“Life is short Urs. I think we should have dessert first.”

Chapter 51
Fools in Love

The sight of Annie Joy walking slowly, seductively towards him caused an immediate roadblock on the information highway between his brain and vocal cords. There was no fear of him overthinking now as she rose up on tiptoe and lightly kissed his cheek. Her lips trailed slowly to his. He could feel her breath.

Amber fire flickered and flared as his eyes widened in acknowledgement. Then with a sigh, the merest of exhalations, his eyes fluttered closed and he gave himself up to the warm sensation of Annie Joy’s delicate fingertips traveling along his chest releasing the buttons of his shirt, marking her progress with her lips. His pants tightened as she unfastened his belt, then she released the button. He kicked off his shoes as she tugged off his shirt.

Her smile, as old as time itself, asked, invited, and promised as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt she was wearing. With a seductive wriggle it fell off her shoulders, slithered down her arms and fell unnoticed to the floor. She stood before him; her only adornment the butterfly pendant nestled in the warm hollow of her breasts. Then just as a liquid takes the shape of its container, Annie Joy filled Urs’ arms, leaving no space.

**********

They lay in bed, grin to grin and hip to thigh, her leg between his, his arm beneath her head, and felt the galloping thump, thump of each other’s heart slow to a walk. Of all the scenarios he’d mentally rehearsed he couldn’t remember even one that called for him to be laughing when he told her he loved her, but he had.

He had mentally rehearsed. He was ready. He would be serious yet romantic, earnest yet not too eager. But Annie Joy had blown his plans right out of the water, as she’d done from the first day they’d met, and it had just gotten better and better. Would he ever get used to it? He hoped not. To say he had somewhat lost control of the situation would be to say the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.

They had come together in a deliciously intimate party, and like most memorable celebrations it was fun, spontaneous, noisy, slightly messy and given in the spirit of unselfish love. The host and hostess played on their natural affinity toward each other, anticipating and communicating their needs again and again throughout the evening by touch, sight, sound, and words.

Gott! How I love her words. Not mindless chatter or dictator instructions or porn movie dirty. How wonderful not to have a silent partner. She talks to me. I love that we can say what we feel, what we want, openly and naturally.
Do you like this? What about this? Faster? Slower? Does this turn you on? I love it when you do that. Amazing, that’s amazing. Let’s see if we can. If you could just. Oh, perfect, perfect.

Nothing bothered her. When he’d mentioned protection she’d quipped about her once a year regimen. “See there,” she pointed over her shoulder to an imaginary spot, “just above the right antennae is my expiration date, March 31.” Annie Joy about expired right then and there from Urs’ methodical and loving search for the nonexistent date. Oh yes, Urs loved her tattoo, literally and figuratively.

And when she stole his thunder he really couldn’t protest. He told himself he was still in a weakened state from their first course of dessert and besides she already had his heart. She had rolled partway onto his chest and put her hands over his ears to turn his head. He smiled as he remembered. Who knew she’d go for his ears…among other places he reminded himself smugly. In the next moment he was jerked out of his instant erotic replay.

“Urs, I love you! You are so, I mean this…this is a whole plate of cookies day. I love you! “ Annie Joy’s hugging, kissing declaration was so enthusiastic that Urs was momentarily at a loss for words or thoughts or breath for that matter. Actually it was several moments because he suddenly found himself feeling very fit indeed.

And then he threw his head back and laughed with such boyish pleasure that she felt her heart had flipped and traded places with her stomach. “Annie Joy I love you. I think I started loving you from that first moment you ran me down.”

He set the hook beautifully. “But it was an accid…” Her playful protest was stifled with a kiss as he rolled her beneath him and began the main course.

His teeth grazed her earlobe. She could feel his smile as he whispered, “I think we’re gonna need a bigger plate for the cookies.” He gently ran his tongue around her ear as her arms snaked around his back and tangled in his hair.

Much later, after Urs’ main course consumed them, they really did order room service that they heartily consumed, at times in a rather unorthodox fashion.

“Get your hands off mine, you thief!,” Urs scolded and pushed her hand away from his plate. Annie Joy closed her eyes in bliss and chewed slowly on the French fry she’d just swiped.

“Mmmm, yours are much crispier than mine,” she concluded as if that constituted a sufficient alibi for French fry theft.

“Probably because I refuse to drown mine with that awful catsup. Your plate looks like the scene of a mass murder,” he commented dryly. His nose wrinkled in distaste but not for long as his mouth quirked in a grin and his eyes laughed.

He reached for her milkshake. His had already been ‘shared’ several minutes ago when Annie Joy had plopped her straw, albeit an unused one, into his glass and challenged him, “I’ll race you to the bottom.” She’d won and he’d gotten brain freeze. He chalked it up to her having more practice.

So here they were in the wee small hours, two white robed picnickers sitting cross-legged on the floor devouring hamburgers (Annie’s choice), fries, and chocolate milkshakes, (Urs’ choice, well at least the chocolate part). If anyone saw them they would have commented, ‘Fools in love’. They would be right.

**********

While Urs loaded the room service cart and pushed it outside the door, Annie Joy used the extra toothbrush and towels she found waiting in the bathroom. Did the woman looking back at her in the mirror seem any different? It was obvious she’d been well and thoroughly loved, her lips were still slightly swollen and small pink patches showed where his stubble had grazed her tender skin. A warm flush spread over her cheeks as she thought of Urs’ lips and hands, so wise and gentle.

She finger-combed her hair, retied her robe, and leaned in closer to the mirror. As ridiculous as it sounded she thought there was something about her eyes. Did she see an added spark, an extra measure of understanding now? All she knew was she had never felt so alive, so real.

She smiled sleepily as Urs joined her in bed after his turn in the bathroom. He kissed her soft and slow and turned off the light. The bed dipped as he slid under the duvet and spooned her into the solid warmth of his chest.

Her voice floated out into the air like a weather balloon, testing the temperature. “So now we know.” It was a half question, half statement sent out in hope he’d remembered his words the night they’d found each other again.

She could feel his warm breath as he kissed her hair and whispered, “Ya, this attraction, this feeling can’t get more real than this. I’m so glad you are here… It helps me to realize how beautiful my world is.”

She counted them, 1, 2, 3 as he dropped light kisses on the nape of her neck and skimmed his fingers over the butterfly outline. She smiled. “Are you saying goodnight?”

His arms tightened around her. “To both my butterflies. Do you mind?”

“I love it…I love you, HL.”

He snuggled her head under his chin. “Sleep well, my Petit Papillion. I love you.”

Are you there, Great Minnie?

I’m here, child, you rest. You’re where you were meant to be.

Great Minnie, I want to be with him more than I want to breathe.

Great Minnie expelled a huge sigh and smiled. At last she knew a tiny bit about how God felt on the seventh day.

Chapter 52
Showers and Surprises


To wake warm and melt into each other—is there a better way to start the day?
Skin upon skin, their lips and bodies greeted one another in a skyrocketing hello.

When Annie Joy’s bones had returned to a solid state she rolled over and cuddled against Urs with a contented sigh. He snaked one arm around her possessively. How warm and soft she felt, like a delectably shaped body pillow. She was made so marvelously opposite, soft where he was hard, convex where he was concave and temptingly full where he was sleek.

Uh oh, she’s starting on my ear again. “Annie Joy, could you give me a few minutes.”

He felt his ear being nibbled and none too gently at that. “Sorry uber-lover, but I’m going to have to take advantage of your weakened state. Dibs on the shower,” she added as she rolled away from him and bounded off the bed.

He heard the shower running and over it came Annie Joy’s voice. “Did you know I sing opera in the shower? I’m very good. All of my shampoos think so.” He shook his head and chuckled as he closed his eyes and waited. Her voice projection was good, he’d have to give her that but he couldn’t ever remember hearing that bit performed in that particular key. Perhaps he’d better investigate.

“Annie Joy, despite the rave reviews from your shampoo bottles I don’t really think humming the Triumphal March from Aida constitutes singing opera. If you’ll allow me to demonstrate.” He pulled back the curtain and stepped in.

Poor Urs. He should have known better than to try singing opera in the shower with a very slippery woman determined to do a little demonstrating of her own. He really never had a chance. The shampoo bottles however were treated to some new and usual sounds as a slightly damp man and woman fell into bed to continue their demonstration.

**********

Gabi lost her bet by two hours. Annie Joy didn’t arrive back at the apartment until 2:00.

When they reached her door, Urs unwrapped his arm from around her shoulder and gave her a brief, but affectionate kiss. It was what Annie Joy would come to call his public ‘less is more’ kiss because afterward his fingers would curl around her cheek, tender and loving as they shared a look that promised more.

More, a small word, often a child’s simple attempt to make his needs known, denoting a milestone in his growth. Such delicate nuances and subtle shades of meaning for so simple a word: additional, also, another, better, deeper, exceeding, extra, fresh, in addition, increased, more than that, new, numerous, over and above, too many. These marked the growth in Annie Joy and Urs’ relationship.

**********

Next weekend would be their last before Annie Joy left for her permanent store assignment. Urs had juggled his recording schedule in order to book them on a four-night trip to see the Northern Lights, a fitting end to her time in Scandinavia. Her last day at work was Friday and they would leave that night and return Tuesday. She would report to her new job the following Monday. But for tonight her thoughts were on another new experience. She would finally see Il Divo perform live and in the Grand Hotel no less.

Il Divo had been asked to perform at a 25th anniversary party for one of the Sony BMG Sweden executives, Nils Sandgren and his wife Katinka. Being part of the Sony family, so to speak, David, Carlos, Seb, and Urs and their guests were invited to the dinner immediately after the program. After dinner they would also perform the song for the couple’s first dance. Since none of the other Divo women were able to be there, Urs had made arrangements for Annie Joy to sit with Per and David tonight.

**********

‘I keep thinking it was someone from the village who took away the parsnips and substituted them with hemlock.’

Annie Joy sat propped up with four pillows in the middle of the king-size bed reading a British mystery and waiting for her toenails to dry. She wiggled her toes, admiring Urs’ handiwork. His technique certainly had improved since that one tickling incident. She’d warned him she was ticklish but did he listen? Oh no. All it had gotten him was some interesting red spots on his underwear. She turned back to her book.

**********

Urs checked his watch and stepped into the shower. Plenty of time, no rush. A nice long shower, a careful leisurely shave and I’ll still be the first one at the soundcheck.

I can’t wait to see her dress tonight. She’s been guarding it like a state secret. Doesn’t she realize she takes my breath away no matter what she wears?

He squirted a dollop of shampoo into his palm and began to lather his hair.

Orange suddenly flashed in his brain as he thought back to the afternoon after their first night together. Damn, that shampoo must be making his eyes water.

Annie Joy knew they’d had dinner reservations so when he’d arrived she was ready. So he was totally surprised when she’d taken my hand and led him to her bedroom. Had she forgotten the cab was waiting downstairs? Now was not the time…but he was wrong. It was the perfect time. He’d seen it and dropped her hand and walked over to the table beside her bed. There he was in his orange marshmallow, a mate to his picture of her. That she too was loathe to break their connection, had wanted to keep him in her memory, touched his heart in a way he’d never felt before. All those weeks ago, since the ship, without knowing it they had been trying to make their way to each other and now at last they were here.



He closed his eyes and turned around in a circle rinsing his hair, ending with the shower beating down on his face. He allowed the water to fill his open mouth, then squirted it out like a fish.

He thought of times when the arrangements or recordings were heavy going, when he didn’t feel like even smiling. Still she could make him laugh. How did she do that? He’d never known what he was missing till she came into his life.

He could still hear her laughing that time they got stuck and had to unwind from each other limb by limb as if they were playing Twister. His body reacted just as it had done then. All it had taken was a look and their laughter became sighs and exclamations as they began again until they knew their very souls were tangled in a link that could not be undone.

He turned off the water and toweled himself dry. Then wrapped another towel around his hips. He ran his fingers over his face checking his beard, grateful the hot shower had done its preparation. He applied the shaving cream carefully, avoiding his sideburns and held his razor under the warm water.

We’ve come so far in the short time she’s been here. He smiled at the Urs in the mirror as he remembered welcoming her home from Amsterdam. Later that night, long after Annie Joy had fallen asleep like a trusting child in the warm curve of his arms, he’d stared up into the darkness and realized how incredibly lucky he was to have this woman in his life. With Cecile it had only been possibilities. The things Annie Joy gave him were more than that; they were real. They were the things that mattered: happiness, contentment, trust, and unconditional love.

Just as he started around his left sideburn he thought he heard the phone ring over the sound of the water. Had they changed the soundcheck time? No matter. He was almost ready. Annie Joy would answer it. He rinsed his face and patted it dry. Then he and his freshly shaved face prowled into the bedroom. Annie Joy was sitting on the bed talking on the phone, probably to Syd or Angie or Gabi from the sound of it.

“Yes, very soon. That sounds wonderful.”

“Of course. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out where I’m going.”

“Really? You don’t mind? I feel the same way sometimes.”

Annie Joy laughed.

**********

Maybe it was the relaxing sound of the shower or perhaps she’d just lost interest in murder by hemlock. Annie Joy closed her book, scooted down on the bed and pulled one of the pillows from behind her for her head, ready for some delicious daydreams of Urs. She smiled at how often at random times during the day thoughts of him filled her mind.

All I have to do is picture that smile he gives me and I swear for that one second -- I can barely breathe.

Those eyes…no matter how much times goes by I’ll never forget the first time he looked at me and I fell in love with his eyes. And the easy way their hips fit together as he pulled her toward him and how he smiled in his sleep and his kisses.

She rolled over and buried her face in his pillow, drinking in the scent of him.

Kissing, definitely an art and one he’s mastered. That touch and go kiss, that pecky on the cheek kiss, that here I am kiss, that I’m lost in you kiss. Slow, sweet, tender, hungry, teasing, tickling, tasting kisses.
How does he know to kiss the right thing at the right time,
then kisses the things he's missed?
How had I ever settled for less?

Sighing gently, she snuggled down into her pillow a little deeper and thought of his playful teasing when he’d come to pick her up at work last week. Although it was late, most of the people in her area were still there working on end of the month reports.

In an attempt to tidy his wind-blown hair, he’d raised his arms and raked his fingers through his thick dark curls, pulling it into a ponytail, causing several inches of firm stomach to be exposed above his well-worn jeans slung low on his hips.

“You do realize you’ve caused every female heart in here to simultaneously skip a beat don’t you?” she’d scolded mildly after they were alone.

He’d answered with a Cheshire cat grin, “Yours too?”

“Mine most of all, you sexy Swiss,” she’d laughed.

Laughing, there was so much laughing, even when they made love. There were times Urs would joke and tease and play until she was laughing so hard that when he finally kissed her their passion came as a shock.

They’d survived their first separation when she’d been sent to Amsterdam for three days training. She wouldn’t have put it past the old Urs, the one she’d met on the ship, to schedule phone calls like appointments. This new and improved Urs, and David at least seemed to agree he was, was able to embrace time frames like ‘in the evening’. Granted he embraced them quite a bit, she certainly wouldn’t want to pay his phone bill, but if truth be told she’d used all her extra minutes and then some. If that’s what it took so be it. They’d get used to it. Oh how she wanted to get used to that, not the leaving but the knowing he’d be waiting to welcome her home.

And what a homecoming it had been. He’d planned another room service dinner and crossed his heart the food would be served first, and it wouldn’t be burgers and fries, he’d added with a twinkle. When she arrived, scattered around the room were vases from IKEA each filled with a single red rose. Twenty-five, he’d explained, one for each day since we met again. And they did eat their dinner first. She blushed as she thought of dessert.

**********

“Alright I promise, but I don’t think he’ll like it.”

She giggled as she looked over at Urs.

“You too. I’m so glad you called. Bye.”

Annie Joy hung up the phone and turned nonchalantly back to Urs. “Oh, your mother says hi.”

Chapter 53
Il Divo Live


Urs stared in openmouthed astonishment as Annie Joy burst out laughing. “Mami? That was Mami on the phone? But you were…Mami?” he sputtered.

Annie Joy smiled and nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Now I’ve missed her. Did she say what she wanted?”

“To talk to me of course.” Annie Joy was the picture of wide-eyed innocence. “Something about making sure my intentions were honorable towards you!”

“Your intentions? What the hell…she’s never talked to any of my…” Then the penny dropped and the expression on Urs’ face changed from confused to cunning as he advanced at a prowl toward the bed.

Giggling, Annie Joy pulled her knees up and retreated farther back on the bed until her back was against the headboard. “Now Urs, don’t be a looli,” she cautioned.

Urs reached the edge of the bed and paused. “Looli? So I’m a fool am I? Where did you learn that?”

Annie Joy’s chin went up, “Your mother. She said I should call you that whenever you…you act like one,” she said with a nervous twitter as Urs slowly climbed on the bed and crawled toward her. “Urs, don’t you dare! Go away… you looli!” she warned between giggles as she put her head down, raised her shoulders and drew her chin in like a turtle to protect her ticklish spot. Urs found it anyway, that little place right under her chin, perfect for blowing raspberries and giving nibbling kisses guaranteed to drive her into fits of hysterical laughter.

She couldn’t escape his ravenous mouth. No matter how she wriggled and turned his mouth nuzzled and tickled and did other strange and wonderful things to her. Urs was grateful in more ways than one when she finally gave in with a breathless, “Uncle.” If she’d wriggled and wiggled very much longer he’d be the one begging for mercy. He hovered triumphantly over her on all fours, “Now Annie Joy what did she say?”

Annie Joy’s fingers mapped the hard contour of muscles across Urs’ shoulders and down his arms as she finally admitted; “She wants you to ring her back later. I told her you were in the shower.” She gave an impish grin and moved her fingers down to the edge of his towel. “Well would you look at that? Your towel seems to have come loose. Here let me help you.”

Urs breathed a sigh of relief as he arrived for the soundcheck mere seconds ahead of David. If Annie Joy had given him much more help he wouldn’t have made it to the soundcheck period. He’d have to remember that when she visited him on tour. He’d also have to remember to call Mami.

**********

Urs hurried Annie Joy into her coat. They weren’t late yet, but if he stared at her in that dress much longer he knew they would be. It was a simple long red dress of the softest wool, covering her demurely from wrist to neck but the way it managed simultaneously to skim and cling to every curve caused a hitch in his breath. Then as if the view from the front wasn’t distracting enough she turned around. Butterflies are free vaguely flashed through his mind…when he could think again.

Annie Joy heard his sharp intake of breath. She smiled and Urs could feel it in his trouser pockets.
While she buttoned her coat he shrugged into his. She inspected him for lint and seemed to find quite a bit of it where waves of dark curls caressed his collar. His knowing smile melted her insides.

**********

The New York Room in the Grand Hotel was small, holding perhaps 60 people for a stand-up reception. For the dinner tonight round tables for 40 guests had been arranged in cabaret seating. The room’s modern atmosphere done in a gold theme with a glass roof made an elegant contrast to the dignified Old World opulence of the hotel.





Urs left Annie Joy in the care of Per and David and joined David, Seb, and Carlos to check on preparations for their performance on the small stage at one end of the long room.

Per and David took their job seriously, staying close by and introducing her around. Nils and Katrinka, the guests of honor, were a lovely couple celebrating their 25th anniversary. They were warm and friendly and made Annie Joy feel very welcome. She may not have had Urs’ talent for remembering names, especially the difficult ones, but her enthusiasm more than made up for her boggled pronunciations.

Urs felt a pull in his stomach as he watched her mingle with the guests. They had no chance to escape the spell of her natural charm as she drew them in. He knew exactly how they felt. He was so proud of her; proud she was here with him. What would it be like to have her as his wife, to kiss and cuddle in front of a roaring fire on a cold winter’s day, to have children with, to grow old with?

Shock jolted through him as he realized the directions of his thoughts. He’d never contemplated any kind of formal commitment with a woman let alone children or the concept of forever. What the hell had Annie Joy done to him?

“Let’s get the show on the road,” grinned David as they jogged up the steps and took their places on stage.

Annie Joy snuck a peek at her watch. Would it ever start? Then Per was guiding her to a table near the front on Urs’ side of the stage, David was handing her champagne for the toast. The happy couple was introduced. “To Katrinka and Nils!” The lights dimmed as Il Divo was introduced and took the stage.

**********

Just look at them. They know how good they are. When they’re in full flow, arms outstretched, chest thrown out, so powerful, so secure and certain of themselves I feel in awe.

Annie Joy might have been the first one on her feet as they ended with ‘My Way’ but the entire room was only a fraction of a second behind her in giving them a standing ovation. She waved, as if Urs couldn’t see her, and blew him a kiss that he returned with an added blinky wink.




Lord love a duck, child! If you don’t look just like a drowned raccoon I surely don’t know what does. Best find something to wipe those eyes…and blow your nose while you’re at it.

Annie Joy continued her conversation in the ladies room as she repaired her only slightly smudged makeup. Great Minnie could be a bit of a drama queen at times.
Oh Great Minnie, this is the most glorious night of my life! Have you ever seen four handsomer men in your life?

Can’t say as I have. They do clean up nice and that’s a fact.

And those soaring high notes, and those heartbreakingly beautiful harmonies. And Carlos’ voice, majestic and commanding, so strong and steady. Then there’s David’s high notes floating and soaring up to the angels. And the expressive texture Seb adds, soft, sweet, rough, plaintive, is amazing. And did you hear Urs’ breath control? He’s usually the last one to put his mic down. Great Minnie, stop it right now. I can hear you snickering. I’m serious here. Don’t you love when he does those subtle harmonies? It’s like filling in the spaces between the other guys notes. And that echo in Caruso is so pure it gives me goosebumps.

Great Minnie didn’t want to shout to be heard over the hand dryer so she waited until Annie Joy was on the way back to her table.

Honey, you’re preachin’ to the choir here. I always knew they’d make it big. We have what you might call advance notice ‘bout some things up here you know. Still in all they kinda exceeded expectations, he he, after they got the kinks ironed out that is. In the beginning there were a few times I just wanted to slap them all up side the head, grown men acting like little boys but they got their act together now. Just goes to show what gifted singers can do with a little luck and a lot of hard word. Kinda leaves you breathless doesn’t it?

As if on cue the ‘Breathless Four’ as Annie Joy teasingly called them arrived at the table just in time for the first course. Over dinner Annie Joy waxed eloquent on their performance as they ate sparingly. Since they were to sing one more song for Katrinka and Nils first dance, they skipped dessert to go ‘walk off’ what dinner they had before they sang.

The song Katrinka and Nils chose was ‘Over the Rainbow’. Urs had forewarned Annie Joy. This time she was prepared, as if you can ever really be prepared for the emotional response their music pulls from you. A good chunk of Urs’ solo was sung with their eyes locked on each other as he sang about wishes coming true and as the song ended they nodded in mute testimony. Wishes do come true, they were living proof.

**********

“Ah, there’s your handsome man. Come to claim you for a dance I expect. It’s been lovely talking with you Annie Joy,” Katrinka smiled warmly and squeezed her arm.

Urs kissed Katrinka on the cheek, shook hands with Nils, and pulled Annie Joy close to him with one arm around her waist.

“And if we don’t see you before you leave, we wish you good luck with your new job,” added Nils.
“It’s been a pleasure meeting both of you. Thank you so much for inviting me. I’m very grateful to have shared in your special celebration.” She turned and shared a look with Urs, then turned back to her hosts. “This is the first time I’ve seen Il Divo perform live so it was a special night for me too,” she said softly as she blinked back tears and looked at Urs again.

Nils simply nodded and Katrinka smiled in acknowledgement as she and her husband moved off to mingle with their other guests. “What a charming couple they make!” Katrinka exclaimed as she linked her arm through her husband’s and leaned her head briefly on his shoulder as they walked away. “That was us twenty-five years ago, Nils,” she sighed.

“To me, älskling, you will always be the most charming woman in the room,” Nils whispered into her hair with a kiss.

Urs led Annie Joy to an opening on the small dance floor. He turned and she filled the space between them as if they’d done this since the beginning of time. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder as her fingers sought the curls at his nape. How soft and springy and alive they feel, she thought. He pressed the flat of his hand, fingers slightly open, around her back where the edge of the dress met her skin. The best of both worlds, he thought, soft smooth skin and the textured cloth hiding the promise beneath.

He sighed and pulled her a fraction closer. What perfect harmony I have in my life, he thought, and smiled at the unintentional pun.
I have a woman I love who loves me, the real me with or without all the trappings, freely and completely. I have a job that challenges and allows me to travel the world doing what I love. I am truly satisfied with my lot or should be. And yet from nowhere these thoughts of forever have been lobbed into my life like a hand grenade.

At that moment he realized he had to take the risk. Living without her would be worse than any possibility of losing her in the future. Now holding her in his arms, he knew he couldn’t lose her because this was right. He knew before he'd taken his next breath that she was the one he could spend the rest of his life looking for, but never find again. At long last he had learned that of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.

Chapter 54
Urs Does It His Way


“Mmm this is good, Annie Joy,” Urs said as he speared more of the cucumber salad onto his fork.

Annie Joy looked up from cutting a chunk of noodle from the Medusa looking congealed mass on her plate and commented dryly, “Right, I’m a regular Julia Child. It’s pretty hard to mess up thin sliced cucumbers in vinegar, Urs. Here I finally shoo Angie and Gabi out for the evening so I can fix dinner for us and look what happens. At least I know you love me for myself and not my cooking,” she added a bit more cheerfully.

“The meatballs were wery good,” he pointed out logically since his were all gone. “And the noodles have a good flavor.” As if to prove his point he used his knife and fork to cut a piece and popped it into his mouth, chewing with a relish rarely seen outside of acting school.

“Sure they do, except they need to come with a warning, ‘May require surgery to separate’. You do realize it’s partly your fault they turned into Siamese Noodles instead of Swedish ones?”

“Mine? But you were the one cooking.”

“And you were the one distracting the cook.”

“I did do a pretty good job didn’t I?” Urs smirked.

“Smugness does not become you Mr. Looli. Now shut up and eat your noodles or no dessert for you,” Annie Joy scolded holding in a laugh as best she could.

“Cheesecake med chocklad och apelsin,” Annie Joy announced with a flourish as she set it on the table. “I do know my culinary limitations so I twisted Gabi’s arm. Well actually she volunteered since it was for a Divo,” she admitted and cut Urs a generous slice.

**********

With Urs’ help they’d made short work of the cleaning up and settled on the sofa with their coffee. Annie Joy sat with her legs tucked under, holding her cup, occasionally sipping, lost in thought. She sighed, put her cup down and mentally moved over to make a place for the elephant in the room. “I can hardly believe this was my last Monday. Time went so fast,” she said as she looked up at Urs.

“So they haven’t told you which store yet?” Urs asked, silently congratulating himself on his self-control for not asking during dinner. Now that it was nearing the end of Annie Joy’s training he’d asked the same question daily and gotten the same answer. Annie Joy shook her head. “Are you sure they won’t tell you till Friday?”

“I’m sure, Urs. When I go in Friday morning to finish my paperwork they’ll tell me. It won’t do any good to keep asking. That’s how they do it. We’ll just have to wait and see. I’m sorry, I know it’s frustrating.”

Urs shifted to the side and Annie Joy stretched her legs out on the sofa and leaned back into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down and kissed her hair. “We’ll make it work wherever they send you. We’re not going to lose each other again,” he promised.

Annie Joy turned her head and looked up as him. “How could we? We’re both creative geniuses, right?” she teased. “We’ll just have to find opportunities to be together, that’s all,” she declared positively.

“You don’t suppose they have stores in Timbuktu do you?”

“Ha ha, very funny. Wouldn’t matter if they did. It would have to be an English speaking country. The logical place would be back in the States, but I put Europe first on my wish list. Don’t tell Rafe; he’d kill me. Of course it all depends on where they have an opening. Canada wouldn’t be too bad. Now Australia would be tricky, definitely a challenge but between the both of us we’d do it somehow.”

Urs could almost feel his butt tingling as he remembered those flights to Australia. Even in business class it seemed interminable. Please Gott no, that was so far away.

“Enough worrying and wondering for one night,” Annie Joy sighed as she swung her legs to the floor, sat up and handed Urs a packet of papers from the table. “Here, tell me again about the wonderful weekend you planned for us.”

Urs silently congratulated himself, not for the first time, on his plan to spend their last weekend together aboard a ship viewing the Northern Lights. Not only would it afford them private time to say their temporary goodbyes but also be a special reminder of how they met.

Annie Joy was like a child requesting a favorite bedtime story over and over again. Every time they talked about it her eyes sparkled with excitement and so he began yet again.

“Friday afternoon we fly to Oslo and then on to Tromsø where we board the MS Kong Harald. Remember there aren’t any balconies but it says here we have a large picture window,” Urs pointed to the picture in the brochure. “It will take us past the North Cape and on to Kirkenes and head up the coast to Havoysund and Honningsvag and then turn around and come back.” He put his hand over hers and traced the route as she pointed.

“And when we see the Northern Lights do you think they’ll look like that?” she asked pointing to the picture near the top of the page.







“We’ll just have to wait and see, liebe, but I’m sure it will be a once in a lifetime experience,” he promised. In more ways than one. I don’t plan on doing this again. These butterflies feel like flying monkeys.

“Won’t it be fun being together for the lifeboat drill this time?”

“Oh yes, I can hardly wait,” Urs teased, “but I’m keeping an eye on you this time so you don’t bump into me and knock me overboard.”

“That was just a tiny nudge. Stop being such a wimp. I do have a teensy confession to make though, HL. You sure looked sexy in that life vest. The view from the back was magnificent. The way your orange marshmallow ended right at your waist and then came those perfect, tight little buns and those thighs…” Annie Joy used her hands to demonstrate much to Urs’ embarrassment.

“Annie Joy will you quit? Next thing you’ll want to…” Urs saw the mischievous gleam in her eyes and gulped, “Oh no, you have got to be kidding, no, hell n…” and was attacked by a frenzy of puppy kisses from Annie Joy as she climbed on his lap.

“You’re absolutely right, HL, that would never work,” she said as the puppies began nibbling on Urs’ ear. “But we don’t have life vests on now and Angie and Gabi won’t be back for,” she reached down and grabbed Urs’ wrist and checked the time, “another hour.”

Annie Joy was quick on her feet, literally, as Urs’ lap disappeared. “We’re wasting time, woman,” he muffled from underneath his shirt as he pulled it off, grabbed her hand and headed down the hall.



Urs had his phone on vibrate and gave a quick apology to Per and Carlos as he saw Annie Joy’s name and hurried out of the room.

“Let’s hope it is the good news,” commented Carlos looking a bit worried.

Annie Joy took a deep breath, “Edmondton.”

“Edmondton?” Canada…so far. Why couldn’t it at least have been near the east coast, Montreal or Toronto? Stop being selfish. You can make this work. It won’t be forever. Anything is worth it, just so you don’t lose each other. Say something positive.

“Don’t be upset. It could have been really far away like Perth or Adelaide,” he rationalized.

“But Urs…” Annie Joy tried to explain but Urs was on a roll.

“It’s not that far, my Petit Papillion,” he said trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. “I remember when we did a concert there. We’ll talk about it later all right? I need to get back now. I’ll be there at 1:00. I love you,” and he hung up.

Annie Joy pictured the slide show of emotions that had crossed his face in the last minute--surprise, disappointment, and finally determination. She imagined him squaring his shoulders and returning to finish whatever rehearsal or discussion he’d left. By now his highly ordered brain was probably hard at work devising plans and schedules. She smiled and shook her head. Sometimes that man was just too Swiss for his own good.

If this don’t cure him of jumping to conclusions I sure don’t know what will.

You got that right Great Minnie.

**********

Annie Joy had said her goodbyes to the girls at lunch and now waited in the empty apartment for Urs.
The minute she opened the door he folded her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “We’ll work it out, Annie Joy, you’ll see. I know it’s not as close as we hoped but we love each other. We can get thro…” Annie Joy put her fingers over his mouth.

“Urs, just get in here and hush for a second,” she said pulling him inside the apartment and shutting the door. “You know I love you but sometimes you go barreling off in the wrong direction and just go on and on. Like today on the phone. I wasn’t finished telling you.”

Annie Joy looked at him and smiled, “You see there’s another Edmondton. I’m not going to the one you thought, the one in Canada. I’m going to the Edmondton in North London.”

Urs grabbed her arms. “North London? For real?” She nodded. “For sure? That’s perfect! Now you can…” It seems Urs wasn’t the only one with a plan as Annie Joy’s mouth silenced him. He smiled into her kiss as he realized he had never been happier to be wrong.

**********

Annie Joy held her arms straight out to the side, ”Robot Woman lives,” she giggled as Urs gave the strap on her vest a final tug.
“There you’re all ready,” he said shrugging his arms into his vest and reaching around for the strap.

“My turn,” said Annie Joy as she grabbed the strap and threaded it through the buckle, tucked in the end of the strap and gave his buns a squeeze.

Urs backed away protecting his backside with his hands. “Annie Joy, I’m warning you, keep your hands to yourself when we’re up on deck.”

“Or what?” she taunted with a grin and made grabbing motions with her hands.

“Or I’ll be forced to topple you onto the bed where you will lay helpless like a turtle on its back, unable to get up. You will miss the drill and be made to walk the plank.”

“Promises, promises,” she taunted.

Shaking his head and laughing, he turned her toward the door and with his hands on her shoulders he firmly marched her out in front of him.

Up on deck they checked in with the officer in charge and stood in the back row as close as possible to the wall to keep out of the wind as they waited for the last few passengers.

Annie Joy looked over at wind-blown Urs. “You look just like you did in the picture,” she said.

“That good eh?” Urs deadpanned. “So do you,” he whispered out of the side of his mouth. “That will always be my favorite picture of you,” he smiled.

He reached out to hug her. Ooof! That won’t work. Maybe if I lean like this. No, my arms aren’t long enough. How about that? All they succeeded in doing was bouncing off each other so they settled for a rather distant kiss and an even more distant arms length hug.

After several toe tapping, totally frustrating minutes they were dismissed to their cabins, unbuckling as they went. The cabin door closed heavily; they dropped their vests to the floor and … stopped. Then as if the fast forward button had been pushed to play they slowly walked into each other’s arms. No need to rush. They had time enough. They would be together in London.

Not like turtles but passionate lovers they toppled onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, moving closer, hands joined in gentle caresses, explorations shared and renewed.

Their lips met slowly, softly, delicately, building quickly to demand. His breathing was shallow and fast. They shared the same air. His lips parted and then touched hers again as she sighed and closed her eyes. How many times had they kissed? And yet, for all the times his lips had caressed and coaxed hers, never had she felt this sense of coming home.

From her mouth to her toes, every part of her touched some part of him, every part of her buzzing from their contact —two bodies occupying the same space. The world dissolved and reformed again and again, just the two of them here in this moment.

**********

They stood wrapped together in the duvet and each other’s arms watching the kaleidoscope of shifting colors in the dark clear sky. Their breath made little fog clouds on the cold window.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said. The tenderness of his kiss brought tears to her eyes. He smiled as if she were the most special person in the whole world. “Remember that night when we stood out on deck and talked about hand fasting? Let’s make it official. Cross your hands. Good. Now your right hand in my right and your left in my left.”

“Annie Joy Lindstrom, I love you more than I ever thought a man could love a woman. I’m….I’m just overboard in love with you. My life would be empty without you.”

She followed his eyes down to look at the infinity symbol formed by their hands and swallowed hard. Her eyes grew wide. What was he trying to say? He voice was a mere whisper, husky with emotion. “We both know what this means.”

“A year and a day?” she half asked.

He pulled her toward him, toward his waiting kiss.
“A year and a lifetime, Annie Joy. That’s what I want with you.”

Her heart pounded in her chest.

He scooped her into his arms and kissed her. His adoring gaze and the gentleness of his touch as he stroked her cheek sent quivers through her. He kissed her tender and sweet.

“Is that how the Swiss do it?” she asked as she opened her eyes. Was that her voice speaking? It seemed so far away.

“It’s the way this Swiss does it,” he said as he continued to hold her gaze.

Her eyes became serious as they traveled over his face, memorizing this moment in her heart. Then as if from behind a cloud her smile broke out shining and glorious to behold. “I’ll love you Urs for a year and all the years to come, I promise.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her with such passion she knew she belonged to him and no other. Forever.

*********

So Annie Joy and Urs have come full circle from ship to ship, from pretend newlyweds to soon to be real newlyweds. We leave them basking in the glow of their love. Who knows perhaps one day they’ll be ready to tell you the rest of their story.

There will be a rather unique epilogue on Thursday.

Epilogue


I wish you all could know how much your comments have encouraged me and kept me inspired. For what is a story-teller without someone to listen? and critique…and edit…and suggest, Cheryl, RA, and FS. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I see from your comments you’ve rememberd my weakness for not letting go of characters so if and when Annie Joy and Urs tell me more of their story I’ll gladly pass it on to you.

We know when we read these fan fictions, that indeed, that’s what they are…fiction, make-believe. We are right there with the characters sharing their angst as well as their happiness. Whether they are larger than life superheroes or more ordinary folk, their romantic storylines fall in and out of place with a regularity that excites, frustrates, maddens, and delights us.

And through it all if we dare admit it, a tiny spark deep down flickers, ‘what if’ as we are drawn into the story, into the romance. So now I want to tell you a true life love story celebrating the fact that art does indeed imitate life and that the romance we love is alive and well even off the written page.

I was already well into writing and posting Man Overboard when we went on a cruise last July. That is when I met Joan and Charlie and became captivated by their story. They are in their mid 50’s and would not stand out in a crowd except for their friendliness and easy going attitude.

They were part of our group that had been organized by a couple who arrange our cruises. Our tour organizers had met Joan and Charlie on a world cruise and subsequently helped them plan their wedding.

Joan and Charlie met on a cruise to Alaska. His wife had recently died after struggling with cancer for several years during which he had stayed home and looked after her. She was recovering from a bad marriage after 25 years and an even worse divorce.

At the Captain’s reception the first evening they were introduced, made polite conversation and that was that. The next day when Charlie got on the bus for his tour Joan was there sitting alone in the front seat. He was torn. Should he sit with her, the rest of the bus was mostly couples, or go to the back of the bus? He chose the front seat.

For the rest of the cruise they got to know each other and discovered they were both from San Francisco and even had a few friends in common, though Joan and Charlie had never met before. At the end of the cruise they traded phone numbers.

As Charlie explained it to me, when he got back home he walked into his darkened house and just stood in the hall not even knowing which room he wanted to go into. He went to the phone and called Joan and they went to dinner that night and thus began their friendship. Joan however was so overly cautious she would only meet him for their dates. It took six months for her to finally tell him where she lived.

During the next few years they went on several cruises together including two world cruises. Yes, they are well off financially but I didn’t hear that from them and the old cliché ‘you’d never know by looking at them’ does apply in this case. Creating memories seems to be more important to them than acquiring stuff.

And so last June they invited 20 of their closest friends and their rabbi to join them on another Alaskan cruise. On the afternoon of their wedding they all went dogsledding and played in the snow. Then they returned to the ship to change into their wedding finery. The guests assembled in Joan and Charlie’s suite as she walked out of one bedroom on the arm of her son and he walked out of the other bedroom to join her. Her son was also Charlie’s best man. So as the ship sailed out of the harbor at Juneau on the fifth anniversary of the day they met. they exchanged their vows.

Following the ceremony there was a dinner and reception in one of the restaurants. It was the first wedding ever for that ship line. The chef was especially thrilled to be able to provide the wedding cake.

We were with Joan and Charlie on another cruise in October and I happened to stop them one morning after breakfast to tell them about my story and ask about their reception. As we were talking, Joan suddenly asked, “What’s the date?” I told her. “It’s our four month anniversary!” And as if on cue they turned and gave each other a little kiss.

We’ll be seeing them again in April as they finish the last leg of yet another world cruise. I’m going to give them a copy of Man Overboard and thank them for inspiring me after the fact.

So I would like to propose a toast to all the people who inspire us with their real life romance.
To Joan and Charlie!