The Buhler BrideComing Home May 17, 2034FridayThe morning hush of dawn, the time when the nightbirds stop their noise and nestle into their days roost. Small day birds burst into song to greet the rosy glow. In the quiet cool of the morning when real life puts her feelings to the test, leather-clad Urs bent down to give his sleeping wife a kiss.
With still-closed eyes, Susanna’s arms reached out instinctively for him. As her fingers slid over the smooth leather she half-opened her eyes, “Make sure she’s back by 10, Bag Boy, or Noelle will hunt you down with her notebook.”
“I…How…,” he stammered as he zipped up his jacket and stretched his arms to adjust the sleeves.
With a little half smile Susanna closed her eyes, rolled toward Urs’ empty side of the bed, and snuggled into his pillow. “Magical, Bag Boy,” she mumbled in a muffled voice.
Urs didn’t even both to shake his head; he just smiled.
His hand was on the doorknob when, “Drive safely, Bag Boy. I love you,” came from somewhere under the covers.
“Ja, Houdini, I love you too.”
Carrying his boots, he walked quietly downstairs and into the kitchen. Goldi wandered in for her morning scratch as he was pulling them on. Her damp fur told him Heidi had let her out and was waiting. Hurriedly he filled the thermos he’d put next to the coffee maker last night, checked his back pocket for his wallet, and grabbed the coffee and his keys from the rack.
Squaring his shoulders, he took a deep breath and strode toward the garage where he knew she would be, already sitting on the bike, anxious to get on the open road. Today would be perhaps his toughest performance. This special day: the last day he would be the most important man in his daughter’s life.
**********
Susanna loaded the last cup into the dishwasher and glanced out the kitchen window as she heard Urs’ bike. A few minutes later he and Heidi came walking toward the house arm in arm. Urs leaned his head down to catch something she said, they both laughed, and his hug tightened as he kissed the top of her head.
The breakfast crowd had come and gone, all except Karl, and only Urs and Heidi were left to feed. Susanna got mugs ready for them, refilled her own mug and sat down across from Karl. He was very quiet this morning and had been absentmindedly playing with his spoon for the last few minutes. She waited patiently.
Karl cleared his throat. Susanna looked up.
“Mami, I’m going to talk to him tonight,” Karl said in a tone reminiscent of a criminal saying he was going to turn himself in to the authorities.
“I think that’s the proper way to do it. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your gesture,” Susanna said in her praising school teacher voice.
“Talk to who?” Urs asked as he and Heidi walked into the kitchen, shrugging out of their jackets and hanging them on the back of the chair as they sat down.
Karl clapped his mouth shut as Urs looked from Karl to Susanna and back again.
Realizing he couldn’t put the genie back in the bottle, Karl heaved a sigh and prepared to tell all. Unfortunately he’d neglected the Thelma and Louise factor.
“Talk to Carlos about marrying Pilar, Papi,” Heidi aka Thelma enlightened her father.
“What? When did all this happen?” Urs the Unenlightened wanted to know.
“Can we see the ring? Please oh please, Karl. We promise we won’t tell, right Thelma?” Noelle’s voice along with the rest of her bounced into the kitchen, pulled up a chair, and held out her hand. Louise had arrived.
With an expression that said, ‘Just kill me now,” Karl leaned back, stretched out his legs, fished a small velvet ring box from his jean pocket, and laid it on the table.
Susanna’s hand snaked out over the box before either Thelma or Louise could snatch it and gave them both a look that said, ‘Now it’s Karl’s turn to speak.’
“When were you thinking of talking to him, sweetheart?”
“Well I thought I’d pick up Pilar a little early tonight. I’m taking her on a dinner cruise on the lake. I’ll ask him then. What do you think?” his anxious eyes looked around the table.
“Sounds good to me. But whatever you do don’t try to impress him by talking about the alpine salamander and its small distribution range,” advised Louise.
Then it was Thelma’s turn. “And for Gott’s sake don’t get started on the European free-tail bat expanding northward due to global warming. Honestly, Karl, sometimes you sound like the Swiss Paul Revere, ‘The European free-tail bats are coming! The European free-tail bats are coming!’”
“
I am proud of you for thinking of him. That is the proper way to do things…just as I did with your mother,” Urs quickly interjected as the twins caught their breath.
“Just make sure you ease into the conversation,” Susanna urged, giving his arm a little squeeze. “Even though you and Pilar have been seeing each other for almost two years, he still may be a little surprised. It’s not always easy for parents to admit that their children are all grown up,” she added with a gentle smile.
“It will be fine,” she whispered, rising to give him a hug and a kiss as she started breakfast for Urs and Heidi.
“NOW can we see the ring?” echoed Thelma and Louise, prompting a laugh from Urs.
“Only if you promise not to say anything to Carlos. Deal?” asked Karl warily as he clutched the ring box.
Not missing a beat the twins chanted, “Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye.” Who said they were all grown up?
Karl opened the yellow velvet box slowly to reveal a round diamond in an antique setting with tiny channel cut diamonds on the band.
Everyone oohhhed and aahhhed as it was passed around and Noelle was even granted a quick try on, under the watchful eye of her younger brother.
“I think I’ll just go put it away now. Pilar is coming over later to help us practice for the entertainment tomorrow at the reception and I want it to be a surprise,” Karl said seriously, checking that Thelma and Louise understood.
Urs rose to follow Karl upstairs to change and they both almost made their escape…almost.
“Before you leave I just need to go over a few little things on our wedding list. It won’t take a minute,” declared Noelle, opening the notebook.
“Tell me again how HER notebook got to be OUR notebook,” Urs muttered under his breath to Karl.
“I heard that Papi and I’m certain you want things to go smoothly tomorrow so we just need to be sure we’re all on the same page. Now let’s see what’s first on our list,” and with that opening volley, Noelle the Little General began marshalling her troops.
Gabe - pick up David and Sandy at the airport. Check
Heidi, Noelle, Brigitta and Lilly - Palace Spa at 11:00. Check
Mami - meet at 11:30 with caterers. Check
Papi - meet at noon with people with tents for reception. Check
Gabe, Karl, Jon, Matt, Noelle, Brigitta, and Pilar – meet at 4:00 to practice entertainment for reception. Check
The orders having been given, the soldiers made their way to their duty stations to begin their assignments.
**********
“Who was that on the phone?” asked Urs from under his towel as he dried his hair.
“Which time?” Susanna, leaned her head to one side as she put on her earring.“The first one was Gabe saying he’d dropped David and Sandy at their hotel and they’d meet us tonight at 7:00 at the hotel bar for drinks.”
“Is Laci with them?” Urs inspected his five o’clock shadow now looking more like 3 AM and decided he’d wait and shave later. The workmen setting up tables, chairs, and tents certainly didn’t need impressing.
“No, I think David said something about final exams, but he sounded pleased as punch that she’s following in his footsteps at Oberlin.”
“Then Carlos called to see if you needed any help. I told him to come on over. I think he was at loose ends. Gavina, Juliana, Amelie, and Isabel are shopping this morning and I’m meeting them for lunch as soon as I get finished with the caterers. Gisela has cleared out space for them but she promised to stay around in case they have more questions.”
**********
“This is absolutely the BEST!” exclaimed Brigitta as she helped herself to the light buffet set out along the wall. Heidi, Noelle, and Lilly agreed heartily as they sat on the gold and brown striped tables drinking wine.
The attendant knocked discreetly and entered the dimly lit massage room carrying a single red rose and a card.
“Oooooo!” squealed the three turbaned women as they surrounded Heidi.
Crying, laughing, smiling, Heidi left the others, admiring her rose and mooning over the romance of it all, and sat apart to read the note.
‘I am counting the hours,
All my love,
Jakob’Clutching the note to her heart, she smiled dreamily, thinking of the wonderful man she would love for the rest of her life…and the wonderful man who had loved her from the first moment of hers. She reached into the pocket of her terrycloth wrapper and took out her phone.
**********
Susanna pulled her dress over her head, walked into the bathroom, and stood wordlessly with her back to Urs, waiting for him to zip up her dress. Just then the phone rang a third time.
Susanna picked up the phone, “Hello?”
“Oh sweetpea don’t cry. Calm down and tell me,” she sank down on the bed.
With bare feet and shirtless, wearing his worried look, Urs hurried over, still buttoning up his jeans, and sat down next to his wife on the bed.
“That is so romantic. What a wonderful man you’ve got there dear,” Susanna turned to Urs and smiled reassuringly.
“Yes, he’s right here. Just a sec,” and she handed the phone to Urs. “It’s Heidi.”
“Ja? Danke, liebe. But for what?” The puzzled look on Urs’ face turned to astonishment as he brought the phone down from his ear. Heidi had hung up.
“Bag Boy, you are the sweetest, most romantic Swiss wombat in the world! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Susanna exclaimed, punctuating her thank yous with very appreciative kisses as she pushed him down on the bed.
Now Urs was even more confused, appreciative but still confused. Why had Heidi been crying? Why were they both thanking him? What had he done?
“That was so sweet of you to put a bug in Jakob’s ear about the rose,” gushed Susanna.
Reflexively a hand checked his own ear…just in case. Suddenly his brain registered the last part of her sentence.
“The ROSE! That’s what this is all about. So he sent one to the spa; good for him. Red, I hope,” Urs beamed with pride. His star pupil had aced his first test.
“Of course it was red, her favorite…and yours too,” she smiled as she lifted his arm and snuggled into his bare chest.
“Remember all those beautiful roses and love notes you gave me at the spa?” Susanna sighed as she gave Urs a hidden kiss.
“I really surprised you didn’t I?” Urs smiled, looking inordinately pleased with himself.
“I just about un-chocolated myself when that one was delivered! I was the envy of every woman at the spa.”‘I still feel envied,’ said her kiss.
“I never told you but I kept checking to be sure they were delivered,” he confessed, as he began delivering slow kisses down her neck.
“And then in the elevator with my bouquet of roses…” Susanna smiled dreamily.
“I was so nervous waiting at your bedroom door with the last rose,” Urs confessed.
Their world class reminiscing was rudely interrupted by a knock at the bedroom door followed by Matt’s voice, “Papi, Carlos is here.”
“Schiesse! Just like when they were toddlers,” Urs observed, as he jumped up, grabbed a t-shirt and headed toward the door as Susanna quickly disappeared into the bathroom.
“To be continued, Houdini,” he called over his shoulder as he opened the door.
“Sorry to disturb you, Papi,” Matt grinned as Urs finger-combed his hair and tucked it behind his ears.
Scrabbling to regain at least some of his dignity, Urs decided that the best defense was a good offense. “That’s alright, Matt. By the way aren’t you supposed to be watching Marc?”
“Right now he’s with ‘Unca’ Carlos but Grandmuz said to bring him up to the cottage so I could help when they set up the tents. Besides the swings and sandbox are up there. Oh… and Papi?” Matt cleared his throat.
“Yes Matt what is it?” Urs answered a little impatiently, not wanting to keep Carlos waiting thereby giving him an excuse to razz him.
“Uh, Papi, I think you missed a button,” Matt whispered softly as he turned and bounded down the stairs. He was still grinning as he scooped Marc up on his shoulders for a horsey ride to the cottage.
**********
Susanna hummed to herself as she poured chocolate mint bubble bath into the steaming water. Yes, today had gone well. The caterers had everything in hand and the tents were ready for the reception.
The girls had arrived back, plucked, fluffed, softened, and pampered, just in time for the surprise entertainment practice. Judging from Pilar’s encouraging comments as stage director and the intermittent laughter coming from the tent, the practice had been a success.
Karl, well scrubbed and immaculately groomed, had passed Urs’ inspection and presumably received some fatherly words of advice and encouragement. Karl had also been blessed by his mother in the form of a little bug in Gavina’s ear at lunch. After all it never hurts to grease the drawbridge before the handsome knight rides through the portcullis to ask King Carlos for the hand of his eldest daughter, the fair Pilar.
**********
Karl stood at the door of the suite, shook out his shoulders in an attempt to calm his nerves, took a deep breath, and knocked.
Hearing the knock, Gavina whispered to Carlos, “Now please be polite.”
Carlos looked over his newspaper with a puzzled expression, “What are you saying? I’m polite always, querida. It is only Karl, no?”
What is this polite she is worrying? I know him since before he is born. I have been Unca Carlos to all the children…well not so much since he and Pilar see each other. I do not need my wife to remember the politeness. “Hola, Karl, come in, come in,” boomed Carlos as he opened the door and gave him his most polite handshake.
“Good evening, Sir…I mean Senor Ca..Carlos,” stumbled Karl. Since he’d dropped the Unca, it had always been just Carlos, but somehow tonight seemed to warrant more formality.
Carlos eyebrows rose a fraction at the formal title but he said nothing. Perhaps Karl had recently taken to being more formal. Was this what Gavina meant by Carlos being polite? Carlos thought back to earlier today when he had been helping Urs with the reception tents; Karl had seemed a little preoccupied and distant even then. Perhaps he had something on his mind. No doubt about his job. That young man was always so serious about those plants and animals he studied.
Karl greeted Gavina and sat on the sofa that she indicated. Carlos cast a longing glance at the newspaper he’d hastily put down. How he wanted to finish reading that article about his beloved team Real Madrid, but of course that wouldn’t be polite.
“I’m afraid Pilar didn’t expect you so early. She’s not quite ready. I’ll just go see if I can speed her along, shall I?” Gavina recited as if it were a speech. As she passed Karl on the way to Pilar’s bedroom she gave Karl’s arm an encouraging squeeze and was rewarded by a weak smile.
“So the work for you it goes well, no?” Carlos asked tentatively, testing the waters.
“What? I mean pardon. Oh yes, I’ve just finished my field work and I’ll be awarded my European Master of Agro-ecology certification next month. I’ve accepted a teaching post at the University of Bern in September and I’m also working on a research project involving the Hoopoe. Did you know it’s one of the most endangerd birds in Switzerland?” Karl’s answer left him breathless and Carlos’ mind boggling.
The merry-go-round in Carlos’ skull was slowing to a stop as Karl plunged forward. Following Papi’s suggestion, he’d told Carlos of his job qualifications, all-important in proving he was capable of supporting a wife; now to lead in to the big question.
”You know, sir, Pilar and I have been seeing each other for more than 2 years,” Karl began.
“Si, you play together also when little, in the summers when we make the visits,” Carlos added, taking his own trip down memory lane.
”Yes, that’s true, but now things have changed,” Karl said solemnly, leaning across the coffee table toward Carlos on the opposite sofa.
Carlos’ tan became a shade darker as his face flushed with suffused blood.
“¡Qué! ¿Cómo?”
What change? Always they have been friends since childrens, laugh, play. Then they grow up; they go out: talk, dance, eat, party. Now he wants to do the changing? Does he not wish to see her now? My beautiful girl, my angel? Who is this foolish boy who breaks my daughter’s heart? “As…as I said, sir, during those 2 years we’ve, that is I…,” Karl momentarily closed his eyes and took a gulp of air to steady his nerves, “ I love your daughter, sir, and I’d like your permission to marry her,” he finished strong and triumphantly. For better or worse he’d done it. Then he waited and…waited.
Carlos’ face blanched.
¡Qué! This cannot be! First I think he wants to not see her. This was better,no?. Now he say he wants to be su marido, her husband. He wants to be doing the seeing all the time. And Pilar, she is doing the looking too, but my little flower, my first child, just 23, to be una esposa, so young… Carlos finally found his voice, his booming fatherly voice, “You have done the talking to Pilar about this, si?”
“Yes, no, well we’ve talked about marriage but I haven’t formally asked her, sir. I wanted to do it the proper way, to get your permission first,” Karl explained respectfully.
“Pilar has these feeling of love for you, si?” Carlos question was more of a statement. He had seen the glow of love in Pilar’s eyes when she looked at Karl and the adoring look she received in return.
“Yes, sir, she does.”
“Si, then I give you my permission, but if you…”
“Oh no sir, I mean yes sir, thank you sir,” Karl grabbed Carlos’ hand and worked it like a pump handle. The entrance of Pilar and Gavina thankfully interrupted them.
Seeing Karl’s ear-to-ear grin, Pilar launched herself around Carlos’ neck and bombarded him with kisses and rapid fire exclamations while Gavina gave her future son-in-law a kiss on the cheek and a hug. Then mother and daughter traded places for more hugging and kissing. Ever mindful of Carlos’ watchful eye, Karl made certain their kiss was of the polite variety.
Somehow champagne appeared and a toast was made to the happy couple.
Carlos stopped in mid-sip, “You aren’t planning the wedding surprise?” he accused, looking from one to the other.
“Of course not, Papa. Heidi’s wedding will be the only one…for awhile,” Pilar said looking at Karl as she spoke. “We can talk about ours next week before you go back to Madrid.”
Relieved, Carlos finished his champagne and offered to refill their glasses but they needed to leave to catch the dinner cruise in the hotel lobby.
“A wedding, Carlos. Our little girl is getting married!” Gavina exclaimed excitedly. “Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Si, es wonderful,” Carlos replied still looking a little shell-shocked.
“And such a proper young man, asking your permission. Don’t you appreciate that?” Gavina asked, beating the drum for Karl.
“Si, but she is so young. We were not so young.”
“You’re right, Carlos, we were older but as I recall you didn’t ask my father’s permission. In fact you lured me to Los Angeles with some story, proposed to me, and then had the wedding all planned for the next day, complete with my family. And you ask them about a surprise wedding? At least we will be able to help plan their wedding and remember you won’t be losing her. She’ll always be your little girl,” Gavina rationalized, as she held him and rubbed his back in soothing circles, feeling the tension subside.
“Si, you are right, mi querida. But did you not like the surprise of our wedding?” Carlos held her a little away from him and looked down at her anxiously.
“You know I loved our surprise wedding. It was perfect, Carlos - spontaneous, romantic, and a dream come true, just like you, mi amor,” she beamed as she reached up to meet his kiss.
**********
“Mami, Papi, what are you doing here?” Karl asked as he and Pilar practically bumped headlong into them coming out of the revolving door in the lobby.
“Your Mami just couldn’t wait to hear how it went,” Urs exaggerated. “So…?”
Susanna poked Urs in the ribs. “You looli, you can see by their faces. Have you ever seen two happier people?”
“Yes, he said yes, Mami!” Karl grinned as he lifted Susanna off the floor in a hug while Urs kissed Pilar on both cheeks and hugged her.
“Welcome to our family, dear heart. You will make Karl a wonderful wife,” a teary-eyed Susanna smiled warmly as the two women in Karl’s life hugged and kissed while father and son hugged, back-slapped, and traded congratulations and thank yous. Mission accomplished: another of the less than 20 Buhler children had found their mate.
**********
David, Sandy, Seb, Juliana, Urs and Susanna all waited patiently in the hotel lounge for Carlos and Gavina. Finally Urs couldn’t stand it any longer. He was bursting to share the good news but knew Carlos would want to do it, so after 15 minutes and several zinging speculations about why they were late, Urs went to the desk and called their room. They were down in less than 10 minutes: a stil dazzling Gavina and a pale imitation of Carlos.
Once all the hugs and hellos had been exchanged, they moved into the lounge for a pre-dinner drink.
Never one to beat around the bush, David began fussing as soon as they sat down,“Carlos, buddy, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Carlos traded a look with Urs who nodded as if to say ‘Go ahead.’
“No, no, I am fine,” he smiled, barely opening his mouth. Seeing the relieved faces around the table seemed to perk him up a bit and his voice became stronger even as his smile widened. “This afternoon Karl asked for the hand of my…our daughter Pilar and…and I said yes.” He ended his performance on a high note and took an imaginary bow amid congratulations, questions, and a barrage good-natured teasing.
“How long…”
“When did…”
“Where will…”
Then Seb led off the teasing and was joined by Urs, “Welcome to the Il Divo Lost Daughter Club”.
Then Urs and Carlos got razzed about becoming fathers-in-law and finally David awarded them new nicknames. Urs and Carlos, the soon to be fathers of the bride became ‘Going’, and Seb, having a married daughter already, became ‘Gone’.
“Thank God marriage isn’t in Laci’s immediate future, right Sandy?” David bragged, perhaps a bit too prematurely.
“Sandy? Say something!” David pleaded.
“How about fathers are the last to know, Davey?” she laughed and was quickly joined by the rest of the table, even David…eventually. They were still joking and smiling as they followed their waiter to the table.
**********
Bag Boy and Houdini lay spooned together after their final kiss, relaxing in the warmth of each other’s bodies and the satisfied glow from Karl’s announcement. His romantic dinner cruise proposal had been a wonderful success and tomorrow Pilar would be wearing his ring for all to see.
“Houdini?”
“I’m still here, Bag Boy.”
“Will you forgive me?”
“For what?” Susanna turned her head around to see him.
“Remember when Gabe got married? I thought I understood how you felt, but I didn’t…until now.”
“I know Bag Boy. I couldn’t explain it but now we both know.”
“This morning…when we went for a ride…”
“Glaubenberg?”
“She told you?”
“I figured it out, Bag Boy. It gets easier after awhile.”
He could feel her body chuckle. He kissed her hair and pulled her tighter to him.
“Houdini, I miss her already.”
“I know, Bag Boy, but she’ll always be your little girl you know…in your heart.”
“She told me,” Susanna could feel a deep shudder as he regained control of his shaky voice, “she told me I would always be the first man she fell in love with.”
Wordlessly, she turned to face him. Welcoming him into her arms, he lay his head on her chest and let his emotions flow as she stroked his hair and gently soothed them to sleep.
The Buhler BrideThe Big Day May 18, 2034Saturday
At exactly 8:20 Susanna poked her head into the twins’ old bedroom, “Are you almost ready? Your Papi and Brigitta are sitting in the car waiting. Your schedule did say 8:30, right Noelle?”
“Yes, Mami we’ll be there in a minute. We’re just checking to be sure we have everything we need to dress at the church,” Heidi explained as she put her wedding shoes into a large tote bag. “Now where were we?” she asked, turning back to Noelle who was checking off items on her ever present list.
“Bra,” Heidi carefully placed that into the bag.
“Check.”
“Stockings and garter belt,” she gently folded these and added them on top.
“Check.”
“Panties.” Heidi’s hand reached out to pick them up.
“Oh, you don’t ne…” Susanna’s lips froze as she looked from one twin to the other and started again. “You don’t need me to tell you how beautifully those match the lace on your stockings. Just look here.” Susanna reached into the bag, hastily pulled out a stocking and laid it next to the panties on the bed.
Thelma and Louise eyed their Mami suspiciously. “Ma-mi?” came their long drawn-out response, half question, half accusation. Susanna played the nonchalant card which was immediately trumped by the twins as they stood there with bat wings and patience riveling Susanna’s, waiting for an explanation.
“Oh all right,” Susanna said, realizing it was no use bluffing. She certainly didn’t want an impatient Urs walking in on this conversation. “When I got married, I decided, well actually it was Marissa who convinced me, it would be less of a hassle in the bathroom if I didn’t wear panties. So I didn’t. End of story,” she finished with a sigh of relief.
“I’ll bet Papi was surprised,” teased Thelma, as she tried to picture Jakob bug-eyed and slack-jawed.
“Oh yes, but he recovered quickly. Well he had to, with everyone watching.”
Why are they staring at me like I’m demented?“Watching?” croaked Thelma and Louise in a duet of disbelief.
“Of course watching. I warned him but unfortunately that was before he learned to listen to me. He thought he’d be cute at the reception when he pulled off my garter,” Susanna recounted matter-of-factly.
“What did he say?” Thelma quizzed, looking at Susanna with new-found respect.
Susanna smiled as she returned again to their wedding almost 30 years ago. “He asked if I had any other surprises for him and I said only for the next hundred years or so.”
“Mami, think I can be as awesome as you some day?” asked Heidi as she made a point of putting the little scrap of lace into her honeymoon suitcase, not her tote bag for the church.
Susanna wrapped her arms around the girls, “You are awesome already…both of you,” she smiled with a squeeze and a kiss.
She released them and turned to leave, “I’ll tell Papi you’re on your way down.” At the door she paused and looked over her shoulder, “Remember Heidi your hundred years starts today.”
**********
Heidi had dutifully supplied answers to Noelle’s, “Old, new, borrowed, blue,” as her maid of honor checked them off the list and reluctantly relinquished her notebook to the safekeeping of Gisela.
Only a few mintues ago, as promised, had the last of these four elements been supplied by Sigrid Rast, Jakob’s mother, as she spoke privately with Heidi in the anteroom of the church.
“My dear, I would be honored if you would carry this handkerchief as something old. It was embroidered by my grandmother and handed down to my mother, then to me, and now I give it to you. When your child finds true love, parents, and especially a mother, finds true joy. I want to thank you for giving us such joy by loving our Jakob. Gott bless you child.”
Heidi accepted this heartfelt token of acceptance. Clutching the intricately embroidered lace-edged square, soft with age yet still dazzling white, the two women in Jakob’s life, opened their arms to each other. They stood there embracing, one a span to his past, the other to his future, forming a new structure soon to be opened with the joyous proclamation of ‘I do.’
Now the bride-to-be stood serenely in the back of the church like a breathtaking white blossom. Lost in her thoughts, she was oblivious to the flitting and buzzing human hummingbirds fluffing, adjusting, rearranging and taking their places for the bridal procession.
Her hands automatically grasped the bouquet Anka, her assistant at Blatter und Blumenblatter (Leaves and Petals), gave her. Then with a mental shake she returned to this moment in time and smiled the radient and timeless smile of a bride about to walk up the aisle to meet her waiting soulmate, her love, her life, her husband.
‘Just like before a concert,’ Urs thought as he released a deep, relaxing breath, squared his shoulders and waited for his cue. Noelle was approaching the second set of flower-decorated pews when Urs squeezed Heidi’s hand and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Are you ready my beautiful Buhler bride?” he asked with a misty-eyed smile.
“I love you Papi. Ja, I’m ready,” his Princess smiled as she blinked back tears, kissed his cheek and stepped onto the aisle runner to meet her waiting Prince.
Urs’ mind raced in inverse proportion to the measured speed of his steps. He smiled, he looked happy, he
was happy, but oh his mind…
So today begins a new chapter in your life.
I remember when you were mein süsses kleines Mädchen, my sweet little girl, as much a part of me as my right arm. My every breath and step held you in mind. Then suddenly, one morning you were grown. I was not finished with you.
But we must love our children enough to let them go; only in my heart you will always be my little girl. Before I was a father I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much love. I didn’t know it would feel like having my heart outside my body.**********
The blue eyes of the tall, blond, Prince, caught the first glimpse of white and time stopped. Jakob held his breath, feeling his heart expand as the gossemer vision filled the arch. His inward smile spread from heart to face as the truth of his neverending love reached out in joy to welcome his bride.
Solemnly, with infinite tenderness and deliberation, Urs unveiled the small, beautiful gift of his daughter, full of promise and hope beyond expectation. Then with a final kiss he turned and joined her hand to Jakob’s waiting one with a tiny nod of finality. Ever the professional, his voice did not betray him as he affirmed the gift of his daughter from Susanna and himself and took his place next to her in the pew.
With a quick smile for his wife, the patriarch discreetly surveyed the wedding party proudly and leaned forward slightly to check on Marc farther down the pew. Perhaps is was the fact that grand-mère and père Neubert, Lilly’s parents, were on either side of him or maybe he was having flashbacks of his Australia visit, but his behavior, at least for the moment was impeccable…well except for that slight lapse when he and Urs traded a surreptitious blinky-wink.Urs’ chest rose and fell in a satisfied sigh as he focused his attention back to the celebration, never letting go of Susanna’s hand as they drew comfort and support from each other.
The liturgy continued interspersed with the marriage ritual: intentions, consent, “What God had joined man must not divide,” and the blessing and exchanging of their rings. Heidi and Jakob’s responses were heartfelt, yet strong and clear as the guests nodded in agreement, either from memory or blessing. Again Monsignor Mike blessed their union in song as Susanna and Urs sat up a tiny bit straighter, their love showing in every glance and smile, a living testament to those hopes for them given so long ago in that same melody.
It seemed the regular liturgy had just resumed, when Urs and Susanna heard, “We would like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Jakob Rast.” It was over. The mother and the father of the bride had survived and along with Monsignor, this time no one attempted to hide their tears of joy.
As the newly weds emerged to stand on the top step of the church their joy turned to laughter as they walked the gauntlet between two rows of Heidi’s colleagues from her flower shop and favorite nursery. Dressed in their finest overalls and armed with every imaginable color of gladioli, they saluted the bride and groom. It seemed the Swiss tradition of
Spalierstehen was alive and well on this sunshiny May afternoon.
**********
The guests mingled and refreshed themselves with hors D’ourves and welcome drinks as they wandered among the tables and chairs set up outdoors around the tents for refreshments and dancing.
The wedding party had just arrived back from the church. Gabe and Lilly went to check on Marc. Brigitta could hardly wait to find her friends and tell all about her partner, Kurt Lautens, an old school friend of Jakob’s. The bride and groom had a throng of well-wishers to thank and Noelle needed to check her notebook and find Viktor, not necessarily in that order.
As Urs and Susanna moved into the house to check on dinner preparations they silently blessed Noelle and her dreaded notebook. Everything was running like a well-oiled clock…Swiss of course, with Gisela the timekeeper pro tem.
Marc had timed his exemplary church behavior to run out precisely at the final blessing. No problem because he was scooped up by Gisela and wisked out the side door before anyone knew what was happening, least of all Marc. She was hurrying back to help ‘supervise the caterers’, as soon as the ceremony was over anyway and all Marc cared about was having the freedom to be a two year old again. He had fallen asleep on the drive home and was now having a nice long nap in preparation for the evening’s entertainment, especially the fireworks.
**********
Noelle checked the time and beamed her approval with a slight nod as the best man, Walter Rast, tapped his glass for everyone’s attention. The guests, well fed and relaxed, looked up expectantly as he began his toast.
“May the joys you share today be the beginning of a lifetime of great happiness and fulfillment. May all your hopes and dreams come true, and may the memory of this day become dearer with each passing year. To Heidi and Jakob.”
With that opening sentiment, Uncle Fritz rose to give his traditional Buhler toast. As he finished, amid a chorus of congratulations, Urs leaned over to whisper to Susanna, “More than yesterday, less than tomorrow, Houdini.” Then rising in one fluid motion, he looked over to the happy couple. Had little Brigitta been there to record the moment she’d surely have drawn stars coming from his eyes, such was the love and pride he radiated.
“May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. Remind yourself often of what brought you together. When you encounter difficulty as we all do at one time or another, focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. Take responsibility for the quality of your life together and you will be blessed with abundance and happiness. To Heidi and Jakob.”
“Wow! I’m impressed: Urs waxing eloquent. What’s come over our taciturn tenor?” David asked as he set down his glass and looked at the other Divos and their wives.
“I expect it might have something to do with his seven children and one grandchild,” Juliana answered drily. “Would you agree mon amour?”
“But of course! When your children marry and you become le père grand you want to share your ‘appiness with everyone,” Seb said enthusiastically as he gestured with wide-open arms, narrowly missing a passing woman with his champagne glass.
Carlos deftly took the glass in mid-swing and placed it safely on the table. “I am already knowing the how of showing great happiness,” he declared emphatically.
“But soon we shall know even more, my love,” soothed Gavina as she patted his hand and motioned with her head towards Karl and Pilar seated closely together two tables away. While Carlos’ expression could not be described as unhappy, it was clear his great happiness quota was full up at the moment.
David could feel a bubble of laughter beginning, then just as suddenly it dissolved as he was jolted back to reality. All too soon it would be his turn. Perhaps this would be the perfect time for more champagne. He raised his arm to beckon a passing waiter.
**********
In Switzerland, a wedding isn’t complete without amateur entertainment. Gabe set the stage for the fun to begin as he called the bride and groom to stand before the guests.
“Jakob, take Heidi’s hand and place your hand over hers.” Dutifully, Jakob the Innocent obeyed as Heidi waited for the punch line. She knew Gabe too well to doubt there would be one. “Now, remember this moment and cherish it…because this will be the last time you’ll ever have the upper hand!” The guests roared in knowing agreement as Gabe kissed his little sister and gave his private congratulations to the couple.
Then several guests recited poems, performed songs, played musical instruments, and presented elaborate homemade gifts, all honoring or poking fun at the bride and groom. Finally it was time for the tribute from the Buhler children to their sister and her husband: a reenactment of the wooing and winning of the Princess bride by Prince Jakob.
While the children disappeared into a tent to get ready, two kitchen chairs, decorated to look like thrones were brought out and placed in front of the head table. From the tent came the strains of the triumphal march from Aida as King Gabe, as Urs, and Queen Elle, as Susanna, processed to their thrones with as much pomp and circumstance as they could, considering the grass and wobbly crowns.
The fair Princess Heidi, played by Brigitta with a long blonde wig and dressed in lavender, joined Queen Elle in royal purple and King Gabe. Trumpets sounded as King Gabe raised the royal scepter. Let the wooing and winning begin.
A cheer went up from the audience as the first suitor appeared: Karl dressed in knightly costume bearing a wheelbarrow of gifts worthy of a princess. With Swiss precision he stacked his offering before the king, 10 gold painted bricks.
The Princess looked hopefully at the Queen. The Queen looked hopefully at the King, but alas the scepter descended in dismissal as the rejected suitor hurriedly gathered his gold and left with the guests boos and hisses still ringing in his ears.
The next knight to ask for the fair damsel’s hand was Jon. He arrived proudly leading a rather reluctant prize offering for the hand of the maiden. Howls of laughter greeted him.
Poor Goldi was adorned within an inch of her life to look like a prize milk cow. Stiffened cloth horns were precariously perched atop her head and held on by an elastic band under her lower jaw. Between the horns, flowers were woven into her fur and around her neck hung a cowbell. Clever Jon had filled his pockets with treats to discourage her from rolling on the grass in an attempt to remove her annoying adornments. Her doggie expression required no translation: ‘See what I go through for My Peepul.’
Alas, the fair Princess and the Queen again had their hopes dashed as once more the scepter descended and the hapless knight slunk away in disgrace to the utter joy of his offering who quickly unadorned herself.
Was there never to be an adequate gift, an acceptable offering worthy of Princess?
Matt, the last knight, strode confidently toward the exacting king. The crowd quieted in anticipation. Surely this young lad could not hope to succeed with such a paltry gift, a small silver-domed vessel easily carried in his two hands. Yet see how the king leans forward in eager expectation as the gift is revealed. His hand tightens on the royal scepter and raises it higher and higher as the crowd breaks into thunderous applause. The gift has been deemed a fitting tribute for the hand of the fair Princess.
One glance toward the King tells the Queen what she must do. Quickly she steps forward and joins the hand of the Princess with that of the handsome and cunning Knight and raises them high as a sign of the betrothal…while the King clasps his treasure to his chest and decides which cookie to eat first.
**********
“There you are Heidi and Jakob. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. It’s been over half an hour since you cut the cake. It’s time to throw the garter and your bouquet; then comes your Dances and the fireworks. You really should leave while they’re going on since you need to change first before you drive to Zurich. Oh and don’t forget you owe me big time for locking your getaway car in the garage. The boys all had that toilet paper look in their eyes…especially Matt. You’d better get started. I see Papi and the others are getting ready.”
Heidi and Jakob excused themselves from the group at the table and took their place on the wooden dance floor. Fortunately Jakob was not as adventurous as his father-in-law so the garter was retrieved quickly, prompted by several ‘helpful’ suggestions and much teasing. Standing back to back everyone helped them count to three as they threw the bouquet and garter over their shoulders. Even with some scuffling, it was a foregone conclusion as Karl and Pilar won their prizes, with a little help from the Buhlers less than 20 children.
**********
Then it was time Heidi and Jakob’s First Dance as man and wife. The four men took their places as they had hundreds of times and glanced at each other in preparation. Urs cued the music with a nod and Seb began.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq3qW3BmRNg
HASTA MI FINAL = UNTIL THE END OF MY LIFE
Sebastien:
Tu lugar es a mi lado, .....................Your place is beside me
Hasta que lo quiera Diós... ............Until God wishes it to be so...
Hoy sabran cuanto te amo,...............Today they all will know how much I love you,
Cuando por fin seamos dos. ..........When, at last, we shall be (joined as) two.
Urs:
Y nunca estuve tan seguro ...............And I never was so sure
De amar asi, sin condición... ..........Of loving this way, unconditionally...
Mirandote mi amor te juro................Looking at you, my love, I promise you
Cuidar por siempre nuestra unión. ...That I will always take care of our union.
David:
Hoy te prometo ..............................Today I promise you
Amor eterno... .....................Eternal love...
Ser para siempre ............................To be forever
Tuyo en el bien y en el mal... .....Yours, through the good and bad...
Hoy te demuestro ...........................Today I show you
Cuanto te quiero, ..........................How much I love you,
Amandote hasta mi final. .........................(By) Loving you until the end of my life.
Carlos:
Lo mejor que me ha pasado .............The best thing to have happened to me
Fue verte por primera vez... ........Was seeing you for the first time...
Y estar asi de mano en mano ...........And to be this way, hand in hand
Es lo que amor siempre soñe. ........Is what, my love, I have always dreamed about.
All:
Hoy te prometo ...............................Today I promise you
Amor eterno... ......................Eternal love...
Ser para siempre .............................To be forever
Tuyo en el bien y en el mal... .........Yours, through the good and bad...
Hoy te demuestro ............................Today I show you
Cuanto te quiero ..............................How much I love you,
Amandote hasta mi final. ..............(By)Loving you until the end of my life.
All:
Hoy te prometo ...............................Today I promise you
Amor eterno... ........................Eternal love
Ser para siempre .............................To be forever
Tuyo en el bien y en el mal... .... .....Yours, through the good and bad...
Hoy te demuestro ............................Today I show you
Cuanto te quiero ..............................How much I love you,
Amandote hasta mi final. .............(By)Loving you until the end of my life.
David:
Hoy te prometo ...............................Today I promise you
Amor eterno... ........................Eternal love...
Amandote hasta mi final. .........(By) Loving you until the end of my life.
The guests were overjoyed to be treated to this surprise performance and showed their gratitude with a standing ovation. The men seemed to fall easily into old habits as they took a bow and smiled in pleasure at the applause. Il Divo had not lost their magic touch…at least as far as this audience was concerned.
Then it was time for the thing Urs had been dreading, yet anticipating all evening…his dance with Heidi.
Smiling rather shyly he opened his arms and she floated in. How many times had they practiced the steps, he patiently teaching, she eagerly learning as they danced around the music room? Surely it had not been that long since she’d stood on his feet and danced at some other wedding. Now, for this one last evening he would hold her in his arms and tell her a story about how she was born and how much he loved her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myO2e5Td3bg
I Loved Her First
Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each others face
So much in love you’re alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world
I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one
She told me so
And she still means the world to me
Just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl
Time changes everything
Life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way
But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it’s still hard to give her away
I loved her first
How could that beautiful women with you
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all those nights
And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time
But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it’s still hard to give her away
I loved her first
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
Someday you might know what I'm going through
When a miracle smiles up at you
I loved her first.“All right, Bag Boy, my turn,” Susanna smiled softly as she tapped Urs on the shoulder and Jakob claimed his bride. The tiny dance floor suddenly became covered with couples that had been anxiously waiting their turn. As the music switched to an upbeat tempo, Urs steered Susanna toward a table.
“Thank you for rescuing me, Houdini. I don’t know how much longer I could have lasted out there,” he shook his head ruefully.
“You were magnificent, you silly wombat. I know you remember? You’d have stayed there till the bitter end if needs be. I just wanted to feel your arms around me, that’s all,” she said with a hug. With their arms still around each other, they moved back to toward their table. “She is a beautiful bride isn’t she Urs?” Susanna commented with pride.
“Ja, she is,” Urs sighed in agreement as he turned to face Susanna, “but to me you will always be the most beautiful Buhler bride,” he said simply as they kissed and held each other.
“Ganpapi! Ganpapi! Time for fire!” Marc insisted, pulling on Urs’ jacket and pointing at the darkening sky.
“I think you’re right, Marc,” Urs laughed as he swung him up onto his shoulders. “Let’s go find Auntie Elle shall we? It’s time for the fireworks!”
**********
“Oh, Bag Boy! That feels sooooo good. Yes, right there. No lower, lower. Yes! Now harder! Oh that is so wonderful! Did I ever tell you how much I love your talented hands?”
Houdini smiled to herself. Her comments were having the desired effect. He was getting back to his old self as evidenced by the killer grin he was giving her.
“Why yes, as a matter of fact you have, Houdini,” he drawled, “especially when I rub your feet. I just hope I’m not losing my touch with the rest of you though.” Then with great difficulty he waited, straight-faced for her reaction.
The next thing he knew, instead of sitting opposite her with her foot on his knee as he massaged it, he was flat on his back covered with a Houdini blanket.
“Bag Boy, you’ll never lose your touch and I hope neither will I,” she said as her talented hands began to wander.
“Houdini, where did you ever…? Gott! Forget I asked. Just remember you’re married to an old gray-haired Grandpapi,” he chuckled or at least tried to since his breathing was being hampered by Houdini for several reasons.
Houdini abruptly sat back on her heels and put on her lecture face. “You may be a Grandpapi but you are not old and I love your hair and I love you. Why you’re my…my SSSF, yes that’s what you are and that will never change. So there!” she declared firmly. Case closed…well not quite.
Urs freed his arm from under her knee, crooked his finger for her to come closer and pointed to his ear.
Grinning, she bent down and whispered in his ear. He effectively silenced her giggles with a kiss, his fingers meshing in her hair, pulling her down to him as he began to live up to his new name –sexy Swiss silver fox.
