~*~ Urs & The Kissing Hand~*~ BY: Sue

Chapter 71
Foreplay

Susanna arranged her makeshift Bag Boy Jr. into sleep position and prepared for sweet Cinderella dreams of the Ball. Suddenly her eyes flew open. OMG! Tomorrow night Bag Boy Jr. would be replaced by the real thing!

Smooth, cool cotton would be replaced by a warm, muscular body, the chest she’d explored just tonight. What if it’s bare?

Get a grip, Susanna. It’s not a big deal.

But Bruce always wore pajamas, tops and bottoms.

Urs doesn’t strike me as a pajamas kind of guy.

Well maybe he wears his underwear to bed.

Or not.

You are not being helpful at all here, Bag Boy Jr.
Poor BB Jr. made an immediate and forceful exit to the farthest corner of the room. Unfortunately Susanna totally forgot that he could shout if he wanted to.

Well, even so, it’s a big bed. Bruce never had any trouble keeping to his side afterward. I didn’t nickname him Mr. Roll Over and Snore for nothing you know.

Hmmmmm, I don’t know there old girl. I think you just might be surprised. Urs seems like more of a cuddler to me. Think about it.

Susanna most certainly did not want to think about it.
Maybe a glass of water would help.

Back in bed, she checked the clock. Good, still time to get a few hours of sleep. OK Susanna just relax. Picture yourself breathing in, breathing out, breath in… not a good visual. Oh my no…

In the sport of making love Susanna was a rank amateur. Bruce had been the quarterback who only had one formation in his playbook.

Ah Sus, you do realize that there are several different ways…

Just shut up will you? You know Bruce never made me feel…you know…a touchdown. I really don’t think that’s for me. I know it wasn’t my fault every time, but you’d think maybe once… I’m just not sexy enough. If I was he wouldn’t have needed…
Don’t worry so much. You know Urs loves you, he’s experienced, just leave it to him. He’ll teach you.

Now I really am worried. After all the sexy, beautiful women he’s been with, do you think he’s going to enjoy teaching remedial lovemaking 101? Not likely! I can just see it. Right in the middle of whatever I’ll tap him on the shoulder and say, “Pardon me Urs. Could you just explain that again? I was absent from sex school the day they taught that?”

AARRRRGGGGHHHH! Where was the fairy godmother of love when you needed her? Didn’t she realize Cinderella needed help here? a lot of help. With that, Susanna pulled the covers up over her head and hoped for a visit in the few hours left to the night.

**********

Susanna felt like death warmed over, but with the help of a hot shower and strategic make-up she hoped Urs wouldn’t notice. She still felt as nervous as a cat on a hot griddle but surprisingly the breakfast smells wafting through her bedroom door smelled delicious and her stomach growled. Maybe this was a good sign for her special day. Little did she know how right she was.

Urs the Cheshire Cat practically leapt off the sofa to greet her with a brief kiss as she stepped into the salon.

“Good morning, Liebe. I hope you slept well. Today is your special day Cinderella.”

Cinderella couldn’t help smiling at the ‘Liebe’. She thought that word might soon become her favorite word of the day. “Actually, I had a little trouble falling asleep. Don’t you just hate it when you just can’t seem to turn off your mind?”

Urs led her to the small table room service had set up and she stopped in her tracks. At her place was a large, exquisite crystal vase with a single deep red rose. Tied onto the rose with a pink ribbon was a white card.

Susanna was so overwhelmed. How did he always know exactly what she needed to make her feel confident…beautiful…loved?

She melted into him, standing there in his arms, hugging her thank you, blinking back her tears. “Thank you.” she whispered as she kissed him. Maybe Bag Boy Jr. was right. Forget about Bruce. This was Urs. It would be alright…she hoped.

Urs was glad he was wearing a tee shirt, otherwise the buttons would have surely popped off. His heart was full to bursting with love for her and so proud of his plan for her special day.

He held Susanna’s chair for her, then joined her across the table. Slowly she inhaled the sweet fragrance of the rose and then with fumbling fingers she undid the ribbon and read the note. On one side it said simply”

‘I Love You’ and on the other

‘Liebe,
I fell asleep last night dreaming of how wonderful it will feel to hold you in my arms.
Urs’

She held the note to her heart as tears threatened again. She blinked them away and leaned over and met Urs in the middle for another thank you kiss. She left the note close by her on the table as Urs moved the vase to the coffee table and breakfast began.

Just after breakfast, the Prince decided Cinderella needed a little private coaching in the Viennese waltz. Susanna agreed under one condition: no shoes allowed.

Arms in correct position, erect posture, silent count of six and they were off. Urs provided the music. Susanna had no clue what he was singing in German but it was in waltz time. After several songs they paused to catch their breath.

“You know they say dancing is the longest foreplay.” Urs said half-teasingly. The next second he stood there in stunned silence as Susanna bolted into the bathroom.

'Schiesse! What have I done? Could you have been more crude Urs? After all she’s been through what were you thinking?'

His needed to apologize right now. Without thinking he followed her. The door was ajar and he could hear running water. Cautiously he pushed it open. She was bent over the commode, retching.
Fight or flight.

‘What should I do? Leave? Apologize? Try to comfort her? Would she even let me touch her?’

Urs the Prince stood his ground. Slowly he approached her, gently rubbing her back, calming, soothing, little circles. ‘So far so good.’

He filled a glass with water and found a washcloth he wrung out with warm water and waited. When Susanna was finished he handed her the glass. When she was done, he turned her toward him and wiped her face as carefully as if she were a newborn.‘At least she’s letting me comfort her.’

“I am so sorry, Susanna. I never meant to offend you. Please, please forgive me. I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you so wery much.”

Susanna hugged him around the waist and sobbed, “I love you too Urs . It’s not you. Never you.”

Urs didn’t know how long they stood there, as he held her tightly, ‘shhhing’, as she cried. How he wished he could take her pain, whatever it was. Without him even realizing, his eyes filled with tears. He blinked rapidly, hoping she hadn't noticed. It was a weakness and he didn't want to appear weak.

Finally she was all cried out.
“I just need a minute.” she almost gave him a little smile.

Urs sat on the sofa and waited and thought. ‘Gott heif mir! I’m glad than man is dead. What must have happened that he still has power over her? Will we never be free of him?”

When Susanna came back he opened his arm and she settled in with a grateful sigh. He snuggled her even closer into his chest and kissed her temple and waited.

Susanna held Urs other hand and played with his fingers nervously. Urs still waited, remembering how Mami had waited for him not so long ago.

“Urs do you read those magazines?”

“What?” Urs asked with confusion.

“You know those magazines for men with the naked women?”

Urs looked appalled. “Gott no! NO! Of course not! Why…oh no…” He turned her toward him and forgot about Mami. “Tell me. Please trust me Susanna. You can tell me anything. It’s him isn’t it? You can’t let him have this power over you.”

Susanna played with Urs third shirt button as she spoke to it. “Not at first, but after we’d been married a month or so he started reading them to ‘get himself in the mood’ as he called it. That was his foreplay…looking at those women, pretending it was me. She shook her head slowly, scrubbing her eyes.

“Susanna, look at me. When we make love, it will just be you and me – you will know that I am not thinking about any other woman…only you!”

Gradually, Urs felt Susanna’s shoulders relax as he held her wrapped safely in his arms, caressing her hair, willing her to feel his protection, devotion, and love and he waited, giving her the time, the peace she needed. After several minutes, Susanna rewarded him a small but genuine smile and nodded.

“Would you like to know what I’ve planned next for your special day?” he said trying to take her mind off Bruce.

“More dance lessons?” she asked in a tiny voice.

“No, not dance lessons, something even better … chocolate!” the Cheshire Cat grinned.

“But Urs we just ate breakfast.” Susanna pointed out.

“Ah trust me Cinderella, remember I’m the Prince.” Urs said standing and giving her kiss on the nose. He walked over to the desk and came back with the book listing the hotel’s services. We’re going to the spa. I’ve already booked us for…” he checked his watch,’ for 11:00.”

“Together? We’re spa-ing together?” Susanna squeaked.

“Well, they do have a couples massage but delicious as that sounds I think this one would be perfect for tonight. What do you think?” he pointed to the top of the page as Susanna read”

A SYMPHONY IN CHOCOLATE

‘Especially for you we have created a wonderful pampering experience for body and soul with three unique chocolate ceremonies.’

“Ceremonies? It sounds like a tribal ritual? Are you sure about this Urs?” Sudden images of the Oompa Loompas and the chocolate river from Willie Wonka popped into her head.

“Trust me. If it’s chocolate it will be wonderful. Keep reading.”

‘Our therapists will indulge you with chocolate body scrub, chocolate body mask, and chocolate body lotion. It will sweeten your soul and nourish your skin, while leaving it softer and smoother than ever.’

“Well what about you? Are you going to be a little chocolate soldier?”

“Sorry. That privilege is reserved for women only. I’m having this one.” Urs pointed to the men’s side of the page.

Susanna had a sudden bubble of laugher almost pop out as she pictured a cloud of chocolate fragrance engulfing two very smooth, sleek, lotioned people fastening one very long seatbelt so as not to slip out of the bed.

“It’s just about time to change for the spa.” said Urs and with his arm around her, he walked her ceremoniously to her bedroom door as if they were on a date. He bent down and tenderly placed a hidden kiss on each side of her mouth.

“Why wasn’t I enough, Urs?” she asked sadly.
Urs thought his heart would break.

“You are a beautiful, desirable woman, Susanna. No normal man would need more.”

Urs meant their kiss to be of the sweet, gentle comforting variety, which is how it began, but as they clung to each other it was not enough. It deepened to become a sensual feeding from the sweetness of each other that left them breathless. As their kiss ended he looked at Susanna with his beautiful grin. “And as you can tell, I’m very normal.”

“Mmmm, yes extremely.” Susanna mumbled.

Chapter 72
Chocolate Und Roses

“Urs, are you sure about this? I mean I don’t want to get arrested by the hotel police. What if someone sees us?” Susanna looked at Urs and herself, garbed in the soft, white robes and slippers provided by the hotel.

“Look, right here. ‘Hotel guests should wear their hotel robe and slippers to their spa appointment’” Urs pointed to the book with his finger.

Susanna did a classic head shake/eye roll and planned on hiding behind Urs at every available opportunity as they left their suite.

On their way up to the spa Susanna and Urs had only met one middle-aged couple who didn’t seem to take offense at their state of dress or undress as the case may be. Susanna was just thankful there was an available corner to hide in.

“Guten Morgen Fraulein Nelson, Herr Buhler.“ The smiling and efficient receptionist greeted them as she checked the appointment book.

“I believe this is for you, Fraulein.” she said, with a smile even larger than before, as she handed Susanna a pale peach rose.

In a microsecond, Susanna’s brain sent her mouth a message that it had better practice that 0 formation because it was fast becoming a favorite, rather like the ‘most played’ song on her iPod. Her mouth obeyed.

With the rose in one hand and her other over her heart, Susanna looked up at Urs, “Thank you.” She couldn’t manage more and obviously didn’t need to as Urs’ eyes threatened to crinkle themselves shut.

Untying the pink ribbon, she read,

‘Susanna,
When I look into your eyes I fall in love all over again.
Urs’
and on the other side, ‘Modesty.’

Susanna’s eyes were bright with happiness as she tiptoed up and gave Urs a quick, but meaningful hidden kiss exactly on his favorite corner of his mouth. She slipped the card into the pocket of her robe as the receptionist took the rose to be put into water for her.

“This way if you please.” And Susanna and Urs parted company as two equally charming and smiling ‘therapists’ guided them in separate directions. Susanna looked back over her shoulder for one last look at Urs and silently wondered how they could possibly improve on such a perfect Prince.

Susanna tried not to picture herself as the prize turkey on the day before Thanksgiving, but it was not very easy. She’d never really been to a spa, and as with many unknown experiences, had blown it all out of proportion and not in a good way. The experienced and professional staff however soon alleviated her fears and she found herself beginning to relax and ‘go with the flow’ so to speak. Of course this wasn’t too difficult as her body was being gently scrubbed with the most delicious chocolate concoction she’d ever smelled.

In the middle of this invigorating treatment, a third rose arrived. Fortunately, Susanna’s hands were not being ‘chocolated’ at this moment. The delicate fragrance of this deep burgundy rose mingled with the chocolate to produce a delightful new scent. As she untied the card, the therapist discreetly disappeared to add it with the other, leaving Susanna time to read:

‘Beauty’ and then turned it over.

‘Meine Herz,
You are beautiful to me inside and out.
Urs’

When her therapist returned Susanna had her add this card to her robe pocket.

**********

In the meantime, Urs the Prince was becoming more princely by the moment as the beautiful contours of his face enjoyed a cellular treatment. Periodically he would ask his beauty therapist to check on the progress of his rose surprise.

“The third one has just been delivered, Herr Buhler.”

“Danke.”

Good, three down and nine to go.

The therapist’s hands stilled on Urs face as he suddenly laughed out loud. “Oh, sorry.” he apologized and returned to facial position.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone so happy to have a facial.” The puzzled therapist thought as she resumed working her ‘cellular’ magic on Urs face.

**********

‘A frozen chocolate soldier, that’s what I feel like.” Susanna considered her present immobile state wearing a chocolate body mask. However, at least her heart melted, as the next rose arrived. The spicy-scented orange rose went to join its other sisters, as the attendant gingerly handed her the card. Susanna offered up a prayer of thanks for not being near-sighted as she held the card with her fingertips, both arms straight out in front of her and read:

‘Enthusiasm’ and then
‘Houdini,
I love when you speak Susannaese. I want to munge and squish you senseless.
Bag Boy’

Susanna’s smile and little tears of happiness almost “unmasked’ her as she tried to imagine what exactly that would feel like. At last the rest of her was rinsed off and made ready for her final chocolate experience, a massage with chocolate body lotion.

She had just turned over from back to front on the massage table when the therapist presented her with a perfumy dark pink rose. As she left momentarily, Susanna read”

‘Thank You” and then

‘My little teacher,
‘If I know what love is,
It is because of you.
Urs’

Still rereading the note, Susanna carefully tucked in under her towel pillow when the masseuse returned. As she kneaded Susanna’s chocolate soaked muscles into compliance she smiled. She always appreciated a client who voiced her satisfaction. This particular one seemed to really be enjoying her chocolate experience judging by the number of ‘ooooooo’s’ and ‘aahhhhhhh’s’ but this was indeed the first time she’d heard any ‘awwwwwww’s’.

By the time Susanna and her chocolate lotion had become one, she’d come to two conclusions: the minute Urs got a whiff of her, he’d probably want to gobble her up like a cookie and she didn’t need to worry because he’d never be able to grab hold of her.

Sliding very carefully, giggling all the way, she climbed into the pedicure chair. Her giggle promptly disintegrated into an ‘aw’ when she saw the pure white rose and read:

‘Humility’ and then

‘My Susanna,
Did my heart love till now?
Urs’

Urs was finishing up his pedicure on his large, long-toed, and decidedly not pink-polished feet when he was told the sixth rose had been delivered.‘ Halfway there! Yes!

The manicurist was a little startled when his tip was accompanied by an air punch. He knew he was good, just not that good.

Susanna’s manicure began with a sweet-scented pink rose which read:

‘Happiness’ and then

‘Leibling,
Being with you is the best feeling ever,
And every day I feel it a little more.
Urs’

Susanna was so anxious to be finished that more than once her manicurist needed to hold her hands steady. Then as she sat with her hands in the nail dryer her feet did an impatient tap dance. Finally she was deemed smoothed, softened, soaked, filed, and painted enough to be excused. After tipping the girl, she made a beeline to the reception desk to collect her precious roses and found yet another one, scent-laden and yellow.

‘Friendship’ and

‘My Foxhole Friend,
I believe in you.
I will always be there to help you through the darkest times.
Your Foxhole Friend,
Urs’

This time when Susanna rode the elevator, alone, she stood proudly, front and center, gently holding her bouquet, secretly hoping someone would ask about them. She assumed they were all too polite, but they already knew. Her face held the answer. These flowers were from the man who loved her…and who she loved in return.

The distance from the elevator to the door of their suite was covered in record time, considering. It is difficult to look dignified in your spa robe, carry a bouquet of roses, and run at the same time you know. She burst through the door ready for a flying hug/kiss to thank him and found only a note.

‘Cinderella,
Gone to make last minute arrangements.
I’ll be back soon.
Your Prince’

Her face fell. She wanted to thank him now, to feel his strong arms around her, to kiss him. She missed him.
You’re a sneaky one, Urs Buhler. You get my head and heart all full of these romantic ideas and then when all I can think about is being with you, you take off.

Susanna had just returned her vase, with all the new roses, to the coffee table when Urs came back with yet another rose. This time it was a warm coral hue.
So that’s what he’s been up to.

She walked up to him, took the proffered heady coral rose, holding it behind his back while she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, a slow, sensual kiss as she slipped into his mouth to rub her tongue against his.

“Mein Gott,” he grated, falling away from her. His breath was harsh and uneven.

Urs, does over the top ring a bell here? I think you may have released the genie out of the bottle. What did I write on this one? I can’t remember. And there’s still more roses to come. Think man. You need a plan.

“You haven’t read your card yet. I’m starving aren’t you? I mean we need something to eat. I’ll just call room service while you read your card. OK?” Urs made a tactical retreat to the phone and ordered rapidly from the menu, choosing what he thought would be the quickest. “And could you send that up RIGHT AWAY please. Danke.”

And Susanna read:

‘Desire’ and

“Geliebter,’
I catch myself smiling when I imagine what will happen the next time we’re together.
Urs’

“Geliebter?” she asked.

“Beloved.” Urs answered.

Susanna motioned Urs over to the sofa. He tried not to appear too cautious. She laid her head on his shoulder.

”All the roses were so romantic Urs.” she said, picking up his hand and linking fingers with his. She spoke softly but did not look up at him. “you were on my mind all the time I was in the spa you know! Thank you for making today so special for me.” she said dreamily. “I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life – as to spend tonight with you!”

Urs tucked her under his arm and spoke into her hair. “ I know you do. It will be a magical Ball Cinderella, and a magical night. I promise.”

The aromatic, peach rose lay on the room service cart.

‘Sincerity’ and

‘Süß Ein,
I want you to know every day how much I love you and I always will.
Urs’

“Süß Ein?”
“Sweet One.”

“That’s so beautiful because I know you really mean that. You are such a special man, Urs. So special.”

**********

Susanna surprised them both by having a ravenous appetite. As she ate, a multitude of thoughts crowded her mind, each one jostling for space – in no particular order.

‘Mmmmmm I didn’t realize how long it had been since breakfast. I can’t believe I ate the whole thing. I hope I can fit into my dress. I can hardly keep my eyes open. Last night must be catching up to me. I think I’ll take a nap for a little while.’

Then, as she ate the last shrimp off the plate, she asked. “What time are you coming for Cinderella, oh handsome Prince?”

“The Prince will pick you up at 7:00 PM sharp. Better be on time or you’ll miss your Ball, Cinderella.” he teased over his shoulder as he rolled the cart into the hall.

“Well then I’ll see you when you call for me I guess.” Susanna said smiling and turning her face up for a kiss. Urs obliged as he ran his fingers through her hair and held her close. Suddenly his two most favorite smells in the world: chocolate and Susanna were combined – and registered in his brain in a most physical way.

“Ohhhhh is there anything more delicious?” he groaned to himself as he nuzzled her neck. “I may just have to have a nibble.” he said playfully, causing her to turtle with a giggle.

Oh mein Gott, she feels so smooth and smells so chocolaty.

“I think I’ll just go down to the gym for a little bit while you’re having your nap.” he gasped, tearing himself away. “See you soon, Cinderella.” He whispered huskily, holding onto her finger until the very last moment.

“I’ll be waiting, handsome Prince.” she replied demurely, putting her fingers to her parted lips and blowing him a kiss.

Chapter 73
The Ball

Thank you Cathy for the use of your picture!

You might want to have these songs playing in the background to set the mood

http://rapidshare.com/files/215207074/Vien...altz__Live_.mp3

http://rapidshare.com/files/215205945/08_S...ledermaus_-.mp3

When Susanna’s alarm woke her, she stretched luxuriously. It was amazing what a little nap could do! She’d been asleep almost before her head hit the pillow and hadn’t even moved by the looks of it. She sat up and scrubbed her eyes with her fists and stretched again, reaching for the ceiling. She stopped abruptly, mid-stretch. How?

A lavender rose lay on the pillow next to her. Urs must have tiptoed in and delivered it while she was sleeping and she didn’t even know it!

Breathing in the soft aroma, she picked up the card:

‘Enchantment’ and

‘My lovely Susanna,
When I see you next, your special evening of enchantment will begin. I will be waiting.
Urs’

Susanna wasn’t really sure what ‘swoon’ meant in those historical romance novels she was so fond of, but the combination of tenderness, love, and butterfly faintness she was feeling right now must come pretty darn close.

**********

While in the other bedroom Urs the Extra Clean was giving himself a pep talk as he held his toothbrush between pruny fingers and gesticulated into the mirror for emphasis.

Now Urs, there’s nothing to be nervous about. Relax. Don’t overthink this. Get yourself ready man! Cinderella is waiting for you.

Urs was halfway between curly and concert mode when there was a knock at the door. Throwing on his robe over the towel around his waist, he opened the door and was greeted by the evening housekeeper. Shyly, she explained Susanna had asked her to help with her gown. Urs let her in and beat a hasty retreat back to his room. Immediately refocusing, Urs returned to Il Divo-like preparation mode and reattacked his half curly head.
Gott please don’t let me have a bad hair night!

Urs stood nervously at Susanna’s door. Behind his back, in his right hand, he held the most fragrant light, pink rose he could find. Susanna heard the knock, glanced at the clock and grinned, 6:55. Right on early! Slowly Cinderella opened the door to greet her Prince.

Urs felt him stomach drop to his knees in a landslide of emotions that left him speechless. It was as if he were falling in love all over again.

She was a vision! Her hair was pulled back from her face in a smooth roll, high on her head, revealing her delicate features. Diamond studs adorned her ears. Her dress was a watermelon chiffon, perfectly right for floating in his arms as they danced. The thin straps skimmed her beautiful shoulders, the classic lines of its empire style spoke of elegance and innocence tempered with sophistication by a band of diamante, gathering the fabric under the bodice.



“You look AMAZING! You are so beautiful you take my breath away!” Urs sighed as he closed the distance between them. Taking her left hand in his, he slowly raised it to his lips and kissed it. “I love you.” he whispered as his eyes confirmed his words.



“And you are the most handsome Prince I have every seen.” Susanna smiled through a mist of happiness.

All of a sudden Urs remembered the rose behind his back. Now back into full Princely mode, he presented the rose to her along with a little bow.

‘Joy”

‘Cinderella,’
Once in awhile
Right in the middle of an ordinary life,
Love gives us a fairytale.
Your Prince,
Urs’

Susanna would forever be thankful for waterproof mascara. Tears threatened in earnest but somehow she managed to hold them back. Reaching up to put her hands on Urs shoulders she leaned in as they shared a kiss, perfect for this moment…gentle…sweet…and truly magical.

While Urs placed the rose into the vase, completing the bouquet, Susanna fetched her evening cape and purse from her bedroom. Urs shrugged into his topcoat and placed the cape around her shoulders. Motioning toward the door he announced, with a slightly mischievous grin, “Your carriage awaits, Cinderella.”

A few words from Urs in German to the doorman and out they stepped into the cold, crisp air on the last night of the year. “Did you call for a taxi?” Susanna asked as she looked at the traffic.
“No, tonight I thought we’d go in a Fiaker.” he blink-winked a smile, hardly able to contain himself. Susanna was just about to ask for a translation when it came around the corner and answered her unspoken question.



Her most favorite response, “Oh” was accompanied by an attempt to remain Cinderella-like and bounce up and down with excitement at the same time. Cinderella lost.

The carriage pulled up and Urs helped her in, and then joined her. Tucking her arm through his, Susanna sat up at tall as possible, trying to decide where to look first as the horse clip-clopped toward the Hofburg Palace. Cinderella was on her way to the Ball.

A light snow was falling on the Hofburg Palace, when they pulled up to the high wooden doors, festooned with banners. Inside, in the grand entrance hall, a mighty river of well-dressed people flowed through a high canyon of white marble. Urs checked their coats and they proceeded on to the four-course gala dinner complete with liveried servers.



It was a dazzling concentration of Old World elegance in a setting straight from the Age of Fairy Tales. A thousand tuxedoed men marched up the staircase with their women in long gowns, jewels and pearls winking from their necks. There was one huge ballroom and about ten medium-sized rooms, each one with a different theme and musical group.



Finally they arrived at the State Ballroom, just in time for the opening processional. After a short speech by an important looking gentleman in a red sash, the orchestra began and a roomful of debutantes in white dresses and their partners danced a beautiful Polonaise.



“Alles walzer!” cried Herr Elmayer when their dance ended.

Urs slipped Susanna’s bag into his coat pocket, and as the orchestra launched into ‘Vienna Blood’, he put his cuff-linked right hand lightly on Susanna’s back. They raised their left hands to exactly the right point between his eye level and hers, counted a silent six beat and began to waltz. Together they moved through the stylish whirlpool beneath a constellation of crystal chandeliers. For this one magical evening, they became an integral part of the waltzing Viennese gala and they had a ball.

At midnight, the sound of ‘Pummerin’, the big bell of St. Stephens Cathedral rang, to celebrate the New Year. Urs and Susanna toasted with champagne and when their eyes met if was as if the world went quiet and nothing mattered more than their love for each other as they shared bubbly-flavored kisses.

Chapter 74
Back From The Ball

Susanna laughed, “What? But this New Years isn’t even over Urs?” Then seeing his serious expression, reached for his hands. “Yes, of course I’ll spend New Years with you next year.” She said as she kissed the side of his mouth and then the other side and pulled back to study his face.

”It’s a date.” Urs smiled, his momentary serious mood broken as they were caught up in the happy jostling of the crowd making their way to the Festival Hall. The Finale of the Ball was about to begin. Performers from the State Opera and Volksopera would present a short operetta program followed by the Grand Waltz to the strains of the “Fledermaus Overature.”

Urs and Susanna applauded at the appropriate moments, and responded nominally to conversations from those around them but attended the concert in body only. With their fingers laced, Urs kissed her hand; Susanna whispered something and planted a tiny kiss, as they conspired to leave at the first possible opportunity.

As the quadrille began, they took the floor and after the first round of the room, Urs expertly danced them to the edge and they disappeared into the hall. He retrieved their coats, the liveried footman presented Susanna with the traditional small gift as a remembrance of the evening, and they stepped into their coach.

Susanna sat cuddled beside Urs for warmth, but mostly just because, as her mind attempted to decide if the ride to the hotel seemed too long, too short, or none of the above. Though both seemed lost in their own thoughts, with gentle caresses and kisses they read each other’s minds.

Urs slid the key card into the slot, opened the door and followed Susanna inside. With the help of a little magic from the concierge, as they entered the sitting room of their suite, the lights were dimmed creating a suspension of blue and gold. Soft strains of romantic music swirled in a galaxy of fragrance from Susanna’s roses. Reaching for her cape, he slowly uncovered her bare shoulders leaving a trail of whisper kisses.

As Urs shrugged off his topcoat and tux jacket, Susanna excused herself to her room to freshen up and try to settle the flight of butterflies that had invaded her stomach. ‘Time for a little pep talk.’ thought Bag Boy Jr.

Susanna why are you still in here?

I just need a little time, that’s all.

Time for what? Don’t you love him? Don’t you want him?

Yes, I love him so much is scares me sometimes. When he kisses me and touches me I feel weak. But what if…

Just be yourself. You’re the one he loves. YOU. Take a chance. You’ll see. That’s the man you love out there. He’s probably as nervous as you are right now and wondering why you’re hiding here in your room. Get a grip, Susanna. Just take one step at a time! Now go! You know he’s nothing like Bruce!

She suppressed a shudder – half of terror and half of anticipation. But which half was which?

It will be all right, Susanna, love will fall into you. Now go.

**********

Urs looked around his room. Why was there never a wombat around when you needed one?

Urs, why are you so nervous? She loves you. She wants to be with you. You know that.

Yes, but I’ve…we’ve waited so long for this night. I promised her it would be perfect. What if it’s not?

Look, from the moment you saw her today haven’t you done everything in your power to make her day perfect? to make her feel special?

Well, I suppose everything has gone well so far.

And now tonight, your entrance with her in that beautiful gown, the banquet, the Ball, the kiss at midnight…you’ve truly made her feel like Cinderella. It can’t get any more perfect than tonight, can it?

No, but…

Just go out there and be Urs. That’s all she wants. YOU. Show her how special she is. Love her Urs. Go on, she’s waiting for you.

**********

Susanna returned just as Urs was coming back from his room. “Just one more dance?” he smiled, noticing she’d removed her ‘one hour’ shoes. The music was softly playing as he took her in his arms. With a soft sigh, she slid her arms around his waist, fitting her body to his like two pieces of a puzzle. Bending his handsome, dark head, he began softly singing.

http://rapidshare.com/files/215205946/11HymneAL_Amour.mp3

Hymne A L'Amour

The blue sky can collapse in on itself
And the earth can cave in
Little matters to me if you love me
I couldn’t care less about the whole world
A long as love will flood my mornings
As long as my body will quiver beneath your hands
The problems matter so little to me
My love, because you love me
I would go to the ends of the earth
If you asked me to
I would pull down the moon
I would steal fortune
If you asked me to
I would disavow my homeland
I would disavow my friends
If you asked me to
One could well laugh at me
I would do anything
If you asked me to
If one day life tears you away from me
If you die and go far from me
Little matters to me if you love me
Because I will die too
We would have eternity for ourselves
In the blue of all the immensity
In heaven, no more problems
My love, do you believe that we love each other?
God reunites those who love each other.

As the song ended, Susanna stood on tiptoe to feather a tiny hidden kiss on the corner of his mouth. Then bravely, with trembling fingers, she reached up and found the knot in Urs’ tie, gently loosening it. She was all fingers and thumbs. Primly, she avoided looking at him and with her eyes focused intently on the top button of his shirt, she began to slowly, tentatively unbutton it. His intoxicating scent, reminiscent of a woodland, clean and crisp, warmed by his body, surrounded her and filled her senses.

She slipped one flattened hand under the front of his shirt and slid it towards his shoulder. Then allowed her hand to lightly sweep to the other side across the broad expanse of his chest.

‘Sweet mercy! What a magnificently sculpted chest this man has. He looks like a Greek god!’

She felt Urs’ sharp intake of breath as her fingertips gingerly explored his broad, muscled chest. She loved the silky feel of the dusting of hair but then became self-conscious and tried to remove her hand. Urs reached up and placed his large, warm hand over her smaller one.

And this Greek god wanted HER to touch him!

Tenderly, he hooked a finger under her chin. As she raised her eyes to look at him, she could see more than passion and desire in his exotic almond-shaped eyes. Susanna saw love. She had never seen anything so breathtaking in her life as the look in this man’s eyes.

Urs encouraged Susanna with his hand to continue her exploration of his chest. He could tell that she was inexperienced even though she had been married for almost two years.

‘My special Susanna, you’ve only known sex. My gift to you will be to show you the beauty of making love.’

Urs took shallow breaths and willed himself to remain still, afraid that any aggressiveness might frighten her. Susanna could feel his strong heart beating faster the more she touched him and felt her own heart rate match his. As she slid her hand lower down his chest, he looked at her and smiled, as if to say that it was okay.

His eyes pleaded with her to continue. She gathered her courage and placed tiny kisses on his chest.

‘My wonderful, brave Susanna, this is your gift to me…you’re giving me permission.’ Urs thought with amazement and joy.

Susanna slowly pulled away from him and looked deep into Urs eyes searching – still seeing only love, she smiled at him. She read the question his eyes asked. Taking his hand, she stepped away from him and together they walked toward her bedroom.

**********

“Susanna, look at me.” Urs whispered.

She raised her eyes, filled with an emotion she had never know before and looked up at him. “You are so beautiful.” Susanna could only nod as he was touching her heart with more intimacy than any other human being ever had.

“Kiss me,” Urs said.

With no hesitation, she lifted her mouth to his descending lips. Their tongues danced and curled symbolically. She skimmed her hands up the hard, warm, muscles of his chest as she pushed his shirt off his shoulders and it drifted to the floor. Her hands continued around to explore his hard smooth back.
“I love being able to touch you like this. I love how you feel… so strong.”

Urs reached back and loosened the pins from her hair and it rained down in a tawny cascade over her shoulders. His mouth nibbled kisses along her collarbone as he lowered the thin straps of her gown. His fingers discovered the zip and gently lowered it, then stopped…
‘Scheisse! It’s stuck! I can’t believe it.’

Susanna’s hands stopped. Urs hands stopped. They looked at each other and began to giggle.

“Do you think we should call 911?” Susanna quipped.

“That would really set the mood. You, me, and the fire department.” Urs cracked, with an eye roll only.

“Turn around.”

“You know I just love a man in uniform.” Susanna teased over her shoulder as Urs worked to free the material from the teeth of the zipper.

“I’ll wear one next time.” Urs shot back.

As Susanna stood patiently holding the top of her dress, she breathed a sigh of relief. This was the best thing that could have happened for both of them. She had been nervous and she could sense Urs nervousness lying just under the surface. She knew he was trying so hard to make this a perfect night, and now it was as if the pressure was off. They could just be themselves. That is what would make their loving perfect.

“There.” Urs practically shouted in triumph, as he pulled the zip to the bottom. “Now where were we?” he murmured as he lifted her hair and began to place butterfly kisses up her spine to her shoulders, gradually working his way to her silky slim neck, as Susanna’s breathing changed noticeably.

“Mmmmmm, I love how you taste like chocolate … delicious…and how you feel…so soft.” Urs gently moved his hands across Susanna’s back underneath the sides of her dress to the front. As his hands met hers, still clutching the material of her gown, she allowed herself to let go of her dress and it floated in a pink cloud to the floor. Slowly, trustingly, she turned to face him with a shy smile.

Urs looked at her as if he were imprinting each curve of her body to his memory: drinking it all in. ”You are so beautiful.”

‘Remember, Urs, you take the lead, let her set the pace. Help her. Teach her that physical desire is nothing to be ashamed of.

Urs felt her body tremble as he cupped her face with his gentle, long-fingered hands, his gaze seeking to see signs of her love mirrored in his gaze. The tiny pulse beneath her collarbone fluttered like a captured bird. Her heart beat fast in her throat.

Lightly, he took her hands and placed them on his belt and waited, almost forgetting to breathe. Susanna looked at him for reassurance. Shyly, at first, then more boldly she undid his belt and top button and pulled the zipper down. Urs put his hands in the waistband and skimmed them over his narrow hips. As they fell to the floor, he stepped out of them just in time to see Susanna slide into bed. Evidently she had spent the last of her cool, calm, and confident coins.

Urs picked up his trousers and reached into the pocket.
“I have protection, Susanna.”

“It’s alright, Urs. I’ve been on the pill since the accident.” She said, amazed by how simple that was to tell him.

Urs joined her under the covers and gently removed her remaining clothes. He stretched out beside her and held her tightly against him. Slowly the tension in her body ebbed under the soothing caress of his fingers.

His lips descended on her mouth, as he kissed her with infinite passion and tenderness. “I don’t know what you like. Please tell me if…” Susanna silenced his words with such a hungry, sensual kiss that truly curled Urs toes.
My little Houdini, if this is an example of things to come, you will love the magic we’ll make together.

His fingers stroked her satin-smooth skin and a fire ran through her in a direct line from his fingertips. Her body felt heavy and languorous and ached with longing.

“Your skin is like warm, silky chocolate .” he murmured. Her ragged sigh was sealed inside her mouth by his devastating kiss. She held his head on either side of his jaw and moved it downward. He felt his heart thud heavily in his chest.

“Urs,” she pleaded huskily, ‘Love me!”

He engulfed her. His clean, fresh, Urs-scent, his taste, the feel of his hair-roughened skin again hers. All Susanna knew was that she craved his touch with her entire being.

The built up passion they had for each other exploded. She gasped in sheer amazement and delight as his touch drew a response from her that she didn’t know she was capable of. Were all the bones in her body melting? Was this what it felt like to be a bright, blinding sparkler lighting up the darkness of a 4th of July sky?

And although Urs and Susanna couldn’t say for sure who was Houdini and who was the assistant, they knew that together their act was truly magical.

Chapter 75
Urs the Able-Bodied

Urs collapsed onto Susanna, breathing heavily. Several minutes passed before she could open her dazed eyes. She lay there listening to their rapid heartbeats and trying to catch her breath, exhausted, yet feeling absolutely wonderful.

Urs rolled onto his side, taking her with him and gently kissed her, as he traced her cheek with the back of his hand.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly, trying not to sound anxious, but his accent thickened, giving him away.

“You were right. You are magical, Bag Boy. I never knew…” and her words trailed off as she returned his kiss with a dreamy smile.

“WE were magical, Houdini…together.” Urs corrected her.

He snuggled her to lie in the crook of his arm, kissed her hair, lingering for a ‘chocolate fix’ and pulled the sheet up over them.

“Urs?”

He wiggled as her soft warm breath tickled his chest. “Ja, Houdini.”

“I just thought of a movie for our next Sunday afternoon film festival.” she grinned, raising her head to look at him. “Don’t laugh, OK?”

“I promise.” Urs said playfully crossing his heart, momentarily distracting Susanna. Well, a little more than momentarily.

“Um…it’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Have you seen it?”

“No I don’t think so but I’m sure I’d love any movie about chocolate.” he teased with a grin.

“Well, really why I thought of it…it reminds me of making love with you. You see in all those old fashioned romance books I used to read they would always say things like…”

As Susanna talked she held Urs’ hand or absently caressed his muscular back, loving when she touched a sensitive spot, feeling the muscles twitch. She had no idea the sweet torture she was inflicting, she just couldn’t keep from touching him. Urs the Prince, however, suffered silently, knowing with certainty he would be richly rewarded, if she ever finished her story!

‘He flew with her over the rainbow, or Together they flew to the moon.’ That’s not how it feels at all. “There’s this little boy in my movie, Mike Teevee, because all he does is watch TV. Well, he steps in front of this TV camera and somehow he’s splintered into a million pieces and shot out into the sky to go whizzing all over the place. That’s what it feels like to me.”

“My little Susanna,” Urs laughed. “One time and you’re an expert already. You’ve said it perfectly.”

“Oh, and Urs? I was thinking, When we get back on Sunday maybe we can watch it,” Susanna leaned up to see his reaction.

“How do you feel about double features?” Urs asked, pulling her on top of him.

“I love them, even without popcorn!” she grinned cheekily.

The first streaks of dawn were awakening the New Year as the movie ended and they fell asleep, spooned together in blissful slumber.

Urs lay in bed watching Susanna sleep. The covers had fallen down around her hips, exposing the smooth curve of back. He had never imagined how much passion she had hidden in her delicate, slender body. His eyes returned to her face. She stirred, turning a little toward him. He hoped the slight curve to her lips was the sign of a sweet dream of their special night.

He moved carefully toward the edge of the bed, not wanting to wake her just yet. His hand inched the covers on the bed down a little further as he swung his legs to the floor.

Her lashed fluttered, then slowly opened.
“Mmmmmm good morning.” Her voice was soft, a little husky with sleep. She scooted over to Urs side of the bed for a kiss.

“And good morning to you, my Susanna. Did you sleep well?” Urs replied with a slow, lazy, killer grin, as he leaned back to meet her kiss.

“Yes, very well, thank you. I was very tired after that double feature.” she chuckled happily, as she watched the lovely sight of Urs retreating into the bathroom.

As she rolled back to what she had thought of as ‘her’ side of the bed, she suddenly remembered BB Jr. ‘sleeping’ on the top shelf of the closet. Now she truly had her own living, breathing, Bag Boy, the original, not a ‘pale’ imitation. She laughed out loud at her little pun as she hugged Urs’ pillow to her, breathing in his delicious scent.

“Do you know you snore?” Urs teased as he sauntered out of the bathroom with a towel slung around his hips.

“I don’t!” Susanna was aghast at the thought.

“Yes, you do, and very prettily, too.” He leaned over and pressed his mouth to her lips.

“Your turn.” he nodded toward the bathroom. This time it was Urs’ turn to watch as Susanna hurriedly walked to the bathroom and pulled the door, leaving it ajar.

From somewhere in the dim recesses of his brain filed under ‘Comments you love to say but can only think’, came: I hate to see her leave, but I love to see her go.

A minute later, her head poked out. “You haven’t shaved yet have you?” she asked as if she’d missed a grand opening of the latest bookshop specializing in mysteries.

Urs rubbed his beard with his hand. “No, why?”

“I just want to watch, that’s all. I want to see how you do around your sideburns. You must have to be very careful. One careless slip and there goes your image.” she clowned, miming Urs shaving off a sideburn and looking horrified.

“No, I’ll shave after I have my shower. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to save you a front row seat.” he wisecracked, as he shooed her back into the bathroom.

‘That will be perfect timing’ thought Susanna. ‘while I take my shower in here, he’ll be in his bathroom so we’ll both be done at the same time and I can go watch him. Maybe whoever’s done first can order room service. I’m really starving and boy could I use a cafe mocha right about now.’

Susanna turned on the shower, adjusted the temperature, gathered up her shampoo and conditioner and stepped into the shower.

This handicapped bench sure does come in handy for setting all your stuff on. What a good idea!

She hummed one of the lilting waltz melodies from last night as she lathered the shampoo into her hair. The thick bubbles filled her ears, muffling the sound of her voice so she hummed louder. Turning toward the wall, she held her face under the showerhead as the soapy lather ran down over her head and shoulders allowing her to hear again. Suddenly her solo became a duet as Urs the Unwashed opened the shower door and stepped in.

“Oh, I thought…” Susanna decided thinking was perhaps an over-rated activity as Urs gently turned her around and began to wash her. It was a little crowded, no make that cozy, let’s change that to certainly sexy.

‘And how clever he is to check with his lips to be sure my shoulder is all rinsed off.’ Susanna thought dreamily as she turned her head to the side and pointed to a little spot on her neck that she was just certain needed to be checked. Urs thought so too.

“Clatter! Clunk!” Startled, Susanna turned around to see her shampoo and conditioner on the floor of the shower.

“Sorry.” Urs apologized with his best little boy smile.
”I’m feeling a little handicapped. I think…” and with that he sat down on the shower bench, and pulled her over to straddle his lap.

“Urs Buhler, you are without a doubt one of the most unhandicapped persons on the planet,” she protested, laughing, as she locked her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly, “and I love you.”

By the time Urs and Susanna stepped out of the shower Susanna thought that perhaps to get the most benefit from the handicapped bench it was best not to be.

**********

She sat in her robe on the edge of the bathroom counter and watched Urs shave. With practiced skill he skated the razor through the snow lather, over the angles and planes of his face, and around his sideburns with precision and economy of motion. Executing one final turn, he rinsed the razor, blotted his face and leaned in toward Susanna for her approval.

“Oh yes, kissably smooth.” she giggled, doing just that.

The was a knock at the door and she jumped down to open it for room service – food at last and coffee!

“So what would you like to see this afternoon?” Urs asked as he chomped on the last piece of bacon.

“Whew! After all that food, let’s just go for a walk. Maybe it will snow while we’re out. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

Urs must have ordered one of everything on the menu Susanna thought when she first saw the cart, but between them they managed to eat most of it. As he wheeled the cart into the hall, she could feel her cheeks becoming rosier by the minute as she thought of how they had worked up their appetites.

Susanna was an excellent weather forecaster because about a half hour into their walk fat, lazy, snowflakes began to drift down. Wisely, she’d bundled up with as many layers as possible, but Urs had opted for the cool look – literally. Unfortunately by the time they got back to the hotel, he resembled Rudolph with an extra red nose on either side of his head.

“I need to get you some earmuffs.” Susanna decided outloud as they walked into the comforting warmth of the lobby.
‘Not in this lifetime’ Urs decided under his breath.

“See how the snow can’t sink into my all-weather jacket?” she demonstrated, pointing to her pink sleeve, as they rode up in the elevator.
‘I absolutely refuse to look like a marshmallow of any color.’ Urs vowed silently.

“Maybe I should have knitted you a longer scarf. Then you could wind it around your neck more times to keep out the cold.” She fretted as they peeled their wet clothes off.
‘I like my scarf. It’s perfect. If it were any longer I couldn’t move my head.’ Urs brain shouted.

Their suite resembled the beginnings of a jumble sale as jackets, gloves, scarves, mittens, and jeans adorned every available spot, drying out.

“My jeans are only a little wet on the bottom. They’ll be dry in a bit. I don’t need to change.” Urs insisted and that was that.

“But Urs, dry ones will feel so much better and besides you’ll catch you death sitting around in wet clothes.” But Urs won this round.

Together, they lounged on the bed, leaning against the headboard and demolished several papers, Urs in German and Susanna’s international versions of big papers.

“I have concert tickets tonight for the Wiener Philharmoniker. What do you think about staying in?” Urs asked hopefully with an attempted eyebrow wiggle, pushing Susanna’s newspaper down to give her a kiss.

“I think that is a wonderful idea, Bag Boy. I just might be feeling a little handicapped later on.” Susanna said as her eyes lit up.

“It’s a good thing I’m around then because I’m very… able…bodied.” Urs punctuated each word with tiny kisses behind her ear and on her neck.

Susanna definitely agreed.

Chapter 76
Off His Feed

“I’m beginning to see distinct advantages to waking up early.” A still slightly breathless Susanna turned her head on the pillow to look at Urs.

“Beginning to see? Just what will it take to convince you, you greedy woman?” Urs growled as he rolled over and nuzzled her neck. Susanna dissolved in giggles and immediately became a turtle.

“OK,OK I’m convinced. Now time to get up.” Susanna ordered untangling herself from Urs and the sheets with a final kiss. Now for some coffee. She threw on her robe and padded to the salon to order room service.

“Urs, how hungry are you?” she called to Urs. Then realizing what she’d said, she waited for his teasing comeback.

Urs cleared his throat. “Just some cereal, toast and coffee, no juice today. Thanks.”

On her way into the bathroom she flicked the bottom of his feet, “What time do we need to be downstairs for the tour?”

Urs reluctantly got up and strode to the desk in the salon to check their tickets. “It leaves at 9:45” he replied standing in the bathroom doorway watching Susanna brush her teeth.

Susanna rinsed and gave Urs a toothpaste chuckle and kiss. “In other words be ready by 9:30. I have dibs on the HS today so don’t even think about it. Now go get in your own shower, Bag Boy. Go on. Scoot.” she laughed, turning him around and giving his bottom a little pat. “Oh and I think from now on your shower will be called the ABS.

Urs mouthed ABS all the way to it. Then quickly returned to interrupt Susanna’s rendition of some song he’d never heard, something about bears, sung in waltz time.

“Able bodied shower! Right?” he called above the noise of the shower.

“Very good, Bag Boy.” she praised, as she rinsed off her hair, not even looking at him. Good for you Urs. It didn’t take you long.

Urs brushed, rinsed, and began to worry. That frog seemed to have taken up permanent residence in his throat. Even the gargling didn’t do much. Maybe the steam from the hot shower would help.

‘Good, the steam seemed to have banished the frog.’ Urs thought as he stood with his towel around him and shaved. He’d almost called Susanna to teasingly ask if she wanted to watch, but thought better of it. All she’d need to hear is a hint of a scratch in his voice and she’d be ragging him unmercifully about those damn earmuffs and a bigger scarf. He finished getting ready and joined her for breakfast.

They didn’t have much time, so conversation was kept to a minimum as they tucked into their food.

“Didn’t you want your toast, Urs?” Susanna asked, eyeing Urs’ plate with just one nibble gone from the corner.

“No, I’m full but help yourself.” Urs offered politely as he passed her the toast rack.

Hmmmm, Urs not hungry? He always eats at least cereal and toast. Oh well, he’ll make up for it at lunch when we get back.

The tour guide met them in the lobby and checked them off the list. Then they boarded the motorcoach parked out front that read ‘Vienna Woods’. Susanna graciously let Urs have the window seat again, but decided firmly that things would change on the plane going home on Sunday. She was certain that climbing over Urs was destined to become one of her favorite airbourne experiences.

Their first stop was the Roman city of Baden, famous for its thermal springs. “Look over there, Urs. Isn’t that beautiful?” Susanna exclaimed as they rode through the Helenental valley, clothed in a blanket of untouched, blindingly white snow. Urs nodded and willed the start of a headache behind his eyes to disappear. Even wearing his sunglasses it was too bright unless he closed his eyes.

Fortunately for him, Susanna had enough enthusiasm for two and as long as he made small agreeing sounds at the appropriate moment, she didn’t seem to notice his lack of participation.

On she read, ’Next we’re coming to Mayerling, a former hunting lodge and now a chapel. This is where the Crown Prince Rudolph, the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph, committed suicide with Baronesse Vetsera in 1889.’
“I’ll have to put that on my movie list. It’s been ages since I’ve seen it. Omar Sharif played Archduke Rudolph and Catherine Deneuve was Maria Vetsera. The scenery was gorgeous, but of course I cried at the end. It was so sad.”



Urs had missed his cue. Busted!

“Urs are you alright?” Susanna asked looking closely at him as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“What? Oh ja sure. I just have the start of a headache. That snow was so bright. Sometimes bright light still bothers my eyes and then you have been keeping me up late” he added grinning, trying to focus the attention away from himself.

“Me? Well, I don’t remember you complaining, Bag Boy.” Susanna blushed and looked around, hoping no one had overheard. “But I think I have some eye drops with me. Here you go. Anything else?” Susanna the Efficient inquired.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a couple acetaminophens would you?

“Sure. Here’s the rest of the water they passed out as we got on.”

Having been ‘dropped’ and ‘pilled’, Urs settled his head back on the seat and waited to feel better. The combination of fresh air and the pills seemed to be working and he felt almost like his old self as they climbed back on the bus after ‘doing’ Mayerling.

‘In the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz you will visit the medieval cloister which houses the remains of the last Babenburger.’

In deference to Urs, she practiced her silent reading skills. She wasn’t quite sure what a Babenburger was, but it sounded like a person. She’d know in a few minutes.

Yes! She’d been right!
Glancing over to Urs, he seemed to be holding his own although he wasn’t exactly caught up in the moment either. ‘He’s probably seen all this before and is bored to death, but what a sweet man he is to do this for me’ she rationalized.

‘Gott sei Dank! Finally out of that brightness. I think those pills must have worn off.’ Urs and Susanna had arrived at the Seagrotte, the largest subterranean lake in Europe. Then had walked down a flight of steps to the water level and boarded a boat that took them on an amazing ride through the intricate passageways with extraordinary rock formations carved by the water.



“A castle! They’ve saved the best till last!” Susanna bounced into her seat, eager to be off for the final stop, Liechtenstein Castle.
Urs didn’t have the heart to tell her that as castles go this one was nothing to write home about. Just wait until he showed her Neuschwanstein, but that was for another trip.



By mid-afternoon, on the ride back to the hotel, Susanna could tell Urs still wasn’t feeling up to par, but knew he’d be mortified if she fussed over him, at least in public, so she confined her fussing to hand holding with an occasional pat. Also, in her experience, the less fuss the better, whether it be a headache or a skinned knee.

They’d stopped briefly for lunch, so when the bus dropped them off, Susanna thought a stop at a coffeehouse would do nicely and Urs readily agreed.

“Is you headache gone?” Susanna leaned over and touched Urs’ hand across the table as the waiter left.

“Just about” Urs fibbed as he took a sip of coffee and grimaced.

“Be careful. It’s very hot.” she warned watching him and noticing the cautious way he swallowed.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh it’s nothing, my throat’s just a little scratchy that’s all. This hot coffee will fix me right up.”

“How long have you been feeling bad, Urs?” Susanna used her no nonsense teacher voice this time.

“I just had this little tickle in my throat this morning and the headache.” he admitted as he toyed with his dessert.

“Do you have any allergies? Maybe there was something down in the cave that you’re allergic to.” Susanna reasoned logically.

“I don’t have any allergies.”

“Then I think this may be serious, Urs. Maybe even fatal. Look you didn’t even finish your dessert.” Susanna pointed to his half-eater éclair.

At least I got a smile out of him. I’m sure it’s just a little cold.

Susanna stood up. “Let’s get you home and in bed.”

Urs sniggered.

“No, not like that. I’m being serious here Urs. You probably are just coming down with a little cold. It’s no biggie, but an early night would be nice. We could read,”

“and snuggle” Urs suggested.

“or watch TV’

“and snuggle’ Urs suggested again

“or…snuggle.” Susanna accepted with a chuckle.

Chapter 77
Peep Birdie Sandwiches

Urns and Susanna clashed, he in his favorite red, long-sleeved Harley tee shirt and she in her favorite pink track suit. At least their bare feet matched and snuggled.

Susanna closed her book and set it on the nightstand. “How are you feeling?”

Urs looked at her through watery eyes, “I ache all over. Even my hair hurts.”

“That good huh?” Susanna patted his arm, kissed his cheek, and got up off the bed, went into the other room and picked up the phone.

“I know just the thing to fix you up. Chicken noodle soup and peep-peep birdie sandwiches.” she called into the sick room.

Susanna I love you to death but my head is pounding. Please no Susannese.

Urs turned the TV off, scooted down on the bed and hid his head under the pillows.

“Are you in there?” Susanna bent over the bed and gingerly lifted the corner of the pillow. Urs opened one eye, briefly. Susanna threw the pillows off and grabbed his hand, pulling him up to sit on the bed. “Food’s here. Come on, Urs. You’ll feel better if you eat a little something. I promise.”

From the expression on his face, Urs the Unhappy didn’t think so, but he hadn’t really eaten much today. Maybe he’d better try a little something. Besides, how could he resist trying a bird sandwiches. He just prayed to God the feathers had been removed.

The first course looked fairly innocuous; in fact it looked very similar to the chicken soup Mami would make for them when they were sick. Urs took a spoonful and blew on it carefully.

“Mmmm this feels good on my throat, but I can’t taste much.”

“That just goes along with a cold Urs, nothing to worry about. Here, try one of these birdie sandwiches.” Susanna held out the dish and whipped off the cover as if she were uncovering the Hope diamond.”

Urs closed his eyes, gathered his courage, and looked. No feathers, in fact he couldn’t even see any chicken or fowl of any kind.

“Here, take one Urs. They won’t bite” chuckled Susanna as she took one, dunked a corner in her soup and took a bite.

He picked up a sandwich and opened it up to see what was inside. ”It’s peanut butter!” he exclaimed holding the top half in one hand the bottom in the other.

Susanna wasn’t sure if his voice sounded thankful, disappointed, or just surprised.

“Oh, you thought it would be chicken.”

“Uh Susanna, let’s be logical here. Peanuts do not peep and have nothing to do with birds."

"No, Urs, that’s just what Muz used to call them.”

Oh no! Don't tell me Susannaese is inherited!

“It will feel much better on your throat if you dunk it first in your soup to soften it up. Otherwise it might feel scratchy when you swallow, and that way it doesn’t stick to the roof of your mouth either.” Susanna demonstrated again with her sandwich, dunking the peanut butter on toast triangle.

Urs spooned, dunked and ate, several in fact.

“So how dib these get dere dame?” Urs asked as he finished his final dunk.

‘Yep! He’s getting to the drippy stage now. The chicken soup must be working. And I think I just heard a little snuffle.’

Susanna talked as she arranged the plates and pushed the cart into the hall. “When I was little and Muz couldn’t get me to take pills, she’d smash them up and mix them into the peanut butter. Then she’d make a toast sandwich with it and cut it in four triangles. I’d be the little baby bird and she was the mother bird. I’d say ‘peep peep’ and she’d feed me the little sandwich. Pretty clever eh? Even now if I ever get sick, which isn’t very often, I make that.”

“I think those acetaminophen hab worn off. Do I feel like I hab a feber?” Susanna did the hand on the head comparison and decided not. But sent him off to get the pills, reminding him to be sure to gargle and wash his hands.

“Yes, mbuther.” Urs answered back with a grin that looked more like a grimace, but it was about all he could manage at the moment.

Susanna took her own good advice minus the pills and snuggled into the little nest Urs had made for her on the bed. After all she had promised to snuggle and a little nap sounded good right about now.

“Thag you.” Urs whispered into her ear with a kiss.

“For what?” Susanna looked up at him.

“For dot sayig ‘I told you so’ whed I didded wear worb eduff clothes.”

“Oh Urs, c’mon, you know you can’t catch a cold from getting a chill or weather changes."

Urs bent down for a kiss and came up empty lipped.

“But you can catch one from kissing. Sorry Urs, I love you, but I don’t love your germs. I promise I’ll make it up to you when you’re not contagious.” Susanna kissed his non-contagious ear, rolled over and pulled his arm around her to spoon.

“And dust how log will I be codtagious?” Urs complained.

“Just a few days. At least that’s what I read on the internet.”

In a few minutes Susanna sound asleep, Urs was not.

An hour later, Urs’ cough woke her up. He was sitting up in bed holding a Kleenex box in anticipation of the next sneeze which came right about…now. Ka choo! At least Urs the Tidy had brought the waste paper can over to the side of the bed for his used tissues.

“Susanna, I really feel bad. I cand breathe, I hab this tickly cough, by throat hurts, and by head is pounding. I thig I bay be gettig ad ear idfection.”

“Which ear?” Susanna’s alarms went off. Up till now all of his symptoms were just a plain old garden variety cold, but an ear infection was a whole other ballpark.

“Well, actually, deither, yet, but I could get one, or eben a sidus idfection or a lower resbiratory tracd idfection or larydgitis. I could lose by voice!”

“Lower respiratory tract infection? OK Urs, you’re been on the hotel internet haven’t you?” Susanna accused, as Urs the Guilty looked anywhere except at her.

“Well, I juz wadded to dow how log I’d be codtagious.” Urs sidestepped, as he tried to defend himself.

“We’d better step up your treatment then hadn’t we. Let’s see. I need to make a list.”

Urs began to worry - and not about his cold.

Susanna put on her socks, shoes, and jacket and armed with mittens, scarf, and her list, prepared to go shopping. After all this was a medical emergency wasn’t it?

“You carn’d go out dis tibe ob dight alode!” Urs rasped.

“Of course I can Urs. I’m a grown woman. It’s only 7:30 at night. I’ll ask the front desk for the name of a store that has what I want. I’ll take a cab and have him wait. I know exactly what I’m looking for and most of the shopkeepers speak English anyway. If all else fails I have my trusty German dictionary, Danke.” With a cheery smile and a kiss on a non-contagious spot, Susanna departed on her errand of mercy.

Less than an hour later, Urs breathed or at least snuffed a sigh of relief as he heard her cheery “I’m back.”

Relief turned to instant dismay as he viewed the rather large bag she had with her. The attending nurse unpacked her weapons of mass medication in the salon, not wanting to frighten the patient, and rightly so. Then armed with her light artillery she entered the battle zone to attack Urs’ cold.

Urs the Unwell managed to sit up and croak a welcoming “Hi” before collapsing back on his pillow with a small moan.

“Here’s two bottles of vitamin water. I’ll put them on the nightstand for when you get thirsty along with the acetaminophen. I bought some more tissues, extra soft, and cough drops from guess where? Switzerland! I’ll just open them and put them next to the tissues and I’ve moved the waste paper can over here for you. Now lay down in the middle of the bed on your back please.”

Suddenly Urs spirits perked right up. Maybe Susanna had bought a mask! Maybe even one for both of them! He would no longer be contagious! Was this a new treatment for the symptoms of a cold? He could certainly picture it clearing his sinuses! Susanna climbed on the bed, straddled Urs and pulled his favorite red long-sleeved Harley tee shirt up to his chin to expose his chest. Urs rose slightly in an attempt pull it all the way off.

“No Urs, just leave it like it is for awhile please.” Susanna requested in a soothing voice. “Now close your eyes and relax. Let me do all the work tonight.” she added in her feeble imitation of an Isabel voice.

With a deep sigh, Urs gave himself up to her ministrations.

‘Now how contagious could that lovely chest be? Maybe just a few kisses for poor Urs. It will be awhile before I’ll want to do it again,’ she chuckled to herself.

So far Urs was enjoying his cold treatment, thoroughly.

‘Oops, what happened to the kisses?’“Schiesse! Woman! Whad are you doing to be!” Urs attempted to sit up in bed, but with Susanna sitting on him and one hand pushing down on his shoulder, he fell back on the bed with a groan.

Something gooey was being rubbed on his chest. He could feel it matting the hair. Then the warmth started. He was on fire! Finally the pungent fumes assailed his nostrils and eyes causing immediate tearing. Lifting his head, all he could see was Susanna, the woman he loved, the woman he thought loved him, rubbing this torturous, breath-robbing ointment from hell onto his chest.

“Shhh Urs. It will be alright.” Susanna soothed in a sing song voice. “This will help you breathe better.
More like stop my breathing altogether .
“It will open up your chest.”
It must be working then because it feels like my skin is melting already.

“Whad’s in it? Paind thinner?” he managed to gasp when his breath returned.

“No silly, just camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus. You remember eucalyptus don’t you? Isn’t that what those cute koalas eat?”

Oh Susanna you’re good, very good. While she was temporarily distracting Urs with the koala, she committed the greatest insult of all. Closing the jar, she reached up and pulled Urs shirt, his favorite red, long-sleeved Harley tee shirt, back down to cover his now treated chest.

Urs probably would have shed more than a tear except for the fact that normal breathing was still in the extreme sport category for him. Instead he just lay there in shock, reeling from the attack.

Meanwhile, Susanna thought it best to retreat, not only to relieve her hands of the offending ointment, but also to get ready for bed herself and allow Urs to come to grips with the aftermath of his treatment.

She reappeared bearing a peace offering called Toblerone. Urs accepted it gratefully but silently. He hadn’t moved. Susanna got into the left side of the bed, lay next to him and pulled the covers up gently to cover them. Urs didn’t speak until he was eating the L of the Toblerone.

“It was by faborite.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Will id wash oud?”

“Yes Urs it will wash out.”

“Why did you do id?”

“To make you feel better. If you roll over on your right side we can spoon.” she suggested

Urs rolled over and Susanna spooned into his back and wrapped her arm around him, tee shirt, treatment and all.

“Goodnight, Urs, I love you.” and she kissed his shoulder.

“Goodnight, Susanna, I lub you too.” Urs sighed and kissed her hand.

“Houdini?”

“Yes, Bag Boy.”

“I don’t hab anyone to cuddle.” Urs said plaintively.

Susanna got up carefully and went to the top shelf of the closet where Bag Boy Jr. was sleeping. She lifted him down and took him to the right side of the bed and fluffed him into sleep position.

“Whad’s this?”

“Bag Boy Jr.”

“How long…”

“Too long. So there. Now go to sleep, Bag Boy.”

“Thank you, Houdini.”


Kudos to Cheryl for adding to Urs congestion. Due to her expertise my humble attempts took him from the sniffles to a true 'streamer'. Thanks again, Cheryl.

Chapter 78
More Treatments


Urs the Now Washed sat on the handicapped bench alone as the hot water beat down on his head. ‘Why do I hab to hab a cod now?’

When he woke up, he was alone with Bag Boy Jr. Susanna wasn’t in the HS but as he shlepped into the salon he could hear her humming in his shower, or the ABS as she put it. At least this brought a trace of a smile to his face.

Back in the HS he steeled himself, and looked in the bathroom mirror. No wonder she saved this shower for him. What a bedraggled, pitiful mess he was!

‘Right Urs. No matter how you feel, clean up, dress up and show up.’

And that was what he had done. The road map of inner London that had been written on his eyeballs was almost gone thanks to drops, he was squeaky clean and fume free from the shower and his hair was slicked back into a neat ponytail.

The ghastly, stinking rag, formerly know as his favorite shirt, had been deposited on the floor. He’d peeled it off in a procedure very akin to removing contact paper from a kitchen shelf. Now with a towel round him he looked for the offending garment to dispose of in the waste can but it had gone missing! Susanna must have come in while he was showering and saved him the pain. After all, it’s never easy to bury an old friend.

“Good morning, Urs, you look almost like your old handsome self this morning. How are you feeling?” Susanna’s face lit up as she hugged him, carefully, noting the rather pink skin on his chest. Whether it was from the ‘treatment’ or Urs attempt to remove the treatment she didn’t know. Ummmm he smells extra delicious today! I’ll bet he put cologne on his chest, just to be sure there was no trace of the treatment left.

“I dod’t seem to be coughing dis morning, and by throad doesn’t seem as sore. I dod’t feel as condtagious today.” said Urs the Ever-Hopeful bending down for a kiss. Susanna ducked her head, leaving only her hair left to kiss.

“Just for today let’s still stick to the non-contagious areas, Urs. Oh look! I think I found a very nice spot right here.” Susanna illustrated her point with exquisitely slow, feathery, butterfly kisses starting right under his ribs and working her way across his chest and up to his shoulders, as Urs the Cheshire Cat purred like one.

“I think you bissed a spod here.” Urs tilted his head back and groaned as she kissed a pulse point under his ear. She could feel him smiling as she nuzzled the stubble.

“Do you bind if I dod’t shabe today?”

“I rather like your dark and mysterious look.” she teased, wiggling her eyebrows. Amend that to love it. That faint blue-black shading emphasizes his strong jawbone and those gorgeous cheekbones. What a beautiful face he has!

“I’b so happy to hear you say that,” Urs grinned wickedly, “because I think I bay habe found a few non-condtagious areas byself. Like here…and here…. and….oh here’s anober one.” Urs illustrated his point as he slowly untied Susanna’s robe and slipped it down over her shoulders. It was a good thing she’d warmed up her humming skills in the shower this morning, because her song of ‘Mmmmmmmmm’s’ in praise of non-contagious zones was music to Urs’ ears.

Several, delicious, minutes later, as Susanna buttoned her blouse over pink whiskerburns, she shook her head in amusement. No one can say we’re not well matched.

Susanna was glad to see Urs appetite returning as he ate almost all of his fluffy omelette, bacon, juice and a little toast. One thing that she did notice as he ate was that he was still doing a lot of mouth breathing rather like a goldfish too long out of water.

“Is it still hard to breathe through your nose?” she checked.

“A liddle bit and the headache still keeps cobing and goid. I guess id’s dime for some more pills.” Urs figured, looking at his watch.

“Let’s hold off on those for a little while. I have something else we can try.” Susanna said brightly, as Urs cringed visibly.

“Dot any bore of dat horrible burding goo. I lub you, but no. Besides, I only hab one clean tee shirt left.” He held his hand up as if to stop traffic.

“No not that. I promise. This will help you breathe better. You really need to relieve some of that sinus pressure. You can’t fly if you get a sinus infection you know.

“Well… if id will help.” Urs agreed.

Urs, Susanna and the ingredients for the new treatment were assembled in the ABS. “Why cad’t we go in the other bathroom?” Urs whined.

“Because the housekeeper will be coming in to make up the room.” Susanna explained patiently as if Urs’ were one of her students. “And besides, after your treatment you’ll need to sit up for awhile.”

Urs thought that was an encouraging sign. At least this treatment wasn’t so bad that he’d need to lie down afterward.

Urs stared questioningly at the array of objects on the sink. Susanna began with a check for previous knowledge by recalling his playful time with the turkey baster in Aunt Alta’s kitchen sink. Yes, he remembered. And how it worked? Yes that too.
So far so good.

Now for the transfer of knowledge step. Susanna filled a small plastic quart bowl with warm water and added two teaspoons of salt and one of baking soda. Next she took the rubber bulb syringe out of her ‘treatment’ bag. Urs eyes became larger by the second.

“You wad me to whad? No! Adsolutely not.” Urs mutinous scowl was worthy of any pirate who ever hoisted the Jolly Roger.Wonderful Susanna! This time you want me to be my own torturer. Squirt water up my nose to half drown myself? I don’t think so.

“Go on, Urs. Just like the turkey baster. It really works. I know. I did it when I had a sinus infection. Trust me.”

Susanna gave him an encouraging pat and left, shutting the door behind her.

Susanna was watching the TV with her German dictionary in one hand and a pen in the other when Urs returned.

“Picking the next word of the day, Houdini?” he asked as he joined her on the sofa and looked at the pad she was writing on.

Well at least he’s talking. Not like the last treatment. That’s an improvement. He doesn’t seem to look quite so much like a goldfish when he’s talking now. I hope it helped.

He set her things on the table and drew her close to his side and hugged her. With his other hands he held both of hers as his thumb stroked the tender skin of her inner wrist. He buried his face in her hair. Finally he took a deep breath and started talking.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a grouch these past two days. All I do is complain. I didn’t mean to ruin our plans. Please forgive me.”

“Urs, I know you haven’t felt good. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else beside here with you. That’s all the plans I need. I love you. And I’m sorry about the treatments, but they did help didn’t they?”

“Yes, they helped, but at the time all I could think of was that you were killing me with your kindness!” Urs laughed.
“Now about today, I know we planned on doing some art museums and you were especially looking forward to it. I want you to go. I don’t need you to sit around here and babysit me.”

“I can’t do that Urs. You’d be all on your own. I just wouldn’t feel right.”

“I insist. I’ll be fine and I promise to do my treatment at noon. I might even go to the gym and do a light workout. I need to keep up my strength you know, for when I’m not contagious.” Urs gave Susanna a devastating blinky wink.

“Well, if you don’t mind I guess I will. But I’ll call to see how you’re feeling,” she promised.

While Susanna was gone, Urs kept to his plan. After a light workout he swam a few lengths and remembered his treatments.

Susanna called about one o’clock. She’d spent the morning in the Belvedere Palace, really two palaces now devoted to Austrian painting. Her favorite was the Baroque Art Museum but she’d been thrilled to also see Klimt’s painting of ‘The Kiss’. Urs thought that was a very good choice. Right now she was eating lunch at a Wurststand.



‘Good.’ Susanna thought as she saw the room service cart outside their suite. ‘Urs ate lunch so he must be feeling better. I wonder what he ordered.’ Lifting up the lids she saw what looked like a bowl of chicken noodle soup with only one noodle left, and one toast crust that smelled suspiciously of peanut butter. She made a mental note to check her cupboard for peanut butter when she got home.

Her shoes came off at the door. No Urs. She dropped her purse on the sofa and carefully put her surprise box in the bar refrigerator. Just then Urs appeared from his bedroom, drying his hands on a towel.

“There you are. I thought I heard you.” as his face lit up.

She walked or rather swayed into his arms, she was so ‘museumed’ out. “Can we sit Urs? I must have walked 20 miles today,” she exaggerated.

As they sat down on the sofa, Urs scooted her around so that her feet were in his lap and began rubbing them.

“Oh that feels like heaven.” she lay back and closed her eyes in bliss.

“What did you do this afternoon?” she asked with her eyes still closed.

“I read a motorcycle magazine and then went online for awhile.”

Susanna’s eyes flew open. “You didn’t look up colds again did you?”

“No I didn’t look up colds. Ackshully I read some of my PMs. People are really writing to us…telling us how much they like our music and how good it makes them feel. I still am amazed by that, especially since we haven’t even started on tour yet.” Urs said shaking his head.

“You’re getting excited about it aren’t you? Heck I’m getting excited and I’m not even going.” she grinned.

“You will come to some of the concerts won’t you? I’ll hate being apart so long.” Urs asked, switching to her other foot.

“Of course I will. I’ll need to look and see exactly when my school holidays are. But I don’t want to talk about that now. This is still our mystery trip. Let’s not spoil it.” Susanna closed her eyes again.

‘Urs? Do you mind if we stay in for dinner? I think you’re still too contagious to be out in public anyway. You’d be a health hazard.”

“Me a health hazard?” Urs choked out, momentarily stopping Susanna’s foot massage.

“Yes, all those fans might trample themselves to death in their eagerness to get your autograph.” she joked, opening one eye to see his reaction. “Sorry, Bag Boy, I just couldn’t resist. The real reason is I’m so tired I can’t move.” she confessed with a sigh and closed her eye again.

“That sounds like a great idea to me.” Urs said innocently as his fingers gradually crept up Susanna’s leg.

After further consideration Susanna thought she might not be too tired to move to the HS.

Chapter 79
Non-standard Punctuation

Urs turned off the now cool shower and turtled as Susanna’s voice hummed into the crook of his neck causing tickly vibrations to run up to his ear.

“Urs, does your apartment have a HS?” she asked hopefully as she twirled one of his more tempting curls around her finger.

“No, sorry only an ABS.” he apologized. I’ll never look at the HS in the gym the same way again.

“That’s what mine is too.” Susanna lamented.

“Urs, do you think there’s a way that…”

“Trust me, Houdini, you have much to learn and I’m going to love teaching you.” Urs smiled as he smoothed back her wet hair and tenderly kissed her cheek, careful to avoid her mouth, after all he was still contagious.

**********

The intoxicating fragrance that was Susanna invaded Urs’ senses as he stood at the sink brushing his teeth. She sat on the bed in her short, pink-checked nightgown rubbing lotion into her arms and legs. Finishing, Urs came and sat next to her watching.

Wordlessly, she handed him the bottle. Putting a small bead of lotion onto his palms he massaged it into her back, shoulders, and neck, feeling the muscles beneath her warm skin relax and become loose.

Susanna turned around with a soft smile. Capturing Urs eyes with her own, she slowly pulled the tie on one strap of her gown, releasing the bow as the thin, cottony fabric fell over the soft, curving flesh of her shoulder. Urs eyes moved, as if on a string, to the other strap as it was painstakingly untied, allowing the gown to slip further down her creamy, satin-smooth skin.

“Urs, can we experiment now?” she asked, as if she were asking could they go to the movies or for a walk.

Urs fell back on the bed in an imaginary faint.
“Mein Gott woman! You are insatiable! Have you no shame? I have become a sex object already! And here I thought you loved me for my mind.” grinning, he raised his head to see Susanna’s reaction.

“For your information Mr. Thinks He’s-Sex-on-a-Stick, I meant I want to sleep in the bed in your room tonight.” Susanna said leaning over Urs with a mischievous grin. Bounding off the bed, she hollered over her shoulder as she ran, “First one there gets to pick sides.”

Susanna may have gotten to choose her side first, but she stayed there only long enough for Urs to scoop her up and slide her underneath him. Her hair fell away from her face as he smoothed it back to look into her eyes. “I can’t get enough of you. I love you so much.”

Susanna raised her hands, touching his face. The tips of her fingers gently traced over it as if she were relearning its contours, each hollow, each prominent bone. “I love you.”

His mouth met hers almost before she finished speaking. A gentle caress of lips, an exchange of breath, velvet soft, but electrifying. Again he kissed her, but longer this time. His mouth moved over hers hungrily as their tongues met. He was lost, hopelessly lost, in her taste and scent and softness.

As Susanna’s eyes caught and held Urs, she felt as if she couldn’t breath. His warm scent was like a drug that made her want to feel his strength, melt into him and lose herself.

They watched each other with dark and knowing eyes, as their passion turned to music that sang in their souls; and their bodies became so attuned to each other they played the same song.

Later, as they fell asleep, spooning in Urs bed, he schootched her in tighter to his chest as she murmured sleepily, “Bag Boy, you know that’s what you are.”

“But only for you, Houdini. Only for you..” Urs whispered in her ear.

********

As Urs would say, they woke up ‘fit and lively’ and by 10:00 they’d been to the hotel gym, showered, dressed, and were eating breakfast.

“I hope I did enough laps in the pool to work off that Senegaltorte I bought for our dessert last night. That combination of almond and chocolate was so sinfully rich and delicious. You should have seen that place, Urs. Demel’s is THE place for pastry. At least that’s what the girls at the front desk said and who am I to argue? They even had this Plexiglas dome and you could stand and watch the pastry chefs working down below, simply amazing!”

“I’m so glad you’re feeling better today. Since you didn’t go anywhere yesterday, today is your day to plan. Anything special you’d like to see since it’s our last day?” Susanna asked as she poured herself another cup of coffee.

“Yesterday while you were out I did see one place I’d like to go, the Haus der Musik. It has…”

“House of Music, right?” interrupted Susanna. “Oh I’m sorry Urs, I didn’t mean to interrupt, it’s just that I’m trying to learn some more words and those sound almost like English. Was I right?”

“Ja, Cinderella. ” and giving her a small kiss he continued where he left off. “…whole rooms are dedicated to just one composer – Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. There’s even an interactive computer game that lets you conduct the Vienna Philharmonic, computer simulated of course.

They’re supposed to have a good restaurant, Cantino, and fabulous views of the city. I thought if we packed most of our things before we left, we could have the afternoon at the museum and stay there for dinner. I feel badly that I haven’t taken you anywhere for dinner besides the Ball, Cinderella.” Urs admitted as he finished his coffee and set his cup down.

“Urs, the Ball was the most unforgettable dinner ever, as for the rest, I don’t care where we eat, you’re always my handsome Prince, as long as we’re together. You don’t need to impress me.” Susanna smoothed his hair back behind his ear, held his chin, and looked into his eyes.

“I know Cinderella, but you deserve the best.” he argued, as he searched her eyes for any look of disappointment and found only love.

“I already have that.” Susanna said softly, as she looked at him.

**********

They wandered among the various composers’ rooms, sometimes together, sometimes on their own, spending extra time in their particular favorite composer’s room, viewing manuscripts and listening to music samples.

Finally they met up for Urs’ to take a turn as a guest conductor to a cyber-space orchestra. Susanna watched, enthralled. He conducted as he sang, with total focus, concentration, and interpretation of the subtle nuances that brought the music to life. For that one perfect moment his body, mind, and soul connected with the music in a fusion of sound and emotion.



Gazing out at a breathtaking view of the city, ablaze with twinkling lights, they ate and talked. In keeping with their beautiful surroundings, Urs talked about his choice of music as a career, his early influences, his experiences in the rock band and as a professional singer before Il Divo.

She loved watching him. It was as if he were a wind-up toy - hands, face, voice all moved to tell of his enthusiasm and love for his music. And to his melody, she played counterpoint, interjecting her own background, experiences, and knowledge, weaving their common interests together into a unique melody of discovery.

Their last night in Vienna…Urs stopped the taxi several blocks from the hotel so they could walk arm in arm, savoring the incomparable Old World charm of the beautiful city.

“I don’t want to leave, Urs.” said Susanna in her seven year old voice.

“Neither do I. We’ll come again.” Urs the Grown-up assured her.

“Promise?”

“Yes, Cinderella I promise.” Urs drew her in close to kiss her upturned face.

“Thank you, my handsome Prince.” Susanna wrapped her arm around his waist and they walked slowly into the hotel.

There was a quiet, peaceful certainty about them as they each undressed and prepared for bed. Susanna switched off the bathroom light as Urs closed the space between them and cupped her chin to kiss her. When he let her go, she stood breathless, staring up at him. Reaching on tiptoes, she captured his bottom lip, tugging on it gently. As her arms went around his neck, he lifted her, carrying her across the room to lay her gently on the bed.

The closing sentence of their mystery trip was written slowly in the gentle, tender, script of lovemaking, capitalized with joy and punctuated in non-standard form, with a greater than sign, >, for it had indeed been greater than either Cinderella or the Prince could ever have imagined.

Chapter 80
Ain’t Misbehavin’

Crap! Why did you pick these particular earrings to wear today Susanna? You know they always give you fits putting them on. OK, so what if the bathroom light looks like the sun this early in the morning, focus. Urs will be asking if you’re ready any second now. Oops!

Susanna squinted and started to lean in toward the bathroom mirror as her earring dropped, landing in the waste paper can. Using only the very tips of her fingers, she began gingerly to remove pieces of trash, hoping against hope the earring hadn’t fallen to the very bottom.

Yes! There is it. Susanna retrieved the errant earring and set it on the bathroom counter. What’s this? It looks like…the jar of chest rub along with the bulb syringe lay partially hidden beneath a deluge of bus schedules, travel brochures, and used tickets for attractions. Susanna’s treatments had succeeded in more ways than one.

She now knew without a doubt that when Urs went on tour he would be fine no matter what. He would be able to survive anything. No matter how he felt ‘The Show Would Go On’. As with many things in life – the lesson only comes after the test.

Urs snapped his suitcase shut with an audible sigh. He would really miss his red friend. He would have performed a head shake/eye roll combination, but 6 AM was still a little early, especially since he’d not gotten much sleep. Holding that thought, he smiled.

Susanna caught a glimpse of him as she rolled her suitcase to the door. Although not exactly sparkling by dawn’s early light, she was certainly more spirited than slothlike.

“I know you miss it, Urs, but I bet if you’re a good boy Santa will bring you a new one next Christmas.” as she gave him a comforting hug.

“Him.”

“Pardon?”

“Him, my favorite red Harley shirt was a him, not an it.” Urs said as if instructing someone with the IQ of a potato.

“I’m sorry, Urs. I honestly had no idea i…him…he meant so much to you. Maybe we can find one like him in London. I know it won’t be the same but…”

Urs gave himself a little shake. “No, I’m just being stupid. I have so many others, what’s one less? Are you ready? It’s about time we left.” Urs started to open the door, but Susanna shut it again and pulled him toward her.

“Cinderella needs one last hug and kiss from her Prince before the coach turns back into a pumpkin and we have to go back to the real world.”

Prince Urs had every intention of granting her request; however he hadn’t planned on having his stuffing and willpower so sorely tested.

“Susanna, will you behave! The taxi will be here in a minute.” Urs said, stepping away from her with a rueful look. Susanna grinned at Urs’ obvious discomfort.Why did she have to have the best idea and the worst timing?

“I’m sorr…” Wait a minute here. I’m not that person who goes around apologizing for being me anymore. This trip has changed me. Making love with Urs has changed me.“I get that we have to be Miss Prim and Mr. Proper in public, Urs, I just wanted …”

“I know, I’ll miss all this too. It really was magical, wasn’t it?” Urs said wistfully as he took one last look around the room.

**********

Urs pushed the down button and they waited. The ‘ding’ sounded, the door opened and they entered the empty elevator.

“Urs.” Susanna said in her whisper voice out of the side of her mouth. He turned his head to look at her. “Will you let me know when it’s time to misbehave?” she asked looking straight ahead.

Turning back to look straight ahead Urs whispered, “You’ll be the first to know.”

They were still grinning like fools as the elevator door opened and they walked into the lobby.

Urs knew what was coming next and he was prepared. With one hand pulling his suitcase and the other firmly grasping Susanna’s arm, he effectively halted her march towards the Starbucks in front of the hotel and steered her into the waiting taxi.


Her lips were still in shocked goldfish position as they settled back in the taxi so he gently pinched her lips closed, rather like crimping a piecrust, and sealed them with a mini kiss.

“We’ll get some at the airport.”

Susanna was beginning to realize this ‘getting to know you’ stuff worked both ways.

They joined the flow of travelers in the airport at the check in counter; indistinguishable from thousands of other couples traveling together, yet so changed. Even their choice to dress casually on the return trip bespoke of the transformation in their relationship, from formal to intimate. Another level so far removed from where they’d begun, leading to…

The denim jacket and pink mini-marshmallow moved through security and settled in the departure lounge. As Urs went in search of the Holy Grail of coffee, Susanna snuck into the newsagents to get the newest motorcycle magazine. They were armed and ready to return to the real world.

As Urs stowed their jackets in the overhead compartment, Susanna ducked under him and ‘stole’ the window seat.

Urs sat down and grinned, “That was a pretty sneaky trick there, Houdini. I thought you didn’t care about the window seat.”

“Well, actually it was because I was embarrassed about having to crawl over you to get to the lav but now…you know.” she finished lamely.

“I know what?” Urs asked, innocently as he tried not to look smug.

OK Urs you asked for it. “Now I love crawling all over you.” Susanna grinned and to prove her point proceeded to visit the lav by way of Urs lap, giving an extra little wiggle on the way.

Urs must have been on Susanna alert for her return because he was out of his seat like a flash while she was still two seats away. She could certainly be lethal in close quarters!

“Thank you.” Susanna politely said as she sat down and buckled her seatbelt. “There now, all set.”

“Look, what’s that guy doing over there?” Urs asked as his long arm reached across Susanna and pointed towards one of the ground workers.

Susanna turned her head to look as Urs gently nipped her ear lobe then soothed it with his tongue, sending shockwaves down to her toenails.

“Sorry, I guess he’s gone now.” he replied airily as the plane taxied to the runway.

Yes, Urs could see that sitting in the aisle seat did have its advantages when it came time for pay-back.

Having met her match, Susanna reached into her magic carryon and produced Urs’ pacifier.

“So soon? We haven’t even taken off yet.” What happened to our nice predictable routine?Then he noticed she hadn’t taken out her book to read and began to wonder.

“Aren’t you going to read too?”

“No, not just yet. I’m going to be busy dreaming…” she smiled softly,”…and resting.”

So Urs read his magazine one-handed as Susanna used his other arm as a pillow. Somewhere over France, however, he decided a little nap wouldn’t be amiss, after all Sunday afternoon at the movies was only a few hours away.

They both emerged from their naps at about the same time as the plane began its descent into Heathrow.

Their plan was to share a cab, drop her off first and then Urs would come over later in the afternoon. Truth be told, it had been wonderful of course, but after being joined at the hip for a week, Susanna felt a need to be in her own space, at least for a while. Not that Urs hips weren’t world class and the joining beyond description, she just needed a little alone time to process all these new feelings and experiences.

Urs kicked his apartment door shut and dropped his bag with a sigh. It felt good to be home. Vienna had been magical, their time together perfect, especially New Years Eve, but he needed this. It was rather like breathing the rarified air high on a mountaintop. Eventually you needed to return to the village in the valley, back to comforting routines, family, and working with people toward a common goal.

Susanna hit the ground running and while the first load of clothes was washing, she defrosted cookies, made a short grocery list adding requests from Urs, and sorted through the mail. Fleeting thoughts of school even dared to occupy her mind.

Had she gone stark raving bonkers? This is Urs Buhler we’re talking about here! ‘No, that’s just my real world filling in the spaces where Urs isn’t.’ she explained logically to herself. Urs would have been so proud of her.

Urs’ spaces were also being quickly refilled as he listened to his phone messages. Between several friends, New Years share the moments from the guys, and a reminder of a 9 AM meeting tomorrow with Simon, he could hear the unmistakeable sound of real world footsteps approaching at warp speed.

Chapter 81
Things New and Old

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it felt different somehow: a sense of belonging, rightness as he walked through Susanna’s apartment door. Did she feel it too?

His face must have given him away. “It seems different now doesn’t it.” Susanna’s question sounded more like a statement of fact.

“Yes, I felt it too and it’s only been 4 hours and 37 minutes since I left you here. But who’s counting?” Urs grinned as he made a big deal about checking his watch.

“You are a silly man,” Susanna giggled, “but I love you for it!” as she threw her arms around his neck in a flying kiss.

Urs the Perfectly Trained had no trouble remembering his Sunday afternoon at the movies routine. Boots by the door, check, jacket hung up, check, fire in the fireplace, not yet, begin routine here. Of course the delicious smell of something chocolate filtering in from the kitchen was akin to the butcher’s best marrow bone.

“Urs where did you put it?” Susanna asked, drying her hands as she walked into the room.

“Over there near the door.” he turned around from where he was squatting by the fireplace and pointed. “Right where I dropped it when I was attacked.” Now he waited. Sure enough she took the bait.

“Attacked? Attacked? I’ll show you attacked.”
Susanna marched over to Urs, now busily attending to the fire and pulled his head back for a long, very thorough upside down kiss, making sure he landed on his backside as it ended.

“That was so nice of your mother to send cheese back with you. I’ll give a holler when it’s grated so you can take over.”

Quickly, Urs brushed off his hands and headed to the bathroom to clean up. He washed and dried them as fast as he could and then looked toward the kitchen to be sure Susanna wasn’t watching. Quietly he opened the door and got the box he’d left out in the hall earlier.

Back in the bathroom, he found THE PINK ROBE hanging on the back of the door. Now where to put it? The only possibility was the laundry hamper; in it went. He opened the box as fast as he could and took out the beautiful, white silk robe he had bought in Vienna and hung it on the door. Thank goodness she had just done the laundry. He scrunched the box and stuffed it the hamper too.

“Perfect timing.” Susanna smiled as Urs came into the kitchen. I agree. I can hardly wait to see you in that new robe. You’ll look so beautiful in it…and even more beautiful out of it.

Urs reaction was not lost on Susanna as she grinned and handed the fondue pot to Urs the Happy. He rubbed the inside of the pot with garlic and began to heat white wine, and a tiny bit of kirsch and lemon juice in the pot. While Susanna poured red wine for them, she offered up thanks to the tee shirt fairy that Urs was wearing a black Harley shirt.

“To us.” she toasted as they clinked glasses while Urs tended to his wine warming. As she rose up for a romantic wine-flavored kiss, suddenly Urs jumped back like a scalded cat. She had accidentally poured wine all down the front of his shirt. She grabbed their glasses, set them on the table and snatched up the nearest towel and began blotting as the rather large wet spot on the front of his shirt.

“Oh Urs, I am SO sorry. Here let me help you.” blot, blot, blot. “At least it didn’t get on your jeans did it?” as she pulled his shirt out of his jeans. “Here let me check.” and she put her hand out. In view of what had just transpired, Urs thought it better to check the dryness level of his jeans himself.

“No, it didn’t get on my jeans.” came out a little muffled as he took off the wet shirt, keeping an eye on Susanna just in case she picked up her wine glass again. blot, blot, blot Urs five star chest received another terry cloth treatment. What is going on here? First it’s that horrible burning stuff and now wine. Is there such a thing as a chest fetish? Urs brows were rapidly approaching unibrow level.

“I’ll get you something to wear.” Susanna’s feet dashed off in the direction of the bathroom even as Urs brain grinned déjà vu. Surprise Susanna!

Sure enough, Susanna was planning an instant teasing replay: offering Urs THE PINK ROBE to wear but…what was this hanging here?

Susanna slowly walked back into the kitchen carrying it in open arms like a freshly ironed tablecloth. “Where did this come from?” she asked in amazement as her voice quivered and tears threatened to spill over at any second.
It was a long, white, silk robe with a tiny ruffled detail edging the shawl collar with sleeves ending in lace.

Urs gently took it from her and held it open as she slid her arms into the sleeves. Then he solemnly adjusted the shoulders and smoothed out any tiny wrinkles. With infinite tenderness and care he folded it closed and tied the belt as if she was a medieval lady of the manor and he was her humble servant in charge of dressing her.

“I thought it was time we retired THE PINK ROBE. This one seems to suit you better now.” he said, bending down to feather slow, exquisitely sweet kisses on her brow and cheeks, savoring her mouth at the last.

It was several minutes before Susanna returned to earth again and she could speak. “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn. I love you so very much. Thank you Urs.”

Suddenly Urs remembered his pot on the stove. Fortunately Susanna had turned if off in between blottings but he was still a half naked chef, not that Susanna was complaining mind you.

“I think I might have something you can wear. Let’s go look. Besides I want to hang up my beautiful new robe so I don’t spill anything on it when we eat.” Susanna said sensibly.

“Too bad you weren’t worried about spilling a few minutes ago.” Urs quipped softly.

“I heard that Bag Boy and I already said I was sorry. What more can I do?“ Susanna said in a hurt voice.

“I’m sorry, Houdini I was just kid…” It was Urs turn to wear the amazed look.

There He was in the middle of the bed, just waiting for his best friend to come and get him, to hold him, to let him caress his body.

Urs gently picked Him up and examined Him: looking, feeling, even smelling Him. He was perfect in every way!

Urs’ beautiful, expressive eyes searched Susanna’s. “He missed you.” was her explanation.

Urs drew his almost lost friend on over his head and his newly found love into his arms. “I love you Houdini. You are truly magical.”

Susanna sighed against Urs’ shirt. Beneath her cheek she felt the beat of his heart, the hard warm muscles of his chest. She burrowed her face into him further, and his senses stirred. He was filled with her Susanna scent that he loved. He lifted her head and kissed her, his tongue teasing and coaxing and her only thought was how sweet he tasted. After that, all thinking, all speech was temporarily suspended due to feeling, tasting, and touching.

Their eyes never left each other’s face as if to look away would break some magic spell. Hands hastily worked together, as clothes fell away in a messy pile and they collapsed onto the bed. Their eyes grew wide in wonder at the growing depth of their love for each other as they made love with an intensity that shook their very souls.

“What do you do to me? Cast a spell Houdini?” Urs managed to get out in punctuated gasps.

Susanna held one hand over her racing heart and idly wondered the number of beats that constituted a heart attack. She’d probably exceeded that number several minutes ago.

“Whatever it is, we do it to each other.” she replied choppily as she looked over at Urs with a grin.

“You make me lose control.”

“You know you’re the one person I can let go with and be me, Urs. I’d be lost without you.”

Susanna’s sense of humor was gradually returning along with her near normal heart rate. “But, next time Bag Boy can you please lose Him. I’m not really into orgies or whatever it is they’re called?” and she tugged on Urs favorite long-sleeved red Harley tee shirt.

“OK Houdini, next time He won’t watch and it’s a menage a trois, literally ‘marriage for three’, a threesome. And before you ask, the answer is no, absolutely not.” Urs laughed as he leaned over and kissed her.

“That’s good because the only somes I want are you and me somes.” With that she spooned into his chest, covered them up, and burrowed into the nest of his arms for a nap.

Urs drifted off to sleep in a cloud of contentment. That Bag Boy Jr. had been a damn poor substitute for the real thing. Susanna was snuggled right where she belonged and he was contagious no longer. All was right in his world.

Chapter 82
Sunday, Sunday

He was near a waterfall. He could hear the rushing sound as the water plummeted down from the cliff to the pool far below.

Slowly Urs became aware of his surroundings as he opened his eyes and found Susanna gone. As he sat up he heard humming from the bathroom. He stood up and stretched. Following the sound into the bathroom he found Susanna in the waterfall of the shower.

She held her face up to the cascading stream and rinsed off the soap. A smile spread across her face as she thought of Urs finding his beloved shirt, then softened as she recalled her beautiful new robe. Wrapped in her own thoughts she didn’t notice Urs until suddenly she felt his body against her back.

His arms slipped around her waist as he kissed the back of her neck and continued kissing down her spine. Susanna was speechless with surprise at the erotic sensations his lips created. As she felt the warm pressure of his mouth on her soft buttocks she moaned in delight. Urs’ laughter hummed against her skin as he caught hold of her and turned her around to face him.

“Hi Houdini,” he murmured, ‘is there room enough in here for two?”

Susanna moved, smiling, to make space, “Always, Bag Boy.”

He was tousled and still looked sleepy; his smile was loving and happy. She twined her arms around his neck and leaned forward to meet his lips. The kiss was long, slow and erotic, and his body reacted immediately. She moved in closer, still kissing, and ran her hands across the bunched muscles of his shoulders, down to his spine.

Urs sighed against her lips in pleasure and she lifted her mouth. Looking straight into her eyes he said, “I love you. God, how I love you!”

She took the soap in her hands and worked it into a lather, stepping back again, letting her slippery fingers glide lightly over his skin—shoulders, chest, arms, back, all the time washing, caressing, stimulating. His breath lodged in his throat when her fingers slid farther down. Her hands moved to the back, stroking his buttocks, as the water ran down both their bodies.

“Susanna, I can’t wait. I need to be inside you.” Urs groaned as he grasped her hips and raised her to him. Their cries echoed against the tiles as his body shuddered and she clung to him.

They were aware, somewhere, of the water washing over them. Sagging weakly against him, Susanna tried to regain her breath as Urs gently lowered her. She felt the coolness of the tile on her back as they held each other and waited for their breathing to settle down as yet another mystery of the universe of lovemaking had been revealed to Susanna.

“I love you.” she whisper-kissed his ear. She cuddled against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her tightly. They stood there for a minute or two, relaxed and happy, letting the water splash over them until at last Urs turned off the tap, grabbed a huge, fluffy towel and wrapped her in it.

“Now,” he said, “Food.”

**********

Urs the Expert stirred the pot constantly, fondue pot that is, carefully adding a handful of cheese at a time to the wine mixture, making sure it bubbled gently until it looked like a light creamy sauce. Meanwhile, Susanna had cut up the bread into cubes, set the coffee table, and lit the alcohol burner. All was ready for their fireside feast. She’d even remembered to make two pillow nests.

Urs blessed the food, Susanna blessed the cook and passed out fondue forks. Let the dipping begin.

They sat on the floor leaning against the sofa as Urs carefully pulled the coffee table up to them like a high table.
“Oops I almost forgot.” Susanna squeezed out of her nest and made a mad dash to the kitchen. She came back with two tea towels.
“Napkins.” she announced as she passed one to Urs and laid the other one lengthwise across her chest, up under her chin.
“I know it looks funny but I don’t want to spill on my new robe and I’m sure He doesn’t like fondue. Does He?” she asked pointing to Urs red Harley shirt.
“No He doesn’t, Houdini.” Urs laughed. She noticed he was quick to cover Him up, just in case.

They began to get into real world mode as they ate. Urs mentioned their meeting tomorrow with Simon, which meant he’d have some solid schedule information soon. Susanna promised to check her school schedule for possible dates she could get away for a concert.

Fondue had been cleared away and it was milk and brownies time.

“Urs, can we promise each other not to be predictable?” Susanna asked, leaning over to wipe Urs milk mustache with the corner of his towel napkin and give him a mini kiss.

Urs pulled his towel off and sat up a little straighter. “What exactly does that mean?”

“Don’t look so worried,” Susanna reached for his hand and began to rub in gently, playing with it as she answered, “I just mean that both our schedules, yours especially, are going to be hectic here soon when the Tour starts. I don’t want us to try to stick to any silly routine like ‘I’ll call you at 8:00 every night or I’ll email every day or whatever’. Then if something comes up and we can’t do that the other one will be worrying, besides you know how much I love surprises. I just mean we’ll talk or email or text or write or whatever, everyday of course, but not always at a set time. What do you think?”
I hope he doesn’t take this the wrong way. I’m just trying to plan ahead. I know he’ll have so many other things to think about, just look at the preparation for those few concerts at Thanksgiving. I can’t even begin to imagine what the tour will be like, hopping around night after night.

“That sounds like a good idea…logical.” Urs looked thoughtful for a second and then the corners of his mouth turned up. “Do you realize you’re becoming more logical? I must be having a good infuence on you.”

“Or you’re becoming more unpredictable.” she countered as she scooped the brownies up to put into Urs’ takeaway cookie box.

**********

“You didn’t need to drive me home, I could have taken a cab.”
Urs pointed out on the way to his apartment.

“Well, technically you’re taking yourself home since you’re driving and besides there’s method to my madness. I wanted to be sure the car started OK after sitting so long.” she answered reasonably.

“And if it didn’t?” Urs played along knowing what was coming.

“Well then Urs the Uber Mechanic would have had to help a damsel in distress, wouldn’t he?” Susanna batted her eyelashes and gave her best poor-little-me-look.

“Are you sure you’re not part Swiss?” he asked drily.

He pulled up in front of his apartment, double parked, and gave Susanna a kiss as long as traffic would allow.

As headlights approached, he opened the door.

“Bag Boy! We forgot about the movie!”

Urs leaned back in and gave Susanna a quick peck, “Next time, Houdini. I don’t think I would have lasted through a Triple Feature!” and the Killer Grin.

“Night Bag Boy.”

“Night Houdini.”

Chapter 83
Reality Sets In

“You’ve got to be joking! Chocolate?” Rosemary choked out as her soda went down the wrong way.

“Chocolate ? Where?” Joanne set her lunch bag on the table and pulled up a chair.

“Susanna had a completely chocolate spa treatment in Vienna!” Marissa squealed, looking around to see if anyone had heard her. The two coaches at the next table didn’t even raise their heads in between bites. It was only Marissa being Marissa, nothing out of the ordinary.

Susanna could see she would need to pattern her lunch disclosures on the drip feed gardening method, carefully weeding out details and making sure she didn’t over water her flower companions.

One good thing about Mondays after a vacation was the rather subdued atmosphere in the classroom. The efficient personnel in the office however, seemed to see this as an obvious flaw in the system needing immediate and forceful correction. By the end of the day, they had managed to register ten new students, and cram each and every teacher mailbox with bulletins, schedules, and needs to be done yesterday requests.

“Did you get any new students today?” Leslie asked as she poked her head into Susanna’s room on her way home.

“Yes, one. How about you?” Susanna looked up as she packed her book bag.

“No, I guess I’m low man on the totem pole now so I’ll get the next one since I have one less than you now. See ya’.”

“’Night” Susanna called after her, unlocking her closet to get her purse.

Is it Friday yet? I’m three days behind already. At least that’s what it feels like. I wonder what Urs is doing right now? I hope he isn’t as swamped as I feel.

Susanna had sent Urs a text before she left for school, almost certain he’d not have time to check his computer for awhile. It was a good thing she had because her only break had been lunch; even her planning time had been eaten away with getting the new student settled in.

‘Well I guess we’re well matched again. Hello real world.’
Susanna thought as she listened to Urs voice mail. The meeting had been long, and they had some kind of dinner thing this evening. He’d either call or come by after. She knew which one would get her vote.

***********

“Whoever said ‘The delight is in the details.’ should look at this!” complained David, holding up the several pages of their itineraries.

“I thought it was ‘the devil,” said Urs, “and looking at this his initials are SC.”

Three heads turned to look at him. What had happened to Mr. Plans and Scheduling?

“But you should love this Urs. You’re the one who always wants things orderly and well planned and this sure is.” David observed dryly.

“Yes, but it’s so…so full. There won’t be any time to…”

“to woo the fair damsel? Come Urs, tell Uncle Carlos. You’re vacation must have gone well, no?” Carlos grinned as he slapped Urs on the back and winked at Seb.

Seb picked up where Carlos left off. “If you need any shopping tips for romantic gifts I’d be happy to help, Urs.”

“Yes, and no.” Urs said firmly, looking at Carlos and Seb respectively and shot a glance at David.

“I’m staying out of this, buddy. You’re on your own. However…It is good to see the last of the mighty oaks has fallen.” he sniggered as he swept his arm around the room to include all four of them. “Welcome to the club. Ain’t love grand?”

And with that, the last mighty oak crumbled, “Yes, it is.” Urs agreed with a grin.

**************

The tug-o-war between the pool and hot tub first had been a tough one, but aerobics class has won, just barely. Now a very self-righteous Susanna sat at her kitchen table finishing the last of her Kaseschnitten and trying to think of interesting things to put in her web page that had to be updated by Wednesday. She’d much rather think of Urs and their trip. Maybe she should check her email just in case.

There was a message, although not from Urs. Susanna’s long time friend Darlene and her husband Bob were coming to London. We’ll need a shopping day, definitely. I am so glad I still have so many days of leave. Between Dar and Urs I’ll need them. Thank goodness I’m never sick.

**************

The buzzer startled Susanna awake on the sofa where she’d fallen asleep after the news. She was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she opened the door to an Armani clad Urs.

“Please tell me I’m not dreaming, Bag Boy. You look so handsome.” Susanna smiled dreamily as she took his hand, pulled him inside and closed the door. “Maybe I’d just better make sure you’re real.” she said softly as she met him halfway for a test kiss. Urs passed his test with flying colors.

Urs shrugged out of his jacket, laid it carefully on the back of the chair and loosened his tie as he sat down on the sofa with a sigh.

“Here, sit up.” Susanna turned his back to her as she knelt on the sofa beside him and began to massage his neck and shoulders.

“I’ll give you two hours to stop doing that,” he groaned as she kneaded his tight muscles. “That feels so good. Those little hands of yours are really strong aren’t they?”

“It’s all those papers I grade that does it, but please don’t tell. Then they’ll all want to try it,” she said with a deadpan expression.

“They know.” Urs said tiredly.

“Who knows what?” Susanna asked.

“Carlos, David and Seb know we’re together. I was complaining about our schedule and they figured it out.”

“Do you mind?” she asked, mentally crossing her fingers and wishing she could see his face.

“No, of course not. They know how I feel. In fact it felt kinda nice. David called me the last one to fall.” Urs looked over his shoulder at Susanna to see her reaction.

“Well, I’m glad too.” She said brightly. “I don’t know Seb and David as well as I do Carlos and Gerry, but it will be fun getting to know them better and I’m really looking forward to meeting Sandy and Juliana at a concert sometime. I don’t suppose you brought your schedule.”
I wonder if he’ll admit to having a girlfriend like the other guys now. Guess I’ll have to follow the interviews and see.

“Sorry, I had to travel light tonight, but really the only big news is they’ve added a concert before we head to the States. It’s in Dublin on the 19th. Sort of a shake-down before we head out. I’d like you to be there wery much since it’s the first one. It’s on a Sunday.”

“I’ll try Urs. It might work out because I think we get Martin Luther King Day off on the 20th so that should be a long weekend. I’ll check for sure tomorrow. Why is the concert so soon though? I thought you didn’t start until the 31st?”

“They’ve added a bunch of extra promotional stuff. I can’t remember it all. Can we wait till tomorrow? I’m really tired and I want a cookie.” he added with that little boy grin he knew she couldn’t resist.

“Oh, of course. By the way I thought I’d try one of your mother’s…”

“Mami’s” Urs corrected. …”uh… yes Mami’s recipes this weekend. Which one would you like me to try?”

“Surprise me.”

“Well, I can’t really do that because you’re going to help me. I want you there just in case I can’t find a word in my dictionary. Oh and of course to test the cookies too.” On that note she decided he needed to be fed.

Since peep peep birdie sandwiches had been such a hit she brought out peanut butter blossoms, the best of both worlds since it had a chocolate candy kiss in the middle.

He didn’t need to say a word. The smile and peanut butter kiss he gave her after the first bite told her he remembered too.

‘Wasn’t it strange how when you are in love everyday things could suddenly remind you of special moments?’ she thought.

Urs was probably thinking the same thing or else he was thinking about how a nice, big, cold glass of milk would taste right about now. Either way he was right.

**************

“Will I see you tomorrow?” Susanna asked hopefully as she handed him his jacket.

“Unless something comes up I should be free by late afternoon but I’ll give you a call after school or text you once I know for sure, OK?”

“I’ll fix dinner and then we can go over your schedule. And I was thinking I’d like to put some special songs on your iPod if you don’t mind. That way when you’re on Tour you can listen to them and think of me. So can you bring it with you?”

“That’s a great idea. Can I have yours then?”

“Only if you promise to put that New Years Eve song you sang to me on it.”

“I promise, Houdini. And tomorrow when I see you I will …” Urs leaned over to whisper in her ear, “and…” again he bent over. “and…” This time he kissed his way down her neck and back up to capture her mouth in a slow, sensual kiss that left them with little breath and big grins at Urs parting shot, “and I won’t forget about my iPod either.”

The taxi driver gave one more short tap on the horn as Urs bounded down the stairs and into the night with a backward wave.

Chapter 84
Back in the Saddle Again

Monday and Tuesday were as different as chalk and cheese. Happily, Tuesday was the cheese.

“Good morning, Houdini. Time to get up.” Susanna could hear a steady thump, thump in the background that matched Urs breathing.

“Been there, done that and I just stepped out of the shower. Wait a minute I need a towel. There. Back again.” Susanna breathed as she blotted herself.

“You’re up bright and early, it’s only 6:15. Are you at the gym?”

“Yeah, thought I’d try to get back into a routine. I’m just about finished with my run. Wanna come scrub my back in the shower? They have a handicapped one.” he wheedled.

“Urs, I think you’re becoming a shower junkie! We’ll be needing Showers Anonymous next!” she laughed.

“Well, it’s all your fault.” How I love to wind her up.

“Me! You taught me everything I know so I’m only partly to blame.” she sputtered.

As Urs contemplated Susanna’s parts, he sighed and added another mile to his cool down.

“I’ll call you later when I see how our schedule looks. Have a great day Houdini. I love you.”

“I’ll be thinking of you, Bag Boy. I love you too.”

***********

Larry the Learned, as self appointed classroom ambassador had taken the new boy under his wing so no worries there. Although the children were more talkative that also meant they were more eager to learn and Susanna was a strong advocate of ‘productive’ discussions. Although there were times when complete silence reigned, her general rule was ‘ask three before you ask me’. It was amazing to watch the birth of ‘instant’ experts. Their self-esteem and confidence seemed to grow by the yard as they helped each other.

It took a might force of will to keep Rosemary and Marissa focused on grade level planning but Susanna managed by promising to continue her real life fairy tale at lunch, at least the heavily edited version. They actually finished in record time so she attacked her paperwork with a vengeance, determined to use every possible second to keep on top of things.

At lunch she kept everyone in stitches with her take on the dance lessons and her one-hour shoes.

“Did you take any pictures?” Marissa asked hopefully.

“You know, we didn’t. I really wish we had but we didn’t even think about it. Maybe next time.”

“Next time? You’re going back again? When?” gasped Joanne.

“Well, I don’t really know if we will or not but when we were leaving I asked him if we could come back again and he said ‘yes’. So maybe someday…” Susanna sighed.

“So when do we get to see the dress and those one hour shoes?” Marissa grinned.

“Most likely never, now that our little Princess has found herself a Prince.” teased Leslie as she pretended to swoon.

“Oh, no. I’d love to show them to you. We’ll still have our girl’s nights. I’m really going to need your support when Urs starts the Tour. I’m going to be brave in front of him, but chances are I’ll be a basket case most of the time. I’ve never felt like this so I really don’t know what to expect, but I certainly can’t get along without all of you…but just not until after he leaves. I hope you understand.” Susanna’s tender heart explained making sure she didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

There was a chorus of “Oh we understand alright!” followed by knowing looks as they all dissolved into fits of laughter, including a blushing Susanna.

************

Urs felt his phone vibrate and casually flipped it open under the table as they went over yet more details.

“Urs, are you OK with that?” David asked.

Urs jerked his head up and hurriedly tried to turn the corners of his mouth back down. “Oh yes, fine by me.” He hoped to God he hadn’t just agreed to something horrendous, as he closed his phone over a picture of Susanna more or less wearing her towel.

**********

“Hi Urs. If you’re looking for Susanna, she’s in the computer lab. I’m on my way there now.” Joanne smiled shyly as she whisked him away before he was spotted by anyone else. After all she was an Uber. Who better to escort the SRG? She’d accidentally run into him as he signed in at the office after school and could hardly believe her luck.

He smiled to himself as he automatically shortened his longer stride to match her shorter steps. Looking down on her he wondered if somehow fate managed to choose short teachers for the younger children. So far there didn’t seem to be many tall teachers in Susanna’s school at all. Maybe that was one of the qualities they looked for when they hired teachers. He’d have to ask Susanna about that.

Susanna was working in the back corner of the computer lab, a room with counters along every wall with about thirty computers set up on them, all even spaced and numbered.

“Hey, Houdini. What are you doing?” Urs leaned over and checked for Joanne, then gave Susanna a quick kiss.

“Urs, What a great surprise! I was waiting for you to call.” Susanna pointed to her cell phone sitting on top of her purse on the floor beside her. “I’m just updating my web page. On my teacher page I’m adding some pictures I found of the Spanish Riding School. I wrote a little story about going to Vienna. We have to update our page every six weeks so I thought the children and parents might like to see where I went over Christmas. I even found some pictures of the Ball. I’m just about done here. Do you mind waiting a few minutes?”

“No, go ahead. Mind if I watch?” he asked as he sat down next to her.

“Sure. In fact you can help me decide which of these other pictures you think I should add.” At Urs suggestion they added one of the Mozart House and then found one of a sleigh. Ten minutes later, Urs was behind the wheel of Susanna’s roadster and they were on their way.

“Would you like to eat out tonight?” Urs asked as he smoothly pulled out into traffic.

“Really I’d just like to stay home. Besides, you’ll be eating out all the time when you’re gone. I imagine you’ll be sick and tired of restaurants by the time you get back. I thought I might try one of your mother’s recipes.”

As much as he loved cookies, Urs could not envision eating just cookies for dinner. “That would be great for dessert but what else are we having?”

“I thought I’d try to make Rosti. She says it’s one of your favorites.” Susanna announced smugly.

“But ho..how do you know how to make it?” stammered Urs.

“Oh she must have slipped the recipe in with all those cookie recipes when you weren’t looking.” she said innocently.

**********

The door to the apartment closed and it was as if a magnetic current was turned on causing an instant attraction of Urs to Susanna. She was engulfed in his arms as he ran his fingers through her hair, holding her head at just the proper angle to receive his kisses.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day.” he whispered.

“Everytime I looked at the clock I wondered what you were doing. Could you feel me thinking about you?” Susanna asked as she looked up at him. Every time I look into those beautiful eyes my stomach does flips. I wonder if he’ll always affect me that way.

“I could feel something alright when you sent me that picture.”How can she have this effect on me? She’s just so completely natural. Does she even know how beautiful and sensual she is?

“Oops! I didn’t mean to distract you. Did you get in trouble?”

“Well, Simon wasn’t there if that’s what you mean, however I agreed to something but I don’t have a clue what. I’m going to plead temporary insanity if it was something bad.”

“Oh before I forget here’s my iPod. And I need yours too. ”Urs pulled his out of his coat and held out his hand for hers.

“Here you go.” Susanna traded with him and took it into the den near the computer.

“Oh it feels so good to get your shoes off doesn’t it?” Susanna groaned as she wiggled her toes. “I just need to change into something more comfy. I’ll be right back.” Susanna disappeared into her bedroom as Urs the Eager suggested, “How about your new white robe?”

“After the Rosti, Bag Boy.”

Her gray v-necked sweater earned her an appreciative smile and his eyes seemed to follow her jeans all the way to the kitchen as he found a beer in the fridge. He held up a wine glass but she shook her head no. “I think I need a cuppa about now. Can we work on our schedules before dinner? That way we can relax later.”

That sounded like a plan to Urs, and he couldn’t help grinning at the ‘relaxing’ bit. Sitting with their heads close together at the big kitchen table, they began to plan. She had checked their school calendar for the rest of the year so they started to decide which concerts she’d be able to see. For sure she’d be able to make the Dublin one on the 19th. Then it looked like a good possibility for the one in Chicago on Feb. 14th because they had that weekend off for President’s Day. And it was Valentine’s Day. How cool would that be? She’d also be able to see Darlene and Bob and oh my gosh she’d forgotten to mention them.

“I got an email yesterday and they’ll be coming next Sunday. Bob has banking meetings all week so I thought maybe we could go to dinner with them one night if you’re free. What do you think?” Does this all-of-a-sudden-we’re-a-couple thing have rules? I guess I’ll just have to play it by ear. I’m not used to making decisions but it’s kind of fun. I hope Urs doesn’t mind.

Just look at her. I’m so proud that she’s starting to speak up for herself and I haven’t noticed her apologizing either. “How about Monday night? We’ll be in Switzerland Tuesday night for an Awards Show and then Wednesday for some interviews. I’m also hoping to at least see some of my family for a few hours. We’ll be back very late Wednesday.”

“Right then. I’ll let her know.” Susanna finished copying the dates in her planner and zipped it shut. “And I also told her to give me a call when they get settled in Sunday. I’ll probably go down there in the evening just to say hi. Would you like to come with?” she asked unsurely as if she were asking a question no one could possibly answer.

“I would like to come with.” Urs repeated her exact words for emphasis as he looked steadily at her.
Susanna couldn’t help but notice the sincerity in his voice.

“Really?” she exclaimed. What no argument? Here’s someone who is genuinely interested in meeting my friends. This is a first.

“Sure, why not. That’s what couples do Susanna. They go places together.” My poor Susanna, you still don’t get it do you? Yes you’re learning to speak up but you still don’t believe you’ll get what you ask for.

“Yes, but you’re always so agreeable and do what I want to do.”

“Well, I can be disagreeable if you’d like!” he teased then turned her to look at him and held her shoulders as he went on to explain. “Look, I won’t always be able to go with you or want to go to the same places you do, but that’s OK and the same goes for you, Susanna. We love each other but we’re still two separate people. We need time to be individuals too. That will make us a stronger couple.”

“Oh, I am SO glad you said that.” Susanna breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought there was something really wrong with me because when we got home on Sunday I liked being by myself for a little while.” her small voice confessed timidly.

“So did I. That’s they way it’s supposed to be, Susanna, trust me.” Urs voice was firm and strong, a perfect partner to his hug.

***************

“Now is it time for Rosti?” Urs implored.

“Yes, finally it is, Bag Boy. I’ll get started if you clear off the table and maybe find some music to go with the Rosti” she laughed as she reached for her ‘Kiss the Cook” apron.

That should keep him out of my hair a little while now. HMMM! Instead of grating all those potatoes I’m going to fudge a little and use a bag of frozen ones. I bet they’ll be almost as good.

It wasn’t long before Susanna heard the strains of some song in German that she was sure didn’t belong to her collection. Urs entering the kitchen in time to the music should have been fair warning of his playful mood; however she had been intent on disposing of the frozen potato bag and missed his arrival.

“I thought your musical library needed a little addition since you now have a Swiss lover.” And with that he put his hands around her waist, set her up on the counter, and gave her a smoldering, sexy stare. Much later she would remember this moment as the birth of what would forevermore be named the Swiss Lover Look.

“Urs, what are you doing?” she giggled as he stepped closer to the counter and pulled her to him. Then he began to very carefully and methodically lay a trail of kisses from her neck to just under her ear.

“I’m just following instructions. See.” Susanna’s eyes flew open just in time to see The Killer Grin.

Urs beautiful long fingers were outlining the words on the front of her apron. He spelled as he slowly traced: K…I…S…S…..T…H…E…...C…O…O…K. Reaching behind he, he untied the bow and took off the apron, setting it over on the counter. Susanna helped as Urs reached behind to pull off his shirt, then it was his turn, as her top and bra joined the pile.

The next thing he knew, his arms were full of the delicious, feminine skin-on-skin softness that smelled of chocolate and vanilla and Susanna. Urs went from gentle to passionate in a heartbeat as his kiss deepened, tasting the sweetness of her mouth. Susanna’s head spun as she clutched his strong, muscled shoulders, as if afraid she might fall.

Urs broke their kiss long enough to carry her to the bedroom as they shed the rest of their clothes and fell onto the bed. Then although Susanna didn’t know the exact words to describe it, Urs did what Swiss lovers do best.

Chapter 85
Chop, Chop

When Susanna could hear her own voice above the noise of her pounding heart, she thought it just might be safe to speak.

“Hey Swiss Lover, I love you.” she said raggedly as she threaded her fingers through his.

“Now tell me again what a Swiss lover does exactly?” she kidded and turned her head to look at him.

“Eats, shoots, and leaves?” Urs suggested, looking up as if the answer were written on the ceiling.

“Be thankful I’m still too weak to thump you, try again please.”

“Oh yes, now I remember! I take you all the way up to the top of the mountain and then down again.” Urs demonstrated by running his fingers up and down Susanna as she wiggled and giggled.

“But aren’t you supposed to yodel when you get to the top?” she razzed, grabbing his arm to still his tickling fingers.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I was a little busy… and so were you for that matter.” he said with a self-satisfied chuckle. “Maybe next time, Houdini.” Urs laughed as he got up, adding “If you’re lucky.” under his breath and beat a hasty retreat toward the bathroom.

“I heard that, Mr. Swiss Lover.” Susanna hollered over the sound of the shower and reluctantly got out of bed.
Swiss Lover. I love how that sounds and I love him more every day.

Susanna joined Urs just in time to wash his back and remark about his cute little ski slope behind. Urs had a little more difficuly on his ski run as he soaped Susanna and although no more mountains were climbed the moguls did cause him to veer off course once or twice.

Urs swaddled Susanna in a huge, pink, fluffy towel and slung a plain white one around his waist. “Now, I’m doing this because I love you but if you tell anyone I’ll deny it till my dying day. Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo.”

”Absolutely magical, my Swiss Lover, Thank you!” Susanna clapped her hands, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

“Now is it time for Rosti?”

**************

Susanna’s frozen hash brown potatoes were light years beyond thawed, but Urs didn’t seem to notice.

What he did notice was her standing there with Mami’s recipe in one hand and her German dictionary in the other and he had to swallow hard to keep his heart in his chest. He knew she could have done a creditable job on her own, since the ‘recipe’ was so basic, but here she was reading every word , following it to the letter. Only one tricky phrase had needed his help.

Susanna held the recipe card between her fingers as if she were a psychic imagining Mami, trying to feel her presence and love for her man/child in this small piece of paper. Did she have that musical laugh bubbling just under the surface ready to pop out at a moment’s notice? Were Urs expressive features and beautiful eyes a gift from her? And his curls, where did they come from? How wonderful to grow up in such a loving family!

“Pick a hand” Susanna held her arms behind her back.
Urs chose the left one: sausage.

“Woo hoo! You get to chop the onions, Houdini. Sorry! “ Urs grabbed the skillet and began to crumble the sausage into it, not looking sorry in the least.

“A…aren’t you going to do those onions?” Urs asked after several minutes had passed with no sign of tears or onions for that matter. Susanna just smiled a ‘gotcha’ kind of smile.

Finally she retrieved an onion from the bin and set it on the table along with the chopping board. Lastly she opened the bottom cupboard and took out her new gourmet onion chopper, being sure Urs didn’t see it. Since the huge table was behind Urs they worked back to back and it didn’t take long for Urs curiosity to get the better of him.

It wasn’t the sound of her slicing the onion into quarters, no, that was fine. It wasn’t the pungent smell of the onion that got him. No, it was that intriguing chomp, spring, chomp, spring sound that drove him over the edge and into Susanna’s onion chopping domain.

There she was blithely pushing down on this rubber-handled plunger, causing what looked to be lethally sharp blades to dice the onion effortlessly. There were no tears, no cut fingers, no effort, and it looked like fun. Schiesse! He’d picked the wrong hand.

Urs reluctantly gave his sausage a little stir, set the control to low and succumbed to temptation. “Is that new? Do you need any help?” he asked, hoping to sound nonchalant and failing miserably.

“Well yes it is, Urs. Thanks, that’s so sweet of you to ask but I think I can manage here on my own.”

Urs face fell, “But if you’d like to try it out you can.” and rose, as his skillet was deserted faster than a sinking ship.

By the time all the ingredients had been combined and the big, flat, brown cake was sittiing on a plate ready to be served , Urs had been elected the official onion chopper. Now all he needed to do was learn the difference between dice and puree.

******************

“We’ll be up North all day tomorrow for a radio interview and another Borders so I guess I won’t see you tomorrow. Miss me?” Urs looked over at Susanna beside him as he stopped the car at his apartment.

“Of course, always. I have my appointment with Sam tomorrow night after the gym. I can hardly wait to tell him all about Vienna.” and her voice became soft.

Urs recognized that dreamy smile. “Um… just how much do you tell him. I mean…”

“Only my innermost thoughts and desires, Bag Boy. That’s all.” she teased and was rewarded by a horrified eyebrow raise.

“No, honestly, Urs, strictly the G-rated version. Cross my heart. You don’t really think I’d share any of our special moments do you? Those will always be just for us. You’re the only one I ever want to share anything with.” Her hand reached out to trace his cheek with her knuckles.

Her kiss and his response told them each what they needed to know.

“Night, Bag Boy, I love you.”

“I love you too, Houdini, Night.”

Chapter 86
Decisions

Wednesday, Hump Day, middle-of-the-week day, it was all downhill from here and it lived up to its name. Routines seemed to be clicking, no absent or tardy children, even school lunch was a hit, pizza. The response to the continuing saga of Vienna had elicited only soft, subdued ‘awwww’s’ not raucous squeals so the teachers’ lounge remained a haven of tranquility amid the storms in the cafeteria.

Urs text had arrived just as she was packing up to go to the gym.

“Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo.”
Your Swiss Lover

She’d zinged one right back.

It was a picture of her new onion chopper.
Hi Swiss Lover,
You’ve chopped you way right into my heart.
The Rosti Lady

***********

“Susanna, come on in, you’re looking wonderful. The mystery trip must have agreed with you...” Sam Roth gave her a warm hug and closed the door.

“Oh Sam it was so wonderful. We went to Vienna and…” For the next several minutes Susanna regaled Sam with the highlights of their trip, the sleigh, the dance lesson, and the Ball. “and we made love, Sam and it was so beautiful, so special. Urs is loving, tender, and patient. He really loves me Sam and I am so in love with him I can hardly think straight. It’s the best thing ever! I’ve never felt like this. I never dreamed it could be like this and…guess what? He wants to meet my friends, He’s really interested in what I think and do and…and one more thing. We both understand that we need some alone time too just for us but that’s OK. It doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.” Susanna finally came up for air and sat back in her chair, out of breath.

“I can see how happy you are Susanna, you glow. Your face tells it all. I’m so happy for you. It’s been a long time coming and you’ve worked hard to get here. How do you feel about that?”

“A year ago I’d never had believed my life would be so good. It has changed so much and I owe I lot of the credit to Urs. He’s been right there encouraging me. Remember when I told you that story about the Foxhole Friend? Well he’s been that for me just waiting until I need him. I can’t tell you how safe and comforting that feels to have someone who will accept you no matter what. He’s even taken on Muz and survived.” she smiled as she remembered their dinner in Toronto.

“And how are things with Muz?”

“Christmas must have been the season of miracles because when I was home she has changed. She’s actually letting Daddy wear the pants more, believe it or not! In fact, they’re on a Panama Canal cruise right now instead of Hawaii like she wanted. There may be hope for her yet.”

“So you haven’t had any nightmares lately then?”

“No, but I did find that horrid bracelet I detested. Muz had saved it. It was in the back of my dresser. I picked it up.” Susanna gave a shudder as her mind went back. “Then I looked in the mirror and I was getting ready the night of the accident and…”

Susanna could feel her heart pounding, harder, faster. Her skin felt like bugs were crawling all over it.
What was that pain in her chest? She couldn’t breathe!
As the room started to tilt she could hear Sam’s voice from far away, gentle, reassuring, “Susanna, breathe out through you mouth like you’re trying to blow out a candle. Slower, slower, that’s good.”
She felt him place the flat of her hand on her stomach to feel how fast she was breathing.

“Good. Feel your breathing, slower, slower. Relax your shoulders, that’s right.”

Sam continued to talk to Susanna in his calm, reassuring voice as her breathing gradually returned to normal and she leaned back, limply into the chair.

“How are you feeling now, Susanna?” his soothing voice asked.

“I thought I was dying!” her eyes were wide with fright. Susanna took a shuddering breath.

“I had these chest pains and I couldn’t breathe, like someone was holding a pillow over my face and I could feel things crawling all over my skin.” She ran her hands up and down her arms as if she were brushing them away.
“Then the room started to lean. Please tell me I’m not going crazy!” she pleaded in between little sobs.

Sam rubbed her back in comforting little circles as he leaned closer. ”No Susanna, you’re not going crazy and it’s not your heart. It was a panic attack. It’s a fight-or-flight response that just happens out of context. The first attack is usually the most frightening because you really think you’re dying.”

“First?” Susanna croaked. “You mean I’ll keep getting these? But why?”

“We can’t really say for sure what causes them. Sometimes there can be hereditary factors, but in your case I think something tripped your body's alarm system. Whether it was the memories of the bracelet itself or the fact that the bracelet triggered your memory of that night, I can’t say for sure.”

Sam walked over to the side table and poured some water for Susanna. “When you feel calm enough, I’d like to hear what you did remember about getting ready that night.” he said as he handed her the glass. “Since getting a piece of your memory back may have been the trigger, perhaps if the rest of your memory returns that will solve the reason for the panic attack.”

As Susanna sipped her water, he waited a moment for her to process all this information. Then he went on.

“As for having another one, it’s likely you will, but the first time is always the worst because you don’t know what is happening. I’ll teach you some of the techniques I used with you tonight to help yourself if you get one again.” Sam gave Susanna an encouraging smile and she nodded in agreement.

************

Susanna’s brain was mush and her body was a wet dishrag by the time she stumbled through her door. So many emotions were running through her mind right now.

At first she had felt like a walking time bomb just waiting for the next explosion, but Sam with all his expertise and understanding had patiently answered all her questions. Armed with the techniques he’d used with her, she felt much more confident about handling another attack. At least now she knew what to expect.

Functioning on autopilot, she managed to get things put away, undress and head for a nice, warm bath. She lay back in the cloud of fragrant rose-scented bubbles and sipped the eternal solution to one’s problems: chocolate, well really hot chocolate with an extra little boost.

As always, Urs was never far from her thoughts. How she needed to talk to her Foxhole Friend! But then what would she say?

She hadn’t told him about what she remembered at Christmas. Maybe he’d be angry that she hadn’t shared that. Then what would she say about tonight? ‘Well, Urs, there I was, fine one minute and then having a minor emotional meltdown the next?’

He certainly didn’t need to hear that, with all the stress and excitement of the Tour coming up. He couldn’t be worrying about her too. Better to just not mention it right now. There was nothing he could do about it anyway. If and when she remembered it all, she’d share, they’d kiss and the Prince and Princess would ride off into the sunset. End of story.

*************

She and Bag Boy Jr. were drifting off as the phone rang.
“Hi Swiss Lover, I got your text. It was great. Are you home now?”

“Hi Houdini, Yes, I just walked in. It was a long day, but we had a big crowd at the bookstore. The interview went OK. It was David’s turn to answer the whole Il Divo how-did-you-get-started question. I think it’ll be my turn next. I missed you.”

“Not as much as I missed you and I really mean that. Did you get my text?”

“Oh yeah! Right in the middle of signing this lady’s CD cover. I can just imagine what kind of message she thought I was getting from the huge grin on my face.”

“You should have showed it to her. That would have fixed her wagon.”

“Oh no, my messages are private. Once I start that, the guys will want to see them. Besides it’s an inside joke.”

“Will I see you tomorrow?”

“For sure, but I don’t know how late I’ll be. It might just be to stop by for a few minutes.”

‘As long there’s time for some of your special bear hugs. I need to feel your arms around me.’

“Are you alright, Susanna, really?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine Urs. Bag Boy Jr.’s just a little lumpy tonight.”

“Well give him a punch for me then and tell him to shape up or else…..I love you. Sweet dreams.”

“I love you too. See you tomorrow.”

Chapter 87
L’amore dolce

The new white robe with Susanna wrapped inside it had succumbed to the less than riveting plot of her current mystery novel. Pre-Urs it probably would have been a page-turner, but now she had much more interesting things to occupy her mind.

The buzzer interrupted her dozy daydreams.
“It’s me. The car is waiting. I can only stay a minute.”

Susanna buzzed back.
As she went to the window for a quick peek at the car, she began to estimate just how many times you could hug and kiss in a minute. Hopefully the driver wasn’t watching the time or if he was then please don’t make him Swiss.

“Mmmm nice car, Bag Boy.” She performed an open the door/hug combination, not wanting to waste precious seconds.

“Whoa, there Houdini. Let’s wait until the door is closed here.” Urs grinned as he hug-walked into the apartment and closed the door.

With her arms still around him, Susanna leaned back. “Well I don’t want to waste any bit of that minute.”

Urs the Economical concurred, using what was left of the minute and a few more besides to their best advantage. When they called time, Susanna may have lost count but both agreed, a little breathlessly, they been thoroughly kissed and hugged.

“I honestly can’t stay. This dinner thing was a big do, so Simon wanted us to arrive together in the car. I had him drop off the others first and I’m sure he’s ready to call it a night. By the way, I’m glad to see you wearing the new robe. You look beautiful in it, and feel even better.” he Killer-Grinned cheekily. “I hope you’ll retire THE PINK ROBE permanently.”

“Actually it’s not in robe heaven just yet, Urs. I thought I’d keep it around for those regularly scheduled non-romantic nights.” OMG! I don’t believe that just came out of my mouth. Oh well, it was bound to come up sometime. Now it’s out of the way.

Urs chuckled, “I figured you’d find a use for it,” then he became more serious, “but romance isn’t about the sex, Susanna, it’s about love, no matter what robe you’re wearing.”

Susanna reached up and gave him a hidden kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Thank you for that, Urs. You always say the right thing. I love you.”

“Loving you comes easily to me.” he murmured, kissing her hair as they walked to the door.

“I should get off early tomorrow, and I’ll be in charge of dinner for a change, if you’ll let me.”

“Sounds wonderful! What time will you be over?”

“I’m planning on around 5:00. Is that good?”

“Perfect.” Susanna played with Urs hand. “Um…I was thinking if you wanted to you could spend the night... nights…That is if you’d…”

Her words were swallowed up by Urs kiss as his arms pulled her into the warm, safe cave of his chest.
“Yes, I would like…I would like wery much.”

**************

Susanna was on Urs alert at 4:45, just in case. Her decision was a good one because Urs, his carryall and a suit bag, flowers and a bag of groceries all arrived at 4:50.

She chose her favorite pink cashmere V-neck, since he seemed to like the gray one and a new pair of black dressy jeans. She hoped he’d notice. He did, eventually.

First things first, Urs dropped his carryall, laid his suit bag over the chair. Then leaning around his bag of groceries and Susanna’s armful of flowers, they shared a long distance kiss.

While she found a vase and fussed over the delicate pink roses, Urs unpacked the groceries: fettuccine, cream, ham, triangles of Romano and parmesan cheese, the makings for a salad, and a wicker bottle of Chianti. “To Die For Fettuccine Alfredo with Ham,” he announced proudly, “my Italian grandpa’s recipe.”

“Yum, sounds delicious. The flowers are beautiful, Urs, thank you.” Susanna said as the found just the right spot for them on the table.

“Thank you.” Urs took Susanna’s hands and stepped back to look at her.

“For what? For letting you buy your own dinner and then cook it?” she laughed.

“For those jeans you’re wearing and that sexy soft, sweater.” Urs said as he ran his hands up and down her arms and then pulled her to him for a proper welcome kiss.

“Don’t you want to test my jeans to see if they’re soft?” Susanna quipped with a lopsided grin.

Urs couldn’t help laughing as he turned her around with a swat on the behind. “Later, Houdini, now find me an apron please and not the one with ‘Kiss the Cook’!”

“Aw you’re no fun!” She complained as he did a head shake/eye roll and put on the plain white apron she handed him.

While Urs put the water on the boil for the pasta and began to make the Alfredo sauce, Susanna set the table, opened the wine and fixed the salad.

**************

“That was a truly to die for dinner. Thanks you so much for doing that, Urs. I never knew you were so talented in the kitchen.” Susanna praised tucking her arm tighter into Urs as they walked in the cold night air.

“But you knew I was talented in other rooms ja, little teacher?” Urs chuckled, leaning over to give her a whisper-kiss in her ear.

“Well, you just might need to refresh my memory. I’m having a little trouble. Could you give me a clue?” she pleaded.

“S” ….”Oh now I remember… shower.”

“B”….” Let’s see, bathroom, no technically that doesn’t count even though the shower is in it. Sorry.”
“How about bedroom?”
Urs nodded.

“L”… “K”… “F”… “C”…. “P”…..”S”….. “Q”……“Z”…..

“Enough! You silly Swiss! You’re making those up, at least the last two… aren’t you? C’mon we’re here. Carmine is expecting us for dessert, his special homemade Tiramisu.”

**********

Mi Famiglia’s warm, friendly atmosphere was practically oozing out of the door as they hurried in from the cold.

“Benevenuta, Susanna and Urs. It’s been too long. Buona Sera.” Mario’s face lit up as they came down the stairs.

How different they are from the last time I saw them. The little awkwardness when they arrived, each one not knowing the other had been here often. I could almost feel Susanna still wanting the safety of her hidden table in the back.

Tonight they’ll want a secluded table for the right reasons. How close they stand, they can’t keep from touching each other, and their smiles…beautiful to see, bello per vedere!

He led them to a table in the back and returned with cappuccinos in just a few minutes, close on the heels of Carmine. After much cheek kissing, and back-slapping, Mario was again dispatched, this time for the Tiramisu, while Carmine, Urs, and Susanna traded stories of their Christmas and New Years.

What a handsome couple they make. Susanna has just blossomed and Urs seems so…happy. Before he would smile… ma in qualche modo, but somehow it wouldn’t reach his eyes. Tonight he smiles with his whole face.

When their dessert arrived, Carmine excused himself to check on the newest arrivals and Urs and Susanna were left to indulge their chocolate fantasies.

You know you’re getting me addicted.” Susanna leaned back with a contented sigh as she finished the last bite of her dessert.

“To me?” Urs asked, pretending to misunderstand.

“To chocolate, of course.” Susanna answered as if he were a dimwit. Urs put on his best hangdog expression, and tried to look crestfallen. “And to you most of all, Bag Boy. Now I think I’d like to go home."

Urs and Susanna wished Carmine ‘Buena notte’ as they left with their arm around each other. He in turn applauded their happiness, ‘Ah come l’amore dolce e’.

“Do you know what he said?” Susanna asked when they were up at street level again.

“Ah how sweet love is.” Urs translated.

Susanna’s kiss translated into the same thought.

**********

“When did you know?” Susanna had released her grip on Urs’ arm and taken his hand. Now glove and mitten together were swinging back and forth as they walked home from Mi Famiglia’s.

Urs looked smiled at their swinging arms and thought ‘only for Susanna’ would he do this. Then he remembered her question.

“Knew what?” he asked, hoping he hadn’t forgotten something important, but he couldn’t think what.

“When did you first know that you loved me?” Susanna stopped swinging and walking and turned to face Urs.

‘Oh that’s an easy one to answer.” Urs smiled, gave her a quick kiss, turned and tucked her arm protectively through his and started walking again.

“Remember that afternoon when we got caught in the rain and then later when we were napping on the sofa. Well, at least I was napping!”

Susanna opened her mouth to protest but he pinched it shut and sealed it with a kiss, “Still my turn. No interruptions now or I may forget!” he teased as she pressed her lips together mightily to keep from defending herself.

“Where was I, oh yes, well I dreamt I told you I loved you and you smiled and cried, but I believe they were happy tears. Then I woke up.” Ur ended triumphantly as if he’d just spelled the last word correctly in a spelling competition.
“Now it’s your turn.”

“First of all I was napping too, well daydreaming anyway. My hand just kind of wandered under your shirt and I wondered what you felt like. I only did a little exploring. I thought it was safe since you were sleeping. I didn’t know you were playing possum…pretending.” She dropped Urs arm as they arrived at her apartment building and Urs held the door for her.

“Back to the question now. Houdini. When did you know you were hopelessly in love with me?” Urs blinky winked with a grin as he punched the elevator button and the door closed, leaving them alone.

“Remember at Aunt Alta”s…”

“That long ago eh…”Urs began but received a lip-pinching kiss for his trouble.

“As I was saying, when we were in the attic at Aunt Alta’s looking out at the moon, I started singing ‘I see the moon’ in my mind and it just came to me.”

Urs pushed the ‘Hold Elevator’ button.
“Then why did we waste so much time?” he asked softly.

“I don’t know, Urs. I guess it just took us a while to get to us. But now that we’re here I never want it to end.” Susanna’s voice cracked with all the emotions she was feeling as her bright eyes looked at Urs.

“I won’t. Trust me, Houdini, it won’t.”

Urs lifted his arms and drew Susanna to him. He lowered his head. His mouth met her, as their lips clung. His tongue sought and found hers. Her hands crept up his chest and closed around the collar of his jacket. Their kiss was long and thorough and the sweetest kiss either had ever had.

Chapter 88
The Sleepover

Urs hung his suit bag in the closet, opened his carryall and set his shaving kit on the bathroom sink. His #1 fan stood in the doorway, beaming her approval and applauding with her eyes.

“What are you so happy about?” Urs asked Susanna as she sat cross-legged on the floor and watched him start a fire.

“I’ve never had my best friend and the man I love here for a sleepover. This is such fun!”

“I thought you didn’t go for threesomes?” he grinned.

Susanna put her finger to his lips, “Shhhh! If you don’t tell, neither will I.”

Satisfied that the fire was going to catch, Urs suddenly pounced on her and pulled her on top of him. “This better not be one of those sleepovers where you sit around with curlers in your hair, eating junk food, and painting your toenails!” he growled.

“How do… oh now I get it! Your sisters right? Well for your information Mr. Spy-on-Your-Sisters, you definitely don’t need curlers.” Susanna pulled the band off his ponytail and mussed his hair into curly mode.

“Our teeth are brushed and I don’t plan on serving any junk food tonight.” Susanna gave Urs a slow, sensual kiss that left no doubt she thought he tasted delicious.

“And as you can see my cute little pink toes are polished to perfection.” Susanna’s eyes twinkled as she slid her little pink toes up Urs leg.

“Then let the sleepover begin,” Urs murmured into her ear and began to lift the edge of her soft sweater.

They could feel the warmth of the fire on their bare skin as they leisurely undressed each other, with light, soft, yet somehow lingering kisses, like an angel from head to toe. As they lay on a quilt pulled from the sofa, the crackling, orange, red blaze of the logs illuminated Susanna’s fingers as they fanned through Urs’ curls to reveal his handsome face. His eyes rained tawny-forest fire down on her. The emotions that shimmered from her face were as fierce as his.

“I love you, Susanna.”

“I know you do, Urs. I love you too.”

They kissed with a heat that ignited their passion and threatened to consume them as Urs braced his knees on each side of her and pressed her back against the soft quilt. The passion written on his features as he dipped his head down made Susanna’s stomach drop to her toes. Urs’ kiss was fiery and passionate. He held nothing back as his mouth moved over hers, his teeth nipping at her bottom lip, and his tongue thrusting into her mouth.

Susanna slid her arms around his neck running her hands beneath his curls as she pressed herself to him tightly. Her hungry kiss matched his passion, tasting him and biting his lower lip as she moaned into his mouth. It was the most incredible kiss she’d ever experienced in her life.

Urs’ hair fell forward to slide over her neck and her breasts. With a groan, he drew back a little, his beautiful eyes meeting hers and holding her gaze with such an intense look she couldn’t have turned away if she wanted to. She felt the warmth of his breath, shallow and fast, against her cheeks.

Susanna’s own breathing was just as harsh as she felt herself began to spin out of control. Her blood pounded in her ears and she felt a zing in her belly. She slipped one of her hands from his neck, and his abdomen tensed beneath her fingers as she trailed them down. She cupped him and watched as his eyes grew dark with need. The arms he had braced on either side of her head trembled and his jaw tightened.

“Don’t wait, Urs, I need you now.” With one thrust, he buried himself deep inside her. She clenched her legs tighter around him as she adjusted her body and began to move in rhythm with him.

Her body trembled and sensations swept through her like a thousand tiny pinpricks exploding from her scalp to her toes as she gasped in sheer delight. Moments later Urs gave a shout that sounded like triumph, a pure male cry as her muscles contracted around him as amid the glint and glow of the flames, they flashed and flared in the most delightful conflagration of all.

They lay together in a quiet loving tangle, breathing rapidly, listening to the crackle and spit of the fire. Susanna sifted Urs’ chest hair through her fingers, as they kissed and murmured love words -- the intensely private exchanges of lovers who are becoming familiar. Finally, Urs covered them with a throw and they drifted to sleep.

Sometime later, they woke to the coolness of the dying fire. They traded sleepy, conspiratorial smiles as they stood up together, still feeling the hardness of the floor, despite the thick rug. Hand in hand they walked into the bathroom.

Urs adjusted the water as Susanna brushed her teeth; then they traded places. Lovingly and leisurely they washed each other, pausing occasionally for a kiss. They wrapped each other in soft, fluffy bath sheets and dried off, Urs teasingly shaking his head like a dog drying off as Susanna combed through her towel-dried hair.

Then he picked up the white fluffy bundle that was Susanna and deposited her by the edge of the bed. Like a precious gift, he unwrapped her temporarily, only to rewrap her in the warmth of his body as they spooned to sleep, Susanna, her Foxhole Friend and Swiss Lover, a perfect sleepover.

***********************

Susanna’s first thought was rain, the steady drip, drip on her face. Her dream was so real she could almost feel it. It was real!

Urs stood over her flicking water off his wet hands.

“What happened to the handsome Prince who wakes the Princess with a kiss?” she groused as she sat up, swung her legs to the floor, and then pursed her lips in an imitation of a cyber kiss.

Urs grabbed her hands and pulled her up to stand for a proper kiss, then pointed her in the direction of the bathroom and gave her a bottom a gentle nudge.

“Fifteen minutes till gym time, Houdini.” he called as he headed to the kitchen.

“Yes, Mr. Rise and Shine.” Please oh please let him be making coffee.

Susanna would have opened her mouth to protest the time limit but thought better of it because first of all, she knew it was a good idea, secondly, she didn’t want to miss spending any time with Urs, and thirdly, he wouldn’t have heard her anyway because he was singing along in German to one of the CD’s he’d brought when he’d been in Swiss Lover mode.

As Susanna rinsed the soap off her face and opened her eyes, a cup of coffee appeared attached to the hand of Mr. Rise and Shine.

“Bless you. Danke.” she said, tiptoe-ing up to his lips.

“Bitte.“ Urs smiled.

“You’re welcome. Right?” Susanna asked and got a thumbs up. “Yeah! another word of the day.”

******************

Today Urs took Susanna to his gym location today. He was greeted by several people as they checked in and Susanna garnered an envious look from one woman and smiles from a few men. Being a friendly person, she of course returned the smiles. Suddenly Urs seemed in an awfully big hurry to begin his exercise routine because she found herself hastily thrust toward the ladies locker room.

“I’ll meet you in the pool when I’m done, Houdini.”

**********

Susanna helped hook the lane ropes back after class, took off her water aerobics shoes and placed them neatly at the end of the pool by one of the lanes. She smiled to herself and wondered what he’d think of her new hairdo. To keep her hair out of her eyes, she’d given herself a ponytail, well actually ponytails, plural, one on each side of her head.

She warmed up with the breaststroke, then switched to a crawl, and was cooling down with a relaxed backstroke when some oaf bumped into her, sending her underwater. She came to the surface sputtering to see Urs the Oaf laughing as he hauled her up to her feet.

“I didn’t think you meant literally ‘meet’ me, you oaf!” she coughed. “Couldn’t you just have magically appeared in the next lane?”

“Then I wouldn’t have an excuse to hold you would I?” was his logical answer.

Her logical brain whispered, ‘Oh brother!’ but her romantic heart shouted, ‘Oh Yes!’

Urs lifted her easily out of the pool as he started his laps, but not before he whispered, “Meet me in the sauna in 15 minutes?”

Susanna whispered back, “Yes My Oaf” and gave him a gentle nip on the ear.

Urs may have been an oaf but he was definitely an on time one.

“Thank goodness,” Susanna breathed.
“I’m about ready to melt in here.” She pretended to fan herself and faint.

“I do seem to have that effect on women.” bragged Urs, as he thanked the gods they were alone and stole a kiss, using her ponytails as handles to guide her to his waiting mouth.

Susanna broke their kiss, her playfulness gone.
“Do you like it when the women scream for you and give you gifts and wait out in the cold for your autograph?”

What brought this on? Now of all times! Our first weekend together back in London. Can she still doubt me? Think Urs. You’ll be leaving in a few weeks. She’s just discovered real love, for the first time she’s totally given herself to someone and now you’re leaving soon. Of course she has doubts. Talk to her. Make her understand.

Urs sighed and ran his hands through his hair. This was one time when Mami’s patient waiting wouldn’t do. Susanna needed immediate reassurance.

With one hand on her shoulder and the other under her chin, he began, “Susanna, look at me. I’m a singer. Music is my passion. It’s a part of me I must have and I’ve been given this once in a lifetime opportunity as part of Il Divo to reach more people than I ever thought possible.” Urs paused and took a drink from his water bottle as he gathered his thoughts.

“In order to do this I put on this persona of Urs and give 100% of myself every time I step onstage. Then, for those two hours or so, I am allowed to connect with the audience, to feed off their energy and hopefully give them as much joy and happiness as I receive when I sing.”

Urs paused to give Susanna a chance to collect her thoughts and speak, but she only nodded, “I know that.”

“Don’t you feel that way when you teach? You stand before your audience of children, sharing your skill, filling them with a love for learning, being rewarded with pride and a sense of accomplishment when they connect with you...with what you’re teaching.” Urs spoke emotionally, gesturing with his hands.

Susanna looked down at her hands as she twisted them in her lap, and then nodded in agreement. “Yes I do feel that.”

“And at the end of the day when you leave your classroom stage, you are just Susanna and I am just Urs. Two people who love each other.”
Urs nodded his head as if to say ‘yes’ it’s true and finally felt himself breathe again when Susanna nodded in agreement.

“The audience, the fans make it possible for us to perform. Without them there would be no Il Divo. When they cease to support us, we cease to be.
Do I like screaming when I sing? Of course not, but that is how some fans show their support. Can I refuse to be gracious to people who wait to see us, to get our autograph, to give us gifts? No more than you could be abusive to children who misbehave or parents who are difficult.”

“No, not when you put it like that, Urs. It’s just…just that I’ve finally found you now and you’ll be going away so soon and I’ll miss you so much.” She put her arms around him and hugged him as if she would never let him go.

Gradually she released her grip on him.

“Here, let’s move down to the lower bench where it’s cooler. You’re face is flushed. Are you feeling alright?” Urs opened her bottle of water and handed it to her as his eyes scanned her pink face. “You look hot.”

“Well, thank you. You don’t need a bag over your head either.” Susanna’s sense of humor at least hadn’t melted. She took a long drink of water and carefully screwed the cap back on.

“No, I mean over-heated.” Urs pressed on, his face showing his concern.

“You do have that effect on me you know.” Susanna admitted honestly with her little self-conscious smile Urs had come to recognize.

“Do you say that to all the men you meet in the sauna?” Urs quipped, trying to put her at ease again.

“No, just the oafs. Now are you going to kiss me or what?”

At last the old Susanna is back. She does understand. I don’t want anything to come between us.


Urs chose kissing and although it was a wonderful decision at the time, it required him to spend a few extra minutes in the sauna while Susanna relaxed in the hot tub.

**********

“What happened to your handles?” Urs asked as they walked to the car.

“I’ve given them up temporarily for the free flowing Rapunzel look,” she said, running her fingers through her shoulder length waves. “I have it on good authority that it attracts more Princes.”

“Especially your one and only.” Urs kissed as he closed her car door and slid into the driver’s side.

*******************

Back at the apartment, Susanna had just put their gym clothes in the washer, “Breakfast or lunch?” Urs raised his voice to be heard over the noise.

“Both please!” Susanna called back. “It’s been days since your scrumptious dinner, Houdini. I’m starving!”

Urs gave her his Swiss Lover Look, unfortunately the effect was lost as his stomach chose this particular time to make its hunger known. They both cracked up laughing, “Later” they agreed, after all you need to keep your strength up.

Chapter 89
Movies and Memories

“Are you full yet?” Susanna asked, as if she were a child asking ‘Are we there yet?’.

Urs leaned back from the table and declared himself well and truly full.

“Good, now I can safely start on a batch of Mami’s cookies without wondering how many will go missing while they’re cooling.” she said as she started to rinse the dishes. Urs took them from her as she finished and loaded the dishwasher.

“You can pick two kinds,” she said in her schoolteacher voice as she spread out Mami’s recipe cards on the table.

Urs chose chocolate rum truffles and cocoanut macaroons.

“You remind me of Mami. You work the same way she does.” Urs commented, thinking out loud as he sat at the table and watched her.

“What way is that?” Susanna asked as she sifted flour into a bowl.

“You like things organized. You seem to plan ahead, no wasted effort. I like the way you get the entire ingredients ready first and then put them all together. And she cleans up as she goes along, just like you do.” Urs even amazed himself with this litany. He hadn’t really thought about it until now.

“Well, thank you, Urs. That means a lot to me. I know she must be a very special woman…with a very special son whom I love.” She added and came over for a hug and kiss, wiping her hands on her apron first.

“You are kind like her too, and you worry about other people’s feelings. She always loves having a houseful of the grandchildren around and you have your classroom of children.”

“The good thing about my children, however, is I can send them all home to their families when the bell rings.” Susanna laughed.

“But you do like children, don’t you?” Urs asked softly.

“I’m a teacher. Yes I like them, that’s part of being a teacher. I try not to think about children in general…I just teach them.”

Did that sound too harsh? I wasn’t being dishonest. That’s what I do. That’s what I need to do.

Urs was quiet for a few minutes, then he continued “I’d like for you to meet my family. They’ll be at the concert in Zurich in May.”

“May is usually pretty hectic since school is out at the end of the month,” Susanna looked at Urs and could see his eyes cloud with disappointment. “but I’ll really try to be there. If I can’t maybe I could meet them another time?” she suggested.

Crap! Why did you do that? How could that work into his busy schedule? Just show up on their doorstep with me like it’s show and tell? The concert would be just hi and goodbye, very safe. That’s probably all he wants. Here’s the cookie girl. Now you’ve seen her. Say goodbye Susanna. That’s a good girl.

“Would you really do that? Come with me to meet them sometime?” the sun just came out from behind that cloud.

“Yes, of course I would if that’s what you want, Urs.”

“Ja, I want that wery much.”

*************

The macaroons were safely stored and the truffles were half-tinned and half-cooling. Susanna hummed to a CD playing old standards as Urs perched on a stool in the corner farthest from the cooling cookies, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was blissfully enjoying Australian cookie timeout. There he sat, one leg crossed over the other, creating a safe little hole to set the huge, blue-speckled bowl. Meticulously, he scraped the last morsel of chocolate rum truffle dough with his spoon and finger when Susanna wasn’t looking.

Reluctantly relinquishing his prize, he wandered into the living room to start the movie, per Susanna’s instructions.

*************

“You must be a mind reader.” Susanna sighed as climbed over Urs and sank into the softness of the sofa with a sigh.

Urs, who had been just about to nod off, opened one eye and remarked, “Floor too hard for you, Houdini?”

“No, I’m just not soft enough I guess.” Susanna smiled ruefully, as she rubbed her right hip, to prove her point.

“Oh I think you’re perfectly soft in all the right places.” A now fully awake Urs rubbed some of those places, to prove his point.

Susanna giggled and stilled his hands. “Now watch the movie, Bag Boy. Look here comes the Oompa Loompas. See there’s the river of chocolate. I think Augustus falls in, then maybe it’s the gum girl who gets turned into a blueberry or something like that and the bad egg and then later it’s the Mike Teevee part, when he shatters like when we make love. I don’t want to miss that part.”

Finally. We get to the good part. Don’t worry, Susanna, I’ll make sure we don’t miss that. And if we do…

So as the children’s love of chocolate played out on the screen, Urs and Susanna’s love of each other played out on the sofa.

They played to a bare bones audience as Augustus fell into the river of chocolate. They clung to each other as the gum-chewing girl rolled around like a huge blueberry. Their words and sounds of love drowned out the ‘beep’ as the bad egg disappeared and if they weren’t paying strict attention and shattered before Mike Teevee appeared, they both knew which buttons to push to rewind to their favorite part.

The early darkness of January had fallen before Urs and Susanna roused themselves from their blissful slumber. As they attempted to get up, somehow they wound up on the floor, a jumble of blanket, arms, and legs.

“Oh no, not the floor again!” Susanna implored in mock terror as she fell back onto Urs chest and joined him in a fit of laughter.

“By the way,” she said lifting her head to look at Urs. “what F word was that?”

Urs couldn’t believe his ears. Shock was written all over his face as he blanched. “What do you mean?” he gasped, raising his head to look at her closer. Maybe he was hallucinating.

“Last night, was that F for floor or F for fireplace.” she grinned, remembering all those silly letters Urs was on about yesterday.

“ A... I guess F for fireplace.” Urs decided, with an audible sigh, his relief so apparent that Susanna had to comment.

“Uh Oh! I made you have one of those wind-your-butt-or-scratch-your-watch moments again didn’t I? Just like the giraffe. I’m sorry Urs. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, I truly didn’t.”

Urs kissed her hair. “That’s alright. I’m sure someday I’ll be able to figure out how your mind works and then God help me I will be scared.”

Urs untangled himself and sat up. “How does takeaway sound? Unless you’re not too tired to cook, that is.”

“I’m too tired to do anything” she said in her best whiny voice. “well almost anything.” she grinned.

“Susanna, you’ll be the death of me yet! Now go get your new robe on and be sure it’s tied…tight.” Urs’ voice threatened even as his body executed a smiling, head shake/eye roll.

************

“We must have been really hungry.” Susanna observed as she checked the pizza box for leftovers. None. Between them, a large vegetable pizza had disappeared.

Urs cleared away their paper plates and the empty box and came back to a Susanna waiting in waltz position.

“Urs may I have this waltz?” she asked formally.

“I don’t hear any music yet.” Urs said as he moved the coffee table out of the way.

“Well I wanted to be sure I had a partner first.” she smiled, knowing he’d say yes.

“When have I refused you anything? You know I can’t say no to you.” Urs admitted with his little boy smile.

“You haven’t, but I don’t want to take advantage, either. I just thought it would be nice to keep up our waltzing skills and maybe later we could snuggle and remember all the fun things we did in Vienna.

“Ja, sure. Now where’s this music? ”

“You’ll like this one I hope. It’s called ‘Waltzing with Bears.” she said with a grin.

http://rapidshare.com/files/215205944/07Wa...ngWithBears.mp3

By the end of the song, they were both singing the chorus and grinning during the rest of the song. Susanna decided it would most certainly be a good one for Urs iPod.

After a few more waltzes from a CD called ‘New Years Eve in Vienna’ they agreed to ‘sit out’ for awhile. Urs stretched out against the arm of the sofa and Susanna sat between his legs and cuddled into his back as they relived their mystery trip from the very beginning.

As she loved to do when they talked, Susanna held Urs hands, tracing them, remembering how they felt as they touched her, feeling their strength, their tenderness, and finding the special place on his palm where she would leave her kiss.

Urs smiled as she tenderly kissed his palm and folded his fingers over the kiss to keep it safe.

“You know I’m not leaving just yet.” he hugged her tighter for assurance.

“I know. I was just practicing so it’s perfect when that time comes.” she reflected wistfully.

“I’ve been thinking that I’d send you my kissing hand when we take our final bow. If you download the videos from the concerts maybe you can see it.” Urs tried to sound cheerful and upbeat.

“I’ll be watching. Can we go to bed now please? I want to feel your arms around me as we go to sleep.”

Urs held her extra tight, kissing her, whispering of their remembrances, memorizing the shape of her body molded to his as they fell asleep, one night closer to the reality of the kissing hand.

Chapter 90
An Early Start

Susanna opened her eyes and winced as previously little-used muscles made themselves known. I’m certainly not complaining, she thought with a smile, as she turned her head on the pillow and saw Urs watching her. Her heart gave a little thud at the soft, sweet smile on his face.

“Good morning, Houdini.” he greeted her with words and a kiss, equally gentle.

“Good morning, Bag Boy.” she managed, her voice still husky with sleep as she lifted her hand and ran her fingers over the dark blue-black shadow on his jaw.

Giving him a quick kiss she collected her robe and sauntered into the bathroom.

“I’ll start breakfast. What would you like?” Susanna asked, coming to stand at the side of the bed.

“I thought we could try breakfast in bed this morning,” Urs suggested as he reached over and undid the knot in her robe. Urs mouth curved into a slow, sensual smile as he practiced his Swiss Lover Look.

Just look at him, he knows the effect he has on me. One look and I’m a lost cause. Susanna slipped her robe off as Urs tugged the sheet away. She joined him with a sigh and shaped her body to his welcoming kiss that swiftly dispensed all thought of food from their minds.

What is it about her that makes me ache for her? She turns me inside out when I see the trust and love in her eyes.

Their kisses deepened and Urs groaned as she tightened her arms around him. Their lovemaking gathered pace until they were both lost, until Susanna felt the breath gathering in her chest and they tumbled together over the edge of the abyss.

Susanna slowly came back to a feeling of complete relaxation. “Urs? Are you still floating?” her eyes remained closed as she felt for Urs hand.

“Ummm I’m all tingly. Is that floating?” Urs kissed her hand and turned on his side to investigate a floating spot just under her ear.

“Either floating or a tapeworm. I vote for floating.” Susanna sputtered, causing the romantic attention her floating shoulder was getting to immediately cease and Urs head to bob up in alarm.

“Only kidding, Bag Boy. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” she chuckled, giving him a rousing kiss as an apology and turning over to look at the clock.

“Yikes! 10:30 already! Why didn’t you tell me? I only have an hour to get to church and if the traffic….”

Urs rolled her back over to him and wrapped her up in a body bear hug. “We have plenty of time. Don’t worry. It’s still early.”

“Urs, one hour is not a lot of time. And did you say WE?”

“Well I did bring a suit for tonight when we meet your friends so I suppose I could be persuaded to wear it twice in one day.” He announced, looking very pleased with himself to have caught her by surprise.

“That’s so sweet, but you know you don’t need to do that to impress me. I mean it’s a very personal thing.” she said solemnly.

“So does that mean you’re already impressed with me?”

“Of course, you silly Swiss. I love you remember?”

“Well in that case let’s get personal!” Urs growled and rolled her over on top of him and began tickling her.

“Urs! Look at the time! We’ll be late. Really!” Susanna said firmly.

Urs gave a huge sigh, reached over for his watch on the nightstand and showed it to Susanna.

The next door neighbors could and probably did hear Susanna’s outraged yell, “8:30! Why you little sneak! You changed the clock.!”

“I’m only trying to teach you the advantages of being an early bird. Now according to my watch we still have…”

“Plenty of time.” Susanna kiss left the Timekeeper speechless.

It seems at least this morning the early bird caught Urs.

*************

You are without a doubt the handsomest man I’ve ever seen.

Susanna’s weren’t the only openly admiring eyes who followed Urs as his hips moved with well-oiled ease down the main aisle of the church behind Susanna. His white shirt positively gleamed. The fine expensive fabric of his suit jacket skimmed his wide shoulders with impeccable ease. The sleek narrowness of his waist and hips and the length of his narrow-trousered legs pointed to the polished leather of his handmade Italian boots. He was a wonder to behold!

Urs barely noticed the attention since he only had eyes for Susanna. ‘How well we go together.’ he thought as he admired her black and navy fitted jacket and pencil skirt. Several times during the singing, Susanna glanced over to see his eyes closed, reconnecting with music from his early choir years as he sang familiar hymns with the rest of the congregation. During the sermon, she felt his hand reaching for hers and as they listened, their fingers intertwined, the connectedness she felt with him engulfed her.

As they came out of church, Susanna introduced Urs to several of her friends and Father Duncan of course. He was both pleased and relieved to take a back seat to Susanna as her ‘friend’ Urs Buhler. What a freeing experience to relax and carry on a conversation where every sentence did not end with a question mark.

They stopped for brunch on the way home, as Urs insisted he wanted to show Susanna off and after all they did make an extremely nice-looking couple. Susanna had no problem accepting and enjoying both the brunch and compliment.

************

Back at the apartment, Urs laughed as Susanna hung up her ‘good’ clothes. “Then are these your ‘bad’ clothes?” he asked, as his hands wandered over her soft, figure skimming sweats. Susanna’s eyes closed as his capable fingers gently feathered down her spine, lingered over her hips, then finally traced around her waist to outline the generous curves of her chest, feeling Susanna’s breath hitch as she lost herself in the feel of hands.

“My turn now, Bag Boy.” Susanna seized this golden opportunity to thoroughly test Urs’ Harley-covered chest for any defects. Her outstretched fingers massaged their way over the hard, warm muscles of his chest and down the corrugated leanness of his flat abdomen in search of defects. None were found. In addition, her heart was gladdened by the fact that his narrow hips and his tight buns were declared defect free. Urs thoroughly enjoyed but barely survived the inspection.

**********

The newspaper was divided, crosswords and entertainment sections conquered, and at last they surrendered to the sofa for a snuggly nap.

Darlene’s call woke them about 5:00. She and Bob were getting settled and would like to get together for drinks about 8:00 at the Berkeley where they were staying. Susanna accepted for herself and Urs and copied down the address.

“The weekend went so fast.” Susanna lamented as she watched Urs pack his things. He’d decided to put them in the car and have Susanna drop him off at his apartment after they left Darlene and Bob’s hotel.

“Well you do have collateral to guarantee I’ll be back.” He replied with a grin, holding up one of his shirts she’d hidden under her pillow.

“I just wanted to make Bag Boy Jr. a little more authentic till I have the real thing back.’ she whined, wrapping her arms up under his and over his shoulders.

The passionately hungry kisses they shared, as their tongues danced and curled left them in no doubt. This was as real as it gets.

Chapter 91
Getting Real

Urs the Armani-clad gave an appreciative ogle at Susanna’s entrance in the red equivalent of a little black dress. Wordlessly she handed him a silver necklace with charms spaced evenly around it and turned her back to him.

“Mmmmm you smell delicious! Angel?” he asked in between fastening the necklace and nuzzling her neck.

“Yes.” She answered as he turned her around to look at the charms.

“I call it my England necklace. See here’s Tower Bridge and Westminster and bagpipes….”she named the rest as Urs made a mental note…likes charms.

************

The Berkley was a quiet, seven-floor hotel in Belgravia, overlooking Hyde Park. Susanna and Urs entered the intimate lobby, done in a muted buttercup shade and walked past the leather chaises lining the fireplace. They turned left and went up a couple of steps into the Blue Bar with it’s’ strikingly painted walls. A waiter took their coats and showed them to a cluster of pale-blue armchairs on a small square platform of black crocodile skin.


“I glad I don’t clash with the décor.” whispered Susanna, noticing the Chinese red silk light boxes. Then smiled and waved a greeting as Darlene and Bob walked into the tiny room that barely held fifty people.

Darlene and Susanna greeted each other with Susannaese taken to the next level.

“Hello Tip Top Lady Bread Man.” from Susanna.

“Hello Dummy.” from Darlene.

Bob evidently was accustomed to this for he simply put out his hand and introduced himself to Urs.

“Bob Morris, nice to meet you.”

“Urs Buhler, it’s a pleasure.”

As she and Darlene finished their greeting and hug, Susanna suddenly remembered Urs.

“Darlene, this is Urs Buhler. Urs, I’d like you to meet Darlene Morris.”
Her eyes widened in appreciation as Urs pulled out all the stops. Susanna hoped she’d remember to breathe.

His smile may not have been up to Killer strength, but it was certainly stunning, leaving him to move in for the coup de grace, the kiss on the hand.

Susanna observed in amused and sympathetic silence as Darlene became Buhlerized. With perfect timing, Bob pulled out her chair, and she sat down rather unsteadily.

By the time they ordered drinks and a selection of tapas, Darlene had regained her composure and conversation resumed at a steady flow. Bob was very interested in Urs take on Swiss banking and taxes, which gave the girls time to plan for their day out on Tuesday. Urs was familiar with the area that Darlene’s German grandparents were from so during his travelogue, Susanna and Bob planned a night for dinner that agreed with all their schedules.

Monday seemed to be the best fit for everyone. Bob seemed especially keen to eat at Petrus, the exclusive five star French restaurant in the hotel. He doubted they’d be able to reserve the chef’s table where they could watch him at work, but hotel guests did get priority booking at the restaurant itself. He’d try to get a time as close to eight as possible but Darlene would confirm the time with Susanna tomorrow morning.

When the tapas arrived, Urs switched to club soda since he was driving. Between bites, Susanna shared some of her Urs escapades including the Borders signing and their dinner at the revolving restaurant in the CNN Tower and on the London Eye.

“You must really have Susanna under your spell, Urs.” complimented Darlene. “The last time I got her feet off the ground was on the ferris wheel at the state fair in Springfield and the minute she got off she threw-up.”

“Thank you for sharing, Tip Top Lady Bread Man.” Susanna said sarcastically.

“No problem, Dummy.” beamed Darlene.
The thought of payback for springing Urs on her, immediately came to Susanna’s mind, but then what are best friends for?

It was almost 10:00 by the time they said their goodbyes in the lobby and the valet brought the car around.

On the way to Urs apartment, he couldn’t say enough about how nice Darlene and Bob were, his compliments telling Susanna he had been more than a little apprehensive about meeting them.

“You sound surprised, Urs. What did you expect? That I would throw you to the wolves?” Susanna asked as she touched the screen for some relaxing music on the satellite radio.

“No of course not, but all night I was waiting for it and it never came.” He said as he turned the corner onto his street.

“What are you on about, Urs? You sound like you were waiting for the train or something.” Susanna asked, totally confused.

“They never once asked about Il Divo. How we got started? What are the others like? What do we hope to accomplish? They just treated me like a regular person.” said a rather amazed Urs as he put the car into park and pulled the emergency brake.

Susanna turned and put both hands on his shoulders. “Earth to Urs. News flash! You are a regular person; you put your pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us mere mortals. Granted, you have a rather unusual job that you’re passionate about, but Darlene and Bob don’t define you by your job….real people don’t do that.”

“How did you get so smart?” Urs asked as he leaned in for a kiss.

“It’s not me being smart, Urs, it’s me becoming a real person, and you’re loving me into that more every day.”

“Night, my real Susanna. I love you.”

“Night, Bag Boy. I really love you too.”

Chapter 92
Anticipation

All the children were lined up for P.E. except Jessica who sat with her head on the desk. “What the matter sweet pea?” Susanna asked as she squatted down to her level.

“I don’t feel good.” Student speak for anything from I didn’t get enough sleep, to I’m not very good at what coach wants us to do, to I really am sick.

“OK sweetie, you just stay here a minute, I’ll tell Mrs. Anderson you’re still here and I’ll be right back as soon as I drop the class off at the gym.”

Susanna popped her head into Rosemary’s room and asked her to keep an eye on Jessica while she was gone.

“Now then, where don’t you feel good?” Susanna asked as she pulled up a student chair beside Jessica.

“My head hurts and my tummy hurts, and my throat hurts too,” Jessica said in a soft voice.

“Just let me write out a nurse note and I’ll walk you to the Nurse’s office since I’m going that way.” said Susanna as she felt Jessica’s forehead. It did feel a little warm.

Jessica held the nurse note; Susanna held Jessica’s other hand as they entered the nurse’s clinic across the hall from the office. Jessica sat on the waiting chair while Susanna reassured her Mrs. Lonsdale the nurse would take good care of her. As Jean Lonsdale began to talk to Jessica, Susanna left to check her mailbox in the office.

Susanna was back in her room, writing instructions for the sub for tomorrow when she and Dar would have their girl’s day out shopping when a text arrived. She smiled as she received it, not only because it said everything was set for tonight at 8:00 at Petrus, but at how Urs had even changed her cell phone habits.

BU, she liked to think of as Before Urs, she would lock up her cell in her purse in the morning and unlock it when she left school, sometimes staying as late at 7:00. After all school had become her life and her permanent distraction after the accident.

Now she carried it with her everywhere, almost as an extra body part, not wanting to take a chance of missing a message or call from him. She wondered what he was doing as she texted with the time for tonight and got back to her plans. She might even find a special something to wear for the Dublin concert or afterward.

Susanna was just on the way to pick up the class from music, today was back to back P.E. and Music, when she met Jessica coming from the nurse. She did have a slight fever and her mother was coming to pick her up. Susanna told her not to worry about taking any homework with her, just to get her coat and bookbag. Then she would wait in the nurse’s office for her mother.

As Susanna came in from after school bus duty, she stopped to check her mail box, full as usual. Wherever did all this junk come from? If it wasn’t advertisements from school supply businesses it was paperwork. You’d think since they received all their regular announcements on their classroom computers they’d be killing fewer trees but that didn’t seem to be the case.

As she dug through her pile on the way to her room she found a phone message from Mrs. Flores, Jessica’s mother. She had been to the doctor and would be out at least until Wednesday. Mrs. Flores would stop by the office later, about 4:00 for any work for her daughter.

Susanna hurriedly gather up some worksheets planned for the next two days, plus Jessica’s free reading book from her desk and dropped them off with a get well note and assignment instructions at the office on her way home. Free at last!

Her motorcycle rang on the way home, but Susanna’s rule was never to pick up while she was driving. If anything, she was overly cautious since the accident and often her mind would go back to that night. No other car had been involved but the police had put the cause down to probable excessive speed since Susanna couldn’t remember anything except getting in the car and hearing the noise of the crash. Even when she had driven automatic she didn’t want to take the chance of being distracted and always obeyed the speed limits. That went double now that she had to concentrate on shifting.

As soon as she parked the car she listened to Urs voice mail. “I’ll see you at 7:15. I’m taking a nap. Your Swiss Lover”

Susanna had a huge smile on her face all the way to her apartment. Yes! A nice long bubble bath, lots of time to get ready, dinner and Urs, a perfect night!

***********************

Susanna was ready at 7:15 Urs time, 7:00 for the rest of the world. Tonight she’d put her hair up to compliment her strapless black shirred tube top with side ties at the waist and black crepe trousers with black strappy heels. Her top had a few rhinestones scattered for a little bling and she’d added a thin rhinestone necklace and drop earrings for a little added sparkle. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked this ‘shiny’ but after a mighty battle with her old self, ‘shiny’ won.

Seeing the expression on Urs’ face when she’d opened the door left no doubt it was the right decision. It had gone from stunned to appreciative to The Look. That was one of the most beautiful things about his handsome face. It was so expressive. It was like a flip book as each honest emotion he was feeling passed through his brain onto his face. His face just couldn’t lie.

“You take my breath away.” he said with adoring eyes.

‘I’m almost ready. I just need to put on one more thing…after.”

“After what?” Urs gulped, checking his watch.
She looks perfectly ready right now. I wonder how long it took her to get that look. Probably too long. Schiesse! I knew I should have gotten here earlier.

“Kiss, Bag Boy, after I kiss you hello.” Susanna grinned and moved in to hook her arms around his neck, thinking this was probably the first time in her life she was thankful to whomever had invented 3 inch heels. If Urs had been capable of thinking, no doubt he’d be thanking him too.

“Be back in a minute.” she said as she headed to the bathroom.

Several minutes would be a good idea, Houdini.
I think I should have taken a longer nap.

Chapter 93
Plans

There was a hushed, intimate, almost reverential atmosphere as they entered Petrus and were seated with Darlene and Bob in comfortable, tall burgundy leather chairs. They began with foie gras served with truffle toast and just when they thought it couldn’t get any better, it did. The service was impeccable, the wine list superb, and of course being with friends was the very best part.

Susanna couldn’t believe how quickly Urs, Dar and Bob were making friends. She had though Bob and Urs would get along well, and of course Urs would ‘knock any woman’s sock off’. Until tonight, though, she hadn’t realized how important it was to her for Dar and Urs to get along as friends, to accept, not just tolerate each other for her sake, and it was happening tonight, right here.

As they relaxed with coffee and brandy, replete with fine wine and outstanding food, the women excused themselves.

While Urs had always appreciated Susanna’s physical attributes, as he watched her leave, he suddenly realized that he was delighting in this particular view of Susanna more and more lately.

I wonder what delicious little scraps of lace she’s hiding… stockings…just a while longer, I can do this…

“So Bob, with the price of oil nearing $70 per barrel, what key level will we see next?”

Darlene returned to the table first as Susanna fixed her make-up.

“Darlene, I have a little problem I’m hoping you can help me with.” Urs requested, as he watched for Susanna to return.

“I’m hoping Susanna will be able to meet me for the Chicago concert on Valentine’s Day. Of course I’d like to invite you and Bob also. My problem is I’d like to get her something special and I’m hoping you might suggest something. I was thinking of some jewelry. The only thing I’ve noticed her wearing is a charm necklace and I’d like my gift to be a little more special than a charm. Do you have any ideas?”

“Well, we’ve only seen each other a few times since she moved to England but each time I saw her she was wearing this wide gold cuff bracelet. I think it was monogrammed. That’s the only piece of jewelry I do remember. So perhaps a bracelet?” Darlene suggested.

“Yes, that might work. Don’t say I told you, but Seb, the French guy in our group loves to shop. In fact he’s already helped me with some good places for gifts for her. I’m sure when we get to New York I’ll be able to find something. I really appreciate your help. Thank you and you won’t tell her will you?” Urs looked up to see Susanna returning from the ladies.

“Of course not and we’ll be looking forward to seeing and hearing you in Chicago. I can hardly wait.” Darlene whispered conspiratorially as Susanna arrived back and Urs pulled her chair out.

“Can hardly wait for what?” Susanna the keen-of-hearing asked.

“Urs has invited us to the concert in Chicago on Valentines Day and I hear you’ll be there too. Is that your President’s Day holiday?” Darlene breathed a sigh of relief that was all she’d overheard.

“Yes! Isn’t it great that it worked out that way? It’s as if the gods were smiling down on us. “Susanna leaned over and gave Urs a discreet kiss.

Susanna and Darlene made plans to meet tomorrow and shop till they dropped, beginning at 9:30. Susanna decided that Dar definitely needed to experience the Tube, they’d have high tea somewhere and end the day with a swim and the hot tub in the covered pool on the roof. Bob had a dinner meeting that Dar was skipping so the girls could continue their visit with room service for dinner. Perfect: an entire day of retail and girl talk therapy!

It was rather crowded in the two passenger roadster as they rode back to Susanna’s apartment. The sexual tension was so tangible it almost needed its own seat. It was as if all practical information needed to be imparted quickly before they reached their destination. Once there, the only conversation would be two lovers speaking the language of the senses, writing in the flowing penmanship of touch, hearing the romantic voice of passion, inhaling the intoxicating scent of love, and tasting the delicious sweetness of kisses.

A week from tomorrow Il Divo would begin its World Tour. Urs would be gone and it would be over three weeks until Valentines Day.

“Did you bring my iPod?” asked Susanna as she turned off the radio. Music was a distraction right now.

“Yes, are you finished with mine?” Urs answered, not looking at her and trying to concentrate on the road.

“Yes. There’s one to listen to before you go onstage.”

Urs glanced over quickly to give her a grin. “I’ll do that. Promise.”

”Don’t listen to any of them until it’s time, OK?” Urs requested.

Susanna smiled.

He is such a softie. I know he’s excited for the Tour to begin but this is his way of reminding me it will be hard for him to leave too. I don’t know how it’s possible but every day he says or does something to make me love him even more.

“OK. What time do you leave?”

“Pick-up is at 10:00AM. I need to be back by 6:00AM..” Urs blink-winked.

“I can do that.” Susanna promised.

“When will you be back?” she shifted restlessly in her seat to look at him.

“Late Wednesday night. I plan on at least seeing Mami and Papi. I want to tell them about our trip to Vienna.” Urs said as he parked the car and pulled the brake on so quickly that the car lurched to a sudden stop.

“And what exactly will you tell them?” Susanna asked warily, as Urs took her hand and pulled her from the car as if it would explode any minute.

“Let’s see. I believe it was only my innermost thoughts and desires. Did I get it right?” Urs teased as he held her arm to help her keep pace with his long, fast strides.

“I give up Bag Boy. You got me.” Susanna conceded, trying to catch her breath.

“I certainly hope so.” Urs said as he jabbed impatiently at the buttons on the elevator.

Chapter 94
Another Letter

Urs closed the door and pinned Susanna to it in one fluid motion. Her skin was tingling, her senses hummed as she felt his body tightening even as their lips and tongues gave gentle, encouraging, coaxing invitations of what was to come.

Without breaking the kiss, he shrugged out of his coat as Susanna slipped her cape off her shoulders. She disposed of the tie he had so thoughtfully loosened as her fingers raced down the railroad track of shirt buttons.

She detoured momentarily to help Urs’ frustrated fingers locate the hidden side zipper of her top, smiling into his mouth at the recollection of another zipper problem.

Returning to her own journey, she reached his belt buckle, undid it swiftly and pulled his shirt free from his trousers, sighing her contentment as the wrap-around warmth of his bare chest surrounded her.

With eager fingers they traded zippers, Urs toed off his shoes, socks disappeared and together they stepped over their clothes on the floor.

Susanna held onto Urs shoulders as he bent down and gently removed her sandals. He couldn’t help smiling as he became an instant giant to her as he stood up. He gazed down at her lovingly and had to remind himself to breathe, slowly.

Mein Gott! What a vision…does she even realize how beautifully innocent yet sexy she looks? That tiny scrap of underwear…her lace-topped stockings… The delight is truly in the details.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as he pulled her to him, “so perfect.”

Urs’ kisses charted a path down the length of her neck to mark a spot as his teeth gently nipped her shoulder. Her hands gripped his shoulders as she groaned. Her breathing was fast and shallow. Every part of her seemed to come alive at his touch.

Time stopped. His strong, lean-muscled body bent over her. His hand tangled in her hair loosening the pin holding it, freeing it to fall in a shimmering caress of golden brown over his forearm.

He seized her mouth in a deep, probing kiss, a sweet invasion as his tongue plundered. Urs didn’t just taste her – he devoured her.

Clinging and leaning together their breathing slowly eased. He rested his damp forehead against hers as a dimple curved his cheek before he planted a quick kiss on the curve of her shoulder.

“I think we can safely check off ‘D’ on the list.” he grinned as he pointed them in the direction of the shower.

When they reached the bedroom, Urs gave Susanna a gentle detour as he leaned her back on the bed. Reaching down one leg at a time he placed her foot on his chest and slowly peeled her stocking off, flipping it over his shoulder, as Susanna dissolved in a fit of helpless giggling.

“I thought you didn’t go in for threesomes.” he teased. “Just wait till I tell my favorite tee shirt about you, you brazen hussy!”

“Help me up and someday if you’re lucky, maybe we can both have a threesome…or sixsome…or whatever….you know!” she said holding out her hands to Urs.

From the minute they stepped into the shower it was as if the camera filming the two lovers had suddenly realized it had been on fast forward. It immediately attempted to remedy its mistake by switching to slow motion. Every move, every gesture, each kiss and soft, soapy caress seemed to be drawn out to savor, to imprint in their memory.

As the scene moved, in a white blur of towels, to the wide expanse of the bed, the camera continued to roll at the same unhurried pace. Even as the clock, now turned purposely towards the wall ticked away precious minutes, Urs and Susanna delivered their improvised lines with emotion, prolonged every delicious scene, delighted in every gesture as they finished their love scene and took their bows for an audience of two.

Urs the Early Riser turned off the clock before the alarm rang, took one last look at his still-sleeping Princess, sighed and woke her with a kiss.

“Good morning, Handsome Prince.” Susanna smiled, then remembered. With great difficulty she kept the smile, after all he’d just be gone two days.

While Urs the Tidy collected his clothes by the door and got dressed, he thought of Urs the In-a-Hurry and grinned. The old familiar head shake/eye roll seemed an apt comment.

I can’t remember when I’ve ever been in such a rush. Well maybe once or twice when I was teenager but then the whole thing was over in an instant anyway.

He gave a little chuckle, thankful those awkward days were past.

I just can’t get enough of her and we seem to match each other so perfectly.

Urs shook his head in wonder.

“What?” Urs asked as Susanna handed Urs the Rumpled his new red official sleepover toothbrush he’d so recently earned.

“Nothing, I’m just not used to seeing you messy, that’s all. I think it’s cute.” she rose up for a toothpaste kiss.

Urs rinsed and put his toothbrush away. “I’m not messy, just casually wrinkled. You’d be too if you put last night’s clothes back on… By the way I picked yours up and put them in the hamper.”

“Thank you, Handsome Prince, whatever would I do without you?” she hugged.

“Probably not live happily ever after.” Urs proclaimed smugly.

Susanna may have rewarded him with a swat but her heart said, ’You’re probably right.’

“Aren’t you going to get dressed?” Urs asked as he glanced at his watch pointedly.

“I am.”

“In your white robe?”

“Well I am wearing underwear.” Susanna grinned wickedly and flashed him to prove her point.

Urs quickly tied up the robe with an exaggerated sigh, well not too exaggerated.

“I’m wearing a long coat over it.” she reasoned logically. “It’s not against the law and I’m wearing regular shoes.” She said lifting up one pink-sneakered foot. “No one will notice. I’m only getting out of the car for a minute.”

“You win…. I guess it’s time.” Urs shrugged into his coat and helped Susanna on with hers.

Then although she had not planned it, Susanna went into extreme limpet mode as she clung to Urs and they tried out several types of kisses, looking for the perfect one to remember, loving them all until they decided on the last one. They had run out of time.

Per Susanna’s rule the G word (good-bye) was never to be spoken, however M words like miss and of course the L word flew around the car at warp speed on their drive to Urs’ apartment. True to her word, Susanna was only out in public long enough to switch seats and give Urs a quick kiss and stuffing squeezing hug.

“I love you. See you soon, Houdini.”

“Be careful, Bag Boy. I love you too.”

Susanna was so proud of herself. The panda eyes did not start until she was safely around the corner.

Chapter 95
Girl Talk

”This reminds me of the 'L' back home,” Dar said loudly in order to be heard over the ‘whoosh’ of the underground train as it arrived.

“Do you have anything special you need to get?” Susanna asked as they climbed up out of the Marble Arch tube station.

“Nothing really in mind, except a few souvenirs. It seems like forever since we’ve had a real girls’ shopping trip, doesn’t it?”

“Well, then let’s do Selfridges and a few others at this end of Oxford Street. Then I’ll take you to the Cornish Bakehouse for lunch.

“OK. All you’ve told me on the phone when we talked was that Urs was a singer with Il Divo so I read up about them, thanks for the autographed CD by the way. Now start at the beginning and don’t leave out any details. How did you meet?”

********************

“H-h-hot!” Dar waved her hand in front of her mouth to cool it off.

“Sorry, I should have warned you. Take just a little nibble to let more of the heat out. Delicious though aren’t they?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a turnover that wasn’t sweet before.” Dar said as she poked around inside her pastie trying to figure out what was in it.

“The wives would make them for their husbands who worked in the tin mines in Cornwall. They’d wrap their in their handkerchief and take it with them for lunch. They usually have beef, carrots, potatoes, and sometimes turnips. These are almost as good as the ones you get in Cornwall.”

************

“My hat’s off to whoever invented afternoon tea! “ Dar said as she gratefully sipped her tea and feasted on finger sandwiches, tiny cakes, pastries, and scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream. They’d ‘done’ Liberty’s and Harrod’s and Susanna had just finished the Thanksgiving trip in her saga of Urs and Susanna.


“I know. It just feels so…..civilized...” Susanna giggled quietly so as not to attract attention in the very formal setting of afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason.

“And then there’s the total bliss of getting off our feet. I really don’t think mine could have handled another ‘favorite’ place of yours,” Dar teased. “And neither could my credit card!”

“Yes, you did go a little wild with all those cashmere sweaters.” Susanna commented, helping herself to another cucumber sandwich.

“For a minute I panicked. I thought I’d lost you in the sweater department. When I came out of the dressing room the first time, you’d disappeared. Then when I came out again, there you were. What happened?” Dar poured more tea for them both.

“Oh, I was just looking at things in another department. I’ll show you when we get back to the hotel.” Susanna said breezily.

“That new black dress is to die for and the gold brocade jacket is so elegant. Are you wearing it to the Chicago concert?”

“I’m not sure, I thought maybe for the Dublin one on Sunday. It’s the first of the Tour so I want to look extra nice. I was thinking of wearing that red dress you saw on Sunday for Chicago, Valentines…red…..too corny?”

“No, that sounds perfect. I could tell Urs loved you in that one. He couldn’t take his eyes off you. I thought sure he’d dislocate his neck.” Dar sighed rolling her eyes.

‘Now speaking of concerts, let’s see, we’ve covered how you met and the Thanksgiving trip that brings us up to Christmas. Was Muz still hovering or better after being Urs-ized or whatever you call it?” Dar asked anxiously, eager for the blow-by-blow description.

Susanna laughed, “It’s Buhler-ized and yes she was better. We had one run in but I sorted it out myself. Dar, you would have been so proud of me. I’ve learned to ask people, sometimes even tell people what I want and it really works I’m amazed.! And Urs has really helped me stand up for myself. He’s so supportive.” Susanna’s face became soft and dreamy when she mentioned Urs.

“So are you and Urs in love? Has he said anything? Does he know how you feel? Oh course, what a silly question. You both look positively giddy in love. Are you? Come on girlfriend, I need details here!” Dar leaned in ready for the scoop.

“Yes, we told each other how we felt when we went on our New Years mystery trip.” Susanna had another attack of the dreamies.

“New Years mystery trip?” Dar choked out, as tea spurted down her sweater. “And just when were you going to drop this little bomb on your one true friend? I don’t believe you can sit there calmly munching like that!” she accused as she blotted her sweater with a napkin.

“Here, try a scone. They’re to die for. Then we’ll hit the hot tub and ‘all will be revealed’, well maybe not quite all.” Susanna passed the plate and took another bite.

****************

In the pool area on the rooftop level, they both lowered themselves into the steamy, relaxing, whirl, made the appropriate ah-ing, and Susanna began.

“Urs surprised me with a trip to Vienna. We stayed in this beautiful hotel, a suite with separate rooms, and we went on a sleigh ride in the snow and that when Urs told me he loved me.
Then on New Year Eve we went to the Ball and it was wonderful.”
Susanna sighed.

“and…”

“Then we came back to the hotel and …and we made love and it was so right. Oh Dar, I love him so much and he loves me and everything is wonderful!” There was a several minute pause as the best friends squealed, cried, laughed, and hugged. In other words how best friends share their happiness.

“I am so happy for you honey. You deserve all the happiness your heart can hold. I know you were so down after the accident. It’s wonderful to see you like this and Urs seems like a great guy. It will be such fun to be together at the concert. Wasn’t that nice of him to invite us?” Dar smiled her blessing on her best friend.

“He’s always thinking of other people. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about the roses.” and Susanna was off again.

*******************

“I think we’d better get out. I’m starting to look like a prune.” Dar said as she examined her fingers. “Besides, it’s time for show and tell. I want to see what else you bought.”

“Well, c’mon let’s see.” Dar urged.

“It’s nothing much really.” Susanna began to pack up her things spread out on the bed, hoping to distract Dar…not a chance.

“Susanna Nelson, I’ve known you how many years now? Don’t try to fool me. Let’s see what you’ve got here.” she made a swipe for the bag but wasn’t quick enough.

“OK, OK, don’t get you knickers in a twist.” Susanna reluctantly pulled out a set of pale pink baby dolls, all froth and lace and held it up.

“OMG! OMG! Let me see that thing! La Perla? He is just gonna die! That is the most gorgeous thing! “Dar squealed as Susanna handed it to her and she danced around the room with it.

“Dublin?” Dar asked as she reluctantly handed it back, sighing as she watched it disappear into Susanna’s bag.

“I thought I’d surprise him.” suddenly Susanna turned shy.

Reading her feelings Dar’s only comment was, “It will be perfect.”

****************************

”So what’s next for you and Urs? Just how serious are you two?” Dar started to hum ‘Here Comes the Bride.” as she traded her main course plate for dessert on the room service cart.

“No, don’t be silly….I don’t know how serious he is. We’ve never talked about that, just that we love each other and even that was only a few weeks ago. Give us time.” Susanna sputtered.

“Well he looked pretty crazy about you both times I’ve seen him.” Dar observed between bites of chocolate cake.

Susanna stabbed idly at what was left of her baked potato. “Not so crazy that he’d mention he even has a girlfriend.” she said under her breath.

“What was that?” Dar prompted as she set her plate and fork down on the bedside table.

Susanna returned her plate to the room service cart, plopped back down on the bed and folded her arms protectively across her chest.

“I said ‘Not so crazy that he’d mention he even has a girlfriend.’ In all the interviews they’ve done I can’t find one single time when he even admitted to having anyone in his life. It’s either silence or ‘no comment’ or ‘ask the others’. Why it that?” Susanna blinked back a tear and turned to look at her best friend.

“Have you asked him why he hasn’t mentioned you?” Dar asked straightforwardly.

“I can’t do that! It needs to be his idea. I can’t put words in his mouth.” Susanna sniffed.

“Maybe his manager or agent or whatever told him not to say anything to spoil his ‘image’. After all they are so handsome and sing those romantic songs. Maybe they think their romantic music will be more believable if they don’t say anything about girlfriends in public.”

“No that can’t be it. Carlos is married and the fans know that and are fine with it. David and Seb both have girlfriends and they admit it. They sometimes travel with them and sit in the audience and the fans even talk to them.” Susanna explained.

“Is that what you want to do? Meet the fans?” Dar probed.

“Oh no, I don’t want anyone to know who I am, just that I am, that I exist. I don’t want to be famous, only a part of the audience.” Susanna shook her head in distress.

“Have you ever thought that he might want to protect you, keep you from being photographed or asked a lot of questions? Or maybe he just wants to keep it private between you two because what he feels is too special to share.

There could be a lot of reasons why, honey. Like you said, it’s only been a few weeks. Maybe he’s just waiting for the right time. I’m sure you don’t have anything to worry about. I saw how he looks at you and it sure looks real to me.”

“You’re right, there are lots of reasons and as you said it hasn’t been that long. He’s probably going to say something while they’re on tour. Maybe even when I’m Chicago. I’ll just have to be patient and keep watching.” Susanna’s face brightened up and she gave Dar a smile.