Chapter 24
After some persuasion from Rica and Lea the Divos had agreed to going on what the girls called a retreat to help Urs recover from his injuries and so they could get the help they needed
Simon had been instrumental in getting their schedule put on hold. Their best argument being that Urs would not be able to sing until he was fully healed. He had also sorted out a very exclusive and private resort for them. Lea made him book for six weeks. She wanted Urs to have the full attention of his therapist’s day in and day out for that six weeks.
So it was with a heavy heart and many tears from both that Sebastien and Lea said farewell at the airport before he left for the retreat and she return to her duties with the navy in Florida. Lea had forbid the others from coming to say goodbye. It was going to be hard enough as it was. She tried very hard to keep a stiff upper lip as people at the airport noticed them. Sebastien had given up trying. His tears rolled and his heart ached.
Lea hugged him. “I’ll be up to see you in three weeks. That’s not so long.”
Sebastien had no words, he just held on to her even tighter.
“Anyway Rica will be around to let me know if you guys are behaving while I am gone.”
Sebastien was happy to have something else to talk about. “David has really fallen for her. I have never seen him so happy.”
“You will keep and eye on him for me wont you Seb. He’s going to have doubts.”
Sebastien was a little shocked at her remark. “About Rica?”
“No, about himself. He’s not as self assured as he makes out.”
Sebastien smiled. “Are any of us?”
They both looked at the board when they heard the announcement for Lea’s flight and again without words their tears flowed. They walked hand in hand to the departure gate, Sebastien tightening his grip on Leas’ hand the whole time. He had never felt this way about anyone, even Sarina. Leaving her behind in Florida had been hard, this was utter torture. They hugged and kissed one last time and Lea walked slowly towards the gate. Lea turned and looked at Sebastien just before she lost sight of him as she rounded the corner and he blew her a kiss.
Sebastien did not see her break down and weep, holding herself up against the wall as other passengers walked passed. With head down and hands on her knees trying to control her breathing Lea saw the wheels of a security trolley stop in front of her. This she did not need.
The security guard tapped her on the shoulder. “Miss, are you okay. Do you need a doctor?”
Lea raised her head and it was all the guard needed to see. “Oh Dear. Show me your ticket.”
Lea handed the guard her ticket. “Okay. Hop on Miss I’ll take you to the plane. No sense in you walking and wailing.”
Lea did not argue she just sat in the cart next to the guard as he drove.

Sebastien was unable to move, it was as if his was made of stone, his whole body felt heavy and he just let the tears wash over his face. Through the haze he heard his name. He looked to see a woman about his age smiling sweetly at him. “I’m sorry to intrude Sebastien but...”
This was all he needed a fan. Not now. He was about to see if she wanted autographed but she continue. “I’ve been watching you and your lady friend. It’s hard the parting. And I’m sorry to say it doesn’t get any easier At least not for me. Just put my hubby on the plane. I’d like to offer you a lift home.”
Sebastien began to back away and shake his head. “No it’s okay thank you.”
She smiled again. “You look terrible Sebastien and my guess is you are getting a cab? Let me do a good deed for the day. Let me take you home.”
Sebastien did not have the strength to argue. “OKay.”
“Good. My names Louise.” They shook hands and began to walk. “I promise all I want to do is help you out. There have been times when I wished someone could have driven me home.”
They walked in silence to her car; once they were inside she looked over at Sebastien. He really must love that lady, he looked so helpless, so puppy dog sad, Louise’s heart hurt for him. “Answer one more question and I’ll leave you alone. Where too?”
Sebastien told her and looked out the window as more tears fell.
True to her word Louise left him alone to his thoughts and tears, he was very glad that he had not been in a cab.
About an hour later Louise let him know he was home. “We’re here.”
Sebastien looked out. They were parked right outside the apartment building. “How?”
Louise pointed to her sat nav on the dashboard. “Never leave home without it.”
Sebastien smiled. “You have been very sweet. How can I thank you?”
“Just look after yourself Sebastien. You guys have been through a lot.”
Sebastien lent over and kissed her on the cheek and then on the back of her hand. “You are an angel.”
Louise smiled. “Nar Just an Uber Babe helping out. You take care Sebastien.”
“I will.”
He got out of the car, waved and watched Louise drive off. If he had looked at the Uber Babes thread that night he would have found out that Louise lived in the opposite direction and her normal trip home of 40 minutes took her almost three hours. But she was so glad that she could help out and so were the other Divas in the thread.
Sebastien told the other Divos of his experience.
David was overwhelmed. “So who was she?”
“Her name was Louise, she had just put her husband on a plane and she’s an Uber. That’s all I know.”
Urs smiled.
Not wanting to dwell on the subject Sebastien changed it. “So you ready for this retreat?”
David tried to cheer him up. “Well it’s not as if we are in prison, we can leave if we want, we can have visitors and Simon says the place has everything... A Gym, pools, games room, internet access, day spa.”
Carlos lifted his eyebrow at that one. “And you think they are going to let us leave before the six weeks is up? Rica will have one of her boys posted at the front door.”
The room fell silent.

Urs spent the next six weeks in intensive physical therapy working on his deep breathing and walking to build up his strength. At first it hurt so much he never thought he would get better but then he could feel the improvement. His mood changed as he felt that he had a hope of being able to sing once more. He was also going through the trauma therapy with the others. Sometimes there were individual sessions, sometimes they had group sessions. They all got used to seeing each other weary and worn after a particular intensive session. And with the help of their therapists they all began to deal with their entire trauma, past and present.

Tam had been Urs’ constant companion for the first week and very unwilling to talk to any one but the Divos. Rica and Flea had convinced her to spend some time at the conservatorium. But she would return to the retreat each night to be with Urs. Sometimes between his physical and trauma therapy he would be so exhausted she would just hold him for hours as he slept.
Rica and Flea were regular visitors to the retreat spending time with their men. Helping them through, being there to listen and hold them.
Sebastien had almost worn his mobile phone out with calls and text to Lea. Their three week separation had been agony for both. So Lea had organised her roster to have the weekends off. So for the next several weekends she would leave Florida on the Friday night red eye, spend the weekend with Sebastien and fly back to Florida on the first flight Monday morning. This would be something she would continue to do until her discharge from the Navy.

Tam’s time at the conservatorium had been good for both her and the college. It was the best therapy she could have had. Playing the piano for hours on end if she wished. The students got used to hearing her music and would stop in and listen between classes. Some even coming in on their days off to listen to her. She was an inspiration to many and many students began to put more effort into their own work.
Spending time at the conservatorium had helped Tam work through her thoughts on the house. She had decided to keep it. Going so far as visiting on her own to allow the piano to be tuned. The day that happened she was absent from the college spending the entire afternoon playing the piano in the house. She cried and she laughed as memories flooded back as she played but she was home and she liked the way it felt. She had not told Urs or the others. She wanted to surprise them at the end of the six weeks.

The conservatorium had asked Tam if she and Il Divo would mind very much putting on a pre exam concert since she never did get a chance to play last time.
She ran the idea past the Divos and it seemed that their therapists agreed it would be a good idea. Back to the scene of the crime so to speak. It gave Urs something to aim for in regards to his signing and it would mean the end of therapy for the others.
So the last Saturday of their last week at the retreat the Divos got ready for their first official concert since the plane crash. Sebastien’s face was almost fully healed, Urs was confident that his voice could handle it, Carlos was just itching to show off his scar but poor David still had a cast on his arm. He had another two weeks to go before that would come off and he would be in physical therapy for a while. If he had behaved himself in the first place it would have been off and he could have taken advantage of the services of the retreat.

They were all back stage. The ladies Tam, Rica, Flea and Lea and Il Divo, David, Urs, Sebastien and Carlos. They all looked stunning. Il Divo of course as handsome and elegant as ever in their stage attire. The girls had gone out and bought matching long length flowing dresses in a deep burgundy that seemed to suit them all.
David could not resist. He took a photo of the four girls and called them the Divettes. This photo would take pride and place in their wallets and on their walls for years to come.
Tam went out to perform first and captured the universe with her playing. If it were possible Urs thought she was even better than the last time he had heard her play. Off stage they were all smiling as she played but this time it was not David with the biggest grin on his face it was Urs. She was defininately heaven sent and heaven had sent her to him.

When Il Divo took the stage they got a standing ovation before they even began to sing. They waved and blew kisses to the audience and then Sebastien spotted Louise in the second row. He tugged on Urs’ sleeve and showed him. David and Carlos moved closer to find out who he was pointing at. They all smiled and blew her a kiss but Sebastien did one better. He jumped off the stage and climbed over the first row to get to her. “Hi Sebastien this is my husband.”
Sebastien shook the man's hand. “You have an incredible wife sir.”
Louise’s husband smiled. “Don’t I know it.”
Sebastien kissed Louise on both cheeks and then jumped back on the stage.
Il Divo performed six songs that night and when Urs managed to hold the last long notes of ‘Somewhere’ he knew he was back.
After the concert Tam said that she had a surprise for them all. She had hired a limo and drove them out to her house. For David, Carlos and Sebastien it was the first time they had seen it.
Once they had all move into the main foyer she asked them to turn around and look at the front door. Next to it was a long key rack. It had 8 hooks with seven keys on it and each of their names written under the keys. She walked to the rack and placed her key above her own name. She had taken the idea form their apartments.
“I would like you to feel like this is your home too. To come and go as you please. To stay as long as you like. It is a big house and I would like to share it with you all.
If you go upstairs you’ll find a room each. I hope you like them. They all wandered up stairs in silence except for Urs. He had not taken his eyes off her. Tam smiled at him. “Don’t you want to see your room?”
He cradled her in his arms. “Only if it is the same one as yours.”
She smiled. “It is.”
Just then they heard David’s yell of joy.
Again Urs looked at the wonderful creature that had captured his heart. “What did you get him.”
“Oh just as many of those damn computer games as I could find. You know the ones he likes so much.”
“Tam, you are the water that quenches my thirst; you are the star that lights up my sky.” Urs bent down on one knee. “Tamara Teasdale will you marry me?”
“Yes Urs Buhler I will marry you.”
The End