Chapter 41
No Es Muy Bueno

Urs cursed, wadded up his fourth attempt and aimed it at the wastebasket. He cursed again when it missed. At this rate Annie Joy would be opening the Christmas CD just in time for New Years.

Maybe he should send it without a note, just a return address. Of course he couldn’t do that. She’d think he was only doing his duty, fulfilling a promise and it was so much more. Ackshully that was the problem; it was his lifeline to her, his connection and he couldn’t bear to lose that. He had to get it right.

Should he mention the necklace? He’d give anything to know if she liked it. He closed his eyes and pictured it lying over her heart on the smooth, soft skin between the swell of her breasts. Not a good idea. Focus, Urs, focus. He could tease her about the chopsticks. No then she’d wonder why he hadn’t mentioned the necklace. Scheisse, why was this so difficult?

I should just say ‘From Urs, the heel,’ and be done with it. What’s the matter with me? Cecile is coming tomorrow and I’m obsessing about this note to Annie Joy. On the other hand when I mention we have to nip down to Kent on Saturday for a few hours of book signing Cecile will probably kill me so it won’t matter anyway.

Urs sighed and picked up another sheet of paper.

**********

5000 miles to the west and slightly south, Annie Joy was back in the swing of things at the home improvement store. Everyone was eager to hear about her cruise and although she described it in glowing generalities no one seemed to notice. Her boss was especially glad to have her back for the pre-Christmas rush. Not only were people buying Christmas decorations but many also came in wanting to spruce up their homes for the holidays with DIY projects.

Despite being run off her feet at work, she managed to find time for her own projects, both professional and personal. She was working on a resume and had an interview lined up for next week with a small interior design firm. Everyday she also tried to carve out some time to work on her latest brain wave, Where’s the Fire? At least that was what she’d called it when she’d described it to Syd.

Now just how much Syd understood was a whole different story. Oh she’d nodded and grunted appropriately as friends are wont to do but she had that glazed look reminiscent of Marie, the cinnamon roll queen. Annie Joy knew she should have waited to show her the picture of Urs. If he had this effect being wind-blown and wearing an orange marshmallow, Heaven help her if she ever saw him cleaned up.

Like most of Annie Joy’s creative ideas, this one just came to her. Why not do a collection of mix and match fabrics, wallpaper, even accessories and furniture with her favorite color red as a theme? She could see it in children’s rooms, kitchens, wherever you needed a punch of color. If she could work up a decent portfolio of sketches that might get her noticed and help get a leg up on the rest of the competition.

**********

Monday, scheisse, it can’t be Monday already, Urs swiped at the alarm to silence it. Why had Cecile insisted on taking that late flight back? OK Buhler don’t answer that, he warned himself, but he was too tired for even a self-satisfied smirk. He rolled up and threw off the cover, sending a cloud of Cecile’s perfume into the air. Thank Gott he’d remembered her favorite. That had saved the weekend….well that and his credit card. He smiled wryly as he thought of Annie Joy’s picture locked in his suitcase. All the credit cards in the world wouldn’t have been enough to save him if Cecile had seen that.

When the car came for him an hour later he was ready for Divo duty, suitably straightened and pressed, and fortified with several cups of black coffee.

Urs greeted Carlos and climbed in beside him in the back seat. As usual David was riding shotgun to accommodate his long legs so Urs leaned forward and gave him a pat on the shoulder and received a toothy grin in response.

“So the weekend with Cecile es bueno, no?” asked Carlos.

“You could say that,” Urs answered vaguely, as he unbuttoned his jacket and pulled it out from under him.

“Poor Denis here was beginning to panic when you had to go looking for her after the signing, weren’t you?” David nodded to the driver who gave him a sheepish grin. “Some of those natives were beginning to get restless, especially at the end when we’d signed our limit and started to leave. Where did you find her anyway?”

“In some lingerie shop.”

“Lucckkkyyyyy,” David half-teased as the car slid into the near lane and stopped at the curb.

“The jury’s still out on that. I haven’t gotten the bill yet,” Urs commented dryly as he opened the door and moved over to make room for Seb.

“The bill for what?” asked Seb, intrigued as he closed the door and Denis accelerated smoothly back into the flow of traffic. Had the other three been out shopping without him?

“French knickers,” David elaborated gleefully noticing Urs beginning to scowl.

“Si, Urs’ weekend es muy bueno,” Carlos added smiling broadly.

Urs was scowling in earnest now. Since when had bueno become muy bueno? He patted his pockets furiously but came up empty-handed. Where were those damn sunglasses when he needed them? With a sigh of frustration he folded his arms, leaned his head back on the seat, and closed his eyes, remembering Cecile’s several shopping bags. He had a feeling the only thing muy about his weekend would be the expense.



Annie Joy also managed to check off one more item on her personal list: making her tattoo permanent. Although Syd and Annie Joy worked in different departments at the store their days off coincided, thanks to a combination of patient persistance and downright bribery in the form of baked goodies for their supervisors.

So on Annie Joy’s first day off Syd went with her for moral support, declaring there was no way she’d watch. Of course her curiosity got the better of her and towards the end of the two and a half hour session she peeked in and stayed at Annie Joy’s insistance as the artist explained how to care for the tattoo while it healed. This was a very good thing.

On an organizational continuum Syd would probably be placed nearer to Urs than Annie Joy, who like other creative people tended to get so involved with a project she’d lose track of time. That’s where Syd came in; putting antibioitic ointment on the tattoo three times a day at first, then lotion to reduce the itching, reminding her to only take a quick shower, and all the while being a general cheerleader as Annie Joy looked for job oportunities. So thanks to her mother-henning, Annie Joy’s tattoo was healing beautifully with little scabbing or peeling when she had her interview with a furniture chain five days later.

**********

“This red project is a very interesting idea, Miss Lindstrom, but with the focus of our company I don’t see it as a good fit….right now that is. Actually we were thinking more along the lines of someone with a degree in interior design,” the 50-ish graying man smiled apologetically as he handed back her portfolio.

Annie Joy placed it in on the empty chair and leaned in a bit more towards Mr. Stewart, not ready to give up yet. “As you can see I’ve worked in almost every department over the last three years. I’ve also done some outside work for customers. I’ve included them in my references.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Lindstrom, but like I said earlier we could put you on with us part-time over the Christmas holidays but I’m afraid that’s all I can offer you. I am sorry.”

Annie Joy stood and collected her things. “I’m sorry too, Mr. Stewart, but I had something full-time and permanent in mind. Thank you for your time,” she smiled and held out her hand, disappointed but also feeling proud of the way she’d put herself out there and hadn’t settled for less than she wanted.

**********

“…and then I told him it had to be permanent and full-time,” Annie Joy ended her blow-by-blow account to Syd as she sat in the parking lot after her interview.

“Good for you girl. He doesn’t know a good thing when he sees it. Don’t worry, there’s a perfect job for you out there somewhere just waiting, you’ll see.”

“Thanks, Syd, you always know how to cheer me up. What would I do without you?”

“Lord only knows with you sweetie. I let you out of my sight for ten days and you come back tattooed and half married.! Say wanna drown your sorrows tonight?”

“What I’d really love is a nice long bubble bath…”

“No you…” Syd shouted into the phone.

“I know, I know, nine more days,” Annie Joy laughed at how easy it was to wind her up. “I am going to soak my feet though. It’s a wonder to me how they can hurt when they’re numb. I can’t remember the last time I wore these killer heels.”

Annie Joy Lindstrom you do so remember. It would serve you right if I came down there and washed your mouth out with soap for lying.

Can’t you cut me some slack here, Great Minnie? Heck, I’m doing the best I can. You keep harping about getting on with my life and I’m trying. I even put Ers picture in the drawer. Now if you can figure out a way to put my memories in there too will you please let me know?

“Annie Joy are you still there?”

“Uh…yeah I’m here Syd. Thanks for the offer to babysit me but I think I’ll just go home. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Hang in there, Annie Joy, night.”

**********

“Oh yes!” Annie Joy sighed wiggling her toes. Her portfolio, shoes, coat, and purse led to the sofa where she sat with her feet up going through the mail. Just how many credit cards did they think one person needed? As she put the third application in her pile to shred the doorbell rang. It was probably that crazy Syd with a bottle of wine. Wrong.