Chapter 46
We Meet at Last


“…part of Il Divo. I don’t suppose you’ve heard of them Annie Joy. We’re big fans; we call ourselves Divas.”

The shorter dark-haired girl’s voice broke into Urs’ train of thought as he frantically searched for a way to talk to Annie Joy alone. For a nanosecond he’d even considered, ‘Please excuse us for a minute. I’d like to talk to this woman you just introduced me to.’

“Actually I have heard of them,” Annie Joy said, turning to Angie and then she looked directly at Urs. “Someone recently sent me their Christmas CD.” She didn’t hold back anything from her smile. It lit up her face and Urs’ heart. He felt like he was the fan and she was the star act and in a flash of insight wondered if this was a little of what their fans felt when they were onstage.

Look, there’s that special ‘wake the butterflies’ smile of his. I have to keep this conversation going. Think Annie Joy.

“So Urs,” Annie Joy drew out his name with perfectly rolled r’s hoping he noticed, “is Il Divo doing a concert in Stockholm?”

“No we’re here working on an album. It will probably take a few months.” Was that a sigh of relief or disappointment? So, Annie Joy, you work at IKEA,” Urs said, lamely repeating what Angie had said in her introduction.” Well that was brilliant, Urs. You’re repeating yourself like a parrot. Those fans will be getting suspicious. Think of something fast.

“Actually I’m doing my training here…and working on a special project of mine. Even if I don’t get to see you again Urs I want you to know I did it. I took a chance and here I am. I’m here for six more weeks.”

If Urs and Annie Joy had cared to look at Gabi and Angie they’d have seen them exchange a look that said, ‘What’s going on here?’.
They were puzzled at how quickly the conversation had suddenly been hijacked by Urs and Annie Joy as they served questions back and forth to each other. It wasn’t that they were resentful, simply surprised and curious. Annie Joy certainly didn’t seem awestruck in the least and Urs was definitely showing more than polite interest in her. They may have just met but they seemed to have an ease of communication with each other that even Gabi and Angie had never achieved for all their sightings.

Then just as quickly, the ball was back in Angie and Gabi’s court and Urs caught them flatfooted, “I’ve taken up enough of your time, ladies,” he smiled politely. “Oh, I don’t suppose you know of any Japanese restaurants close by do you?” he asked, almost as an afterthought. “I had a most memorable Japanese dinner not too long ago and I’ve just gotten a sudden craving,” he added, looking pointedly at Annie Joy. Angie and Gabi didn’t seem to notice; they were busily conferring. A Divo needed their help and it was inconceivable that they might let him down.

“The closest is probably the Ming Garden, 4 blocks straight down on the left,” suggested Angie.

“There’s several that are better like Yasuragi, Murasaki, or Busan but they’re too far to walk,” added Gabi as she looked curiously at Annie Joy’s wistful expression.


“I’m kinda in a hurry,” Urs’ words came out a little louder than necessary and he silently chided himself for being nervous. Though not planned, it was probably a good thing because he now had Annie Joy’s full attention. “The first one sounds good. Ming Garden, 4 blocks straight down on the left,” Urs repeated slowly and carefully, hoping she was listening and praying she understood and would meet him. He allowed himself only a momentary glance towards Annie Joy and thought he saw a flicker of understanding, then with a goodbye wave he turned and headed down the street.

The three girls stood watching, well if they were totally honest, it was more like frankly admiring Urs’ fluid strut as he gave it all he had, just for Annie Joy’s benefit mind you. After all HL did have a reputation to live up to. He didn’t disappoint.

As soon as Urs disappeared into the crowd the girls turned and started walking back in the opposite direction toward their apartment. Annie Joy was so intent on thinking of an excuse to leave the girls and meet Urs she almost missed Gabi’s question. “So you’ve met your first Divo, Annie Joy. What did you think?”

He he, I hear what you’re thinking Annie Joy. Ya aren’t gonna tell the girls that are ya? Careful what you do say now. You remember I won’t abide lying.

Don’t worry Great Minnie, I’ll tell them the truth…just not quite all of it. I can’t remember how many times it worked for Rafe and I when we were growing up, but then I’m sure you knew that.

Great Minnie just chuckled. She knew she hadn’t raised any fools.

So when Annie Joy said meeting Urs was nice, she meant nice as in watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon, nice as in front row center seats to the Bolshoi Ballet performing the Nutcracker on Christmas Eve, or nice as in winning the lottery.

And when she said Urs was polite and good looking she meant as in the impossibly square-jawed, intense Urs in Armani with waves of dark curls caressing his collar and a smile that melted her insides as he kissed her hand and led her onto the dance floor.

But she didn’t fool Angie or Gabi. If they only learned one thing about her in the two weeks they’d lived and worked with her it was she did not do things by halves. There was never a time they hadn’t seen her intensely present in the moment and whether she liked or disliked something you always knew and they had never heard her use the word nice.

They had just gone past the store where Annie Joy bought her scarf when she made her move. “Uh, I really hate to ask but would you mind if I looked around a bit more. I know you probably think I’m a terrible shopaholic but…”

“Sure, Annie Joy, Angie can stay with you but I really do need to get back home and start supper. You didn’t forget Bekka is coming over to eat when she gets off work?” Gabi reminded her.

“No, of course not, in fact I was thinking why don’t you three just have a quiet catch-up dinner. I know you haven’t seen her in awhile. I can meet her later when I get home.”

“You don’t have to do that. We want you to meet her. What about dinner?” Angie protested.

“I’ll probably just grab something. Didn’t you say there’s a noodle house or something near here? Don’t worry about me. It’s not like I’ll get lost. I have my map and I am a big girl,” she laughed.

“Well, if you’re sure,” Gabi hesitated. “Will you be late?”

“Probably not, but I’ll call and let you know. Promise.” Annie Joy crossed her heart.

She turned to go into the store and heard Gabi call her name. “I’m making White Chocolate Cake for dessert. I’ll save you some.”

Annie Joy smiled and pulled out her already well-worn Swedish dictionary. “Vit Chokladkaka,” she called back and although Gabi winced at her pronunciation she gave her a thumbs up. Annie Joy grinned and went into the store.

Angie and Gabi smiled knowlingly and headed home.

“I don’t know who was more eager to get away from us, Urs or Annie Joy,” observed Angie.

“Was it our sparkling personalities or our witty remarks?” Gabi wondered as the two girls giggled their way to the corner.

Just how dumb did they think Divas were?

**********



She told herself she’d give the girls a five-minute start. Then it would be safe to go meet Urs. She lasted three.

Her mind raced almost as fast as her boots over the sidewalk and cobbled streets on her way to the restaurant. What a twist of fate! What had he told Cecile or the Divos about his cruise?
How was his Christmas break with her? Was she here with him now? She couldn’t wait to tell him about her new job, how right he was right about taking a chance. Had he missed her as much as she had missed him?

And then she was there. She glanced at her reflection the window next door, smoothed her hair, did a little practice smile, and offered up a prayer to Great Minnie. She pushed the door open and went in.

**********

Urs knew without a doubt his bladder would burst if he didn’t get up soon. Just how many cups of tea had he drunk while he was waiting? Maybe it was just nerves. What if she came in when he was gone and didn’t see him and left. For the third time Urs got up to remind the waiter he was expecting a guest, only this time he thought to describe her red beret and scarf…and finally gave himself permission to go to the bathroom.

He’d only been back to his table a minute or two when he saw her talking to the waiter, following him over to his table and now she was here, really here, smiling at him and…and real, no longer something that inhabited only his dreams. He couldn’t stop smiling.

“I didn’t know if you’d understand…about coming here I mean,” he said as he shooed the waiter away behind her back.

She pulled off her beret and as he helped her off with her coat she said over her shoulder, “Who me? I love all that clock and dagger stuff. Have you forgotten I carry my secret decoder ring with me at all times?” And as easily as that any awkwardness that lay between them was dissolved with her light-hearted teasing.

Their eyes caught and neither could look away until they inventoried each familiar feature not satisfied until every one had been checked off and safely stored again in their memory. Only then did his hand slide over her shoulder, then stroke her hair behind her ear and kiss her gently.

“Hello, my Petit Papillion. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too, HL.”

He held her chair for her and when they were settled across the table from each other almost as one they let out a little sigh. A sigh that said not only could they be themselves, they still were themselves, the same selves they’d been on the ship, the same friends.

The waiter appeared and Urs ordered tea and the first appetizer he saw on the menu, impatient for him to be gone.

“I couldn’t find you. I didn’t know where you were.” he began.

“I know. I am sorry I didn’t write but everything happened so quickly. My head was spinning. There really wasn’t time.”

“I broke up with Cecile. I wrote you a letter.”

Without thinking Annie Joy reached across the table and took Urs’ hand. “Oh, Urs, I am so sorry. I didn’t know. I never got the letter.”

He turned her hand palm up and absently traced her lifeline. “Don’t be sorry. People change and forget to tell each other. It was a long time coming. Cecile was always an either/or kind of person,” he looked up as if seeing Annie Joy for the first time. “I should have known it would never work with the kind of life I have in Il Divo.”

Their food arrived and for a while they both seemed content to keep the conversation light as they caught up on each other’s news

Annie Joy waited until their dishes were cleared. “Urs I just want you to know you were so right about taking the risk, even if it was scary, and trying for what I want…and not giving up. Thank you for believing in me. I know you weren’t the only one, just the final one.” Annie Joy paused for a breath and a sip of tea.

“I was scared too,” Urs spoke into his empty teacup.

“Yes, I remember, when you first joined Il Divo. Would it be a success? Did you make the right choice? More tea?”

Urs nodded.

“No, I mean now, since I broke up with Cecile and wrote to you.” He rushed on anxiously, “You never answered and I thought…I didn’t know what happened to you…where you were. I was worried. Then your letter was returned and I didn’t know how to find you.” He paused then his voice softened and dropped to a bare whisper, “I thought I’d never see you again.”

His hand covered hers. He tightened his fingers around hers and gazed into her eyes with a deep tenderness. His wonderful, deep hazel eyes glowed with warmth. His words slid out smoothly in spite of his thickened accent, “Annie Joy, I want to know if the attraction we felt on the ship is still there. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t lose you again.”

She leaned forward, her heart swelling, “I’ve missed you too, so much. I never stopped thinking about you…wondering. I still can hardly believe we’re in the same place.”

Of out habit she reached for her butterfly necklace partly hidden under the neck of her sweater. Her fingers idly played with it but suddenly stilled as she saw Urs staring at it. Of course, this was the first time he’d seen her wearing it. She lowered her hand to give him a better view and smiled shyly thinking what a perfect choice the inscription had been. He took both her hands and teased the delicate pulse points on the inside of her wrists with his thumbs. She saw his eyes widen and as he mirrored her smile she knew in a flash of insight he wasn’t thinking of the inscription but of his note to her.

‘The butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough.’