Chapter 49
Soon, Very Soon





“Ha det bra!” Annie Joy smiled as the woman moved off to the next showroom. Yes, today was a very nice day, signaling the end of the first phase of her training. She turned slowly around the room checking to be sure everything was in place. This was the first commercial display she’d planned entirely on her own and she wanted it to be perfect.

As a visual merchandiser trainee she reported to Mr. Sandberg, the Visual Merchandising Specialist, and today was the culmination of this phase of her training. He would be coming round just after lunch to see her display. If her design passed ‘The IKEA Way’ standards, i.e. inspirational yet functional, she would move on to the last phase of her training: logistics and sales.

Although she’d still be responsible for maintaining certain studios and activity areas, most afternoons would be free for her to work on the homeland project. For the past week she’d been designing fabric for bed linen, bed covers, pillows and curtains.

“There you are. We thought maybe you were meeting Urs. We’ll wait for you by the door,” Angie said as she waved toward Gabi hurrying toward them buttoning her coat.

“Has he come by to see your masterpiece yet?” asked Gabi.

“Not till after lunch. I’ll be glad when it’s over. Thank God it’s Friday,” Annie Joy sighed. “You two go on. I think I’ll just get some fresh air, maybe walk around the block. I want to be back in plenty of time. I’m really too nervous to eat. Urs is taking me to dinner tonight so I’ll make up for it. I might be late.”

“As in two days late like Angie was last weekend?” Gabi teased.

“I told you ahead of time, Gabi, you just weren’t listening. Karl’s roommate was away for the weekend. We couldn’t pass up a golden opportunity like that,” Angie wisecracked.

“I’m sure I won’t be that…” Annie Joy began.

“Of course not,” the two girls chorused and headed for lunch.

“I’m thinking we’ll see her around noon,” Gabi predicted with a grin as soon as they were out of earshot.

“That’s what you said last week,” Angie reminded her.

“Yes, but now she’s halfway through her training. She’ll be leaving in four weeks.” Suddenly Gabi became serious. “We’re really going to miss her.”

Angie looked pointedly at Gabi. “We aren’t the only ones.”

**********

Annie Joy buttoned her coat, tied her scarf securely around her neck, and pulled her hat down snugly. They had predicted snow showers this afternoon but so far none had materialized. She walked briskly to keep warm and stayed close to the buildings to protect herself a little from the wind.

She half expected Urs to pop in to take her to lunch as he had that first Monday. She pictured him as he stood there waiting just inside the door. He’d arrived unannounced about an hour before the rose—a single red rose. They’d all been waiting for her reaction when she got back to her desk from the morning training. The lone perfection touched her more than an entire bouquet. Evidently the other girls agreed, judging from the choir of oh’s and ah’s. But it was the card that stirred up the butterflies with a whole new kind of anticipation in her belly.

Petit Papillion,
I loved our tour yesterday but you will always be my favorite sight to see.
Urs

He was courting her…and she loved it.

He had laughed when she’d asked if he was on his lunch break. Then he’d explained how they would go into the studio one at a time to lay down their solo tracks. The harmonies would be worked out later and added as a group. So basically it was don’t call us, we’ll call you, at least at this stage of the recording. As long as he had his phone with him he’d be available to go to the studio when they needed him, and that did happen once when they were eating lunch at a nearby mall.

They saw each other almost every day after that, however their routine was anything but. They delighted in surprising each other. There were cartoons or small gifts hidden in pockets, text messages, phone calls to say good morning or goodnight or not say anything at all.

Annie Joy asked to go to the Absolut IceBar and even though it wasn’t his scene he came away appreciating it as a unique experience.






He took her ice-skating at Kungsträdgården and she helped him remember what fun it is to catch snowflakes on your tongue.






He became her quiz master as she worked to develop a detailed knowledge of the IKEA range. Who knew beds were named for Norwegian cities; bedding for plants and flowers? Chairs have men's names like Roger and Joel and Luppio and materials and curtains have women's names like Rosali and Lenda and Ingert.

She was his sounding board when he felt one of the guys took too long laying down his solo tracks or if someone, God forbid, was inexcusably late.

They grew closer and more intuitive about each other’s moods and their relationship thrived. They became experts at simply being together and they did go to the movies and kiss each other senseless, only this time it was Annie Joy who promised, “Soon.”

**********

“Hot legs…” It was Urs.

“Hi, I’m on a five minute break. Has he been there yet?”

“No. He’ll be there about 1:30.”

“How are you doing?”

“Alright…No I’m nervous. I think he’ll like what I’ve done but I’m not sure. What if…”

“I thought we buried all those. Don’t sell yourself short, Annie Joy. He’ll love what you’ve done. They wouldn’t have brought you all this way if you weren’t good. Remember you’re unsinkable. Believe in yourself; I do.”

“Good answer HL. You always say what I need to hear.”

“So do I get points?”

“You mean like in the Newlywed game?”

“Yes, but this time we can be real with each other.”

“It was always real with you HL. It just took me a while to realize it.”

“Hang in there, Petit Papillion.”

“I will Urs.”

“By the time I finish here I’m going to have a message telling me how brilliant he said you are, right?”

“Right.”

“I’ll be there when you get off work.”

“I can’t wait.”

“They’re calling me. Gotta go.”

**********

“Woo hoo!” Urs face split into an eye-squinching grin as he read her message. He hadn’t doubted for a second that Mr. Sandberg would love her presentation. Who could not love anything she did? She was Annie Joy. Everyone loves her. And you, Urs? When are you going to tell her how crazy in love you are? All this courting is fine but now she needs to hear the words. Tell her. She’s waiting.

Yes, he would tell her tonight. His lips curved into a smile, imagining being with her. Then he winced at the thought of the call he needed to make. It seemed old habits die hard he thought ruefully, but she was not an either/or person. She was not like Cecile he reminded himself as he punched #1.

**********

All her life, well at least as far back as Great Minnie, she’d had the patience of ordinary things. Changes in plans, waiting in line, the small irritations that seemed to upset some people rolled off her back. Of course Great Minnie’s refusal to allow any negative thoughts a place to stay in her home might have had a bit to do with Annie Joy growing up to be a both kind of person.

She had just shut down her computer when Urs called, apologizing from head to toe. From the rush of words and heavy accent she could tell he was upset and over such a little thing. So what if he was still at the studio working. Things like that happen. She’d love to come over there and wait till he finished. Now she could see exactly where he worked.

Annie Joy pulled her hat farther down and leaned into the wind as she turned the corner onto Svartensgatan and hurried toward A Side Studio, an unimposing looking business standing shoulder to shoulder with its neighbors, its glass windows shuttered with blinds.




She might easily have missed it if not for the fact that Urs had shown it to her on the weekend. She’d only seen the outside then but now, she thought excitedly, I’ll actually be inside the building where the Il Divo magic is created and her butterflies fluttered with excitement.

**********

“We need your input on a few harmony changes on ‘If I Loved You’. It shouldn’t take too long.” Per looked at the wall clock. “Let’s take ten. We’ve been at this awhile.”

Urs didn’t need to be told twice. He nodded and was out the door into the reception area like a shot. Neither Per Magnusson nor David Kreuger, the producer/songwriter team that was A Side Productions tried to hide their amusement. They’d accidentally overhead part of Urs’ phone call to Annie Joy. Five minutes, they agreed and then they just had to meet the woman responsible for Urs’ mellow mood the past two weeks.

The receptionist had gone for the day so Annie Joy held nothing back as she practically bowled him over with her enthusiastic hug and even more enthusiastic kiss. He laughed, then kissed her again. He felt almost giddy, full of a joyful happiness that could only be explained by being with this wonderful woman. Everything about her delighted him: her sweetness, her femininity, and her stunning sensuality.

She kissed along his jaw; then murmured in his ear, “I was thinking when you’re done here, could we have a quiet dinner at the hotel?”

He pictured them eating a romantic dinner. What a perfect setting when he told her how he loved her. He knew she would love his surprise. Soon, very soon they would be together.

“What a great idea,” he whispered back in her ear and gave the lobe a teasing nibble. Annie Joy’s giggle was cut short as he lifted his head. They were hit by a blast of cold air as the door opened. She felt Urs’ body tense.

His voice matched the drop in temperature, “What are you doing here?”