EPILOGUE

October 2010

The concert was in the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the same venue the band had played in on their first tour. As always the house was packed and the fans eager to actually see their idols but willing to listen to the opening act since they had heard great things about it too.

Cat started off with some gospel, one of her favourites, ‘O Happy Day’ and by the end of the song the fans were hooked. She had a small troupe of back up singers along with her small orchestra and they worked well together.

Tonight was especially poignant for Cat since she had learned earlier in the day that she was once again pregnant and had told Urs just before they left for the venue. Toni and Helena couldn’t figure out why Mami and Papa were so excited but they joined in the group hug regardless. At just turned four they were becoming quite a hand full and on the tour they had a middle aged nanny who kept them in line and loved them to pieces. Leica had been with them from the start, a nice Swiss widow with grown children.

Cat was really on tonight, giving the tracks her all, prancing about the stage to the more rock songs, her glittering green gown sparkling and showing off her trim figure. As she turned during the interludes she could see Urs and the children and Leica in the wings. Both of the twins liked to hear them sing, would sit raptly listening for hours while Urs and Cat worked in one of the studios, only coaxed away when Sarah and David brought Joey, now nearly 3 to their just past 4. Millie and Seb were expecting their first any day now and Carlos and Gerry had the two boys that were now spending time with Nana who had come to visit and care for them since they were both in school full time.

Cat was doing her second last track when she noticed the audience in the front row looking behind her and smiling, then waving at someone. She turned half way and there sitting quietly on the floor just behind her were Toni and Helena, grinning when she turned to look at them. She looked over to the wings and Urs shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ‘what can I do?’ She finished the song and walked sideways over to the twins, reaching a hand out to Toni, since he was always the ring leader. Helena took Toni’s hand and they smiled up at their Mami, looking like angels.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m so sorry for the intrusion. Once again my children have managed to elude their father and come to do one of their favourite things….watching Mami or Papa sing.” She gestured towards Urs and he came out on the stage, waved at the crowd and picked Helena up. With the other arm he scooped up Toni and carried both of them to the side of the stage, sat them on the floor, motioned that they should stay there and went back to Cat. She was holding her tummy with laughter and the audience loved it.

“As a penalty for being a soft touch with the twins, I volunteer to sing with their mother. How about That’s all I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera….the kids like it.”

Obviously the audience did too for the applause was deafening.

The small band started the intro and everyone laughed when Toni recognized it and clapped with delight. They sang together beautifully, caressing the words and notes, making it personal and not caring that the audience could see how much they were still in love after almost 5 years.

When the track was over, Cat thanked the audience for being so attentive and such good sports while Urs went to the twins, crouched down and let Toni climb on his shoulders. He picked Helena up and cradled her, kissing her fingers when she brought them up to his smiling face. Cat waved and joined them and together they left the stage.

Leica was full of apologies and also berated Urs. She had asked him to keep an eye on the twins while she went to the ladies room and he got so mesmerized listening to Cat, they got away from him.

Cat took the twins to her dressing room and changed quickly, eager to be in the wings when the guys made their entrance. Soon after that she and Leica would take the twins to the little cots they took everywhere with them and put them to bed. They were so used to traveling that they could sleep anywhere so long as their schedule wasn’t changed too drastically. Leica would stay with them after they fell asleep and Cat would be able to go out and enjoy the rest of the concert. She changed to jeans, removed her makeup and twisted her hair into a ponytail while Leica put the twins in their jammies. Then, each taking a child they went out to the wings, just in time for the guys were on the bottom steps ready to go on stage.

They got kisses and hugs from all the ‘Uncles’ and from Papa just as the music began to swell. Urs dropped a quick kiss on Cat’s mouth, took the risk of groping her bottom for a second, hopefully unobserved, and all four of them entered the set. Cat and the twins watched for the first track, an old favorite and when it ended they waved and blew kisses at the singers and went off to go to bed. Cat read them a story and before it ended they were both asleep. Leica dug out her book, turned the volume down on the speaker that piped music from the stage and installed herself near the door to watch her charges while Cat went back to the wings.

She watched the band doing what it loved…performing live for an audience. Their presence had become smoother over the past few years, but still seemed spontaneous since they constantly added little things, more of the interaction between them that the fans loved, more freedom to use body English and sort of dance to some of the tracks. The harmonies were better and more frequent now since they had discovered that the fans were very knowledgeable and liked to hear the chanting and descant.

Cat sighed as she thought about how good life was. Dear friends, a loving family and more to come and a husband that could make her melt with a touch. Boredom was not in their vocabulary for there was always something new to discover and explore. She saw Urs glance at her in the wings and blew him a kiss. He grinned at her, then turned to say something to Seb. Millie was behind her and put her arm around Cat’s waist.

Her grip tightened and breathing changed for a moment and Cat looked at the young mother to be in concern.

“Yes,” Millie said “but they are so far apart now I think Seb should finish the concert. Don’t mention it, Cat, when they come in to change.”

“Then you better go sit with Leica ‘cause Seb loves you so much he can read you like a book.”

“He’s got a pager like Urs had when you were expecting the twins but I couldn’t use it, not when he’s in the middle of a performance.”

“We never do things the easy way do we?” Cat said laughing lightly, remembering how Toni had arrived while Urs was on a television show. She paged him and he lost it totally, leapt over the sofa on the set and yelled to the whole viewing public….”Cat needs me….the babies…..NOW!” as he bolted for the doors and rushed home. He arrived in time to help Cat deliver Toni, the ambulance arrived just after and transported them all the hospital where Helena arrived, in the ambulance at the Emergency Room doors.

She went with Millie to the dressing room and timed a couple of contractions, reassured Millie that she had a long way to go yet since they were 7 minutes apart and only lasted 35 seconds.

When the guys came out to change Cat told Seb that Millie was catching a nap in with the twins. Something in her tone of voice alerted Urs that she was telling a little lie and when he had a chance he snuggled her and whispered “What’s going on?”

“Millie’s contractions have started but they aren’t close or long. You should be able to finish but not too many encores, please.”

Urs took her by the shoulders and softly said, “Cat, don’t leave it too late like we did. We can finish without Seb if we have to.”

She promised and when they went back on stage she raced to the other room to check on Millie. She was, in fact asleep.

Cat sat with her until after about 5 minutes Millie stirred and they timed another contraction. A little longer this time. Cat checked her watch and listened to the music coming in from the stage…they had about 20 minutes to go of the regular program then another 15 or so for encores. No problem.

Millie relaxed again and Cat waited patiently, remembering how it had been for her when the twins arrived. Her contractions were different, just a nagging back ache at first and she paid little attention until her water broke and the third stage was upon her. She made it to the lounge and called for an ambulance, paged Urs and prepared for the worst, trying not to push though the urge was overpowering.

The contractions were coming every three minutes now and lasting 50 seconds. Cat was getting concerned but put on a brave face for Millie who was now so uncomfortable she found it impossible to rest in between.

The first encore was a turning point. Her water broke and Millie looked alarmed.

“Babe, I’m going to call for an ambulance. The guys are starting the second encore, push the button on that damn pager. They’ll cover for Seb.”

On stage Seb felt his pants pocket start to vibrate and he quickly pulled it out and glanced at the text message…..’Now…Hurry!’

He stood in shock for a second until Urs spun him around and gave him a push. Still carrying his mike Seb rushed from the stage, saw Cat waving from the dressing room door and ran to her.

“Stay with her, keep calm. I’m going to the door to wait for the ambulance.”

By the time the ambulance arrived the other singers had joined them, offering moral support to the parents to be, relieved when the attendants loaded Millie in the vehicle and they roared off to the nearest hospital, St. Michaels.

Urs took Cat in his arms and laughed. “Why does everyone in this band always have to do everything the hard way?” He rocked her against his chest, loving the extra full and firm feeling of her breasts against him and knowing how arousing they would become in the next few months.

Cat laughed back at him . “We do it on purpose so life will never be boring. Like the song, A Mi Manera. Just think how much fun the next 50 or 60 years are going to be.

Urs hugged her and gave her strict instructions to have the next baby in the hospital.

“I’m a patient man, Love, but sometimes it wears thin and I like to have things done in a predictable manner. Although with you, the rewards for patience are always outstanding.”

She grinned at him and wondered if now would be a good time to admit that the doctor thought she heard two heart beats again.

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