Chapter THIRTEEN

Honey was really tired after the trip and the session at the bank but now it was all done, everything set up perfectly. They had been so professional, so accommodating at the large Geneva bank, but of course that’s what they were famous for, that and secrecy.

Her account was open, the monthly cheques from Sony would automatically be deposited with a 10% portion sent to the small bank in the village and arrangements for re-routing any parcels to the postal station in the village had been taken care of.

And she had seen the specialist that the doctor had asked her to see, should have the results of his tests in the morning.

She lay back on the soft bed in the hotel, resting her hand across her bump, thinking of baby names and drifting off to sleep.

**

Jonas and Katja were happy to see her back, fussed around helping with her coat and boots, laughing over the little treats Honey had brought them from Geneva.

“Katja, the doctor in Geneva says that Doctor Mueller was correct. So I have to be very careful not to gain too much weight. Did Jonas get me those sno-shoes I asked for?” She asked the older woman in slow but adequate German which made the woman laugh a bit.

“Very good, Liebling. You get better all the time. Next you must ask Jonas to teach you Italian as well, I think he still has some books like the one he gave you for German.”

She hugged the short round woman and laughed. “I’m so lucky I found you and Jonas….friends, mother and father, handyman and bossy cook, AND language teachers as well. My cup runneth over.”

**

Urs had asked to speak to Simon and they met in the office for what was to be 15 minutes and ended up being over an hour.

Simon was intrigued when Urs asked to speak to him on a personal matter, adding that he didn’t think it would have an adverse effect on the group.

When Urs arrived, on time of course, they sat in easy chairs in the large office, each nursing a brandy that Simon had poured them and he sat back in his chair waiting for Urs to get to the point.

Urs downed his brandy and leaned forward on his arms, took a deep breath and began.

“I don’t know how much of this you know so I’m going to start at the beginning and tell you everything.

“When we went to Ireland to work with Steve Mac, I was involved in a rather strained relationship with a woman named Nicole. Shortly after we got there, Sony sent a Canadian team over to install the 137A and I met this Canadian woman…Her name is Honey and she’s incredible…funny, cheerful, beautiful, talented. We fell in love and things escalated to intimacy, but then I came back to the UK and I thought it would be better for her and for me if we called it off and I stayed with Nicole. Honey is young and has so much to give…I can’t offer a woman much except lonely nights while I travel with the group.”

Simon was sitting up now listening intently.

“I can see you have guessed where this is going. Yes, after we got back from the Striesand tour, Honey told me she’s pregnant. She said she was asking nothing of me, just felt I had the right to know. By the time I sorted my head out and realized that I wanted to be with her more than anything in the world, she was gone, didn’t want to run the risk of causing me trouble. I can’t find her, she covered her tracks well.

“Simon, I need help. I have to find Honey.”

Simon rubbed his eyes with his palms then stared at Urs.

“You sure it’s yours?”

“Absolutely!! Honey was an innocent before…… the baby is mine, Simon.”

He stared at Urs for a while longer then asked a quiet question.

“Urs, do you want to find this woman because she carries your child or because you love her desperately and want to care for both her and your baby?

Urs didn’t hesitate or lower his eyes.

“I love her more than life, Simon. I need to take care of Honey and our child, to marry her if she’ll have me.”

“That, my young friend who obviously has never heard of condoms, was the right answer. Tell me whatever you know about where she has gone, who her friends are, her family, what she likes and hates.”

Urs started by showing him the e.mails and they went on from there. Simon cancelled an appointment and they talked until dinner time, then he abruptly sent Urs home and said they would talk again, he was not to worry about bad press. It wouldn’t be the first time Simon and Sony had dealt with such threats.

**