by Vicki Keener
When the women met at the appointed time and went for lunch, Darja said, “Mamma, that purse is beautiful. I'm so glad you treated yourself and I'm glad you didn't pick another black one.” The rest of the group complimented Celena on her choice and she beamed.
Darja's cell phone rang as they finished lunch. Her eyes danced when she noticed the caller. “It's Birch. Please excuse me for a moment. Hi Birch.”
“Where are you, honey? I stopped by the house, but no one's there.”
“The girls went shopping and we just finished lunch. Are you finished for the day?”
“Yes, and I want to spend the afternoon with you. Where exactly are you?”
Darja covered the mouthpiece on the phone and asked Mona where they were. Mona told her and Darja relayed the information to him. He said, “I can be there in twelve minutes.”
“I'll wait. Do you want to go to another movie?” She giggled.
“It's a surprise. I'll tell you when I get there, doll.”
She closed her phone and spoke to the group. “He's taking me somewhere, but he didn't say where. He says it's a surprise.”
Much to her chagrin, they insisted on waiting with her until Birch arrived. He greeted the ladies and helped Darja in the passenger side.
“Dear,” Gwen said, “Cocktails at our house at six and dinner at Morton's at seven-thirty. Can we count on you?”
“Yes, Mother, we'll be there.” He and Darja waved as he zoomed away from the curb.
Gwen turned to Celena and said, “It appears that another of my sons and another one of your daughters has formed an alliance.”
“Is that what we're calling it now, Mother? An alliance?” Mona said, chuckling.
“We call it spring fever in Norway,” Celena said.
“So do we,” Gwen said, “I guess it's universal.”
“Gwen,” Angelica said, “I usually do my hair, but I'd like to get it professionally done for the wedding. Can you recommend someone?”
“I took the liberty of hiring hair stylists and makeup artists to come to the house next Saturday right after lunch to do all the hair and makeup. Did I presume too much?”
Angelica hugged Gwen and said, “Perfect. Will it interfere with the wedding planner and caterers?”
“Not at all. Saturday morning the men are being shooed out of the house while we women takeover the upstairs to make ourselves glamorous. The men will be allowed back in the house fifteen minutes before the ceremony and not a minute sooner.”
“Wow, Mother,” Mona said. “You're getting in good practice for my wedding day.”
“Do you have an announcement to make, dear?”
“No, Mother, and it's further away than ever now that I see how much in love Angie and Cray are. I refuse to settle for less than what they have.”
The two families gathered in the den for cocktails except for Darja and Birch who hadn't put in an appearance yet. The doorbell rang and Cray rose to answer it. “Bekka and Freddie, since when do you stand on formality Freddie? You're a part of the Phillip's family with a different last name. Come in, please.”
Bekka entered the den and glided across the room to where Gwen and Alex sat. “I've been so anxious to meet you. Your kindness and generosity to us is breathtaking and mere thanks don't suffice.” She embraced both of them and turned to Lake and Ladd. “At last we meet in person. Ladd, it's been wonderful getting acquainted with you in cyberspace. But where is Birch?” She swooped around the room hugging and kissing everyone in the room including her family.
Mona said, “Birch took Darja away for the afternoon and we haven't seen them since they left.”
“Sounds like Birch,” Freddie said. “He's never one to pass up a pretty girl.” The group laughed.
“Bekka, how did your meeting with the Winthrops go last evening?” Mona asked.
She took a seat beside Freddie, gazed at him and said, “They're lovely wonderful people. I saw where Freddie gets it.”
“They loved her,” Freddie said. “My mother called this morning and raved about Bekka.”
Birch strode into the den in a custom suit, different from what he wore when he picked up Darja. “Before anyone yells, I realize we're calling it close. You must be Bekka. The resemblance between you siblings is remarkable. Bekka, Darja requests your assistance with her hair if you'd be so kind. She promises to be ready to leave on time for dinner.”
“If you'll excuse me, please,” Bekka said. “I will see to it that we don't delay anyone. Birch, it's nice to meet you in person.”
Freddie said, “Mr. and Mrs. Andersson, Bekka is the most amazing nurse. At the risk of boring everyone, I need to tell you about our last day and a half and it concerns the Angel Foundation. Bekka and I visited a few of the clinics and she identified seven more children, including infants who need our help immediately. I took her to meet the surgeons and she charmed them into agreeing to perform the corrective surgery and are even allowing her to assist during the procedure.”
“But you're here for the week,” Angelica said, “and right after that my family is returning to Norway.”
“Angie, if I promise to have her back here no later than Friday at noon to prepare for the rehearsal will you agree to let us return to the city this Sunday? The surgeons cleared their schedule and reserved the operating rooms for these seven children this coming week.”
“How can I refuse? I can't imagine Bekka being that persuasive.”
Freddie shook his head. “I made the introductions and she took over from there. The medical lingo flying between them had my head swimming. She's a dynamo when she wants something for a child's benefit.”
Cray turned to Mona and said, “Do we have enough money in the account for seven more surgeries?”
“I'll cover what the fund can't, but you'll have enough,” Freddie said, “Bekka talked so passionately about the need to my parents that Dad ponied up a half mil.”
“A half million dollars?” Birch said.
“Chump change, Birch. You know that.”
“Yeah, but it's not tax deductible. Dad, Lake and Ladd, if Freddie can tap into that kind of money without a tax deduction we need to get the Angel Foundation approved by the Federal government as a deductible charity.”
Lake said, “Ladd and I can handle that. It's a slow process, but we might as well begin now.”
“Honey,” Cray said, “Your dream is getting bigger and better with the help of our families.”
“There's more,” Freddie said, “but I'll let Bekka tell you at dinner.”
“You're in love with her,” Mona said.
He sent her a sly smile and changed the subject.
Upstairs as Bekka fixed Darja's hair, Darja said, “You're glowing. You like Freddie and you spent the last day and a half in bed with him. Is he good?”
“If I'm glowing it's because we visited clinics and arranged for seven more surgeries for needy kids.”
“That's wonderful, Bekka. Truly it is, but there's more to it than that. He gave you great sex. Are his parent's snooty?”
“No, they're wonderful people.”
“And the sex?”
“What sex? I'm finished. Slip on your dress, so we don't keep anyone waiting.”
Darja and Bekka entered the den and Bekka went straight to Freddie, who stood when they entered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Did you tell everyone that we're falling in love?”
“No, sweetheart. I left that part for you because I still can't believe a woman like you could love a man like me.”
Gwen looked at Celena and said, “Spring fever.” Celena laughed and Gwen joined her.
“Damn, I knew it you sneaky devil,” Mona said. “I've known you for so many years and I never saw you like this. Congratulations, friend. You chose the best.
”
Angelica said, “How's this going to work? Bekka, you have your career in Oslo and Freddie's work is in New York.”
“Don't worry. I'm flying home with the rest of the family, but nurses are needed here and I can sit for the licensing test and then apply for a work Visa. It's done all the time.”
“That can take over a year at times,” Lake said, “and there's no guarantee the U.S. will grant you one.”
“I have friends in high places,” Freddie said, “and in the meantime, I guess I'll be flying across the Atlantic many times between now and then.”
Agust said, “America is the land of milk and honey so it is said, but I do not relish losing half of my children to America. We did not approve when Angelica became an American citizen and next it will be Bekka. What's wrong with Norway? We have a high standard of living. In some cases we rank higher than America.”
Celena took his hand and said, “Agust, I would follow you to the ends of the earth to be with you.”
He gazed in her eyes and said, “We met in Norway and stayed in Norway. We waited three years to declare our love before God and marry.”
“You were a skinny fisherman from Finland, but the first time you kissed me I fell in love with you. We waited until we had enough money saved so we could buy our shop and be together. Times are different now.”
“I kissed you on our second date.”
“Yes, and I loved you then as I love you now. True love is capricious (she used the Norwegian word) and catches us when we least expect it.”
“If you are fine with this, then so am I.”
The others listened to the heart-felt exchange and didn't realize how they held their breaths until Agust gave his blessing in a roundabout way.
Bekka kissed Freddie and Dirk said, “Shouldn't we be leaving? I'm hungry.”
That broke the tension in the room and they piled into cars and headed to dinner.
A joyous celebration took place at the restaurant as they drank the libations and dined on the succulent food.
After dinner, Lake pulled Freddie aside and said, “If you marry Bekka while you're both in the United States, you can apply for a Green Card that's good for a year and the time involved is relatively short. It's a matter of keeping current after that. I don't know if you want to do that, but it's information worth knowing.”
“Lake, thank you. It's handy having lawyers for friends who I can trust. I'll talk it over with Bekka.”
“What will you talk over with me, sweetheart?” Bekka asked, taking his hand as she closed in on him.
“This is better discussed in private.” Freddie suggested to Lake that they meet for breakfast the next morning at Freddie's hotel to discuss their options.
The two sets of parents went home after dinner while the younger ones went dancing at a club Birch favored. They drove in separate cars. Ladd had no trouble finding dance partners since he was acquainted with many of the single career women in the city. Darja frowned as so many women approached Birch and asked him to save a dance for them. He grinned at Darja and promised her she had his undivided attention for the whole evening. Somewhat mollified she laughed and showed off on the dance floor when he proved to be a worthy partner.
“You sure you don't want to give those other women a twirl around the floor?” she said when they'd danced through three sets.
“Why would I want to do that when I'm with the most beautiful girl here?”
“Nicely said, Dirk.”
“It's what you wanted to hear and it happens to be true.”
“Even better,” she said swaying her hips against his groin.
“Will I be rewarded later?”
“Did you ever doubt it?”
“Not after last night,” he said dipping her low until her long blond hair touched the floor.
“How many of these women did you sleep with in the past two years?”
“If I said none of them, would you believe me?”
“No.”
“If I said all of them would you believe me?”
“Depends if you mean the women who approached you or every woman here.”
“The women who approached me,” he said.
“I counted ten. It's within the realm of possibility. Am I right?”
“How many men have been privileged to sample your charms?”
“You're changing the subject. Answer my question.”
“You answer my question first,” he said goading her.
She threw her head back and laughed. “Too many to count, but you're the best so far.”
“You crush me and then flatter me. I'm seeking truth.”
“Truth is in the ear of the listener. It's not ipso facto.”
“You're speaking Latin to me?”
“Is that what it is?”
“You know damn well it is. Darja, you're so bright. Why don't you find a field you like and pursue it as a career?”
“I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, Birch.”
“What interests you?”
“The American legal system.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I studied it in school, but there's no way to apply it where I live.”
“Would you like to be an attorney?”
“I could never afford it. Angelica set the example and I should have followed her lead, but I didn't. It's too late to start now, but I am considering becoming a paralegal. I could take on line classes and when I had my certification, I could apply for a work Visa here. Would you sponsor me?”
“I'd offer you a job and sponsor you.”
“When I researched on line I did learn that the courses approved by the American Bar Association carry the most weight as far as getting a job goes.”
“You are serious,” he said flabbergasted.
“You doubted me.”
“Honey, you keep me guessing and this comes as a huge surprise.”
“That means you were just egging me on when you said you'd sponsor me.”
“I'm sorry. Darja, follow your dream and I'll help you any way that I can.”
“I'm not sure I can do it as a foreigner. I guess I could apply for a Visa to study here. I do have some savings and if I got a job in a town where the rents aren't so high I could manage. I think Angie might help me, too. She's offered in the past, but I always said no.”
“We're heading home,” Cray said dancing with Angel and sidling up to Darja and Birch.
“Okay,” Birch said, “You two be good. You're not married yet.”
Later, Angelica and Cray crawled into bed naked and Angel said, “I want a repeat of last night.”
He laughed, crawled on top of her and said, “Okay. Let's start here, you sexy siren.”
At four in the morning, Bekka woke to find Darja sneaking into the twin bed next to hers. Bekka whispered, “Darja, where have you been?”
Darja snickered and said, “Silly question. Where do you think I've been?”
“Screwing Birch.”
“Bingo. You jealous because you didn't spend half the night in Freddie's hotel room with him?”
“We decided to show some respect to our elders.”
“How noble of you. Tomorrow you get to spend the rest of the week with him for the whole night. I don't get that opportunity.”
They continued to whisper. “Do you really like him or is it because he's available and willing?”
“Both. He's an expert at pleasing a woman. Too many of the men I've been with grunt, roll over and go to sleep.”
Bekka smothered her laughter in the pillow.
“Is Freddie considerate of your needs?”
Bekka laughed harder. “I can't believe you asked it that way,” she said when she c
ontrolled her laughter.
“Would you rather I say, does he stick it to you with no foreplay, release and go to sleep?”
Bekka laughed again, burying her face deeper in the pillow. Darja said, “I'm sure he doesn't or you wouldn't love him. Do the two of you want children?”
The question sobered Bekka. “Yes, desperately. We're in agreement on that. Darja, I love him so much it scares me.”
“Bekka, don't be scared. He idolizes you. A blind person could see it.”
Chapter 18
Cray and Angelica woke early Sunday morning at the same time. They used the bathroom and went back to bed. She said, “It's still early. We have an hour before we need to get ready for church.”
“Got any suggestions about how to spend that hour?”
“One or two,” she said straddling his body and leaning forward, so her breasts grazed his mouth.
He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples, watching them respond and harden. “You're the kind of woman every man dreams of and I'm the lucky guy who gets to keep you in my bed for the rest of our lives.”
“You talk too much,” she said lifting one breast to his mouth. Ten minutes later he had her so in need she demanded he make her come.
She flipped off of him, raised on her knees, leaned on her elbows and buried her face in the pillow to muffle her screams as he plunged in her and sent her spiraling out of control. He followed seconds later and she flattened on her stomach with him on top of her. He eased off of her and nudged her closer while he raised her leg over his hip and pushed his groin against her.
The Anderssons, Phillips and Freddie filed into the church and filled a pew. Angelica sat with Cray on her left and Darja on her right. Darja covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a yawn unsuccessfully. Angie whispered, “Didn't you get enough sleep last night?”
“No, Bekka kept me up talking.”
“Liar,” Birch said on her right.
“I wasn't talking to you,” she said in Birch's ear. “and it's the truth. After you dropped me off, Bekka and I talked to the wee hours.”
“What did you talk about?”
She put her mouth close to his, blew a puff of air in his ear and said, “That's on a need to know basis and you don't need to know.”