Oslo Overtures

by Marion Ueckermann

  After checking her altimeter, Anjelica closed her arm wings partially before twisting her torso and legwing to the right. Over she went. Five perfect rolls that left her a little giddy at their precision. After three taps with her feet, she broke away and deployed her chute.

  Like thrown confetti, the sky was soon littered with colorful rectangles, while the streets far below were awash in red and blue as revelers waved the Norwegian flag.

  Anjelica wished she could be one of them, to see what they’d just seen—the tallest tree ever to appear in a field of blue, a shining star at its tip.

  Blue smoke rose to the sky in the distance, indicating the drop zone at the defunct Oslo Fornebu airport located on a peninsula just west of Oslo city center.

  As she unzipped her suit in preparation to land, she glanced across at Kyle.

  He drifted beside her, preparing for their landing, too.

  He gave her a thumbs-up accompanied by the biggest smile she’d seen on his face. Why did he have to look as good in red as he did in black?

  Kyle touched down close to her. While she gathered up her chute, he snatch up his own and bounded toward her.

  “We did it!” He almost knocked Anjelica over as he grabbed her and swung her around, tangling them both in a sea of silk. He brushed his hands over her hair and pulled her face toward his.

  She didn’t want to refuse his kisses. Not yet. For a little while longer, she still wanted to savor them.

  “I’ve news for you, Angel. I’ve decided to stay in Norway.”

  What?

  The wind taken out of her sails, Anjelica finally managed, “For how long?”

  “As long as it takes for you and me.”

  ~*~

  Satisfied, Kyle stretched out on his hotel room bed and closed his eyes. It was official—one hundred and eleven wingsuit skydivers from twenty-three countries, flocking in a tree formation. A new world record.

  When he’d stepped off the plane a week ago into this glorious land, Kyle knew they’d be successful. But some things he’d never anticipated. How could his future look so different than when he’d set out from New Zealand? Now it likely included no job.

  The upside was that it contained a beautiful blonde. He wouldn’t change anything.

  Tomorrow he’d fly the fjords in Kjerag for a week with Luke, and then on to Stryn. He’d ask Anjelica to join them, thereafter relocate to Stryn where she lived. She’d spoken about her family, and the restaurant they owned on the banks of Nordfjorden. When she wasn’t away wingsuiting, she helped in the restaurant. Maybe he could get a job there, too. He could wait tables, even cook. He was pretty mean in the kitchen. And when his ban was lifted, they could fly the world together. By that time, maybe, they’d have tied the knot.

  Yep, life was good, and he was on an incredible journey. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

  A pillow hit his head.

  “What’s the silly grin for, Sheppard?”

  Kyle threw the pillow back at Luke. His grin widened. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “I’ll bet it has to do with a certain petite Angel.”

  “Just thinking about the future.”

  “Well, for now, your future’s under the shower. I’m done. And if you don’t hurry, we’ll be late again.”

  Kyle rose and walked to the bathroom. “Maskil, if you hadn’t taken forever, I wouldn’t have to rush…again.”

  “Like you didn’t mind laying there daydreaming.”

  Kyle turned on the water, drowning out Luke’s heckling.

  Once dressed, they hurried downstairs.

  Kyle scanned the crowded room for a certain lady. He didn’t have to look long. It was easy to find Anjelica. All he had to do was listen for the rowdy Norwegians, and he’d spot her long blond hair. A few days ago, jealousy would’ve plunged deep at the sight of her beside Erick. Not anymore. He walked up and slid his arm around her waist.

  She glanced at him, offering only a smile.

  When the evening’s festivities got louder and wilder, Kyle leaned over and whispered in her ear, “What do you say we get out of here? Find some privacy?”

  She nodded. “Yes. We need to talk.”

  They did need to talk. All night long she’d been distant. Almost sad. Did she think this was goodbye? Didn’t she know this was only the beginning?

  ~*~

  Hand in hand they descended the stairs to the path in front of the hotel. Anjelica followed Kyle as he ducked between the trees. They crossed the grass in silence until they reached a secluded part of the garden, surrounded by shrubbery, flowers, and more trees.

  He pulled her into his embrace.

  She stiffened. She had to stop this now or she’d never have the strength to walk away.

  Kyle stroked her hair as he searched her eyes. “What’s wrong?” he whispered.

  “We can’t do this anymore.”

  “Why? We have our whole lives ahead of us. Didn’t you believe me when I said I’m staying?”

  Anjelica looked away. “You’re not good for me.”

  “What?” Kyle turned her to face him. “How can you say that when we’re a match practically made in the heavens?”

  Tears moistened her eyes.

  He pulled her close and held her tight as he buried his face in her hair. “I don’t understand. Was it the lighthouse fiasco?”

  “I—I can’t lose you.” Her lips trembled.

  Kyle kissed her cheek and cupped her face with his hands. “You’re not going to lose me. I plan to be around for a very long time. Now that I’ve found you, I’m not letting you go.”

  Anjelica’s sigh was so deep she feared she’d never be able to breathe again. “But I have to let you go.”

  Kyle’s brow furrowed. “You just said you couldn’t lose me.” His gaze searched hers again. “You’re not making sense.”

  She’d have to tell him everything. Perhaps then he’d let her go.

  “It’s because of Kristoff.”

  “Erick’s brother? Has he returned to the scene? Does he want you back?”

  Anjelica shook her head. “No. He can never return.” She swiped at the tears that threatened. “He’s dead.”

  Kyle pulled her to his chest and held her tight. “I’m so sorry. How?”

  “Wingsuiting accident.”

  He remained silent for a while, clearly processing what she’d said.

  “Kristoff Thuesen? I don’t recall a wingsuiter by that name.”

  Her head moved from side to side. “No. Kristoff Hagen. Erick and he were half-brothers.”

  “Hagen…yes, I remember that. About three years ago, wasn’t it? Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland? Crashed into the side of the mountain.”

  Anjelica nodded.

  “I had no idea he was Erick’s brother. What happened?”

  “Proximity flying. He got too close. He always pushed the boundaries. I begged him that day not to fly the lines he’d planned.” Anjelica bit on her lip for several moments, regaining her composure. “We got engaged that morning…”

  “You were engaged?”

  She rubbed her ring finger. “Yes.” For a while she’d still worn his diamond. Until the day she finally accepted he wasn’t coming back. “We fought about the flight. He was angry when he made the jump. Maybe he wasn’t concentrating…” She pulled away from Kyle. “For over two years I felt guilty. Perhaps if I’d handled the situation differently—” She swiped at a tear. “I can’t go through another loss like that. And I can’t risk feeling guilty again, like perhaps I’d caused it. I’m sorry. I should never have thought there could be anything between us. And I shouldn’t have let you believe that, either.”

  Kyle pulled her close again. He held her chin so she couldn’t turn away. “Do you want me to give up flying? Is that what you want? Would that make you happy?”

  Would it? If she expected that of him, he’d surely expect the same of her. She wasn’t ready to hang up her wingsuit yet. �
�I don’t know what I want.” Unashamed, she allowed her tears to stream down her cheeks.

  “Our days are in God’s hands. You know that. Every one of them. We could give up flying today and be knocked down by a car tomorrow. Or we could fly the skies together until we’re too old to climb into our wingsuits.”

  He made such a good argument. If only she could allow her heart to fall for it.

  “Come away with me to Kjerag. We’ll be there for a week, then in Stryn the next week.”

  “I live in Stryn.”

  “I know. We’ve spoken of it.” His smile was soft. “I could live there too…” He brushed his lips against hers and she longed for more. “I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  Anjelica closed her eyes.

  Me, too. Her eyes flew open. No. What was she thinking? She slipped out of his arms, turned and ran across the grass.

  “Angel. Stop. Wait.”

  “I can’t. I just can’t…” Rather the loss now, in this way, than later in the worst way imaginable. If she ended things tonight, the pain would eventually ease. And if she told herself that enough, perhaps she’d start to believe it.

  ~*~

  While Luke snored through the night, Kyle tossed and turned. He was losing sleep over this girl. He’d lose a whole lot more if he lost her. It hadn’t sounded good when she’d wanted to talk. How could he get through to her? Should he even try? He really wanted to, he just didn’t know how.

  Her words mulled in his mind. I can’t lose you. How foolish of him to think she wasn’t prepared to let him go. What was that quote about setting what you love free? Oh yes, if it came back, it was yours. If not, it never was.

  If he set Anjelica free, would she come back?

  He had to trust the One who had brought them together in the first place.

  14

  Much as Kyle wanted to take the opportunity to sleep in, Luke wouldn’t let him.

  “C’mon, Bro, the mountains of Kjerag await.” He shook Kyle’s shoulder again. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss our ride with the Norwegians. Then we’ll have to hire a car, and you know how I hate driving on the other side of the road.”

  Kyle didn’t care. Anjelica had a car. He was certain he’d be able to convince her to come along with them. He’d told her he was falling for her, that he was staying. And deep in his heart he knew she was the angel God had sent him from heaven. With a good night’s rest behind her, she’d surely feel different this morning.

  He turned onto his back and locked his hands behind his head. A smile washed across his face. He couldn’t wait for them to fly together just for fun, to lock hands with her in a freefall. The past week they’d had to conform to the flocking formation every time they hit the skies.

  Kyle grabbed the pillow and pulled it over his head to drown out Luke’s incessant nagging.

  “Is that how it’s going to be?” Luke bellowed.

  A foot jammed in Kyle’s ribs. The next thing he knew, he was being shoved across the sheets to the edge of his bed. There was nothing he could do to stop from falling out and hitting the floor with a thud.

  “Maskil!” Kyle hauled himself up and crossed his arms on top of the mattress. He peered over the rumpled bedding. Snatching his pillow from the floor, he flung it across the room. It hit Luke square in the face.

  Luke fell back onto his bed with a groan, feigning a mortal wound.

  Kyle hurried to his feet. “OK. I have dibs on the shower. We can find the Norwegians at breakfast.”

  Despite being hungry, first thing he’d do once downstairs, was find his Angel. Showered and shaved, Kyle left the room. He stopped at Anjelica’s room on the way, knocked and waited. A few seconds later he tried again. No response. Perhaps she and Brandy had already gone for breakfast.

  Kyle tried the dining room next and spotted Brandy. He walked to the table she shared with three male wingsuiters—another American, an Australian and an Italian. They all vied, without shame, for her attention. The Italian seemed to hold the upper hand.

  Kyle cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen Anjelica?” He directed his question at Brandy.

  “I thought she was with you. She wasn’t in the room when I woke this morning.”

  A sick feeling washed over Kyle.

  Brandy’s eyes widened, as if having an epiphany. “Come to think of it, neither was her luggage.”

  The nausea anchored in Kyle’s stomach. He ran outside to the parking lot. The space where her car had parked was now empty. He hurried back inside to the lobby.

  “Miss Joergensen? She checked out already,” the receptionist said.

  She’d gone? Without saying goodbye?

  When he’d left New Zealand for Oslo, he knew he was travelling to one of the world’s most expensive cities. He just didn’t know it would cost him this much.

  ~*~

  By the time Anjelica reached Ralf’s door, her eyes were swollen and her nose blocked. She fell into her brother’s arms. Leaving without saying goodbye had expended the energy of ten flights. But if she’d seen Kyle, she would’ve changed her mind. And she couldn’t do that. Rather the heartache now, than years of mourning later.

  Our days are in God’s hands. Kyle’s words had assailed her all the way from the hotel into Oslo city center. We could fly the skies together until we’re too old to climb into our wingsuits. What a beautiful thought to grow old with him.

  Come away with me… She should’ve stayed.

  Seated on the couch, Anjelica fought for composure, while Ralf made coffee. She grabbed another tissue from her bag, dried her eyes, and blew her nose. What a mess she was.

  Ralf returned to the lounge with two steaming cups in his hand. He passed one to her, then took a sip from his own.

  “Are you ready to tell me what’s going on?”

  Anjelica shook her head. She needed more time. Maybe after she’d finished her coffee. Maybe not. She walked to the window. Gazing through the glass across the fjord, she shivered. The fateful lighthouse event, just three days ago, had brought her to this place of resolution.

  She turned. “Can I stay here with you for awhile?”

  “Of course.” Ralf joined her at the window.

  They sipped their coffee and stared across the fjord, saying nothing.

  Eventually, Ralf broke the silence. “What time do you need to leave?”

  “Leave? I’m not leaving today. I said I needed to stay for awhile.”

  “Oh. I misunderstood. For how long, then?”

  “Around two weeks.”

  Ralf’s eyes widened. “T−two weeks?”

  Yes. She couldn’t go back home until Kyle had been to Stryn and left. “Too long?”

  “Of course not. But what do Mamma and Pappa say about this?”

  “They don’t know yet.”

  Ralf’s look told her she’d better let their parents know about her change of plans. “Well, if you’re staying, we’d best get your suitcases upstairs. And then you’re going to tell me everything. I’m not offering you my shoulder without knowing why.”

  ~*~

  Anjelica only wanted a place to hide for the fortnight, not a two-week counselling session. Ralph always meant well by offering his opinion at every sentence, but it was the reason for her reluctance to unburden herself to him.

  Yet, as she recounted the week’s events, Ralf kept unusually quiet. She stared at him, waiting for guidance, some words of wisdom from her older brother.

  As if sensing her desire, he spoke. “You should have a talk with my pastor’s wife. They have a love story they love to tell. She, too, fell for someone she swore she never would. A missionary. She despised missionaries. Landed up marrying him soon after, and I’ve never seen two people more in love than Adam and Eveliina.” Ralf took Anjelica’s cup. “More?”

  She nodded. At this rate she’d never get to sleep tonight. What was worse—being awake or asleep? Kyle consumed her thoughts during her waking hours, and in her slumber, he filled her d
reams.

  “Anjelica, if someone is your soul mate—God’s choice for you—you cannot fight it. No matter how much you try to run away, He’ll work it out.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. It would have to be a miracle, because Kyle had no idea where to find her. And by the time she returned to Stryn, he’d be gone, winging his way back to New Zealand.

  “Maybe I’ll talk with Eveliina tomorrow.”

  ~*~

  They filled the sky. Kyle, Luke, and the Norwegians they’d hitched a ride to Kjerag with. Western Norway’s skies had been even more tantalizing as those in Oslo, the flights breathtaking. But, despite the amazing experience, an emptiness made itself uncomfortably at home in Kyle. With each passing day, Anjelica’s absence weighed more on him. Where was she? What was she doing? Had she missed him, too?

  Each new day brought expectancy. Soon he’d be in Stryn, and he’d find her. In that small town, how many restaurants along the banks of the Nordfjorden could there be with the most beautiful blonde in the world working inside? Perhaps Erick would tell him which one belonged to her family.

  Kyle couldn’t help hoping the week apart had given her time to reflect. Had she struggled to function without him as he had without her? Was her every thought consumed with memories of his touch, his kiss?

  When he found her, he’d tell her—no, he’d show her—how much he loved her.

  Stryn was almost as beautiful as Anjelica. High mountains capped in snow surrounded lakes the color of her eyes. Verdant spruce blanketed their lower reaches, and in between the forests, grassy slopes in shades far lighter, rolled down to the water’s edge. Wooden farmhouses with turf roofs dotted the surrounds.

  He could live here.

  Keen to wingsuit from the mountains of Stryn with Kyle and Luke, the Norwegians had offered to drive them north. After checking into their hotel, the others sought the mountaintops, while Kyle took to the streets, determined to find the Joergensen family restaurant. In a town with only a few thousand residents, and a handful of restaurants, he didn’t have to look far. As he entered the first restaurant, Kyle knew he had the right place the moment he spotted the proprietress. The middle-aged woman held the same beauty and elegance as her daughter.