Cousins
Chapter 11-20
Chapter 11
June 22nd 1999
Dear diary,
So it's soon midsummer or as we say back home Midsommar. I 've invited all my friends here for dinner on Midsummers eve, the 25th. I thought I try to make it as Swedish as possible.
With boiled eggs, pickled herring, sour cream and chives to that, Fresh potatoes(not Swedishs ones, but I have to take what I can get) for dinner. Oh I forgot I promised everyone the other night that I make meatballs too. And for dessert cream and Strawberries. I have to put a lock on the fridge, otherwise Ben comes in and steal them away from me. He knows about this Swedish tradition since he always arrived a few days before this holiday every year and he also knows that I'm making this dinner. And his obsession of strawberries. I can't describe it.
Anyway this morning I was standing in the kitchen making the meatballs(I thought I put them in the freezer and then just reheat them on Friday). Suddenly I just felt like someone was looking at me and when I turned around Ola was standing in the door smiling. I just smiled back at him and he came over and stole a meatball from the bowl(where I put them). He said he liked them and took one more. Then I thought that I better make him leave or something otherwise I wouldn't have any meatballs left. So I told him that we really should make this maypole like we have back home and made him go out finding material for it.
Why I did this was not only because of him eating the meatballs up. I wanted to put the discussion about going home. When he came back for me to come inspect it we had that to talk about and then I had to leave for work. He told me that the kids had helped him making it and that they were really excited about decorating it on Friday. He had told them all about how it was done and that we then usally dances this special dances around it. I can't wait to see Ben doing "Små grodorna"( the little frogs) again, I think I put him and Ola in charge of the activities.
I am at work now. I know that Ola has to go back. He really can't be away much longer. But at least he stays over the weekend. I don't want to leave, but I don't want to be away from Ola either so it looks like I'm going to leave Sunset Beach in a couple of weeks. I have to talk about it with Ben first so that he can find new staff before I have to go. Maybe we can work someting out about coming back real soon. And I really have to convince Ben on taken the famliy to Sweden next summer. It's too late to do it this summer. Then it should have been planned already.
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Chapter 12
June 25th 1999
Dear Diary,
Oh, what a day! It became good, but it started at 8.30AM, when I woke up noticing I'd overslept 1,5 hours. AND! Ola was nowhere to find in the apartment, not even a note, so I thought. After I gotten dressed and calmed myself down a bit I found it under the kitchentable. I guess my running around had made it fall down.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jag, Ben och barnen klär midsommarstången. Kram O.
Me, Ben and the kids are decorating the maypole. Hug O.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
So with a bottle of applejuice in one hand a sandwich in the other and my backpack(all checked keys, driver's licence, money) I headed out in the garden. There they all were, Ola, Ben and a bunch of kids. I was introduced to Bette's daughter Dee and Olivia's son Trey. They had already done half the job, so I could relax a bit! So I gave Ola a quick kiss on the cheek and drove off to meet Meg at her catering. She had told me the greatest news last night! She had gotten hold of Swedish strawberries. As Ben insists on importing Swedish coffee, she had contacted the same firm to hear about strawberries.
When I came through the door I heard that Meg wasn't alone, I recongized the voice but couldn't really place it.
Meg: Hi, Tina! How are you? You look stressed!
Me: I am. I just woke up and found out I overslept one and a half hours.
The voice: But girl! Sit down! Catch your breath and have yourself a cup of this great Swedish coffee that "Prince of Darkness" insists on importing.
Now I remembered! It was Bette, the neighbour of Meg and Ben's. She and her family had left for vacation the day after the re-opening of the Deep.
Bette: Tina, was it? Nice to finally meet you!
I tried to say something but she continued in the same breath.
Yes, I know that we meet at the Deep, but we didn't get a chance to talk then. Meg have just filled me in on everything that have happened since then. Even that you got Ben to sing and in front of an audience! You certainly deserve to get a name!
Me: Nice to meet you too Bette! I hope you and your family had a nice vacation. What kind of name?
Meg: Oh, Bette has her own names of the most people she knows. POD is Ben's and she calls me Muffin! So watch out!
Bette: I have to think a bit of it though, is tonight soon enough?
Me: I guess so. I don't think there's any way of getting out of it?!
Meg: Noway! You'll gonna get one. I'm just surprised that she hasn't come up with one already!
Bette: Oh, give me a break. I've just arrived back home!
Me: Meg, the strawberries?
Meg: Of course, I'll get them at once.
Me: Great, I have to get to the florist's. I promised the girls that I make wreaths to have on their head.
Meg: Would you have time for that, or do you need help?
Me: I think I can manage, I didn't have to do anything about the maypole. Ben and Ola had taken charge of that and was halfway when I went. But you can check in on me when you arrive back home. I think I'll be back within the hour, if everything is alright at the florist's. Bye ladies!
Meg and Bette: Bye!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 13
The afternoon just went by. I did prepare everything for the evening. The guys did finish the maypole. They got a good help from the children and Casey and Sara that had shown up too.
Meg came by and sat down for a while. We made those wreaths for the girls. Ok, there was flowers enough to make more, but I didn't want one myself and said that we put them in vases instead to put on the table as decoration.
Ben's so great. He'd ordered the flowers for me, I just had to pick them up. The typical Midsummerflowers; Poppys, Oxeye Daisys and Cornflowers. Red, White and Blue. Which was rather appropriate since we are in America and it soon is 4th of July too.
Ola came, he was beaten!! The children had insisted on that they should try those ring games out he told us.
Meg: Then I better go inside and see how my man and children are then.
Ola: Oh, the children are fine. But I think that you need to be gentle with Ben! He's more beaten than me. I'm at least used to heavy work, driving the truck back home.
We all laughed. Meg went and left us alone.
Ola: How are you? You look tired! he said as he put his arms around me.
Me: I am. I've been running around all day. Why didn't you wake me up this morning?
Ola: Sorry, you worked so hard last night that I thought I let you sleep in. Do you need help with anything?
Me: No, I have it all under controll now. Since you and Ben had started the maypole I wasn't back the schedule very much. And now it's just the potatoes that needs to be boiled, and the party isn't for 3 hours yet. So you can go lay down and rest for a while if you like to.
Ola: Only if you join me! I won't have you falling asleep at the table tonight.
Me: I'll be there in a minute, I just have to finish something up.
Ola: OK!
"""""""""""""""
And that's where we are now. I'm just writing all this down, because if I don't do it now, I will forget it. I'm really tired and will certainly fall asleep, but this time I've checked the alarm and it will go off in 45 minutes.
I just wanted you to know this ring game we call "Små grodorna"
- "Little frogs". I'll write it down.
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se. x2
Little frogs, little frogs, are funny to watch. x2
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de. x2
No ears, no ears, no tails they have. x2
When you sing this you just go around in a ring and wave with your hands as ears and tails at the right places.
After doing that you put your hands on the shoulders of the person infront of you and you all start jumping around making quack sounds like frogs.
It's a silly game and I haven't done it for years. But when do you feel more Swedsih(or which ever your nationality you are) than when you're out of the country.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 14
The guest started arriving just before 7 PM. Me and Meg had our hands full and had put Ben and Ola in charge of welcoming them all. Suddenly we heard a voice, all they way out in the kitchen.(We were using Meg's because it would be silly to have to carry it all down from the garageappartment).
-Oh, my God! I didn't think there were anyone left! I thought already I'd meet all the hunks of this world!
Me and Meg looked at eachother laughing: BETTE!!!!!!!
Me: Didn't you tell her?
Meg: No! I didn't get a chance, she talked about the trip all morning. I think you have to go rescue your man, before he runs off.
I went out to the terrace and found Bette, Ola was still at the door opening it for more guests.
Me: Hi Bette! Me and Meg could hear you all the way to the kitchen. Is there anything wrong?
Bette: Wrong? Oh no, on the contrary! Maybe you can tell me who that hunk is that is opening the door is?
Me: (laughing) Oh, that's Ola!
Bette: And......???
Me: He's mine!
Bette: I guessed so, but why hasn't anyone told me about him. Now I have to think of another name, and I couldn't really find the right one for you, but now I have to have a matching pair.
Me: Ola, could you come over here! Ola, this is Bette, Bette this is my boyfriend Ola.
Ola: Nice to meet you Bette! I had the pleasure to spend some time with your daughter earlier today. And I meet your husband before
when he came to get her.
Bette: Nice to meet you too, I hope I didn't scare you the other minute? Did you say that you met Dee and Ashe before today. I ceratinly need to get them a lecture in gossoping!
Me: And from what I heard, you're the expert on that around here. I did get to read one or two of your columns before you went on vacation.
Ola: Someone's at the door, excuse me, I better go open it!
Bette: Oh, he's a real gentleman, that man of your's!
Me: Thanks. I think so too. Do you know that he travelled here just to talk to me. When he could have done it the night before I left Sweden if he hadn't stormed out from my sister's party.
Bette: It seems like I have to have a long talk with you.
Me: Me? About what?
Bette: Oh, I think you know what! This is just great! I'm going have to have so much to catch up with the next week. There won't be any problem filling the column, that's for sure. It's just like me to go away when there's things happening in this town.
Me: Excuse me Bette, but I have to go back to Meg in the kitchen.
Bette: Oh, please do, don't let me keep you from it! I'm so happy coming to parties, and giving them too, at least now since we got this great caterer here in town. I'm not that much for cooking myself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 15
June 26th 1999
Dear Diary,
The party was a success. Everyone ate and drank and had fun.
And ring games around the Maypole, it was so much fun to watch. I did get out of doing it. There was some dishes to take care of, and it didn't seem like Ben disliked being the leader of it.
One other thing happened though. Not a bad one, but very unexpected. Just before we was about to have dessert(strawbeeries and cream) the doorbell rang. You could never guess who it was. It was Paula Stevens! Gabi's sister. She had been to the Deep after finding that noone was home at Gabi and Ricardo's. There she got to know from the bartender that we all were at Ben and Meg's. It was really nice to meet her.
We got to know that she was back to stay and run the Waffleshop, her mother's business. And also that she was engaged to be married, but she didn't want to tell very much about him, and that made us wonder who he was.
Anyway, Bette as the speaker she is, held the most wonderful speech that included us all. She did give us(me and Ola) some temporary names, Birdie and Olá(I hve to explain this. Birdie-because of my singing, and Olá is just the name with a Spanish twist, as they just arrived home from Spain) It was the best she could think of at such short time. She did reasure us that we were going to get some others later, but there had been too many surprises for her tonight. Even though she said that it would be enough to fill the column for many weeks.....
So today I'm beat! But there are still things to get in order, and I promised Meg to do that, she had a birthday party to cater today.
The cutiest thing happend when I was in the house getting things back to normal. Ashley and Trevor came to me and asked if me and Ola would be here for their birthday in a few weeks.
We would like you to meet our friends they said. And I told them that I'll be here, but Ola has to get back to Sweden to work.
So I sat down with them and we started to talk about things to do at their party, and of course I have to check with Meg if and what she has planned already.
The last few days has been so long and filled with work, so I'll stop here for today but I'll be back......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 16
June 29th 1999
Dear Diary,
Today it's Tuesday and it's been a few days since Paula arrived. And we all(Ok, the girls) popped in to see her at the Waffleshop to get her to "spill the beans" about her fiancé.
Gabi: So sis, why can't you give us his name?
Paula: Like I said before I want to wait until he gets here.
Meg: But a little hint, please.
Paula: No, not until he arrives.
Me: You can at least tell us how the two of you met.
Paula: Do you promise to keep quite then?
All of us: We'll try!
Paula: We met at a party in Sacramento. He was all I ever been looking for in a man! It was love at first sight, and he's my soulmate.
A bit like you and Ben, Meg.
Gabi: You said that about Ricardo once too, so if he's just half as good, he's a real catch, sis!
Paula: Oh, he is. You'll soon see for yourself.
Meg: Soon????? Is he coming today?
Paula: Yes, as a matter of fact, I thought it was him when you ladies arrived. So he'll soon be showing his gorgeous face, at least if his plane was on time. It's just too bad that I couldn't get off to meet him at the airport, but I'm just starting to get into things here and I didn't really want to leave.
The doorbell sounded and we all turned our heads.
Paula: There you are! I've missed you so much!
She ran to the man that just entered, of course he was carrying a bouquet of red roses.
The man: I've missed you too sweetheart! I just had to stop to get these for you.
Paula: You didn't have to. But they are lovely.
Meg: I don't believe this! Sam?
The man: Meg? Funny running into you almost the first thing.
Meg: Why didn't you call and tell us you were coming?
Sam: Paula said not to, she didn't want anyone to know who I was until I got here.
Me and Gabi still didn't understand a thing.
Gabi: Would someone please explain what's going on here! I understand that this is your husband to be sister dear, but how do you know him Meg.
Meg(getting out of the embrace): Oh, sorry, Sam this is Tina, Ben's cousin..
Paula(getting back into Sam's arms):..and this is Gabi, my sister. Tina, Gabi this is Sam.....
Meg: ....my brother!
Gabi: Your brother! I didn't think he exsisted. He's never been around before.
Meg: No, unfortunelly he's always been busy with things, not even being able to get off for his sister wedding, all those years ago.
Sam: Oh, no Meg. Don't bring that one up again. You know I feel guilty enough as it is. But where do you hide those children of yours? And you husband?
Meg: I hope they and Tina's Ola still are at home, because they are supposed to cook dinner tonight.
Me: Yes, he is certainly not getting out of it.
Meg: No, he certainly isn't. We better be heading home, and leave those lovebirds alone for a few hours.
Paula: Oh, yes thank you! Gabi, can I ask you a smorl favour?
Gabi: Anything!
Paula: Could you close up here? We want to head over to Sam's parents before it is to late!
Gabi: Yes, but you owe me one!
Paula: And Meg, please don't call neither your parents nor Sara, we like to tell them ourself.
Meg: Of course not. But tomorrow it's familydinner at my place.
Sam: Ok, it's best I do as my sister tells me (he laughed). I really look forward to finally meet you family.
Meg: You only have yourself to blame for not meeting them earlier.
Me: Meg, we better get going, otherwise we might find the house burnt down. One never know what's going on when those men and children get into the kitchen.
It's been a pleasure to meet you Sam, and Gabi, Paula let's do a real ladies afternoon before I leave.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 17
June 30th 1999
Planning the family dinner
A good thing that me and Meg had the evening off yesterday. We did go to the Dream Catcher's(Meg's cateringbusiness) right after dinner to see what she had there and to plan the dinner.
Me: Now that there's noone here, I have to ask you something?
Meg: What?
Me: The twins' birthday! Have you planned anything special?
Meg: Oh, no!!!!!!! I haven't started yet!!!!! How could I forget such a thing!
Me: The thing is that Ashley and Trevor did ask me the other day if I'd still be here and if I could help them with some ringgames and so.
Meg: Oh, that would be great! Can you please help me doing the cake too, the one you made just after you got here was so great. You can come here anytime you want. If noone's here, you can borrow the keys.
Me: Ok, then it's settled. I'll do the cake and take care of the entertainment for the day. Now we have to plan for tomorrow!
Meg: Yes, let's see what I have in the freezer and in the fridge.
Me: Do you have peppers? I have this really great recipe for a vegetarian casserol.
Meg: Vegetarian? With my father and brother coming, remember that they are old farmers?
Me: I wasn't finished. I thought that we could do that and then add some meat.
Meg: That's sounds good, let's go see what we have! Oh, yes, peppers we have, what colour do you want?
Me: So many as possible, it gets so colourful then.
Meg: It's so good having you here! I really like your cooking, and mine has improved too. And I have to admit that this(she made a gesture to show the room) is so much fun, but it's the planning I like most. The other things I have professionals to do.
Me: Anything for dessert? Or we shall just do a chocolate-cake to have to the coffee.
Meg: That sounds like a good idea! Dessert usally is too much after dinner, altough this is a special event.
Me: It must be. How long has it been since you last saw your brother?
Meg: Oh, I bumped into him once when I did a job outside town, but I haven't sat down and talked to him for over ten years.
Me: That's a long time! I already miss my brother and sisters. And I've only been away about a month.
Meg: Too bad you're not staying, I could use someone like you here. You are really good at this stuff!
Me: Well, thank you! I really enjoy planning a party and then cooking. It's only the cleaning up afterwards I hate. And then I really have to get back, now that I have Ola. And he is leaving on Saturday.
Meg: Oh, that soon. I have to tell Bette then, she wanted us to come for a quite meal before he left. Just the two of you, me and Ben and the kids and of course themselves.
Me: That sounds nice. I'm only working in the Java Web this week, so all evenings are free, the boss os so good when someone wants a day off or so. Let's see tomorrow's Wendesday, then there's only Thursday and Friday left. As long as she don't want us over Saturday for lunch, Ola isn't leaving until 6 or 7 PM I think.
Meg: I'll talk to her tomorrow morning and get back to you. So do you think this is it?(we've been packing the groceries while we were talking)
Me: Yes it looks like that, I have some time tomorrow afternoon if I need to pick something up.
Meg: Otherwise you call me, I'm so glad that you help me with this. You are so domestic.
We left the Dream Catcher's and got back home just after Ben and Ola had put the kids to bed. They sat in the sofa in the living-room looking beaten!
Ben: So, you're finally back! The children wanted to wait up until mommy got back.
Meg: Oh, then I better go check on them. Did they fall asleep?
Ben: I think so, but usally they are just pretending until we both have been up.
Meg: Then I better go at once so that they can get to sleep. Will you come with me, Tina?
Me: No, I think I put these groceries away instead.
Meg: You do that and then you can tell me all about that recipe of yours and where I can find it.
Me: Will do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 18
July 1st 1999
Dear diary,
Today is it famliydinner time. That is all because of that Meg's brother Sam showed up the other day. He's engaged to Gabi's sister Paula who came back to run her mother's Waffle shop. A nice mess in other words. On top of it all, Ola can't fly out of here until Sunday, which I think is nice. Why, you ask. Saturday is 4th of July and it's a big holiday.
So, after having finished at 3 PM at the JavaWeb I went straight home to prepare for tonights dinner. It had been a quite day at work, so I made the cake for the coffee there.
Meg had after leaving the kids at school returned home and set the table, so I didn't need to bother about that and that made me get about an hour to myself, or really I spent it with Ola! I really would like to go home with him on Sunday, but I've promised Ben I stay until he found someone to take my place at the JavaWeb and the Deep. And although I hardly like to admit to it, I think we need some time apart. These few weeks has been intense.
-----------------------
Later the same evening.
All went well! They liked the Vegetarian casserole and I even Hank said that it was almost too bad to have the meat with it, but it made the meal complete he added.
What a family they are; the Cummings! They are really great! Ok, I've gotten to know them all besides Sam during my time here in Sunset Beach. And we got to know quite a lot about how Elaine is doing and their weddingplans(Sam and Paula's). I'm not allowed to say anything really, but it looks like me and Ola have to return for New Years in Sunset Beach. But I don't mind! Probably I have to work and help Meg out, but we work so great together.
I have to make this entry short, there are not many days left until Ola goes back home and on Saturday we're all going over to Bette's for 4th of July.
Actually she asked if me and Ben would like to sing something, so we have to rehearse tomorrow or on Friday, so that it doesn't sound too bad.
Good night my friend!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 19
July 4th 1999
Dear Diary,
Today it's 4th of July! And for the first time this week, I've been able to sleep in. I've worked my shifts at the Deep and the Javaweb and then both me and Ola have helped Meg out at the Dream Catcher's with preparing and delivering. Everyone wants help with preperations before the holiday. Luckily that it is Bette and Ahse that has the party this time. I don't think me and Meg would have had the time to prepare it! This way I get to spend the whole day with Ola and Meg gets to spend it with Ben and the children.
Of course we've been over there earlier this week to help her out with some preperations, and fixing the "show". Yes, we're going to have the best show that the society of Sunset Beach have ever seen. And YES! I've gotten Ben to go along and sing with me again.
Of course there's someone that is good on magic and another one that will read a poem or so, but what I really look forward to is the fireworks this evening(we're not having them at midnight, the children wants to see them too).
At Bette and Ahse's
We arrived first but of course, we live just across the street, but very soon everyone started to drop in. Olivia, Bubba and Trey, Ricardo and Gabi, Paula and Sam, Casey and Sara, Hank and Joan, Antoinio and Miranda, Mark and a lot more inportant peolpe in Sunset Beach. There were so many I've seen on the town, but never really met.
We ate and drank, talked and laughed. We really enjoyed ourselves. It was a perfect day. And the weather, it was really great! The sun was shining and even the evening was warm.
Now I bet you're really curious about what me and Ben was singing. Since this was Ola's last night here(this time) he had wished for us to sing "(I had) the time of my life", so we did and of course "our" signature tune "Up where we belong". Then as we were up at the stage sining I saw a woman with red hair that I recognized but I didn't know where I've seen her and she had this really handsome man at her side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 20
- I don't believe this! Ben Evans singing in front of an audience, the red haired said loudly as we finished.
Bette: Poopsie?! she said as she turned around. Are you here?
Annie: Yes, auntie Bette, I couldn't miss 4th of July at your place, you have certainly outdone yourself this time.
Bette: Oh, well, thank you. And who is this?!
Annie: Aunt Bette, this is the man in my life Harm Rabb. Harm, this is my aunt Bette Hollister.
Bette: Nice to meet you, now I certainly will stop believing that there are no more delicious young men, you are the second one I meet in a week so there must be more out there!
Annie: Hey, aunt Bette! Who is that on the stage with Ben, has Meg finally given him up?!
Bette: No, poopsie! I think they are happier than ever. And that(she pointed at the stage) is Ben's cousin Tina from Sweden.
As we left the stage people told us how much they've enjoyed it.
Bette: Birdie, come here!
Me: One moment, let me get Ola first!
Bette: OK, but hurry, will you!
A few moments later
Me: Bette, what's the hurry?
Bette: Oh, I just wanted you to meet my niece Annie. Annie, this is Tina!
Me: Nice to finally meet you Annie. Ben's told me about you in his letters, and of course your aunt here has told me some too. And this is Ola( I introduced him, as Annie didn't seem able to take her eyes off him.)
Annie: Nice to meet you too, the both of you. This is the man in my life, Harm (she introduced the handsom man next to her).
Harm: Nice to meet you Tina and Ola. You are a great singer Tina!
Me: Oh, well thank you.
Bette: Annie, are you staing longer this time?
Annie: Hopefully! And you(she turned to me) are the two of you staying long? I'd really like to get a chance to talk some more to you Tina.
Me: Lucky you then. I'm staying for 3 or 4 more weeks, but unfortunately this is Ola's last night here.
Gabi came
Gabi: Hey! Great show as always, can't you do that Cher-act you do so well too?
Me: Well, what do you say Ola, can you spare me a few more minutes? I¨d love to do it, maybe I can get soem help from you Gabi?
Ola: I think I can manage.
Annie: Of course he'll manage, he can stay here with us(she said with a flirtatious voice)
Harm: Hrm!!! ( He just cleard his voice and that made Annie stop)
Bette: I think you found yourself an equal opponent this time poopsie! And you(she adressed Harm) have gotten you hands full, she's quite a woman my niece, but I love her as she was one of my own.
Annie: I love you too aunt Bette.
The festivites went on. The fireworks were just great and we stayed up partying almost all the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~