#avaturner

[rebeckalindahl]

Thank you

After Rebecka was all dressed and ready to go, she and everyone stood in the living room of the little lake house on Tock Lake. 

She thanked her bridesmaids for each thing they had done individually for her during the planning of the wedding.  Anita brought out the champagne and  big black and white printed bags, each with the women’s initials on it.  They sat down, their bags at their feet and Rebecka began.

“I can’t…there is no way I can ever thank any of you enough.  This day would never have happened if…if Ava hadn’t helped get Magnus back from Ystad, if she hadn’t punched a colleague of mine right in the face when he was being an ass…if she hadn’t given up her first New Year’s Eve with Ansgar so that Magnus could ask me to marry him in the most special way.  You have been there for me whenever I have needed you,” she said speaking directly to Ava, and trying not to cry, “even with all you have been through in the last months…and I can’t…”

Rebecka stood up and went to Ava, hugging her tightly.  “Thank you…”

Ava was fighting back tears as well and the makeup artist rushed to her as soon as Rebecka moved away, touching up her makeup.

Rebecka turned to Leda.  “And without you, Leda,” Rebecka shook her head.  “I remember when you came to the lake house, when Magnus and I were there and he was…he wasn’t really very receptive to me…and you saw, and you stopped me from leaving after that terrible fight and you talked to him, which…” she laughed, “knowing Magnus as I do, is no small feat! You reasoned with him the way only a sister can do and you got him to change his mind…you are…truly an angel….and I wouldn’t be in this dress, this perfect dress without you.  It honestly is the only dress I can see myself marrying Magnus in and it was only because of you that I am wearing it now.  So thank you…from the bottom of my heart…” and she hugged Leda tightly.

“And Stina,” she paused.  Stina was probably the most difficult person to thank.  “ Thank you for all you’ve done for me, for all the years of…being my sister…I am the person I am today…” she was getting too emotional.  The makeup artist rushed to her and dabbed under her eyes.

“You’re going to look like a raccoon for that handsome groom of yours…thank her later…” he said with a huff.

Everyone in the room laughed.  Anita, as if on cue, prompted everyone to open their gift bags in front of them.  Each bag was customized to the woman, they contained champagne flutes and a bottle of champagne, some special soaps from a soap maker in the town, rain boots in case they needed them at the reception, a white pashmina and gift cards for a stay at The Sandhamn Yacht Hotel and Spa on the Archipelago in Stockholm , and a silver necklace, the first letter of their first name.

The makeup artist used the time to fix Rebecka’s makeup, cursing under his breath, saying he was glad he used water proof mascara, but he should have used waterproof eyeliner and shadow as well…  Rebecka held as still as she could, listening to the twitter of happiness around her.

The flower girls were opening their bags as well, filled with bubbles and rain boots, the prettiest poofy night dresses and robes, nail polish and gift certificates for manicures at the same spa that their mothers had gift certificates to, and pretty little necklaces with their initials and a flower girl charm, all in a bag matching their mothers with their initial on the front.

It had taken Rebecka ages to put the bags together, she insisted on doing it herself even when Anita offered to do everything. All Rebecka allowed her to do was get the gift certificates for her, Rebecka did the rest.

They were all pulled from their revelry by Anita’s voice.

“Rebecka, it’s time…”

Rebecka took a deep breath and smiled, looking at the people all around her.

“I’m ready,” she said as her father offered her his arm and they all filed out to walk to the ceremony, to walk to where Magnus was, to get married. 

[thereallimegreenandloki-blog]

((takeabiteoutofyou, fayefolke, avaturner--I am having a blast today with you three.  Thank you so much.))

[takeabiteoutofyou]

{{Everyone's arguing and fighting over the handsome Ansgar, but Izzie's sitting prettily with popcorn and binoculars. She's thinking, 'I like what's happening, but when's someone going to start pulling hair instead of using words. My money is on Faye'. Definitely love what's happening between everyone.}}

[thereallimegreenandloki-blog]

You and Ava fighting is delightful. If only because you two are so preoccupied with clawing at each other that I can claw away at Ansgar to my hearts content while you are both so busy. Barking instead of biting is such a waste of time (though I will applaud you for your witty barks, pet).

Dear Ms. Folke,

What a pretty little thing you are.  Naive, but pretty.

You see, I have been in Herr Martinsson’s employ as Vice President of Marketing for 4 years. Before that, I was in the marketing department for 3.  I have sat in this building for seven long years, watching pretty little things like you come and go, Louboutins clicking on the marble tile, skirts cut a touch too high, the hint of red garter flashing as they shoot him smiles they think I can’t see, on their ways out of various locations in the office building where he’s had them.    

They come and go, Ms. Folke. 

But I’m still here.

And now that I have his near-constant ear as his trusted marketing VP, well….I’m just biding my time.  Because before too long he’ll have tired of you, of that Turner woman—and I’ll. Still. Be. Here. 

Waiting. Ready. 

Make sure you leave your mark on him while you can.  Because I’ll see it, on whatever corner of his flesh you mark him—even his heart—and I’ll think of you as he whispers or shouts my name.

Yours sincerely, 

limegreen

[thereallimegreenandloki-blog]

Hey everyone who ordered Martinsson Construction shirts--message me your addresses, imma send them tomorrow!

[rebeckalindahl]

The High Price of Goodness

It was a story she felt like she had been writing forever.  Rebecka was usually fast with stories, banging them out , both with and without inspiration. But this, this was completely different.  This was Magnus, this was Ansgar…this was her life and her family and her future and the people she loved more than anything else in the whole world. 

It took weeks to finish it.  She worked on it every day to some degree or another and finally, 2 days before her deadline she finished it.  Magnus had approved it, Ansgar had approved it, Ava had approved it.  It was done.

“The High Price of Goodness”, she called it, much to Ansgar’s chagrin, but that was what the story was about.  It was about Ansgar Martinsson, the powerful and influential international businessman.  The man who had come from humble beginnings and had risen to power through hard work and dedication, through his and his families own personal sacrifices and struggles to succeed beyond most people’s imaginings.  It talked about his education, and his keen business sense even from an early age and it talked about his twin brother, Magnus, who made himself a success in a completely different way as the youngest police detective on the police force.

 It talked about how both brothers had achieved success in completely different ways in totally separate areas.  There were differences between them, many, many differences, but there were also similarities.   And it was their similarities that really defined them in the story.  Rebecka pointed out how both men protected.  They protected their business, their assets, the public, the law, their childhood and ultimately and most importantly, their family.

 Rebecka talked about the days of struggle that led to their success and also to their desire to share that success with others.  Both Ansgar and Magnus’ means of doing so was by being very involved in charity work, and it wasn’t just lip service paid to charities, but it was the twins own personal sweat and blood given to help others, to remember where they came from, to inspire and make the world a better place.  Magnus had charities he worked with though the police department and Ansgar had his own charities that he supported through his business.

Rebecka talked a little about the New Year’s Eve party and how it was the biggest most exclusive party in Stockholm, but it wasn’t for his personal gain, it all went to charity, the wealthy doing their part to help those in need, so that those in need could raise themselves up and in turn then they could help others as well.  It was a model of ‘paying it forward’ and both men believed in it and supported it in different ways.

Rebecka was careful to leave personal things out except for small details like family and close friends all being together at New Year’s.  She used no names, other than the brothers’.  Ava had been satisfied.

It ran in a Sunday supplement in the Ystad Journal but it had been picked up and syndicated to lifestyle magazines and inserts all over Sweden and several in Norway, earning Rebecka much recognition for her work.

She had never been so happy to be done with a story, however.  She sent a copy to Ansgar with a bottle of champagne. 

The trial was starting soon and she knew it was going to be a trying time for both he and Ava, but she hoped he could ride wave of good will her story about him would bring.  And at the very least, she hoped that he knew how much she loved him and loved what he did, and appreciated that he was in the world, doing good with his hard earned success.

[rebeckalindahl]

Opinions

The magazines were spread out in front of her.  Rebecka could feel a tighness in her chest.  She looked from one image to the next, unable to even focus on them.  She closed her eyes for just a second, to collect herself.

Her mother was nagging, Stina was prying, and Rebecka had no idea what she even wanted.  

"It doesn't have to be 'The Dress' Rebecka, but I want to see what you are thinking about..." he mother had said just before she got off the phone with her.  "Tomorrow, at dinner, I want to see a stack of things you are considering..."  

Rebecka had sighed.  It was getting late, Magnus was working a second shift and she was all alone with Henry.  He was no help.

"Should we text Ava, Henry?  Is it too late?" Rebecka said as she looked at the time on her phone.  Not too terribly late.

{text}  Hej Ava!  Are you busy?

Rebecka rifled throught he myriad of magazines in front of her.