Malmö, Sweden
1947
Tuuri clenched her teeth as the pompous windbag up at the podium droned on endlessly supposedly in praise of the Swede-Finn Relief Association (while somehow implying that its successes were due to him). She was just about ready to run screaming from The Dinner Party That Time Forgot were it not nearly certain to damage the Association’s standing and her years of hard work on its behalf.
Reynir gave her hand a supportive squeeze. Tuuri smiled back shyly. Also at their table were her best friends Marta and Kerttu (Kerttu herself a success story for the Association), Lalli, and...
Wait, where was Emil?
Suddenly the speaker’s mike cut off, and a familiar song began to play over the speakers.
“You belong to my heart
Now and forever
And our love had its start
Not long ago...”
Oh, no. It was Emil, and he must be roaring drunk to actually be singing like this. Not that it was bad; actually, his singing was much better when he was drunk, because it calmed his incessant self-consciousness.
“We were gathering stars
While a million guitars
Played our love song...”
The speaker, now an interesting shade of puce, was being led back to his seat. Fortunately, everyone else in attendance seemed to share Tuuri’s opinion of his speech; at least, no one else seemed too put out by the change in the agenda.
Tuuri peeked at Lalli. As she’d suspected, he was transparently transported by Emil’s rendition of Lalli’s favorite Bing Crosby tune.
“When I said ‘I love you’
Ev’ry beat of my heart
Said it too...”
Tuuri had known for years, of course, though they’d never talked about it. While practically all of her friends twitted her about her occasional obliviousness, there was no way Tuuri could have missed what was going on between Lalli and Emil.
“’Twas a moment like this
Do you remember?
And your eyes threw a kiss
When they met mine...”
The two of them had always seemed to be in tune in a way that the other Musikers weren’t; Tuuri tended to get a teensy bit jealous when she thought about it. For some reason, her eyes flicked over to Reynir and away as he glanced back.
“Now we own all the stars
And a million guitars
Are still playing...”
Seriously, why else would Emil risk life and limb against the Soviets but for the fact that he was fighting alongside Lalli?
“Darling you are the song
And you’ll always belong
To my heart!”
The marimba interlude began, along with a light smattering of applause. Tuuri was terribly shocked to realize that she had snuggled up against Reynir at some point--what must he think of her?
Reynir leaned in closer, a hint of liquor on his breath tickling her nose as he tentatively put his lips to hers, right as the trumpets blared. Tuuri didn’t care.
“’Twas a moment like this
Do you remember?
And your eyes threw a kiss
When they met mine...”
Reynir broke the kiss at last, shifting Tuuri so that her head was lying against his chest, and all she could feel was a warm glow of happiness.
“Now we own all the stars
And a million guitars
Are still playing...”
The pompous windbag was glaring in Tuuri’s general direction, as though he suspected her of arranging this disruption of the evening’s program, but Tuuri smiled dreamily back at him and let her eyes drift shut for the last bit of the number.
“Darling you are the song
And you’ll always belong
To my heart!”
Tuuri looked around again. “Where’s Marta?”
Kerttu smirked. “I’d imagine she’s kissing the guy who just serenaded her senseless--like you and Reynir a moment ago.”
“Huh?” Tuuri shook herself.
“Emil,” Lalli clarified, looking at her oddly. “He just sang to Marta, so they’re off somewhere smooching.”
“But... But...” Tuuri sputtered. She tried again. “But...”
Lalli grinned somewhat cattily. “Use your words, Tuuri,” he sing-songed at her, as she had so many times to him when they were growing up.
“It’s your favorite song!”
Lalli looked confused. “It’s also Marta’s. She has good taste.”
Tuuri opened her mouth again, but just gave up instead.
Kerttu took Lalli by the hand. “Come on, Lalli-cat. Let’s leave the lovebirds and make some music of our own.” Tuuri’s jaw dropped again when Lalli allowed her to lead him away.
“But... But...” Tuuri found herself sputtering again. “But...”
Then Reynir stoppered her mouth with his own, and she forgot what had been bothering her so much...
