My thanks, as always, to ErikThread for his insightful and helpful editing. Any errors are mine.
Astrid came home that Friday just before dinner, and there was general chaos in the Rasmussen home. My parents had been invited and arrived not long afterward, while Crystal ordered Chinese delivered from one of the local restaurants.
I got a bit drunk that night. Astrid was taking some kind of pills to keep her calm and couldn't drink, so I had her share. When she arrived, she looked worn and tired, but there weren't any signs of cuts or bruises and she was in good spirits as far as I could tell. We all had a good cry when she arrived and then got down to hearing what happened.
It turns out this so-called Wilderness Survival Force was nothing more than a bunch of left-wing college kids who had some crazy idea that they could save the province if all logging was stopped. They had managed to work themselves into a lather and decided that if one of them could get some guns, and another could figure out how to circumvent security systems, they could kidnap some big-wig and hold him to ransom.
The plan got refined, and then refined some more, and finally, a target was chosen. Crystal was the target, but Henrik was the objective. They had it in their minds that if they could control the biggest of the big, he could make all the others do what he told them to do. Astrid simply was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Astrid said that if she hadn't been so frightened, it would have been a comedy. They apparently argued day and night about what to do next. They had been successful beyond their wildest expectations, but were uncertain how to take advantage of their captive. As Astrid pointed out, they needed help in planning. She would know.
Finally, they agreed that the money would be the big thing and that's what they went for. When they called that Friday morning, they were hung over from pot, wine, beer, and god knows what else. They even argued about which of the two leaders was going to make the call and speak to Henrik. By this time, Astrid was really frightened because these people were so out of it, she thought anything could happen.
When the SWAT team broke down the door of the basement suite, they found the four dancing around in a pot-induced haze, celebrating the five million dollars that Henrik was supposed to give them. Astrid had been tied to the headboard of the bed for most of the week. Escorted by the one woman in the group for her bathroom breaks, she had neither showered nor washed properly for the entire time. Fortunately, they had fed her.
The three men and one woman were taken into custody, while Astrid was released and put in an ambulance and taken to Vancouver General for a thorough examination. Other than some rope burns and a lack of personal hygiene, she hadn't suffered any injuries, nor had there been any sexual assault. She told me that she doubted any of the men could get it up, they were so often stoned. I was just as happy she didn't have to test that theory.
We didn't have sex that night. Astrid was exhausted, I was drunk or something close to it, and all we really wanted to do was to hold and touch each other again. Making love wasn't on our minds yet.
Crystal made a big breakfast for us on Saturday morning. That's when I found out my parents had stayed overnight in one of the guest bedrooms. I guess Dad had had a couple of extra snifters of Henrik's cognac and Mom and Crystal made sure he wasn't driving anywhere that night. Somebody had to be in charge.
The breakfast was at the dining room table and it was a happy, loud, and fun occasion. Astrid was almost back to her old self already. She was teasing me about our outpouring of emotions on the phone the previous afternoon, but I really didn't mind. I thought it was something that told me a lot about myself and Astrid's importance to me. No one thought it was weak and no one made fun of me. I think my mother thought it was a sign of my true feelings for Astrid, and she was happy for me.
We didn't do much that Saturday. I made a quick trip to a nearby sport store and bought a swim suit. Astrid decided to tantalize me and probably any other male within viewing distance with her skimpiest bikini still in residence at the house. It was teal coloured and she looked absolutely fantastic in it. I didn't have my camera with me, but I took some pictures with my cell phone. My father was cross-eyed once more.
We lounged around the pool all afternoon. Mom and Dad had gone home to change, promising to come back that afternoon. We would be heading home to Little River on Sunday, but not until the afternoon.
In the meantime, the story of the kidnapping and rescue had not yet broken in the media. I wondered why, but didn't have any complaint. I couldn't imagine what was going to happen to us when everyone found out about Astrid's encounter with a life-or-death situation. I was sure it was going to be big news.
After dinner, the Rasmussens and the Campbells decided to play bridge. Both Astrid and I begged off, choosing instead to go back out to the pool and spend some private time with each other. I'm sure that was our parent's plan all along. I don't think they really realized just how much she meant to me until everything was at risk.
"My worst fear was that I'd never see you again," Astrid confessed. "I think I must have cried for the first three days. That woman, Therese they called her, she kept telling me to shut up. She thought I was afraid of what they were going to do to me. I never told them I was afraid I'd never see you again, never be with you, never hold you."
"It was the same for me," I admitted. "I couldn't imagine what I would do without you. I'm just so happy I didn't have to find out."
We were sitting on the edge of the pool, our feet dangling in the warm pool, each with an arm around the other's waist.
"Are you really OK?" I asked her after a long silence.
"I think so. I don't know if there will be any after-effects. They ... the police ... offered me counseling ... stress counseling ... if anything happens. I hope it isn't necessary. It would mean coming back to Vancouver every week for god knows how long. I'd really rather not have to do that. I just want to be with you," she finished, looking at me with a tired smile.
"We'll do what ever needs to be done to make sure you are OK, dear."
"I know. Let's just wait and see. There's probably nothing to worry about."
"Maybe," I answered, not quite as convinced.
We left Sunday noon to catch the mid-afternoon ferry to Nanaimo. Parting company with her parents and mine was a bit sad and we made a lot of promises about calling them often and seeing them. Henrik had talked about using the corporate aircraft to fly my parents, Crystal and him over to Comox and visiting us in a few weeks; perhaps the Victoria Day long weekend in May. I thought that would be great and so did Astrid. I think we both wanted them to see what a fine place we had chosen to make our new life.
As we sat in the ferry lounge, looking out at Vancouver Island in the distance, we talked about what came next for us.
"When do you see us getting married," I asked.
"How about August?"
"I have to wait that long?"
