Long Blonde Hair, Sky Blue Eyes Pt. 03

"We had many problems, including that we had agreed on three children, but her obsession with Annika made it clear that she had her daughter and that was all we would have. By age 5, she was entering Annika in children's beauty pageants and had falsified her birth records to get her in - the minimum age was six!

"I had a intervention, confronted her, and offered counseling rather than divorce. She laughed at me and moved home, taking Annika with her. When I insisted she come back, she got a restraining order against me in her home state of Washington, where her parents hold considerable power. It only got worse from there.

"Compare Annika's childhood with Elle's, or any normal child? I really can't; Annika wasn't and isn't anywhere near 'normal' physically, and her kind of beauty elevates one to a plateau 'normal people' can't imagine. That she was controlled from age four until eighteen by a fanatic guarantees the life she lived was nothing like Elle's life. You've seen the result: she didn't learn to bike or swim, didn't have friends for sleepovers, play games with other kids, or even have conversations outside the career path her mother put her on.

"Annika hasn't told me what happened when she was eighteen, but it must have been traumatic to wrest her away from Desiree."

"She hasn't told me either, Carl, but she says she learned how duplicitous her mother was, how badly she had treated you, and that all her stories about you were lies. She said she wishes she had reached out then, but she was wrapped up in modeling and the possibility of movie stardom, and so embarrassed about having been estranged from you for so long, it took a few years before she was brave enough, and even then she did it badly.

"Which brings me to the reason I asked: your daughter is a worldwide star, featured on commercials, TV features, in paper and online magazine spreads, and she appears to have the world by the tail... but, the term 'arrested development' comes to mind. She's a 5'10"+ blonde bombshell who is one of the most recognized women on earth, yet she's insecure in who she is, ashamed of her lack of education, and struggles with personal relationships.

"She was taught not to trust anyone and remains skeptical of strangers, assuming they all want something from her, or to take something from her. However, if they get past the 'stranger danger' and gain a position of trust, she's all in. Like Lukas did. He went from 'dangerous abuser' to 'friend' over a few hours, and she let her guard down. That's not necessarily a bad thing, given her past and her efforts to become a more open, less selfish person, but in opening herself up to her family and friends, she's going to misread a few predators along the way... unless we all work together to accelerate her social maturity.

"Understand, there was nothing she and Lukas did that was appalling or unforgiveable; in fact, it was fun watching her have fun. The concern is that she embraced a known predator so easily because she thought he was on 'our team' now. Thankfully, Lukas wasn't actually in predator mode, so he just enjoyed her company and kept inviting her to push her limits. I think if we talk to him, he'll say he was surprised at how easily he got past her vaunted defenses and warn us to keep a better eye on her.

"So - I'm asking you and your family, including Oliver and Maja, to join me, Hanna, and Johnny in accelerating her social and personal growth. I don't really have a plan, but I hope we can develop one."

Carl looked thoughtful, and then replied. "I'm thinking about the South Pacific debacle. That's what you mean, isn't it? She set out to make friends and have fun on a shoot, and charmed almost everyone in so doing. In retrospect, nothing she did was 'wrong' but her naiveté allowed her to relax too much, forgetting the consequences of having even one frenemy in camp. Likewise, being nice to the assholes in LA prolonged that commercial so they could try to talk her into doing something scandalous, which exposes another problem.

"She doesn't want to be the self-centered, cold-hearted bitch anymore, but she's going to have to learn when to turn that on and when it's safe to leave it off! Unfortunately, the career in which she is engaged is famous for predators and lack of moral standards.

"I've never been in this position before, nor do I know anyone who has, so let me talk to Mary, Mom, and Dad and I'll get back with you. Whatever we decide to do, we all need to be on the same page all the time. We're messing with the psyche of a grown woman, and that is dangerous!"

They returned to the wheelhouse, where Hanna was helping navigate the lake boat and chatting with Johnny. "I'll leave you three to it and go join the others," Carl said. "Talk about whatever you want to, but I'd concentrate on enjoying the trip if it were me."

"You two seem to be doing okay," Erik agreed, "so I'll go join the others,"

They were doing well together, so he walked across the deck to Annika, made Axel move down a bit, and sat beside her. She was staring at the shoreline and intently listening to her grandmother's story, but patted Erik on the leg and leaned closer to him.

Maja was a storyteller at heart, and this story involved the friction between native tribes and the newcomers, including her relatives. Erik draped his arm around Annika and lightly rubbed her arm at the shoulder. She made a mmm sound and leaned against him. Realizing this was him offering peace, she looked at him and smiled; her heart beat faster when he gave her his best smile in return, and she snuggled against him. Maja was expressively illustrating her story with her hands, but she didn't miss that smile; nor did Oliver or Carl.

Johnny and Hanna had obviously settled whatever was causing the distance between them; Carl and Mary were holding hands, listening, and watching their children react to Maja and Oliver's stories, descriptions, and explanations. Elle still seemed a bit cowed, but Axel seemed to have left behind whatever was bothering him.

With Annika snuggled up to Erik, the disturbances in the force that appeared overnight seemed to be healed, which made the grandparents happy and proud of the success of their plan.

Two Harbors was their initial destination, but that was for storytelling purposes only. They learned about Burlington and Agate Bay, and the great Mesabi Range to the west, from which so much iron ore has been and still is shipped. Of course, the Olsson and Winquist families had played a part in the development of the adjacent harbors, and in transporting ore from the mines to the harbors. Maja and Oliver took turns telling their families' stories, in a most entertaining way.

From there they turned southeast across St. Louis Bay toward Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Carl, the only one besides his parents who had been there before, captained that run across open waters and among the islands, but warned Erik that his turn was coming on the way back, so he needed to pay attention.

Maja and Oliver took turns describing their famous destination during their run across St. Louis Bay. They explained that National Lakeshore consists of 21 of the Apostle Islands, plus shoreline on the northern tip of Wisconsin encompassing 69,372 acres. They made a point that the islands lie in Lake Superior, "the largest, cleanest, and coldest of the Great Lakes," which carved the sandstone sea caves and cliffs for which the islands are famous.

They would see the Sea Caves from the boat, but during winter the Sea Caves become the magnificent Ice Caves, which are accessible only by snowmobile. Sand Island was first on their loop, and it contained both a historic lighthouse and a cave on the north shore, at Swallow Point. The cave was large, but supported by a delicate pillar and arch. It was impossible to imagine it as an icy cave, given the volume of water under it, but they were reminded this whole area of the lake was frozen at that point in winter, like the lake around Mackinac Island.

Sand Island also had camping and picnic sites, which were mostly empty. Everyone was hungry, so Erik and Johnny carried the chest full of Kabobs and containers of rice to a nearby picnic area, and the others brought drinks.

It was a breathtakingly beautiful site, with an old growth forest behind you, the greatest of the Great Lakes in front of you, and a sparkling blue sky above. The quiet conversation Carl had with Oliver after seeing the white clouds billowing on the northern horizon was unnoticed by most, but Erik and Johnny saw it, locked eyes, and subtly nodded. They were from Texas, but that looked like a blue norther coming, not some accumulation of billowy cumulus clouds.

Maja seemed oblivious, continuing with stories and descriptions of all to do on these islands, where her grandparents used to vacation. Oliver and Carl, however, began to hurry things along. Erik and Johnny approached Oliver and asked, "Those clouds building on the horizon?" He nodded in reply, and rather loudly suggested they clean up and return to the boat so they could see some more sights.

Maja, Mary, Hanna, and Annika, however, wanted to 'go for a short walk among the old trees' before they climbed back in the boat, so Johnny and Erik hauled the chest back to the boat, and ran to catch up with the walkers.

The grandparents took the lead, impressing everyone with their pace and stamina. Oliver smiled, and Maja laughed. "Oh, we walk quite often, dear. Sometimes I have to use a leash on your grandfather to get him to join me, but we do walk!

Annika joined her grandparents in the lead and began asking about the tenuous family connections to these island and the state of Wisconsin. Carl stepped forward to listen, joined by Elle and Axel. Hanna and Johnny paid no attention to Mary, who ostensibly stopped to look at an arrangement of rocks with a large, variegated fern growing in the midst. She motioned to Erik, who joined her.

She pointed at the fern, but quietly told him, "You were right. When I got upstairs I found Nils in a lip lock with Elle. I broke that up, and two sheepish youngsters appeared from the other bedroom. I stood, hands on hips, and glared at the four of them, then suggested firmly that they go back downstairs and watch something on TV, or play Cornhole, or dance, because they were no longer allowed upstairs alone."

"That explains the uncomfortable looks this morning when they came to breakfast. Did you get the feeling it was just normal teen exploration, or something more sinister?"

"I didn't form an opinion right away - I was too upset. This morning, I think it was teens being teens, but that may be me being hopeful. Regardless, there won't be any more 'alone' time in their futures."

"Tell Carl; he needs to know." She nodded, and they walked quickly back to rejoin the group.

After ten minutes of walking away from the boat, Carl suggested they head back so they could see more of the lighthouses, cliffs, and water-carved caves before they had to return home. That seemed to tip Maja, who looked questioningly at Oliver. He turned his head toward the northwest; she saw the clouds, and immediately took charge.

"The men are trying not to worry us, but look at the northern horizon; those are storm clouds, and they're building fast! It looks like storm is ahead of the prediction, so we need to return to the boat. I personally don't think we've got time to tour any further, but I'll leave that decision to Carl.

By the time they reached the boat and loaded, consensus was to head for home. Carl made Erik drive, as he had warned he would, but he checked for weather updates instead of sitting and visiting with the others. As soon as Erik hit open water, he told him "Run it flat out; this is going to be closer than I thought. The damn front is traveling 40 miles per hour!"

Erik had plenty of experience driving his family's boats at breakneck speed on Lake Canyon, Medina Lake, and the Highland Lakes, and he had seen plenty of storm generated swells and waves. The swells being pushed in front of the storm on the world's largest lake, however, were quite different. Johnny went about securing everything, including the people, who moved into the seats in front of and behind the wheelhouse.

Erik veered off his southwesterly course and ran south-southwest with the swells, which allowed him to keep his speed up and ride the waves rather than have them crash against the starboard hull and spill over the gunwale. At some point he had to go west to the marina, but he wanted that to be as short a distance as possible.

Carl was impressed; he had intended to take over, but Erik had a light touch with the boat and a good feel for the moving water, constantly varying the throttle to stay on top of the swell rather than falling behind or surfing down the front. That strategy also allowed him, with impeccable timing and control, to work his way west along the top of the large and growing swells to gain more distance westerly.

The outer bands of cold rain were only minutes behind the chilling wind that caught up with them a few miles out from the marina, so his passengers were huddled together in foul-weather gear Carl retrieved from storage. They were clinging to their benches or whatever they could to remain in place, but 'the seas' were getting rougher and rougher.

The rain hit when they were a quarter mile out, the water surged, and Carl realized it was going to be difficult if not impossible to dock safely. Even so, Erik never wavered, and Johnny got the ropes ready. When they entered the small harbor, Erik worked around to the south side and turned the boat to face the oncoming waves. When a monster passed, he powered the boat into an open berth and held it as steady as possible while Johnny and Carl tied off the mooring lines on either side and the front.

Marina workers rushed down, secured the boat tightly against the walkway on the port side, and helped everyone off. The marina workers quickly reset the lines to allow for the massive swells; the passengers carefully traversed the slippery surface of the dock in the heavy wind and rain, and, once on land, scampered to the marina office.

Erik was last, and he got a hearty hug from Oliver as soon as he made it inside. Maja joined in, and then then Carl clasped his shoulder and yelled, "That was amazing! I'm glad I had you driving back in that mess - I don't know how you did it!"

"He learned the hard way, that's how!" Johnny said with a laugh. "We were on Lake Buchanan one afternoon, catching lots of bass along a tall cliff, when I looked up and saw a thunderhead above us. I pointed, he said 'Oh, shit!', and we made a run for the boat ramp on the western shore, several miles away, where we were parked.

"I'm not saying Lake Buch is anywhere near as big as Superior, but the swells were almost this big because the winds were gale force! Erik started due west, but we were about to swamp, so he started running down wind with the waves and dang near swamped us by going down the front of one into the back of another. He also nearly buried the bow a couple of times before he figured it out! Was wearing one lifejacket and holding another, with my arm wrapped around the roof support on the Boston Whaler. The bilge pump was working overtime, but we had ankle-deep water already.

"It took him too dang long, but he figured it out, and we ended up in a cove well south of the ramp. We waited it out there, and later learned that several boats were ruined and one caught fire from people trying to trailer them in the waves while the storm was raging!

"We rocked in the cove, enjoyed a cool beverage or few, waited until the waves subsided, and made our way back to the ramp. We then had to sit in a small cove north of the ramp until the fire trucks and ambulance left! I backed the trailer down, he loaded the boat, and we secured it without any trouble at all. We drove over to the place we were camping, got out, and finally admitted we were scared shitle... scared to death out there in the middle of the lake with waves crashing over the gunwales!

Maja said, "Well, excuse my language, but I don't mind admitting I was scared shitless TODAY! I've watched boats flounder and sink in swells like that, and I wasn't looking forward to floating in sixty-degree water! I don't know how you did it, but I'm thankful you got us back in one piece!"

"I guess I was too dumb to know we were in danger, although it was scary," Annika said. "The men all seemed so cool and collected I wasn't worried... until now."

Hanna and Elle proclaimed they felt the same as Grandmother, and Axel hugged his mom, who was shivering with cold and fright. "I may never go in a boat again, after that!" Mary proclaimed. "I was watching the pretty clouds, and then we were bobbing like a cork! I was definitely scared shitless, and I don't mind admitting it!"

Workers brought the suburban around to the entrance; they loaded up, wet gear and all, and headed back to the house. Oliver had them leave the SUV's doors open and set up two fans blowing through to dry it out for the return trip.

It was an experience they would never forget, but being in a warm house in dry clothes was so much better! Still, the way Erik and Johnny remained calm and collected in the midst of potential disaster had registered with every one of them, and would color their opinions of the young men for the rest of their lives.

****

Annika was in New York City for the remainder of the week and Hanna was immersed in the inimitable first-week teaching/ learning experience with her students, so Johnny and Erik burned the midnight oil at work. It had all gone well enough, but small problems were identified, there were myriad tweaks and improvements to be made, and Erik was still chasing the epiphany he experienced while high on caffeine, after coming back from the sleeping pill that kicked his butt.

His dad called Erik a couple of times about the BBQ planned for weekend after next, and Johnny's dad called more often than that. It was so good to hear from 'home' that Erik called his mom on Friday, and they had their longest conversation since Easter. Johnny laughed when he learned about it, because he had called home and talked to mom and his three siblings!

Hanna collapsed on Johnny's couch Friday and warned him that she was fried tonight, but expected him to help her relax and recover beginning Saturday morning. He went one better: he drew her a bubble bath, dried her, laid her naked on his bed, and worked her favorite massage oil into her deepest tissues. She was snoring lightly when he put the oil up, toweled her off, laid beside her, and covered her with the sheet.

That investment paid dividends beginning Saturday morning at seven and lasting throughout the day. Naturally enthusiastic and willing, Hannah added creative and daring to her repertoire, leaving Johnny exhausted and enthralled by the time it got dark. It was the wrong place and time, and they were wearing only birthday suits, but she said "Yes!" anyway.

He dug in the nightstand, found the ring, and placed it on her finger; she coaxed one more extraordinary performance out of him, and they slept wrapped in each other's arms until Sunday at eight.

Perhaps it was the symbolic nature of the ring that cleansed their sexual sins and turned their thoughts to loftier attainments, like family, that got them out of bed, dressed, and to morning worship service, for the first time in a long time. Perhaps it was how giddy and excited they were that their love was now displayed for all to see, third finger left hand. Or perhaps they were called to attend. Regardless, they were there, holding hands and considering whether this was the church where they should get married.

Annika and Erik had no such experience. She called him just before he left work to apologize for needing to stay over the weekend, but explained that she was trying to get the tables cleared so they could spend time in Texas before and after the barbeque. He accepted that, but told her he expected phone sex tonight and every night until she got back.