Deep Past by Eugene Linden

Author:Eugene Linden [Linden, Eugene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781948122375
Publisher: RosettaBooks
Published: 2019-05-14T04:00:00+00:00

40

After Katie left, Claire poured herself another vodka and went to take a shower. She was pleasantly flooded with endorphins. After dressing in shorts and a T-shirt, she took another sip of her drink. Perhaps it was relief over the safe recovery of Sauat, or the odd sensuality of her dance with Katie, but for the first time in many months, Claire felt physically moved. These musings were interrupted by a knock on her door. Her quarters seemed to be turning into a happening place. Before answering, she cued up Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Polovtsian Dances” on her machine.

She opened the door a crack and saw Sergei. He looked troubled and unsure of himself. He saw her bathrobe and looked down, saying, “We need to talk, but maybe now’s not the time?”

Claire hid her alarm. “No, come in. You look like you need a drink—I seem to remember that you’d asked to have a drink with me not too long ago.” She moved to the counter. “I’m not profiling you, but is vodka OK? Hope so, because it’s all I’ve got.”

Stepping in, Sergei regained a little of his poise. “Yes, my people like very much the vodka.”

Claire fetched him a glass filled with a generous portion. She handed it to Sergei and plunked herself down on the couch. Sergei looked around for a place to sit. It was clear that he was still trying to make sense of the situation. Moving as though he was picking his way through a minefield, he started walking toward the desk chair.

Claire patted the spot beside her on the couch.

Sergei sat down, took a sip of vodka, briefly glanced at Claire, and then looked off in the distance.

After sitting in silence for a few minutes, Claire finally spoke. “Sergei, what’s wrong?”

Sergei sighed and took another sip of vodka. He looked really uncomfortable. Then he muttered, “I’m being stupid,” and put down his glass. He got up to leave.

He hadn’t advanced a step before Claire leaped up and grabbed him. “You’re not going anywhere, mister, until you tell me what’s going on.”

Sergei looked miserable but collapsed back into the couch. “Claire, I’m uncomfortable because we have a professional relationship and what I came to tell you presumes we have something more than a professional relationship.” He fidgeted.

Unsure of whether she should be elated or devastated, Claire drew Sergei to her and kissed him softly on the lips. She offered a shy smile. “Does that answer that question?”

Sergei sighed. “Yes, I think so.”

Claire gave him a direct look. “So?”

Sergei shrugged. “This is difficult for me, but here goes. A woman from my past reached out to me.”

Claire held her breath, or rather, didn’t breathe, because she couldn’t.

Sergei continued, “I had been deeply involved with this woman, and when I read her email, it brought back so many memories of that part of my life.”

Claire had been dumped a number of times, but never before a relationship had started. But, if this was going to be it, she wanted to get it out right then.

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