She's like the wind 05

5

 

At one p.m. Eric returned from his ride around. He took something to eat and went upstairs to his study. Staring at the screen he realized he was not able to do anything. He felt unease in his chest, disappointed by his yesterday's visit at Lena's. He knew he just had to do something, anything not to go crazy.

 

He took his phone and after a short hesitation he pushed an icon of his friend.

 

„Hi Eric, how are you? You won't believe but I was just about to call you.“

 

„Hi. Really?“ Eric laughed shortly. „What about bowling? In an hour?“

 

„Sounds great. See you soon.“

 

*

 

„Hi Joel, how are you, my friend? It's been awhile,“ Eric gave his friend a short one arm hug as they got together in their favorite bowling bar in Hagerstown.

 

„Hi, I'm fine, thanks,“ Joel patted Eric's back. „Yes, several months? And what about you?“

 

„I'm fine. I think. I hope,“ Eric waved it off. „Let's play then we can talk and have some beer.“

 

After several bowling rounds they settled at a table with two glasses of beer.

 

„You won. You're still in a good shape,“ Eric smiled lifting his glass to clink Joel's.

 

„Thanks, likewise,“ Joel sipped from his glass and put it on the table. „So tell me, how are you doing? What about your books? You had an unfinished book the last time we met. And how is Katherine?“

 

„Well, I finished the book yesterday,“ Eric sighed. „Otherwise... it's no great shakes. Katherine... it's been a month since our divorce.“

 

„Oh... I'm sorry. What happened, Eric?“ Joel watched him. „Spill it out, my friend.“

 

„She cheated on me. With my editor,“ Eric took a gulp. „Now I'm alone in my house and I have a feeling I'm going to turn insane. I have a new editor...“

 

„Really? He's better I hope.“

 

„Not he. She...,“ Eric finished his beer in one go and closed his eyes for a moment.

 

„OK. Is she better?“

 

„I don't know. I started working with her a week ago,“ he averted his eyes. „She's beautiful, intelligent, nice...,“ he broke off for a second, „... and young.“

 

„Do you like her? What's her name? How does she look like? Does she feel something for you, too? Hey, talk to me,“ Joel snapped his fingers in front of Eric's eyes, breaking his reverie.

 

„Her name's Lena,“ Eric looked up. „She has long chestnut hair and beautiful brown doe eyes. Her smile's like the sun on the sky. If you could see her as she gently touched a rose blooming in my garden with her tiny fingers to smell it, the way she narrowed her eyes...,“ he lowered his eyes. „I'm going crazy as I told you,“ he shook his head and got up to bring another beer for himself.

 

„You're smitten!“ Joel remarked as Eric put the glass on the table, taking a seat. „And what about her?“

 

„Yesterday I went to visit her and a young man, Tom, opened the door. She has a boyfriend,“ Eric brushed his hand against his forehead. „Anyway... I'm too old for her.“

 

„How do you know it was her boyfriend? You're not too old to fall for anyone. How old is she?“

 

„I don't know how old she is,“ Eric shrugged. „He was with her in her house so who could he be?“ he drank his beer. „And what about you? Are you finally married?“

 

„I'm still not but it can change,“ Joel smirked, sparks in his brown eyes. „I also met someone several months ago. Her name’s Peggy. I confess that I like her. And she might return the sentiment.“

 

„Congratulations! Then you're a lucky man,“ Eric winked. „I'm happy for you.“

 

„Thanks,“ Joel gave him a long gaze. „But you must not give up, Eric. You know her just a week. The fact that your life sucks now, doesn't mean that it's over, do you understand?“

 

„I know. My life doesn't end but right now I'm not sure what to do. I finished my book. I have no idea what's next. I don't have any new ideas,“ Eric shrugged.

 

„It doesn't matter. Take a break and have some rest. Ideas will come. You'll see her often when she's your editor, right? Use your charm,“ Joel pointed at him. „Don't fool yourself that you're old. You're just older and it's nothing bad. Peggy is 20.“

 

„Only 20?! You have the guts, my friend,“ Eric chuckled.

 

„And what... I'm 40. You're just one year older. We absolutely aren’t old. I feel younger than before,“ he lifted his hands and let them fall back on the table.

 

„It's good. You should appreciate it,“ Eric half smiled. „I wish to meet someone who could understand me, love me the way I am… and return favour. I know that such a perfect woman doesn’t exist.“

 

„How do you know?“ Joel sipped from his glass. „Perhaps Lena’s the perfect woman for you. The time will show.“

 

„I wish you were right, Joel,“ Eric's eyes saddened a bit. „We'll see.“

 

*

 

Lena finished reading the last chapter of Eric's book. Fantastic. He always will be the best author for me. She went to the kitchen. She totally forgot to take something to eat. It was one p.m. She made a light lunch for herself and returned to her notebook. She copied the last chapter to complete the whole book into one file.

 

She should call Eric and give him for now the copy with typing errors and misspellings. After a short hesitation she dialed his number. Her call fell into his voice mail. Hearing his voice produced butterflies in her stomach. Was he angry when he'd left yesterday? She put the phone aside. She hated to speak to a machine. Now it was his turn to call.

 

*

 

After arriving home Eric took a shower and pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. He walked upstairs to his bedroom. Settling on the bed he took the earphones, plugged them in his phone to listen to music. He noticed a missed call in his voice mail. There wasn't any message, just a phone number. It was Lena's number. His heart skipped up the beat. She called him at three p.m. He was playing bowling with Joel and didn't hear it.

 

„Damn it!“ he cursed loudly. Should I call her? Ten p.m.,isn't it too late? He stared at the phone and decided to postpone it to tomorrow. He already disturbed her once yesterday and didn't want to repeat it.

 

Eric slowly opened his eyes as the sun rays were tickling his face. He pulled the earphones out of his ears, realizing he had fallen asleep, listening to music. He got up, recalling he should call Lena. Checking his phone he found out it was totally dead. He moved to his study to recharge it. After using the bathroom he had small breakfast and returned to the study.

 

*

 

Lena was sitting on the back porch, checking her email. She received a post from Monica. She started writing a new book and sent the first two chapters. Describing a plot of the book she asked Lena about what she thought about it. Lena typed her answer promising she would take a look at it as soon as possible. She sent it when her phone started ringing. She picked it up seeing it was Eric.

 

„Hi Eric, I just wanted to tell you that I finished reading your book,“ she said, waiting for his answer. She wasn't sure how to talk to him after his departure on Friday.

 

„Hi, I'm sorry, I was playing bowling with my friend so I didn't hear my phone ring. It's great news.“

 

„I'd like to give you a copy with typing errors and misspelings. Would you stop here, or should I give the flash disc to Ian to give it to you?“ she shook her head. „Look, I'm not sure what happened on Friday. Tell me if you don't want to see me.“

 

„This is not that, Lena, believe me,“ she heard him take a deep breath. „Maybe we should talk. I just... don't want to be a burden to you, or interrupt something... Tell me when and where and I can come. No problem.“

 

She ran her hand through her hair. „Eric, you can come anytime you wish. I'm at home,“ she said softly, sensing there was something bothering him. „You know what..., surprise me. I'm here, waiting for you, OK?“ she decided to cheer him up a bit.

 

„OK. So... see you soon,“ he responded, his voice kind of unsure.

 

„See you,“ she hung up.

 

*

 

An hour later the door bell rang. Eric was standing there when she opened the door and she could see relief in his face, his lips forming in a small smile.

 

„Hi, come in,“ she stepped aside and led him on the back porch. „I work outside today. Would you like cofee?“

 

„Yes, please,“ he held out his hand still hidden behind his back to her, handing her a bunch of flowers. „My apologize for my strange behavior on Friday.“

 

„Wow! Thank you,“ she took the flowers in her hands, lifting them to her nose to smell, closing her eyes for a second. „How did you know I loved freesias?“

 

Seeing her face beaming warmed his insides. „I didn't,“ he shrugged. „First I wanted to bring you roses but the freesias smell nicer and stronger. So I chose them. Besides that the freesias aren't so... common as the roses.“

 

„It's true,“ she nodded, smiling. „Have a seat, please. I'm going to bring coffee,“ she retreated to the kitchen, took a vase and put the flowers in it. She put a pot with coffee and two mugs on a tray and was about to walk outside. Then she placed the tray back on the kitchen unit and added the vase on the tray.

 

She poured coffee into two mugs and handed him one. „Here's sugar and milk, help yourself,“ she took a seat opposite him.

 

„Well, as I told you I finished reading, finding some typing errors and several misspelings but I need to look through it one more time. I marked places that I want to return to,“ she handed him the flash disc. „I'll let you know.“

 

„OK. Thanks,“ he nodded. „I'll correct the errors. Take your time. I don't want to push. Actually we have a month till the deadline.“

 

„Really? It's not much time,“ she shook her head. „But I believe we can make it,“ she took a sip from her mug, raising her eyes to him. „Before you mentioned we should talk,“ she remarked.

 

„Right,“ he nodded his head slowly, lowering his eyes. „I don't know where to begin.“

 

„You can start wherever you wish,“ she said reassuringly. „I'm here for you, listening. I felt something was bothering you on Friday,“ she added the last sentence softly to make it easier for him.

 

„You know, I divorced my wife a month ago,“ he brushed his hand against his forehead. „It's hard for me to be alone,“ he took a deep breath and slowly started speaking. „Even though I was working in my study, still I knew there was someone in the house. It's not that I'd want her to come back, no. I don't want to see her anymore,“ he shook his head. „I know you're not interested in my personal life because our relationship's about work...“

 

„It's not true, Eric. We're here because of work but it doesn't mean I'm interested only in your books. Actually we met on the airport, remember? You helped me without even knowing me. If you wish to share anything I want to listen to you,“ she looked in his eyes. „I mean it.“

 

„Thanks. You're nice. Can I be honest with you?“ he continued as she nodded, her face serious. „You know when I finished the book, I was about to call you but then I changed my mind. I didn't want to stay there alone, so I intended to surprise you and come here,“ he broke off for a second. „I didn't expect your boyfriend here...“

 

„Wait, you said 'my boyfriend'?“ she interrupted him. „I don't have a boyfriend. If you mean Tom who opened the door, he's my brother.“

 

„Oh... I didn't know.“ Eric was taken aback by her answer and felt relief at the same time.

 

„You couldn't have. He lives in New York. He had a business appointment yesterday morning in Williamsport, so he slept over here on Friday,“ she shrugged lightly, noticing his relief. He's so cute as he tried to hide his relief. Could it be that he cares about me? „He moved to my parent's house after my divorce because I decided to leave New York. He got married and after my departure they had the whole first floor for themselves. Besides I didn't want to leave my parent's alone there.“

 

„Does he take care of them? It's nice of him. Are you also divorced?“ he lifted his eyebrows. „You're so young.“

 

She laughed lightly. „I'm not as young as you may think. I'm 28. I'd been married just for a year. It was such a big mistake. We were young and stupid. We were bad for each other. It's been three years,“ she waved it off.

 

„I'd been married for six years. We grew apart in the course of time. We didn't have kids,“ he furrowed his forehead.

 

„Why did you want to change your editor?“ she asked in effort to change the topic, feeling this one was painful for him.

 

„Because I fired him. I literally threw him out of my door after I'd found him in my own bed with my wife,“ he clenched his fist, averting his eyes.

 

„Oh my God...,“ she gasped. „I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...,“ she ran her hand through her hair. „I just wanted... to turn the page...,“ she wasn't sure how to continue so she fell silent.

 

„It's OK, Lena. You couldn't know... Believe me that your question wasn't as humiliating as the experience,“ he watched her. She was blushing, averting her eyes. She's adorable. She obviously wanted to make me think about something else. „Tell me what did you think, learning of becoming your favorite author's editor?“ Now it was his turn to try to turn the page.

 

„My most favorite author,“ she corrected him, looking up with a smile. „First I told Ian that I couldn't do it. It was like... how could I, just a small editor, doing it for just three years, edit the book of famous Eric Corbett? Frankly I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do it,“ she shrugged. „But then I rejoiced. I'm honoured to be your editor, Mr. Corbett,“ she winked, looking happy.

 

„I'm honoured, too, Mrs. Gray,“ he smiled. His phone started ringing. „I'm sorry, it's my friend.“

 

„It's OK,“ she got up and retreated to the kitchen. „Is everything alright?“ she asked when she returned in a few minutes.

 

„Yes, it is. Joel just needs to talk to me tonight. We'll get together at seven,“ he responded. „I'd like to introduce you sometime if you don't mind.“

 

„Sure. We can arrange it. I could take my friend Eva with me if you don't mind,“ she smiled.

 

„Great idea,“ he nodded. „Well, I should go.“

 

„Drive carefully,“ she walked him to the front door.

 

„I will. Take care of yourself,“ he winked. „Thanks for listening to me.“

 

„Anytime. I'll call you once I finish editing. Enjoy your evening.“ She waved at him before he started his machine and drove away.