The Apotheosis. Darrell Lee

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ took him. They were great friends ever since. He spent many summer vacations and Christmas holidays at our house. If I hadn’t gone to live with my aunt and uncle, I’d have probably have gone to live with him, in L.A.”

      “Why didn’t you tell me?”

      “I’m telling you now. Open the front cover and look inside.”

      Amira did. Handwritten on the inside of the cover, it read:

      To Amira,

      The thing that separates us from the apes isn’t the invention of tools or machines. It is the invention of fiction. The world can always use another good writer.

      Best Wishes,

      Joseph Clarke

      “Oh, my God. I don’t know what to say. It’s the best gift I’ve ever been given.”

      John handed her the second box.

      “I don’t know what’s in here, but there’s no way it can outdo that.” She tore away the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside was a leather-bound journal with three hundred lined blank pages and a single number-two pencil. Amira held it in her hands. She opened the cover and heard the new leather groan. She flipped the blank pages and the scent of the virgin paper brushed her face. Tears came to her eyes.

      “I was wrong. This is the best gift.”

      John moved to her and took her hand. The tears came faster. She stood from the chair and he held her. He put his fingers under her chin and raised her face.

      Over the years, John would think about this moment and remember it as when he fell in love with her, without even knowing it at the time. John’s lips found hers. He kissed her gently and she moved her lips to kiss him back. They kissed and held each other tighter. Her breathing grew deeper and she let out a soft moan. They kissed again and John held her by the shoulders and covered her face with gentle kisses. He pulled away, took her by the hand, and led her past the living room, down the hallway to his bedroom.

      Their lovemaking was passionate and fulfilling. Amira had found an oasis in her desert. When it was over, John pulled slowly away and looked at her as large gentle tears rolled out of the corners of her eyes and she buried her face on his shoulder. He held her and ran one hand over her until he could feel her shoulders relax and she had wiped away the tears.

      Amira looked up at him. “I have these feelings for you… they don’t match my knowledge of you. We’ve spent a couple of hours together over a dinner and I cannot stop thinking about you.”

      “I feel the same way. I’ve been thinking about you too.” John took a deep breath and squeezed her tight for a moment.

      Amira stared at the ceiling. Now what? She lay still and quiet for a long time. “So, where does that leave us?”

      “Do you love him?”

      “No, there hasn’t been love in that relationship in a long time.” Amira was embarrassed by her answer.

      “That’s all I need to know. I want to keep seeing you, whenever we can, and we’ll see how it goes between us and where it leads.” John meant what he was saying. He had her best interests in mind, and he didn’t want to cause her any of the pain that he thought an affair would bring. “I’ve a very flexible schedule for my work. I’m sure we can find time to spend together.”

      “That sounds like a good start to me.”

      She relaxed. She was glad it wasn’t over before it really began. She wanted badly to be with a man she desired. Even if it was stolen time together.

      “I don’t want to get out of bed with you to cook,” John said.

      “Me either.”

      John took his cell phone from the side table and punched up the app for Tung Tse Chinese Restaurant. “How about Chinese food?”

      Amira looked around the room for the first time. Both bedside tables, the desk in the corner, the dresser, and the floor around the bed were covered in books.

      “What do you like to read?”

      “Everything.”

      “Ever heard of a Kindle?”

      “I have a couple of those. Each one has about a thousand books on it… Chinese?”

      “Sounds wonderful,” Amira replied.

      “Done. They say a forty-minute delivery time.”

      Amira slid over on top of him. “Just enough time.”

      Three hours later, empty cartons of Chinese food lay about John’s bedroom, and the bottle of wine from the kitchen sat emptied. Amira had dressed, gathered herself, kissed John good-bye at the door, and left. He was back in bed. His phone rang. He looked, hoping it was Amira. He was disappointed.

      “Hi, Mom.”

      “Hi, John. Did I wake you?”

      Just from that short sentence John could tell that she had been drinking.

      “I’m just watching TV.”

      “How have you been? Seems forever since I’ve heard from you.”

      “I’ve been good. You know, working hard.”

      “I like that you work at your father’s place. It has been so long since I’ve seen it. I should come to Boston and visit soon.”

      John knew she wouldn’t. A long silence followed.

      “Or you could come to Manhattan and visit me.”

      “I will, next Christmas—I promise.”

      “You sound just like your father now over the phone. My God, next year you’ll turn thirty. Where have the years gone?” Another long silence. “Me and Mark are going to Japan next week. Would you like to come with us?”

      “Sorry, I have to work.” John didn’t know who Mark was. He didn’t want to know.

      “Oh yes, your research. I forgot. When we get back, I’ll be sure to call and tell you about it.” She slurred the last part. John knew by now how to pick out the words.

      “I’ll talk to you then.” John took the opening to end the conversation.

      “Bye, dear.”

      “Bye, Mom.”

      John opened a book to read. Then put it back down. He didn’t need to read to sleep tonight. In his dreams, he was with Amira.

       APRIL 10, 2022

      The months following Amira’s first visit to my apartment were the happiest I’d ever known. I diligently watched the monkeys’ progress, and I finished the CAT scan system in anticipation СКАЧАТЬ