An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [52]
“Oh, Alek. How terrible for all of you.”
“Yes,” he agreed, “and it nearly destroyed my mother. If it hadn’t been for Anna and me, I believe my mother would have died, too. Not at the soldiers’ hands, but from grief.”
“What happened afterward?”
“My mother had to support us. Both Anna and I did everything we could to help, but it was difficult. Because I was a good student, I was given the opportunity to attend university. It was there that I met my first Americans. I couldn’t believe the freedom and prosperity those students told me about. I’ve always been good with languages—Anna, too. Soon afterward, I started learning English. After I met Jerry, he sent me books and CDs. He was my link to America.”
“Were you surprised when he asked you to come and work for Conrad Industries?”
“Yes.”
“Did Jerry ever tell you about his beautiful younger sister?” Julia prodded.
“In passing.”
“Were you curious about me?”
“No.”
She poked him in the ribs and was rewarded with a mock cry of pain.
“I’m more curious now,” he said, laughing.
“Good.”
His hand edged beneath her blouse.
“Alek!”
“I’m just wondering how fast I can make you want me.”
“Fast enough. Now, stop. We’re on a public beach.”
He sighed as though her words had wounded him. “Maybe we should get a hotel room.”
“We could have done that in Seattle. Since we’re at the beach and the day is gorgeous, let’s enjoy ourselves.”
“Julia,” Alek said sternly, “trust me, we would enjoy ourselves in a hotel room, too.”
Smiling, she leaned back her head to look at him. “No one told me you were a sex fiend.”
“You do this to me, Julia, only you.”
“I promise I’ll satisfy your, uh, carnal appetite,” she assured him with a grin. “And I’m a woman of my word.”
“I must not be so selfish,” Alek said, and the teasing quality was gone from his voice. “I didn’t bring you here to make love, I brought you here to heal. After my father was killed, my mother made weekly trips to the beach with Anna and me. It was a time of solace for us, and it helped us heal. I hoped it would help you, too.”
“It does,” Julia said, looking out at the pounding surf.
“You must forgive my greed for you.”
“Only if you forgive my greed for you.” The love-making was so new, they were eager to learn everything they could about each other, eager to give and to receive. Julia didn’t fool herself into believing this kind of desire could continue. If it did, they might both die of sheer exhaustion.
“I want you to relax in my arms,” Alek said, “and close your eyes.” He waited a moment. “Are they closed?”
She nodded. The sounds that came at her were intense. The ocean as it slapped against the shore, the cry of the birds and the roar of scooters as they shot past her, kicking up the sand. The smells, carried on the wind, were pungent.
“Now open your eyes.”
Julia obeyed and was overwhelmed by the richness of the colors around her. The sky was blue with huge puffy clouds. The water was a sparkling green that left a thin, white, frothy trail on the sand. Every color was vibrant, every detail. Julia’s breath caught in her throat at the beauty before her.
“Oh, Alek, it’s so lovely.”
“My mother did that with Anna and me, but I think she was doing it for herself, too. She wanted us to see that life could be good, if we looked around at the world instead of within ourselves.”
Julia knew that was what she’d been doing these past few years, looking at the darkness and the shortcomings within herself. Under such intense scrutiny, her faults had seemed glaring. It was little wonder that she’d been so miserable.
“Alek,” she said, with her discovery, “thank you, thank you so much.”
They kissed, and it was as if his love was absolution for all that had gone before and all that would come later. She turned in his embrace and slipped her arms around his neck. When they’d finished kissing, they simply held each other.
Alek knew his relationship with Julia had changed that afternoon by the ocean. Things between them