Reunited After 25 Years 7: Dinner and Dancing

Things were crazy at the library the following day. Many more people came to gape at the partially demolished government building across the street than to check out books. After work Andrea strongly debated driving past the motel just to say hello to Anton and Darya for no other reason than that she simply longed to see his face and hear his voice again, but in the end she decided that that would be silly and perhaps even appear clingy or needy, which was the last impression in the world she wanted to give Anton.

That evening after dinner, the phone rang. It was Anton.

"I miss you and wanted to hear your voice again," he told her.

"I missed you too," she said.

"Was everything all right today?"

"Everything was fine. Just a lot slower than usual, is all. How was your day?"

"I made many phone calls, tried to get an extension on my visa. Also a work permit."

"Really?" A thrill of excitement coursed through Andrea's body. "So you may stay here longer than the summer, then?"

"I would really like to. Gloucester is nice place to visit. I expect it would be nice place to live as well."

"I've lived here all my life, and never had any desire to live anywhere else," Andrea told him. "What about Darya?"

"I want her to stay as well. There are many more opportunities for her here. Perhaps she can get a student visa."

"That would be wonderful, Anton. I really hope that both of you can stay."

"There is another thing, Andrea." Anton's voice sounded hesitant - timid, almost.

"What is it?"

"Yesterday, when the plane crashed into the building, I was very afraid. My first thought was, what if my friend Andrea was in that building?" Anton sounded as if he were about to cry. Andrea felt a lump forming in her own throat.

"But I wasn't, Anton." The urge to comfort him was almost overpowering. "I wasn't in the building. Nobody was. It's all right. Everything's all right."

Anton didn't say anything for a long time.

"Are you all right, Anton?" Andrea finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, yes, I'm all right," Anton quickly assured her. "What I want to say is...I have feelings for you that are very tender. More so than ever before. I...I...it is hard for me to say."

"It's all right, Anton. I understand."

The following Friday night Anton showed up on Andrea's doorstep dressed to the nines and carrying a lovely bouquet of roses. Andrea gasped with surprise, then burst out laughing.

"How did you get here?" she asked.

"Taxi." Anton grinned.

"Why, I would have been happy to pick you up..."

"But then it wouldn't have been a surprise."

Andrea laughed again. "You silly thing. Give me fifteen minutes to get ready."

"You are lovely just as you are."

"The heck I am!" Andrea hurriedly put on her very best dress and painstakingly made up her face.

"Where are we going?" she asked when she was ready.

"You will know when we get there," Anton said mysteriously.

Andrea gasped with surprise when they reached the restaurant. She'd been to it once before, many years previously. It was well outside her budget.

Anton laughed with amusement at the expression on her face. "Tonight, Andrea, you will be treated just like the queen you are," he told her.

Andrea felt just a little bit guilty as she walked into the restaurant with Anton. She knew that whatever funds he had had to last him until the end of his vacation, and she didn't want him to go broke because of her.

The inside of the restaurant was every bit as opulent as Andrea remembered. A violinist played, and couples danced gracefully.

Andrea studied the menu carefully, trying to chose the least expensive item. Anton seemed to read her mind. "Don't be afraid. Have whatever you want," he laughed.

After the waiter had taken their order, Anton asked Andrea if she'd like to dance.

"You're such a good dancer," Andrea told him as they were dancing. He smelled really nice, of toothpaste and aftershave.

"You're not so bad yourself," he told her. His arms around her made her feel warm and secure.

"Any success with getting your visa extended?" she asked him later, as they were eating.

"Lots of paperwork. It is very difficult." He sighed. "It would have been easier if I had come over five or ten years ago. I would have qualified as political refugee then."

"But you couldn't get an exit visa then."

"Exactly."

"It's kind of ironic, isn't it?"

Anton laughed.

After dinner they went dancing, then for a midnight stroll along the beach.

"Did you have good time tonight, Andrea?" asked Anton.

"I had a wonderful time tonight, Anton," Andrea assured him. "Thank you very much for the roses, for dinner, and...and for everything."

"Thank you for your delightful company." Anton grinned. "I suppose you could say our first date was a success, right?"

"I guess it was our first real date, wasn't it?" Andrea suddenly felt very shy.

Later, when Anton asked if she wanted to come in and visit for a little while instead of just dropping him off at the motel and then returning home, she took him up on it.