Chapter 5
Joan looked down at Vera through her wine glass, which was now quite empty. She pursed her lips, and found it hard to say anything that would seem right in this moment. Vera looked at her questioningly but said nothing and an awkward silence hung in the air as they stared at each other in Joan's foyer.
"You're here," Joan finally said.
"I-I brought a bottle of wine." Vera held it up momentarily, but thought better than to pass it over, considering Joan's state. Vera could not believe how unabashed Joan look standing before her. Gone was her starched uniform and austere demeanor; here stood Joan with wisps of hair falling around her face, gazing down with a lazy grin playing on her lips.
Joan held out her arm, "please, bring it to the kitchen." She let Vera lead the way.
Vera stopped in her tracks, in shock. Laid on the table were bouquets of white flowers, chocolate truffles, a mountain of berries and a charcuterie and cheese plate. The lights were dimmed above the dining table. It looked romantic. It looked like Joan had really put some thought into this.
Vera blinked hard and turned to face Joan, "what's all this? I thought you just said drinks?"
Joan put her hand to the small of Vera's back and pushed her forward, "Surprised? Well, don't read too much into it, Vera. It's your birthday. It's just my way of saying thank you for all you do for me. Sit." Joan moved ahead and pulled out a chair for her.
Vera sat and turned her head to look up at Joan who was still standing there, leaning against the table. "Thank you. This is too kind" Vera gushed.
Joan smiled and patted Vera on the shoulder, "it's nothing. Would you care for a glass of wine?"
Vera nodded and reached across to help herself to a chocolate while Joan left to get another wine glass out of the cabinet. Out of the corner of her eye, Joan could see Vera sucking chocolate off her thumb in such a way that made her wish that she was both the melted delight and the thumb. She had to clear her throat despite herself to regain some composure.
They sat across from one another, Joan forcing herself to continue down the slippery slope of intoxication. It was obvious that Vera was trying to catch up a bit so that Joan wasn't alone in her inebriation. Joan's cat-like smile grew wider and more obvious the longer she was able to listen to Vera tell stories in her sweet voice and emit her laugh which was sometimes like tinkling glass. It was a truly wonderful sound to Joan's ears. The crinkling around her eyes were the sign that she was relaxed in this moment with a person who allowed her to knock a few bricks out of the wall she had built.
Joan had been leaning over Vera's chair to pour from a fresh bottle of wine when Vera had put her hand on Joan wrist. "Enough?" Joan asked.
"Thank you for all of this." Vera's hand tightened on Joan's wrist. "I feel...special. This is really, very nice." Joan's eyes closed but for a second, sensing the touch and wanting to touch back but knowing this was not the time to do so.
She waited for Vera to remove her hand before setting the bottle down. "Vera, how about we take a walk in the garden? The moon is out and it's a beautiful night. I think it would be beneficial to get some fresh air. I'm feeling...light-headed."
Without waiting for an answer, Joan opened the patio door and walked out barefoot into the night.