leaned back in the dining room chair and lifted his wine glass to his lips. He looked over at my mother, who also had a wine glass in front of her.
“It’s been what, four years since he was last in the States?” my mother asked.
My father nodded. “Yes, for Sabine’s high school graduation. Although he came back about a year ago on business, he couldn’t take the extra time to fly out to see us.”
My heart sped up knowing he’d been here, probably states away, yet still closer than when he was in Europe.
“I bet you’re excited to see Hugo again,” my mother said and took a sip of her wine, looking over the rim at me.
I shrugged, not about to show how nervous I was, or how much anticipation thrummed through me.
We’d finished off a bottle of wine between the three of us, and the second bottle was already half empty. I reached out and ran my finger along the base of my glass. “It’s been a long time,” I replied softly, thinking about the last time I’d seen him. I remembered vividly the way he smelled of dark and delicious cologne. But he’d also smelled of aged books and experience, and it was such a heady, intoxicating aroma. On instinct, I lifted my hand and touched the rose gold feather necklace he’d given me. It had been a present from Hugo not just for graduating high school, but also making valedictorian.
I’d worn it every day since receiving it.
“You two always had this special bond.”
I looked up at my father after he spoke. “Not really.” He might have been more of a presence in my life when I was younger, and he lived in the States, but I’d never say we’d been close.
“Of course you did. Hugo would spend hours with you at the kitchen table teaching you Russian. Remember?”
I did, vividly. Our last lesson had been when I was seventeen years old, and he’d come to visit after being away on business in Russia.
“That’s because Dad wanted him to make me more ‘rounded’.” I smiled at my dad. He’d been teasing when he’d made the suggestion I start learning a language, but Hugo had taken it seriously. For the next two years, from the age of fifteen to seventeen, whenever Hugo was in town, he’d spend hours with me, teaching me his native language—one of the four he spoke fluently.
The truth was I could only speak a handful of Russian phrases, mainly because I wasn’t able to concentrate when he was near.
But I’d tried to come to the realization that my personal reality did not include Hugo.
And even after all these years, it was still hard to make that sink in.
2
Hugo
I didn’t wait for the driver to open my door. I was out, grabbed my two bags, and stood there for a second looking up at Leo’s home. The porch light was on, but I had a key to the guesthouse, so I wouldn’t need to disturb anyone.
“I’ll let you know when I leave,” I said to the driver without looking at him.
I made my way around the back and unlatched the gate to the backyard. Once it was closed behind me, I walked toward the one bedroom guesthouse. I saw the edge of the swimming pool before I rounded the corner, and the lights under the chemically enhanced water made the liquid take on a more yellow glow.
Then I saw a ripple move across the once still liquid. Surely Leo or Annabelle weren’t in the water at this hour? I rounded the corner, but stopped, seeing the back of a female body. The long, black hair was piled high on her head, and the small tie of her bikini was in a bow in the center of her back.
Every part of me froze as I stared at Sabine. I didn’t need to see her face to know who it was, and I didn’t need to be at her parents’ house to know she was the one in the water.
I’d know her anywhere, whether I could see her face or not.
I tightened my hands on the leather straps of my bags and knew the gentlemanly thing to do would be to look away or make my presence known. Instead, I stood there motionless, silent, and watched as she now lay on her back,
“It’s been what, four years since he was last in the States?” my mother asked.
My father nodded. “Yes, for Sabine’s high school graduation. Although he came back about a year ago on business, he couldn’t take the extra time to fly out to see us.”
My heart sped up knowing he’d been here, probably states away, yet still closer than when he was in Europe.
“I bet you’re excited to see Hugo again,” my mother said and took a sip of her wine, looking over the rim at me.
I shrugged, not about to show how nervous I was, or how much anticipation thrummed through me.
We’d finished off a bottle of wine between the three of us, and the second bottle was already half empty. I reached out and ran my finger along the base of my glass. “It’s been a long time,” I replied softly, thinking about the last time I’d seen him. I remembered vividly the way he smelled of dark and delicious cologne. But he’d also smelled of aged books and experience, and it was such a heady, intoxicating aroma. On instinct, I lifted my hand and touched the rose gold feather necklace he’d given me. It had been a present from Hugo not just for graduating high school, but also making valedictorian.
I’d worn it every day since receiving it.
“You two always had this special bond.”
I looked up at my father after he spoke. “Not really.” He might have been more of a presence in my life when I was younger, and he lived in the States, but I’d never say we’d been close.
“Of course you did. Hugo would spend hours with you at the kitchen table teaching you Russian. Remember?”
I did, vividly. Our last lesson had been when I was seventeen years old, and he’d come to visit after being away on business in Russia.
“That’s because Dad wanted him to make me more ‘rounded’.” I smiled at my dad. He’d been teasing when he’d made the suggestion I start learning a language, but Hugo had taken it seriously. For the next two years, from the age of fifteen to seventeen, whenever Hugo was in town, he’d spend hours with me, teaching me his native language—one of the four he spoke fluently.
The truth was I could only speak a handful of Russian phrases, mainly because I wasn’t able to concentrate when he was near.
But I’d tried to come to the realization that my personal reality did not include Hugo.
And even after all these years, it was still hard to make that sink in.
2
Hugo
I didn’t wait for the driver to open my door. I was out, grabbed my two bags, and stood there for a second looking up at Leo’s home. The porch light was on, but I had a key to the guesthouse, so I wouldn’t need to disturb anyone.
“I’ll let you know when I leave,” I said to the driver without looking at him.
I made my way around the back and unlatched the gate to the backyard. Once it was closed behind me, I walked toward the one bedroom guesthouse. I saw the edge of the swimming pool before I rounded the corner, and the lights under the chemically enhanced water made the liquid take on a more yellow glow.
Then I saw a ripple move across the once still liquid. Surely Leo or Annabelle weren’t in the water at this hour? I rounded the corner, but stopped, seeing the back of a female body. The long, black hair was piled high on her head, and the small tie of her bikini was in a bow in the center of her back.
Every part of me froze as I stared at Sabine. I didn’t need to see her face to know who it was, and I didn’t need to be at her parents’ house to know she was the one in the water.
I’d know her anywhere, whether I could see her face or not.
I tightened my hands on the leather straps of my bags and knew the gentlemanly thing to do would be to look away or make my presence known. Instead, I stood there motionless, silent, and watched as she now lay on her back,
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