Traveling Light by Andrea Thalasinos Page A

suffer like that again,” he’d said. Paula had touched the man’s shoulder.
    Fotis had granted entry into a world that until twenty-four hours ago had been hidden. Had she not taken Heavenly’s phone call or if Theo had died a month earlier when she’d been in Greece with Eleni, Paula would still be holed up in her office, sleeping on the couch in Roger’s brownstone. Yesterday seemed like ten years ago. She looked in the direction of the dealership. There was a car to buy, a call to make to Bernie Kalgan and the start of a drive out west. Each free day would be a precious jewel.
    The dealership was located in a glass multistory building. Paula pushed open the front door to the smell of rubber tires, car wax and vinyl.
    “Okay if I come in with my dog?” she called.
    A large man nodded, swallowing his lunch as he approached, waving her inside. “Of course, no problem,” he answered with a slight accent she pegged as Serbian. “I am Aleksey, but call me Alex,” he said, wiping his hands on a white paper napkin before extending to shake.
    “I’m Paula.” She extended her hand and pointed to an orange stain next to his shirt pocket.
    Alex looked down and wiped it, nodding.
    Fotis pranced in circles, his nose in the air.
    “Nice to meet you, Paula.” Alex shook her hand and then squatted in front of Fotis. Alex extended his hand, a move that Paula now recognized as one of experienced dog owners.
    “My, you are big guy,” Alex remarked. “With big teeth, too,” he added, and laughed.
    “And who is this fine creature?” Alex asked.
    “Fotis.”
    “Hello, Fotis,” Alex said as Fotis nosed his fingers.
    Alex just happened to have a doggie treat in his shirt pocket. He flipped it up like he was doing a magic trick.
    “Can you sit?” Alex asked, and stood.
    Fotis watched with rapt attention.
    “He doesn’t speak English,” she said.
    “My wife, Marina, says same thing about me.”
    Paula laughed.
    He handed over the treat. One crunch and it was gone. Fotis looked for another. Alex raised his hands and shrugged. “Sorry.”
    Paula grinned. She knew it was all theatre but was smitten anyway.
    “He always seems hungry,” Paula said.
    “Dog always hungry,” Alex said. “Even Pomeranian always hungry.”
    The man’s paunch strained the buttons of his shirt and his black tie gave the illusion of being too short for his body. His face was generous, with a soft smile. She liked him.
    “How can I help you, Paula?”
    “I need to buy a car,” she said, and drifted toward a small SUV. She touched the curve of its smooth, shiny fender. “Today,” she added.
    “Today, eh,” Alex said in a joking voice. “What’s so special about today?”
    She smiled mysteriously and blushed, enjoying the teasing. “I need a car that’s good for my dog .”
    “We have many good models for dog.” Alex gestured throughout a showroom that filled the entire city block. Cars were peppered between glass desks and poster-plastered kiosks covered with action shots of SUVs.
    “What about this one?” She smoothed the surface of the door with her hand; it reminded her of a Japanese lacquererware box. On the rear, the chrome logo said: “Ford Escape.”
    “This is next-year model— very popular.” Alex nodded as he said it. “Great gas mileage—it’s hybrid.”
    She nodded. “I’m going on a long drive.”
    “Then Escape would be perfect.” Alex stepped toward the driver’s side, opening the door and gesturing for her to sit. “Please.”
    Paula climbed in and sat. Fotis looked up at her as she leaned back. It was as comfortable as a living room chair.
    “Lumbar support, heated seats, the works.” Alex walked around to the passenger side and opened the back door. He folded down the backseats, creating a platform.
    She watched over her shoulder.
    “Backseat folds flat.” He patted the the space with his meaty hand and looked at her. The flesh of his ring finger rolled over his gold wedding ring.
    “Perfect