by Marya Stones
Okay, so now we’re in contact on Facebook.
By the way, whatever happens is for the best!
Chapter 13
The evening with Nathalie did Greta good. Naturally, she told her friend the Facebook story about Mike. Nathalie believed that it was obviously a good sign; moreover, she was of the opinion that HE wanted something from Greta and that Greta should definitely follow up and send him a message.
Nathalie’s words had an effect on Greta, but she decided to take things slowly. Her next flight to New York was in about ten days, and so much could still happen between now and then. She wanted to use the time to consider very carefully what she would do, going forward.
And now the weekend was at the door, and with it the brunch with Stephanie and her family at Lake Starnberg. Brunch was to start at 10:00 a.m. Beforehand, Greta wanted to pick up some flowers from her favorite flower shop, Flowers that Live, as a hostess gift, as well as the new hair treatment that her hairdresser had recommended at her last appointment. For the longest time, Stephanie and Greta had shared a common weakness for everything that had to do with hair.
As Greta drove to Stephanie’s in her old Fiat Uno, some very pleasant memories that they had in common came to mind, particularly a vacation with Stephanie, Petra and Jacqueline.
All four were young flight attendants, recent survivors of Lufthansa’s probation period, whose first vacation was due. Stephanie knew a hotel manager in the Caribbean and that’s where the four girls decided to go.
What a long time ago that was, Greta thought.
But that trip became one of the absolute highlights of her time at Lufthansa. Four girls, each very different, a little bit like “Sex and the City,” and the summer, sun, beach, cocktails, bars and discos, and plenty of craziness.
Greta and Petra got their diving certificates on that vacation together – oh, how perfectly everything turned out. Maybe there will be a get-together with all four of them again.
But it was difficult enough to see only one of the four now and then.
In the meantime, Stephanie had married Ollie and become a mother. She seemed to be enjoying married life, and her part-time work at Lufthansa too. She had a limited number of flights per month, and wanted to keep it that way.
Petra, who was single, still commuted from Garmisch to Munich, approximately 55 miles each way. She simply couldn’t leave her hometown. Petra loved the mountains and being close to her family and friends. She was the only one of the group who made Purser in her career with Lufthansa.
As far as Jacqueline was concerned, Greta knew only that she was divorced, bulimic, and again employed by Lufthansa, but with the Frankfurt team.
Well, somehow the four girls had grown apart and lost touch ... it was a shame.
With these thoughts still fresh in her mind, Greta arrived at Stephanie’s. She parked her Uno next to a Mini-convertible in the driveway.
Did Stephanie get a new car? The split-second thought ran through Greta’s mind.
Very chic!
The house, or more accurately, the villa, lay directly on the lake, with its own pool. Although Greta knew the house, she hadn’t been there for some time, and was again very impressed by the setting in which Stephanie lived.
Fortunately, despite the luxuriously extravagant surroundings, Stephanie had remained grounded. She herself came from a “good background,” having grown up in very comfortable circumstances, with a French father and German mother. She had lived in Paris and Munich, and now at Starnberg Lake.
Stephanie must have seen Greta in the driveway and came toward her. How magical she looked. So relaxed, so French.
Her long blonde hair brushed against the shoulder-straps of a flowered dress, the hem ending just above her knees, which she combined with black ballerinas. Around her neck, she wore a delicate chain with a starfish charm, sprinkled with diamonds. Greta thought that she remembered having seen the charm in the Tiffany catalog.
The women embraced warmly and held each other tight for a moment. Then, as usual, Stephanie began chattering, regaling Greta with all that had recently happened.
“How wonderful that you’re here – it’s always far too long until we see each other again. Did you have a good trip out here? – Oh, can you imagine, Ollie brought a friend from New York with him. Mikey. I hope that doesn’t bother you. You know us – something unexpected always happens.”
Greta followed Stephanie into the house, and they walked into the kitchen together, chattering on. Once again, Greta and Stephanie became engrossed immediately in one of their favorite subjects, hair.
While they were still preparing fruit and various tidbits for the brunch on the terrace, Stephanie’s son, Tom, came into the kitchen.
Tom wanted to know when they were finally going to eat, mentioning that he was “hungry and stuff,” and with a quick “hello” to Greta, was gone again.
Filou, the dog, a Golden Retriever-mix, was also running around. It was always like this at Stephanie’s: lots going on, uncomplicated, familiar, and pleasant.
“Will you help me carry the trays to the terrace?” Stephanie asked.
“Of course,” Greta replied and picked up the fresh cherry tart, a classic French fruit confection. On the way through the living room and across the veranda, the aroma of the cake was simply bewitching. Greta certainly planned to treat herself to a piece of this choice delicacy. She heard Ollie laughing on the terrace and another man’s voice. That was apparently Mikey.
As Greta came around the corner onto the terrace with the fragrant cake, Ollie stood up and came towards her.
“Not that I don’t want to say hello,” Ollie said and laughed, “but the scent of that cake is simply irresistible -- I have to take it from you. It’s nice that you’re here.” Ollie gave her a loud kiss on the cheek and turned to the guest, who was still sitting with his back toward Greta.
“This is Mikey, an old friend of mine and now my business colleague, from New York,” Ollie introduced the stranger. “Mikey often has to come to Munich quick as a flash. Always when our mutual clients ring the alarm or tempers begin to ignite at the agency. Only he knows what to do. He has to play fireman then and put out the fire.”
Mikey got up and turned around.
And Greta stood there as if thunderstruck.
“Aiee!” she squealed. Then she stiffened in response to the muriatic acid fumes from the pool, felt how the blood faded from her cheeks, and her arms became limp. The serving tray, which she had been holding in her hands, broke into a thousand pieces on the stone floor of the terrace, and the cake lay next to it, a pile of sludge.
Mike!
This wasn’t possible.
Both said in unison:
“What are YOU doing here?”
Ollie said quickly: “What? You know each other?”
Then Greta noticed for the first time what she had done, and knelt down on the floor to pick up the mess.
“Yes, um – Mike was a guest on my flight from Munich to New York not long ago,” she babbled. Under no circumstances did she want Stephanie and Ollie to know the details. It was already embarrassing enough.
Mike seemed to sense Greta’s restraint immediately.
“Yes, that’s right,” he said instantly. “We met on the flight to New York. One of my most exciting flights,” Mike smiled. “Imagine,” he said, turning to Ollie, “we flew so close to a hurricane that I could see the vortex and the storm-shaft clearly. Then subsequently there was this air pocket – really very exciting.”
“Oh, I thought you were going to say that the flight was so exciting because of Greta,” Ollie grinned.
“That’s another story,” Greta heard Mike say as she was gathering up the fragments of the ceramic tray.
She wanted to shout at him, “Keep your mouth shut, man!”
Now Stephanie came out on the terrace with a bowl of fruit salad. “Oh, what happened? The tart! Merde!”
“I am so sorry,” Greta said. “I am so clumsy; I do
n’t even know how this could happen. The tart doesn’t look quite as appetizing as it did, but I’m sure it will still taste wonderful. We can surely save it.”
“You know each other?” Stephanie asked Greta with a glance at Mike. Stephanie had always had invisible antennae that could sense imperceptible currents between people.
“Oh, yes, I was just saying that Mike was one of the guests on my last flight to New York.”
“And according to Mikey, it was a very exciting flight,” Ollie added, raising his eyebrows meaningfully.
“This is certainly a coincidence, isn’t it?” Stephanie was also surprised. She gave Greta, who was still kneeling on the floor rescuing the rest of the tart, a plate. “That story I would like to hear in great detail.”
No, Greta thought, that’s the last story that I want to tell right now.
But Stephanie had, of course, given Mikey - or rather, Mike – an unmistakable order just now. “Yes,” Mike began, “I met Greta on my last flight to New York, as we’ve said. I had the good fortune to have her in service in first class.”
While he spoke, his gaze was focused only on Greta, and she felt once again that she was completely transparent. Without turning away from her, Mike continued.
“Greta was successful in making the flight so pleasant for me that I could master my fear of flying even during the periods of strong turbulence. Until now, I haven’t actually been able to thank her appropriately for that.”
Greta was still staring at the floor, trying to save the ruined tart, and didn’t even notice that at this point, she was just collecting crumbs.
“Thank?” echoed in her head. That’s right, that he didn’t do. She noticed that her mood and hurt feelings based on the last contact with him were noticeably dissolving. She couldn’t be really angry with him now, even though he hadn’t behaved properly.
“May I thank you for that officially?” Mike was clearly now speaking to her.
Greta looked up from the floor. Mike was standing next to her and gave her his hand. Greta took it automatically and allowed him to help her stand up.
Then she riveted her glance on Mike and said “Yes.”
“That makes me happy. I would like to invite you to dinner, and perhaps say much more to all of that –“.
“Yes, Greta, that’s a very good idea,” Stephanie burst into the conversation somewhat tactlessly. “How long will you be in town, Mikey?”
At this point, Greta didn’t want the situation to be hijacked by Stephanie. She had just recovered from the experience of Mike’s “take charge” attitude a few days ago in New York.
“Thank you, Stephanie,” Greta jumped in quickly. “I think we’ll find an appropriate time to see each other again.” Greta continued to cast a penetrating gaze on Mike, which burrowed deeply into him.
Mike reacted promptly. “Oh, yes, Stephanie. I’m sure Greta and I will find a time.”
At least the topic was now off the table.
They lingered over brunch, whiling away the hours. The conversation revolved around films, vacations, cars, and business. Greta learned in detail why Mike had landed in Munich so quickly once again. Ollie had already mentioned that a mutual client had caused some problems that only he and Mike could solve together. Consequently, a meeting was called, fast as lightning, at which Mike was required to be present. On the topic of cars, everyone laughed hysterically as Mike made one pun after another. His experiences as a half-European on the American highways were ready for prime time.
Greta was having a good time and noticed, in these relaxed surroundings, how much she enjoyed Mike’s company, and how deeply she could let herself become involved. Indeed, she surprised herself, realizing that she could fall in love with him. She looked forward happily to the next time they would see each other.
I hope he’ll be in the city for another few days.
The brunch continued into the afternoon. After the second bottle of Prosecco on the terrace, many strawberries and even more vanilla ice cream, Stephanie’s son Tom joined them. He had a soccer match that afternoon, and begged his parents to attend, which finally broke up the party.
Greta hoped and anticipated that Mike would invite her to the promised get-together, but he made no move to make arrangements with her.
When will he finally ask me if we can see each other?
Nothing.
Everyone helped to clear the terrace and to carry the glasses and dishes into the kitchen. While Ollie and Stephanie got ready for the soccer match, Greta looked for her purse and jacket. Mike had gone to the restroom. Again, an opportunity to ask her was lost. When Mike returned, Stephanie, Ollie, and Tom were ready to leave. Greta feared in the meantime that Mike wouldn’t have a chance to say anything.
Everyone said good-bye to one another at the door. Stephanie gave Greta a hug and whispered in her ear: ”You definitely have to tell me all the details of the Mike story, okay?”
Greta nodded briefly and thanked her sincerely for the beautiful day.
Mike and Ollie also said good-bye to one another. Ollie got in the car, and Tom and Stephanie climbed in, too. As they were preparing to drive away, Mike and Ollie discussed their next business meeting. They planned to finalize the date and time by e-mail.
Then the family was gone.
Mike stood in front of the Mini and Greta headed to her little Fiat. She still hoped for a sign from him. Finally she heard his voice.
“Should we also decide on a time and place? On-line or right here and now?”
Greta turned around and tried to hide her wide grin a little. “I’d just as soon do it here and now.”
“Good,” Mike said. How does it look for tonight? I’m in Munich only until late tomorrow afternoon, then I have to go back. And tomorrow I’m pretty heavily booked.”
“Okay,” Greta said spontaneously. “But this time I’ll take you out! And there is someone that I might bring along.”
“Reaally?” Mike raised his eyebrows and seemed surprised. “Do you also have a badly behaved and complicated brother like me? Then I have to brace myself. I still want to tell you so much that pertains to Steve. Above all, I am so very sorry that I didn’t forewarn you. It wasn’t fair of me to let you meet him unprepared. I think I wasn’t quite clear on that. It was only when the conversation had already gone too far that I realized it had been my responsibility to get him to put on the brakes. Can you understand that?”
“Frankly, no, Mike,” Greta said. “I don’t understand you when it comes to this. But I will gladly listen to you and maybe you’ll be able to help me understand.”
She was standing tall and straight in front of him, looking him in the eyes, and was completely self-aware. In no way did she want to make the situation easy for him. And beyond that, this time she wanted to be the one who set the tone, and not allow herself to be taken in by him.
“Okay, Mike,” Greta continued, “I suggest that I pick you up tonight at 7:00 o’clock at your hotel and then we’ll go out. Is that okay?” A little surprised by her own daring and resolve, she opened her car door and waited only for his agreement.
“Good, then we’ll see each other later at 7:00 o’clock.” Greta could hear in his voice that he was happy. “Where are you staying?”
“At Hotel Louis at the Viktualienmarkt.”
“Good. ‘Til later, then.”
Then suddenly, Mike pulled Greta tightly to him and kissed her on the mouth. He kissed her passionately - firmly and yet tenderly. Greta couldn’t ignore the unexpected surge of desire that overcame her. She was completely surprised, and had the feeling that she wasn’t quite herself.
Oh, no, what’s going on here! – went through her mind fleetingly. She felt his hands at the nape of her neck and the kiss seemed like forever. Then, all of a sudden, she was looking into his eyes. He still held her head, his hands on her cheeks. After a little while, his gaze firmly anchored in her eyes, he spoke:
“You are really something very special. You’re beautiful and sensua
l. I’m not going to give you up so easily. It can’t be a coincidence that we met again so unexpectedly, here at the home of mutual friends. Maybe there’s something out there that heard my calling out to you. I couldn’t stop thinking of you. Can you imagine how happy and surprised I was to see you on the terrace today? If I had been carrying the tart, I would not only have dropped it, I would probably have fallen into it myself.”
With these words, with his kiss, and with his directness, Mike had surprised Greta again.
She was speechless!
Then Mike lowered his hands, took a step backwards, turned and went to his car, without waiting for an answer from her.
Greta was still so taken aback that, as if nothing had happened, she said as a matter of course:
“Okay, we’ll see each other then at 7:00 o’clock in the lobby of your hotel. Looking forward!”
Mike turned around and laughed at her with a full heart. “I’m looking forward too!”
And he got into his car and was gone.
Greta stood there completely stupefied. It seemed almost as if she were in the wrong film.
What had actually just happened? The whole afternoon was like a movie – a movie in which she played a major role, but somehow it seemed as if she were watching herself on the screen. She had the feeling that she could neither be in control nor have any influence. Everything was simply happening to her. It was indeed more than strange. But it felt wonderful when she thought about the embrace and that kiss. Slowly she turned toward her car, got in, and made her way back into the city.
Chapter 14
At home Greta felt a little more like herself again, for two reasons: She had, in the best sense of the word, “arrived” –not only where she lived, but within herself as well.
How important it is to have a home of one’s own, ran through her mind.
She considered pouring herself a glass of wine to further calm down, but how late was it, anyway? There wasn’t enough time – it was already 4:30 p.m. and only two and a half hours before her date with Mike.