Page 37 of Sweet Thing

chapter 18

(she can) do that

Emily was not expecting a visitor, but receiving one was a welcome surprise. “Come on up, honey; I’ll buzz you in,” she called into the intercom. Speaking to any grown-up without a child in tow was a treat these days. Emily found that within a few months of motherhood, she was already bored with the women in her ‘Mother & Baby’ group who were completely obsessed with their offspring. They changed their entire lives to suit their babies, rather than fitting the baby into their lives. Emily didn’t get it. She loved Lukas desperately, but she didn’t want to lose herself in baby La-La-Land.

At five months old Lukas was a placid, happy little boy. Pieter was a very hands-on father, and Emily was itching to get back to her studio to do some large scale paintings, rather than be restricted to her notebooks.

The front door had been left ajar. Simeon just walked on in, closing it gently behind him. He strolled down the corridor and into the main open-plan living space, and took in the wonderful view of the Berlin skyline through the walls of glass.

Emily had just put the kettle on. “Hello Honey,” she welcomed drawing him into a hug.

Sim had separated, bunched, and dried the huge Lavender bouquet that Bastian sent him weeks ago. “It’s from the fields beside my ancestral chateau in Provence. I thought that maybe some would be soothing to put in Lukas’s bedroom?” Sim offered, neglecting to mention that he’d been gifted with a bouquet the size of a wheat sheaf, and his apartment smelled like a perfumery.

“Oh, thank you. That’s so thoughtful. I love Lavender”, Emily enthused, placing the bouquet on the kitchen island.

“To what do we owe this pleasure? I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. Pieter’s at the recording studio with his musos, and I’ve just put Lukas down.”

“I know, Peety told me he’s recording some violin lullabies today. I can’t wait to hear.” Simeon said enthusiastically “I… actually came to see you, is that okay? Do you have time? I don’t want to assume,” Simeon stuttered, suddenly feeling self-conscious about what he wanted to talk about. It was a delicate subject, but Pieter once said that Emily was a walking encyclopedia, so she might know what he could do to help.

“Tea?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Pieter made almond cookies last night; you wanna try?” Emily asked as she prepared the cups and tea bags.

“Really? Sure! What doesn’t kill you…” Sim laughed as he slumped on the gray fabric, L-shaped sofa. Simeon had been the victor in their ‘cook-off,’ and now there was an ongoing rivalry when it came to baked goods.

Simeon’s pixie-crop hairstyle had grown out quickly, and his dark fringe was now a thick mop that he dragged across to the left. Sim thought it added an air of mystery, and it gave him something to fidget with when he was nervous. He was fidgeting now. He watched Emily making tea and wondered where he should start with his problem. He wasn’t usually one for seeking or taking advice, but this new sober version of Sim would take any help he could get. Simeon’s phone rang, and he fished it from his jacket pocket. His pulse increased when he glanced at the name Bastian on the display screen.

“Hey you,” Sim greeted casually, glancing up warily as Emily busied herself in the kitchen.

“Hey, yourself,” Bastian replied, mirroring the faux-casual attitude. There was a beat of silence, in which Simeon recalled the sound of heavy breathing and Bastian’s voice, heady with constrained desire as he climaxed the previous night.

“I was just wondering how you are… after… I wanted to thank you. I slept better than in months.” Bastian admitted candidly.

“Oh… No need to thank me, I slept like a baby too”, Sim replied with a smile in his voice.

“What is your schedule like this week?”

“Why?” Simeon asked playfully.

The question appeared to stump Bastian for a second, halting his nonchalant flow. “I’d… like to talk to you…” Bastian stuttered.

“We’re talking now, are we not?” Simeon replied.

“Face to face. Would you be comfortable with that?”

“I’m flying to Paris tomorrow afternoon for two weeks, but I’m free tonight. You can maybe come over for a chat?”

“Just a chat?” Bastian prodded.

“I realized I don’t really know much about you. I’d like to know more before anything else. So talk is all that’s on the table”, Simeon replied. He needed to keep Bastian at arm’s length until he knew what he could actually offer the man—and what Bast could offer him.

“Hmm… Talk is all that’s on the table. What about on the sofa, the bed, or even the floor?” Bastian flirted.

“We can talk anywhere you want.” Simeon snickered, his nonchalant attitude thwarted. “Listen, I’m with Emily at the moment. Come round at nine p.m. if you want to. If not, some other time maybe?” Simeon sighed dismissively. He knew Bastian was already hooked. He would be there, and nothing would stop him.

Emily joined Simeon on the sofa, pushing books and baby toys out of the way to lay a tray with tea and cookies on the coffee table.