Cinda Williams Chima
Cindy
The morning after I met Marilyn I was still shaking. Thankfully, it was a Saturday and I didn't have to work. I took full advantage and slept in.
By the time I got out of bed and made it downstairs it was after ten and Cindy was outside in her stealth vehicle waiting. I poked my head out the door and waved her in.
“How long have you been waiting?” I asked, embarrassed at getting up so late.
“Don’t worry, Prof—I’ve been here for about an hour, but after last night I figured you’d be exhausted. Guess I was right, huh?”
“How can you look so beautiful, so early in the morning?” I sighed, rubbing my hand across the stubble on my cheek.
“Simple,” she chirped, “I didn’t go to bed—been up all night on a stake-out with Abe and thought I’d drop by for coffee with you.”
My face fell. “You must be wasted, Cyn—let me make you breakfast.”
She came over and put her arms around me and kissed me hard and long. The faint scent of her perfume intoxicated me,
“You know what I want,” she whispered in a soft, sing-song voice. I felt myself dividing into cold and warmth, the two parts of me colliding.
“I want coffee and croissants…and black raspberry jam.”
I relaxed and took a breath, but she went on, “And afterwards, I want to fall asleep in your arms.”
“Just sleep?” I asked.
She smiled.”Sometimes that’s enough.”
I put out the croissants, jam and coffee and she was already nibbling on one—she looked absolutely famished.
“Doesn’t Abe feed you when you’re on the job?”
“That’s your job to look after me.” She said it so simply and innocently she made my heart melt.
I felt a warm wave roll through me.
”Are you okay today?” She asked, a concerned look on her face.
“Actually, I had a rough night. I had one of those flashback dreams involving me and Marilyn. It terrified me, but I’m not sure what it means.”
“You know what I told you—I can’t tell you about your past—you have to process through it.”
“I know—I’m just letting you know that I’m still reeling from it.”
”I knew this would happen—that’s why I asked Marilyn to be available in case you needed her. Scott’s away on a conference today, so it might be a good idea for you to drop by and see her—but no quizzing her—just get to know her and let things develop naturally.”
“What happened to the idea of sleeping in my arms?” I teased.
“Right now that wouldn’t be a good idea, but cheer up—you have a lifetime to spend with me.”
I stared into her lovely face and ended up lost in her gaze.
A lifetime would barely be enough time to chart the hidden territories of her eyes.
But right now the thought of seeing Marilyn again unnerved me. What if the doom I felt in my dream still lingered about her?
I wanted to know everything, not piecemeal revelations, but I'd follow Cindy's advice even though it terrified me.