Diplomacy

regret and something that looked suspiciously like fear. Was he afraid Maria would walk in? Was he telling him that he wanted this, too, only not now? Or was he too nice to freak out?
    Lucas removed his hand and averted his eyes. At that precise moment, Maria walked into the kitchen, Lucy in tow, both of them holding roses they had cut from the garden. Lucas took a step back, creating some distance between them.
    “So how’s dinner coming along?” Maria asked as she filled a vase with water and started arranging the flowers.
    “I love kitchens that smell of freshly made bread. Reminds me of my mother’s kitchen at home,” Lucy commented brightly. “Don’t tell me you make your own bread as well?” she asked Maria.
    “Yeah,” Lucas answered, looking over at the older man, “Jack’s a man of many talents.”
    Jack didn’t answer. He simply turned to the oven and checked on the bread. Eventually he smiled faintly at Lucy. “Almost ready, won’t be long now.”

    SO here they were, the four of them sharing a comfortable, slightly chaotic dinner table, their stomachs full, wine flowing copiously, the two women chatting animatedly and the two men sitting in silence, staring at the wallpaper or Maria’s beautifully arranged flowers.
    Lucas wanted to break the ice, but had no idea how to do it without drawing attention to the way they were behaving towards each other and therefore having to explain what happened in the kitchen. The strange thing was, even Lucas wasn’t quite sure what had happened. It would have been easier for Jack to just take his hand back and continue without letting on that anything even remotely intimate had passed between them. It was not as if he had kissed him! Still, Jack didn’t seem to be able to place his D i p l o m a c y | 29

    feelings either, or at least it seemed he wasn’t fully in control of the situation.
    All Lucas knew was that he would have to make amends. After all, they would still have to work together after this, and if they couldn’t talk about their differences, how would their countries work well together? He had to make the first move and show the older man he could set aside his personal feelings for the greater good. He would have to do what was expected from a diplomat.
    Lucas was shaken out of his reverie when Maria got up from the table. He could hear her tell her husband, “Jack, why don’t you take Lucy and Lucas into the living room, I’ll clear up here.” Lucy jumped up too. “I’ll help, Maria.”
    “Oh, no, I couldn’t let you do that,” Maria told her. “You’re our guest. The rule when we have guests is: Jack cooks, I clear up.” Lucy helped anyway, so when Jack excused himself, Lucas was left to his own devices. He picked up some of the empty plates and brought them to the kitchen where he was met by Maria.
    She was smiling warmly. “Oh, no, not both of you in this kitchen!
    Did Jack leave you alone?” She rolled her eyes. “Typical! Listen, Lucas, I bet he’s on the porch smoking a cigarette. I’m sure he won’t mind some company, if you can stand the smell of cigarettes, that is.” Lucas nodded and smiled at her.
    She handed him two tulip glasses of brandy. “Why don’t you take these out to him?”
    “Surprising how warm it still is out here, after this cold week.” Lucas started as he found his host sitting on the bench outside, leaning against the brownstone wall of the house.
    Jack took a long drag of his cigarette and simply answered,
    “Yeah,” without looking at the young man.
    “I thought all Americans had given up smoking by now,” Lucas tried to tease as he handed Jack one of the glasses he was holding.
    Jack shrugged, his gaze still out towards the garden. “Well, I can quit anytime, just never know for how long. Maria keeps asking me to, but I guess that’s not enough of an incentive.” 30 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    Lucas sat down on the opposite side of the simple wooden bench, careful not to come too close to the other man. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
    “Nice garden.”
    “Yup, the last Ambassador had a wife with green fingers.”
    “Well, Maria seems to know her way around pruning shears as well.”
    “Yeah.”
    There it was again. Lucas couldn’t help feeling that every time Maria’s name came into the conversation, Jack went silent. Or was it just his imagination?
    “I’m sorry, Jack.”
    “No, you’re not,” Jack rebutted without hesitation.
    “You don’t