Diplomacy

Jack’s eyes.
    “Haven’t we been discreet all this time?”
    Jack moved to kiss Lucas; his eyes closed and Lucas could almost see the tears building up behind his lover’s eyelids. “Please give me time and space to solve this, baby?”
    Lucas could only nod as Jack left him sitting on the couch. As he heard the front door close, he pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, suddenly feeling the cold.

    “THANKS for meeting me here.”
    A few days after the fight with Maria, Jack had called Sean and invited him for drinks after work. They went to a café in the inner City of Brussels, far enough away from the European district that they wouldn’t bump into anyone from the other embassies.
    They were both nursing their third beer and had been talking about the old times, when they were still anonymous junior staff members, being sent to whatever embassy needed their particular expertise.
    Sean knew that even though he and Jack were old friends, these days time was too precious for both of them to waste it getting plastered in a bar.

    D i p l o m a c y | 135

    “I can’t believe you asked me here just to talk about the old days, so shoot; what is it you really wanted to talk about?
    “Well, I need your expert advice on something, Sean,” Jack sighed.
    “Something personal.”
    Sean chuckled and took a swig from the pint. “So you figured, let’s ask the guy who’s made a total disaster area of his own private life.
    You’re the one who always used to give me advice, remember?” Jack didn’t smile. “I asked Maria for a divorce.” Sean looked up at Jack and the smile left his face as he saw his friend wasn’t kidding. “Christ, Jack. I always figured you two were perfectly matched. What happened?”
    Jack shrugged. “We were pretty good together, but far from perfect, Sean.” He didn’t know how much he could tell Sean. Would his old friend understand?
    “Well, no marriage is perfect, mate, but you and Maria always made it look so effortless and she is a better diplomatic wife then all three of mine put together.” Sean chuckled and then added, more seriously,
    “What went wrong?”
    Jack sighed. He couldn’t just blurt it out, no matter how close they were, not everything at once anyway. “I met someone else.”
    “Come on, Jack,” Sean’s smile returned. “Is it that redhead that works at reception? She must be quite something if you’re willing to leave Mrs. Perfect for her.”
    “It’s not her.” Jack got out his wallet to pay for the beers. “Listen, Sean, I was wrong to come here. I’m sorry I wasted your time.” Sean grabbed Jack by the arm as he tried to get up. “I’m sorry.
    That wasn’t very clever of me. Just sit down. You obviously want my advice, and I am clearly saying all the wrong things.” Jack let himself fall to the chair again. “Well, you are the master where foot in mouth insertion is concerned.” A brief smile crossed his face.
    “One of my many talents.” Sean showed his most disarming smile.
    “So I gather she wasn’t amused when you told her there was someone else?”

    136 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    Jack shook his head, still staring at the table. “She won’t give me a divorce.”
    “She can’t stop you now, can she? I know she can’t, my first wife tried. Just file for divorce, cite irreconcilable differences and that’s it.” Jack looked up at the ceiling and sighed. “She’ll drag us through the mud, hang us out to dry. The press will have a field day.” Sean looked directly at Jack, who was still avoiding his eyes. “Us?
    You and your girlfriend? She’d better get used to the scrutiny if she’s going to fill Maria’s shoes, Jack.”
    “Me and him, Sean.” Jack looked at last, seeing Sean’s face change from amusement to astonishment.
    “You’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?” Sean’s astonishment grew as Jack slowly shook his head, “You’re serious? Jack! A man? Christ, you really know how to screw up a career, don’t you? I mean, are you sure about this? Have you thought of the consequences?”
    “Well, if I’d planned it, don’t you think I would have done it slightly differently?”
    “Yeah, but hell, mate, a bloke? I mean, you’ve never said anything...”
    Jack shrugged. “It’s not the kind of thing you just casually tell your best friend, now is it?” Jack grew a bit quieter, more pensive. “After all, I didn’t want to lose you as a friend, Sean.”
    “Forget that, mate, as if it