Diplomacy

tightened his scarf and tucked his hands in the pockets of his trousers. It was early summer, but the freakish European weather made it a bit nippy. At least it wasn’t raining.
    It was about a ten minute walk to the U.K. Embassy, if he took his time. The most annoying bit was the fact that he had to walk quite a way to the nearest zebra crossing, but he wasn’t about to risk his life trying to cross the Avenue that was part of one of the busiest inner city roads in Brussels any other way. He didn’t really mind the walk, it would clear his mind.
    Why did he put himself in this situation? Why did he get himself smitten with a man again? And a married one at that. Even if there was a remote possibility that Jack was interested, the man had even more to lose than Lucas did. He had climbed to the highest ranks in diplomacy. A U.S.
    Ambassador. And Lucas had seen his wife; she was the perfect Ambassador’s wife. He even had to admit he liked her. She was obviously a strong woman, and there was no doubt that even if Jack was a first class diplomat, he was not the one who was boss in that relationship. He almost felt sorry for Jack, but then he knew the value of having a strong woman to lean on. His own mother had been like that too, though when his parents were young, a diplomat’s wife was a trophy. She had to be beautiful and a good organizer, but she also had to be silent and no one ever acknowledged her strength.
    In the past few years it had become painfully clear to Lucas that without the right woman on his arm, he could kiss a diplomatic career goodbye. Even in the lower ranks, the invisible masses, you needed the D i p l o m a c y | 17

    perfect background to push ahead. In the three years that he had been working for the U.K. Foreign service he had been sent from one menial job to the next, every senior officer telling him he was sure to get ahead because of his pedigree, but being brushed aside every time.
    Until he brought a girl to one of the Embassy’s receptions. They weren’t even really dating, but she was the daughter of the new Economic Counselor and had actually asked him out.
    He never realized that one date would get him noticed. Then coming back from a trip to California with an American girlfriend got him promoted to Assistant Information Management Officer, and now that same girlfriend seemed to be the basis for making him the liaison with the Americans. And she was nowhere near the perfect diplomat’s wife.
    So going back to dating men was out of the question. He’d have to put his U.S. Ambassador out of his mind. There. Done.
    He took one last breath of the crisp morning air and entered the U.K. Embassy, opening the service entrance by sliding his security badge through the reader. He went straight to his broom closet of an office and had barely hung his coat on the hanger when his phone rang.
    “Mr. Carlton, this is Gertje, Mr. Christensen’s assistant. Can I put him through to you?”
    Lucas felt a rush of blood to his head. Fifteen minutes after I leave he’s already calling me? Calm down, mate, and answer the woman. “Sure, Gertje. Thank you.”
    He heard the click of the transfer and then a slightly hoarse voice.
    “Hi, Jack here.”
    Lucas swallowed as he heard Jack clear his throat. “Yeah, I know,” he chuckled. “You have a very efficient secretary, remember?”
    “Did you get back okay?”
    Lucas smiled at Jack’s attempt at small talk, but he had to admit he liked listening to his voice. “Yeah, the lunch hour traffic was murder, but I made it here in one piece.”
    He heard the older man clear his throat again. Was this a nervous tic with him or something?
    “What I forgot to tell you, well, to ask you was…Maria suggested that I invite you and Lucy to come over for dinner. On Saturday, if you’re 18 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    free. If not, then next Thursday maybe, because the Saturday after that we have a function to go to so…”
    He heard Jack sigh and didn’t quite know what to think of what he was hearing.
    “I’ll have to check with Lucy, but as far as I am aware my calendar is blank. Is it okay if I call you back tomorrow and let you know?”
    “Yeah, sure, I’m sure Maria doesn’t mind last minute changes.” Another sigh. “That didn’t quite come out right. What I meant is, sure, tomorrow is plenty of time and if you need more, the day after is fine too.
    Maria is good at improvising.”
    Lucas smiled. What more could he ask to keep hearing