Diplomacy

Lucas had arranged to borrow one of the Smart cars the embassy had on standby, much to Lucy’s contentment.
    “Don’t tell me you’re going to wear that ?” Lucy asked as she passed Lucas while he was checking himself out in the bathroom mirror.
    “Lucas, we’re going to Saturday night dinner at the house of a U.S.
    Ambassador. That would not even get you invited to the dinner table at my parents’ house.” She gave him a once-over and then retreated to the bedroom.
    “Well, Jack said no ties, jackets or dress pants, so…” He looked happy in his faded jeans and green shirt.
    Lucy gave him an amused look while she was slipping into a soft yellow sweater. “Oh, it’s Jack now, is it?”
    “Yes,” Lucas answered, a little annoyed it had slipped out so easily. “You can’t expect me to call him Mr. Christensen all the time when we’re working together, now can you?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. You’re a junior assistant and he’s an ambassador, of course you’re on a first name basis. Here, try this.” She threw him a midnight blue silk shirt and black jeans.
    He sighed as he sat down next to her on the bed after taking his favorite pants off. “He asked me to call him Jack, all right?” 22 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    Lucy got up and kissed him on the forehead. “No need to get defensive… and I just want you to look nice. It’s not like those clothes aren’t comfortable.” She turned around and disappeared into the bathroom.
    Lucas let himself drop so he was lying on his back on the bed. She didn’t deserve being snapped at, but for some reason, she was getting on his nerves these past days. He knew, of course, why she did. The past year had been easy, but now that the genuine article was right in front of him, he was no longer content with second best.
    Tonight was not going to be easy, though. He was probably going to be confronted with Jack being fussed over by his perfect wife and Lucy trying hard to impress everyone. He didn’t know which thought he hated more.

    SINCE Brussels traffic was notoriously difficult to predict, they arrived at the villa in Tervuren according to Belgian custom: a very fashionable ten minutes late.
    Lucas had missed the rather well hidden entrance the first time they drove past and had to turn a little further up the street. Once they entered the narrow driveway, it took a sharp turn to the right and they were stopped by two Secret Service men.
    “Can we see some identification, please?” the man on Lucas’s side of the car demanded.
    Lucas handed over his passport together with his diplomatic pass and Lucy’s papers. “Lucas Carlton, Lucy Marsh, to see Mr. and Mrs.
    Christensen.”
    “Very well, sir. I’m afraid we will have to take a look at your car.
    Could you step out of the vehicle and open the trunk, please.” It was not a question, so Lucas complied. The guard flicked on his flashlight and checked the empty boot. He then nodded at Lucas, allowing him to close it. The second man looked around the inside of the car.
    Once Lucas was back in the driver’s seat, the guard gave him back his papers. “Mr. Carlton, Miss Marsh, thank you for complying with our security regulations. You may drive along this road to the house without stopping and park to the left of the main building. We will inform the D i p l o m a c y | 23

    house that you have arrived. We wish you a pleasant stay as guests of our Ambassador.”
    Lucy was annoyed they were late, but Lucas figured he at least had something to talk about with his hosts, explaining just why they were held up, but his fears of the whole setup being uncomfortable were unjustified as they neared the house. Maria was walking up from the front of the garden towards the house with some hydrangeas in her arms and she looked absolutely radiant in a simple white dress. She smiled at them invitingly.
    “Drive on up to the house, you can park at the side, and I’ll let you in.”
    The house itself looked like it had been featured in “Homes and Gardens”, but the inside was cozy and nice, clean and tidy, but not to the point where you felt uncomfortable. There was a table filled with magazines and newspapers and lots of flowers everywhere.
    “Come on through,” Maria urged as she walked in front of her guests into the house. “I just want to put these in a vase. Did you find the house easily?”
    “Yeah, Jack’s directions were good. The traffic was just a little busier than I predicted,” Lucas answered,