Second Night

Close to two o’clock Anoush hears Edina’s vehicle.  She parks next to his and walks back to the house with a large bowl in her hands.  He greets her at the door.

“Are you a Greek bearing a gift?”  No, I am a Bosnian bringing something to go along with dinner.  I’m tired of eating out and if you let me I will prepare dinner.”

“I could use some expert advice in the kitchen.  I have purchased some things for dinner so we can prepare the meal together.”

She walks up to him and hands him the bowl.  “If you would take this I will go and bring in my clothes so I don’t have to get them in the morning.”

“Good idea, you might look a little silly dressed or should I say undressed the way you were this morning.”

After that comment she punches him in the shoulder and then bursts out laughing.

The comment broke some of the tension she felt coming back here.

She brings her clothes into the house and lays them on the bed in the spare room.
 

“As I drove here I was wondering if you would like to take a drive.  The weather is lovely and I’m sure there are plenty of places you haven’t visited yet.”

Back Home

When they arrive at the house, Edina leaves her headlights on so Anoush can see where he is going and have enough light to open the lock on the door.  This is the first time she was ever here this late and it feels scary.  She cannot see a house light in any direction.

When he opens the door and puts on the front light she shuts off her headlights and turns off her vehicle.  She locks her car but wonders why she bothers, other than habit, thinking there isn’t a soul around here for miles.

Inside she watches him turning on various lights.  “I’ve put on some coffee or would you like tea?

“Coffee will be fine.” 

When the coffee is ready to be poured, he places two cups on the kitchen table.  “What do you take in your coffee?” 

“A little milk or cream, no sugar.”

 

He puts out the milk container on the table and pours the coffee.

The Hike

“Are you ready to go on this hike you promised to take me on?” 

“I’ve been ready since yesterday.  Come inside and I will show you the topo maps I purchased of the area.  Give me your opinion of what you are capable of handling and that is the area we will do.”

She cannot believe this man is so compassionate.  She has not experienced anyone else like this.  Someone who cares about how she feels.

Edina enters the house and sees he does have the topo map spread out on the kitchen table.  “I’m sorry but I’ve never used one of these before,” she responds.

 

“Not a problem, I will show you how easy it is.”

Friday

Noontime Friday Anoush calls the office where Edina works and asks to speak with her.  He is asked to please hold on the line as she is ending a call.

When she answers the phone she has no idea who is calling and asks, “Can I help you?” 

“You already did by leasing me property.  How does your weekend look?”

“Hi!”

Edina’s boss notices the smile on her face and realizes this must be the new gentleman calling.

“You’re in luck my whole weekend is free beginning tomorrow.  Tonight, I have a women’s group meeting.  Do you have any ideas?”

“Are you into doing some hiking?” 

“Possibly, I haven’t been for a while but I’m open to that.”

“Why don’t you think about what time you could come to my place. Also bring a change of clothes for dinner and we could have a day together and then dinner.”

“I’ll call you back in an hour.  I’m in the middle of things and I need to think about some errands I have to do in the morning.”

 

“Fair enough, I’ll wait for your call.”

Following Week

Edina arrives at the real estate office at noon.  When she comes through the door her boss notices she is smiling.  “Did you make a big sale this weekend, or did you have the company of a fine gentleman?”

“The latter, we had dinner last night and it was a very pleasant time.  I plan to see him again.”

“Good, I have been worrying about you knowing you didn’t have much of a life besides your profession.  You need someone.  I hope things work out for you.”

“Time will tell.  I stopped by to pick up some information for my 1:30 appointment.  Wish me luck to make the sale.”

“You’ll do fine you are the best agent this agency has.” 

 

“Thank you!” Edina finds the folder and leaves the office to have lunch and review the material for the appointment.

Inside Mossad

Nearly nine o’clock the next morning Yosef knocks on Ariel’s door.  “Enter!”

“You want to speak with me?” 

“Yes, close the door and pull up a seat.

“Are you aware that we have been trying to trace a terrorist for the CIA down in the Grand Cayman Island?” 

“I’ve heard about it.  I thought it was a dead issue by now.”

“Our dead issue is alive.  Somehow our people down there learned an Israeli named Akim Sandler left the island on a flight to Spain.” 

“So what’s the big deal?”

“There is no record of an Israel citizen named Akim Sandler.”

“It could be a screw up and who knows what else.”

“Maybe, but I have a gut feeling this Hamid fellow we couldn’t find traces of leaving the island suddenly left as an Israeli.”

“You’re kidding me right?” 

“Do I look like I’m kidding?”

“What are we supposed to do?  We could be running circles trying to chase this scenario.”

“We could be but this man has a mission and I want to know what it is.”

“So we can pass him on to the CIA to make points.”

“Did I say anything like that?  Stop being a wiseass for once and listen to me.” 

Yosef stares at Ariel.  He has seen that look in Ariel’s eyes before.  Ariel has plans for this man if they can find him alive.

“You want me to head this search don’t you?” 

“That’s the general idea.”

Yosef rises from his chair and says, “I will give it a good try but I don’t make any promises.”

“I don’t want promises, I want results. This will take time so it is not a top priority.  However I want you to run it.  This way I know if we don’t come up with something it can’t happen.”

“Thank you for the vote of confidence.  I’ll do my best.”

“You always do and that is all I ask.”   Feeling very tired Yosef responds, “Yeah, sure Ariel, I know you better.”

Bedford NH Cable TV Program

In late April I had the pleasure of being invited to appear on Bedford's Cable TV station.  The program host is Celine Desrosiers.  Her program title is:  People, Places and Things with Celine.  I received today, the ability to download and view the program from their website.  You can view the program if you have any interest in me as an author and what my books are about.  Link onto http://www.bedfordtv.com, then select channel 16.  Next select video on demand, click on the program if it is listed that day, if not the final step is, type Joe Smiga in the Program Search Box and hit go.  When the tab come up press watch.

I hope you will enjoy the video as much as I had fun making it and making myself known to my readers.