The Life We Lead: Ascending (13 page)

They went for a bite during half time back in
the area with all the monitors, but found it had been refreshed
with different foods and arrangements. Once again, James felt he
should pay.

“Carissa, are you sure I can’t help with the
costs? It just seems very nice and expensive. I don’t want you to
be put out or anything.”

“No worries. Care for a bit of these cakes
then?” she answered, pointing toward some small cakes in the buffet
area.

They gathered some snacks and found seats to
watch two horse races. They chatted about small things and became
so engrossed in conversation that they found themselves among the
last to return to the game.

Returning to their seats for the second half
of the match, James stumbled. He’d been too focused on his thoughts
and almost fallen down the steps, but he managed to catch himself
at the last second.

“Oh, you all right then?” Carissa asked,
reaching down to help. Regaining his feet, his heart racing, he
caught her eyes. Those big eyes were staring into his face with a
look of worry and relief.

“A pint too many then, lad. You Aberdeen lads
need to learn how to hold a drink.” The crowd near enough to hear
gave a roar of laughter as the uncle of the nine year old spoke to
James while clamping his foul mouthed nephew on the shoulder. The
boy grinned from ear to ear.

It seemed to happen rapidly, but the match
was suddenly over and James and Carissa were back out front. James
wondered where the time had gone and had to think to remember the
Celtic had won by a final score of 1-0.

“Suppose we should have gone for just the
Celtic winning the match, then? At least would have made twenty
quid instead of losing it.” Carissa was looking at James almost
apologetically, or was it in a happy way, but very soft? James
wasn’t used to being unable to read a person. It was unnerving and
exciting.

“No worries. Best money I’ve spent in a long
time. But what would be an even better spend of money is to take
you on a proper supper date, if you’d let me.” James tried not to
speak clumsily.

“That is sweet, but I …” Carissa began.

“Ah, no worries, I understand. I just …”

Carissa placed a finger to James’s lips to
stop him from speaking.

“As I was saying, I am here in Glasgow for a
bit more, but would love to go to supper with you, very soon.” She
said this softly while removing her finger.

“Tomorrow?” James blurted.

“Did you not hear me?” she asked, eyebrows
up.

“I don’t mind that it’s here. Please let me
take you to supper tomorrow. I will be traveling the day after and
don’t want to wait so long. Please?” James finished, deliberately
trying to create what he thought “doggie eyes” would look like.

It must have worked, as she said, “Yes, fine
then.” She took out a pen and paper and wrote down her address.
“Want to pick me up at 7?”

“Sooner.”

“Sooner, is it?” She laughed. “We will be
having supper with the likes of Mary and Joseph. But fine, let’s
say 6.” She put the pen back into her bag.

“Perfect. See ya then, and be dressed to
impress.” James regretted this the moment he said it.
Wait, did
that sound bad or maybe will she take that as I don’t find her
attractive? Damn, why I am so bad at this?
He wondered if he
should clarify.

“Sounds like you are a good listener about
taking me someplace proper. I like that. I will be ready, no
worries. Bye, John.” She smiled as she walked away, and James
almost melted with relief.

This girl was different. Most women didn’t
react like that.

She might be a keeper!

Then another side of his brain kicked in.

Maybe she was just really well trained.

The latter thought didn’t make him happy, but
it was reasonable. Still, he had gotten a second date, and if it
was as genuine as it felt, any suspicions he had would be easily
dismissed later.

***

James was right on time the next day. He
pulled up just as the clock showed 6 p.m. to find Carissa walking
out of her building.

Dressed to impress was an understatement. She
looked phenomenal in a royal purple dress that hugged her figure.
Her shoes matched, and she had done her hair differently. It flowed
around her beautiful face in a way that seemed alive. She also had
gone very light on the makeup and perfume. James was particularly
happy about this, as he much preferred a natural look and hated
heavy perfumes.

He quickly got out to open the door for her.
“You look amazing!” he stammered.

“Thank you, my good sir, you look handsome
yourself,” Carissa replied pertly.

“I think you’re really going to enjoy this
place tonight. I had a friend make the arrangements last night. He
said it was the best place in the city,” James said, climbing back
in the car and starting the engine.

“I am sure it is lovely,” she said.

They made small talk and laughed for the
twenty minute journey to the restaurant.

“How did you get us a table for tonight?”
Carissa asked when she realized where he was taking her. “It takes
weeks to get a reservation here. Who is your friend?”

“Ah, just like with your tickets, this is my
treat, and so is how I came about it.” James answered her question
with a playful sense of mystery that worked.

Carissa just smiled and offered him her hand
to help her from the car.

Neither remembered the food, environment, or
anything about the dinner later, just that it was one of the best
evenings they’d ever had.

Saying goodbye three hours later at Carissa’s
apartment seemed to take a long time. James was terrible at
goodbyes anyway, but this one didn’t feel right. He stood for a
moment, setting his weight in his heels and just listened as her
words washed over him. His eyes fixed on hers, as each word rang in
his ears, but nothing registered. His breathing focused because he
knew what he wanted to do.

Slowly, he reached forward and took her hands
in his. She peered down at his touch. It wasn’t an aggressive move.
It was the opposite, a gentle and calming touch. He wrapped his
palms over the back of her hands, allowing his fingers to wrap
around her wrists.

Slowly, they looked up at each other. And he
stared at her big, beautiful eyes.

He had his proof in that moment.

“Risa, I’ve had more fun than I can remember
having in, in, well ever. I would like to see you again, please,
and as soon as I get back, if you are willing.”

Carissa blushed, her fingers grasping his
fingers now. She leaned forward and kissed him. It wasn’t a long,
hard kiss like you see in the movies. It was soft and just long
enough to be a full kiss, the kind of kiss you would give a lover
who was nearly asleep. She pulled away for half a breath before
they kissed again, like a newlywed couple that has just been
pronounced man and wife.

She stepped slowly back, smiling, and then
turned and began walking up the sidewalk.

“I will take that as a yes,” James called.
“That, or I’m going to have to ask that Glassie lad to supper, as
he was by far the second most entertaining person I’ve been near
the last few days.”

She turned, smiling. “I was thinking the same
thing if you hadn’t asked, don’t ya know. Cute lad. A wee bit too
dirty for my taste, but cheeky calling me Risa as he did.”

James smiled. He loved her dancing eyes and
accent.

“Call me tomorrow before you leave and we
will sort the date then,” she said, starting to wave.

“First thing,” James said, then felt his
brain recoil as if to say,
Too fast and desperate sounding,
fool!

“I would expect nothing less.” She turned and
walked away, humming a light tune.

James turned to his car and almost fell. He’d
forgotten he’d locked his legs and restricted blood to them. He
felt something surging through him that was beyond adrenaline. It
was love, and he knew it. He knew it just like everyone always said
you would. What’s more, she felt the same. He’d needed to be sure,
and now he was. This was no set up. This woman was into him as much
as he was into her.

Her pulse had quickened when he’d held her
wrists. Her eyes had dilated, even though there’d been no change in
the lighting. Her reaction had been purely chemical and
unmistakable. What’s more, her eyes had responded the same way when
he’d almost fallen down the stairs at the football match. This was
impossible to fake.

James was happy and smiling like he’d never
smiled before. In fact, by the time morning came, he would have a
sore jaw from smiling so much.

***

The following morning, James rolled over to
see the clock blinking 6:30 a.m. just as the alarm sounded. He hit
the off switch and flopped back onto the bed. He’d been having an
amazing dream in which he was dancing with a laughing Carissa.

He rolled toward the phone.

“Good morning, sleepyhead. What happened to
first thing, then?” came Carissa’s answer.

“Good morning, Risa, how did you sleep?” he
asked.

Carissa chuckled. “So I see that lad’s take
on me name has stuck, then. You know, I will have to come up with a
right nickname for you too, I suppose. Hmm, I will have to have a
think on that, I will.”

James laughed.

“What’s so funny ‘bout that?” Carissa
asked.

“Nothing, it’s just that I’m happy is all,
and hearing your voice makes the joy come right up as rain from the
sky.”

“Well, now, who would have thought you was a
poet? A good on-the-spot one at that. That was very sweet and
lovely of you. Ah, that is your nickname.”

“What? Spot?”

“No, ‘love,’” Carissa said, and James could
tell she was smiling and probably blushing by her voice.

“Can’t argue that, can I?”

She giggled.

James went on. “I will be gone for a bit but
should be back in a few weeks. I tried to get a date that was more
specific, but couldn’t. Would it be all right then if we just talk
until I can manage to be back? Shouldn’t be more than four weeks
with the training and visits and such.”

The prior night, they’d both talked about
their jobs, his in marketing and all the travel, hers as a bank
teller up for a promotion. The promotion was why she’d been in
Aberdeen, and she was looking to move there after graduation, if
she got it. They also talked about living in different areas
growing up, which easily explained their faded accents.

“I think that is perfect. When do you fly
out?”

Carissa’s voice sounded fainter, and James
had a feeling she was getting ready for work based on the
background noises.

“I leave for the States in about three hours.
Shall I let you go? I hear you getting ready.”

“Oh sorry, I wasn’t bored or anything, just
…”

“No worries. I know how it can be in the
morning. I’m just glad we could talk before I left. If you’d like,
I can give you a quick ring when I land, should be about tea time
for you.”

“Yes, please, that would be lovely. Okay, got
tae run. Thanks for calling and safe travels,” Carissa said.

“Talk soon, Risa. Bye,” James said, and they
hung up together.

She’d called him “love.” He knew it was just
a nickname, but it reminded him how little she really knew about
him. Ugh. He needed to deal with this and get it sorted, but
how?

He thought a minute, then stood up with the
phone in his hand. He knew what he needed to do.

***

“So, what is the question exactly?” asked
Master.

“Should I tell her that my name and
appearance aren’t real and that I wasn’t trying to lie to her?”
James answered.

“No, that is not the question,” Master
stated.

James paused. “Do I love her?”

“No, wrong,” Master stated.

“Okay, all things simple.” James paused
again. “Do I trust her? Can I trust her?”

“No, wrong, but closer.”

“Can I trust myself?”

James’s words resounded in the silence.

James showered
and packed, but deliberately left the envelope Calum had handed him
unopened. He could pass along the name and let someone else take it
from there, but it sounded like this connection in Asia would
advance him a lot further down the line. Even so, Calum, with
Petior’s insistence, had told him not to go down that path.

If James had been anything his whole life, it
had been someone who recognized the wisdom in others’ mistakes.

On the other hand, other individuals seldom
had his skill set.

This wasn’t a vain or prideful thought, more
an affirming one. Perhaps he wanted to move forward for the good of
taking down something evil with no thought of self-reward, aside
from conquering the task itself.

No harm in opening the envelope, he decided.
He didn’t have to do anything with it if it was too horrible. He
grabbed the note and sat on the bed. There were two sheets. The
first page read:

“Osh, Kyrgyzstan, entry point: Noi Rasa is
the contact (phone number on next page): two weeks’ notice for
approval. No more than two people accepted. Don’t bring a negro.
Don’t bring electronics that can’t be shut off. No weapons. ID will
be required with copies presented ahead of time as instructed.”

James moved to the second page.

“STOP” was written above the sentence, “I was
calling about A S pirit.” The number was given below, followed by
“Call at 01:32 EST.”

James was intrigued. He’d have to talk with
Tom when he got back to sort this out and figure out how to get to
Kyrgyzstan, but that didn’t sound like the final destination. And
it wasn’t Asian, though it was next to China.

Lots of questions were going unanswered, at
least until he was on location. James got up and placed the note in
his bag. It was time to head back to the good old U.S.A.