After the Interview (14 page)

“Where?” was all he could get out as Zoe was already halfway out the door.

C J got up and followed Zoe through the door and down the hall to the end of the corridor. Here she opened a door into a stairwell and headed up two levels. As they stepped out of the stairwell onto the roof, C J stopped, stunned at what he was seeing. They were in the midst of a rooftop garden sheltered by the upper floors of the adjoining building. C J lingered a moment to take in the fragrances and colors of the roses in their raised beds. Zoe turned to see if C J was following her and then walked toward a glider tucked between two large potted trees. Here the view of Manhattan was unimpeded by any glass but faint sounds of traffic and conversations still reached them. Zoe and C J both sat down, setting the glider in motion. She quickly moved next to C J and placed her legs across his lap as he put his arm around her shoulder. For the time it took them to finish their wine they sat in silence, happily absorbed in each other.

ℓ

C J kissed the top of Zoe’s head and noticed a tear roll down her cheek and land on her hand. He waited to see if she would say what was on her mind. Looking up at him, Zoe started to speak but changed her mind, not trusting her voice.

C J said it for her, “Jean created this didn’t he?”

Zoe cleared her throat. “It was his idea but the entire building pitched in to make the space, and now they work to maintain it. Jean called it our escape to sanity. He never liked this city very much.”

C J wanted to say he agreed with Jean but instead said, “I’m glad you’re sharing this with me. What a beautiful spot to pass time with someone you care about.”

Zoe and C J both realized what he had revealed with those words but neither one of them reacted immediately. C J waited for any kind of response from Zoe but she said nothing. Then she was quickly on her feet and smiling at him, saying, “Now that we are fed and rested let’s hit the streets and I’ll show you some of my neighborhood.”

C J stood and followed Zoe back to the stairs, leaving the tranquility of the garden behind. He started to think about his comment and Zoe’s lack of response but pushed it to the back of his mind as they entered her apartment. Zoe got busy putting any leftover food away and getting dishes into the dishwasher. C J quietly handed her their dishes from the table. When she looked up and flashed him a huge smile, the thought of Zoe not being in his life was unbearable. What am I prepared to do to make sure I never lose this woman? C J asked himself. Whatever it takes because I can’t imagine life being the same without her.

“Almost done here,” she said, turning to shut the refrigerator. “There’s a great bakery a few blocks over. Care to see what they have?”

“Sure,” C J said as he watched Zoe. He couldn’t help but feel she wanted out of the apartment.

For the next several hours they walked around Zoe’s neighborhood, and she pointed out her favorite grocer, they visited the bakery and then sat on a park bench and watched the joggers and people pushing strollers go by. Zoe felt more at ease on the streets, and she couldn’t explain to herself what had triggered her need to get out of the apartment today. She didn’t mind the fact that C J was there and he was seeing a glimpse of her life with Jean. Maybe her unease in the apartment had begun months ago and today made Zoe face that reality. Was it time to move on and truly begin a new life? If so, was Zoe ready to believe another man could be a part of her life, and was that man C J?

The look on C J’s face told Zoe he was wondering what she was thinking and feeling. His comment on the roof had been said truthfully, and Zoe thought C J had even surprised himself once it was out. This is totally uncharted water for him, and now I can’t figure out how far I wish to dive in myself. Don’t F this up, Zoe told herself.

Zoe tilted her head and looked at C J. Not sure if he had missed something she had said, C J lowered his head. Zoe took advantage of this and kissed him just long enough to show she cared too. C J smiled as he looked into her eyes and tightened the arm he had protectively around her shoulders.

Not wishing to sit any longer, Zoe turned to face C J and asked, “Are you up for a subway ride and then more walking? We can go to SoHo and then walk to a great Chinese restaurant I know. The duck is phenomenal and the greasy noodles are to die for.”

“Who could turn down greasy noodles?” C J answered, looking a bit skeptical.

“Hey, I was game for a crayfish boil,” Zoe reminded him.

“And that was the best crayfish boil you’ve ever been to,” C J answered, clearly thinking of the after-party activities.

Zoe and C J stood simultaneously, and he motioned with a wave of his hand for her to lead the way. As they headed out of the park and got ready to cross the street, Zoe’s hand found C J’s and she entwined her fingers with his. The subway ride was challenging. They had gotten on right as the Friday rush hour was starting. C J mentioned to Zoe they should have gotten a cab, and she reminded him that the traffic would have been worse. She was hoping the restaurant would not be too packed by the time they made the 20 minute walk from the subway station, but what did it matter? They were making their own schedule this evening.

Once they were walking street-side, Zoe asked C J what time he was leaving on Sunday and what he wished to do the next day. C J surprised her by saying he would like to head out to Long Island and see the ocean. SoHo took longer to walk through than Zoe expected, as C J was enjoying looking at the artwork in some of the galleries, and he also was sidetracked by a number of the finer menswear clothiers he had spotted. None of the businesses were still open or they were appointment only, so Zoe kept grabbing C J’s arm and playfully pulling him along the sidewalk. Note to self, Zoe thought: C J likes modern art and clothing.

Zoe stopped suddenly, and C J collided with her almost knocking her into a woman pulling a roller cart filled with groceries.

“Sorry I wasn’t paying attention and almost walked by the restaurant”, Zoe said, “I haven’t been here in ages but I still recognize that heavenly smell.”

C J looked for any sign to tell him this was in fact a restaurant, and then he peered through the window and saw maybe ten to twelve tables at the most. He could see the place was popular because all of the tables were taken.

“You coming?” Zoe said, her hand on the doorknob.

“Sure but it looks like we’re in for a long wait,” he answered.

“Trust me, you aren’t the only person with some connections,” Zoe said.

Entering the restaurant, C J started to smell wonderful aromas, and he looked for their source. He quickly spotted a swinging door with a glass porthole at the back of the room, which swung open, letting the sounds and scents of the kitchen escape. Turning to speak to Zoe, his attention was drawn to the elderly Asian woman who was clinging to her. The woman was so slight that her head rested on Zoe’s chest. The woman’s size obviously had no bearing on her strength because she clung to Zoe with a death grip while simultaneously chiding her for staying away so long.

Zoe patted the woman on the shoulder and said,” Mrs. Zhou I would like to introduce you to my friend, C J Fairchild.”

Reluctantly loosening her grip on Zoe, Mrs. Zhou turned to face C J and said, “It’s been a long time since Mrs. St. Claire has been here. We miss seeing her very much. Welcome as her friend, Mr. Fairchild.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Zhou. The smells from the kitchen make me see why Zoe wished to bring me here and why you are so busy.”

“Don’t worry, you two follow me and we will take care of you,” Mrs. Zhou said, heading for a flight of stairs on their right.

C J turned to extend his hand to Zoe and noticed she was standing rooted in place. “Are you OK Zoe?”

In a less than firm sounding voice Zoe said, “Yes I’m fine and we had better follow Mrs. Zhou; she moves quickly.”

C J moved to let Zoe go ahead of him to the stairway, and then it dawned on him that Mrs. Zhou had called Zoe “Mrs. St. Claire.” Ah shit, this must have been one of Zoe and Jean’s favorite restaurants. I bet Zoe didn’t think about that before we headed this way. Mrs. Zhou was beaming as C J and Zoe sat at the small table in a cozy windowless corner she had led them to. Zoe looked at C J with a do-you-trust-me-to-order look, and he nodded in assent. After Zoe had finished their order and Mrs. Zhou had headed back down the stairs, C J noticed that the small upstairs room had a few other tables in nooks and they were all dimly illuminated by glowing red lanterns suspended from the ceiling. These tables differed from the ones downstairs, and C J tried to picture why. Ah, he thought these tables are devoid of the typical Chinese restaurant condiments, which include soy sauce, chili sauce and hot mustard. Up here the tables had large lazy susans with small bowls of kumquats and sesame seed covered almonds.

“Looks like we both have reserved corner tables in our favorite restaurants,” C J said with a smile as he reached for Zoe’s hand across the table.

Giving him a weak smile, Zoe said, “Yes, but I’m not part owner here, so we’ll be getting a check.”

Zoe swiped at the tassel swinging from the base of the lantern with her free hand and said, “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

“Why?” C J asked.

“Just to be carefree. I want to know what that feels like,” Zoe answered, looking intently into C J’s eyes.

“Hell I thought you were being pretty spontaneous when you seduced me,” C J said with a devilish look.

“Oh, really?” Zoe quipped. “I seem to remember you trying every trick in the book to get me into your bed. Starting with the old ‘get your jacket back the next day’ ruse.”

“Hey, I was being a gallant gentleman,” C J said, eyes sparkling.

Then he kissed Zoe’s hand to make his point, and she surprised him by moving her now shoeless foot up his leg to his thigh.

“I always wanted to do that too,” Zoe said.

“And how many people have you wanted to do that to?” C J asked with mock seriousness.

“Just a few,” Zoe answered with a wicked grin.

C J was about to tell her it was having the desired affect when Mrs. Zhou and two waiters showed up tableside. Zoe quickly removed her foot from his crotch and now sat looking at Mrs. Zhou with a huge innocent grin on her face as the plates of food were placed on the lazy susan. Mrs. Zhou opened bottles of Tsing Tao for them and then disappeared. For the next hour, C J and Zoe took their time savoring the rich dishes from the duck to the greasy noodles as they arrived from the kitchen. A second set of beers appeared when the first were empty and they were consumed just as quickly. By the time the meal was over and Mrs. Zhou had allowed them to leave the restaurant, it was late and C J hailed a cab. On the ride back to the apartment Zoe nestled into C J’s side with his arm wrapped around her. C J placed a kiss on her forehead and she closed her eyes.

Chapter Ten

“Your doorman must be getting used to me,” C J said sarcastically. “He only scowled at me momentarily.”

Zoe laughed as they entered her apartment and she fell backward onto the small sofa. “I think Henry is really warming up to you and I predict that by tomorrow you two will be pals.”

“Right, I predict once he realizes I am spending the night he will want to castrate me,” C J said.

Zoe grinned, then extended her arms toward C J so he would pull her off of the sofa and into his embrace. Looking at him, she couldn’t think of any reason not to follow her heart and trust him. Her mind, on the other hand, was telling her to be on guard and not lower her defenses. As she pressed her body against his and they kissed, she couldn’t ignore her body’s craving for him. Zoe smiled inwardly, thinking of how C J’s body never tired of showing interest in her. At this moment his penis was erect and hard, straining against the fabric of his pants.

Zoe stepped back purposefully and asked, “Would you like a drink or a glass of wine?”

“No, I’m good,” he said as he started to unbutton his shirt.