Sixty

VALERIA

I felt, rather than saw that there was someone watching me. I raised my head. Noah was there, grinning at the surprise on my face. He placed a finger across his lips. He took a chair and straddled it.

"Surprise," he said.

"Well I am surprised!" I exclaimed. His boyish smile was infectious and I found myself smiling back. "I wasn't expecting you. Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"That's one of the perks of being a boss, remember? While you're here slaving away in an office, I can afford to pay unannounced, surprise visits to my friends," he said with a chuckle and then his expression became serious. "The last time I was here, I was told that you were not at work. As soon as I heard you had resumed, I just had to see you." He studied my face carefully. "I suppose you were ill."

"I was but I'm much better now."

"Good. I've been sort of worried. You know, we haven't really spent much time together. The double dinner date with Dimitri was-"

"A flop." I sighed. "I know."

Noah's