25.5.2009
7
7
A few days later John had gotten the message through to Violet that he wanted to marry her; he was serious. But before that he wanted to lay his cards on the table. He told Violet about the girls he had slept with, and he spared no details. After that he thought it was time for Violet to tell him about her affairs.
He looked at her expectantly, but still realized that she would lie; down deep he hoped so. He was certain that Violet had been with guys. Anything else was impossible. He remembered very well when he first met her at the flower store with her friend, probably her lover.
She looked up at him and smiled. Then she looked mischievously at John without a word.
"Violet, you don't have to tell me anything." He looked down and was silent. After a moment she stood up, and he followed her movements. "I've been with many guys," she said. Then she went over to him, cupped his chin and said teasingly: "But you are the only man I've been with." Then she sat down.
He looked up and said: "But Violet, we haven't been together."
There was a brief silence. It was as if she had made a faux pas. She stopped smiling.
"I haven't slept with any of them," she said.
Now there was a long silence. John felt a twinge of guilt. Then he stood up and went into the kitchen, Violet following him.
"Shouldn't we have a drink," he said, and she nodded.
He mixed their drinks. Then they went back to the living room and sat down.
"You don't believe me," she said.
"Perhaps I do, perhaps not."
"I've always thought it was fun to be with guys," she said. "They are so terribly sweet and fall so terribly in love with me, the dears." She found it amusing to talk about this.
John sat down next to her. "May I touch your arm," he said. She watched him and gladly let him know he might touch her. He held the his palm flat above her arm without touching her. She quit smiling and looked at John. He looked at her steadily without moving his hand.
"Don't you feel the current?" he said.
Then she laughed and swatted his hand.
"You're not into some damned spiritual hocus-pocus?" she said and started to shake all over.
"Violet!" said John, "I'm not sure you understand this."
"Understand what?" she said and thought this was a little silly. He took her hands and looked at her like a romantic suitor in a painting by Rembrandt. "Violet! I don't know if you understand how much your body charms me." She turned a little ingratiating and said: "And my soul, what about it?"
John smiled, leaned close to her and whispered in her ear: "Your body and your soul are one, and I love you completely." Then he kissed her, and she kissed him.