Tatiana and Alexander: A Novel(160)

Vikki had gone out for the evening, to another Christmas party at the hospital. She had invited Tatiana, but Tatiana had gone to several holiday parties in the last few weeks and was all partied out. She was at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and theNew York Times spread out in front of her, and the radio on with the latest from Nuremberg, when the doorbell rang.

It was Jeb. He was wearing his naval whites, and he looked tall and wide, and...

"What you doing here?" she asked, surprised. She was not expecting him.

"Why, I've come to see you," Jeb said, pushing past her and inside.

She closed the door behind him. "It's late."

"Late for what?"

Tatiana went to the kitchen. "You want cup of tea?"

"How about a beer? You have a beer?"

"No, no beer. Just tea."

She made him a cup of tea and settled tensely on the couch next to him. Jeb took a sip and put the cup down. "House is quiet," he said. "ThatVikki not here?"

"She stepped out for minute," said Tatiana. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"At eleven at night?"

"She be back any minute."

"Hmm." Jeb eyed her. "You know, you and I never have a chance to be alone." He rubbed her thigh.

Tatiana did not move away from him.

"Yes. Why won't you come over to my place?"

"Don't you share apartment with Vincent?"

"What doesthat have to do with anything?"

"You not alone, either."

"Yes, but Vikki isalways around," he said tendentiously. "And Anthony, too."

Tatiana squinted. "Anthony has nowhere to go," she said slowly.

"Hmm. He's sleeping now?"

"Restlessly, yes,"

"Hmm." He pushed her down on the couch. His mouth was on her neck.

"Wait," said Tatiana, turning her head this way and that. "I can't breathe." She was pushing him away, but he wasn't going anywhere.

"Hey," he said, "you smellgreat ...and we're alone."

"Get off, please."

"Oh, Tania, sweetheart, you don't know who you're dealing with."

"And you don't know who you're dealing with," she said, forcibly moving his face off her, and slipping onto the floor from under him. Panting, she said, "Jeb, I'm sorry, I'm tired. I have to get up very early. Can you go?"

"Go?" he said in an irritated voice. "I'm not going anywhere. Not going anywhere, till I--" He broke off. "What do you think I came here for?"

"Jeb, I don't know. I'm not going to guess. Fight with me, I reckon. I'm not in mood to fight."

"I won't fight with you, Tatiana," he said, getting up off the couch and coming toward her. "That's not what I'm in the mood for."

"Well, I'm not in mood to fight or anything," she said, souring on him and his naval uniform and his height and his hair, souring on him, gleaning a displeasure at herself, and remorse, and suddenly a clearing of her senses. Could she have beenso transparent? Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"Tania, I feel you've been stringing me along," Jeb declared, stepping away and sitting down on the sofa.

"Not at all. We are getting to know each other, that's all."

"Yes, we've gotten to know each other plenty. Plenty! Frankly, I want to get to know you a little better."

Tatiana stared coldly at Jeb, sitting with his legs spread open, his arms spread open on the back of the couch. "I have child in bedroom. What are you thinking, raising your voice, acting this way?" She started to walk to the door.

Jumping up, he grabbed her by the arm. "I'm not leaving."

"Youare , Jeb," she said. "If you want to see me again, you will leave now."

"Is that a threat?" he said, yanking at her sweater. "What are you going to do?" He laughed. "Kick me out? Stop me?"

"Yes, and yes," she said.

He grabbed her, bringing her to him. "I see the way you look at me," he whispered. "You think I don't see, but I see. I know you want it too, Tania."

"Stop it," she said, struggling to wrest herself away from him. A pang of sadness shot through her. Sadness for herself.

He laughed and held her tighter. Tatiana took his arm and pinched him very hard on the wrist. "Get control of yourself."

"Ouch!" he said loudly. "You want it rough? Is that what you want?" He forced her back onto the couch.

"Don't you understand?" she said, panting. "I don't want it at all. I've made terrible mistake."

"Too late for mistakes, dearie. I'm done walking around you on eggshells."

She was trapped beneath him, and she was so fed up, and so sick and tired of herself, she didn't know what to do. I have been loved by Alexander, she thought. This will not be my life. Pretending to kiss Jeb, Tatiana bit down hard, breaking the skin of his lip with her teeth. He yelled, and she pushed him off her and jumped to her feet. He jumped up too, and before she could move or duck or turn away, Jeb swung and struck her. She tottered, dropped to the couch, wavered, saw white light, but struggled to keep conscious because she heard a low noise near the bedroom door. Anthony stood in his pajamas, melting into the wall, looking at Jeb and trembling. "Don't--" he said in a small voice. "Don't you hurt my mama."