VANGUARD(100)

Then it was done. There was a long silence in the dark living room.

“That was extremely well done, my children,” said Signe emotionally. “I am proud of both of you. More than I can ever tell you.”

“We know how hard it was for both of you to do that,” said Maxwell. “You nailed it. Well done.” The phones – which had never stopped ringing and vibrating during the entire program – continued ringing.

“I’m just glad they didn’t crucify us.” Sophie looked at Michael curiously. “Are you okay?”

“I am not sure. I found it very difficult to watch. To experience the emotions over again.” He glared at Carter. “I still want to kill you for surprising us that way. But I will do that later.”

“You want me to take the money back?” asked Carter, putting little Michael over his shoulder to burp him. “I could use that cash to buy a new Jaguar, you know.” He lurched forward. “Damn it, he threw up down my back again.”

“I told you to use the cloth.” Janet wiped her husband’s back while Michael chuckled.

“Laugh away. It’ll be your turn soon enough,” warned Carter darkly.

Half an hour later, the DeVries family drove off into the night as Sophie and Michael waved from the doorstep.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Right now, I would like to go to bed.” Michael looked and sounded tense. “If you would prefer to stay up, perhaps listen to some of the many messages on your iPhone,” he said, gesturing to Sophie’s jittering phone, “I understand.”

“They can wait.”





-





Michael lay in bed, his hands behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling in the darkness. He didn’t move when Sophie got under the covers and lay down on her side, facing him. Finally, he sighed and rolled over, taking her into his arms. He put his face into the crook of her neck, and ran his hand up and down her back.

“You were perfect,” she whispered.

“Thank you. It hurt me to see it again. More so than to actually do the interview.”

“I know. I’m proud of you. On both counts. On all counts.” She wound her arms around his waist. “You are braver than anyone else I know. Stronger. I love you more than my own life.”

“I made the decision to leave so easily.” He snapped his fingers in the darkness. “I had to go, and so I went. And now I will never be the same. I will never be able un-see the things I saw in the warzone, in Parnaas. It was madness.”

“War usually is.”

He didn’t answer, only pulled her closer together so that their bodies were as close as they could be. They fell asleep like that.





Chapter 21





May 9, 2014





For the week following the broadcast of the interview, Michael remained withdrawn. This didn’t surprise Sophie. She had plenty of experience watching him retreat after he’d allowed his emotions to show. Ten years ago she might have pushed. Now she knew better.

After the interview aired, she went back to Brooklyn on her own for a few days, picking up her mail and running errands. Giving him the space he needed.

They’d have to decide about living arrangements. She couldn’t keep sleeping over at her boyfriend’s parents’ house indefinitely. Sophie wondered if between the two of them, they could afford something small in Manhattan. It would be nice to lose the commute.

Sophie returned Sunday night. She went to work every day, and Michael finished up the last of his interviews. They ate dinner together. Went to the movies. Shared tidbits from their days. He started sending her flowers, mountains of them. They slept wrapped up in each other’s arms every night. She felt cherished.

So this is what it’s like to have a quasi-normal life with the man you love.

On Friday night, Michael was particularly distant. Max and Signe had gone to visit friends in White Plains for the weekend. Sophie awoke in the night to find their bed empty. She could hear the faint tinkling of Signe’s piano downstairs in the living room, and knew where to find him.

“Hi,” she said from the doorway.

He looked up, concerned. “Did I wake you?”

“Not at all.” She sat on the couch, not bothering to put a light on. “Come sit with me?” He pushed back the bench and joined her. Sophie burrowed her face into his chest, nuzzling against his collarbones. His hands ran through her hair, then tipped her chin up. His lips brushed her forehead, across her eyes, and down to her mouth.