Chapter Twenty-Two
The following morning, I resolve that this is a completely new start. The past is behind me, and I must take steps to live my life to the fullest.
As Christmas music blares out from the speakers at the supermarket, I sing along. It takes me by surprise how much I am starting to feel the love for Christmas tunes once again instead of desperately blocking the sound out when I hear anything remotely jolly. I have never felt more positive despite the earth-shattering revelation in the letter. I try not to think that maybe this could be because I am excited by the fact that I am about to spend the day with Tomas in his delightful company.
I pop the cleaning products I expect we will need into my basket and then drop in a chocolate snowman that has been reduced now that Christmas has passed.
I am in such positive spirits that by the time I arrive at the bar to help with the cleaning, even the thought of scrubbing the floors and dusting down the walls doesn’t faze me. Anyhow, I could probably do with having a bit of physical activity before I chomp on the snowman.
When I see Tomas, he is dressed more casually than usual and looks ready for the task at hand. As always, he gets away with whatever he wears, and his scruffy torn jeans and blue jumper look good on him. I glance at the glimpse of skin that flashes through the worn jeans and notice that he doesn’t even have knobbly knees. Oh, come on, universe! Please give me something that makes him not so blinking perfect.
Tomas puts on an Eighties Christmas CD and my heart skips a beat. Surely, he doesn’t like Eighties Christmas music too.
Even though I have a mop in my hand, I wiggle about and dance to the sound of Wham! I feel like the lady in that old Shake and Vac advert. Before long, the floor is sparkling, and it doesn’t feel as though I have been grafting for a couple of hours as I have enjoyed listening to the music so much – and sneaking a look at Tomas from time to time.
I lean against a table that is now gleaming and unrecognisable and admire how well we have transformed the bar from a few hours earlier. It could be a different place, and Tomas agrees.
‘It looks like new. What a great job we did,’ he says, looking around.
‘I know. I hope you took photos of how it looked earlier so you can look back at all you’ve achieved.’
‘Ah, I forgot as I had so much on my mind. No worries. But, you know… Now it’s done, after all that hard work, we must have some fun. How about we christen the bar?’
‘Christen the bar?’
‘Yes, with a drink.’
I look around, bewildered. He doesn’t even have any stock here yet.
Tomas searches in a bag he brought with him and pulls out a bottle of what he calls Slivovice . It looks quite potent, and I don’t even want to check the alcohol content. He pours it into two glasses that have been left behind by the previous tenant of the bar.
When I taste the Slivovice , its potency is the last thing on my mind. It is gorgeous and tastes of plum brandy.
‘Ah, I needed that,’ says Thomas as he drinks it down in one. Then he pours another immediately. Yikes, I won’t be able to keep up with this pace.
I sip at my drink as we relax. It feels like I am seeing Tomas in a completely new light in this environment. It is just the two of us in this bar all alone in a private space, and there is no Albert, Milena, or even Zuzana from next door popping in. Tomas is more relaxed than I have ever seen him.
‘Oh, before I forget, I have to ask you something,’ says Tomas.
‘Sure, what is it?’ Tomas could ask me practically anything, and I would probably say yes.
‘Albert called before you showed up and asked if you wanted to go for a meal with us as a family. Tomorrow. Zuzana would like to come too. They said it would be nice for us to all go out.’
‘Oh really? Yes. I’d love that.’
‘Cool, I’ll make the arrangements.’
‘That’s so sweet of Zuzana to want to come too. Have Albert and Zuzana known each other for a long time?’
‘Yeah, since they were kids, really.’
Tomas tilts his head to one side and looks at me with a curious smile.
‘Why are you so interested in Zuzana?’
‘Oh, I just want to learn more about all of you. It’s just that with the language barrier, I didn’t really get to speak with her. I was intrigued.’
‘I don’t think there’s much to say. Albert and her sister Vania dated, and then they split up. He always said that he got on better with Zuzana than her sister. It’s good that she lives next door to him. Everyone needs someone they can count on.’
As he says this, he focuses his eyes on me and leans forward. His voice softens. ‘I’m so glad we met.’
‘Me too.’
Following a moment of silence, I can’t stop myself from asking him more questions. I feel I want to know all about him, and it seems like the perfect opportunity to quiz him about his past as we sit here alone. I just keep the subject of Milena out of it.
‘Have you ever been married?’ I ask.
‘Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.’
‘Oh, sorry, it was just in my head, and I was curious. I shouldn’t have asked.’
‘No, it’s fine. I was, but that was a very long time ago. It was a mistake for both of us. We were too young and didn’t have the same goals in life. We were too different.’
I think of Aunt Grace saying I was too young to settle down with Craig. Maybe Tomas and I both made the same mistake.
‘We should never have settled down. It was a young and foolish love. It’s so different now. I mean, now, I’m looking for someone with the same interests to grow old with, you know?’
Tomas stares at me again, and I have to avert my eyes before I blush. Someone to grow old with suddenly sounds very appealing.
‘Sounds good.’
I lift my drink up, which I vow will be my last, and clink against his glass.
‘To next year, new beginnings and someone to grow old with.’
‘What could be better?’
Tomas drinks up and pours himself another. ‘Do you think we need some food?’ he says.
‘I’ve got just the thing.’ I search in the bag for the chocolate snowman and push it towards Tomas.
‘It’s all yours,’ I say.
‘No, we have to share,’ he insists.
He breaks off a chocolate arm and stuffs it into his mouth. It is so nice to see a man appreciate chocolate as much as I do. This was well worth the thirty koruna.
‘Good choice,’ says Tomas, waving the half-eaten snowman around.
‘I love the chocolate here. Well, I love everything here.’ Thankfully, I stop myself from adding, ‘including you’.
Looking around this little bar, I can see its full potential and how wonderful it is going to be. I feel sorry that I won’t be able to enjoy it as I head back home.
‘I’m really going to miss Prague.’
‘And Prague will miss you.’
For a moment, our eyes do that thing again where we look at each other and it is as though we are the only people in the whole world. The vintage espresso machine in the corner could blow up, and I don’t think either of us would notice.