Julia Frauental - The Smell of Spring. And other stories

But she interrupted me, laughing:

– Well, okay, Henry, stop it. I’m not a psychotherapist and I’m free from all these restrictions. For coaches – no prohibitions!

– And yet, please be careful! Don’t get too involved. – I understood that now it is impossible to dissuade her.

– Don’t worry. We’ll just have a little fun. She ran a chocolate-colored lipstick over her lips. —Would you grudge the girls hanging out and having a little fun together? We need rest too, you know. We need to relax, gossip. Talk about feminism … – She was obviously teasing me.

– Oh no, not feminism! Besides, I want you to be with me – today and always! But – okay. Go. Have fun. And here, all alone, I will find myself some harsh male entertainment too.

– Oh, no! Look at me! Okay. Let it be a draw – one to one. Bye, dear! – She gave me a kiss on the cheek, grabbed her purse and fluttered out.

– Have a good one! Call me if you come back late, I’ll meet you!

Having closed the door behind Lisa, I felt lonely and abandoned. The house was quiet and empty. I turned on the TV. For some time, I was switching channels – there was nothing to lay an eye on. I went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Then shut it. I didn’t feel like eating. I turned on the computer, but I couldn’t concentrate on work either, it did not work out. I looked for some suitable book. Suddenly, I came across an old photo album.

I looked at family photos – there were pictures from the wedding and those of our children – here are our twins, newborns, now – they are already crawling, here we are all at the sea-side. Here is our daughter in her prom dress, and the son in a suit with a bow tie…

I was almost crying. I quickly hid the album. The children have their own lives.

My wife, as it turned out, too.

I decided to take a walk. I needed to calm down the almost neurotic anxiety, which seized me for no reason. My throat was already tight. I was also overcome by vague suspicions, and jealousy that had crept from nowhere.

It was a warm May evening. All squares and yards were foaming with apple blossom and lilacs. The blissful silence, however, was electrified by the anticipation of a long-awaited thunderstorm.

I walked unhurriedly, but already realizing that I was walking for a reason, heading to the aforementioned «Fairy-tale» café.

There it was. Naturally, I did not go inside, I stopped at the large, brightly lit windows decorated with neon characters from fairy tales. Feeling like James Bond, I looked through the window.

The party was in full swing. I looked for Lisa. She was standing with a glass of champagne in her hand and laughing at something that …Nina was telling her! The girls standing nearby were laughing too.

For some reason I didn’t like it. It was annoying that they were clearly having a good time there, and I was hanging out here like a fool.

Indeed, it was rather stupid to hang around there, peeping through the window. Passers-by looked sideways at me. Or maybe it just seemed so to me. Yet, I could not leave either. So, assuming as independent a look as possible, I continued to observe.

They brought in a cake with burning candles. There began cheers, choral «happy birthday», clinking of glasses, hugging and kissing. Then they turned on the lights and music – the dancing began.

Lisa said something in Nina’s ear and pulled her by the hand. But Nina shook her head, clearly refusing. Then Lisa put her glass on the table, hugged Nina from behind around the waist and pulled out, rather, carried her into a circle. So they danced. Together.

I felt weak in the knees. I couldn’t believe my eyes. What an evening! I leaned against the wall. For the first time I regretted not smoking. My heart was pounding, my temples were thumping. I had to resort to breathing exercises. Exhaling slowly («Calm down, all’s fine!»), I tried to distance myself from the emotions and reason logically. Well, what actually happened? Nothing special. They were having a birthday party. Well, they had a drink, hugged. A usual thing. Nothing wrong with that.

It was already thundering in the sky. It smelled like rain.

I almost persuaded myself, caught my breath and was going to leave slowly. But then several ladies came out of the front door. It turned out that the evening was over and they were leaving.

I had to hide around the corner.

In a chirping flock, they headed for the tram stop and the cars parked nearby. Lisa and Nina walked arm in arm. A tram appeared. They kissed, and Nina ran to the carriage.

The rain spattered. Everything moved faster, like on an old silent film strip. The umbrellas flew up. Heels flashed. A strong wind blew everyone under the sheds, cornices and into the last trams and buses overcrowded by those taken by surprise.

They kissed. Lord, what a habit!

Lisa got into someone’s car. I had to catch a taxi to get home in time for her arrival.

At home, I immediately crawled under the covers and pretended to be asleep…

In the morning, on the way to the bathroom, I saw Lisa on a mat on the veranda, doing her yoga asana.

She joined me after a while, when I was already drinking coffee in the kitchen, hiding behind a newspaper, just in case.

Lisa poured herself some orange juice and sat down at the table.

– How was your party yesterday? – I was the ease itself.

– Perfect. Did you miss me?

– On the contrary. I watched a horror film. – I almost did not lie.

– Ugh! You’d better do sports. You look tired.

– By the way, speaking of sports, how is your protégé Nina doing in class now? – Couldn’t help it.

– Oh, much better! You guys are doing a great job! She became much more relaxed. She no longer cries when stretching.

– Doesn’t cry? Did she use to cry before?

– Almost every time. As soon as I touched her to help relax her leg or shoulder, she was in tears – like a stream. And she could not explain it in any way. Does it really hurt? What do you think about it?

– Body-oriented therapy – emotional blocks come out, – I sighed with the air of a bored pro.

– Yes, it looks like it…

– Perhaps you will master this specialty too? Very helpful.

– Maybe … – Lisa put the glass in the sink. – Well, I have to go. By the way, do you remember we are going to the theater tonight? I won’t get home in time. Maybe you can come and pick me up after the practice?

– Of course! – Not that I really wanted to go to the theater. But then, at least tonight we will be together.

*

I arrived about five minutes before the end of the class.

There was no one in the hallway of the wellness center. The door to the gym was ajar, and from there came the mournful sounds of their favorite meditation music. Of course, I could not resist and looked into the gap that was kindly provided.

Just at that moment, Lisa approached Nina to correct her posture. She bent over her from above – it seemed to me that she just lay down on her, covered her with herself like a shape of the correct posture, forcing Nina to take it.

I closed my eyes. I opened my eyes again, but nothing changed. I noticed the fright in Nina’s eyes, but she almost immediately closed them, and only her chest rose and fell. And they were both breathing in unison.

I felt that I urgently needed something to drink. At least – water.

Looking around, I found a table in the corner by the window with plastic cups on it, and a big bottle of water next to it.

Putting my cup in, I opened the faucet. My hands and knees were trembling, and before my eyes there was the scene I had just seen. I didn’t notice how the water overflowed and rushed onto my shoes.

Damn you! I quickly turned the tap off. But it didn’t work! Broken, or what? There was already quite a puddle on the floor, and water was flowing in a stream along the wall.