Page 60 of Letters From Victor

I followed her through the beaded curtain, the long strands clicking and clattering like a handful of glass marbles in a child’s pocket. The back room was even more cluttered than the front, with stacks of yellowing books and boxes overflowing with lace doilies and tarnished silverware. It had the feel of a forgotten attic, a place where memories drowned in dust.

The old woman—I hadn’t thought to ask her name—set her teacup down on a chipped enamel table and motioned toward a narrow staircase.

“He’s waiting for you upstairs.”

Upstairs? I opened my mouth to speak, but she had already turned away, busy sorting through a heap of fabric swatches. I looked at the staircase. It seemed too flimsy to support even my slight frame, let alone a man of Victor’s stature. Taking a deep breath, I gripped the wobbly handrail and started up, each step groaning like an old man rising from a chair.

A single door awaited me at the top, its paint cracked like sunbaked earth. I held my breath and knocked softly.

The door swung open, and Victor stood before me, his tall frame filling the doorway. His shirt sleeves were rolled to his elbows, and suspenders hugged his shoulders. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, and his tie hung loose. A warm rush of relief washed over me.

“Barbara, my darling,” he said, his voice a smooth caress. “Come in.”

I stepped inside, and Victor closed the door behind me. The space was surprisingly cozy, with a low ceiling and slanted walls that gave it the feel of a ship’s cabin. Sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains, casting a soft glow over a battered leather sofa and a wooden coffee table scarred from use. A hot plate and sink occupied one corner, and a patterned rug covered most of the hardwood floor.

Victor took my hands in his and pulled me close. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come,” he murmured as he kissed my forehead.

I leaned into his chest for a moment, savoring the spicy scent of his cologne. “This place…” I said, pulling back slightly. “It’s not what I was expecting.”

He smiled, a boyish curve to his lips that momentarily smoothed the tension from his face. “That’s the point. No one would think to look for us here.”

I glanced around the sparse room again. “Is it one of yours?”

He let go of my hands and walked to the window, looking down at the street below. “Not on paper. But yes.”

I moved to stand beside him. “What does that mean?”

“In short, it means it can’t be traced back to me.”

“Why do you need such a place?”

He dismissed the question with a flick of his hand. “Never mind that. Let me look at you.” He pulled back and caressed every inch of my body with his eyes. “My memory and imagination don’t do you justice, angel.”

Warmth rose from my chest to my cheeks.

“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the sofa. “I have some news.”

I perched on the worn leather, which sighed and sank beneath me. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”

He sat next to me, and our knees touched, sending little electric shocks up my legs.

“Dorothy agreed to the terms. We have a court date.”

A flutter of hope took wing in my chest. “When is it?”

“June twenty-first.”

I exhaled slowly—a feeble attempt at tempering my emotions. Two months felt like an eternity, but at least there was an end in sight now.

“That’s wonderful,” I said, though the words came out more measured than I intended.

Victor’s eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought he might press me about my hesitation. Instead, he leaned in and kissed me, his lips soft but insistent. I yielded to him, letting the tension I was carrying melt away.

When he pulled back, he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “God, I’ve missed that.”

I touched my fingers to my lips, still tingling from his kiss. “Me too,” I said, knowing it wasn’t enough but afraid to say more.

Victor took my hand again, his touch warm and reassuring. “You understand, don’t you? I can’t bear being away from you. But until the divorce is final, we have to be very careful. And Lawrence assures me that as soon as mine is settled, you’re clear to file for divorce from Frank.”

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