Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Dimitri

I was making the payment with my credit card while watching Blair with the doll and the flowers I gave her in her hands.

She was so beautiful it was almost unbelievable. More than that, she was funny, intelligent and witty. Everything that I had already realized in the past few days had been confirmed in these few hours we had spent together up to this point.

" Do you want me to wrap the bouquet or is your girlfriend going to carry it? " The lady who attended me indicated the flowers that I was still carrying.

" Here, you can wrap it. But she is not my girlfriend," I explained, handing the bouquet to the woman.

" No? You act like a couple, maybe you should think about the possibility," she smiled, picking up a long acetate box and placing the flowers there, "a pretty girl like that doesn't stay available for long.”

I just smiled as I picked up the package. I knew she was right about Blair, and if the situation was more favorable, I might try something serious with her. But I needed to face reality, and I wouldn't explain myself to a stranger.

" What do you think, Gertie. The orange would look great on the shelf by the window, wouldn't it?

" Are you talking to yourself? “

" No, with the doll," she answered naturally.

" Ahh yes, that's much better.”

" Hey, don't look at me like I'm crazy," she complained.

" You're not crazy. It's normal to talk to toys," I sneered, "tell me, Blair, did Gertie answer you?”

She just gave me the middle finger, making me laugh before heading for the exit, but she didn't follow me.

" You're not coming?”

" I am, but…”

I followed her gaze to the display case filled with ceramic ornaments that imitated Dutch clogs.

She's got to be kidding

" You want to buy these, don't you?”

" It would be a great souvenir," she justified herself.

I hurried over to her, put my arm around her shoulders and led her out of the store.

" Abby's getting married, I'll have to give her a present," she argued, looking back.

" You're going to be the maid of honor and this is your idea of a gift?

" It's a symbol of good luck," she returned.

" Really, where did you get that from?

" Never mind, it's not true," she sighed, giving up the clog.

We walked side by side along the edge of the canal in comfortable silence. Blair admired her doll, and I constantly had to police myself from spending too much time admiring her.

This day was going much better than I thought it would when I boarded the plane in the morning, too bad I wouldn't have more time to enjoy her company.

" What do you think? Do you want to try it? " I nodded my head to a boat, breaking the silence between us, inviting her to go through the canals.

" Really? That would be great," she smiled broadly.

I had no trouble getting one, and a few minutes later the two of us were side by side on the boat. Blair watched every detail of the landscape with amazement, pointing out one or another building that caught her eye.

" Why did you choose this profession? " I questioned, watching the wind ruffling her hair.

" It wasn't something I had always planned," she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing the delicate features of her face.

" How did it happen?

" When I graduated from high school, I didn't know what to do. My parents were scheduled to move to Istanbul for good, and I had to make a decision. I could choose to stay in the United States to study or to accompany them.”

" Were you in doubt? " I suppressed the urge to run my fingers through her hair.

" Definitely," she smiled, "but everything changed in one trip.”

" Really?”

" They took me to Australia as a graduation present, and there I saw the seashell beach.”

" Shell beach?”

" It is a beach that has no sand, only shells. I fell in love," she smiled, "so I told my mother that I would love to see more places like that, and she suggested that I become a flight attendant.”

" So that's where your passion for beaches comes from," I moved a little closer.

" Basically, I always try to visit the most exotic beaches," she smiled at me, causing my heart to race slightly.

She was so beautiful.

Blair went back to talking about the beaches she had visited, getting excited as she recounted her experiences with the Mediterranean Sea, causing me to admire her enthusiasm for the subject even more.

" And when we flew over the beach at Öludeniz it was the most amazing sight I have ever seen," Blair smiled, settled beside me on the train as we returned to the hotel in the late afternoon.

" One day I'll take you to Iceland," I let out without much thought, interrupting her talk of a beach in Turkey.

" What? " she blinked, stunned.

" Iceland, have you ever been?”

" Are you trying to take me to the Land of Ice, Commander? " she sneered, "Haven't you heard a word I've said? I like beaches!”

" And I think you would really like the beaches on that Country," I explained, "I assure you it would be a unique experience.”

" And why is that? " she turned toward me, looking me in the eyes.

" They are black sand beaches, the volcanic activity in the country is intense and ends up transforming the scenery," I reported, "in fact, that place is unlike anything I have ever visited.”

" Tell me more, Dimitri " she smiled openly.

" Ice crystals invade the beach, pieces of icebergs, depending on the season you can see the aurora borealis, and...

" You've convinced me, Commander," she smiled, leaning her body over, "you have an obligation to take me to Iceland.”

She was close, very close.

If I leaned in just a little I could kiss her, and maybe I should take the opportunity, I didn't know when I would have it again, but before I could do anything, the train stopped and the loudspeaker announced the arrival at the airport station, causing Blair to move away immediately.

" Come on," she held my hand as we disembarked from the train and walked through the corridors of the station.

Silence reigned between us for a few minutes, Blair casting quick glances in my direction, causing me to think about the missed opportunity of a few moments ago.

" I hope you enjoyed your day, Commander," she spoke up.

" It was much better than I expected when I boarded this morning, Blair. I hope we have a chance to do it again some other time," I smiled at her.

" We have to reschedule, I'm sure we'll meet in another country, right? I don't have to go to Russia or you to the United States.”

She was right about that. That meeting made me realize that it would be much easier for the two of us to meet in other countries where our stopovers crossed.

" What do you say we have dinner later? " I proposed in an attempt to prolong this meeting a little longer as we walked through the airport lobby.

" Sure, I…”

" Blair, we finally found you! " A female voice interrupted us, drawing our attention.

A young woman about her age approached, she had tanned skin, long black hair, and slightly slanted black eyes.

" Olive, hi," Blair smiled.

It was not the natural smile I had spent the day admiring. That smile looked forced and tired.

" We were looking for you, and Micaela and I decided to have dinner together before we met the rest of the guys at the club.” she seemed to have noticed my presence only at that moment "sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

" You are not intruding," Blair assured, "Olive, this is Dimitri Voitovich. A friend of mine.”

" It's a pleasure," I greeted the young woman, "Blair, I'm going back to the hotel.

It was clear that she had already made plans with her crew and I wouldn't spoil it. Her company had completely transformed my day, but I would not monopolize her attention.

Blair for a moment gave me a disappointed look before forcing a new smile.

" Thanks for the company, Commander. Have a good flight tomorrow," she wished.

I nodded affirmatively before turning my back on her, walking away.