Page 18 of Half Blind

“But you want your assistant in your bed?”

“Look who is being crass now, Señor Jared.” Micah said, staring at the man as if he wanted to help him stop breathing. “No, sex is sex. I can achieve the same release of endorphins by taking a life or running five miles. I want a new way forward and am uncertain what it is I see for myself.”

“If I were your friend, my advice would be to take it slow,” Jared said. “Wanting and needing are two different things. You spoke a great deal about colleges, let that be the first step. Decide on where you’re going to school, then iron out the chinks in the armor. I’m also ignoring the taking of a life statement, but I understand what you’re saying.”

“The chinks? I do not know this word,” Micah said.

“Dents in the covering of protection. Smooth out the rough spots with your father and family and hers as well,” he said. “If you choose a college out of South America, you will be taking her with you. Make the choice that will be best for you both.”

Micah stared him deep in the eyes. Jared didn’t flinch. The young Czar in the making gave a head nod. “Nice chat. My plane is departing soon. It was good to spend a night in a bed versus sleeping on that thing...very uncomfortable, and it feels, what is the word,claustrophobic?”

“You have a plane?”

“I couldn’t bring highly toxic snake venom into the U.S. on Spirit Airlines, Señor Jared,” Micah said, squinting at him for asking a dumb question and walking away. “Good talk. Thank you. Let me deliver and make this coffee before I depart.”

****

INSIDE THE HOME, LEMON, awake and starting breakfast, nearly jumped a foot in the air when she turned to place the casserole in the oven and found Alita standing in the doorway. She stood silently watching Lemon prepare the food and couldn’t be heard breathing. When the bake went into the oven, she moved away and took a seat at the table.

“Morning, Alita; would you like coffee?” Lemon asked.

“Yes; when it arrives, I shall make,” she said, pausing, taking a seat at the table with Lemon. “Rephrasing. When his coffee arrives, I shall make a pot for us all.”

“Do you often catch yourself and rephrase like that?”

“The order of the verbs in English...you know.”

“I do,” Lemon said. “You were watching me make the food to learn or to ensure I was doing nothing that would hurt your boss?”

“Both,” the girl said.

“You care deeply for him; it is obvious in your actions in his presence,” Lemon said. “Does he know how you feel about him?”

Alita rose from the table. “La Doctora, you speak on matters which are out of your purview and being none of your concern.”

“Incorrect,” Lemon said, rising as well. “I am a Technician. My role on this planet is to protect young women, whether they are in the employment of a charismatic, rich, young Czar-to-be or just a sleazebag uncle sneaking in the back door while his drunk brother is passed out.”

“You think I need protecting?”

“Yes, from yourself,” Lemon said, grabbing a container of juice from the fridge and bringing it to the table. She took a paring knife and began to peel and core an apple. “We often love with everything in us because sometimes we have nothing else to cling to in the moment. He trusts you with his life, which is major. However, you must think of your life as well.”

“He is my life,” Alita said.

“For how long?”

“What do you mean?”

“Please sit; I shall not harm you,” Lemon said to the young woman. She poured juice and shared the apple slices with the girl. “When he goes to college, you shall go with him correct? You will attend every class, every lab, and conference. However, you won’t get any credit for doing any of it. May I ask, when you graduate from school, will you receive a diploma as well?”

“I shall,” Alita said.

“Then have you put into place that when he attends college, you are enrolled in the classes with him, so you will be in class as a registered student, not just some weird chick watching everyone?” Lemon asked. “Did you work on the synthetic venom with him in the lab?”

“I did,” Alita replied.

“Is your name also on the patent?”

Alita’s one eyebrow went up. Her name was not on the patent, although she had aided in typing the paperwork, maintaining the records, and entering data. The woman had a point; she would be working beside him and coming out with nothing.

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