Read Online Cervena by Louise Lyons - Free Book Online

what happened? I don’t want him to think… I don’t know, anything. That I changed my mind. You can give him my cell phone number. I haven’t done that. Don’t say anything about this to the others. I know you’re close with Marek.”
    “I promise.”
    “I don’t know how long I’m going to be away. It’s two weeks from Christmas. I may just stay until after, whatever happens.”
    “I’ll tell him. Don’t worry about anything here.”
    “Thank you, Tomáš. If I’m not back before, you can tell the others they’ll have their Christmas bonuses in their accounts on Christmas Eve. I can do that from here at least.”
    “Hell, Joel. That’s the last thing you need to think about.”
    I could picture Tomáš shaking his head, and I would have smiled if I hadn’t felt sick with anxiety. “Thanks.”
    I ended the call quickly when Steve came out to sit with me. “Ros is reading to your mum,” he told me. “We thought she might hear her voice if she keeps talking. She’s got one of those women’s magazines with the short stories in.”
    “That’s good.”
    We sat in silence for a while until Steve suggested finding some food. It was almost two o’clock, and I hadn’t eaten anything since my dinner with Sasha. I wasn’t particularly hungry and doubted I’d find it easy to eat, but I agreed to a sandwich. Steve went to the cafeteria and returned ten minutes later with an assortment of wrapped sandwiches and some cans of Coke.
    “There wasn’t much choice. Tuna, cheese and pickle, or ham salad. I got two of each.”
    “Tuna. Thanks.” I took the sandwich and drink from him and ate without enthusiasm. Steve left me alone and went to take Rosalyn some of the food. When he came out again an hour later, I went in. “Any change?”
    “Her eyelids flutter every so often.” Rosalyn forced a smile. “I keep thinking she’s going to wake up, but they said it’ll be a while. Maybe not even today.”
    We sat together for most of the afternoon, passing the time talking. Rosalyn told me about Rachael’s recent achievements in school and how excited she was about Christmas. I told her one of the club’s dancers had left to go to a dance school in Vienna and that I had two new employees. “Gabriel and Sasha.”
    “At least those two have names I can pronounce. Are they Czech?”
    “Gabriel is. Sasha’s Russian.”
    “That must make things difficult. Does he speak the language?”
    “He’s learning, but his English is excellent. He’s become very popular in the club.”
    Rosalyn turned her head and stared hard at me. “You like him.” It wasn’t a question.
    “Yeah.”
    “Does he like you?”
    “I think so. We had dinner last night.”
    “It’s about time, Joe. It’s been a long time since Phillippe.”
    “What can I say? I’m fussy.”
    “Sasha must be special, then. What’s he like?”
    “He’s sweet, a bit shy, but tougher than he seems. He’s been through a lot. He had a hard time for a few years, especially after he came out. Physically, he’s about an inch shorter than me, slim, nearly black hair, and green eyes. You’d say he was pretty.”
    “How old is he?”
    “Coming up to twenty-one.”
    “Cradle snatcher.”
    “Tell me about it. At least I haven’t gone as far as Karel. I despair of that man.”
    “I thought he was your friend.” She raised her eyebrows.
    “He is, but I don’t have to like him hitting on boys so young. They’re legal, but—”
    The beep on one of the machines beside Mum’s bed became irregular.
    “Oh, God, what’s happening?” Rosalyn leapt out of her chair, wringing her hands. “What shall I do?” Without waiting for an answer, she punched the red button on the wall and a loud buzzer issued a warning. In seconds, a nurse burst into the room. She checked the beeping machine and shouted toward the partly open door.
    “I need some help in here, please!”
    “Shit!” I rose from my chair and pushed it out of the way. “What’s going