[center][h2]Strolling Home - Day 2 Late Night[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/YGKOIA3.jpg[/img] [/center] “Well,” Yuri sighed as they stepped into the night air. “That was…an evening.” He led Edina to a boardwalk facing the beach. “Sorry.” She fell in at his side. “It wasn’t so bad,” she shrugged. “I mean…the period dance lessons were kinda fun…weren’t they?” “Yeah,” he quipped. “At least until I learned I have no sense of rhythm.” “Oh, that’s not true!” Edina gave his shoulder a playful nudge. “You got the beat alright. More important?” She stopped, turning toward him. “You didn’t drop me, Yuri!” He shook his head with a rueful laugh. “Oh, that poor woman. Her husband’s on the couch tonight, I’ll wager.” “My money’s on the back porch,” she snickered. The couple set off again, their shoes clicking softly on the weathered planking. The moment’s silence between them was companionable. When it happened, Edina’s hand slipping into Yuri’s seemed the most natural thing in the ‘verse. “So,” she spoke up, “you think Captain will take the job?” “Hard to say,” he tried to sound casual as her fingers twined with his. “This one’s a long way from our stock in trade. Still,” the first mate thought out loud, “the notion of keeping the crew fed and working for three whole months? Even if the coin’s not great, that’s a thing to ponder.” “But an asteroid,” Edina countered. “Well outside the ‘verse. That’s a cause for some nerves, to be sure.” Yuri gave her hand a gentle squeeze. It seemed funny, a grown man like himself finding thrill in the simplest act of affection. “We’ll have what we need. Plenty of fuel, enough food. On the up side, out there as we’d be, it’ll be hard for any claim jumpers to slip up on us unannounced. But again,” he chuckled. “Not my call. So,” he paused near a stairway the led down to the sand,, “I know a lot of nights like this include a walk on the beach.” As their eyes met, he asked, “what do you think?” She glanced down the wooden steps. Beyond, the beach was lit by a glowing moon which chased clouds across a brilliant night sky. It was the picture postcard view of a traditional romantic moment… “How about,” she countered, “we save this for tomorrow night? I’m feeling like shorts and barefoot is the way to do that…not to mention I’m ready to be out of these heels.” “Shiny,” he turned toward the street. “Wouldn’t mind ditching the suit, myself.” “I mean,” she backtracked, “I’m good for a walk on the beach, if that’s what you want.” The grip of his hand was encouraging. “Believe me,” he said as they made for the spaceport, “Tomorrow night’s perfect. After my time aboard The Mick I take the ocean in small doses.” She nodded slowly as they walked together. “I used to walk the beach at night on New Melbourne…mainly when my husband was at sea. Folk I know thought that was so romantic of me…the sailor’s wife and all, walking the shoreline until his return. But it wasn’t like that,” Edina’s tone darkened as they strolled the darkened street. “Not at all. I was trapped, in that town, in that awful apartment, in that marriage. Terrified of what he’d do when his fishing boat returned. What part of me or my housekeeping he’d find fault with,” she muttered. “Just what type of drunk he’d be when he decided to come home. Happy drunk? That was okay. Horn-dog drunk?” she raised an eyebrow. “Tolerable. Usually quick and then he was out like a light. But angry drunk,” she stifled a shiver at the memory of those black nights. “I could just see it in his face when he came through the door. No amount of kindness, no amount of seduction…none of it worked when he turned up with a set jaw and a balled up fist.” Sensing Yuri’s dutiful silence, she concluded, “so walks on the beach sorta became a refuge. The last place I felt like I had a choice. I guess,” she concluded, “they lost their romantic appeal for me. Sad, I conjure. Maybe I should give that another go.” She left him struggling for words. Everything that came to Yuri’s mind, from overblown pronouncements of the kindness Edina deserved to hot bluster about her abusive husband, just felt ridiculous. She didn’t need his assurances; he understood that on a deeper level. Yet still, her shared pain should be met with something. In the end, he finally opted for the simplest words of all. “I’m sorry, Edina,” he shook his head as they walked past darkened storefronts. “You didn’t deserve any of that.” He could’ve left it there…should have, his reasoning mind protested, but in that moment, Yuri’s emotions held sway over his mouth. “If I could make it better…” “You already have.” Her fingers tightened their hold, as he felt their electricity course through his chest. “So listen,” her tone brightened, “I did a little meandering on the cortex today.” “What’dja find?” he asked. “Just the place we’re gonna wrap up our shore leave,” she swung their entwined hands as they walked. “It’s called Joy’s Mooring. Just your basic shack built on an old pier. Fresh seafood, tall drinks, and,” Edina nudged him with a playful hip, “reggae music to dance to.” She’d changed the subject. He couldn’t find fault in that, nor would he press her to open up the book of her life until she was good and ready. He’d heard about Edina’s first days aboard China Doll. Abby’d shared the tale of the wounded, bruised woman who locked herself into her cabin for days. “Took ‘er food an’ drink,” the girl had shared. “She’s jest grateful tah git some space without folk botherin’ ‘er.” Comparing the Edina who strolled hand in hand with him to the damaged woman in Abby’s tale was a difficult leap for him, especially having witnessed her blossoming into both shipboard life and earning her place among China Doll’s crew. [i]That face,[/i] he thought of her lively eyes, teasing smile, and the smooth mocha skin he longed to touch, [i]how does anyone decide to hurt her?[/i] “Sounds like I’m picking up a pair of shorts tomorrow,” Yuri answered with a pleasant chuckle. “Didn’t know you knew what reggae music was.” “Lived in a seaside town,” she replied. “Reggae, ska, calypso…they never get old.” “Mmmm,” he smiled. “Can’t wait to begin your jazz education.” Without thinking, Yuri lifted Edina’s hand, pressing his lips to the back. “Sorry,” he stammered. “I had no idea I was gonna do that.” “Yuri Antonov,” Edina stopped to face him. “Did you just apologize for kissing me?” “Um…yes? I conjure I did.” In response, her hands came up, rising to cradle the back of his neck. Edina’s face lifted toward his, her eyes fixed upon his as they moved together. “Now you have to make it up to me.”