I look around, bewildered. He doesn’t even have any stock here yet.
Tomas searches in a bag he brought with him and pulls out a bottle of what he callsSlivovice. It looks quite potent, and I don’t even want to check the alcohol content. He pours it into two glasses that have been left behind by the previous tenant of the bar.
When I taste theSlivovice, its potency is the last thing on my mind. It is gorgeous and tastes of plum brandy.
‘Ah, I needed that,’ says Thomas as he drinks it down in one. Then he pours another immediately. Yikes, I won’t be able to keep up with this pace.
I sip at my drink as we relax. It feels like I am seeing Tomas in a completely new light in this environment. It is just the two of us in this bar all alone in a private space, and there is no Albert, Milena, or even Zuzana from next door popping in. Tomas is more relaxed than I have ever seen him.
‘Oh, before I forget, I have to ask you something,’ says Tomas.
‘Sure, what is it?’ Tomas could ask me practically anything, and I would probably say yes.
‘Albert called before you showed up and asked if you wanted to go for a meal with us as a family. Tomorrow. Zuzana would like to come too. They said it would be nice for us to all go out.’
‘Oh really? Yes. I’d love that.’
‘Cool, I’ll make the arrangements.’
‘That’s so sweet of Zuzana to want to come too. Have Albert and Zuzana known each other for a long time?’
‘Yeah, since they were kids, really.’
Tomas tilts his head to one side and looks at me with a curious smile.
‘Why are you so interested in Zuzana?’
‘Oh, I just want to learn more about all of you. It’s just that with the language barrier, I didn’t really get to speak with her. I was intrigued.’
‘I don’t think there’s much to say. Albert and her sister Vania dated, and then they split up. He always said that he got on better with Zuzana than her sister. It’s good that she lives next door to him. Everyone needs someone they can count on.’
As he says this, he focuses his eyes on me and leans forward. His voice softens. ‘I’m so glad we met.’
‘Me too.’
Following a moment of silence, I can’t stop myself from asking him more questions. I feel I want to know all about him, and it seems like the perfect opportunity to quiz him about his past as we sit here alone. I just keep the subject of Milena out of it.
‘Have you ever been married?’ I ask.
‘Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.’
‘Oh, sorry, it was just in my head, and I was curious. I shouldn’t have asked.’
‘No, it’s fine. I was, but that was a very long time ago. It was a mistake for both of us. We were too young and didn’t have the same goals in life. We were too different.’
I think of Aunt Grace saying I was too young to settle down with Craig. Maybe Tomas and I both made the same mistake.
‘We should never have settled down. It was a young and foolish love. It’s so different now. I mean, now, I’m looking for someone with the same interests to grow old with, you know?’
Tomas stares at me again, and I have to avert my eyes before I blush.Someone to grow old withsuddenly sounds very appealing.
‘Sounds good.’
I lift my drink up, which I vow will be my last, and clink against his glass.
‘To next year, new beginnings and someone to grow old with.’
‘What could be better?’
