AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Thursday December 21^st 2000
"She call to say that she go home before coming to office", Amir said in his broken English.  He walked towards Tiffany as she stood at his office window overlooking the Hudson River.
"I really better go.  She'll be back soon and I don't want to see her," Tiffany said.  She certainly didn't want to run into his assistant Jan.  She felt sure Jan had gotten her fired and she was becoming more convinced everyday that Jan was seeing her estranged husband Skeeter.
"Where you go?"
"I don't know.  Maybe back to the apartment."
"I come there."
"Amir, I've thought that I should move out.  I don't feel right living in an apartment that you're paying for," she said.
"Move where?"
"I don't know."
"You think of living with this Skeeter?" he asked hoping certainly that she wouldn't consider moving into her estranged husband's apartment.
"I had thought about it.  I can't lie to you.  I mean I don't have a job and I can't afford to pay the rent on that big apartment you got me."
"I tell you many times not to worry about rent."
"I guess I won't look for another apartment now until after Christmas", she said as her voice dropped off in pain.  "Oh God.  I dread Christmas so much," she said turning to look out of the window so he wouldn't see the tears that were coming to her eyes.
He walked towards her and stood behind her at the window putting his arms around her waist.
"Why?  Why you are so sad?" he said as he brushed her long blonde hair back and gently kissed the back of her neck.
"Because I'll be lonely.  You have a wife.  I don't have a job.  I don't really even have my own apartment and I'm so far away from any of my family."
"You miss your family?"
"Yes.  I miss my sister Starlene," she said as she visualized her younger sister that lived at home in Georgia.
"Then she come here."
"She can't afford a plane ticket now right at Christmas."
"Then I give her ticket as gift."
Tiffany stood very still for a moment thinking of his proposal.
"Call her now", he said.
She quickly turned to face her lover.  "You mean this?" she asked smiling.
"This make you happy?"
"It would be fun.  She's never been to New York."
"Then come," he said walking towards the desk and motioning for her to sit down in his plush leather executive chair.
"I couldn't let you pay for her ticket."
"Gift.  Christmas gift to her".
"What are you doing for Christmas?" she asked realizing how much time they had been apart and how much she had missed him.
"I spend Christmas with you and Starlet," he said.
"You mean Starlene?" she said laughing as she walked towards his desk.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.