After Eternity

Chapter 34

I.

After dinner they went to meet Cliff and his wife at the Bocce bar. The place was already familiar to Diana as she had been there with James more than once. It is situated by the waterfront in Sausalito. The space is decorated in dark wood, the ceiling and the floor. The tables are rectangular, placed in pairs of two with white table cloths over it. The walls are simply painted in white and by the counter, huge high dark chairs.

As they entered the place, hand in hand, they searched for their friends on the tables inside, but they could not see them. All tables were occupied, even the chairs at the counter, for a football game was showing on TV. All heads turned to the TV attentively.

"They must be outside." James told her. He pulled her gently in between some costumers that were standing with beers in their hands, also paying attention to the television.

"Who's playing?" Diana asked him while walking outside and looking on the floor so she wouldn't step on someone's toes.

"The 49'rs." James responded uninterested. "So... not interesting, unless they lose." Diana laughed at his last remark.

Outside, the ambience was a little different. There was always a huge bonfire burning in the middle of the space and then around it, there were wood tables but not dark as inside, pine wood which is much lighter. The tables are also disposed in pairs of two and they found Alex and Cliff sitting at the last table on one of the corners to be away from the heat of the fire. They were closer to the water so a fresh breeze could be felt, and the sea scent perfumed the air with a salty spray.

"Hey guys!" James greeted and immediately Alex and Cliff got up to greet them.

"Miss England..." Cliff said kissing one of Diana's cheeks and she blushed. A soft smirk on his lips as he said so.

"Diana..." Alex also kissed her. "How have you been?" The woman asked.

"Doing fine. With a lot of work but doing great." She responded amused and then sat in front of Alex.

Cliff frowned. "Don't tell me the big guy here has been putting all the work upon you!" He exclaimed, then he turned to James. "You should be ashamed of yourself, exploiting your girlfriend like that!"

They all started laughing and James raised his hands up in the air. "I swear it has nothing to do with me! It's her tutor..." He explained. "Seems like the man is a little insane..." he said making a face.

"It's true..." She smiled tapping his leg in a caress. "It's my tutor..." She rolled her eyes. "... he gives me so many texts to read that I cannot get everything done in the short time he gives me to do so. But my research is doing great. I started writing part the theoretical chapter of my thesis already, which is great."

"Adding to all that she's doing a fantastic job at the company. Diana's knowledge about cars, paintings, aerodynamics is amazing..." James said. "She's been of great help at the creative part and that was not her initial job."

"Wow... you have some proud boyfriend!" Alex said tapping her arm and Diana looked at him with shining eyes. It pleased her his recognition of her work.

"Thanks." She told him truly touched by his acknowledgement. "I love what I do. I cannot deny that."

"When are you going back on tour?" James asked Cliff changing the subject. Alex rolled her eyes and her semblance changed to a sadder one. Diana noticed it.

"In two weeks..." Cliff blew the smoke of his cigarette away. "... just a couple of countries in Europe." He added.

"A short leg." Alex affirmed. Cliff looked at her as if annoyed, but James and Diana said nothing, they just watched the couple interact.