“Don’t apologize. I kept this magazine at my side so you wouldn’t recognize me. I gave myself the pleasure of admiring you.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Skating is the only thing that gives me an emotional release.” A light shadow ran over Martha’s face, for a brief moment really and not more. It was evident that this woman is good at controlling herself. “Can you wait for me a little bit? I’ll change quickly and give you everything I’ve brought.”

“Of course. Come in there,” he nodded toward the open cafe.

Swoosh!! The blades hit the ice once again. Shaking her relaxed arms, Martha rolled to the glass changing room.

Robert started towards the cafe.

***

In the center of the lawn was a fountain in the form of a huge vase, with water pouring from its neck into a bronze bowl. On the edge of the bowl sat a sparrow, cleaning wet feathers with his beak.

Robert was drinking coffee while looking at the bird. Suddenly he was gripped by some bad feeling. “Wouldn’t it be better,” he thought, “to cast the overwhelming sentiments out from my mind, to forget Martha’s charming smile, her silhouette floating on the ice and just leave? But her legs, aah… and the eyes… the whole sky of New York is reflected in those eyes! And so simple-looking, so, probably as cunning as a snake…”

“I’m sorry I took so long. We women are such dawdlers; we say five minutes and spend half an hour.” Martha hung a cloth bag, stretched by her skates, on the back of her chair and sat across from him.

“Do you want coffee?” He asked.

“No, thank you. But I don’t think I’ll say no to orange juice. I’m not holding you up too much?”