The Week Before
It didn't really matter whose apartment they went to anymore. It was either Jack's decidedly bachelor one bedroom in the west 50s or Claire's little fifth floor walk up in the village. Both were small, barely lived in. Jack had moved into his apartment following his second divorce, over a decade ago and, from what Claire could tell, it had scarcely been thought of since. The bedroom was practically empty, a bed, gray sheets, a closet half full of gray suits, white shirts and red ties. The kitchen was even more bare, Claire doubted Jack had ever made anything more ambitious than cereal in it. The living room was the only place remotely lived in, a few photos of his daughter, shelves of well loved books and records and one very comfortable old arm chair that Jack had kept after the divorce. Claire didn't know this, but when she lay naked, asleep in his bed, sunlight on her and arms, Jack sometimes thought perhaps he could feel at home here.
Claire's place wasn't much better, despite her somewhat more feminine touch. It was her first place without roommates, a freedom she had a first longed for and now she wasn't sure. It was odd having to buy things she had long had access to but never owned, items that should be thoughtless like a can opener or screwdriver suddenly things she has to consider. Her building was prewar and the high ceiling and big windows made up for a lot of her disinterest in decorating. She had, unlike Jack, bought curtains and art and at least made an attempt to make this home, but like Jack, she spent so much time at the office it scarcely felt lived in despite her efforts.
Tonight they were at Jack's, and it was moonlight illuminating Claire's small face and brown eyes as she looked at Jack through the dark. They had just made love the air was hot and seemed to buzz, perhaps from the electricity running somewhere in the walls. Jack ran his fingers through her hair. It wasn't the time to talk, but Jack's searching eyes said it well enough.
"I'll be there tomorrow, and the next day," she said softly. She wasn't the kind of girl for gentle pillow talk, but it had been a very long day.
"We don't need to talk about this now," said Jack. "Go to sleep Claire."
But the air was buzzing too loudly and Claire couldn't sleep.