Things were really crazy at the library the following day. Many more people came to gape at the partially demolished government building across the street than to check out or return books. Alison found herself with a lot of extra time on her hands, time she spent idly wandering up and down the aisles absentmindedly straightening books.

After work she strongly debated driving past the motel just to say hello to Alexei and Darya for no other reason than that she simply longed to see his face and hear his voice again, but in the end she decided that that would be silly and perhaps even appear clingy or needy, which was the last impression in the world she wanted to give Alexei.

That evening after dinner, the phone rang. It was Alexei.

"I miss you and want to hear your voice again," he told her.

"I missed you too," she said.

"Was everything all right today?"

"Everything was fine. Just a lot slower than usual, is all. How was your day?"

"I make many phone calls, try to get an extension on my visa. Also work permit."

"Really?" A thrill of excitement coursed through Alison's body. "So you may stay here longer than the summer, then?"

"I would really like to. Gloucester is nice place to visit. I expect would be nice place to live as well."

"I've lived here all my life, and never had any desire to live anywhere else," Alison told him. "What about Darya?"

"I want her to stay as well. Many more opportunities for her here. Perhaps she can get student visa."

"That would be wonderful, Alexei. I really hope that both of you can stay."

"There is another thing, Alison." Alexei's voice sounded hesitant - timid, almost.

"What is it?"

"Yesterday, when plane crash into building, I was very afraid. My first thought was, what if my friend Alison was in building?" Alexei sounded as if he were about to cry. Alison felt a lump forming in her own throat.

"But I wasn't, Alexei." The urge to comfort him was almost overpowering. "I wasn't in the building. Nobody was. It's all right. Everything's all right."

Alexei didn't say anything for a long time.

"Are you all right, Alexei?" Alison finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, yes, I'm all right," Alexei quickly assured her. "What I want to say is...I have feeling for you that is very tender. More so than ever before. I...I...it is hard for me to say."

"It's all right, Alexei. I understand."

The following Friday night Alexei showed up on Alison's doorstep dressed to the nines and carrying a lovely bouquet of roses. Alison gasped with surprise, then burst out laughing.

"How did you get here?" she asked.

"Taxi." Alexei grinned.

"Why, I would have been happy to pick you up..."

"But then it wouldn't have been a surprise."

Alison laughed again. "You silly thing. Give me fifteen minutes to get ready."

"You are lovely just as you are."

"The heck I am!" Alison hurriedly put on her very best dress and painstakingly made up her face.

"Where are we going?" she asked when she was ready.

"You will know when we get there," Alexei said mysteriously.

Alison gasped with surprise when they reached the restaurant. She'd been to it once before, many years previously. It was well outside her budget.

Alexei laughed with amusement at the expression on her face. "Tonight, Alison, you will be treated just like the queen you are," he told her.

Alison felt just a little bit guilty as she walked into the restaurant with Alexei. She knew that whatever funds he had had to last him until the end of his vacation, and she didn't want him to go broke because of her.

The inside of the restaurant was every bit as opulent as Alison remembered. A violinist played, and couples danced gracefully.

Alison studied the menu carefully, trying to chose the least expensive item. Alexei seemed to read her mind. "Don't be afraid. Have whatever you want," he laughed.

After the waiter had taken their order, Alexei asked Alison if she'd like to dance.

"You're such a good dancer," Alison told him as they were dancing. He smelled really nice, of toothpaste and aftershave.

"You're not so bad yourself," he told her. His arms around her made her feel warm and secure.

"Any success with getting your visa extended?" she asked him later, as they were eating.

"Lots of paperwork. It is very difficult." He sighed. "Would have been easier if I had come over five or ten years ago. Would have qualified as political refugee then."

"But you couldn't get an exit visa then."

"Exactly."

"It's kind of ironic, isn't it?"

Alexei laughed.

After dinner they went dancing, then for a midnight stroll along the beach.

"Did you have good time tonight, Alison?" asked Alexei.

"I had a wonderful time tonight, Alexei," Alison assured him. "Thank you very much for the roses, for dinner, and...and for everything."

"Thank you for delightful company." Alexei grinned. "I suppose you could say our first date was success, right?"

"I guess it was our first real date, wasn't it?" Alison suddenly felt very shy.

Later, when Alexei asked if she wanted to come in and visit for a little while instead of just dropping him off at the motel and then returning home, she took him up on it.