Sara tightened her grip on the receiver, the blood singing in her veins. "Asher?" She could feel her voice choking, "Where are you?" In the background she could hear a hum of voices.
"Can you believe it?" His short laugh was quietly harsh sound. "I'm in the middle of a board meeting. I don't know who the hell they think I'm talking to, but I had to call you."
"I'm glad." Her voice was hardly above a whisper.
"The mail packet caught up with me this morning. I got the letter and postcard you sent," he said.
"I ---I was not sure if I should write." She admitted.
"These are liberated times, but I'm not surprised that you're behind them," he mocked, but not unkindly.
A voice intruded from the background. "Mr. Canfield, here's the breakdown report you wanted on the foreign currency exchange this quarter."
"Good , Frank," was Asher's partially muffled response, then clearer, "Are you still there?"
"Yes, I'm here," Sara assured him, her voice regaining its strength.
Asher started to say something, then changed his mind. "This is most frustrating means of communication." His tone was low and charged with irritation. "I can't see you."
"I know." There was certain torment in hearing his voice.
"Mr. Canfield?" the same voice interrupted Asher again.
"Damnit, Frank, can't you see I'm on the phone?" he demanded. He came back on the line, sighing tiredly. "I'm sorry. It's no good. I can't talk now. I'm trying to schedule a trip there in December or January.
That long, Sara thought, but didn't say it. Instead she attempted a light remark. "The heart of the skiing season. Maybe you'll have enough time to spend an afternoon on the slopes. We already have a good snow cover."
"I don't give a damn about the snow." He controlled the impatience in his voice to add promising. "I'll see you----soon, I hope."
"Good bye, Asher"
The line clicked dead before Sara hung the phone. She stared at it until a flicker of movement caught her attention and she looked up to see Perry in the doorway.
"Was that Asher?" He studied her quietly.
"Yes." She reclipped the earrings on her lobe, unwilling to discuss the sweetly short conversation with Asher.
A sadness stole into his features. "Don't let him break your heart Sara." His hand slapped at the doorjamb in a helpless gesture as he turned to walk down the hall way to his office.
----------------------------------------------------------
Udne Ki Aasha
