Mutual Attraction
Solange is surprised with how close she feels to Agnes. She has not come to any conclusion yet, but has to admit that her attraction, to a beautiful and sensual female version of her lover and future husband is increasing. Solange is not troubled by this, only she did not expect this attraction to develop so quickly, and to be so quickly returned. For Agnes seeks her presence, making contact with hands, fingers, lips, small touches when they work together, and those wide light grey-green eyes accepting her, perhaps inviting her to deeper knowledge.
With Paul, Agnes is cautious. Solange sees their interaction: brother and sister, so much alike, so much a reflection of the double act Julian-Melissa, Julian-Sarah, and perhaps Sarah-Jane mirroring her nascent love for Agnes. Their inheritance is one sensual mix of Melissa’s deep love for Julian, her search for him, Julian’s poetic imagination, the lost love, the beautiful wife, the willing sister. Solange approaches with Paul, with much caution too, the subject of their relationship with Agnes.
Lagrange
Paul and Agnes work together in his study. She’s telling him about her projects, her love of physics and astronomy, and of her success so far, as she will graduate at the end of this year. Paul tells her about Magda, his tutor, his tow theses, his theoretical work on Lagrangian analysis, the sponsorship of the engineering Chinese giant. They pore over articles, slide shows, diagrams. They talk about Agnes meeting Magda, about her moving to Humboldt after graduating, studying for a research post after graduating. Solange knows that they talk also about their fathers’ writings, about Gabrielle the historian, and, from time to time, their parents thirty- year long love story.
In truth Agnes’ attraction to her brother is evident, however discreet she wishes to be. Paul is aware, also determined not to succumb to her charms, remembering how he ultimately succeeded in resisting his deep desire for Sarah. For he’s conscious of Julian’s legacy, the great lover, and of his own appeal. On the other hand he’s willing to feel how close Solange and Agnes are coming together, much as Julian accepted, perhaps welcome, Sarah’s and Jane’s love affair.
Harmony
In this maelstrom of emotions and hardly veiled eroticism, Paul is seeking harmony, and a peace of mind propitious to his work. In his study, the windows wide open to the cool air from the nearby Forst, sitting in front of each other on the long oak table, covered with papers, displays and their notebooks, Agnes and Paul are discussing and constructing their future. Coming back form hospital, Solange finds them often, as she left them in the morning: working. Agnes wears shorts and a loose T-shirt, much as Paul wears. They take a short break at midday for coffee, some fruit and a shower which they take together, in complete chastity.
Autumn
Back home, Solange takes them out for a long walk in the Forst, and a swim in the lake, the three of them naked, enjoying the joy of their bodies, and their closeness. The three of them then prepares dinner, which they continue to take on the balcony, facing the lake, the high moon, and listening to the night birds. Autumn is here now, the evening air fresher as the summer slides away. Their conversation is about the beauty of the lake, the scents of the Forst, and, increasingly, the prospect of living together in Berlin, inviting Sarah and Melissa, perhaps travelling together and visit Russia.
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