Free Never Turn Back by Lorna Lee Page A

herself.
    “Sure, Meri. We women need to help each other out. Especially since some men can’t be bothered with condoms…or us if we get pregnant.”
    Meri’s eyes widened even more.
    Without waiting for Meri to ask, Tuula explained, “There are three kinds of men I’ve found in my experience: the careful and considerate men who always come prepared with condoms; the carefree men who assume women will provide their own protection; and the selfish men who resist condoms because they like sex au naturel . They’re the worst ones. I refuse them. It’s too risky.”
    “Have you ever had trouble with a man?”
    Before Tuula could answer, Elina came bursting through the door, frustration clouding her face.
    “I looked everywhere. Everywhere! There’s no secret message in this neighborhood. Now what?”
    “Now supper,” Tuula smiled as she hugged her little secret agent girl and winked at Meri.
     
    §
     
    “ Non! ” It was more of a whispered question than a declaration.
    “That’s all you have to say, Siri?” Meri had her arms crossed over her chest in an unfriendly stance as she completed the story of how Siri’s advice backfired on her.
    “I never expected your supervisor to behave in such an unprofessional way, Meri. You really shouldn’t have told him you were attracted to him.” Siri shook her head and kept her eyes off Meri.
    “I had to think of something quickly. It was either that or get fired. Oh, What I told him doesn’t even matter. You know Frenchmen better than I do. You should have guessed.” Meri could be very harsh when she felt betrayed. Mon Dieu, I sound just like my mother scolding me!
    “Meri, I didn’t for one moment expect this to happen. Quit. I promise I’ll find you another job. I’ll figure something out.” Siri’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at her agitated friend.
    “How many jobs are waiting for applicants on your desk at the Embassy?”
    “None…there’s always tomorrow’s mail, and I could ask questions. Be more aggressive.”
    “What’s the use? What’s done is done. Maybe I can put off Claude for long enough and he’ll lose interest. I want to learn French cooking. At least that’s a more respectable skill than French toilet cleaning. I’ll be earning more money, too.” Meri’s posture softened. She did not want to lose Siri as a friend; she just wanted to show her how upsetting the situation had become because of her advice. Mission accomplished.
    “You don’t hate me, do you, Meri?”
    “ Non . I don’t hate you, but I hate your advice. You can fix this by finding me a better job someday.”
    “Meri, there’s something I didn’t tell you.”
    “Oh?”
    “The man who noticed me and gave me a job in the Finnish Embassy became my lover.”
    “He did?”
    “I loved him, Meri. It wasn’t like you and your supervisor, so I never gave my suggestion a thought.”
    “What happened to him?”
    Siri lowered her head. “He was married, of course. We carried on for a few months. After he got bored with me, he left. I was a virgin and he broke my heart. At least I got a good job from the affair.”
    Meri held Siri’s hand. “I’m sorry for you, Siri…about being abandoned. I know very little about men, and what I’m learning is not very good. I hear alcohol helps a lot where men are concerned.”
    Siri and Meri looked at each other for a moment. Giggles turned into uncontrollable laughter.
     
    §
     
    Tuula introduced Meri to her first lover—a man whose name she forgot the moment she heard it because she had already had several glasses of wine. After a short supper with plenty of wine, he took her to his office. Meri had enough wine during the meal to dull her senses and loosen the tightness her body had held all day.
    “Would you like some brandy?” He turned his back to her as he poured himself a drink.
    Remembering Tuula’s advice about alcohol helping in these situations, she accepted. “ Oui, s'il vous plaît . A large