INTERLUDES: On a Clear Day
“It was a suitable planet,” Commander Spock said quietly as the ship pulled further away from Omicron Ceti III.  He watched the departure from the lounge spaceport.  He had agreed to meet with Leila Kalomi in public for tea.  She had wished a more private conversation.  
“It was paradise,” she lamented, “But you won’t admit that will you?”
         The Vulcan shook his head, “It is not that I will not admit it, it is that I cannot.”  
She reached for his hand, held it in hers, “Spock, please come with us.”
He removed his hand from hers, “No.”
Her eyes pleaded, “Then let me stay aboard.  There is an opening in botany.  I could sign on as a midshipman.”
  “No,” Spock insisted hoping she’d remain calm.  
  Leila sniffed, “We could be happy.”
Spock’s head jerked up.  “Leila, there is no we.  It can never be,” he said trying to make her understand what he could not say to her outright.  
 A burst of laughter from a table across the room interrupted the moment.  Lts. Uhura and Chapel were thoroughly enjoying something Barry DeSalle and Hikaru Sulu were telling them.  Spock did not recall seeing Chapel laugh in such a fashion before and paid close attention to her for a moment.  Leila could have used the eye line as a guide for the blind.  Suddenly things were crystal clear to her.  Resolved she whirled in the chair, “I’m sorry to have taken up your time.  It will not happen again.”
 Before she left the room she detoured to the table Chapel sat at.  With red eyes but firm chin, she said, “Good luck nurse, but I’ll warn you, he’ll break your heart.”
 Chapel was mystified but had no time to ask.  Kalomi was out the door.  
 “What was that about?” Sulu asked.
 “No clue,” she replied truthfully but caught the look on Spock’s face.  It was a pained look of resignation, only there a second, and then gone.  
  Spock mentally sighed.  Leila had misunderstood, but did it really matter?  He would never be free to choose her.  
  He did not see Leila again while the settlers were aboard.  As the ship left Belle Terre on its way back to its scheduled stops, Spock found a hand written message waiting for him in his cabin.  It was short, to the point—
Spock, 
Now that I can see clearly I realize I was wrong about a lot of things.  I’m sorry for both of us.  Elias has asked me to marry him when we reach Belle Terre.  He is a good man and deserves all I can give him.  This letter is my way of saying goodbye and closing our door to the past or future forever.  
My heart will always love you, 
Leila

 Spock folded the paper back the way it had been.  Opening his private safe he removed a small plain box and 
placed the letter inside.  He could not help thinking that if she had known the truth about T’Pring and not believed a lie involving Christine Chapel things might have been different.  Perhaps she would have reconsidered Sandoval’s proposal.  “But then,” his mind echoed, “What difference was there, except to me?”