Simon Beckett - Fine Lines

“Excellent experience,” I enthused. “And I’m certain you’ll enjoy it. I can’t tell you what a load that’s taken off my mind. I really don’t know what else I would have done.”

Anna was smiling broadly. She was obviously excited by the prospect now she had accepted it. “Don’t be too relieved. I’ve never done anything like this before. I might make a total mess of it.”

“My dear, you’ll be fine. I have every confidence in you. Just keep putting your hand up until either you’ve beaten everyone else, or the bidding goes beyond your limit. There’s nothing to it.”

“Well, if you’re sure you trust me.” She laughed. “It’s quite exciting, really. I’ve always wanted to bid at a big auction.”

“In that case I’m glad I’ve given you the chance before you leave. I can’t tell you how grateful I am. So long as you’re positive it won’t be too much of an inconvenience. You mustn’t feel obliged to go.”

“I don’t, really. I’m looking forward to it.”

“And you’re sure Marty doesn’t mind?” I found it easy to consider Marty’s wishes when I knew they did not interfere with my own.

“Of course not. I dare say he’ll be able to survive without me for a few days.” Her face suddenly lit up. “In fact, there’s nothing to stop him coming with me, is there? We could pay the extra airfare, and the difference for a double room. If you don’t mind, obviously.”

I managed to smile. “Of course I don’t mind. But wouldn’t it be rather boring for him? Sitting in an auction room isn’t everyone’s idea of fun.”

It was no good. “Oh, Marty won’t mind that,” she said. “And he doesn’t have to come to them if he doesn’t want to. We can spend the rest of the time together.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

She looked at her watch. “I’ll give him another fifteen minutes, and then I’ll phone him. He should be back at the university by then.”

I could see she was completely taken with the idea. I went to the office, where I did not have to sustain a facade of enthusiasm. I had not anticipated this. If Marty went with her, I would have gone to all that trouble and considerable expense for nothing. Worse, I would have to try and think of another way to isolate Marty, and there would be precious little time left for that.

I felt a fresh surge of antipathy for him. Even in this he was obstructing me. It was yet another grievance to add to my list. Brooding on it, I sat and waited.

After a while the office extension pinged as Anna picked up the telephone downstairs. I resisted the temptation to try and eavesdrop. I had managed it once, by accident. I did not trust my luck to hold a second time.

It seemed a long time before a second chime told me their conversation was over. Steeling myself, I went back downstairs. Anna was still by the telephone. She looked reassuringly crestfallen, and my spirits immediately lifted.

“I’ve just spoken to Marty,” she said. “He can’t come.”

“Oh, what a shame.”

“I know. But he says there are too many loose ends for him to tie up at the university.” She smiled, trying to hide her disappointment.

“Well, it’s only for three days, isn’t it? And you know what they say about absence.”

“I suppose so.”

“I know it’s no consolation, but I will be giving you a bonus to show how much I appreciate this.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that! I’m getting what amounts to a free holiday anyway.”

Relief had made me expansive. “You’re still pulling my coals out of the fire, and I’m very grateful. When you get back I want you and Marty to go to whatever show or restaurant you like. On me.”

Anna leaned forward and kissed my cheek. Her lips were cool, but my flesh felt branded by the contact.

“If you’re any nicer to me, I don’t think I’ll be able to leave at all.”

“I may just hold you to that,” I said, blushing.

There were no further hitches. On the morning of Anna’s departure I drove her to the airport. Marty came too. They sat together in the back of the car, and when I parked in the airport terminal I saw that they had been holding hands. Both of them seemed a little subdued as Anna waited to check in, and when they said goodbye to each other outside the departure lounge, no one watching would have dreamed the separation was only for three days.

I stood discreetly in the background. Anna’s last, impulsive hug pulled Marty off balance. His glasses were knocked askew, and he adjusted them, absently, as he watched her disappear through the glass doors. He stared after her for a moment before turning towards me.

We walked back to the car in silence.

“Is Anna going to call you later?” I asked, to break it.

“She said she’ll phone me tonight.”

“You’re not going out, then?”

“No, I’ve too much to do.”

“Yes, Anna said you were busy. It’s a shame you couldn’t have gone with her. I hope you didn’t mind my asking her to go?”

“No, not at all. It’ll be a good experience for her. And it’ll all help when she’s looking for work in New York. Have you had any feedback from that, by the way?”

“Feedback?”

“You were going to contact some people you knew, to see if they could help her. Have you heard anything?”

Not only had I not heard anything, I had also forgotten I had offered to try. But I resented him feeling he had the right to ask. “No, not yet. They should have got my letters by now, though. I’ll give them another week and if I’ve not heard from them by then, I’ll try telephoning.” I changed the subject. “I expect it’ll seem strange being in the flat alone.”

He nodded. “I guess.”

I made an attempt at jocularity. “Do you think you’ll be able to manage?”

A faint smile touched his mouth. “Oh, sure. Anna’s going to call every day, so if I run into any trouble, I can always yell for help.”

That was interesting to know. “Have you arranged a set time? In case I need to contact her,” I added.

“She’s going to call between six and seven. I’m usually back by then.”

I dropped Marty at the university and drove to the gallery. It seemed empty and lifeless without Anna. I shook off the feeling and telephoned Zeppo.

“She’s gone.”

“Good. Any problems?”

“No. And I found out that Marty’s staying in tonight.”

“Tonight’s no good.”

I wondered if Zeppo was trying to make excuses. “Why?” Some of my suspicion must have carried into my voice, because he laughed.

“Now, now, Donald, don’t snap. Tonight’s no good because it’s the first night she’s been away, and he’ll probably be wandering around the flat crying and sniffing her perfume, and trying to tell himself he’s missing her. Tomorrow will be better.”

“Isn’t that just wasting a night?”

“Is this the man who lectured me about doing things too soon?”

I conceded. “All right. I suppose you know what you’re doing. But whatever it is, leave it until after seven o’clock.” I told him what Marty had said about Anna telephoning then. “I don’t want her to know he’s seeing you.”

“You’re all heart. Are there any other instructions, while you’re at it? Perhaps you would like to tell me exactly what you want me to do with Marty?”

“I’ll leave that side of things up to you.”

I heard him laugh, drily. “You’re a true leader, Donald.”

That night I had the dream again. It was the same setting as before. I was lying on the sofa, drowsily watching my mother brush her hair in the firelight. She was sitting with her back to me. This time I noticed she was wearing the same white silk robe she often used to wear when I was a child. The room was quiet except for the sound of the fire crackling in the grate, and the whisper of the brush. I felt warm and snugly content, hypnotised by the golden highlights in my mother’s hair. Then, distant but jarring, there was another, more intrusive noise as, in the dream, the doorbell rang.