do is smile, remember?” said Jotin. “Smile, just keep on smiling.”
David stood up, smiling broadly and held out his hand to greet the Italians, who had been ushered in by his colleague, William O’Connor. He ushered them to chairs and took orders for pre-dinner drinks, while O’Connor went to let the dining room know they had arrived. The party at the next table was getting large and cheerful. Young professional men and women were greeting each other happily and exchanging gossip about their work, and families.
Jotin came into the living-room where Trynor was waiting with Lucy. Lucy was pacing, looking at her watch and at the phone.
“Martin, where are you?” said Lucy, “I’m late already, I’m going to miss the pre-meeting drinks and just have the solemn bit of the evening. You knew I was going out. Come on.”
“Where is he, Trynor? I thought you said this one was a dead cert.”
Trynor shrugged. “I don’t know. He should be here. We should be on our way. Go and check with Roki.”
“Keep her calm. She has to make David smile so she’ll know him, after all. Hang on.” Jotin disappeared. Trynor went over to Lucy and stroked his hands through her aura.
“Calm, little one, calm. It’s not long now, then the excitement can start. Oh boy, are we all going to have some fun! And about time, too.”
Lucy shivered. Goose walking over my grave. She sat down, closed her eyes and tried to breathe down into her abdomen like in the yoga class. Deep breathing is calming, I will be calm, I will not let him get under my skin one more time. The bastard, how dare he, he knew it was my turn to go out, if he wanted to be out too he should have arranged a sitter. Why is it always my responsibility to sort out babysitting? The selfish, mean-minded..”
“Deep breaths, Lucy”
“…something must have happened. In 1-2-3-4, out 1-2-3-4-5-,” Lucy tried to keep her mind empty.
Jotin came back, eyes flashing. “They’d stopped off for a drink. Martin was telling his pal that Lucy has “a little girls’ do tonight” and that there was no rush and Roki was just sitting there, telling me it’s important for Martin to keep up with his friends. I told him what I thought. He’s coming, now. That Roki can be a real nuisance.” Jotin looked at Lucy. “How’s she doing? Looks okay now, keep it up. Love the flowered top, should do the trick perfectly. I’ll go and keep my side of things calm and ready. See you for the fun!”
Fifteen minutes later, Lucy heard the car in the drive and went out to the hall, as Martin came in calmly, as though nothing had happened.
“Where were you?” Lucy shoved her arm into her coat sleeve, pushing the ripped lining through so that it dangled. “Oh damn.” She pulled the lining back up the sleeve and held it at the shoulder while she manoeuvred more carefully this time. She buttoned herself up and pulled on a hat. She looked at Martin.
“Well?”
“Looks like you could do with a new coat,” said Martin, “that one is shot.”
“I know I could. And shoes. And just about everything. What are you going to do about it? You haven’t earned a penny for four years.” She searched through her bag for her keys and went to the door. “Aisling is asleep, but I’m not sure about Robbie. Over to you.” Lucy let herself out into the frosty evening and got into the car.
The restaurant manager came over to David and William.
“Your table is ready, sir. Would you like to order here, or come through?”
“Order here, please order here. She’ll be here soon. Remember, David? You’ve got an important meeting here any minute” Jotin pleaded.
“We’ve an important meeting…” said David and faltered.
“Yes, in the morning,” said William. “We don’t want to be up too late. I think we’ll come through in a moment.”
“Thank you sir. When you’re ready”
Lucy drove into the underground car-park and started the zigzagging process of finding a place.
“Just get out and run, you’ve taken long enough getting here as it is. Never mind parking. Come on.” Trynor was exasperated. Everything took so long. He and Jotin had put such a lot of work into setting up this evening. He was tired. Tired made mistakes. Careful, that’s why you’re in this situation, lapse of concentration about forty years ago and she was born too late. Now she might arrive too late again. No, here’s a