too far away – but the one in the middle, Lisa Pearce, has some words of wisdom on her badge too: ‘Failure only lasts forever if I’m too scared to try again’. I might suggest they introduce similar badges at Bankside Park: ‘Camilla Hosmer. Lies, false accusations and sporadic racism keep me looking young’.
I think about what Lewis said on the phone about having a favourite life coach. Was it his idea to pin inspiring messages to the company’s receptionists? It wouldn’t surprise me, though the Lewis I knew had no time at all for new-age nonsense. America might have changed him, I suppose, or he might be cynically playing the corporate game. I wonder if he’ll be willing to miss Daily Responses in order to talk to me.
‘Do you have an appointment with Dr Braid?’ Wayna Skinner asks me.
‘No.’
‘Then you’ll need to make one. He doesn’t see anyone without an appointment.’
‘Can you tell him Beth Leeson is here? I think he’ll see me. Tell him I’ve come all the way from England, in response to his invitation the other night. I’m an old friend.’
‘Oh, I see. Awesome. Let me see what I can do for you.’ She picks up the phone. ‘Martha? It’s Wayna. There’s a lady here to see Dr Braid. A Beth Leeson. She’s an old friend he invited over. Thank you.’
I wish I could witness the moment of Martha telling Lewis I’m here: downstairs, in his building. What will he think? How will he react?
‘I sure will. Thank you, Martha.’ Wayna hangs up the phone. ‘He’ll see you. Please stand in front of the camera and I’ll take a photo for your pass.’
‘Camera?’
‘Up there. Can I see your ID? Passport?’
Luckily I still have it in my bag, from the airport. I trust my own ability to look after my handbag more than I trust any hotel safe.
With her friendly smile fixed in place, Wayna stares at my passport photograph and me for longer than anyone in an airport ever has. ‘My hair was different then,’ I tell her.
Finally she places a laminated pass in my hands with excessive care, as if she’s granting me access to the country’s nuclear codes. The photograph VersaNova’s camera has taken of me from on high makes my head look huge and my body tiny and tapering.
‘Take the elevator up to five and Martha will meet you there,’ she says. ‘Have a great visit!’
The elevator is good company. It lets rip with an exuberant, pre-recorded ‘Level! Five!’ as we come to a stop. The doors open and I step out into a beige-carpeted reception area. There are two sets of white double doors and four orange leather chairs lined up against one wall, but no Martha. I’m wondering if I ought to do anything apart from wait when one of the doors swings open.
‘Lewis.’
‘Beth! It’s really you! Is Dom with you?’
‘No. Just me.’
‘You should have brought the whole family. What a treat it is to see you!’ He strides over and wraps me in a hug. I think about resisting, even as I hug him back. In his best moments, this was what was great about spending time with Lewis. He could make you feel as if you were his favourite treat in a way that no one else could.
‘Maybe some other time,’ I say. ‘I came alone because … I’m not on holiday. This isn’t a fun trip for me.’
‘Isn’t it?’ Lewis laughs. ‘So you’re here to work? Great! Our latest prototype needs to be ready for market in five months. Want to help with that?’
‘I want some answers. Ones that are true.’ I try to say this hopefully, as if I believe he’s going to help me.
‘Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’m always happy to give true answers to true questions. But let’s hold this Q and A in my office, where we can have some privacy – in case this turns out to be like the drinking games we used to play. Remember those? Share a sordid secret or down one more shot.’
Something about his manner makes me wonder if he’s prepared for this. Did he expect that one day I’d come here and appeal directly to him? Did he take steps to make sure I soon ran out of other options, relishing the prospect of using his charm to turn Beth-the-problem into Beth-who’s-no-threat-at-all?
I laugh and try to look impressed and amused, knowing that’s what he wants. I need to choose my words carefully – to