Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago

The bar is still dressed for Christmas, but at the far side of the room a girl is taking down green and red foil decorations from a tree while a man in blue overalls reaches from the top of a ladder with a screwdriver, fiddling in an electric box, looking back as coloured lights flicker on then off again.

Behind the bar, Angelo is doing his ‘forever work’ of polishing glasses…

“What’ll it be, Larry?” He reaches towards the bottles…

“Just a coffee. It’s a bit early.”

“Coming up.”

To the hiss of steam from the kitchenette, Frank arrives, briefcase in hand.

“Hi, Larry. Happy New Year.” He glances at his wrist. “Not late am I?”

“Not at all. I just arrived myself.”

As we seat ourselves, Angelo arrives with my coffee. “What are you having, Frank?”

“I’ll have a beer. Thanks, Angelo.” He lays the briefcase on the coffee-table starting to click it open…

“Not just now.” I nod towards the door.

He follows my gaze, frowning as he puts the case to one side and Mitch sashays in.

As beautiful as ever, she’s wearing a dress in that shade of green that suits her so well. Classically cut, it suggests her perfect figure without displaying too much of it…

And she’s wearing that fucking necklace that Conners gave her.

“Hi, Mitch. Good holiday?” Angelo holds up a box of tea bags. “Your usual?”

She flashes teeth. “Yes, great holiday.” Then, “And yes. Mint please.”

Mitch undulates over, settling on the couch between me and Frank. “Hi, guys.”

“Hey, Mitch. Great to see you.” Frank breaks into a broad smile, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. “Happy New Year. I was beginning to think you were never coming back.” He jerks a thumb at me. “Did he give you a good time?”

“Hi, Frank. Yes, we had a wonderful time. It was the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

He looks a bit blue at that. Angelo arrives with a tray, setting down beer and tea, then vanishes behind the bar, to return a moment or so later. He dumps a large flimsy cardboard box on the table, the kind a baker might use.

“Old Mr Vacarrelli called by,” he says to Mitch. “I did explain to him that you weren’t working again yet, but he’d brought them with him and he said Happy New Year and we should share them between us. But that if you changed your mind, you should give him a call.”

“Er, right. Thanks.” There’s a touch of pink at her cheekbones. “No, I’m not working yet, and I don’t think I have my phone book with me anyway.”

He thumbs across the room. “You left it in the back there before you left.”

“Fine. Thanks.”

“What’s in the box, Mitch?” I sip my coffee. “Dare I ask?”

She sips at her tea, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Let’s just say that not all of my clients want the same thing.”

My cup hovering half-way to the counter-top. “Really?” I eye the box.

She’s actually blushing…

a

hell is

I know you’ve got

its saucer. “He’s an old guy. He had a good marriage but he was widowed some years ago. He’s not forgotten what it’s all about, but he’s pretty elderly and, well… He can’t…” She rocks

Cream cakes?

box. “Okay,”

at him,” she explains, her eyes

Wtf?

the end of his nose. “Run that

quirk. “After we’ve chatted for a bit, he undresses and stands in the bath, and then I have to throw the cream cakes at him. And for every one where I,

creases up. So

this been going on?”

“About four years now.”

a bonus does he pay

ten for every

says Frank, “that in that time you’ve become a fucking Olympic grade

out of six. It’s earned me a nice little bonus over the

that’s all he wants?”

And I don’t see him again

meet eyes. “Think I’ll

“Me too.”

offers the box towards the

face is bland.

an arm around her shoulders. “Ah, it’s great to have you back, Mitch.

heading for the door. “Just going to powder my nose. Back in a

vanishes from view, I say, “You got

for you.” He fishes out a Polaroid camera and a dozen shots. “Just take a quick

through; inside shots,

“Yes, they’re fine…”

um…” He eyes me speculatively… “I had to grease a few palms to

I'll pay it

file. “Got it here. I've listed the fees as disbursements.” He flicks through the sheets, returns to the file and extracts another document, sliding it over the table. “That’s the last

through the collection, totting up the total, then reach for my

with you, Larry. A man

the air for a moment, I pass it across. “You deliver

“In theory, yes. But my life would be a lot easier if everyone paid on the dot like you do. Still…” He turns thoughtful. “… I should have the keys for you at the end of the week. So… you're planning on settling here then? New apartment and

somewhere to make my own,

that. You still want me to get the decorators

Cream

thing? Put your

where it’s needed. I’ll have the furniture sent over when you tell me it’s ready. But the

it with me.” Frank’s gaze travels over my shoulder to where Mitch went.

Are we?

what that means,”

brightens.

fingers through each other. “Back

up the camera. “Let’s have a photo, eh.

Intrepid Trio?