*****
Ten minutes later, up to our chests in warm water and foam, I fill the flutes, passing them across.
“’Scuse me a mo,” says Charlotte, then slides under the surface. She rises again a few seconds later, snorting bubbles.
“How do you feel now?” I ask.
James tips his glass to me, smiling, but he doesn’t speak. Then, his lids drooping, he looks away.
*****
Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago
I step out, feeling bright. Everything is going perfectly.
Bech’s done well…
Nothing like a little competition to get the prices up
Another shipment like that and I can open the east wing at Blessingmoors…
So Yakovlevski wants a mix...
A couple of leggy Russian types ought to fit in well…
Back to Helsinki…
But first I want to see the apartment. Keys jingling in my pocket, I head out.
Will she like it?
But as the lock turns smoothly and the door clicks open, my doubts settle.
What's not to like?
The space is bright and airy, morning sunshine spilling through panes and onto, as I requested, new flooring and walls painted in cool neutral colours.
Much better than what she has…
And she can soon put her own stamp on it…
The carpets are deep and thick. Nonetheless, my footsteps echo in the empty rooms.
To furnish or not to furnish…?
Let her choose from the start?
Or furnish first then she can change it to suit herself?
in the style
Not easy…
No.
in the larger of the bedrooms. The window overlooks the harbour, the better part with the marina, small shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks and bars that play host to students
She’ll like that…
if she’d like to run
her
She’s artistic…
and talented… Easily good
Don’t get distracted.
of the apartment,
How to play this…?
Bookshelves…
Definitely.
Double bed...?
that I have never seen
take
has
reach a decision and head out for
*****
Her phone rings.
“Hello?”
it’s Larry. I was wondering, are
Meet you at the
I want to show you something. I’ll send a cab for
“That’s great. What time?”
“About two?”
“I’ll see you then.”
*****
bell hums and I cease from where my pacing is wearing a track in the carpet. I turn down the music
and gloves I bought her in Finland, enfolded in a huge woollen shawl and with a scarf covering half her face. Poking out from under the shawl is
must be freezing. Come into the warm. Here, let me
mind…” She looks sheepish as she slips off the boots and fishes low-heeled court shoes from her bag. In a shade of teal-green which matches the dress she wears and the emeralds
wrap, she offers the
Come sit by the fire. What would you like to drink? Something
“Lovely.”
cradled in both hands as she perches on a stool by the flames, she
all new. Waiting to have the owner’s stamp
a towel and even before I unwrap
as the cloth falls away, I see
… extraordinary…
I recognise your style from
painted it.” She moves around to look at it with
do, yes. Very
gave me Helsinki Harbour at sunset. I painted it to
does she do
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