Part 24 (2/2)

'Do you mind if I have chicken?'

'No-as you said, it's a free country.'

'And we'll have some stir-fried vegetables with bamboo shoots.' He waved at the waiter and placed the order. 'And we'd like some mixed starters, some crispy seaweed, and a couple of Tsinhao beers?' I nodded. 'Great,' he said. 'You're easy to please.' He suddenly smiled at me, and I noticed his tiny scar disappear. 'It's so nice to see you again-Miss Behaviour.' If you knew precisely how I'd misbehaved, you wouldn't say that. He snapped open his chopsticks, then smiled again. 'I think I'm getting used to you.'

'Are you?' I smiled back. 'So what have you been up to?'

'I went to Glasgow for a couple of days to take some pictures for Action on Addiction, then I've been in the dark room quite a bit; I've got so many films to catch up on before I go to Stockholm.'

'And what will you be doing there?'

'A shoot to ill.u.s.trate a piece about Ethiopian asylum seekers for Newsweek.'

'Ethiopians in Stockholm? That's somehow hard to imagine.'

'Well, it's a global village now. Then I've got to take some photos of the n.o.bel Foundation. And what about you?'

I told him about the puppy party, and about my mother's llama psychotherapy-that made him laugh-and about my ruse to get her to talk to my dad.

'So she has no idea that it's him?'

'No. She thinks it's ”Lawrence Darwin”, a supposed friend of mine, so she's going to get a bit of a shock. But if I have to practise a minor deception to get her to be civilized to my dad, then so be it.' The waiter arrived with our drinks.

'Do you think your dad still likes your mum?' David asked, as we sipped our beer.

'I think he does. I'm sure that's why he went to live in the States when she remarried. He couldn't take it.'

'But he never married again?'

I shook my head. 'He had girlfriends. They were always rather glamorous and very keen to impress me. There was Sheryl, I remember-she gave me a silver bracelet-I've still got it. Then there was Nancy, a tennis coach. I liked her a lot. She took me to Seaworld at San Diego one weekend when Dad was working-she seemed to be nuts about him.

But none of them ever became a permanent fixture, so I suspect he was still holding a candle for my mother.'

'How do you think she'll react when he turns up?'

'She'll be livid. It may make the situation worse, but I thought it was worth a try. I mean, you're friends with your ex-wife, aren't you?'

'Yes. Inasmuch as we're able to talk from time to time, and there are no hard feelings. Just because she decided she didn't want to be my wife any more doesn't mean I have to hate her for the rest of my life.'

'So you forgive her?'

'For leaving me? Yes. I made her unhappy so why should she stay?'

'But you said that you couldn't forgive the person who...hurt you?'

'I said I didn't think I could. But it's entirely academic as I don't know that person-or people-and how can you forgive someone you've never met? And as I'm extremely unlikely ever to do so, the question is irrelevant. I'm never going to find out who did it,' he said. 'I accepted that a long time ago and moved on. It's very sweet of you to be so concerned about it, Miranda, but I actually got over it years ago.'

'David,' I said faintly. 'There's something I want to tell you.'

He looked at me and smiled. 'Here we go again. Confession time.' I stared at him. 'You don't really want to eat any seafood-is that it?'

I shook my head. 'You wanted something completely vegetarian instead?'

'No, no. It's something serious, actually... I...'

Suddenly the waiter appeared with our starters but he'd forgotten the seaweed, so that had to be rectified before our conversation could continue, and by that time the moment was lost.

'David,' I tried again, as I fiddled with my chopsticks. 'Before you tell me whatever it is you want to say, can I say something serious to you?'

'Okay.'

'I wondered whether you'd come away with me in a fortnight's time.' My heart did a swallow dive. 'I know we haven't known each other that long yet.' He was fiddling with his gla.s.s. 'But I thought it would be...nice.'

I looked at him. 'Where?'

'West Suss.e.x. I've got to take photos of Petworth and Arundel for the English Tourist Board. They've booked me into this gorgeous hotel and I just thought it would be fun if you were there too. They allow small dogs-' he went on before I could answer, '-so there'd be no problem with Herman. And you could come along with me while I work or you could just stay in the hotel and read. I don't want to put any pressure on you,' he added, without looking at me. 'But I'm travelling quite a bit at the moment, so I thought that if you felt like coming along that weekend, it would give us a bit of time together. But you don't have to say now. You could see how you feel.' He was fiddling with his chopstick rest. 'You could even make up your mind on the day.'

'I'd love to come,' I said.

He looked at me. 'Really?' His face was suffused with surprise.

'Yes. I can't think of anything nicer.'

He smiled. 'Well, that's good. In fact, that's...great.' He reached across the table for my left hand and stroked it.

'But would it be okay if we had separate rooms? I'd just feel more...comfortable with that.'

He nodded slowly.

'I understand. That's fine. I guess you're still getting over Alexander.' In some ways, but that's not the real reason. 'So, tell me,' he added quietly. 'What was the ”serious” thing you wanted to say?'

'Oh...' I clutched my napkin.

'Well...'

'Come on. What's on your mind this time?'

'Well, it's just that...' I took a deep breath, then felt my courage trickle away, like sand through an hourgla.s.s. 'I... I...wondered whether you'd like to come to a birthday party with me on Sat.u.r.day?'

'Is that all?' he laughed.

'That's all.'

'You are funny. Well, thanks.' He reached across and kissed me. 'I would.'

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