Part 11 (1/2)
'However did you guess?' she sneers, giving him a challenging look.
'Why, Helen told me, of course. This isn't Amateur Psychic Hour.'
Hah! She chews her lip like a petulant teenager.
'Anyway,' he continues. 'It's always nice to have a cynic to convert, so welcome.'
Before Elise can froth a reply he addresses a denim knee, 'Is that Elliot under there?'
Elliot struggles to free his arm, quickly shaking off the pins and needles before his hand meets Alex's.
'Hi!'
'I guess you're wondering what you've got yourself into?' Alex raises a knowing eyebrow.
Presumably he's referring to The California Club but I allow myself to think he's picking up on some kind of reservation Elliot may have about Elise.
'I can handle it!' Elliot struts his macho stuff.
Alex smiles and says, 'It's you who's into roller-coaster rides, right?'
'Yeah,' Elliot grins.
'Well, you're going to get one!'
'Sounds good to me!'
I wouldn't be so thrilled if Alex said that to me, it sounds vaguely threatening. But why would The California Club want to rattle our cages? We've come here for pleasure, we made that quite clear at Pa.s.sport Control.
'Lara!' he turns suddenly to face me.
Oh thank G.o.d!
He leans close.
'What's it going to be with you?' He studies me, boring into my soul.
I try to project flair, confidence and success but suspect he can see through to my confusion, fears and lonely wee heart.
'I guess we'll have to wait and see.'
Oh no! I'm an unknown quant.i.ty. I want to be fine, more than fine! Not wait and see! I demand a recount! You've got to give me more than that!
Seemingly sensing my needs he adds, 'But I suspect it may be your turn.'
My turn for what? Am I supposed to know what he means? My turn to be with Elliot? My turn for love? My turn to put the rubbish out? What?!
Alex strolls back over to the window and takes a more casual position to address us now, resting on the arm of a dark violet chair. 'My second question is: Are you really ready to get what you really want?'
Zo jolts a 'Yes!' out of me. The best he can hope for from Sasha and Elliot is a tentative nod. As for Elise, he doesn't know how lucky he is that she's making no response at all.
'Okay. Last night each of you wrote a wish on a piece of paper. Today we're going to take the first step to making those wishes come true.'
'Oh great!' Elise rolls her eyes.
'On behalf of The California Club I'm going to make you an offer. It's entirely up to you as a group whether or not you take it-'
'We'll take it!' blurts Zo.
Elliot urges Zo to cool her jets until we've heard the whole proposition.
'Now this isn't a one-tap-of-the-wand thing. Ninety per cent of the work will come from you,' Alex informs us.
My heart sinks. There's always a catch, isn't there? Always the word 'work' running alongside any chance of dreams being fulfilled. I'm off the idea already. Let's just have a holiday and have done with it.
'So my third question is this: Would you be prepared to give up one week of your stay in California to make your wish come true?'
Wary silence. Even Zo is mute, not wanting to be selfish and put her desires ahead of the group.
'What exactly do you mean by that?' I query.
'The California Club has arranged for each of you to spend seven days in pursuit of your wish.' Again Zo flutters with excitement. But she's the only one.
'Because of the variety and nature of your wishes, each of you will be sent to separate locations.'
There's a muttering of solidarity: no way we're sticking together.
'You'd send us all to different places?' Zo hopes she's misheard.
'Yes,' Alex confirms. 'Well, all, that is, except for Lara, but I'll come to why later.'
What? Me? What have I done now?
'Why can't we stay together?' Zo pouts.
'Because you all want different things.'
'Can I change my wish?' Elise asks.
Alex shakes his head. 'We go with what you wrote last night.'
'Then forget it!' she huffs.
Zo looks pleadingly at her.
'I'm sorry but my wish is c.r.a.p.'
'And yet it was your choice. Your wish.' Alex reminds her.
'Yeah but I didn't know it was going to lead to this.'