Part 2 (2/2)
She'd already prepared the table with plates, silverware, an open bottle of Chardonnay, and a pair of flickering candles.
”G.o.d, that smells good,” she said, kissing me and grabbing one of the food bags out of my arms.
I followed her to the table and the two of us began dis.h.i.+ng out the egg rolls, Kung Pao Chicken and steamed rice.
”Almost as good as you look,” I said.
She laughed. ”Flattery will get you everywhere. Especially today.”
”That bad?”
”You don't want to know. The one appointment that did show, came only long enough to tell me she was quitting therapy. Said she was getting married and didn't need me anymore.” She took a bite of the spicy chicken dish and rolled her eyes in ecstasy. ”d.a.m.n this is good. How'd you know I was thinking about this?”
”I know you all-too-well, Ms. Freud.”
”You do at that. So how is Harvard faring?”
Without going into excruciating detail, I filled her in on my day.
Even with the ”Reader's Digest” version I was giving her, I could tell she was only paying partial attention, her thoughts no doubt consumed with her own problems. But when I got to Harlan's fantastic revelation, her whole demeanor changed.
”He actually said he was rebuilding the t.i.tanic?” she asked, giving me a dubious look.
I nodded, grabbing for the carton of rice. ”Wild, huh?”
”I think your friend is in need of serious therapy.”
I laughed. ”That's what the rest of us thought, too. But when I saw the look in his eyes, I could tell he was serious-more than that, actually. Haunted would be a better word.”
Julia frowned.
”Has Harlan ever talked like this before?”
”What do you mean?” I asked.
”Has he ever demonstrated behavior like this in the past.”
”Do you mean, has he ever blurted out something grandiose, and not followed through with it?”
She shook her head. ”No, you said he was 'haunted,' that's what I mean.”
”About what?”
”Did he appear to be reacting to unseen stimuli, like hearing voices?”
I put down my fork.
”Julia, what are you talking about?”
”I think your friend might be borderline delusional.”
”Whoa,” I said, holding up my hands. ”Time out. Just because my friend, as you put it-my obscenely rich friend, I might add-says he's rebuilding the t.i.tanic, you're ready to pack him off to the loony bin?”
”I didn't say that. But you have to admit it's a pretty wacky thing to do.”
”Yes, I said that, but-”
”And just to honor his great-grandfather and the others who died?” She shook her head and picked up her gla.s.s of wine. ”If he's not having a psychotic break, he's got the most colossal ego I've ever seen, not to mention it's a colossal waste of money, too. My G.o.d, he could do so much more good just giving it to his favorite charity.”
”Well, he's not. And that's his business,” I said. ”The money thing really bothers you, doesn't it?”
”Yes, it does. What the h.e.l.l is he going to do with it, anyway? Charter rides?”
I smiled at the thought. ”That wouldn't be a half-bad idea. I can think of a few million people who'd jump at the chance. h.e.l.l, I'd like to. In fact, he's invited me on the maiden voyage.”
I saw a look flash across her face, a mixture of shock and anger, and something else I couldn't read. ”And what did you tell him?”
”That I'd love to write an article about it.”
”Hey, why not a whole d.a.m.n book?” Her voice had taken on an edge. ”You can call it, Ego Trip.”
”What the h.e.l.l is with you?”
She threw down her napkin and stood up. ”I don't know, maybe I'm superst.i.tious. Maybe I don't think anything good can come out of rebuilding that s.h.i.+p! Maybe I don't want you to go, all right?”
She started to cry, large tears, like pearls, welling out of her eyes. I went to her and took her in my arms, feeling her body trembling against mine. If the situation weren't so ludicrous, I would have been aroused.
”Hey, hey, it's okay, it's not the end of the world,” I said, caressing her hair. ”It's just a stupid boat ride. Besides, I don't even know if I'm going to have the time. I've still got to finish the new book, or it's sayonara, Conrad Holm, h.e.l.lo unemployment.”
”But you want to go, you just said you did.”
”I said I'd like to. That doesn't mean I will.”
She pulled away and looked me in the eye, her manner calmer. ”I'm sorry, I guess I'm just a little too much on edge lately. My practice is going to h.e.l.l and this just pushed me over.”
”What's really bothering you, Julia? It can't be just about me going on that s.h.i.+p.”
”But it is, Trev. You forget, I saw that movie, too. I know the power it has. It makes people want to be a part of that world. And that's not normal.”
I shrugged. ”Maybe, not. But look at the world we live in. Was that one so bad?”
”In some ways, yes-some ways, no. The point is it's gone, and no amount of money in the world is ever going to bring it back.”
Looking into her face at that moment, it dawned on me. ”My G.o.d, you think I'm going to meet someone, that I'm going to have some kind of s.h.i.+pboard fling, don't you?”
She remained silent, staring out the bay window.
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