73 Its Importan (2/2)
”Maybe it's not enough for me to be just your business partner and friend.”
”Very funny, Ben, maybe you've chosen this role for yourself, I never ...”
”Let's have a good Laila, see you soon, make sure you're done with everything before the two men come in. See you later.”
The connection was interrupted. Laila glared at the black phone. What the hell had Ben done? She would not recognize him. Shit, probably his brother, the cosmetic surgeon, changed Ben's appearance. God, why were men so stupid? As if Benedict's appearance had ever stood between them.
But this statement was not quite correct. Ben had made sure that his appearance was the reason why they had never come closer. Laila finished the cold espresso and began to dry her clothes. She did not have much time left.
****************************
It was already dawn when Dick and Laila stopped in front of the little hut. Laila knew she should not be wasting time unnecessarily now, before Dick might change her mind. So she energetically grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hut. She pushed him into the kitchen and asked him to open a bottle of wine.
Hesitantly he followed her instructions. Laila leaned in the doorway and looked at Dick, who held out two glasses of water. ”I do not have wine glasses.”
”Will go, do you have candles?”
”Yes, in the tool shed. Second wall cupboard from the right.” Laila stepped in front of the hut and turned left. In contrast to the confusion and chaos in Dick's house, there was a most embarrassing order here. The work surface was pikobello clean. All the tools and utensils were in place on the wall, neatly labeled with Dick's awkward writing. Rotary hammer, belt sander, ax, tile cutter, etc.
Laila opened the second wall cabinet. A plethora of tealights was stacked there. At least twenty bags with 150 individual candles. Why the hell did you need so much of it? Sam grabbed a bag and went back into the house. Dick had already carried the bottle and glasses into the living room and stood undecided in front of Laila's bed.
He saw the bag in her hands and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. ”You're probably wondering why someone is bunkering so many tealights.” Laila just looked at him. ”Well, if you store candles for a while, they burn down more slowly.” He filled the two water glasses to the brim with red wine. Laila came to him. Both raised the glasses and drank them quickly. Dick wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ”Before, before we do, I have to show you something.”
”Dick, I do not know if that's such a good idea.”
”Yes, it's important, come with me.” He led her past the tiny study, the bathroom, and his bedroom. He stopped in front of a narrow door. ”I've never shown that to a human.” Laila was uncomfortable with the situation. ”Then leave it at that.”
”No, it's important that you do not think I'm as crazy as the three morons wanted you to believe.” He opened the door. Laila suspected that this had once been the broom closet. The room was narrow and only 80 centimeters deep. At the end of the wall Dick had dug a wooden board against the wall. On it stood a photo in a silver frame. A young couple smiled solemnly in the camera.
Two burning tealights flanked the photo. Laila looked inquiringly at Dick. ”That's Sandy, for many years I've been making sure there's always a light on here, I know it's crazy, but it's not an altar or anything, I, I, it's like an inner compulsion, I'm sure it you are doing so well, but I have the crazy idea that something terrible will happen when the flames go out. ” Laila watched the photograph in silence.