The Last Word

Twenty-five

‘Is there something seriously wrong?’ Mamoon said. ‘Why are you humming a cheerful tune?’

‘Could I pour honey on your yogurt?’

‘It would be the first time, but thank you, Harry,’ said Mamoon, sitting down at the kitchen table and smiling at the younger man. ‘What is the source of your good cheer, my biographfiend friend? Is it because you have discovered I am a homosexual with several love children — thus ensuring you have the scandalous bestseller you require to secure your coming career as a television presenter?’

‘I will go for a long walk and contemplate your life, before returning to London to write it all down in as filthy a fashion as I can, with Alice by my side.’

‘Thank God I will never read it. And Liana and I shall have some peace at last.’

Julia rushed into the house and flung a large bag onto the floor, followed by another. ‘Sorry, had to wait for my brother to give me a lift.’ And indeed Harry could see the scowling sibling through the window, before he took off. She said, ‘Are you ready? Shall I put my bags in your car?’

‘Sorry?’

‘I’m coming with you,’ she said. ‘To London. Didn’t Alice tell you?’

‘No.’

‘She’s big and tired now, and I’m going to help her clear out the flat and get you into the new place you’re renting. You’ll be writing; she says you won’t lift a finger and she can’t do it herself. Be sweet, Harry. Don’t worry, no one will say anything. We get along. We’ll have the time of our lives.’

The last time Harry and Julia had gone together, in the fields a few days before, Julia had once more begged Harry to take her away with him. It had to be now, she said; there was not one thing left for her here. Liana was cruel, and Ruth was wild with hatred for herself and everyone around her. She had never liked Julia, and wanted her to leave the house: Julia’s ‘disapproving’ stares were dragging her down, and repelling her boyfriends. Likewise, Julia’s spirit was deteriorating; she dreamed people were trying to kill her; she was afraid to go to sleep. ‘I’m a blink away from being a cleaner,’ she said. ‘I’ll always work, Harry, I’ll never be a burden to you.’

Harry said it was impossible; she didn’t know London, which was too fast, big and expensive for her. How would she survive? To her credit, she’d taken no notice.

‘What’s going on? Is everyone leaving?’ said Liana, sweeping in, in her dressing gown.

‘Yes.’

‘Even you, Julia, surely not? What about the ironing? Who gave you the right?’

‘I went and punched my own ticket this morning, Liana. Mum’s upstairs, doing the bedrooms. She’ll cover for me.’

‘No, sorry, won’t allow it.’ Liana wailed, ‘Alice isn’t here — both my daughters have left! The place will seem stone cold and silent, and I love the voices and cooking and activity! Mamoon, what will I do?’

‘Liana, what do you usually do here?’

‘I look after you. I’m a carer.’

‘Yes, you’re a wife.’

‘But are you a husband?’

‘Now look here, Liana, if you’ve woken up in one of your moods, you can jolly well go back to bed, after you’ve made my coffee and brought me two boiled eggs, please.’

‘Mamoon, you need to ask yourself some serious questions. All that time alone in your study hasn’t been good for your sanity. You’ve even been singing to yourself in your sleep.’

‘Singing? In my study I am working — and only for you. Who in reality puts this damn food on the table?’

‘All you’re doing is pleasuring yourself, Mamoon.’

‘You say that now, after all this time, when you know quite well that it is what I do, who I am—’

‘But I am getting tired of that, habibi, I need something more as a woman. Both the girls have gone towards more life! Please — let’s jump in Harry’s car and go with them! Let’s run away!’

At first these disputes had made Harry anxious, and he wanted them to be over. Now they were just another country noise. He left them to it and took a calming turn around the orchard, though he believed he could even hear their voices from there. But, more importantly, as he walked out of the door, he’d turned for a moment. While Liana, standing at the sink with her arms crossed, continued to berate Mamoon from a distance, he saw Julia go to him and kiss him just once respectfully on the cheek. For a moment he held her elbows, and his eyes seemed to be wet. It was the only time Harry had seen them touch.

He and Julia drove away up the track, and he thought he’d never return to the house. In the mirror he watched Liana waving, gesticulating and covering her face; he believed she would cry all day. Something had altered in her, and there was a black shadow around her aura.

‘How am I looking?’ said Julia.

‘Alice cut your hair well. And you’ve been working hard on your body.’

‘I like you to admire my breasts. I can’t bear for us not to be skin to skin.’

He said, ‘I saw Ruth watching us go from the upstairs window. She didn’t wave. Is she pleased for you?’

‘She knows I can’t stay here.’

‘Will she talk to me about Mamoon?’

‘I don’t know.’ She said, ‘The notebooks I brought for you. The ones by Mamoon about us as a family with him.’

‘Yes—’

‘Were they of use?’

He said, ‘Put the Little Richard song on.’

‘Which one?’

‘“I’m in Love Again”. It’s my favourite.’

They were bouncing their heads. He looked at her. ‘Perhaps we could stop on the way. A snog and a feel on the hard shoulder, followed by a quick lunch in the Little Chef?’

‘You know how to show a girl a good time.’

He said, ‘The notebooks really were of use, Julia. They opened it up. You did me a favour there.’

She said, ‘I’m still not happy.’

‘Why?’

‘You don’t pull my hair or whoop me hard enough.’

‘I’m a softie, you know that. I love you too much.’

‘Thank you. I was dying,’ she said. ‘I would have died there. Now you’ll never get rid of me.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘Somehow I think you’re right.’