For The Death Of Me

40

Dylan ducked out of dinner: he said he was knackered, but I wasn’t sure. I reckon he’d been at enough tables with Prim and me.

I told him that if he wanted to be part of the continuing adventure, he should meet me at the Algonquin at ten thirty next morning, with an overnight bag as we’d be going on a trip for a day or two.

‘In at the death, eh?’ He grinned. ‘You don’t think I’d miss that, do you? Make it eleven thirty, though. I’m not an early riser these days.’

‘Me too,’ Prim piped up. ‘I’m coming.’

‘I know you are,’ I told her. ‘You might have a part to play in this unfolding drama.’

Dylan headed for the subway, while my good buddy on the door got Prim and me a cab. We went back to the hotel and to the Round Table restaurant. The Oak Room had been our favourite when we had been there before, but there’s no cabaret in July, and that’s why you go there.

We both knew what we wanted without looking at the menu: lump crab cocktail and spring chicken pot pie, with a bottle of Ruffino Pinot Grigio. The waiter gave us a nod of approval, always a good sign. That was how it worked out.

‘Well, Tom’s mum,’ I said, as the last of the chicken disappeared from her plate; Prim could eat for Scotland. ‘How do you feel?’

She looked at me. ‘Now I’m properly back in the world?’ I nodded. ‘Settled,’ she replied. ‘Oddly content. I don’t know what the rest of my life holds for me, but I don’t give a damn because I’ve got my son and I know he’s well loved and looked after even when he’s not with me. There’s more too.’ She laid her hand on mine. ‘The way things are, it keeps me involved in your life. I really hated it when I wasn’t; that’s how I got so bitter and twisted and vengeful. I’m sorry for that, but please, love, don’t shut me out again. You can’t deny it, we share something, you and I. We’ve got a bond. We’re joined in. .’

‘Wickedness,’ I finished it for her. ‘You’re the bad cherub and I’m the devil.’

‘That’s a bit hard on both of us.’

‘If that were only true, baby. Remember that man in Geneva.’

‘That was different: he was trying to kill us.’

‘More fool him, then.’ Our eyes met and we both smiled. . wickedly: we were talking about the death of another human, and grinning.

‘Hold on, though,’ she said, ‘we can’t be all that bad. We made Tom, after all.’

‘That’s true. We’re going to have to keep a close eye on that boy as he grows up.’ I finished the Pinot Grigio.

‘What about you and the girl in Singapore?’ Prim asked suddenly. ‘You were taking a chance, with Mike around.’

‘I didn’t take any chances. Nothing happened. It’s all in Dylan’s lurid imagination. I’m giving Marie a part in the movie of his book.’

‘He said you had her on the casting couch.’

‘He’s dreaming.’

‘You fancied her a bit, though; admit it.’

‘No. I fancied her a lot, but she’s a nice, proper girl and nothing happened.’

‘My God,’ she chuckled, ‘am I listening to Oz Blackstone?’

‘You are now.’

She looked at me for a while. ‘You want to know what I think?’ she whispered, as if someone was eavesdropping, although there were no other occupied tables within earshot.

‘Would it matter if I said no?’

‘Not a bit. I know you love Susie; that’s beyond question. But one of the reasons you do is because she’s safe, sound, solid, loyal and reliable. Did I say safe? Well, I’ll say it again, because that’s what you crave the most these days, safety. But in truth, you’re going against your nature: you might not be the devil, but you’ve got some of him in you. You can act the wholesome home boy all you like, my love, and show the world your funny, user-friendly face, but you can’t hide the other one from me.’

I said nothing as we walked to the lift to go up to our rooms. But I knew full well that she was right. And so I stopped trying.