Her Name Was Lola

43 After the Flood

28 November 1997. ‘Shalom,’ says Lord Bessington as the nurse shows him his grandchild, born at 03:15 this morning.

‘Really,’ says his wife, ‘he doesn’t look all that Jewish.’

‘That’s only because he’s not circumcised,’ says the Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. ‘When he’s decently covered there’ll be no mistaking that the stork who dropped him off was wearing a yarmulka.’

The new boy, who is large (nine pounds, two ounces), well made, and with an abundance of black hair, squints at Lord Bessington, screws up his face, and lets out a yell.

‘You know you love him,’ says Lady Bessington. ‘He’s beautiful. Look at the intelligence in his eyes.’

‘I don’t doubt that he’s clever,’ says Lord Bessington. ‘He’s already demonstrated a talent for self-advancement.’

‘Come on,’ says Lady Bessington. ‘His father is a well-established writer. His Charlotte Prickles books are classics. I’m sure his genes are nothing to be ashamed of.’

‘In my experience,’ says Lord Bessington, ‘writers can be relied on for just the sort of moral unreliability demonstrated by this chap’s father. Our grandchild was born at quarter past three in the morning, so he’s already keeping late hours.’

‘For better or worse, the father’s name on the birth certificate is Max Lesser,’ says Lady Bessington. ‘But don’t forget that our Lola’s his mum. We’ve got to be genetically open-minded. I have to say I’m optimistic.’

Lola takes the baby for a feed. He applies himself to her breast like a connoisseur. A hungry one. Lola’s looking wonderful. She had an easy birth (natural) and she’s enjoying her son’s pleasure.

‘What are you going to call him?’ says Lady Bessington.

‘Noah,’ says Lola. ‘Noah Bessington.’

‘May he see rainbows,’ says her father before he can stop himself.

‘Are you sure you don’t want to tell Max?’ says Lady Bessington.

‘I begrudge Max Lesser even the memory of what we had,’ says Lola. ‘I’d like him to forget he ever knew me.’

‘His name is on the birth certificate because I play by the rules,’ says Lord Bessington. ‘So he does have certain legal rights if he chooses to claim them.’

‘I’ll deal with that when the time comes,’ says Lola. ‘But for the present he’s not to be told anything at all.’

‘Tsuck, tsuck,’ says little Noah. He knows a rainbow when he tastes one.