These Dreams of You

~ ~ ~

Five days after his lecture at the university, Zan meets J. Willkie Brown at the pub off Leicester Square. “Well,” Brown says, arriving after Zan, “the kids?”

“With Molly,” Zan says. “Thanks for coming.”

“Right. African lady with the English name.”

“James. . ”

“Anything from the bar?”

“No, thank you.”

“I’ll have a pint,” Brown says, signaling to the bar.

“James, listen,” says Zan. “You had nothing to do with setting it up, right?”

“Setting up what?”

“The nanny.”

“Sorry about that,” he allows, “I know I told you I would—”

“Forget that,” Zan says, “but then where did she come from?”

“Must have heard. . ” Brown thinks, scratches behind his ear, then shrugs. “Don’t know,” not finding it that interesting or understanding why Zan does.