These Dreams of You

~ ~ ~

Zan expects an ambassador out of the movies too, formal and in a coat and tie, with cufflinks gleaming so bright Zan can see their glow from beneath the coat sleeves. Rather the ambassador wears a cardigan, with sleeves pushed up his arms. If this were L.A., thinks Zan, he’d be in a t-shirt.

The ambassador listens intently. Watching Parker out of the corner of his eye, Zan calibrates his case, trying to say something that won’t alarm his son while still striking a tone of urgency. The ambassador, Zan is impressed to note, seems to grasp the situation and rather expertly registers measured and not undue concern. This is why he’s a diplomat, Zan realizes. “You understand,” the ambassador says sympathetically, “that my country still has its technological challenges, and so therefore sometimes internet service, for instance, can be down for days. And mobile service. . ” He shrugs. “It’s not so unusual for you to not have heard anything.”

“I can’t help worrying,” Zan says.

“Of course not. I will ring up people and make inquiries.”

“Thank you.”

“We will begin with the hotel where Mrs. Nordhoc was staying and go from there. We will talk as well with the birth-family of your daughter. Can you give me their names? Or we have records that I can check, if you don’t have them.”

Zan hands over a list with the names of Sheba’s aunt, grandmother and father. He’s gone back and forth in his mind whether to include the father’s. “The last thing I want,” he says, “or that I know my wife wants, is to cause problems for Sheba’s. . Zema’s father or family. I think Viv is distraught at the prospect that trying to find and help the girl’s birth-mother has created trouble.”

“It was a natural impulse,” the ambassador says.

“It’s just that someday Sheba will want to know. Zema.”