Klara and the Sun(53)
Because I couldn’t hear many words, or see the Mother’s expressions, I wasn’t able to make a reliable estimate, but my impression was that the Mother was at that moment the most lacking in tension I’d witnessed since my arrival. I was trying to listen more closely when the bedroom door opened and Rick came out.
‘Josie’s in the bathroom,’ he said, coming over to me. ‘Thought it only good manners to come out here in the meantime.’
‘Yes, that’s considerate.’
He followed my gaze over the rail, then nodded down towards the adults’ voices.
‘They’ve always got on,’ he said. ‘A shame Mrs Arthur isn’t around more. It’s so good for Mum, having someone to talk to like that. She always cheers up around Mrs Arthur. I do my best. But I can never get her to laugh that way. I suppose, me being her son, it’s hard to relax.’
‘Rick must be a wonderful companion for Miss Helen. But as you can see, if you weren’t with her, she’d be able to find other companions to laugh and talk with.’
‘I don’t know. Maybe.’ Then he said: ‘Look, I’ve been thinking all this over. What you said the other night. And I’ve agreed now. I promised Mum I’ll try. Try my best, my very best, to get into Atlas Brookings.’
‘That’s wonderful!’
He was now leaning over even more, perhaps trying to catch words, and I was concerned he might topple over because of his greater height. But then he straightened, resting both hands on the rail.
‘I’ve even agreed to meet this…man,’ he said, lowering his voice. ‘Her old flame.’
‘The secret weapon person?’
‘Yeah, Mum’s secret weapon. She reckons he can pull strings for me. I’ve even agreed to that.’
‘But this might result in the best solution. The wishes in Josie’s kind picture could come closer to reality.’
‘Maybe they’re talking about that down there right now. How I’ve come round to Mum’s way of thinking after all this time. Maybe that’s what they’re finding so amusing.’
‘I don’t think they’re laughing unkindly. I think Miss Helen must be happy because of Rick’s promise. And hopeful.’
He was silent for a moment, listening to the voices below. Then he said: ‘I think we’re getting a lift into the city with Josie and Mrs Arthur.’
‘Yes, I know. And I’ve been asked to come too.’
‘Well, that’s good. Then you and Josie can both give me moral support. Because I’m not looking forward to begging this character for help.’
Josie’s voice suddenly called from the bedroom: ‘Great! So everyone’s deserted me!’ Then as Rick turned back towards the door: ‘Hey, Klara, you can come back in here too. It’s okay. We’re not performing any big sex acts.’
* * *
—
Two days later, I was to hear yet more about the trip to the city, and this time in a surprising way.
It was a rainy weekday with no visitors. Josie had gone into the Open Plan after lunch for an oblong tutorial, and I’d gone up to the bedroom. I was sitting on the floor, surrounded by magazines, when Melania Housekeeper appeared in the doorway. She stared down at me, her face neither kind nor frowning, and I thought she’d come to reprimand me for the times I’d left Rick and Josie unattended in the bedroom despite her warnings about hanky-panky. But she stepped further inside, then said in a kind of harsh whisper:
‘AF. You wish help Miss Josie right?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Then you listen. Ma’am take Miss Josie city Thursday. I say I want go with them, Ma’am reply no. I say yes, Ma’am still say no. She say no because she see damn well I onto something. She say she want take AF instead. So you listen. You keep damn good eye Miss Josie in city. Hear me?’
‘Yes, housekeeper.’ I also spoke quietly, though there was no chance Josie could hear us. ‘But please explain further. What is it you’re worried about?’
‘Listen, AF. Ma’am take Miss Josie see Mr Capaldi. Portrait guy. That Mr Capaldi one creep son bitch. Ma’am say you good observe. Then you damn good observe Mr Son Bitch. You want help Miss Josie. We same side.’ She glanced back at the door, though there were no sounds of Josie emerging from her lesson downstairs.
‘But housekeeper, isn’t Mr Capaldi just wishing to paint Josie’s portrait?’
‘Paint portrait fuck. AF, you watch close Mr Son Bitch or something bad happen Miss Josie.’
‘But surely…’ I lowered my voice even further. ‘Surely the Mother would never…’
‘Ma’am love Miss Josie. But Miss Sal die and mess Ma’am up bad. Get me, AF?’
‘Yes. Then I’ll observe very carefully as you say, especially around Mr Capaldi. But…’
‘What you but about now, AF?’
‘If Mr Capaldi is as you say. Will it be enough for me just to observe?’
The way Melania Housekeeper was staring down at me, a passer-by might have thought she was threatening me, but I now understood she was filled with fear.
‘How fuck I know enough? I want go with Miss Josie, Ma’am say no way. Take AF instead. Can’t figure it. So you stick close Miss Josie, specially when Mr Son Bitch around. You do best, AF. We same side.’