a table (set for three) on the restaurant's west and windowless side, and now
sat with their backs partly turned on the sprinkling of other early diners
like people who had no real objections to being seen, perhaps, but equally
had no wish to draw attention to themselves.
At 7. 25 p. m. ' the man was again consulting his wristwatch when a
black-tied waiter asked if they would like a further drink while they waited.
Though expensive, the cocktail they had each been drinking was, in the young
woman's judgement, 'absolutely yummy' - Cognac, Kummel, Fraise Liqueur,
topped with chilled champagne - and she nodded.
Might just as well be happy about something.
'Same again,' said Frank Harrison.
'Ailish cocktails.' And when the waiter was gone: 'Where the hell's he got
to? I've not got all bloody evening.'
'You've got to get back tonight. Dad?'
'That's got nothing to do with it. Seven-fifteen is seven- fifteen!'
'His hearing's not getting any better, you know. He probably thought you
said seven-fifty.'
'Who's ever ordered a dinner for seven-fifty, for Christ's sake?'
For the moment Sarah said nothing further, looking around her and enjoying
the regal dignity of the restaurant. And in truth her father's tetchy
impatience with Simon was not wholly displeasing to her. There had ever been
a closer bond between herself and her father than with her mother; and, in
turn, a very much closer bond between Simon and his mother than with his
father. But such things were not spoken of freely in families; and it was
better that way. Quite why she had always felt possessive about her father,
she could not explain well
even to herself. But she remembered clearly
when she'd first been conscious of it: when she had crept silently downstairs
late one night with a party in full swing below; and when, unseen herself,
she'd watched her father kissing a young woman in the kitchen. She had cried
herself to sleep that night. Only six, she'd been, but she could have
murdered the woman. Disbelief? Shock? Outrage? All three mixed together,
like a cocktail . . . like a cocktail topped up with a little chilled
jealousy.
Simon appeared at 7. 48. Like his father, not looking particularly in love
with life.
'You're both early?' he ventured, as he took his seat.
'Seven- fifty, wasn't it?'
'Forget it!' His father passed over a menu.
'I could do with a drink first, Dad.'
'Just read the question- paper!'
Simon looked down at the succulent-sounding selections: To Start. To
Continue . . . Dessert. . . Beverages and felt a little happier, until
Harrison pere, brusquely ruling out starters, called over the waiter and put
in their order for the main courses: Guinea Fowl; Calves' Liver; Steak
(medium).
'And a bottle of some decent Claret.'
'Just one?' queried Simon.
'Three of us?'
'Sarah's driving.'
'Aren't you driving. Dad?' asked Sarah.
'I don't really need my daughter to tell me what I can drink, thank you very
much.'
Sarah put down her menu and stood up slowly.
'Excuse me a minute! I'm just off to . . .'
But before making her way to the Ladies' Powder Room, Sarah Harrison stopped
at Reception.
'Can I ring one of your guests from here?'
'Of course.' The young girl smiled. Just ring the room number. ' She
pointed to the phone at the side of the desk.
'The name's Harrison F. Harrison.'
'The receptionist tapped a few keys and looked at her video- screen.
Yes. That's right. '
'Can you just give me the room number?'
'I'm sorry. I can't do that. It's strict company policy ' ' I'm his
daughter, for God's sake! '
'Just a minute!' The girl moved away and the phone on the desk sprang to
life when she returned: 'All yours.'
Sarah picked up the phone and listened, wondering what on earth she was going
to say. But she needn't have bothered.
'Helloho.' It was a female, husky, transatlantic voice.
Sarah put down the phone, a sudden glint of fury in her eyes.
She returned to the table to find father and brother, heads close together,
in what seemed a significant conversation. But there the exchanges stopped
whether because of her own return or the contemporaneous arrival of the main
courses, Sarah was uncertain.
Thereafter the food was appreciatively consumed, the few trans mensal
