At the agreed time, Travis entered the hotel lobby. There was an immediate rustle of interest as he went to stand at the foot of the stairs as she descended slowly, her eyes fixed on him, as his were on her. In a white tuxedo and bow tie, he was at his starry best.
Following the stage directions, he reached out and took her hand, murmuring, ‘Charlene.’ Then he brushed his lips against her fingers, whispering her name again.
‘Travis.’ She sighed.
Holding her head high, she allowed him to draw her across the floor to the restaurant. A waiter showed them to the table and was about to pull out her chair when Travis stopped him, indicating that he alone would perform this service for his lady. Only when he was certain that she was at ease did he attend to his own comfort.
When the wine waiter appeared he asked her tenderly, ‘Do you have a preference…my darling?’
‘I’ll let you choose.’ She sighed.
He gave an order, adding, ‘And a bottle of your very best champagne.’ Leaning towards Charlene, he added, ‘We need to celebrate.’
The waiter eyed them with new interest, ears alert for Charlene’s reply. ‘Isn’t it a little soon to celebrate?’ she asked.
‘Not for us,’ Travis assured her. When the waiter was out of earshot he murmured, ‘That got him.’
‘You’re just a natural-born deceiver,’ she murmured back.
‘Thank you for the compliment. Of course I am. It’s what acting’s all about. He who deceives best gets top billing.’
‘And the best pay?’
‘Naturally. A wise old actor once told me, “When the crowds are cheering, the applause is deafening and they’re fighting to hire you, never forget that you could be out of work tomorrow.” And he was right.’
Which was why, she thought, he was so determined to protect what he had, using any method necessary.
The food was served. It was excellent, and they both tucked in with pleasure. As he ate, Travis was studying her appearance with approval.
‘Superb,’ he said. ‘Modest but attractive. Give my congratulations to the wardrobe mistress.’
When they had finished eating and were alone again, Travis said, ‘I think this is the right moment.’
‘Right moment for what?’
‘I stopped in a jeweller’s shop and bought you a small gift.’
‘That sounds like it would fit the script,’ she said, nodding wisely.
‘I thought so too.’
From his pocket he took a tiny box that looked as though it might have come from a jeweller’s.
‘This is for you, my darling,’ he said fervently.
Earrings? she wondered. Or a bracelet?
She lingered to give him a dramatic smile of gratitude before opening the box.
Then she stared.
They were certainly earrings, but not diamonds, pearls or anything romantic. They depicted a cartoon character called Daft Doody, very popular with children just then.
‘What is it?’ he asked, seeing her astonished face. ‘Don’t you-? Oh, goodness, no! Put it away. It’s the wrong box. How did I-?’
His self-reproach was drowned by a burst of laughter from Charlene.
‘I’m sorry,’ she choked, ‘but you must admit it’s hilarious.’
‘Must I? These are a birthday gift for the little daughter of a friend who’s very keen on Daft Doody. I bought them at the same time as your pearl earrings-the boxes are alike and I picked up the wrong one-
‘I guess that wasn’t in the script,’ she said, still chuckling.
He opened his mouth to reply, but then gave up and grinned sheepishly.
‘But I don’t have your present with me. I brought this one and left yours behind.’
‘Don’t worry. Actually, I rather like these kiddy earrings. I think I’ll keep them. It’s all right, don’t look like that. Here you are.’
‘Thank you,’ he groaned, taking the box from her. ‘I’ll give you yours when we get home.’
‘No, no,’ she said urgently. ‘You can’t give them to me privately. What would you gain by that?’
‘Right. I’ll present them next time we’re out.’
‘Unless you get confused and bring me a set of cufflinks instead,’ she teased.
‘I suppose I deserved that.’
‘Hey, come on, it’s not a tragedy.’
‘No, but it’s reality. That’s the trouble with the life I live. You kind of lose touch with reality until it socks you on the jaw. This is the sort of careless mistake I make easily, and I get away with it because I’m surrounded by people whose job it is to tell me that everything’s fine, I’m doing well.’
‘They just want to boost your confidence so that you can give your all to the performance.’
‘I know, but it can be dangerous if you hear it too often. You get conceited, start thinking that whatever you do is perfect, but in real life it isn’t and you make an idiot of yourself.’
She was intrigued. Travis had opened a small window, allowing her a glimpse of the confusions and complications deep inside him. She would have sought to know more but, as though suddenly alerted to danger, he closed the window and resumed a cheerful manner, raising his champagne glass.
‘What are we celebrating?’ she asked.
‘You! Your genius and daring.’
She lifted her glass and they saluted each other.
‘This is going to be fun,’ he said. ‘Here’s to fraud, cheating and dishonesty.’
‘What would life be without them?’
Charlene leaned back in her chair, taking a faintly incredulous look around the luxurious restaurant, trying to believe she was really here.
‘What are you thinking?’ he asked.
‘I’m just surprised that I’m enjoying myself so much after all that’s happened. It’s so nice to sit and talk, and say what you really mean.’
He nodded. ‘Yes, I find it’s a rare pleasure too.’
‘Talking to you is like having that big brother I dreamed of. Oh!’ She covered her mouth with her hand as though concealing a guilty secret. ‘No, sorry! I shouldn’t have said that.’
‘Said what?’
She gave a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure nobody was listening, then mouthed, ‘Brother!’
‘Ah, yes! I see. Brother’s not the image we’re trying to convey to the world, is it?’ He assumed a tone of mock severity. ‘Be more careful next time.’
She gave a brief salute. ‘Aye, aye, sir!’
They laughed and he said warmly, ‘But in private, brother and sister is ideal.’
‘Right. Friends, allies, siblings.’
They shook on it.
She regarded him fondly, saying, ‘And you’ll always know that you’re safe with me.’
‘Safe in what sense? Safe because you’re not going to knock me out, kick my shins, poison my coffee?’
‘That too. But safe chiefly because I’m not going to lose my heart to you. I promise faithfully! You’re not my type.’
‘Hmm!’ He frowned with comical emphasis. ‘That’s not what I’m used to hearing.’
‘I know. You’re used to females who swoon and yearn and say you’re the handsomest man in the world. Sorry. No can do! But think how much you’ll enjoy that. What a relaxing change it’ll be!’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I suppose it will. Perhaps it’s time we were going.’
