Charlene spent the next day on a shopping binge, justifying it with the need to acquire suitable costumes for the role she had to play. At last she returned home and collapsed flat out on the bed. Self-indulgence could be exhausting.
Travis called, apologising that something had come up and he wouldn’t be home until late. She assured him that all was well, and he hung up hastily, leaving her wondering if the whole arrangement was about to come to an end. Perhaps she’d already served her purpose and was being cast off.
That would be sad. Not because her heart was engaged, for it wasn’t. But Travis appealed to her as a nice man: sweet-natured, generous and not corrupted by his fame. If he turned out to be as cynically self-seeking as other men it would be a disappointment.
By chance one of the television channels was showing a whole evening of
Wearing a white coat and a calm expression, he strode through the corridors of Mercyland Hospital. Everyone revered him. His sweet smile calmed their fears. He achieved miraculous medical cures, but more miraculous still were the cures of the heart that followed his tender advice.
Her last view of him was gazing up into the sky, crying, ‘That’s what we must all remember. Seize the moment whenever it comes. Don’t let the chance slip away, or we may regret it for ever.’
His face was illuminated with a mysterious smile. The camera panned away from him, the credits came up. It was over.
‘Too handsome and perfect to be true,’ she mused. ‘But then, he isn’t supposed to be true. He’s a glorious fantasy. I pity any girl who forgets that.’
At eleven o’clock he telephoned, full of excitement.
‘I need you to come to the studio tomorrow,’ he said. ‘There are a lot of people anxious to meet you. Lee will be there. Are you all right about meeting him?’
‘I’ve got to see him some time,’ she said. ‘Let’s do it.’
‘Right, I’ll set it up. Don’t wait up. In the meantime, check out “Notes For You”.’
This was a website made up of items taken mostly from the cellphones of private individuals, snapping what they saw in the street or in restaurants. Accessing it on her laptop, Charlene wasn’t really surprised to discover shots of herself and Travis in the restaurant the previous evening.
‘They didn’t waste any time,’ she murmured. ‘But that’s what we wanted when we flaunted ourselves.’
She studied herself on the screen. The picture was slightly blurred, but she reckoned that was an advantage.
‘A definite improvement,’ she decided. ‘Elegant and not
She wondered what was keeping Travis out so late. Work? Or was he ‘enjoying himself’ in a way that a kind sister would not ask about?
None of her business.
By the time he came in she’d already retired for the night. She heard him close the door of his bedroom, and after that she could go to sleep.
For her appearance at the studio next morning she chose a plain dress and jacket, but let her hair hang about her shoulders to soften the effect. Travis nodded approval. They spoke little on the journey, mindful that the driver could hear everything, but as they walked into the studio she said, ‘I looked up “Notes For You”. What a start we’ve made!’
‘You’re doing a terrific job,’ he said. ‘I’m grateful. Look, there’s an audience waiting.’
The entrance was crowded with people who’d found an excuse to be there when Travis arrived.
‘You’re a star,’ he murmured.
‘Help!’ she squeaked.
His hand was around her waist, holding her close. ‘Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. This guy approaching is Vince, the director.’
Vince was about forty, vigorous, calculating but amiable. He looked Charlene over quickly and seemed pleased.
‘Glad to meet a lady I’ve heard so much about. Travis says you’re his guest of honour, so we’ll have to make sure you enjoy your visit.’
The day that followed was breathtaking. One by one, all the big shots came to greet her, size her up and nod their approval. It was clear that they had guessed the true situation, since Travis had been seen with her so soon after the scandal. Denzil Raines went so far as to give him the thumbs up and say, ‘Well done. Good move.’
Since she was protecting the studio’s most valuable property, she was assigned an ‘assistant’. This was Vera, a backroom girl who shadowed Charlene with instructions to take care of her needs. At lunchtime Travis took her to the studio cafe.
‘Sorry to have left you alone last night,’ he said.
‘Actually, I wasn’t alone. One of the TV channels showed wall-to-wall episodes, and there you were, all the time.’
‘You mean you couldn’t get rid of me.’ He laughed.
‘Let’s say it was useful for research. I noted the way you end every episode with some declaration about life.’ She struck an attitude and recited, ‘“Seize the moment whenever it comes. Don’t let the chance slip away, or we may regret it for ever.” Why, what’s the matter?’
Travis had groaned and covered his eyes.
‘You couldn’t have picked a worse example.’ He sighed. ‘Life imitating art and making a mess of it. I told you about going to the wedding of my brother Darius. While I was there they showed that episode, where I announced “Seize the moment”. Unfortunately, my brother Marcel saw it, and it gave him a mad idea. At the reception he announced his engagement to
‘Why is that unfortunate?’
‘Because he overlooked the little matter of asking her first.’
‘Ouch!’
‘Exactly!’
‘Did she refuse him in front of everyone?’
‘No, she played along in public but refused him when they were alone. I gather they’ve now separated.’
‘But that’s his fault, not yours.’
‘I know, but it’s depressing. I want to do my family good, not harm them, even indirectly. I’d like to get closer to them. I know we’re in different countries but even so-’
‘You can be emotionally close even from different countries,’ she agreed.
‘Yes, we might if things were better, but something always goes wrong. Darius’s wedding was the first family celebration I’d managed to get to for ages. I had visions of a friendly reunion with my father. How stupid can you get?’
‘Wouldn’t he speak to you?’
‘He wasn’t there. He didn’t want Darius to marry Harriet and did all he could to split them up. When he didn’t succeed, he was furious and snubbed the wedding.’
‘But you’re all grown men. Who does he think he is?’
‘One of those Roman emperors we were talking about. Probably Nero.’
‘I promise never to tell him you said that.’
‘Thanks, though I doubt you’ll get the chance.’
There it was again, the hint of wry sadness beneath the cheerful mask. But it was gone in a moment. Something across the room had attracted his attention.
‘Lee’s here,’ he said. ‘In the doorway, watching us. But don’t look round.’
‘I wasn’t going to. I don’t want him to think I’m yearning after him. I must talk to him once, tell him he’s got nothing to worry about-’ She gave an ironical smile which made Travis put his hand over hers. ‘When I’ve done that
