‘And the second thing, before we go any further, is I need to have an idea of you.’
‘An idea—’
‘As a musician,’ Bernie said.
‘How—’
Bernie turned. He gestured across the concourse.
‘Down there,’ he said, ‘down one level, is the music education centre. Workshops, practice rooms, teaching rooms, recording studios. We’re going down there now. I’ve set it up. There’s a flute down there, waiting for you, and I’m going to hear you play.’
The owner of the Highgate flat was in Los Angeles.
‘Oh my God,’ Chrissie said, ‘did I wake you?’
He did not sound quite sure.
‘Not real y—’
‘I forgot the time difference. I’m so sorry but I quite forgot about Pacific time. I just wanted—’
‘Yes?’
‘I just wondered if you’d let the flat—’
‘Oh no,’ he said. He sounded as if he was lying down. ‘No, I haven’t. I was kinda waiting for you—’
‘Wel ,’ Chrissie said, ‘I think it wil be OK. I
‘Good,’ he said, ‘good news—’
‘Could you possibly wait a bit more? Could you wait two more weeks?’
‘Sure,’ he said, ‘I can wait two weeks.’ He yawned. ‘I’l even be over, I think, in two weeks. I’m not sure.’
‘That’s so kind of you—’
‘No,’ he said, ‘it’s business. My accountant says I should let it and you seem the right kind of person to let it to. That’s fine by me.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Cal me when you know—’
‘I wil . I’l cal you straight away—’
‘And go round there. Go and see it again. The housekeeper has the keys. Help yourself.’
‘Yes,’ Chrissie said, ‘thank you—’
‘See you,’ he said. He yawned again. ‘From sunny California, and a view of the freeway, I send greetings and say see you in Highgate.’
Chrissie put the phone down. The cal had been, despite the yawns, strangely elating. As was, to her surprise, the presence of the young couple’s surveyor in the house, tapping wal s and peering into cupboards in a manner that suggested he would be very, very disappointed if he found nothing amiss. Chrissie had made him tea – he’d been very specific, asking for only enough milk to cloud the tea, and one sugar – which he had left to get cold in the kitchen, but even that didn’t irritate her. She was beginning, cautiously, to believe that she was feeling better. Not al the time, and not reliably, dramatical y so, but she was distinctly aware that instead of believing she was at the mercy of Richie’s decisions, Richie’s erratic earning power and enthusiasm, Richie’s fans, Richie’s particular brand of sweetly expressed utter stubbornness, she was instead sensing the first stirrings of the luxury of being free to choose. She might have much – much – less money, and she would no longer own a property, but then she would no longer be in a position of dependency either, reliant upon another person for livelihood, for emotional reassurance.
The surveyor was coming down the stairs, slowly, stil making notes. He’d been in the house for hours, which suggested to Chrissie not so much that he was being exhaustively, dangerously thorough, as that he had, these days, far less work coming in.
‘I’m afraid your tea is cold,’ Chrissie said. In the old days, she might have added, ‘Shal I make you another?’ Now, however, she merely smiled.
He didn’t look up.
‘I always drink it cold,’ he said.
* * *
Tamsin, despite being at work, had been on the phone to Amy. She had rung her to tel her that they were al very upset by her behaviour, and that it was real y hurtful and disloyal to behave like this, especial y for Chrissie. Perhaps, Tamsin said, Amy hadn’t realized what it was like for Chrissie to have to sel the house and take a pretty menial job – Chrissie, after al , Tamsin reminded Amy, was used to a professional managerial role – and it was absolutely out of order for Amy to add to al this pain by behaving with such cal ous disregard for anybody’s feelings but her own. In fact, Amy should know that she, Tamsin, was thinking of going to live with Chrissie in the Highgate flat because it was going to be so hard, so very hard, for her to adjust without help and support.
‘Have you done?’ Amy demanded, when her sister paused for breath.
‘For the moment. Where are you?’
‘I’m sitting,’ Amy said, ‘with a cat on my knee.’
Tamsin gave a little snort.
