CHAPTER
6
CHAPTER
6
After returning from the airport, Claudia spent the day clearing a back-log of reports and complex modelling calculations. With the team on leave, there were few interruptions and no phone calls, thanks to Sarah’s diplomatic skills. The flow of Brazilian coffee kept her head clear and her mind mellow.
At four-thirty she decided to call it a day. She printed off the last report, shut down her computer, and carried her files to the small archive room at the back of the interview room beside her office; steel plantation shutters cleverly concealed it from view. She entered her security code into the pad and the shutters glided silently sideways, to reveal a small Compactus record management system.
She stored her files carefully and as she was sliding the shelves together, she noticed the large purple document pouch she’d put there three weeks earlier. The file was labelled: and remember emails. She reached down to pick it up, but her hand froze. Suddenly images, telephone conversations and beautiful text crashed through her emotional filter and stunned her broken heart.
CHAPTER
7
‘So what shall we order? Thai or Aussie? They do both here.’ Katherine said cheerfully, ‘but leave room for dessert. The Carmel Hot Springs should be listed in the dangerous food register. If you eat it before the caramel cools, your little mouth will need urgent treatment from the special burns unit, but if you wait until the heat goes out of it, the taste will send you wild, and you’ll do stuff you’ll regret in the morning.’ She threw the menu on the table, 'shit, listen to me, will ya. I sound like a malfunctioning Elmo doll' She looked across at Claudia who was pale and visibly fragile, ‘sorry Audi. Why didn’t you throw cold water over me?’
‘It’s fine Kate. I know you’re trying to make me loosen up. And I thank you for that.’ Her hand trembled when she raised her glass and sipped the very expensive, 1997 Claret they lashed out and ordered.
‘I’m an idiot Audi.’ Katherine smiled feebly. ‘I just don’t know what to do to help you.’
‘I know.’ Claudia sighed, ‘There’s really nothing you can do. I’ve got to work through it and just move on.’ She reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand. ‘Hey girlfriend; loosen up.’ She said more cheerfully than she felt, ‘and you do help Kate. By just being there when I need you.’
‘But don’t you see. You don’t let me help. You keep it all inside. I don’t know where you’re at with it all. I see little cracks from time to time, but they’re so tiny I just don’t know how badly you’re hurting.’
‘Pretty badly.’ Claudia replied, as she gulped down a mouthful of wine. Her eyes showed just a hint of moisture. ‘Pretty bloody badly.’ She repeated.
The two women held each other’s gaze. ‘You know I almost hate him.’
‘Don’t Kate.’
‘He hurt you and I want to smash his face in for that.’ Claudia threw back her head and laughed.
‘What’s so funny? The guy’s a jerk.’
‘He’s also an amateur boxer. I wouldn’t take him on if I were you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. He trained when he was doing his national service; loved it, and kept on doing it as a relaxation and fitness exercise program when he came home. I hear he’s pretty damned good.’
‘Well boxer or not, the guy’s still a jerk.’
‘No he’s not.’ Claudia considered her words carefully. ‘He’s just trapped in a mesh of razor wire. He’s hurting too Kate. Really hurting.’
Katherine lowered her head. She didn’t want to feel any sympathy for him. She wanted to hate him. It was less complicated that way. Then she lashed out, ‘Bullshit Audi. He’s a survivor. He’ll always look out for number one. He’ll play for the winning team, because he wants the trophy. And he’ll do whatever it takes to get it.’
‘You’re wrong Kate. He wants to do the right thing. He’s trying to put everyone else’s feelings before his own.’
‘Oh sure he is.’
‘He’s worried sick about his workers and he feels a huge responsibility for Ursula. He can’t just walk away. People depend on him.’ Her eyes begged her friend for understanding, ‘It’s not a simple thing Kate.’
‘You’re right, it’s not simple. And you know what? He’s the one who made it complicated.’ The waiter returned for the third time to take their order. ‘Hell let’s just skip straight to the dessert. We could both do with a sugar blast.’
‘Great idea!’ Claudia agreed and turned to the waiter, who was just a little confused, but he was a quick response expert; highly trained when it came to making guests feel completely at ease. It was his job to assure them, what ever they wanted was fine by him.
‘Why certainly madam. I’ll bring you the dessert menu.’
‘Poor bastard. Fancy having to put up with the likes of us, day in and day out.’ The waiter heard her and nodded his agreement. His back protected him from being accused of professional misconduct; the customer was God at The Menzies.
Good claret is a magical elixir. It can transport the consumer from deadly serious to comedy act, after an intake of three standard wine glasses. More for a seasoned drinker, but as neither Claudia nor Katherine were in the latter group; the mood shifted from black to a day at the fun park.
They had devoured half their desserts, and were contemplating a re-order when Kate said, ‘O.K. smarty pants. You’re the clever wordsmith; wanna play a great party game?’
‘Why not?’ Claudia responded and reached across the table to scoop a dollop of caramel off her friends left cheek with her spoon.
‘Well it goes like this. We take turns to say a word that best describes Christoph.’
‘Oh come on Kate, why for God’s sake?’
‘As a form of therapy.’
‘Therapy?’
‘Sure. Any good therapist will tell you word association removes emotional blockages.’, she grinned, ‘I’ll start. Then as quickly as you can, you say another word. Remember they have to describe him. You can’t just use random words.’ She grinned, ‘Right, I’m starting. Arse-hole.’
‘Intelligent.’
‘Jerk.’
‘Genius.’
‘Dickhead.’
‘Thoughtful.’
‘Bastard.’
‘Considerate.’
‘Sadist.’
‘Loving.’
‘Beast.’
‘Kind.’
‘Torturer.’
‘Gentle.’
‘Fraud.’
‘Trustworthy.’
‘Selfish.’
‘Generous.’
‘Arse-hole.’
Claudia gulped her wine excitedly. ‘You’re out. You said arse-hole twice. Repeating isn’t allowed.’
Katherine grinned, ‘Fine.’ She gave Claudia a high-five. ‘You win. But just remember I got the last word in. And it was arse-hole.’
‘Friend.’
‘Too late game-over. Friend doesn’t make the list.’ Claudia moaned and tears flooded down her face. ‘Oh shit, Audi. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.’ Katherine said dismayed.
‘You didn’t’ Claudia used the snow-white linen to wipe a mix of tears, caramel, and makeup from her face. ‘He was my best friend Kate. I miss him so much.’
The waiter hovered; embarrassed by his customer’s distressed state and horrified to see the table linen used for face restoration. ‘Excuse me ladies, will you be requiring anything more?’ Two pairs of eyes bored into him.
‘Actually there is one thing’, Katherine said boldly, ‘Can we have another bottle of this superb claret young man?’ she paused and leaned toward him, ‘I wonder if you could make that to-go please?’ she whispered.