Losing You (45 page)

‘Yes, well, Charlie was the one who arranged it, but when I spoke to Sylvie yesterday evening she assured me she was taking the flight this morning. I thought when I hear nothing from her that she must be on it. Is she all right? What has happened?’

‘Nothing’s happened, exactly,’ Russ replied. ‘If I’d known about it I’d have taken her to the airport myself.’

‘Let me speak to her,’ Sylvie demanded.

Ignoring her, Russ said, ‘I’m sure there are flights every day. Can I try to get her on one tomorrow?’ This really felt like trashing his responsibilities, but he needed to.

‘Oh yes, please do. Charlie has told me all about Oliver and what has happened. This is a terrible thing, and I want to do my best to help.’

‘If she can stay with you for a couple of weeks ...’

‘Yes, of course ...’

‘I want to speak to her,’ Sylvie cut in, making a grab for the phone.

Holding her back, Russ said to Olivia, ‘I’m going to
pass you over to her. Whatever she tells you, please bear in mind that she is drunk, and I’m afraid this is the condition she’ll undoubtedly be in when she reaches you tomorrow, or the next day, depending when I can get her on a flight.’

‘Do not speak about me as if I am not here.’

‘Just email me the details as soon as you have them,’ Olivia told him.

Handing the phone to Sylvie, Russ took out his mobile and went into the bedroom to call Charlie. ‘Where are you?’ he barked when Charlie answered in a muted voice.

‘Waiting to go into this meeting,’ came the reply.

‘What meeting? Oh God,’ Russ groaned, as he remembered Charlie’s interview with the senior clerk to a Lincoln’s Inn chambers. ‘Sorry, I’m not thinking straight. Call me when it’s over.’

‘It’s OK, I’ve just been told they’re running half an hour late, so I can go outside for a minute. Is everything OK? Did Mum get off all right?’

‘She didn’t go, and why on earth didn’t you tell me you’d been in touch with Olivia? I’d have made sure ...’

‘You were out at some screening when I left last night, but I told Oliver to let you know. Don’t tell me he forgot.’

‘He must have, or maybe he left a note that I haven’t seen.’ He knew how unlikely that was, since he’d been back and forth from the house most of the day, and Oliver had had plenty of opportunities to tell him in person during the morning when they’d both been in the office. Where Oliver had gone this afternoon was anyone’s guess, but he’d been disappearing quite regularly lately. Knowing he’d have to deal with that later, Russ said, ‘I’m going to try and book her on a flight tomorrow or the next day, and I need to ask, is there any chance you can go with her? I understand it’s a big ask ...’

‘You’re dead right it is.’

‘But I can’t leave Oliver at this time, and he can’t leave the country ...’

‘I get that, but I’ve got a life too and I seriously don’t need to be in Cape Town right now.’

‘It’s just to make sure she gets there, as sober as possible, and then you can come right back again.’

With an exasperated sigh, Charlie said, ‘It depends what happens today, OK? If they’re going to offer me a pupillage then I’ll have to put that first.’

‘Of course, I wouldn’t argue with that, but if it’s not starting until next week or the week after, will you go?’

‘It sounds like I’ll have to. She is such a pain for not going today. She said she would.’

‘You know how unreliable she is, but it doesn’t matter. She’s talking to Olivia on the phone now, and when I ring off from you I’m going to get Connie to come over and help her pack.’

‘You need to take her home with you tonight, or God knows what kind of state she’ll be in by the morning – and you don’t want a repeat of the other day, having to turf some lowlife out of the flat before you can start sobering her up.’

‘I didn’t realise ...’

‘I’m not stupid, Dad, I knew what was going on, and I don’t want it happening again any more than you do. It’s why I ended up calling Olivia – after that, she was the only one I could think of who might be able to do something to bring Mum to her senses.’

Starting to feel dreadful for palming his problems off on his son and his sister-in-law, Russ said, ‘I’ll make sure Olivia understands it’s only for a week or two, just to give your mother a change of environment and a rest.’

‘They have clinics in Cape Town, you should ask Olivia if she can try to get Mum into one there.’

‘If I thought there was a chance Olivia might succeed where we’ve failed ...’

‘Whatever, it has to be worth a try.’ Then, in an even brusquer tone. ‘Are you OK? You sound shattered.’

Russ’s eyes closed. He’d hardly slept since the night of Oliver’s accident, but he wasn’t going to burden Charlie with that. ‘I’m fine,’ he told him, ‘just worried about your mother and Oliver, you too with this big meeting coming up. Do you think they are going to offer you a job?’

Sounding dismal, Charlie said, ‘Not before I’ve had my results.’

‘But they must have confidence in you, to have called you in. How did they know about you?’

Charlie laughed. ‘You’re kidding me, right?’

Russ frowned. ‘No, why would I?’

‘Because you’re the one who asked Jolyon, about two years ago, if there were any doors he could open for me.’

Vaguely remembering that this was part of a conversation he and Jolyon had once had, Russ said, ‘Of course. Sorry. I’m glad he was able to help, and I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk it through before you left. Do you feel well prepared?’

‘I guess so, but talking to some mates earlier, the competition is seriously fierce.’

In spite of knowing that every father would consider his own son to be the most outstanding candidate, Russ was confident that Charlie would get the job. ‘What are you planning to do after the meeting?’ he asked.

‘Actually, I was going to stay in town for a few days, but now this has come up ... Is it OK if I meet you at the airport instead of coming home tonight? I’d kind of like to hang out with some of the crowd for a while.’

Understanding how desperate he must feel to escape the pressure of his family, Russ said, ‘Of course it’s OK. And are you all right about Oliver using your car until we get his windscreen repaired?’

‘Sure, I told him I was, and I’m really glad he’s driving again. He needs to get out, because he was sending himself crazy with all that Internet stuff. Have you seen any of it?’

‘Some. She’s a lovely girl, very talented.’

‘True, but he doesn’t need to keep reminding himself of that.’

‘It’s going to take time for him to come to terms with it all,’ Russ murmured. ‘It hasn’t even been a month since it happened.’

‘It will be tomorrow, but OK, I agree it’s not that long. I just don’t think it’s a good thing for him to be fixating
on her the way he is, like if she doesn’t make it then he doesn’t deserve to either.’

Feeling himself turning cold, Russ said, ‘Has he spoken to you about it? Is that what he’s saying?’

‘No, he doesn’t really talk about it at all, but I know him, and so do you, because it’s what’s scaring you too.’

It wasn’t a question, it was a statement that reminded Russ of how close they were, and yet how far he felt from Oliver right now. ‘You don’t think he’ll do anything stupid, do you?’ he asked.

‘No, not him. The trouble is, it’s like he’s not really thinking straight. I mean, take when we heard yesterday that the blood sample had turned up: he seemed to think it was a good thing, like he deserves to get done for drinking and driving, when none of it was his fault, really. He was at a party for Chrissakes, and planning to spend the night. He didn’t ask Mum to call him the way she did, or ring the girl up and say please be in the middle of the road when I come tearing through ...’

‘All right, all right,’ Russ interrupted, ‘let’s not get into it again now. You need to focus on what you’re doing there, and I’d better get started on trying to book this flight.’

‘OK, I’ll call on my way back to the flat, and if you speak to Oliver before I do, tell him I’m pissed off that he didn’t pass my message on.’

‘I will.’

‘He’s too wrapped up in all this. He needs to break out, get a perspective ...’

‘Leave him to me,’ Russ said, cutting him short again. ‘You just make sure you blow those guys away today. I’ll wait for your call.’

After ringing off he returned to the sitting room to find Sylvie slumped in an armchair with her feet on the coffee table next to a bottle, a large glass of wine in one hand and the phone in the other. After reassuring himself she was still gossiping with her sister, he went to put on her computer and while waiting for it to warm up, he quickly pressed in Oliver’s number.

‘Hi, it’s Dad,’ he said when Oliver answered. ‘Where are you?’

‘At home.’

That was a relief, anyway. ‘So where did you go earlier?’

‘When?’

‘You know when. Straight after lunch. You were in the office one minute, the next no one knew where you were.’

‘Why’s that such a big deal? Do I have to tell you everywhere I’m going?’

‘No, but I’m asking and I’d like you to answer me.’

‘I was driving around, OK?’

Not liking the sound of that too much, Russ said, ‘Where?’

‘Just places. I thought you wanted me to drive again.’

‘I do, but I’d rather you didn’t go back to the scene of the accident. Is that where you went?’

‘Is that what I said?’

Fighting back his exasperation, Russ said, ‘Try a straight answer.’

‘OK, it’s not where I went.’

If Oliver was telling the truth then it would be a welcome relief, because he’d been there a couple of days ago and had come home in a terrible state. Russ had found him in front of the house, still sitting at the wheel of Charlie’s car, sobbing so hard that it had taken a while for him to get his story out. He’d needed to go there to be near her again – what kind of sense did that make?

‘Then where did you go?’ Russ asked.

‘Nowhere. Please Dad, don’t keep on.’

Realising it would have to wait, Russ said, ‘What are you doing now?’

‘Just hanging out.’

‘On the computer?’

‘Is there a law against it?’

‘No, but what do you think you’re going to prove by reading about her all the time?’

‘You don’t know what I’m reading about, and anyway, I’m scared they’re going to flick the switch on her, or pull the plug or whatever they do when they decide it’s all over. We’ve got to stop them from doing that, Dad.’

Taking a breath in order to try and keep his voice gentle,
Russ said, ‘Oliver, I understand what it’s going to mean for you if they ...’

‘It’s not about me, it’s about her,’ Oliver cried.

‘OK, but you still can’t get involved. It’s up to her parents and the doctors to decide what’s best for her ...’

‘I know that, it’s just that if they do let her go it would be like murder.’

Feeling his head starting to spin as Sylvie gave a shriek of laughter and Oliver’s plight dug in deeper, Russ said, ‘My understanding of it is that they won’t do anything unless she has another relapse or complication of some kind.’

‘So they just leave her in a coma. Great.’

‘Son, if they knew how to get her out of it, be sure they would have done it days ago.’ He had to change the subject, or this was going to end up in more tears and irrational shouting. ‘You might be interested to hear,’ he said, ‘that your mother didn’t get on the flight to South Africa this morning. Is there any reason why you didn’t pass Charlie’s message on?’

‘Oh Christ, I forgot. Sorry.’

Guessing exactly where Oliver’s head had been, but not willing to go there again, Russ told him, ‘If I can get your mother on a flight tomorrow I’ll probably stay here with her tonight, ready for an early start to Heathrow. Will you be able to bring some things over for me?’

‘Sure, but I don’t want to see her.’

Knowing Sylvie would be too far gone by then to care, if she even did now, Russ said, ‘I’ll come down to get it. It’s just my shaving gear, toothbrush and a change of clothes. Now, can you do me a favour please and go back to the office. One of us neglecting our duties is enough, and at least until tomorrow I’m going to have to make your mother my priority.’

‘Yeah, and it like makes a big difference, me being in the office.’

‘Oliver.’

Silence.

‘You’re really not helping yourself or me by adopting this attitude,’ Russ told him severely. ‘So do as I ask and
call me when you’re on your way here.’ Cutting the call before Oliver could take him any deeper into despair, he dropped his phone on the table and sat down at the computer.

Sylvie was still jabbering on with her sister, in French of course, which he didn’t speak fluently. However, he knew enough to understand that she was reasonably excited by the prospect of spending some time with Olivia, which for Russ was nothing short of a blessed relief.

‘Did you hear that?’ Sylvie demanded as she rang off a few minutes later. ‘I have told Olivia that I will come, but only on the condition that you come with me. No, don’t argue, Russ, you are looking very tired at the moment and I think you need a break so ...’

‘Sylvie, it’s not going to happen,’ he broke in angrily. ‘Apart from anything else, I can’t leave Oliver ...’

‘He’s a grown-up. He can take care of himself.’

Detesting how dismissive she was able to be over a problem she had caused, he said, ‘While our son has this business hanging over him I am absolutely not leaving him on his own.’

Sylvie was in the middle of a large sip of wine. ‘Charlie is around,’ she finally managed.

‘Charlie’s got his own life. No, I’m not coming with you. The flights are booked now, you’re going tomorrow, and Charlie’s flying with you.’

Her eyebrows lifted. ‘How splendid,’ she murmured as she sipped again. ‘We shall have a marvellous time, the two of us, and you will be very jealous and sorry that you didn’t come too.’

Don’t hold your breath for that
, Russ was thinking as he clicked to print out the boarding passes. Much more likely was that he’d spend the time trying to steer his company away from the rocks after receiving six rejections for programme ideas in as many days, while doing his level best to prevent his younger son from going into some kind of meltdown.