Shadow of the Son, page 30
“As a last recommendation, I would speak with your father only in the library. Should you find yourself hard-pressed, you can always ring for me from there. I will arrive shortly after and inform you that you have some urgent decisions to make regarding this evening. Such a ruse will allow you a plausible exit. What is most important is that you remain confident and secure in your beliefs. As to the idol, I will have the shoe box with the pieces available to present to him after lunch. Will that suit?”
“It does indeed. Johnny, any thoughts?”
“I like it. In fact, I like it a lot. We’ve shifted from defense to offense, and that can only be good.”
“I agree. Thank you, Stanley as always. You’ve been most helpful.”
Stanley nodded. “With pleasure. Now I must get back to my duties.”
70
Johnny and I took the back stairs up to the top floor, rather than pass through the kitchen, which was is a state of controlled pandemonium as the lunch hour approached. My room was empty and my closet available. I changed for lunch and met Johnny in the common room.
I asked, “Were you able to get with Bonnie?”
“No. Finding people in this house is like playing an endless game of hide and seek. They disappear, and then you have to look everywhere. The good thing about lunch and dinner is we know exactly where they’ll be. I plan to speak with Malcolm before lunch, and Bonnie after. Hopefully, by the time you get through round two with your father I’ll have some information, and you will have some, too. After that, we’ll have to see.”
“Speak with them, by all means. I’m going to stop by and say hello to Bruni. I’ll meet you in the drawing room shortly.”
“Very well.”
I found Bruni in our apartment changing for lunch. I brought her up to date as she chose various items to wear and laid them on the bed. “I’m glad you spoke with your mom. I should sit down with her as well. On the home front, Mama is not pleased with Papa. In fact, she is more than a little cross, but from what you say, Papa will be fine, and that’s good. I’ve decided not to worry about either of them. We do need to pick a date for the wedding. Let’s start on that next week. I want to have it take place fairly soon. Oversize wedding dresses are not a preferred item with me. Lastly, I would love to be a fly on the wall when you hand your father that figurine. One quick piece of advice, should he start coming unglued: speak softly and quietly. When there are a lot of exclamation points, toning down the rhetoric and whispering will help keep things from spiraling completely out of control. Sometimes even that doesn’t work, in which case I would ring for Stanley and bail as soon as possible.”
Bruni stopped what she was doing and looked at me. “Do you feel up for it, Percy?”
“For the most part. At least I’ve decided to forgo his schemes and will be sending him on his way tomorrow, whether he likes it or not.”
Bruni grinned. “Oh Percy, I love it when you get manly.”
I wasn’t quite sure if she was joking.
I answered, “In that case, give me a kiss before I go off to battle.”
“Well, get over here then, and I’ll see what I can do.”
After a send-off that left me a little breathless, I made my way to the drawing room. John and Hugo were speaking with Malcolm by the bar. I helped myself to a flute of champagne and stood beside them. The baron was saying, “Do you think he’ll continue to survive, then?”
“With Cobb’s help, he should,” Malcolm answered, “at least for the foreseeable future. Should he pass on unexpectedly, I will be able to carry on in his stead. That is, should any further negotiations be required.”
“He’s covered all the bases then,” said the baron.
“He has.”
“Well, good to know. Ah, the ladies have arrived.”
Anne and Elsa entered, followed by Maw and Bonnie. John and Hugo went off to greet them and I stood alone with Malcolm. “Does my father plan on staying here long?” I asked.
Malcolm looked down at me. “I think that depends on several factors.”
“Such as?”
“I don’t think I’m at liberty to say.”
“He’s fixated on Alice, isn’t he?”
“Well, I don’t know about fixated, but I believe he has a concern about her.”
“Even if she passed on years ago?”
“Some people believe in a hereafter.”
“Does he?”
“I should think he does. Haven’t you agreed to let him proceed as planned?”
“I’m not sure what that means exactly. Perhaps you could give me some specifics?”
“I’m not sure I should.”
“Why not? I’ll know eventually.”
“You will, but in general terms, I believe he wants what everyone wants.”
“And what is that?”
“Peace.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yes. He’s quite firm about that. He doesn’t like being thwarted. Then he gets unpeaceful.”
“Unpeaceful?”
“He gets upset when things don’t go his way.”
We were interrupted by my father and Cobb. Both had flutes of champagne, and since I was feeling good, I asked my father, “Did my mother find you? She told me that you both have some unfinished business.”
My father gave me a hard look. Perhaps he thought I was making a joke. “I believe Cobb is taking care of it,” he said. “Not that it should be any concern of yours. Isn’t that right, Cobb?”
Cobb nodded and said nothing.
“Well, I’m happy it’s being sorted out. On another note, I have something you want. I’ll give it to you after lunch in the library, when we resume our talk. Hopefully, you’ll like it. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I saw my father’s eyes light up when I mentioned that I had something he wanted. I noted that I still had only vague hints of my father’s plans and that was beginning to annoy me. Anne stood by the door looking about. I grabbed an extra glass of champagne and handed it to her before asking, “Have you been able to find out what my mother and Cobb are up to?”
“No. Everyone is playing things a little too close to their chests for my liking, including Mary, and that’s getting tiresome. By the way, your mother loved speaking with you. She even got a little teary-eyed when she told me. It made a huge difference to her. Now here’s Stanley. We’re ready to go in. Do you have any idea what we’ll be eating?”
“Anne, we’ll just have to see.”
“Well, you really do need to start taking charge, Percy, but maybe not until after this weekend. Come along. At least I know where the two of us are sitting.”
71
I seated Anne and then Bruni. Anne was at Bruni’s right. I walked around to my place at the head of the table. With more table leaves having been added, it was a longer walk. Maw was on my right, with Johnny on my left. There were now six guests on one side and five on the other, with Bruni and me at the ends. My mother was on Bruni’s left next to Malcolm followed by John Sr., Bonnie, Hugo, and Maw. Across from them were Anne, Cobb, my father, Elsa, and Johnny. Anne’s placements of the guests were arranged to create as calm an atmosphere as possible, given the peculiar dynamics of former lovers, rivals, and my father. I was thankful that the table was large enough to accommodate thirteen. Thirteen was not the luckiest number to have for either lunch or dinner, but there was little I could do about that.
Maw turned to me and asked if we were having corn for lunch. I told her that I had no idea, which I realized was now a stock phrase with me.
“Corn, Mary? Why do you ask?”
She whispered, “Corn on the Cobb” and proceeded to cackle uncontrollably.
After a time, she said, “I apologize. I couldn’t help myself. You do serve excellent champagne. Now, Percy, to business. When are you and Johnny planning on taking Robert for a walk?”
We were interrupted by cold vichyssoise served in small porcelain cups surrounded by beds of ice in larger silver bowls. The texture was smooth and thick as cream, while the taste was an exquisite amalgam of savory, tanginess, and texture. Once again there was a silent table.
After I saw that Maw had finished, I said, “To answer your question, I have my father scheduled after lunch, and have no idea how long that will take.”
She looked at me. “Yes, I imagine there is a fair amount of catching up to do. Walking Robert isn’t particularly important, other than it might help you relax. What do you think of your father so far?”
I considered that. “Neither talking to my father, nor walking Robert the Bruce could be classified as relaxing, but Robert does have one advantage. I seem to get an extraordinary amount of exercise when I’m out with him. With my father not so much. I find him very eloquent and persuasive.”
“Isn’t he now,” she said. “I dislike too much eloquence and persuasion. Such talk usually hides a thorn or dresses up some request. Plain speech makes the point and is far more efficient. I say come out and say what you want to say. It makes things simple. Request made, answer given, and that’s that. Next? Sloppy minds and beating around the bush tend to go together—that and underhandedness.”
“Is he being underhanded?”
“He offered me a chance to make some money. Me? For the love of Pete, I have enough trouble keeping track of all that I have without him adding to it. My accounting looks like an encyclopedia, and that’s only the quarterlies. The year-ends are another matter entirely. Rather than speaking with your father, your time would be much better spent taking Robert for a walk, and as you said, you would at least get some exercise. I don’t trust him, Percy. I don’t. Even Robert can’t stand him, and he knows, believe you me.”
She reached down under her chair and gave Robert a pat.
When she had returned to an upright position, I said, “Well, if Robert doesn’t like him, then that’s saying something.”
“Don’t be condescending, Percy. It’s unbecoming. Not all dogs are clever in that way, but this one is. He even growled at him.”
“Did he do the teeth thing?” I asked.
“What teeth thing?”
“His mouth opens, and it’s like a great white shark. He also makes ghastly sounds that are truly frightening. I saw him do it once. He scared the hell out of me.”
“He did that to you?”
“Oh, no. It was something lurking in the shadows of the wine cellar. Anyway, it was an experience, and unless I’d seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“That’s it, exactly. Your father backed away rather quickly.”
“I would have run.”
“Well, you’re smart, Percy—for the most part. Robert’s reaction made me reconsider everything that Bromley had said. I can lend you Robert. He can lie underneath your chair and glower away. Your father won’t dare do anything untoward. He might even lose a leg, and where would he be then?”
“I suppose he’d be without a leg to stand on.”
Maw thought my quip hilarious. Her cackling laughter exploded across the table. “That’s better than my ‘corn on the Cobb’! I had no idea you could be so funny.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I think he heard me, but then why should I care?” She said in a normal voice, “Frankly, I think it’s a combination of the champagne and the soup.”
We were sipping champagne with abandon. That might have had something to do with it. Still, a smiling, and laughing Maw was much better than an angry one.
“I do thank you for the offer, but Robert and I have a ‘live and let live’ policy that works for us.”
“Well, all right then. Oh my! Is that lobster?”
“I believe it is.”
“You do have a good cook, Percy, and good eating can make all the difference in gatherings such as this one. By the way, when is the baby due?”
“You are sharp-eyed, Mary.”
“I am.”
“Yes, you are. To answer your question, sometime after the wedding.”
“Well, I’d get that done rather soon. Where will it take place?”
“Austria.”
“I do love a good castle. Make sure I get invited.”
“You’re family. I’ll insist on it.”
“You are clever, Percy, but don’t let it go to your head. Now, cold lobster with mayonnaise is exactly what I wanted, and here it is. Wake me when the dream is over.”
Once again, conversation evaporated as cold Maine lobster was served with sides of Russian salad and chilled asparagus with lemon.
Johnny leaned over and said, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard Maw laugh that loud at anything.”
“I doubt it’s me. It’s the food and the drink. Dagmar has likely been busy.”
We looked about and noted the many smiles, and that a hint of mischief was in the air.
Johnny chuckled and said, “More than likely. Still, it’s good to see some high spirits for once.”
Johnny’s comment was punctuated by shrieks from Bruni, Anne, and my mother. Anne almost fell off her chair. Cobb was beaming away, red in the face. I noted it really wasn’t much of an improvement. Even Elsa looked happy, her eyes, bright and flashing. John, Bonnie, and Hugo had their heads together, and Bonnie and Hugo were giggling madly at something John was saying. My father seemed isolated, lost among the revelry around him. Malcolm threw back his head and made a remarkable imitation of a donkey, sending the girls at the other end into fits.
Johnny leaned in and said, “My God! They’ll start throwing lobster tails next.”
“Only after they’ve been eaten,” piped in Maw. “I also have very sharp ears, young man. Now you and Percy will be taking Robert for a walk this afternoon or else … or else I’ll cut you off without a cent.” She sounded exactly like the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz. She saw the look on Johnny’s face and laughed uproariously. Once she was able to control herself, she said, “You’re far too easy, Johnny, but luckily, I like you. Forgive my foolishness. Whatever will be served next?”
It was the question, and the answer was ice cream—and not any ice cream. It was homemade vanilla with swirls of orange sherbet served on a lake of warm chocolate. Thin butter cookies were placed on the side of each dish.
Maw said, “I can’t possibly eat that! Just kidding. Watch me.”
Johnny laughed. “This lunch is almost on par with that birthday party at the Sullivan’s years ago. The one where the punch bowls got mixed up and forty pre-adolescents got plastered on a mixture of rum and that splendid Trader Vic’s punch. You and I were blamed, but vindicated when Joyce yelled at her husband, ‘The blue bowl! Not that one! Good God, Jim! The children have been downing a hundred proof rum punch for the last hour! You complete blockhead!’ ”
“It was madness. They made us drink a lot of coffee.”
“Yes, they did, only we’d never been allowed to drink coffee, something about stunted growth. The Sullivans then had to contend with forty buzzed children hyped on alcohol and caffeine.”
Johnny and I laughed at the memory of that day.
“Kevin Sullivan was never allowed another birthday party after that one,” I said.
Johnny smiled. “Nonetheless, it was a high point of that summer. I can’t wait to see what Dagmar has planned for tonight.”
“Me, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if guests start lining up at six. On another subject and to honor Maw’s request, lest you be cut off without a cent, let’s take Robert out after I speak with my father. He doesn’t appear to be really taking part, does he?”
Johnny looked in his direction. “No, he doesn’t. Perhaps he’s worried?”
“I doubt it,” I said.
“I’d let him settle before you spring that box with the busted idol on him. After that moment, he’ll wish he’d gotten into the spirit of things here.”
“More than likely. I’m not looking forward to our chat, but it’s what I must do. Wish me luck.”
“Piece of cake.”
“There’s cake?” interrupted Maw.
Her hearing was really quite good. Lunch wound down as successfully as it had begun, and I realized then that my father and I could talk only after my other guests had departed from the library. I gave a nod to Stanley. He glided over. I asked if coffee could be served for the two of us in about forty minutes. Stanley said it would be done, and that the box would be delivered along with the service. He would be standing by should he be needed.
My father liked the coffee and so did I. That would at least start our talk on good terms.
72
Once dessert was finished, Bruni rose and announced that we would move to the drawing room and the library. She added that drinks would be available at 7:30, with dinner at 9:00 sharp, white tie. The men made their way to the library, with Johnny and me behind them.
Before we went in, Johnny wished me luck. “Think Quintus Fabius Maximus pitted against Hannibal, and you’ll do fine.”
“Now that is a piece of advice that’s actually useful. Thank you, Johnny.”
He gave me a pat on the shoulder. It was good counsel. Fabius Maximus was a master of non-confrontation against a superior enemy and one of my heroes. Johnny and I moved over to the bar. I picked up a small brandy and a cigar. Johnny did the same. John Sr. and Hugo had sat down and were talking shop, while Cobb, my father, and Malcolm stood in front of the fireplace.
I walked over and asked them how they had enjoyed lunch. Cobb answered that he thought it wonderfully refreshing. Malcolm agreed with him and turned to my father, who said, “The cook has some talent. The Russian salad had a little too much mayonnaise, in my opinion. The best I ever had was in Romania.”
I said, “Oh? What were you doing in Romania?”
“I was sounding out the government’s feelings about loans from the International Monetary Fund. I did such things from time to time. It was quite lucrative.”
“I see. I didn’t know you were interested in international finance.”
“I dabble here and there. Are you a dabbler, Percy?”
