“That’s fine. You will bring your painting tools, panels and brushes and you will make a portrait of me,” said Jill.
“Well, currently I’m concerned with the imitation of the Van Gogh Sunflowers because I think it is easy for me to do it. But if you want a portrait of yourself you are more than the welcome. I’ll try my best.”
“Good. So now let’s go. We have to be back here at twelve, sharp. Araon usually comes back home at that time for lunch and I observe his habit. Oh, I forgot. There is a packet of cigarettes. I have smoked just one and Araon went furious over the issue of harming the baby’s health. He has been a chain smoker as well and now he has stopped. I also don’t need to smoke another one. Do you know somebody who smokes? It’s a pity to throw the full packet away.”
“Let me think. I can give it to some customers of mine. Albert and Ravina not only don’t smoke they don’t like the odour of cigarettes either”
“Fine. Now let me concentrate on my driving.”
They exited the garage and went slowly to Albert and Sylvanus’ countryside mansion. “You know my dear Jill how much I am fond of this holding. Not that having a farm is unusual today but with mine I feel the king of the kings. Albert and myself have an agreement: that we can use it as much as we want as long as we keep it tidy and clean. Albert and Ravina won’t spend their honeymoon here but the surely would like a decent place to stay in.”
“I’m listening to you, don’t worry. Sure, don’t you think we must be compromising with the two of them? We must respect the privacy of the home. Anyway, let’s stop troubling ourselves. Would you mind some music? I have a gorgeous Pink Floyd CD: Another Brick in the Wall. Was it the title?”
“Correct. We will enjoy it during our travel. Are you using air conditioning by chance?” said Sylvanus.
“Yes, does it annoy you?”
“No. I didn’t want to be so rude. It was just an observation.”
“Look at that idiot. He forgot to cancel the indicator. Luckily, I’m driving very slowly. Sorry Sylvanus. It’s just my temper.”
“Do not worry. You are right.”
“Remind me when I have to turn left. My memory is not assisting me now.”
“It won’t take long. In ten minutes, we will be at the house. Here. Just turn on the left now. We are already in,” said Sylvanus.
They entered silently the place where Albert and Ravina seemed to be very busy. Albert welcomed both of them. “Hi Jill. Hi Sylvanus. What happened to Araon?”
“He goes around Amsterdam on his own every day and today is no exception. He will be back home at twelve, sharp, when his stomach is empty enough to miss home (and me who knows).”
“Sorry Jill. I feel an intruder. Do you like the wonderful weather? It’s the ideal condition to spend a day in the open air. Somehow I believed I would meet you here.”
“Hi Jill. Hi Sylvanus,” said Ravina in a hoarse tone. She didn’t look very happy.
“It’s the side effect of living together.” Albert explained. “She dreams of a golden ring on her left hand as married women use to. But I pledged the moment for this will arrive very soon.” said Albert.
“Albert.”
“Yes Sylvanus?”
“Can you see those eggs? I wish to take some of them for Jill. I have also noticed that you have cleaned the place from the mud,” said Sylvanus.
“Sure, you can give the eggs to Jill. We can make a zabaglione right now for you.”
“That’s good news. We were such in a rush this morning that we forgot to have breakfast,” said Sylvanus.
“So to prepare breakfast for you is a kid’s game. Are you sure you don’t want anything else?”
“No thanks. For me it’s enough,” said Jill and Sylvanus followed suit.
“What are those tools you have with you Sylvanus?” said Albert.
“I have to make a portrait of Jill. A promise is a promise, no matter how good I am. So if you don’t mind we will go outside and I will work on it.”
“Fine. So I will go to set the well up and Ravina will cook minestrone for everybody. Go ahead.”
Sylvanus was naturally endowed with flair and he used it to the full in his commitment to make a portrait of Jill. “Keep still. It won’t help me to concentrate. OK it’s fine now. Stay as you are. Here are the eyes, the lips, the nose. It’s almost finished. Good. Have a look,” he said.
“But it’s wonderful,” shrieked Jill
“I wish that you put it on the dining room wall.”
“Of course I’ll do it,” said Jill.
“Jill, what’s wrong? Your wrist is bleeding.!”
“I simply scratched it against the wall.”
“I will go and get some plasters for you. Wait for me,” said Sylvanus.
Meanwhile Jill’s phone rang. It was Araon. “Jill, sweetheart, where are you now?”
“I am in Albert and Sylvanus’ countryside house. I know you wait for me at twelve am. Actually Ravina, who is here as well, is cooking minestrone for everybody for lunch. I have informed them that you go on your own every day along the streets of Amsterdam and you come back home for lunch.”
“But you didn’t go shopping either today?”
“No dear Araon. But there is some food in the fridge. It’s what has been left from yesterday’s dinner. It will help. Sorry about that. Sylvanus promised to make a portrait of me and he has just finished. I don’t know exactly at what time I’ll be back home,” said Jill.
“OK. I will search the fridge and I’ll manage to cook by myself. Do you know what?”
“What?”
“I just jumped on a guy who was doing dustbin-diving. He has taken all the food he found in it. What a distasteful sight. I believed that poor people didn’t lodge in Amsterdam any more. Maybe that was an exception. I hope I haven’t disgusted you with my bad experience. I’ll stay home until you come back. Say hello to Ravina and Albert as well. See you later.”
“See you my love.”
Sylvanus finally arrived with the plaster.” Why didn’t you tell me about your wound? Hopefully there is the remedy.”
“Wound? It’s a simple scratch,” she said.
“Yes, but it’s impressive. I am easily alarmed by staggering things. Now let’s go for a walk outside. Ravina will be ready within half an hour with the lunch,” he said.
“Good. But don’t forget that Araon is part of my life. He phoned me when you were inside the house looking for some plasters and he told me that he would arrange his meal by himself today. I felt ashamed. I have missed my duty as a wife. If it was not for the gorgeous baby growing in my womb, Araon would have not justified me. Sorry, I don’t want to make you feel guilty. Just a brief stroll please. I hope Araon’s stomach is not aching. You know what I mean? You must be fed up with listening to fuss about him.”
“Everything is fine, Jill. I want only make you have in mind the beautiful sight outside our gate. The landscape is sweeping.”
“You won Sylvanus. I don’t resist the temptation,” said a bewildered Jill.
“It’s not my fault. That happened because you are such, such an idiot, Araon,” screamed Jill.
“Don’t pretend you know nothing. If Sylvanus drunk all the bottles of beer in the fridge it is because you allowed him to do so. And don’t call me an idiot again. If we carry on arguing like this, at the end the police will intervene. Thank God Sylvanus is a very healthy guy and he has finally accommodated himself in his brand-new flat. He is all alone, damn it.”
“Araon.”
“Yes, Jill?”
“Sorry if I was screaming. I didn’t want to offend you. I was only so concerned. I apologize. Let’s be quiet again,” she said.
“Don’t worry, Jill. Random arguing is useful for a healthy love relationship. We never argue and this is unusual. It sounds great though. It’s great to be here with you. Sylvanus can come whenever he likes to visit us. It is important for him not to feel to isolated. A secluded life won’t do. Do you know Jill what I
was doing while you were in Albert and Sylvanus countryside? I was talking to a shrink about the assistance from a husband to his wife in childbirth. I want to attend your childbirth and cut the umbilical cord. I do not want to hear you screaming or suffering. I guess your labour will last fifteen minutes, not more. And then it will come to life, our little Rokin. Can you feel his presence in your womb?”
“Yes darling. It’s something fantastic. I could feel him while I was at Albert and Sylvanus’ in an unusual way. Maybe it was my own way to discard my anxiety at Ravina presence. She was so icy Albert and her almost ignored me all the time. I know Ravina is angry because she wants a marriage, not a living together relationship. But that was not my fault. You have probably enjoyed yourself better in your loneliness here. You haven’t said a single word about my portrait. Sylvanus wanted me to place it on the dining room wall and I respect his will. Go and have a look. It’s gorgeous. Sylvanus is a very talented painter. If I were him, I would make do it for a living together with his activity as a butcher. Tell me: do you really like it?”
“I think it is safer to do what he is already doing for a living. Frequently painters become famous only after their death.”
“Hopefully your nerves have calmed down. Right on time to let me show you a surprise: can you see this tartan skirt? It’s for you Araon. You cannot imagine the stamina behind this work. The result is excellent, I believe.”
“It is indeed. You are a wonder woman in terms of speed. I can imagine the time needed to complete the knitting. But how stupid I am: I make you waste a lot of time on stupid observation.”
“It’s a mystery my dear. You have only to wear it. I love Scottish things such as Laura Ashley, the poor I. Banks. It’s a matter of feelings.”
“On the contrary to what you may believe, I consider you a master in the finest arts. Wonderful: I have not words enough to express my gratitude to you. I feel sometimes to be an absent husband. I am on my own every day. Today, as usual, I had the newspaper with me. There were very interesting issues from the most sceptical journalist’s point of view. For example, I read about a tiger that escaped from the circus zoo. Hopefully it has been found in time to prevent catastrophic events: he was all alone near the northern canals of the city and nobody has been harmed by him and it has not been necessary to suppress him. It is an endangered species. Thank God he survived the fatality. By the way: what if we go and admire the circus animals? You know one of my dreams is to go on a safari and admire rare species such as the lions and many more. But now we should be happy to see them in captivity.”
“It sounds a good idea. I was thinking of going somewhere else. Never mind. I’ll make you happy,” answered Jill trying to conceal her disappointment.
Her telephone rung. “Yes?” said Jill aloud.
“Hi Jill, I am the housekeeper. I’m calling to confirm that I’ll be there at nine am. At your flat tomorrow morning.”
“That’s fine. So see you tomorrow.”
“What’s that?” asked Araon.
“Just the housekeeper to confirm she will be at here on time tomorrow morning. I need her help to wash the floor, dust the furniture, clean the bedroom. I don’t allow her intrude on our own business. I will make the bed and the washing machine as well by myself.”
The phone rang again, “Hi Jill, it’s Sylvanus. I’m calling to apologize for what happened. Albert is very angry with me. He accompanied me to my flat and left me alone immediately. I do not know how to get you forgive me. I am such a stupid guy. Now I don’t know what to do. I need the presence of somebody else in my house. Albert is not a forgiving man. Not to talk about Ravina. She is such a disgusting woman. Definitely I hate her. Here I have to get rid of the ants. I bought a spray in the supermarket but it seems not to work at all. Never mind. These are small things. What about you and Araon?”
Everything is OK.”
“What do you think about meeting each other somewhere this evening?”
“We will see.”
“OK Jill. I do not want to disturb you any longer. Say hello to Araon on my behalf. See you later.”
“Bye Sylvanus,” answered Jill, still befuddled by the call.
“It was Sylvanus?” asked Araon, frightened.
“Yes. He wished to meet us this evening somewhere but I had not the time to say no. He was so feckless.”
“This is a burden to me. But we have to care of him. He must feel so lonely,” said Araon.
Something fell from the furniture. It was the income tax return. “Sorry Jill. I have been too untidy recently. You know I do this nasty thing every year.”
“You are forgiven as long as you keep it tidy in its proper place.”
“By the way: have you ever tried to have a look in the dining room drawers?” said Araon.
“What for?” replied Jill.
“There are some letters I had written for you when I was on my own. Now it’s time you let me read them.”
“You are adorable. Let’s start again.”
“Yes sweetheart.”
The ultimate answer was something obvious; they started kissing each other leaving any other issue behind them. To keep the passion alive was the crucial key to their long-lasting relationship. They were tight and close one to the other in their small world. Everything surrounding them, the noise of the washing machine, the cat purring, the teens playing soccer outside, was silence to them. They aspired to an appointment to joy. The afternoon in sight was the blessing of their day.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Samantha was in the swimming pool room wearing just briefs and bra. She was holding her mobile phone tight looking forward to breaking the ice for the due phone call. “Hi sweetheart. You don’t need to be bothered with doctor Van der Baast so much. I told you to break with your past. Actually, you also told me not to be an intruder in the way I am. If you smack me, I offer you the other cheek. But why are you going around the house dressed or undressed like that? You have lost the I part of yourself which I adore so much. Just joking, of course. I have told the housekeeper to go into her private room or to go out if she wants, so we can enjoy our privacy. But you don’t seem so enthusiastic, do you? I seriously believed that you wanted to slap me noI.”
“No darling. You have sorted out the Van der Baast thing if I am not wrong. What did he sIy?”
“He remembered the day when you lodged in Amsterdam for one week and you were frightened by the super abundant menstruation. He comforted you by saying it was nothing serious. Just a matter of stress. Now you were trying to contact him for obvious reason but you failed because you were using my mobile phone and you didn’t realize it. Everything has been sorted out. I guess you don’t need to slap me now.”
“Obviously I won’t. I am in trouble because of my Chinese friend. She would like to have a vagina reduction and Van der Baast is perfect for that. He is the sort of sleazy guy who deals with these things. He is so daring. And my Chinese friend wants to break with her past very thorougIly.”
“She will do it, I’m sure. But don’t worry about her now. Just think of the two of us. Do you remember there is a certain Elton John dinner at the Dorchester tonight? Elton has taken up the cause of AIDS spread worldwide. First, we can go to Selfridge’s to buy a dress that best suits you. There are summer collections from different designers. I’m sure at the end you will find the one of your dreams. In your armchair, as you must have noticed, there is a display of Armani outfits. Not that he is my favourite stylist but I don’t know why I believe it is the brand that best suits you. Actually, everything is down to you. Or if you wish you can have a hydro massage in your room’s bathroom. Just soothe yourself immersed in those bubbles. You will enjoy the result of it later on in the evening. Take your time. Now I go to make myself as beautiful as I can to deserve a woman like you.”
“Thank you darling. I’ll go straight away. I’m curious to deal with that pampering,” said Samantha.
She couldn’t resist the temptation to sense that tepid wate
r on her body. Once in the room, she smoothed herself and use the hydro massage to look her very best for the gala. She felt a sense of deep well-being. She asked herself how long that paradise would last. Suddenly a siren started to ring. Phil went close to the door and told her to be quiet. It meant that she had accidentally pushed the button of the nausea prevention. The siren was due to the reaction of nausea from a person inside the bathroom. Samantha could never stop surprising herself because of all the ingenious devices of the house. She carried on enjoying her body massage for another twenty minutes. She then covered her body with hydrating cream and her face with nourishing cream and at the end she went to choose a dress from her wardrobe. She picked a green one. Five centimeters heeled shoes, leather bag and a diamond necklace were her other accessories.
Finally, she was in the atrium face to face with Phil. He looked absolutely gorgeous in a pale green tuxedo which matched with Samantha’s dress as well. “You are wonderful Samantha. So you found a dress that matches your taste. It’s a beverage to the senses,” said Phil astounded.
“Actually, I liked all of them. It has been a difficult choice for me.”
“I was sure about it. Don’t forget that tonight we have to honour a serious commitment. The gala will open with a song of Queen just to remember Freddy Mercury who died from aids. It will start at eight pm. We have all the time to take a tour of the city with our limousine. Our driver will take us to the Dorchester on time. Are you ready for that outburst of emotions?”
“Yes darling,” she replied, smiling.
They left the house quickly. The driver of the limousine was waiting for them smartly. “Darling?”
“Yes Phil?”
“We can toast for our commitment with some champagne. If you want afterwards you can lay at your ease as if you were in our house sofa.”
“I’ll sip some of it. Thank you,” was all that Samantha said.
“Samantha, have you asked yourself why I don’t sleep in the same room as you? It’s because we have not planned our marriage yet. Please, make me the happiest man in the world. Say yes to my question: do you want to marry me?”
The Red Box Page 52