‘Oh, Alice,’ murmured Kathy. ‘I hadn’t thought … I didn’t think.’
‘And now something lovely has happened.’ Alice could feel tears pricking her eyes. ‘And I don’t know what it is. But it’s for me. At last. And he’s trying to ruin it.’
‘But he can make real trouble for you.’
‘He already has. Ever since I’ve known him.’ Alice studied her half-finished painting. ‘I want to enjoy this, Kathy. I know I have to sort it out. But not now. It’s taken me a long time to get here.’
Kathy stood up and hugged her. ‘I know. And you look wonderful, you really do.’
‘He doesn’t know where I am does he?’ asked Alice suddenly.
‘No he doesn’t. Let’s forget about him. When are you seeing Luis again?’
‘Tomorrow. He wants to take me to one of his gigs. Will you come?’
‘Can’t. I’m having an actual date with Stephano. It’s only taken six years since we split up.’
‘And I thought I was slow.’
Alice clasped Luis’s hand tightly as they snaked through thick crowds of people towards the stage. ‘Are they all here to see you?’ she shouted above the noise.
‘No,’ shouted Luis. ‘It’s a charity gig and we’re one of the supporting acts.’
‘Still,’ she said. ‘Impressive turnout. Will Elvis be okay with the guy on the door?’
‘Sure – his son will be along soon – I pay him a few euros to keep an eye on him while I’m on stage sometimes.’ He turned to face her, his expression serious. ‘There was a time when I loved this and everything to do with it. But not now. This isn’t me any more. It was once. But it isn’t now,’ he whispered into her ear.
Their eyes locked together for a moment and Alice smiled. ‘Okay,’ she said.
‘Right,’ said Luis, holding her hand even more tightly. ‘Let’s do it.’ They moved forward then halted suddenly.
‘Hi Luis,’ said a small attractive woman blocking their way. ‘It’s Susannah. Remember?’
‘Hello, Susannah’, he replied. ‘It’s good to see you again. I’m sorry, every time we meet I just seem to be passing through.’
‘I know. Same at the gig I came to a couple of weeks ago. Still, nice to see you too.’ There was a pause as she spotted Alice.
‘This is Alice,’ said Luis, still holding her hand.
Susannah nodded politely then turned back to him. ‘You’re looking so well, Luis. I’ve been thinking about you. All the old times.’
‘Ah, the old times.’ He smiled, glancing at the stage. ‘Sorry, I really do have to go. Enjoy the gig. There are a lot of good bands on tonight.’ Turning towards the stage, he squeezed Alice’s hand, and continued to push forwards, up the steps and into the wings. Luis put his arm protectively around her as Antonio hurried towards them, his right eye swollen and black.
‘I’m afraid I have to take Luis away from you now. He has work to do.’
‘She’ll watch from the wings,’ said Luis firmly.
‘There’s not enough space,’ replied Antonio.
‘She’s my guest.’
‘I’m so sorry, Alice, is it? Luis is always bringing one woman or another backstage and I’m always having to shoo them away. You understand?’
Alice took a deep breath. It was as if he was using words instead of fists, she thought.
Luis stared hard at Antonio. ‘Don’t speak to her like that. If we weren’t in public I’d tell you what I really think of you when you do that. And where did you get that black eye?’
Antonio touched his face and rubbed his eye. ‘Damn. The make-up hasn’t worked. Don’t look at me like that.’ He said to Luis. ‘Someone wanted some money from me and I didn’t have it.’
‘You are a mess,’ said Luis. ‘And not just physically.’ Luis guided Alice away from Antonio with his arm around her waist. ‘What time are we on?’ he shouted back, without looking at him.
Alice’s stomach churned uncomfortably. She longed for the still, quiet days the two of them had just spent together.
‘Half an hour. Five songs.’
‘Good. Then we’ll be away.’
Antonio grabbed Luis by the shoulder and tried to pull him round. ‘But you have to see Marcella.’
‘Why?’
‘Marcella wants to see you. She organised the event. Invited us onto the bill.’
‘Why does she want to see me?’
‘You know why.’
‘No, I don’t. Now, I’m just going to see a few people and introduce them to Alice. Then I’ll be here five minutes before we go on.’ Pulling Alice into the darkness further backstage, he wrapped his arms around her. ‘I’m so sorry. I thought this would be fun for you. He was very rude.’
‘He was. Again,’ she said, trying to disguise the shakiness in her voice. ‘I should be able to say something rude back, but he stuns me so much, I can’t find the words.’
‘We’ll disappear straight afterwards, I promise. Then it will be just us. If it wasn’t a charity gig I’d walk out now.’ He kissed her and held her hand. ‘Come on. There are some very nice people here who will be more than pleased to meet you.’
They pushed back through the crowd and found Joel the architect with his wife. ‘A-ha, Alice,’ he said. ‘Lydia – this is the woman who Luis is going to sneakily get to help him with that old house I told you about!’
Alice laughed. ‘Oh, I love bringing houses back to life. Although I think he only asked my advice.’
‘Just watch him,’ said Lydia, smiling. ‘He’s very persuasive.’
‘It’s a beautiful old place though, isn’t it?’ said Joel. ‘I’m glad you bought it. I was worried someone would buy the land and turn it into an apartment block.’
‘It would be a shame to do that,’ said Luis, taking out his phone. ‘Look.’ He began to show Lydia photographs of the house, his face intense and enthusiastic.
Alice watched him, enjoying the passion with which he was describing the project but as the singer who was performing came to the end of her set, his face began to tense. He glanced at the stage, unsmiling. ‘Time to go,’ he sighed. ‘Lovely to see you two.’ He grabbed Alice’s hand again. ‘Come on, we’re up next!’ They walked around to the back of the stage where the band were waiting to go on.
‘You were nearly late,’ spat Antonio.
Luis didn’t say anything. He kissed Alice and followed them onto the stage. When the band began to play the man she’d seen performing at Mary’s leaving party was entirely different. Then, he was lost in the music, relaxed and in the moment, but now, she could feel the tension between him and Antonio, and the animosity that seemed to have grown in only a few weeks. Luis flew off the stage barely before the applause had died down.
‘Did you like it?’ he whispered to Alice. ‘How was it? Was it okay?’
‘It was great. You were great.’
Pulling her to him, he kissed her lightly. Then he kissed her again, hungrily. ‘Time to go,’ he said.
‘Are you like this every time you come off stage?’ giggled Alice.
‘Yes,’ he said, kissing her again, as they walked towards the door.
‘Luis! Where are you going?’ Antonio had placed himself between them and the exit.
‘Home.’
‘You can’t.’
‘I’m going home, Antonio.’
‘You were really good,’ said Alice, trying to change the subject.
Antonio looked at her. ‘Right,’ he said dismissively. ‘Marcella wants to speak to us, Luis. She has more work for us. It’s important.’
‘You don’t need me for that,’ said Luis impatiently.
‘It’s good manners. She has helped us.’
‘Hello, Luis. You were all so good. As always.’ Marcella walked confidently towards them flanked by her two giggling young friends.
‘He’s trying to rush away. I cannot keep him still,’ said Antonio.
‘Oh, what a pity,’ said Marcella. ‘I was hoping you could s
tay on for the after party.’ She leaned close to Luis, her glossy hair brushing Alice’s face. ‘It would be fun,’ she whispered. ‘And my father may be coming later. He would be a good person for you to meet.’
‘Marcella thinks her father may book us for some of his restaurants and bars,’ interjected Antonio.
‘But I’m leaving the band,’ said Luis. ‘I’m just helping Antonio out until he finds a new guitarist. So, you don’t need me.’
‘Oh!’ said Marcella stepping back, surprised.
‘He’s said that before,’ said Antonio. ‘Haven’t you, Luis? He never actually leaves.’
Marcella glanced at Alice as if she had only just noticed she was there, then she smiled. ‘Oh, I see,’ she said. ‘Just a temporary phase, then. I have to go. Why did I think organising a big event like this would be easy!’ She hugged Luis and flounced off, accompanied by her friends. As they got to the other side of the stage, they all glanced back and laughed.
I am in the middle of a particularly bad teenage film, said the voice in Alice’s head. But she didn’t find it funny.
‘Once you’re bored with this —’ said Antonio ‘—you’ll want the band again … she likes you, man.’
‘All the more reason not to stay,’ said Luis firmly. Grabbing Alice’s hand, he moved Antonio out of the way and pushed the door open, slamming it behind him. ‘I am so sorry Alice. So sorry.’ They stood silently for a few moments.
Say something clever or witty or acerbic, screamed the voice in Alice’s head.
‘That really wasn’t very nice,’ she said eventually, a niggling feeling creeping up on her that being involved with Luis wasn’t the escape from real life she’d thought it was. But then he smiled, and kissed her, and she didn’t care about any of it.
‘Shall we go to the beach bar just down there?’ he asked.
‘Whatever you say,’ said Alice, as they began to walk.
The lights in the beach bar were turned down to a dusky yellow, the quiet chatter ebbing and flowing with the sound of the waves softly rolling onto the sand.
‘That’s better,’ said Luis, stretching his arms and moving his head around slowly. ‘I come here sometimes just to be able to clear my head.’ Elvis suddenly appeared and barked, padding around restlessly. ‘And to walk the dog, obviously.’
‘You know what just happened,’ said Alice slowly. ‘I didn’t know how to react.’
‘Neither did I,’ muttered Luis.
She looked at him expectantly. ‘Is Antonio always like that?’ she asked eventually.
‘Unpleasant and rude, you mean? Not as bad as that. There’s something going on with him. I don’t know what it is … I saw his ex-girlfriend in the audience at the gig. She was with some guy. Antonio developed very expensive tastes when he was with her. There’s something else, but I don’t know what it is.’
‘There’s always something. And it’s always other people. And it’s the same for me,’ sighed Alice.
‘Well, now there isn’t. There’s just us.’ Luis leaned forward and winked.
‘Alice!’ Kathy and Stephano were standing in the doorway, waving.
‘Now there isn’t just us,’ he said.
‘What are you doing here?’ asked Kathy as she came over and Stephano pulled up some chairs. ‘I thought you were at that charity gig thing?’
‘We were going to go there after our meal but the night is so beautiful, and I’ve seen your band too many times already, ’ Stephano said and laughed.
‘Did it finish early?’ asked Kathy.
‘No. We just decided to leave and have some time to ourselves,’ said Luis.
Stephano peered dramatically into Luis’s eyes. ‘What have you done to him? Hypnotised him? He could never be dragged away from these things in the past.’
‘That was a long time ago,’ said Luis to Alice.
‘Just joking, just joking,’ laughed Stephano. ‘I can see why he would want to spend time with you away from all of that.’ He turned to Alice. ‘How is your extended holiday going?’
‘I’m beginning to slowly relax. But keeping myself busy.’
‘Alice is a very talented artist,’ said Kathy.
‘Yes, I remember. I thought you’d given all that up?’ said Stephano.
‘I’m not really. I’ve just started to dabble, you know.’
‘Yes, she did. And she is now again an artist… did that make sense?’
‘I have been plying Kathy with expensive champagne,’ said Stephano. ‘I am trying to impress her.’
‘Trying to!’ Kathryn giggled. ‘He turned up wearing a tie so tight it almost made his eyes bulge. I persuaded him to take it off.’
Stephano pulled the rolled-up tie from his pocket. ‘Best place for it,’ he laughed.
Elvis barked again, jumping up at Luis. ‘I can’t put him off any longer,’ said Luis. ‘He needs a walk.’ Standing up, he checked his phone and sighed wearily.
‘A message from Antonio,’ he said to Alice. ‘I’m not going to read it. It can wait until morning. Shall we take Elvis home after his walk? And without being too forward, can we go to your apartment afterwards?’
‘Alice this is ridiculous and childish. For God’s sake why are you being so bloody stubborn? I know where you are and if you don’t call me back I will just get on a plane. I’m running out of patience. Fast.’
Alice threw the phone onto the table. She hadn’t heard Adam’s voice for two years. And there it was. In that little piece of plastic. Like a malevolent genie stuck inside the voicemail. She stood up and paced around the room. His little messages had always made her feel like a trapped animal trying to get out of a cage made of his words. They would arrive without any chance of redress from her. No shouting, no questioning, no telling it to him straight. She used to picture him sitting in some bar creating the ‘I’m having such a good time and you’re not’ postcards, as she’d used to call them. Alice knew he didn’t want to know how she was, he just wanted her to know that he was doing very well, thanks. So, the only way she could deal with them was to tear up the postcards or set them alight or jump in some water. She remembered the evening she and Kathy had scattered the remnants of the last few over Tower Bridge and almost shivered with pleasure. She thought about the sea and the image of the phone flying gracefully through the air and landing with a splash in the stewing waves near the Boca do Inferno made her smile; Adam and his threats disappearing into the deep at The Mouth of Hell.
But she needed the phone. It wasn’t as disposable as cardboard. It was her lifeline to her family and Kathy. And Luis. Alice smiled to herself as she thought about him. He had left hurriedly that morning, kissing her forehead when she was half asleep, muttering something about Antonio and his mother and real trouble this time. ‘Why when I am trying to escape does real life come a knocking?’ she said to the phone. Then she stood up and shouted at it. ‘And how does Adam know my new number anyway?’ It was obviously her sister who had given it to him, so she phoned her. ‘I told you not to give my number to Adam. For God’s sake, Tara.’ Alice paced around the living room.
‘He was upsetting Mum and Dad. They wouldn’t tell you. They didn’t want to worry you. You can’t just clear off to another country and expect everyone to deal with your rubbish.’
‘My rubbish? You know what he’s done to me. Have I ever asked you to do anything like this before? Have I? No.’
‘If he gets a solicitor involved it’ll get Mum and Dad more stressed. For God’s sake Alice, why can’t you just speak to him?’
‘You don’t understand. Nobody understands me.’ The tears began to fall, staining her face.
‘For Christ’s sake, stop wailing. You sound like you did when you were fourteen.’
‘He wants to take my house away from me.’
‘If you spoke to him you could come to some arrangement. You can’t hide forever.’
Alice paused by the window and looked out onto the terrace at her drying paintings. She took a deep breath and t
he tears began to subside. ‘But I want to hide for just a bit longer,’ she said quietly. ‘I’m frightened. You know what he’s like. He’s always managed to walk all over me. I’m scared I’ll let it happen again.’
Tara sighed. ‘Oh Alice. You won’t. Not this time. You’ve only been away for a few weeks and you sound different already. More like you than you’ve been for years.’
‘Does he know where I am?’
‘He knows you’re in Portugal. Near Lisbon. That’s it.’
‘He said he’d get on a plane and come to see me.’
Tara laughed humourlessly. ‘Well he must have become psychic. Maybe that potter girlfriend of his is mystical or something.’
‘His girlfriend is a potter?’
‘Yes. Apparently. They’re setting up some venture together in Cheam. Arty thing …’
It felt like a blow to the head. Alice sat down, a sick feeling in her stomach, a sudden pressure on her temples. ‘He wants to sell my house to help her, doesn’t he?’
‘God, I hadn’t thought of that.’
‘He always laughed at me …’
‘Alice …’
‘I’ve got to go.’
She put the phone down and somehow managed to clamber into bed, suddenly exhausted.
Alice woke up, sweating, to a half-dreamt image of herself pushing the real world of problems and rain and Adam away with her two outstretched arms and standing in a beam of light with Luis and Aphrodite and her painting of the moon. She could hear a strange metallic buzzing interspersed by a weird yowling noise in the distance. For a moment she couldn’t remember where she was. The room was all wrong. It was white and silver with smatterings of pink. Her bedroom was dusky green and cream and gold and the window was opposite the bed, not to the right. And there was no door to a terrace. Because she didn’t have a terrace. The buzzing stopped, but the cat-like noise continued. Alice rolled out of bed, reality slowly seeping into the daylight.
‘I’m in Portugal,’ she said. ‘And that noise is coming from Aphrodite, my cat.’ Standing up she padded to the kitchen. Aphrodite was on her hind legs peering into the toaster. At this point Alice achieved full consciousness. ‘Please, please, please, please, please don’t let there be a gecko in there,’ she screeched, slightly panicked, realising she would have to look inside to check. How did you get a gecko out of a toaster? The buzzer went again. And again. Alice leaned against the wall and pressed the intercom.
The House That Alice Built Page 13