by Helen Karol
Good Lord, Andrea must be training her.
"Because I've been away in New York."
"Oh." She accepted the explanation and returned to her cone, but first managed to wipe her sticky hands on Julian's hair.
“Why don't we find a shaded cafe and have a cool drink," suggested Stephen.
Everyone assented and they walked along the wharf, Claire falling into step beside Stephen, behind Andrea and Julian, who still held Marcie in his arms. She hardly heard Stephen's comments welcoming her back so engrossed was she in observing Julian's dexterity with the child.
She turned to Stephen, who had taken his pipe out of his rumpled pants pocket and was now fishing through his nondescript shirt for a light. She offered him the matches she had picked up at lunch and wondered, for at least the hundredth time, what this quiet, faintly absent-minded man ever had in common with Andrea. There had to be something. They had been married for twenty-eight years and, according to all reports, extremely happily. Declining to further explore this mystery, she returned to her previous source of amazement.
"Julian seems to know Marcie very well."
"Oh yes, they get along famously. Course, he's the same with our other boys' children. But I must admit I think Marcie's his favourite, being the only girl."
He puffed on his pipe and then continued. "He's fond of the children; pity he doesn't have any of his own. Susanna couldn't," he added by way of explanation and then coughed, wondering if maybe he shouldn't have mentioned Susanna, vaguely remembering Andrea saying something about Julian being in love with Claire. Or was it Claire? Perhaps it was some other girl. He hoped so.
Julian kept Marcie beside him throughout the time they spent at the cafe, sitting her on his knee and playing numerous games Claire half-remembered from her own childhood. He seemed to enjoy Marcie's company better than anyone else's’ at the table. He wiped her hands and face with a napkin, and when the waiter informed them they didn't usually make the Shirley Temple Marcie requested, he slipped him a large tip and the drink was duly supplied.
Observing Marcie, she told herself it was hardly surprising, she really was a very enchanting child. It was just that she had never thought...Julian and children? With a rueful smile, she realised this was the second time in less than twenty-four hours she had seen him in a startlingly different light. She thought there was always something quite touching about a man with little children, especially a little girl. The fact that the man was Julian, for some unfathomable reason, seemed to make it doubly touching.
She looked across at him and their eyes met, the expression in his revealing that he had guessed her thoughts and that they caused him both amusement and pleasure. The look was broken as Andrea commanded their attention.
"Julian, I know you had no intention of accepting my invitation for Sunday's get-together, but now that Claire's back I really must insist you bring her."
Turning to Claire, she smiled in her best den-mother fashion and said. "You really must get into the thick of things at once, Claire."
Then removing Marcie from Julian, in a manner greatly admired by all, whereby at no point did the little girl come in contact with her elegant person, she swept off with Stephen following in her wake in a slightly bemused fashion. Julian and Claire took one look at each other and burst out laughing.
"She never changes, does she?"
"No. I hope she never does." Julian admitted.
"Really? I have to admit I find her a bit irritating at times."
Julian smiled. "I know what you mean. She used to make me feel like some waif Susanna adopted and then later became her responsibility."
Claire couldn't help laughing at the ridiculous comparison. "I trust she doesn't make you feel that way anymore."
"No. It took me a while, but eventually I realised she treated everyone that way and then it didn't bother me." He paused and then added thoughtfully. "She may delight in appearing thoughtless, but she actually has a great deal of common sense, when the situation requires it"
Claire didn't comment, inwardly disagreeing with him. However in the not too distant future, Claire would find that she was wrong, and would be glad of the fact.
The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around the various boutiques, and later they drove up the Pacific Coast Highway and ate dinner at one of the restaurants overlooking the ocean. That night; as Claire tumbled into bed, it occurred to her that she had not thought of Richard even once since breakfast.
The next morning, Claire didn't go for a swim dressing completely, before joining Julian for coffee at the breakfast bar. Unsettled by the comment he made yesterday about the house and the seriousness of his intentions suggested by it, Claire decided that a truce, until she was surer of her own feelings, was a good idea, and she had abandoned her seduction tactics completely. That was probably why she backed off a little when he reached up from his stool beside her and took the strands of her hair between his fingers.
"You have beautiful hair. It's like gold in the sun and silver in the moonlight."
She was touched by the poetry in his words and told him softly. "I didn’t know you were a romantic."
His eyes deepened as he smiled at her. "In that case you'd be surprised to hear why I was upset when I saw you had cut your hair."
Intrigued, she asked him why and leaning closer he whispered in her ear the fantasies he had harboured. Her eyes sparkled at the information, and she teased him. "Not just a romantic, an incurable romantic."
He accepted her teasing good-naturedly and then asked her. "What about you Claire, no romance in that sophisticated, mature soul of yours?"
Claire considered. "Well, I was a very romantic teenager. I used to dream of love at first sight. All teenagers do until they grow up and discover it's a myth." Her tone was light, but he could detect a trace of disillusionment.
"It's not a myth, just rare."
Claire understood his meaning and said with a trace of envy. "It must be nice to have had the perfect romance."
"Complete with tragic ending." And all envy left her, although his voice was devoid of cynicism or bitterness.
There was silence until Julian took her hand in his. "Love at first sight isn't the only way to fall in love. Sometimes it grows slowly, but it can still be romantic."
He brought her hand to his lips before letting it drop, and then he moved around the bar into the kitchen. Claire joined him, and they prepared breakfast together, their movements familiar and comfortable. Once prepared, they carried the meal to the nook and ate companionably. Discussing various topics and passing pleasantries, the meal seemed no different from the hundreds of meals they had shared in previous years.
Yet it was intensely different.
Claire had been subtly aware of the aura of difference throughout the meal. Now she looked out through the window to where Julian stood on the deck, where she had shooed him, insisting on cleaning up alone. He was turned partly towards the ocean, so she had a three-quarter view of him. He raised his coffee mug, and as he bent his head to drink, the sea breeze caught at the front of his hair, gently playing with his fringe.
A wave of tenderness washed over her.
Smiling, she carried the dishes to the dishwasher, looking back at him as she loaded it.
Suddenly she felt new again.
All the feelings of the past weeks slipped from her; the soul-searching, the indecision. She felt the same way she felt when she stepped off that plane in New York, three years ago - as if she stood on the brink of discovery.
It was a strange way to feel when you were loading a dishwasher, but she felt it just the same. And now, just as then, although she felt some trepidation, her overwhelming feeling was one of expectation.
Chapter Four
"Claire, Stella wants to see you, when you've got a minute."
Claire looked up from the article she was working on and grimaced. The small pert brunette shrugged in sympathy. "Sorry."
Mary-Jane and Claire both knew that wh
en their editor said - when you've got a minute - it was only a barely disguised courtesy, what she really meant was - make a minute.
"Never mind, it's not going that well anyway. I could use a break." Rising, she stretched elegantly and headed towards Stella's office. "Any idea what she wants?" she asked as she passed Mary-Jane.
"Search me."
"And if you don't, I will."
This last came from the stocky figure of Greg Roberts, who made up the final member of their team. His seated figure received a slap on the head from the standing Mary-Jane for his impertinence, but he just grinned. He had been pursuing the dark-haired girl, teasingly, but no less relentlessly, ever since the three of them began working together, six weeks ago. Mary-Jane had so far resisted him, but Claire had no doubt of his eventual success, as neither did Greg himself.
Walking toward Stella's office, she thought over the last six weeks and couldn't suppress admiration for John's managerial sense in teaming the three of them together. The other two were a couple of dynamo's, bubbling over with ideas; just the kind of exuberance needed to launch a new project. On the other hand, Claire's natural reserve in professional matters made her the perfect balance for the two. Smiling, she remembered one or two sessions where her steadying influence had been necessary to bring the pair down to earth. She liked working with them, even though their vitality might be exhausting at times - at least it was fun.
Unfortunately, she wasn't as sure of her editor. She couldn't quite place what it was about Stella that made her uneasy. Maybe it was because Stella was uneasy herself. This project was a big step for her. She was young for the position, and there had been subdued grumblings from some of the older members of the New York staff, who had hopes of the job themselves. Editor of Choices LA was an important role – the new edition of the successful New York magazine Choices New York was the pet project of the publisher and if the project failed, Stella's career could very well go down the tubes.
So far the magazine's success was only moderate, but that was to be expected; it took time to establish a market. But Claire had to admit to herself that she had faith in John's choice. Stella was good at her job. No, Claire's unease with her editor was not professional; it was personal. Claire sensed a hardness, a ruthlessness, about the older woman she didn't trust.
Passing Stella’s PA who nodded her through, Claire knocked on the office door and after Stella's, "Come in," entered.
"Good afternoon, Claire." Stella's perfectly made-up face held a smile which didn't reach her eyes. "Please sit down. How's your review of the Johnson show coming along?"
"Gradually, but it will be ready in time."
"Oh I don't doubt that it will."
There was a slight pause and then Claire asked. "Why did you want to see me, Stella?" and then she felt irritated, realizing that Stella had deliberately manoeuvred her into asking.
"As you know, our circulation to date has been fairly moderate, and I've been thinking we need something a little out of the ordinary to draw a real following."
"Oh. I thought our approach has been quite innovative."
"Now Claire, I've been satisfied with the work you and the others have been putting out. I just think we need more than an innovative approach. I feel we need something new, something the other magazines aren't doing. There's no need to be defensive. After all, I am the editor."
Claire inwardly chastised herself. Where was her professionalism? She shouldn't allow her personal feelings to interfere. Stella was perfectly right. Besides, this sounded interesting. She leaned forward in her chair, her interest taking over.
"What did you have in mind, Stella?"
Realizing Claire's change of demeanour, Stella expanded on her subject. "I thought we could do a series of profiles on the top names in the L.A. fashion and film scene. The ones with an image. You know; the people who fire the imagination of the public. We'd do a different person each time for about ten issues, by that time we should have built up a faithful readership who'll continue to read us for the rest of the magazine."
Claire was really interested now. It was just the kind of series that would draw readership. John had good reason to have faith in Stella's abilities. Claire didn't bother to voice her approval. Stella knew it was an excellent idea. Instead, she voiced her own ideas.
"Our first profile will have to be really good. Someone that will really draw interest." Claire crinkled her forehead in thought. "Jenni Roberts, perhaps?"
Stella shook her head at the mention of L.A.'s top fashion photographer. "No, we'll use her later on in the series, but for our first subject we need someone there's been very little written about. Someone with an air of mystery."
Claire's brow furrowed even further. Stella was right. But who? Who in the L.A. scene had that kind of quality? The question was barely formed before the answer occurred to her. Stella's self-satisfied drawl revealed that she had followed Claire's thoughts, and that she had decided on their first subject long before Claire walked through the office door.
"Yes, Julian West."
"I don't know, Stella." The words were hesitant, but she added hurriedly when the editor raised her perfectly pencilled eyebrows. "I mean, he'd be perfect, but he doesn't usually give interviews, never mind an in depth profile. He's really a very private person."
"I'm aware of that, but surely you can manage to persuade him. I understand you and he are quite – close."
Claire frowned, the mannerism adding interest rather than marring her features. "Yes, we've been friends for years, but I'm not sure I should take advantage of that fact."
Stella smiled. She knew the history of Julian and Claire's friendship, having made it her business to find out when she first thought of this project. She also knew that since Claire's return their relationship was fast developing into more than friendship. She wasn't sure if they were lovers yet, but the man seemed to care for Claire.
What Claire's feelings were Stella hadn't quite figured out yet - a fact that left her a little irritated. However, it wasn’t really important, what mattered were West's feelings for Claire and how they could be used to advantage. If it turned out Claire shared his feelings, and something came of it, all the better; she'd find a way to use that to advantage as well.
Looking at the woman in front of her, Stella wondered where the attraction lay. She was certainly beautiful, but Stella found her slightly insipid. How Richard had failed to manage her amazed her. But then, Richard had made the mistake of becoming obsessive. No doubt about it he was right; she had talent. Perhaps something imperceptible to herself smouldered beneath that smooth exterior. But that was really immaterial to her purpose. Stella pushed the thoughts from her mind and returned to the business at hand. Having anticipated Claire's doubts, she had planned on how to deal with them.
"Take advantage? Really, Claire, you would hardly be doing that. I'm sure the reason he doesn't give interviews is because he's suspicious of the treatment the reporter might use. He’s a great choice because he spans both our lifestyle focus of film and fashion given his marriage." She sat back preparing to completely destroy Claire's arguments, "And isn't he launching an entirely new line? The publicity could only help, and he needn't have to worry about the approach with you writing the article."
"Me!" Claire sat upright. "Oh, I don't think so, Stella. Greg would probably be a better choice."
"Don't be ridiculous, Claire, I wouldn't dream of insulting you by giving our cover story to a junior writer."
"Under the circumstances, I'd understand. Greg could be objective. Julian and I have known one another so long, I doubt if I could be."
"That's just it, I'm not striving for objectivity. We need an angle and you have the perfect angle - an insider’s perspective. The readers would love that, especially the younger women, and isn't that to whom his new line is directed?” She picked up a pencil, holding it between the index finger of each hand. “I believe you even knew his late wife."
"Oh no, we never met. I saw the
m together once at a party, about two years before I met Julian and a little under a year before she died; but we were never introduced." Claire's look was far away, remembering that scene. A quiver ran through her as the memory revealed to her Julian's tenderness and how much he was capable of loving. She looked at Stella without really seeing her. "They were very much in love."
"Yes, I hear it was quite the romance. He was considerably younger than her and it was rather tragic. Although, it was a long time ago and he seems to have recovered."
Claire flushed, suddenly aware of the woman's implications. Oh hell! What did she care what Stella Abbot thought!
On the other hand, it was all Stella could do to hide her delight. Her sources had insisted that Claire knew nothing of West's late wife, but she chanced the question in the hopes of such a revelation, and now that tell-tale flush revealed Claire's feelings were involved romantically. This was much better than she hoped for.
Claire might not use any of this in her article, but her talent lay in the fact that she was a natural writer, whose feelings infected her writing - so the reader was aware of a mood rather than bare facts. If Claire Fitzpatrick saw West as a romantic figure then that is how he would appear. The readers would lap it up; she had to get Claire to write that article. She chose her next words carefully; Claire mustn’t know how much she wanted her to persuade West to agree to the profile.
"One of the reasons I suggested this is because John told me you were looking for something a little more challenging than the usual write-ups. He seems to have faith in your abilities and I'll have to trust his judgment." She put the pencil down. “Why don't you mention it to West, he might be very interested, as I've mentioned the publicity isn't likely to do him any harm. If he's not interested; we'll drop it. There's always someone else." She shrugged.
The double meaning behind these words was not lost on Claire. "Alright, I'm seeing him tonight, I'll ask him then. He may not decide right away, but I'll let you know as soon as he does."
"Very well, we'll discuss the matter again then."