A Glittering Chaos
Page 24
“Everything’s going wrong,” she wails, “just when it needs to be perfect.”
“That’s because I wasn’t here,” Jonas says. “I’m her good luck charm,” he tells Nika who is gathering bowls and spatulas.
“Calm down, Mami. We’ve got all night to do this. We’ll help you. It will be fine.”
Melusine sits down and puts her head in her hands. “Why did I even think I could do this? Look at me, collapsing at the first sign of pressure.”
“You’ll be perfectly fine,” Nika says. “Let’s make a list….”
By the time Dieter arrives the following day, with Martin, his exquisite and tiny Filipino boyfriend, everything is ready.
“These are heavenly,” Dieter exclaims, tasting one pastry after the other.
Melusine beams. “You see, like we said, there’s a mix of Hungarian, German and French,” and Dieter nods.
“Your selection is perfect,” he says and he holds a tiny piece of white chocolate dacquoise cake towards Martin. “Try this, the meringue is nut-flavoured and the buttercream is light as a feather.”
“You enjoy it. I’m watching my figure,” Martin says languidly, leaning on the kitchen counter. “So that you will. Can’t have you running off with some pretty boy, can I?” He offers little else to the conversation until he sees they are stumped about one thing: location.
“I know a place,” he says, his voice light and soft. “We can check it out now if you like. A friend of mine was making dolls there but he couldn’t pay the rent and no one’s taken over the lease yet. It’s near the university which means you’ll get all the daytime traffic you want and you won’t need to be open at night. You can work the breakfast, brunch, lunch and tea time crowds. You’ll be non-stop.”
“Good thinking,” Dieter says. “The ravenously hungry, art-seeking university crowd. Martin, you’re a genius.”
Martin grins modestly.
“So listen, let’s go now,” Dieter says, stuffing a piece of Black Forest cake in his mouth and wiping his hands on one of Nika’s elaborately folded napkins.
They climb into Dieter’s Porsche, with Martin fitting easily into the tiny back seat.
“The only thing that worries me,” Melusine says cautiously, reaching for her seat belt and thinking that the car felt awfully low on the road, “is that I’ve got no idea how many ingredients I’ll need to order or things like that. My learning curve is very steep, Dieter, and I worry that I’ll be wasting your money. Wouldn’t you be better off with someone who knows the business? Yes, I know pastries and coffees, and I know art but I don’t know business. Not the baking business anyway; I helped run my parent’s picture framing shop but that was different.”
She knows she is rambling but she is suddenly terrified of what she is getting herself into.
“You need a partner,” Martin says, sticking his head in between the seats. “Dieter, she needs a partner. She shouldn’t have to worry about the business side of things.”
“You have someone in mind, I take it? I can always hear when you’ve already got an idea in place,” Dieter grumbles.
“Felix,” Martin states and Dieter nearly drives them off the road.
Melusine had just started to feel safe in the cocoon of German-engineered leathered luxury but she grips the dashboard and Dieter grins at her.
“I’ve got it all under control. Felix? Surely you jest, Martin.”
“I never jest about Felix.”
“Who’s Felix?” Melusine asks with some trepidation.
“She, and I use the term loosely you gather, is a friend of Martin’s that I tolerate,” Dieter says.
“You hardly tolerate her at all,” Martin objects, “in fact you’re quite rude to her. But I love her and you should respect that. Felix and I have been through a lot together. Life wasn’t always Dolce & Gabbana for us as you know, Dieter. And yes, you rescued me and even her too, in the end. You don’t have to remind me. I just think Felix would be great.”
“What’s her, uh, his experience?” Melusine asks.
“It’s her,” Martin says. “She worked in her old man’s bakery from the time she was eight until she was twelve and ran away.”
“Then she worked the streets,” Dieter says and Martin ignores him.
“She’s also worked in lots of coffee shops,” he says, and Dieter snorts and again Martin ignores him.
“And she’s been a barmaid and she’s great with people.”
“She’s a druggie. I can’t trust her.”
“She’s been clean for nearly six months and you know it,” Martin says. “Come on Dieter, give the girl a chance.”
“What kind of drugs?” Melusine asks and Martin mutters something evasive.
“Coke, heroin, pot, you name it,” Dieter says. “Took me a while to get Martin clean, too. But you were worth it,” he says to him, looking in the rear view mirror.
“And so is Felix,” Martin says obstinately.
“It does sound like she’s got the skills,” Melusine says, “but Martin, can she really be trusted? You don’t sound sure and I’ve had enough craziness. You all know about Hans.”
They nod.
“Why don’t you just meet her?” Martin says. “Melusine, you can talk to her, ask her anything you like, and then you can make the decision.”
Melusine looks at Dieter who nods. “If you like her,” he says, “then you can have her. But it’s on your head, so make a wise choice.”
Martin is grinning in the back and he pokes his head between the front seats again. “She’s perfect for this,” he says to Melusine, “you won’t regret it.”
But she is not at all sure.
35.
MELUSINE AND DIETER love the location of the store.
“So listen,” Dieter whispers. “Make sure you do your due diligence on Felix, okay?”
She nods. “Don’t worry. I will. I won’t make any snap judgements one way or the other — god knows the things people could say about me.”
Dieter laughs loudly. “This is true. But you’re fantastic and I love you. So listen, Martin and I are off to Spain for two weeks which will give you some time to come up with ideas for the menu and things like that. The look of the store, all that kind of thing. Go to town. I’m going to start paying you a salary immediately. I’ll give you the details of my tax person, so phone him and give him all your info, okay?”
Martin returns. He has been walking back and forth, talking on his cellphone. He holds it out to Melusine who looks at it as if she has never seen one before.
“It’s Felix,” he says, as if that much is obvious. “Talk to her.”
Melusine takes the phone cautiously. “Felix? Hello?”
“Melusine?”
“Yes.”
“Ah. Hello.”
The conversation seems doomed. But then Felix takes charge. “Are you at the store location?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there in half an hour. Can you wait?”
“Yes,” Melusine says and she looks at Dieter who shakes his head.
“I can be here,” she says again and Martin gives her a thumbs up and bats his eyelashes at Dieter who scowls at him.
“See you shortly,” Felix says and she rings off.
“How will I know what she looks like?” Melusine asks Martin, and Dieter laughs loudly, as if that is the funniest thing he’s heard.
“You can’t miss her. Mel, here’s my accountant’s card. Phone him later, he’ll give you the paper work. Keep a list of any expenses, like magazines or signage tests that you run. Like I say, go to town, have fun and have it all ready when we get back.”
He gives her a wink and signals to Martin who is sending a text message. “Him and that phone,” he says tolerantly to Melusine. “He’s never off it. See you in two weeks. We have to go shopping now. We need to refresh our wardrobe for Spain.”
At the word ‘shopping’, Martin immediately stops texting and rushes up to Dieter and gazes in his eyes. �
�I love you,” he says and Dieter laughs.
“And so you should,” he says good naturedly and the two stroll off, with Martin bounding like a lamb and hanging onto Dieter’s arm.
Melusine buys herself a coffee in the town square while she waits for Felix. She looks around at the open market vendors who are there each day selling fresh produce despite the weather turning cold. The cobblestones are slick with recent rain and Melusine checks the time on the ornate gold hands of the clock tower. She cannot help but muse over the twists and turns that her life has taken. From Vegas and Gunther and all the happiness and longing he has brought to her life, to Hans’s breakdown, to this latest adventure of opening a café; she is amazed by the happenstance that’s come her way.
Then she is startled from her reverie.
“Melusine?” she hears a soft melodic voice beside her and she turns.
“Oh Felix,” she exclaims, “you’re incredibly beautiful.”
Felix flutters her extra long false eyelashes and smiles modestly. “You are very beautiful too, Melusine,” she says graciously.
Felix is a long-legged colt of a girl with a head of shocking pink hair — she looks like a neon night-clubbing version of a Disney Heidi; her pink hair is even braided.
“To business,” Melusine says. “What did Martin tell you about all of this?”
Felix gets serious. “He told me that you’re a great artist when it comes to pastries but you need a front office manager to run the store, keep it stocked and be a good little hostess to our guests.”
“And can you do it?”
“I’m the best thing for the job since sliced bread,” Felix states, matter-of-factly. “Although why I’d ever compare myself to something so mundane as sliced bread I have no idea. I’m a creamy peppermint meringue; so sweet and tart, you’ll never want to taste anything else your whole life.”
“Meringues are good,” Melusine says and she smiles.
“Did you make a list yet?” Felix asks.
“A list of what?”
“Everything. Martin told me that Dieter wants to see a business plan and logo designs and menus when he gets back. And while Dieter may look like an easy-going old guy, trust me, he’s not. When it comes to money, he expects return on investment. So we’d better get our sweet little asses moving. Have you got a computer? If not, Martin said we could buy one and expense it.”
“No, that’s all right, I’ve got one,” Melusine says. “At home.”
“And tell me this, what is your favourite coffee shop in town?”
Melusine is taken aback and then she sees why Felix is asking and she starts to list them, along with their specialities.
“Now we have to take all those things and put them into one store — ours. This will be such fun!”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Melusine says. “I am totally panicked. It suddenly all seems immense.”
“Nonsense,” Felix says. “It’s a piece of cake, strawberry shortcake to be exact, and now I promise to stop with the bakery analogies. We need to buy big whiteboards and pens and paper and we’ll map it all out, we’ll put all our ideas down; the good, the bad and the downright insane. Then we’ll fine-tune what we’ve got, input the data onto the computer and see if it all makes sense. It will be fine, I promise you. Can we do this at your home?”
“Yes, sure we can. But wait,” Melusine stops and looks at Felix.
“The drugs, right? You want to know about the drugs?”
Melusine nods.
“Fine. And because I want this to work between us, I’m going to tell you everything, okay? And I’m not ashamed to say it’s not a pretty story, it just is what it is. Or, was, shall I say. I’ve done just about every drug I could lay my hands on — and I do mean anything and everything. From the time I was about ten. Obviously I didn’t start off taking all that crap, of course not, I sort of eased into it, as one does. My father used to beat me because of what I am and taking drugs made me feel okay — at least I didn’t feel like a freak when I was high. So then of course, I wanted more and more and I needed money and I used my pretty little freak body to get what I needed and then my father found out and he threw me out the house.”
“And then what happened?”
“I lived on the street, and yes, Melusine, I know about your husband and I’ve met him. He’s a nice guy. Crazy as a March hare but nice. Kind of crazy for you and me to be here now too if you think about it, but there are times I thank god for life’s crazy things too. So there I was, living on the street and working it and I met Martin and we started living together. It was never a sexual thing, him and me; we were just good friends. And then he met Dieter one night, at a high-end party, and they got all excited about each other. And Dieter got Martin clean but Martin said it had to be me too or he wouldn’t go with Dieter. I didn’t come right, not like Martin did, I kept falling off the wagon for about two more years. Finally Martin persuaded Dieter to pay for me to go to rehab one more time and by that time I was so tired of my shitty life, I even wanted to go, I even begged Dieter myself. I said, please, I’ll make good on it. And I’ve been clean for six months now.”
“Do you drink?” Melusine wants to know it all.
Felix shakes her head. “Nope. Not a drop. It’s all a bit tough for sure. I’m not saying it’s easy but I want this more than anything, to be sober. I don’t hate myself anymore, I don’t hate what I am. Part of rehab was a lot of therapy and I still go to group, twice a week. I’m learning to be okay with all the crap I did. It’s not easy being born a freak…”
“You’re not a freak,” Melusine protests but Felix shakes her head.
“I felt like one. Some days I still do. But I’m learning to be okay with it. I can understand why Dieter is hesitant about involving me, sure, I understand. But can you see how much this means to me? I want so badly to be a success too. I don’t care how hard I have to work, Melusine. I’m not afraid of hard work, I never have been. I’m afraid, or I was afraid, of myself. And I’m not, anymore. I’ve got a lot to offer and you might think I look like Bambi in drag but I’ve got a sharp business mind, you’ll see.”
Melusine is not a hundred percent sure whether this impassioned speech is the truth or if she is being hustled, but she decides to put her doubts aside and give Felix a chance.
“All right, consider yourself officially onboard,” Melusine says and she takes Felix by the arm. “Let’s find an art store and get supplies. And then let’s take a cab. We can expense it.”
Felix grins. “Melusine,” she says, unknowingly echoing Martin’s earlier words, “you won’t regret this — believing in me. You’ll see.”
36.
IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG before Felix makes good on her promise and Melusine cannot imagine life without her.
Jonas finds them on the evening of their first meeting, both of them lying on the floor, surrounded by charts with all kinds of annotations, lists and ideas.
“Jonas, meet Felix, my new business partner,” Melusine says, “and Felix, meet Jonas, my son.”
Jonas gives Felix an appreciative look.
“Jonas has a girlfriend,” Melusine says pointedly and Jonas laughs.
“Don’t worry, Mami. Hey, haven’t I seen you somewhere before?” he asks Felix who blushes.
“I don’t think so,” she says primly, pulling down her very short skirt. “I doubt we’ve travelled in the same circles.”
Jonas is about to say something else when Melusine interjects.
“Jonas,” she says tactfully, “would you like some tea?” She gestures toward the kitchen.
Felix grins. “Don’t worry, Melu. Hey, Jonas, pardon my bluntness since we only just met, but I’ve got the same wedding tackle as you do, only I’m a girl at heart.”
Jonas pales. “Thank you for not letting me discover that by putting my hand up your skirt. Not that I would have put my hand up your skirt,” he says, quickly casting a look in his mother’s direction, “but you know what I mean.”
Just then Nika arrives. Jonas introduces her to Felix.
“I know you from somewhere,” Nika says frowning, and Jonas agrees.
“I know. Me too. But Felix says not.
“Oh god,” Felix says. “Okay, so fine. Food samples. You both liked the chocolate soy cookies that I thought were the grossest things.”
“Right! We were hungry that day,” Nika is defensive. “I would have eaten cardboard.”
“You pretty much did,” Felix says, laughing. “And you both came back for thirds.”
“You were a food sample person?” Melusine asks.
Felix nods. “My first job on the straight and narrow. Very nearly drove me back to drugs. After the cookies, I peddled soy chicken wings. I phoned my counsellor and said I’d rather be cleaning toilets with my tongue. So she got me a job at the Mission and that’s where I met Hans although I didn’t know who he was at the time. I just knew him as the guy who needs to sleep sitting upright during the day. Oh, and that he tells everybody constantly that he killed his sister.”
“Poor Hans,” Melusine says absently. “Felix, we still don’t have a name for our café. Any ideas, children?”
“Children!” Jonas and Nika shriek with laughter.
“You must be tired, Mami,” Jonas says.
She smiles. “Yes, I am. It’s been a lot to take in over the past few days. You lot think about it, and I’ll go and make the tea.”
“And I need to phone my counsellor,” Felix says. “If you don’t mind, Melu.”
“Of course not, come with me.”
They leave and Jonas and Nika poke at the mess on the floor while Jonas whispers the details of Felix’s physique.
“But she’s a perfect girl,” Melusine hears Nika say before Jonas hushes her.
“They should name the coffee shop after Ingeborg Bachmann,” Nika says but Jonas objects.
“Café Bachmann? Ingeborg’s Café? I don’t think so.”
“What about a line from her poem?”
“I hate to tell you this but her poems are too depressing.”