by M Howson
Suddenly the whole roof was ablaze with hundreds of tiny, twinkling lights. Amy saw a lovely sheltered area with a jungle of plants and palm trees in massive pots.
‘You can’t see the ocean now, but trust me, on a sunny day it’s amazing.’
‘I am sure it is.’ She said.
‘It’s better with music.’ Justin pressed some buttons and soft, classical music filled the air.
Amy was impressed, it was so beautiful. ‘Startling place.’ She said, wishing she could be sitting in that sheltered hideaway in the corner.
‘Do you think that these two…?’ Jack asked Frank quietly.
‘Time will tell; - it’s a good start seeing Justin interested.’ Frank said thinking about his own dilemma.
Justin watched Amy and had to restrain himself not to touch her.
He saw the guys discreetly disappearing. The old fixers!
Chapter Ten
Amy’s phone started ringing. Dream over!
‘Hi babe. I can’t make it to Jack’s house. I’ve got held up.’ The big-breasted blonde who was servicing Ed couldn’t agree more.
‘Be a doll and bring the car up to the house. I am on my way there.’ Ed was gasping for air. The girl was doing a good job!
‘I don’t think it’s a good idea and I don’t know where you live Ed!’ Amy was speechless. What? Why would she do that?
Justin had discreetly backed off when Amy answered the call, but now he was listening.
‘I live off Mulberry Drive.’ Ed said proudly.
So what?! Everyone who wanted to be anyone aimed to live around Mulberry Drive. Amy remembered an ex-boxer who’d made it into Hollywood movies; for his roughness and blurting out his unedited thoughts, declaring proudly on a reality show that he lived on Mulberry Drive.
The road was at least forty kilometres long, Ed could’ve lived anywhere!
‘What number? I am not saying I will do it Ed, tell me where you live and I’ll consider it.’ Like it mattered; she was ready to leave in a taxi. She noted the number and cut him off. A nice evening….. doubtful.
‘I am sorry Justin, I will have to go.’
‘I happened to overhear some of your conversation Amy. Is something up?’
‘Yes! Ed isn’t coming here tonight but wants me to drop his precious car off at his house!’ She wanted Justin to know for some strange reason, that she had nothing to do with Ed. ‘I don’t know the guy, nor do I want to get to know him. I made the mistake of letting him talk me into a ‘date.’ There, she said it, why did she need to explain?
‘I’m glad to hear that Amy!’ Justin didn’t want to play the hero, but he also didn’t want her to leave. ‘I happen to know where he lives.’
‘Ed?’ She asked distracted. ‘You do?’
‘Yeah, don’t ask me why, I can’t stand the guy.’
‘You can’t stand him?’ She asked interested.
‘No!’
Amy picked up her cell. ‘I need a taxi to take me home.’
‘I can drive you home. Why don’t you take his car back, I’ll follow you in mine and then take you home.’
‘No thanks, a taxi will do.’ She was already dialling a number.
‘No, don’t take this the wrong way Amy. I am only offering a ride home – I promise.’ The last thing he needed was for Amy to run off. Not that he couldn’t find her, - but he wanted to help her to get home.
Amy couldn’t help thinking how good looking he was, especially with that boyish grin.
‘All right, take me home.’ She grabbed his hand and was pulling him towards the door. ‘Let’s go!’
‘I can’t believe this, a woman in control!’ Holding Amy’s hand was like holding a live wire. Before he could pay attention to his feelings she stopped abruptly.
‘Where are the guys?’ She searched around for Frank and Jack.
‘If I’m not mistaken, in the library, sampling the brandy!’
‘Drinking!’
‘They are old enough to drink you know?’ He teased her.
‘Very funny!’
They ran down some stairs and came out by the front entrance of the house.
‘Do you want to wait in Ed’s car Amy? I will quickly say goodbye to Jack and grab a car.’
‘What? You mean you haven’t got your own car here?’
‘You’ve got it. Jack has a few; I am guaranteed to get one.’ He gently let go of Amy’s hand. ‘I won’t be long.’
‘I should say goodbye too, it isn’t nice to vanish without a word.’
‘Don’t worry, I will pass it on.’ Justin said and rushed off.
In Ed’s car Amy turned on the stereo. Classical music filled the air. Ed and classical music didn’t go together. She fiddled around with the many gadgets in the car.
‘I said your goodbyes, they were disappointed.’ Justin was back. ‘They want to see you again.’
‘Oh, I am sorry I should’ve gone in.’ She said feeling guilty.
‘Don’t worry; they’ll get over it. If you’re ready,….?’
Amy saw him getting into a black Jeep, indicating her to follow him. She started up the Aston. Wow! It sounded great.
Chapter Eleven
Frank moved away from the library window, which overlooked the front of Jack’s house. The envelope he had just opened held the key. Here was a situation that needed careful handling, but Frank had a new plan.
‘Here’s the deal Jack. I want to start filming as soon as possible!’ Frank picked up his glass of whisky. ‘I don’t want to waste any time.’
Jack nodded. ’Whatever you want, you can get everyone on board in a couple of months.’
‘I don’t have a couple of months. I’m talking four weeks, tops.’
‘Weeks?’
Frank was ready to start at that very moment, but he had to pull some people from whatever they were involved with. That meant money. He didn’t mind paying – he had experienced that money made many things possible.
‘One month Jack, you on board?’
‘What’s the plan?’
‘We go to Europe when everyone is available.’
‘Europe?! Where in Europe?’ Jack already knew the answer.
‘I want it to be authentic. I want the perfect setting.’
‘I see, Hungary, is it? It will be Christmas shortly!’ Jack said.
‘I have arranged to hire a Shooting Box near Budapest.’
‘You’re not backing out Frank?’
‘No, why should I do that?’
‘Yeah, no reason, we are old enough to handle the consequences, right?’ They both laughed.
‘This means, you have decided on the actors!’ Jack continued.
‘I have! You will approve Jack!’
‘I am looking forward to it.’
‘You know me well, old boy, I did get some actors to audition through Eleanor but I need confirmation. As far as I know they aren’t involved in anything they can’t put on hold at the moment.’
‘Who are ‘they’ Frank?’ Jack was inquisitive.
A slow smile danced on Frank’s face. ‘You will find out soon enough.’
Jack had a feeling that this was going to be something very different. The story was great. It was true and it involved them both. Justin had captured every minute of the old times. The difficult but fun times; - how different everything was then! How beautiful the women were, always dressed in fabulous clothes.
‘Better get things organised, we have a long trip ahead.’ Jack said.
‘A trip of a lifetime Jack!’
‘Literally, - lifetime!’ Jack refilled his glass. ‘I’ll drink to that Frank!’
‘By the way, we need to talk about the case.’ Frank said.
‘Why do I have the feeling you want an end to it?’
‘I don’t! But there is something else.’
‘What are you saying man?’
‘This!’ Frank threw down the envelope in front of Jack on the desk. ‘Open it!’
‘What is this?
Jack studied the photos. ‘Is this …?’ He asked surprised.
‘Yes, it is!’
‘Explain!’
Frank was agitated. ‘It’s a long story Jack, but now the time has come to do something about it.’
‘Why am I looking at a photo of Amy, the girl I just met for the first time tonight?’ Jack asked, wondering what was going on. ‘Who is she?’
Frank took a deep breath, ‘She’s the daughter of my sister’s son. My family, if you like.’
‘What?’
‘She doesn’t know. I hired a private detective to look her up.’ Frank said, thinking why he had to share this with Jack. In truth; he wanted Jack to know. The difficult task was telling Amy who Frank was.
‘I discovered she was here in LA.’ Frank said.
‘What about tonight? Coincidence?’
‘Whatever you think, I didn’t organise tonight. Jack. It was a chance meeting.’
Frank wasn’t going to tell Jack that he knew Ed had a date tonight with Amy. The detective had done a good job as usual and Frank didn’t need to plan too much. Frank suggested to Ed that Nonna’s was a good place to take a girl. He also arranged that phone call earlier, to move Ed out of the way. Also Frank knew Jack would notice Amy, it was easy.
‘This is a surprise! You have kept it very quiet. How long have you known?’ Jack leaned over his desk to examine the photos in detail.
‘I’ve known for a very long time, but I only wanted to watch, from a distance, nothing else. If you remember, I left Eva with her husband when she was only sixteen and pregnant. I did try to contact her but the war made it very difficult.
Many years passed, and then I finally received a letter from her, written some months before. I learned that she had a son. She said they were fine. I wrote back of course but I heard nothing for years, until a letter arrived from her husband informing me that she had passed away. A picture of her son Louie was included, a grown up man, but he also left the country because of The Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Louie was nineteen, a little older than me when I arrived here.
Eva didn’t know where I was living in America; still I was hoping Louie would turn up one day - he didn’t. When my detective found him, he was married to an American woman, settled in New York. Amy was already a few years old.
Before you ask Jack, yes, of course, I helped them financially but it wasn’t easy. I didn’t want to reveal who I was.’
‘Why not?’ Jack asked, wrapped up in the story.
‘I don’t know why? I ask myself the same question every day.’ Frank mused.
‘How did you help?’
‘I helped Louie get the job he wanted. He was an architect, a very good one in fact. He worked for J. Bloomer’s for some years and then he set up his own company.’
‘Bloomer’s, wow!’ A well-known and expensive firm; Jack was impressed.
‘He and his wife died suddenly in a car crash when Amy was at university. A great loss Jack, it broke my heart!’
‘Amy was provided for, a small inheritance, and there is also a trust set up for her, money she can get whenever she likes.’ Frank continued.
‘Set up by you.’ Jack stated, - this was a story! He thought he knew his best friend and now it turned out, he didn’t know him at all.
‘Yes, by me.’ Frank was overcome by a great sadness. He wished he had handled things differently. He was concerned about how best to tell Amy, he couldn’t just say – I’m your Great Uncle. ‘I wanted her to be close to me Jack. She’s done so well. I am very proud of her.’
‘What are your plans Frank?’
‘I don’t have any. I am an old man, I simply want to get to know her, I suppose.’ Frank said thoughtfully.
‘I know what you want! Keep her close and see how things work out between you two.’ Jack had no idea why Frank had handled the situation in this way but it must’ve been difficult for him and he felt very privileged that Frank had decided to take him into his trust.
‘I do want to see her but, wouldn’t want her to get involved in the family thing, unless she wanted to be.’ Frank suddenly felt better, talking it over with Jack had its benefits and he trusted Jack with his life.
‘What happened to Eva’s husband?’
‘I don’t know. I tried to contact Jani but I failed.’ Frank was walking up and down in the library trying to ease his nerves. He’d failed his sister and her husband – guilt was a powerful thing!
‘You did what you could Frank, maybe you could’ve handled it in another way but it’s too late to think about that.’ Jack knew what Frank was feeling. The guilt was written all over him. ‘Look, she’s here with us now; see if she wants to be a part of your life. Get to know each other – you will find out eventually where you stand. If she wants the truth, you tell her; if she doesn’t, there’s no need to upset her.’
‘You’re right.’ Frank said relieved that his friend thought the same way he did.
‘Let me point out one thing Frank, you might have to watch Justin. The guy seems to be interested in Amy too!’ Jack said chuckling.
’Now, now, what you’re saying is…..’
‘Justin is all right, old man, and you know it!’
‘I suppose I do.’ Frank admitted with a smile.
****
The drive through Mullberry Drive was breath-taking. It was a windy night, which resulted in a clear view of the city as the smog cleared. Amy found it hard to concentrate on the winding road. She wanted to stop and admire the view. She’d been on this road before but never at night.
After driving for what seemed like ages, Justin finally stopped in front of an open gate leading onto a long drive; he wanted to let Amy drive up to the house. She didn’t. Justin opened her car door.
‘Don’t you want to take the car to the garage?’
‘You kidding?’
Okay, she didn’t want that. ‘You want me to drop off the keys?’ He assumed she wasn’t staying.
‘Yeah, would you? - but I’ll come with you.’ She said. ‘Curiosity only.’
They left the cars by the gate and walked up to the house. Amy thought she heard music. As they got closer, they saw the downstairs French windows blazing with light.
‘Ed is certainly at home.’ Amy remarked calmly but it wasn’t calmness what she felt. Something was up, her instinct told her.
‘I’ll post the keys through the mailbox.’ She said, but before Justin could reply she suddenly stopped.
Amy and Justin had an excellent view of Ed, servicing a well-equipped blonde in the middle of a large room in front of the open French windows.
Justin looked uncomfortable. ‘I don’t know what to say …’
Amy started to laugh, this was actually too funny. ‘You want to get a close up?’ She asked with a cheeky smile.
‘If you do … I won’t say no.’ Justin grinned.
They made their way carefully towards the open doors, expecting Ed to look up at any minute. As they reached the threshold, the girl looked up.
‘Hi.’ She said, without stopping.
Ed jumped. ‘Amy, it isn’t what it looks like!’ He desperately tried to stuff himself back into his pants.
This wasn’t good, when he had arrived for the meeting he was supposed to have, the man wasn’t there. Instead, there was a girl who was more than willing to give him a ride to his house.
Who was he to question? – he was getting laid! End of story. He didn’t think Amy would arrive so fast - the girl had said she didn’t know the area.
‘Entertaining.’ Amy said, disgusted.
‘I agree, yet, too much in your face!’ Justin had seen embarrassing situations in his life, but this one was a winner by far.
Amy threw down the car keys onto a coffee table. ‘Don’t come near me.’ She said to Ed as he rushed towards her. ‘Ever!’
‘But Amy….’ He pleaded.
‘This?’ Justin pointed at the blonde. ‘For a girl like Amy?’ He shook his head in disbelief and left.
&nb
sp; Amy wondered what had possessed her to go on a date with a pig like Ed.
Justin wanted to say something ‘wise’, but nothing came to his mind.
It was a silent journey to Amy’s house.
‘So this is where you live.’ Justin said, after pulling up in front of her house.
‘This is the house I rent.’
‘Okay,… I get it, you rent it! Looks spacious.’
‘It is.’
‘Inviting.’
‘I know, it’s my cosy pad.’
‘Does it have a kitchen?’
‘State of the art!’
‘Coffee machine?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Let’s see.’ He jumped out of the car, fully expecting Amy to stop him. She didn’t.
In the kitchen she put the coffee machine on, picked out two espresso cups and waited for the machine to finish.
The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air. Amy handed a cup to Justin.
‘What do you do, Justin?’ She asked, while measuring out a spoonful of sugar.
The atmosphere had changed; Justin felt the tension rising between them. ‘I’m in the music business.’
‘An indefinite answer. What do you do?’
‘I own a music label, The Room.’
‘Interesting, I’ve heard that label is up for sale.’
‘You have?’
‘Being a lawyer …’
He put his cup down, reached out and pulled Amy towards him. He ran his hands through her hair. Amy felt her whole body responding to his touch. She waited for ‘the kiss’, but it wasn’t coming. He didn’t do a thing; just held her close to him, studying her face.
‘You smell sweet.’ He whispered into her soft hair.
She didn’t know what was happening to her senses, it was painfully pleasant and she didn’t want him to let her go.
‘I’d better go.’ He said, getting his breath back.
‘Hope you enjoyed the coffee.’ She said, fully composed.
‘I did.’
‘I’m glad.’
‘Maybe I’ll see you again?’
‘Maybe.’