Chapter 5

‘Trish, you are the most amazing woman, my best friend. Thank
you so much. I could kiss you,’ Gareth was animated and excited.
‘Okay, that’s very nice. But what have I done to deserve
such praise?’
‘You sent me to that dreadful place and there she was!’
‘Who, what are you talking about?’
‘Oh, stop pretending you don’t know. Janine, of course!’
 ‘Okay, so who is Janine?’

‘Trish! You are so evil. Okay, I met her and she just
ignored me at first. She peeked at me and when I looked at her, she looked
away. Then, dear Wayne went over and asked her to dance with me. She just
glared at him and I thought I would die.’
 ‘Oh gosh!’
‘Yes, she finally walked over to me, and then smiled. “So,
you are Gareth?” I nodded. “So, why don’t you want to dance with me?” I just
stared at her. She took my hand and we went to dance. I felt her, you know, all
over me.’
‘Hmm, I am sure.’
‘No, I mean, I felt the woman. We danced a few times and
then we went to join Wayne and Lisa, who, by the way, was in a much better
mood. Wayne, however, seemed to have gone into a slump. Anyway, we talked a
bit. She is a psychologist, can you believe it? As sexy as they come. I want to
lie on her couch right now.’ Trisha laughed.
 ‘Okay, so you are in
lust. What happened?’
‘I did what I know. I took her home. But nothing happened.’
 ‘What? You?’
 ‘Yes, we talked and
talked and listened to music. It was the most erotic experience of my life.’
 ‘Gareth, are you
feeling okay?’
 ‘Yeah, yes, it was
intimate. I took her home this morning. We did not sleep at all.’
 ‘So, you took a woman
home and just spoke for a couple of hours?’
 ‘Yes, we watched the sun
rise.’
 ‘Gareth, I find this
hard to believe.’
 ‘Me too. But you were
right. You said it would be good for me to go there. So, stop playing dumb and
tell me how she looks.’
 ‘Okay, okay, but I
could hardly tell you. I mean, you would have looked at every woman with long
blond hair and blue eyes. She has a mark on her left arm, I don’t know. A
little patch. Okay, let’s see. Also, she is a lot shorter than you, but then
who isn’t? And her eyes are large and she wears a pink lip gloss, little
makeup, but she certainly doesn’t need it. Great legs.’
 ‘Excellent Trish.
Shit, you are good. Only thing, I don’t know about the mark on her arm. I
didn’t exactly inspect her. What is it?’
 ‘Nothing, just a
distinguishing feature, I suppose.’
 ‘You know her better
than I do. So we have a date tonight. I feel a little nervous now. What if we
just talk again?’
Trisha laughed now. ‘Ah, Gareth is back in top form. Why
can’t you meet a woman and just talk? Really, it might be a good thing.’
 ‘Because she is so
lovely. I would die if I never got to know her that way.’
 ‘Hmm, I think you
need to relax. Really, try and just enjoy her as a person for once. Women like
that.’
‘Okay, okay, so tonight, I just see what happens?’
 ‘Yes, it might be fun
to like her, Gareth.’
‘Hmm, I don’t need a friend. I have plenty of those. But
okay, is this friendly or psychic advice?’
 ‘I am afraid, just
friendly. Nothing had come to me. I seem to have the strongest ones when Rod is
around, isn’t that ironic?’
‘Yes, I notice that you seem much stronger. Why is that?’
‘I don’t know. The more I try to hide it, the stronger it
gets.’
‘Shit, Trish, he is going to find out, you know that?’
‘Yes, but for now, I like having him in my bed.’
‘Hmm, but the longer you take, the harder it gets.’
‘And the angrier he will be.’
‘Hmm, Wayne knows, so he might tell him.’
 ‘I know, I know. It
is driving me crazy.’
‘Yes, I also want to warn you. Wayne asked for your number.
He is determined to know what you saw about him.’
 ‘I can’t tell him,
because I just get this image, of him and Kathryn. It is like a magical field
around them, but then there is a cloud. That’s the problem. There is a problem,
but I can’t see it. So there is nothing to say.’
 ‘Hmm, a cloud,
where?’
 ‘Around him, as if he
needs to do or not do something. I can’t tell yet.’
‘So you are sure it is Kathryn?’
 ‘Yes, she is smiling
happily and is in love with him. I think he is not going back. How can I tell
him that?’
 ‘Hmm I see. Yes, to
tell him might influence him.’
‘Yes, so I have to avoid him for a while. So keep him away
from me. If I see the problem, then I will tell him. I suppose if I could read
his cards, I could work it out. But how can I read his cards? Rod will
definitely find out.’
‘Okay. I will try to keep him away. How is Rod?’
‘Oh, fine. We had a good night, relaxed and sexy.’
‘Good. Just what I ordered. Seeing him again?’
‘Yes, tonight.’
‘Ah, good, remember, lots of sex and no conversation.’
Trisha laughed.  ‘I
will try.’
~ ~ ~ ~

When Wayne tried to phone Trisha, she was on the phone to
someone else. Later, her secretary said she had gone out for a while. Okay, she is being evasive. He found the
address and decided he would go to her office. When he got there, he watched
full red lips laughing on the phone. She had long, red hair that hung loose
like she had been too lazy to comb it. Her blouse squeezed her breasts out,
upwards and her big brown eyes turned to him, smiling. She stopped talking for
a while and said, ‘look I will call you back later.’
He liked her voice, the way it soothed the caller. She was
quite exquisite.
 ‘Hello, sorry about
that, but I did not see you come in. Where is the patient?’
She got up and leaned over. He watched as her breast moved
towards him, greeting him cheerfully.
 ‘Ur…. I suppose I am
the patient.’
 ‘Oh, you are Rod,
aren’t you? I recognize the voice. I am pleased to meet you. I am afraid she is
out.’
He looked at her, the way she spoke to him as if to comfort
him.
 ‘No, I am not Rod. I
am his brother, Wayne. So Trisha is really out?’
 ‘Yes, oh, you sound
like him. He calls all the time. I have never met him, but he calls all the
time. Your voice is very similar. Sorry.’
 ‘Sure, fine. Ur...
you are Kathryn?’
She stared at him. How
does he know my name?  ‘Ur, yes.’
 ‘Oh, Trisha has
talked about you. Wonderful things. But she never mentioned that you were quite
so lovely.’
Kathryn giggled. It was the highlight of her day that a
glorious hunk would come to the office and flirt with her. She was in heaven.
She liked the way he had dark, intense eyes that looked like they were trying
to strip her naked. Oh, he is quite
scrumptious.
 ‘Oh thank you. I am
surprised. Trisha never talks that much.’
 ‘She told me about
you. So, is it quiet now?’
 ‘Yes, we are closed
for lunch now. She is out, treating some cat that was bitten by the family dog.
They don’t seem to get on well, but the owner, Mrs. Kristy, is about 80 years
old and she can’t get here. So Trisha goes out there. I don’t know when she
will be back. She often spends some time there, to keep the old lady company.’
 ‘Ah, but I am pleased
I came down here. So, do you want to have a quick lunch with me?’
‘Ur, I try not to go out when Trisha is out, but...’
 ‘Oh come on. I will
take responsibility.’
 ‘No, no, it’s just
that she takes her patients seriously. Okay, let me phone her.’
‘Hi Trisha. Yes, very quiet. I want to close up for a bit. I
need to go out. Do you have a key?’
 ‘Yes, yes, but I
won’t be back for a while. I have some shopping to do. Do we have anything on
this afternoon?’
‘No, nothing scheduled.’
‘Fine, I need a break. Can you call me if you need me?’
‘Yes, of course. Melissa has just walked in. I am sure she
can hold the fort while we are out.’
 ‘Oh, perfect.
Kathryn, have fun, okay? If it takes longer, then, well, that’s fine.’
 ‘Ur, what do you
mean?’
 ‘It might take longer
than you think, so relax.’
 ‘Okay, fine. I might
see you later then, Bye.’
 ‘Melissa, perfect
timing. Olga didn’t pitch for work, so I am all alone here. I need to go out
for a while. Can you hold the fort?’
 ‘Yes, I was coming to
try and get some studying done with you. But we can do that later. When will
you back?’
 ‘Hi, I am Wayne. She
is going to be a while. Do you mind?’
Melissa looked at him and smiled. ‘Oh, no. I have to
complete an assignment. Where is Trisha?’
‘Mrs. Kristy.’
‘Ouch! Have you done your assignment?’
‘Sort of. I need one more day.’ They laughed
‘Okay, see you later. Thanks.’
Wayne liked this giggling woman very much. She seemed to
like to laugh and he loved it.
‘So, you are Kathryn, hmm?’
‘Yes, why does that surprise you?’
‘I just never imagined that you would be so.... perfect.’
‘Perfect?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh I am not sure I like that.’
‘Why?’
‘Because that is so boring,’ and he laughed.
‘What assignment are you doing?’
‘Oh, I am a student of the veterinary sciences. That is why
I work for Trisha. She helps me get practical experience. So, she needed a
secretary and that’s what I do while I study. The receptionist, of course,
takes advantage of this and doesn’t come to work too often.’
‘Ah, so Trisha does not mind you studying?’
‘Oh no. She is great. Sometimes, I feel so tired or stupid.
She is always telling me that I am too smart to let a few obstacles stop me.’
‘Hmm, that is very sound advice. Yes, Trisha is a woman of
many talents.’
‘Yes, but she is a little strange. She told me to take as
long as I needed, because it could take a while. But I never told her where I
was going. I think she spend too much time with that old lady, I tell you,’ and
she laughed.
But Wayne was trying to think hard. What did she mean? So, this is important. Hmm, yes, I bloody hope so.
Kathryn is too lovely for a casual encounter.
They chatted. They went to the park and sat on a bench.
Kathryn was disappointed when he said he had come with his girlfriend.
Gosh! All the good
ones were really gone. But never mind, it is wonderful to spend time with an
intelligent, funny man who thinks I am beautiful and does not look like his dog
or cat!
When she looked at the time, it was almost 4.00.
 ‘Oh Gosh! Look at the
time! I had better phone to check that everything is fine.’
‘Melissa, sorry. Is everything alright?’
‘Yes, one man came in, but I made an appointment for him
tomorrow. Trisha is not coming back. Are you?’
‘Yes, shortly. Are you okay?’
‘Yes, fine. I managed to get some work done.’
‘Okay, bye.’
She smiled at Wayne. ‘Oops, I have been bad.’
‘No, it was wonderful.’
‘I know. I lost track of the time. Anyway, Trisha is not
coming back today. She has gone shopping. I think she has another date with
your brother.’
‘Yes, I have no doubt.’
 ‘Yes, he sounds quite
nice. But she does drive him a little crazy.’
Wayne laughed. ‘Trust me. He is not an easy man. Always
wants to have his way. So they deserve each other.’
 ‘Trisha is a lovely
person, but a little stubborn. But you know, she really cares about her
patients and everything. I like that about her. She lets us use her offices for
our practical training. All my friends come in and she doesn’t mind. She just
laughs and tells us to have fun.’
~ ~ ~ ~

It was a few days before Wayne got to see Trisha again. Rod
had taken her to his house for a drink and to collect his clothes.
 ‘Hi Trisha. I seem to
have displaced my brother.’
‘Yes, I am very pleased that you have displaced him. He
makes me coffee in bed and makes sure I get to work on time. Very useful man.’
She laughed as Rod raised his eyebrows at her. ‘Hmm, in that
mood, tonight? Fine.’
‘I am going out just now. Lisa is staying in. Would you guys
like a quick drink?’
‘Yes, please. I need to get some stuff and I will join you.’

When Rod left, Wayne looked at her. ‘So, are you going to
tell me or do I have to beg?’
‘Please, Wayne, this is not appropriate. Can you please let
it go?’
‘No, tell me.’
‘Okay, you are not going to be with Lisa. She will go home
this weekend and there is someone else. You will like her very much.’
‘Hmm, I see. Kathryn?’
‘That is not fair. If I say that, then you will sort
of....... don’t look at me like that! You are just as bad as your brother.
Okay, it seems like. But there is something else and I can’t see what it is.
There is a cloud over you, I think. I don’t know what it means. There is some
confusion.’
 ‘About what?’
 ‘I don’t know, okay?’

‘What else?’
‘Nothing, nothing. I don’t want to talk about this.
Rod......, we don’t talk about that. He doesn’t know.’
‘Yes, but how long can you keep it from him?’
‘I.... don’t know. Can you please get the drinks?’
‘Yes, yes.’
A few moments later, Lisa emerged from her bedroom. ‘Hi, I
didn’t know you were here.’
‘Yes, Wayne said you were resting. How are you?’
‘Oh fine. So, what are you two talking about?’
‘Oh, just work. Oh Rod, that was quick.’
 ‘Hmm, hello Lisa.
Feeling better?’
 ‘Yes, yes, thank you.
Sorry I have been a little gloomy. Just missing home, that’s all.’
And Rod did not miss the look that passed Trisha’s face. He
wondered why she took such a keen interest in sending the poor girl home. But
he smiled, because at least they were getting on very nicely now. Even Jocelyn
had eased up a little and told him she was happy for him. Things were looking
good and tonight, they would sit and talk. They had not done that in a while.
They sat and had a drink with Wayne and Lisa and Trisha was
relieved that they were perfectly civil. Rod looked very relaxed now. He sat
next to Trisha and touched her hand as he spoke.
 ‘Are you tired, Rod?’

 ‘Hmm, yes, a little.
This problem with Thomas Sealy. It has been quite difficult. I have spent days
going over all his books. There are errors and fraud. It is making me nervous
about others.’
 ‘I doubt it. When
these things happen, everybody folds, so you would have heard by now. Don’t you
think, Trisha?’
Wayne desperately sought her reassurance.
 ‘Yes, of course. It
is like a chain reaction. But Rod, you need a break from it all.’
‘Hmm I will see later,’ and he closed his eyes.
‘It doesn’t help that you are so ....pre-occupied with
Trisha at night.’ Lisa said in a flat tone.
Rod laughed. ‘Yes, I think this is all your fault, Patricia.
Keeping awake at night.’
Trisha just smiled. This
Lisa really has to go home. She is starting to get that Jocelyn streak, and I
don’t like it.
‘Want another drink, Rod?’
‘Hmm, yes, I suppose so.’
When Wayne left, Trisha whispered to him. ‘Do you want to
stay here tonight?’
‘Hmm yes, that would be nice. Is that okay with you?’
‘Of course. But you will have to take me home in the
morning, early.’
‘Fine.’

They sat on the balcony with Rod in a quiet, relaxed mood.
Lisa went back to bed and Wayne went to an undisclosed destination with friends
for a drink. It was 4.00 when Rod heard his brother return. Hmm, this is not good. Poor Lisa.
Rod was battling to fall off to sleep again. He had that
feeling again, like he was missing something. He spent a great deal of his time
paying attention to detail and he knew he was missing something. He tried hard
to figure out what it was. Eventually he realized that he did not like the odd
intimacy between Trisha and his brother. Something was wrong. She was tense
around him and only relaxed when he was not there. And Wayne asked too many
questions about her. There was something wrong. It frustrated him that he was
missing a detail. He needed to know what bothered him so much.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some five days later, when Lisa went back home and he hardly
saw Wayne, Jocelyn gave him the answer. ‘Hi Rod. How are you?’
 ‘Fine, a little busy,
but fine. And you?’
 ‘A little distressed.
I don’t know how to say this, but I think Trisha is seeing Wayne.’
 ‘What? Jocelyn, what
are you on about?’
 ‘Oh Rod, I don’t know
whether to say this. About two days ago I was driving in the area of her office
and his car was there. I didn’t think much of it, but then later, after my
appointment, he was still there. It was well after 5.00. He had been there the
whole afternoon. So I phoned there and he answered the phone.’
 ‘Jocelyn, are you
crazy?’
 ‘No, if you don’t
believe me, he has been there every afternoon, till late.’
Rod was silent. Trisha said she was out all afternoon, the
past few days. Some old woman with fighting cats and dogs.
 ‘This afternoon, he
was not there, so I investigated the matter. Rod, they are at your house.’
‘What, Joss. What do you mean?’
‘Her car is there, at your house, now.’
He sighed.  ‘Fine,
thanks. I will go over right now. I will kill both of them.’

Rod drove to his house. He had tried to phone her, but her
phone was off. His heart was beating so fast, he felt it stop when he saw her
car there, perched possessively on his driveway. He walked slowly now, trying
to control his breathing. His chest was tight and his brain seemed to have
died. He looked through the window and there she was. She was sitting on the
floor, her shoes off and Wayne sat opposite her. Her eyes were closed and she
was holding his hands, touching them, feeling them. Wayne was staring at her,
in complete fascination.
She jerked her head suddenly. ‘Rod is not alright. God,
what’s wrong? Rod!’
She turned her head and there he was, watching them from the
window. She got to her feet. ‘Rod, Rod!’ but he looked at her and just walked
back to his car.
‘Shit! Shit!’
‘Oh fuck it! He thinks we are.... No, Rod would never
believe that of me, of you. Shit, that is the craziest thing!’
Wayne stared at her. ‘We were sitting here, in his house, in
the middle of the afternoon.’
‘Yes, but why would he just come here?’
‘I don’t know.’
She tried to phone him, but he simply switched off his
phone. Wayne ran his fingers through his hair, pacing. ‘Let me deal with this.
He will listen to me. I ....he needs to talk to me. If you talk to him, you
will just fight.’
Wayne looked a little puzzled.  ‘He never comes home in the day. He has never
done that. Something is wrong here.’
‘Please, we need to find him.’

But Rod did not return to his office or his home. Wayne
waited until he fell off to sleep. He left messages for him and in the morning,
he woke up to see Rod staring at him.
 ‘Oh Shit, Rod! Fuck!
Where have you been?’
‘How could you? How could you even think of her that way?’
‘Rod, calm down, please. Sit down. There is nothing going
on. Please sit down and stop standing over me like that. Shit you should know
me better than that! Rod, she came over to help me. Don’t you understand? She
came to help me. She loves you.’
 ‘Really, is that why
she is in my house, with my brother, getting cozy?’
‘No, she was not getting cozy. I begged her to help me and
eventually she said yes. I practically forced her. She said she needed to speak
to you and I just went there this afternoon. I begged her.’
 ‘What exactly was she
helping you with? Are you a dog, cat, or maybe a horse?’
 ‘Rod, sit down and
let us talk, properly. Please, Roderick, sit down and listen very carefully.’
 ‘What? What possible
explanation can you give me for spending all your afternoons in her office?’
 ‘What are you talking
about? I saw her today for the first time since the night she stayed here.’
 ‘So you decided you
wanted more? Is that why you were both so eager for Lisa to leave?’
 ‘No, Lisa had to go.
But your Trisha, she would never do that. Gosh. Rod, don’t you know her?’
 ‘Clearly not as well
as you.’
 ‘Shut up, Rod, stop
it. I have never had any such designs on her. You have thought that right from
the beginning. You always wanted to believe that. Can you tell me why?’
 ‘Because I saw the
way you spoke to her, okay? From the first day.’
Rod sat down.  ‘I
don’t understand why you think I have been seeing her in her office. I have
been there, because she was not there. I...... have been seeing Kathryn. We met
there when Trisha was seeing some old lady.’
 ‘But Jocelyn saw you
with her, there and she even phoned.’
 ‘Joss? Your source of
information is Joss? Fuck it, Rod, I thought you had more intelligence than
that. You trust Joss more than me? After I warned you. You trust that mad,
compulsive bitch?’
Wayne got up and put his clothes on. He started packing his
things. ‘Fine, go to your precious Joss. After I tried to dump the insane cow,
you just had to take her in and look after her. Why? Tell me why? So now, she tells
you something, you don’t ask me, you ask her, the woman I dumped because she
was obsessive compulsive? Look at you, even now, you want to believe her. Go to
hell, you fool!’
 ‘Where do you think
you are going? You expect me to believe that Patricia was helping you with
what, to unwind? What do you take me for? All those secrets conversations,
really, Wayne. I want you to tell me how you can live with yourself after that.
Tell me, what was she helping you with?’
‘Something way above your intelligence. Go to Joss. I am
sure she will give you a nice explanation. You deserve each other. I am going.
I will collect the rest of my things later. I can’t bear to look at you right
now.’
‘Don’t you dare run away. Don’t you dare adopt that
self-righteous attitude with me. You should never have touched her or phoned
her or even thought about her. How could you? Behind my back?’
But Wayne looked at him and walked out. He sped out and
phoned Trisha.
 ‘The dark cloud? I
can tell you. The dear, wonderful Jocelyn.’
When he had told her everything, Trisha was silent. ‘Yes, I
suppose it makes sense. This is so easy for him. This way he doesn’t have to
really deal with me. I am sick of all this. I keep having to think what I am
going to say, or not say. Okay, I am going to tell him. Is he at home?’
 ‘Yes, but he is not
listening to me.’
 ‘Fine, let me try. Wayne,
thank you for trying. Where are you going?’
 ‘I will find a hotel
and then I will tell you where I am. Just in case that fool of a brother does
something stupid.’
 ‘Okay.’
She phoned him on his cell phone and then at home. But he
did not answer the phone. His office said he would not be in for the day. Shit. Where is he?

When she eventually got through to his cell phone later, he
greeted her. ‘Hello, Patricia. I take it you are well?’
 ‘No, Rod, I am not
well. Can we talk?’
‘No, I got a fairly good picture. And asking your lover to
explain it to me angers me even more than your deceit, actually. At least you
should have had the grace to tell me yourself. Have a wonderful life.’
And he hung up. She phoned him again. ‘Rod, will you please
listen to me? I have something important to tell you.’
‘Hmm, a little late don’t you think? Okay, now I know. You
are fucking my brother! I know, okay? Now leave me alone!’
Rod was so angry that he felt he could beat the both of them
up. How could dear, sweet Patricia do that? How
can Wayne, my own brother, who has been my friend for so long, hurt me this
way?

He couldn’t think. He went to his bed and tried to sleep. He
tried to think and there was a pounding feeling in his head. He played back all
the things that had bothered him from the first time they had met. No matter
what they told him now, he had known the first day. Wayne had been fixated with
her and they had all those odd conversations that only they understood. He
hated her now, for coming into his heart and tearing it apart. He wanted to
take her and shake her and squeeze the last bit of life from her. He hated the
way she sat on his floor, touching Wayne. Damn,
he had been a fool. He had known from the beginning that she was not honest
with him. He was so tired of all the lies and deceit, at work and at home. He
fell asleep and woke up later in the day. She had phoned him again and now he
was getting seriously angry with her. He imagined her sitting, clasping her
hands as she tried to tell him she was just chatting to his brother. Damn!
He ate and slept again. He woke up the next morning. Okay, I have been a total fool. Fine. Now
back to my life. Let that bitch die in hell with my brother! They deserve each
other.
~ ~ ~ ~

Two days later, he phoned Jocelyn. He felt calmer now and he
needed to thank her. ‘Hi Joss, how are you?’
‘Fine, fine, busy. Too much to do and too little time to do
it.’
‘Hmm, I know the feeling. Thanks for the other day. I
appreciate it.’
 ‘Oh Rod, are you
okay?’
 ‘Yes, now, yes, but I
was pretty mad. So it’s back to the drawing board.’
‘Oh Rod, I am so sorry. Can I do anything to help?’
‘No, I am fine, really.’
 ‘Come for dinner tonight.
I will cook something special and we can talk.’
‘Yes, sure, I need it.’

When he arrived at her house, Jocelyn was gay and happy. She
went to him and hugged him, ‘oh poor Rod!’
 ‘I am fine now. Still
a little pissed off, but fine.’
He ate his dinner quietly and Jocelyn chatted. She did not
mention Wayne or Trisha, but talked about her art.
 ‘I see you are doing
well.’
 ‘Yes, but you gave my
painting to that horrible woman! Ah, I wish you could get it back.’
‘No. I gave it her. It was a gift.’
‘Oh, can’t you get it back?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Fine. Now, tell me about work.’
‘Oh there is nothing to tell, usual stuff. Why do you want
the painting back?’
‘I hate the thought that you gave it to her as a gesture of
love. That really irks me, I suppose. After all that, she does not appreciate
you.’
‘It does not matter. That painting is for her. It does not
matter.’
‘Fuck it! Rod, you are still in love with her! After she did
that! What is wrong with you?’
 ‘Joss, leave it
alone. That painting belongs with her. You will not understand that. Anyway,
what does it matter now?’
‘She has something that should be for you and me.’
 ‘I had better get
back home. I have lots of work to do. Thank you, for a wonderful night.’
‘Will you come tomorrow?’
‘Ah, no, I am afraid not. Are you okay?’
‘Not really. I guess since Ian left, I feel a little
lonely.’
He hugged her. ‘You are so beautiful, I am sure some man is
going to snap you up in no time.’
 ‘But never the right
one.’
He laughed. ‘I am sure the right one will come along soon
enough.’
‘Oh really? Oh Rod!’
When he left, he felt that disquiet he always felt when he
knew he was missing something again.
~ ~ ~ ~

When Gareth phoned him in the week, he was excited, despite
himself. A dark part of him wanted to connect to something in her life, despite
everything she had done to him.  ‘Hi
Gareth, how are things with your lady?’
 ‘Janine, oh,
wonderful. We are having a wonderful time. She is great. I think I am in love.’

Rod laughed, ‘you poor man. That is tough, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, I know. She has just taken over my body and my brain
and I like it.’
‘Good, good.’
‘As Trisha keeps telling me, I have lost my marbles.’
‘Hmm, she would never understand that.’
 ‘Rod, I don’t want to
interfere, but you are making a huge mistake. Just so you know.’
 ‘It doesn’t matter
now. I have learnt my lesson. Stay away from sexy women in studios, especially
if they look vulnerable and mysterious.’
 ‘Fine, as long as you
know that you don’t have all the facts. All this trouble over a stupid
painting. I will see you around.’
Rod was confused now. A
painting? What does Gareth mean? He played back the conversation with
Jocelyn. She had gone on and on about the painting. What? She had said, ‘I hate the thought that you gave it to her as
a gesture of love’.
He remembered Wayne asking him over and over how she knew
that he was at Trisha’s office. Yes,
he wondered. How did she know that Trisha
was with Wayne at the house that day? She also told me that Wayne was staying
at the Regal Hotel. How did she know all this? Gareth had told him that he
did not have all the facts. Hmm, yes,
there is something missing and I am going to find out.

He phoned Wayne, his heart beating rapidly and his brain
feeling congested. ‘Wayne, how are you?’
 ‘Fine, what do you
want?’
‘I know you are going back in a few days, so I thought we
should talk.’
 ‘No thanks. There is
nothing to say. You have done a wonderful job, as usual. You know everything,
and anyway, what would be the point?’
 ‘I need your help.’
Wayne was silent for a long time.
 ‘I don’t think I
fully understand what has happened. Can you help me?’
‘Why, Rod, why? You have done a marvelous job of alienating
a woman who loves you, who is special, kind and so fucking vulnerable. What
does it matter? You will hurt her more. Leave it alone. This way, she is fine
and you can spend the rest of your life, fuming at the injustice of it all.
That way, you are safe. Now, leave it alone.’
‘I just need to understand. I don’t know how I got to the
point when I could accuse you that way. I know you and I know you would never
hurt me that way. So, I need to understand how I ended up being your creepy,
destructive older brother.’
 ‘Shit Rod! Ughh!
Leave it alone. I have to go. I have to see Kathryn. We are having some
issues.’
 ‘Oh, are you
alright?’
 ‘Yes, but you know, I
will be leaving and I am not sure I want to.’
 ‘Jesus! Is it that
serious?’
 ‘Yes, as Trisha says,
we are going to die together!’
 ‘Shit, what are you
going to do?’
 ‘That’s the problem.
I don’t really want to be here, with all this crap. I really have no reason to
stay here, but I think she might be special to me. So, I don’t know and she
senses that. There are problems. She will never leave her precious Trisha, who
has helped her through her studies, and now, when she qualifies, she wants to
join Trisha. It is like a cult I tell you. She wouldn’t even consider it.’
 ‘Why not?’
 ‘After all Trisha has
done for her, she wants to stay with her. Trisha tells her to go, but loyalty,
I suppose. Also, she loves it here and will never leave. She doesn’t say that,
but I know that she would just hate New York. You never told me that Trisha
even paid her fees.’
 ‘I didn’t know that.
I didn’t even know that she was helping Kathryn with her studies.’
 ‘Hmm, she was right
about you. You didn’t really want to know who she was.’
 ‘That’s not fair. She
never let me know. She would just shut me out.’
 ‘Yes, but she was
right, wasn’t she?’
 ‘That is totally
unfair. And you know it.’
 ‘Let’s be honest. You
had two versions, you chose Joss, my ex-girlfriend over her. She was right not
to trust you with her secrets.’
 ‘Okay, I deserved
that. Fine. Now what are you going to do about Kathryn?’
 ‘I don’t know. This
might anger you, but I am meeting Trisha tonight. She is great at helping me
work through these things. So there, go ahead, blow your top, whatever. I
actually don’t care. Trisha is going to be my friend. So, go for it.’
Rod laughed now. 
‘Shit you are still so cheeky with me! We need to talk, okay?’
 ‘Fine, but will you
learn to listen, too?’
 ‘Fine, fine, good
luck with Kathryn.’

Rod sat back in his chair and thought about Wayne. He must
have been completely crazy to even think that Wayne would do that to him. Wayne,
although younger, was protective over him and would easily die for him. What
had gone wrong in this brain?
He wished he could take it all back, because he knew it
would take a long time for Wayne to trust him again. He missed his brother so
much now and felt a great loss. Wayne should have been talking to him about his
problems. It had not been an easy decision for him to move to the States, but
once he was there, he had enjoyed living there. Could he come back now, living
a quieter life? Could he dare to take the risk that things would work out with
Kathryn? Tomorrow, he would see him and talk to him properly. He had been as
self-absorbed as Lisa, only obsessed with himself and Trisha. He never really
thought about what Wayne was going through. After all, he had broken up with
Lisa just recently and now had met Kathryn. He thought about it and that he did
not even know how his brother had met Kathryn.

---