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One
"Yes,"saidRichard."Atableforthree,fortonight.IthinkIbookedit.AndifIdidI’mconfirmingthereservation.AndifIdidn’t,IwonderedifIcouldbookit.Please."No,theyhadnorecordofatablefortonightinthenameofMayhew.OrStockton.OrBartram—Jessica’ssurname.Andasforbookingatable...
Itwasn’tthewordsthatRichardfoundsounpleasant:itwasthetoneofvoiceinwhichtheinformationwastransmitted.Atablefortonightshouldcertainlyhavebeenbookedyearsbefore—perhaps,itwasimplied,byRichard’sparents.Atablefortonightwasimpossible:ifthepope,theprimeminister,andthepresidentofFrancearrivedthiseveningwithoutaconfirmedreservation,eventheywouldbeturnedoutintothestreetwithacontinentaljeer."Butit’sformyfiancee’sboss.IknowIshouldhavephonedbefore.Thereareonlythreeofus,can’tyouplease..."
Theyhadputdownthephone.
"Richard?"saidSylvia."TheMD’swaiting."
"Doyouthink,"askedRichard,"they’dgivemeatableifIphonedbackandofferedthemextramoney?"
Inherdreamtheywerealltogetherinthehouse.Herparents,herbrother,herbabysister.Theywerestandingtogetherintheballroom,staringather.Theywereallsopale,sograve.Portia,hermother,touchedhercheekandtoldherthatshewasindanger.Inherdream,Doorlaughed,andsaidsheknew.Hermothershookherhead:no,no—nowshewasindanger.Now.
Dooropenedhereyes.Thedoorwasopening,quietly,quietly;sheheldherbreath.Footsteps,quietonthestone.
