NOBODY 15

Howard is already waiting outside the airport, smoking. I park the car right in front of him. “I’m so sorry for being late, but the traffic was crazy. Have you been waiting for long?”
“Not at all, Gary and Dawn just left. They left this for you” and he hugs me.
I stand there while his arms wrap around me. “Let me look at you, all tanned and relaxed. Did you have fun?”He puts his bag in the trunk, notices Antigone in the back seat, and closes it gently.
“How long has she be sleeping?”
“20 minutes more or less”
“She looks like and angel, do you want me to drive back?”
“No, tell me about the vacation”
“The hotel was fantastic; we basically ate, drank and stretched out under the sun. Gary and Mark introduced Jason to the joys of ‘babewatching’. They got carried away, drawing charts and giving little stars away every time a woman would walk by. Even though Gary would end every ‘session’ saying ‘my Dawn is fairest of them all’. It was good; I guess we needed some quality bonding. We probably drank too much sangria too. What have you been doing?”
“Working, and experiencing a nanny’s failure. I’ve selected 3 possible candidates to replace her but I would like you to talk to them too. Just call the agency whenever you have time. We need one by Monday. I’ve gone crazy trying to manage her and my work.”
“You should have called me and I would have come back, or ask my mother to come down”
“Your mother? No thanks. I had a little help”
He’s looking outside the window, he knows me too well not to suspect, and I know he doesn’t want to hear what I am about to tell him.
“Robert, he was in London *Please forgive me, but I have to lie to you* and he offered to baby sit”
His voice is just a hiss; he’s not looking at me still “You had a stranger take care of my daughter? Are you out of your mind?”
“He’s not a stranger and I didn’t know what else to do”
Silence
“Howard say something”
Still silent.
And Antigone wakes up “Daddy you’re here!” she struggle with her sit belt so she can get closer and hug him. He turns to her and blows kisses making funny faces. “I have a present for you Nene” and hands her a handmade doll.
“It’s so beautiful, thank you dad! She has long blond hair, just like mine. Does she have a name already?”
“No she doesn’t, it’s up to you to choose one”
“So I have two now! I’m also trying to find a name for my new pony”
“A pony?” and he’s talking to me now
“No you don’t Antigone, I told you the pony is going back where it comes from”
“But Robert said…”“Robert?” he asks
“I’m sorry he thought it would be fun for her to have a pet…”
Antigone understands there’s something wrong, she falls silent, and goes back sitting properly holding onto her doll.
“Who does he think he is to buy presents for MY daughter? And why are you letting him doing it?”
“We can talk about later; I don’t want you to make a scene in front of her”
“Her is my daughter too. Later is not good enough. Just take me home. She’s staying with me tonight. Consider it an extension on my week-end”“But…”
He’s gone back staring out of the window, conversation is over. We don’t say a word for the rest of the drive, I pull over in front of his house and he jumps off the car without looking at me. Picks up his bag, opens the back door and takes Antigone in his arm. He has a sad look on his face. She’s holding onto his neck like a shipwreck survivor to a piece of wood he found in the sea.
“Daddy I love you, I don’t want the pony, I hate the pony”
“It’s not your fault, I love you too.” And he kisses her, “Let’s go inside and you can tell me about your new drama teacher”
And I stand there, by the car, watching them disappearing behind the door. None of them bothers to say goodbye.

I get home and Robbie is sitting in front of my doorsteps. “What are you doing here? I told you I was having dinner with Howard”
He bends on his knees and hands me a tulip. “I found it on the street and I thought he needed a house. Truth is I managed to defeat the evil forces threatening the planet before dinner and I was sort of hoping on a major argument with ‘he who must not be named’ so you’d come back to me”
“Stand up, you’re not funny”
“Yes I am, and I’m handsome too, my mom tells it to me everyday!”
I smile, “That flower needs to be put in a vase, would you mind bringing it inside?”

The next day I’m in my office when the door opens and Dawn walks in “Back to civilization! 3 more days in the countryside with my parents and I would just shoot myself. I bought a one-day travel card and went back and forth on the Piccadilly line just to be with people.”
“From all the bags you’re carrying may I assume you were able to squeeze is some quality shopping too?”
“Shop till you drop is my motto! And I saw those red shoes and …”
I put my index fingers in front of me, shaping a cross “Vade retro, go away evil woman, I don’t wanna see them. You came here to tempt me, you know I’m weak but I have no time for shoe shopping today. I’m leaving the office before so I can pack and go away for the week-end”
“Where are you going, and most important, who are you going with?” and smirks.
“Can’t talk about it, the official version is I’m going back home because a friend from university is getting married”
“Can I get the dirty version?”
“I mentioned Robbie’s name when I went to pick Howard up and he is still not talking to me. I’m a filthy liar and I am probably going to rot in hell”
“I understand your moral dilemma… What about the sex?”
“Dawn I do NOT talk about these things”
“Whatever, let me use a metaphor, so we can talk about it without really talking about it”
I look at her
“Did you shag him?”
“Is that a metaphor to you?” and I lower my eyes “Maybe”
“Oh my god! Tell me all about it!”
“I hope you’re seeing someone else in here because I’m not giving away any graphic detail”
“I’m you best friend and I am entitled to at least a question”
I sigh and place my hand on the desk “Shoot”
“Is it true what they say? Is he really the most talented member of the band?”