NOBODY 4

“So Jane, I need you to call PR and make sure they won’t forget about refreshments and the books. As they did last time. I’ve already talked to the manager at Waterstones, they will be expecting delivery by 9 a.m. on Saturday.”
My secretary takes note, as usual, it drives me crazy, I don’t think you can forget something so simple in the short walk between my desk and hers. Or maybe Robbie is right and I am tight ass. The phone rings and Jane picks it up while I’m looking at some images for a new book cover.
“Hold on a minute, I’ll see if she’s back from her meeting” and she looks at me with a confused look. “There’s a Robert Fitzgerald Williams from the New York Office who needs to talk to you. An emergency about some man named Harry you both know. He seems really worried… Is there a Robert Fitzgerald Williams in the New York Office?”
I smile “They’ve just hired him. He’s some sort of evil genius. I’ll talk to him; you can do the Waterstones calls in the meantime”
“Sure”
“Can you close the door? Thanks” …. “Fitzgerald?”
“Ciao! I’m in fool artistic swing. I’m creating a character. Never worked in publishing before so it could be hard. That’s what I have so far, I am from Boston, I’m related to the Kennedy, on my mother’s side. Graduated with honor at Harvard. My father wanted me to go into politics but I followed my call and devoted my life to writing.”
“Oh God”
“I was married twice but it didn’t work out. I have a daughter who’s dating a bloody pop singer, she hates me and listens to Britney Spears all day long. I also have a scar above my right eye. A dreadful accident while playing polo”
“Are you done?”
“Not really, I still need to add few details here and there”
“And expensive therapy sessions. Are you coming home?”
“I’m going to Manchester this week-end. I need to see my mom. So if you think you can spend some time for me, I could come down to London and take you out for dinner”
“No need to. I’ll be in Manchester too. It’s Howard’s birthday. He rented a place up north. A whole week-end event. He calls it the grand rehearsal for next year celebration of his 40th. He’s leaving on Friday with Antigone, I’ll join them on Saturday. I have a book presentation to go to. I could stop by before I meet them”
“Howard’s birthday. Boy he’s old. Anyway! Sounds perfect, do you need directions to get to my mom’s house?”
“No, I don’t”
“So, how’s Harry? Is he fine?”
“Not telling you”
“Just need a yes or a no”
“No”
“Is he dead? Oh my god NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”
“No, as in ‘I’m not telling you””
“You’re so going to hell. Anyway, see you in Manchester my dear, I would love to keep talking to you but I have to write an article for the Harvard alumni association now”
“Robbie?”
“It’s Robert Fitzgerald dear. See you on Saturday”
I hang up and I laugh.

I cannot believe I still remember how to get to Robbie’s house. I park the car and ring the bell.
“So good to see you” and he hugs me.
“It’s good to see you too, where’s your mom?”
“She’s inside with her girlfriends. They were all here waiting for me. When I got here the attacked me, I swear, and one of them groped my ass. Still have to figure out which one though. I’ve been stuck playing Monopoly for the past 2 hours. Please set me free”
“Emilia! Dear! How are you? You haven’t changed a bit”
“Thank you Jan, it’s good to be here”
“Ladies! We have our 6th player. This is Emilia and she would love to play with us, do you think we can squeeze her in?” Robbie says pushing me inside the living room.
They all stare at me “Who’s the lovely girl Robbie?”
“You have a girlfriend and your mother didn’t tell us?”
“You look so cute together”
I am about to open my mouth and set the record straight but Robbie puts a arm around me, kiss my cheek and say “We got secretly married 2 week ago. It’s a terrible story. No-one has to know. You are the only people in the whole world we decided to share it with. She has a mad ex-husband who abused her and he would kill us if he knew”
I smile politely while the come to me, kissing me and hugging me while Robbie and his mom are enjoying every minute of it.

After 40 minutes of Monopoly we all need a break and Robbie and I are in the kitchen to get some drinks.
“For some reason I thought your life was a little more glamorous than playing board games with your mom and her friends”
“What are you talking about? I invested all my money on Mayfair and Park Lane. I’m broke. If some of those old ladies don’t stop in one of my properties soon I’m going to file for bankruptcy. It sounds like pretty dangerous to me!”
“I could give you some money, if you let me take all renting from Mayfair over the next 4 rounds”
“What are you, Mrs. Scrooge?”
“I have a child to support”
“No thanks, I’ll take my chances and see how it goes”
“Fair enough we all know you belong to jail”.
He opens the fridge “Do you think they would like some cake too?”
“Cake? Don’t tell me your mom baked her famous chocolate cake!” and I literally push him on the side and grab it.
“You are a scary person”
“Chocolate. I should tell you the truth once and for all, I don’t give a shit about you. I’ve craved you mom cooking for 15 years though”.
“You like the chocolate don’t you?” and he gets a slice squashing it all over my face.
And the bell ring.
We look at each other. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“No, no-one knows I’m here. And besides, you’re covered in chocolate, let me taste it” and he places a finger over my nose, take the chocolate and brings it to his mouth. “It’s good”
I take a handful of chocolate cake and I’m about to throw it at him when his mom comes to kitchen “Mark is at the door”.