STAND 21

Lara and Gary are ready to go to bed. Gary is placing his pants on a chair while Lara is brushing her hair.
“So what happened between you and Doug tonight?” he asks her
“I might have made a little, tiny mistake” she answers looking at her reflection in the mirror
“Like…”
“Not minding my own business”
“That’s what I thought. So why exactly Doug brought a hooker into our house?”
“Do you know about her?” and the conversation takes an unexpected turn. She turns and looks into her husband’s eyes.
“How do you know she’s a hooker Gary? You better give me a convincing answer if you don’t want to experience some major physical pain and a very lonely life”
He looks at her surprised and then he understands what she means. “Oh no! It’s not what you think! I was with him when he arranged their meeting. I had no idea they could be so expensive! I swear! Still don’t know why he did it”
She raises her eyebrow “I’m going to pretend I believe you Mr. Barlow. But you better watch your back from now on”
“But I did nothing!” he objects “You, on the other hand, what did you do?”
“I thought I could help them”
“Not Doug and Titti… tell me you forgot about your silly love plan”
“It’s not silly! And I thought if they could be in the same room they would understand they’re meant to be together. But I was wrong and now he’s having sex with a prostitute and she’s with Jason”
“You need to stay out of this Dr. Strangelove”
She raises her right arm “I swear I will. They’re adults and they can work out their issues if they want to. I need you to promise me you’ll stop me if I try to get involved again”
“I can try…” he mocks her “now come here with me” and pats her side of the bed “I’m lonely and cold”.

When I wake up it’s almost noon. Jason is no longer by my side. I get up and look for him. He’s in his study, working at his computer. I stand by the door, looking at him *you need to convince yourself. You love this man. You do. You spent an entire summer writing Titti Orange over and over until your sig was just about perfect*. He turns his head and sees me “come here sleepyhead!”
I walk to him “how long have you been working for?”
Circles his arm around my waist and kisses me. “3 hours… we had this idea about the Apache section and I’m writing some stuff we could use”
“Can I see it?”
“No, not until is finished”
I tuck my hair behind my ear “Take a break, let’s go out. It’s Sunday”
“I’m working honey. Tell you what. You fix yourself something to eat. Watch some TV and at 5 I have a surprise for you”
“5? What am I supposed to do until then? I’m so not going to watch TV. It’s my day off and it’s sunny! Let’s go out!” I whine
He looks at me like you would look at an annoying kid “why don’t you call Maddi?”
“I guess I could… be right back” I enter the kitchen and call her.
“I told him” I say
“You told him what?”
“That I’m in love with Howard and I’m breaking up with him”
“Oh shit! What did he say? Where are you now?”
“I’m at Jason’s and he said nothing because I told him in Italian. So I don’t think he knows yet”
“You’re nuts”
“It’s Jason we’re talking about. I’ve been telling myself is the love of my life for more than a decade. All I wanted was to be with him and now I am and I’m thinking about leaving.” And I bang my head against the fridge door.
“Is it really what you want? Are you really in love with Howard?”
“No doubt about it. I’m in freaking BING BANG BUM land. But I stand no chance. Jason knows I met him on Christmas day. He was so kind to inform me he flirts with every single woman Jay’s dated over the years. He also gave me a comprehensive account of his seduction techniques. What can I say? Some men play football, some other paints, he enjoys being an asshole. Can I see you today?”
“I’d love to hun, but Mark’s sister is coming to visit and we’re going out of town later…have you called Gerry?”
“He’s out of town too”
“Why don’t you go to a museum?”
“Jason wants me to stay indoor. He’s working”
“Maybe he needs inspiration, you’re his muse”
“It’s Jason Orange not Amadeus Mozart”
“So just go out. Since when you let a man telling you what to do?”
“Since I’m too tired to fight. I’m still upset about last night, but don’t worry about me, it’s not like I’m gonna kill myself anytime soon”
“Listen to me, you try to stay calm and keep your big mouth shout until tomorrow. We’ll have lunch together. I’ll come by the British Library and we’ll talk. We could write down a pros and cons list. Something like, pros in dating Doug, he’s hot. Cons in dating Doug, he’s a dickhead.”
“And he doesn’t really want me”
“And he has a new girlfriend”
“So, are we done with the bloody list?”
“I guess. So don’t do anything until tomorrow. Promise?”
“Promise. Ciao”

I walk back to his study. I cross my arms and tell him, “Done it! She’s busy, Mark is taking her somewhere. They’re going out”
He doesn’t get the hint. “What about Lara? Maybe she could come here and keep you company”
“Let me get this straight, am I not really allowed leaving the premises this afternoon?”
“You tend to either get lost or be late. I’d rather have you here. It’s important. Please?”
“We’ll see” I pout. “Let me call Lara”
*This is pathetic. Just get your toothbrush and leave. You don’t want to be here. NO! You promised Maddi. No foolish decisions. You’re an adult. Behave like one. And no bloody coffee in the house. How are you supposed to be cheerful or think straight without some quality caffeine going through your veins?*
I hold the phone between my face and my neck while stretching in the attempt to reach some cookies hidden on top of the cupboard.
“Lara save me!” I implore her
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing, that’s the problem. You are my only hope. Can you come over and tell me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel?”
“No coffee yet I presume”
“You are right Mrs. Barlow. I’m stuck here, don’t ask me why. Jay’s working, and I cannot spend my Sunday watching TV. Please?”
Gary’s looking at his wife and shakes his head mouthing ‘you promised me’. She shrugs her shoulders “I guess Gary can take care of the kids. I’ll be there in no time hun! It’s going to be fun. Is there anything I can bring you?”
“Happy meal, please”
“See you”
“You can’t go anywhere, we have Sophie’s friends over for lunch today” Gary tells her.
“I know, I’m not the one who’s going. You married a genius! Watch me and learn” and kisses the top of his nose.
“I think I’ll watch you and weep love”
She raises her eyebrow “You don’t understand. Love is a many splendored thing, love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love!”
“You, Doug and the bloody Moulin Rouge. Why do you like that movie so much?”
“Because we’re sensitive souls” and dials Howard’s number and clears her throat. “How! Morning! How are you?”
“It’s almost lunch time and I feel like crap”
“Good”
“Should I hang up?”
“NO, don’t. I feel so bad about last night. I’m calling to apologize. I should have stayed out of it. You know I love you and I wanted to make sure you’re fine. If it makes you feel any better I’m not the only one who’s worried about you…” and gives Gary her ‘I’m so good at this game’ face.
“What do you mean? Don’t tell me Gaz knows. I told you not to…”
“Of course not! I would never tell him!” and winks
“….La, did you call me for any specific reason?”
“Are you in a hurry? Is your hooker still there? Is her meter running?”
“I’m all alone… Am I needed in this conversation?”
She laughs “I just wanted to talk to you. I’ve been on the phone since 10 this morning. I had to arrange a few things and I also talked to Titti before”
….
She ignores his silence “she seems to be feeling like crap too. I wonder why…I hope it’s not something you both ate here last night”
…..
“Howard? Are you still there?”
“Don’t mess with me La, I warn you”
“I don’t! You know me!” and has to cover her mouth from giggling too loud while Gary his covering his eyes. “She’s really upset about what happened last night and the way you left. And she told me she hopes the two of you can at least be friends”
“Friends?”
“Well, she believes you have a girlfriend. An expensive one too”
“And she’s with Jay”
“Friends is a good start Doug. She’s at home, and she needs a Happy Meal ASAP. I told her you would stop by”
“YOU WHAT?”
“Well I can’t go, so I figured it could be your chance to apologize to her”
“I don’t have to apologize, she owes me an apology. The way she treated me…”
“Whatever! I don’t have time, I do have a life. She’s home. She’s hungry. You decide…”
“Lara don’t hang up!”
“What now?” and she gives Gary her thumb up.
“What did she say when you told her I would go?”
“She sounded happy Doug.”
“Maybe I should go. I mean, if she’s really hungry…”
“What are you doing at home still? Move that gorgeous ass of your Mr DJ” and she hangs up. Lara looks at her husband “this is going to be so good, and romantic and hot. I wish I was there”
Gary bend his head to the right a little and says “wouldn’t it be too crowded? I mean, Jay’s at home, isn’t he?”
“Crap!”