Catering With Benefits (3) - An Appetite for More - 30. You May Like to Live Dangerously Des

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The following morning, Thomas went through the formalities of cancelling all bookings, advising the charities of such and closing all social media accounts associated with the campaign. He sent cheques anonymously to all the charities and cancelled the order for the TV sets.

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Meanwhile Jared went to the Regency Club to collect Price’s car and returned it to the company carpark. He had not heard from Price so he checked with Prism, who said Price was in his office.

“Good morning Jonathan, I didn’t hear from you last night, so I collected the Roller this morning and it’s down in parking now.”

“Thanks Jared, I spent the night at Potts Point, I didn’t feel like the long trip back to Castle Hill. I hope you and Thomas enjoyed your afternoon at The Regency.”

“We certainly did, it’s very impressive. They really do know how to look after their members.”

“Yes, nothing is too much trouble for them. All members’ requests are fulfilled, but that’s what’s expected at a member owned club.”

“Will you be going out today Jonathan?”

“No, I have plenty to do here. I’ve neglected things of late, being tied up by the campaign, so I’ll have a few busy days reconnecting with the business. You just fill in your day as usual and we’ll probably go back to Crystalline about six.”

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When Thomas was finished in the office, he went via the kitchen at Crystalline to check if all was ready for his garden lunch with Virginia. He then took a bottle of Virginia’s favourite wine in an ice bucket and two coupe glasses and headed down to the wisteria pergola. As he walked through the garden a warm familiar feeling came over him, a feeling he had not experienced for over six months.

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Virginia picked up the phone to call the kitchen, but paused while Desmond’s words, about her reluctance to go to the kitchen, replayed in her head. She replaced the phone in its charging cradle, stuffed a handful of tissues into her bra, descended the staircase and strode on to the kitchen.

“Good day Mrs Price, how can I help you?” asked Carol.

“Just checking all is ready for my lunch with Thomas.”

“All ready when you are, in fact Thomas has already taken drinks into the garden.”

“I knew it would be, just wanted to check. We do have a fine kitchen here Carol.”

“Yes Mrs Price?” replied a confused Carol.

“Give us about twenty minutes to chat before you serve please Carol.”

As Virginia left the kitchen, Carol and Cook looked questioningly at each other, then Carol shrugged her shoulders.

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They embraced as family would. Gone were the old customs of PA and employer. As she sat and Thomas poured, Virginia retrieved a tissue from her cleavage, dabbed her eyes gently and discarded the tissue on a small silver tray that already held the popped cork.

“Is this a catch-up lunch?” she asked.

“Well, yes I suppose it is, but I just wanted to see you, it’s been so long since we chatted privately.”

“Yes it has been, but that has been somewhat out of my control lately.”

“I know I have been busy with Mr P’s campaign but I should not have neglected our friendship.”

“Nice of you to say so, but what really brings you here today?”

“I told you, a catch-up.”

“Thomas my dear boy, you know that I know you better than that. Do you want your old job back?”

“No...what I mean is that’s not the reason for being here.”

“Then tell me, what is the reason?”

“I don’t know why I ever try to hide anything from you Mrs P, you always see right through me.”

“So we’re back to Mrs P?”

“Old habits are hard to break, Virginia. Ok, I’ll come clean, but this is a bit difficult. Mr P says something is bothering you and you won’t talk to him about it. He’s worried about you and thought you might like to talk to me.”

“So you two now talk about me and my needs?”

“Well, we do both care for you.”

“Thanks, but I’m not going to talk to you about what he thinks is bothering me. It’s quite frankly none of your business. Sorry to be so blunt, but that’s how it is.”

“I’m sorry I tried to intrude, but you must know I would never do anything like that without good reason.”

“And you felt my husband’s concern for me was good reason?”

“Of course, but if you don’t want to talk, I respect that.”

“Good, now top up my glass and tell me what’s happening in your life.”

“Do you mean the campaign?”

“No, I definitely don’t want to know about that. I want to know about you.”

“The campaign pretty much is my life, or has been for the last six months.”

“Has been?”

“Yes, haven’t you been told, it’s all over. The newspaper articles pretty much put an end to it and what support we had, disappeared overnight. People don’t seem to be able to differentiate between the man and his policies. If they don’t like the man, they don’t care about his policies.”

“You seem quite upset about this.”

“I am, I supported Mr P’s good intentions and the campaign has been my life 24/7 for months, so to see it come crashing down over gossip is disappointing, to say the least. Ok Mr P had his shortcomings, but we were working on that and would have succeeded given enough time and opportunity. But now he’s lost his nerve and I suppose I don’t blame him for that.”

“Thomas, do you need a hug?”

“Yes please.” replied Thomas as he became misty eyed.

After the hug, Virginia said “Isn’t life strange? You came here today to support me and suddenly it’s the other way around.”

“Sorry to be so wimpy, but I believed in what I was trying to do.”

“How’s Jared taking all this?”

“Oh you know Jared he just gets on with it and doesn’t take too much to heart. It’s just a job to him.”

“So how are he and Jonathan getting on?”

“Better than I expected. They bicker like an old couple and then forget all about it. Familiarity’s a strange animal. But then he’s also got another interest these days.”

“Oh, a new hobby or something?”

“You remember I told you that he found out Justin is his half brother?”

“Yes, everyone was quite excited about it, but I must say if the story I heard of his background is true, that’s very disturbing.”

“It is true but they seem almost obsessed with each other. You can’t keep them apart.”

“Well, they’ve spent all their lives up till now apart, not even knowing the other one even existed, it’s not really surprising they have a lot of catching up to do.”

“I realise that, and I’ve given Jared his space to do that, but there’s little things that don’t seem right. I can’t put my finger on it exactly but I’m not comfortable and yesterday I overheard a conversation where they seem to be planning a trip away.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing really, it’s just....oh maybe I’m just being jealous.”

“That’s probably it. But you shouldn’t be jealous of siblings, blood relationships are much different to marital relationships. Tell me, you’ve never mentioned if you have brothers or sisters.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then that’s it, you don’t have the experience of being a sibling. I must say I do envy them a bit, my sister and I fought like cat and dog when we were young. We mellowed a bit over the years, but I don’t think she has ever accepted my marriage to Jonathan. All things considered now, perhaps she was right, but it was my decision and it would have been nice for her to have been my bridesmaid, but she refused. She even said she ‘would be happy to be my bridesmaid next time, because this marriage won’t last’. I proved her wrong there.”

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that...Virginia.”

“Mmm, families, who’d have ‘em? Now where’s lunch? Can you call the kitchen, please Thomas?”

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When they had finished their lunch, Thomas went back to his office and Virginia went over to the garage in search of Desmond.

“Hi Virginia, you’ve been scarce this week. We didn’t get to finish our conversation last week, when you left abruptly. Shall I put the kettle on and we’ll start again?”

“Only if you promise to just make tea and not fuss about, or...” she added as she offered a bottle she had been holding behind her back “...we could open this.”

“I like that idea, but why don’t you open it, like I showed you.”

“You may like to live dangerously Des, but I’ll pass once again.”

After the cork had been popped and glasses filled, Virginia said “Desmond, close the door, I don’t want to be interrupted again. What I have to tell you is important and sensitive.”

Virginia’s preamble covered the few years they had been lovers and referenced her pregnancy toward the end of that period.

“Of course I remember when you lost the baby. I was really upset for both of you, but why raise the matter now?”

“Because that child was not Jonathan’s.”

“But you told me it was his and would be the heir to the family fortune.”

“I Lied.”

“Do you mean it was......”

“Yes Des, it was your child.”

“But...but...I don’t understand why he didn’t say something about that.”

“He didn’t know and still doesn’t know it wasn’t his. When I realised I was pregnant, I knew it could only be yours. But I was able to convince Jonathan that he had to do the deed if he wanted an heir and to his credit he did. I was impressed with his willingness and effort. However, the gods or fate or whatever you want to call it, conspired against us and, as you know, the child was stillborn.”

“Yes and I also know you were devastated and I couldn’t do anything to comfort you in such a difficult situation. To me it was between a husband and wife and not for me to interfere.”

“If you had known differently, what would you have done?”

“I have no idea what I would have done, and am I shocked by your revelation. I don’t know, I feel slightly numb and like I’m outside my body watching this happen so long ago. I can somewhat understand why you wanted him to think it was his child, especially for the sake of the child’s future. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell me when your pregnancy ended.”

“There really seemed no point then. I was distraught by the loss, not thinking straight, and what would it have achieved? I kept the secret to myself all these years assuming the pain would go away. The pain of loss did fade very slowly, but as that pain faded, it was replaced by the pain of guilt.”

“Is that why you are telling me now?”

“Yes, because I don’t want there to be anything that will come between us now I intend to spend the rest of my life with you Desmond.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

“No. In a few months, I will ask Jon for a divorce and I don’t want any unnecessary complications. Divorcing him will be expensive for him, so the less problems the better.”

“Desmond, does this make any difference to our relationship, now you know that you could have had a son?”

“If he were alive, probably it would, but nature has dealt with that, for whatever reason. Plus I’m relieved that you have told me now for the sake of our ongoing relationship. I admire you for that.

***

Around six pm, Price called Jared to his office.

“Are you ready to go home now Jonathan?”

“No, I want you to drive me to the club.”

“Just for drinks or will you be dining there also?”

“I’ll see how the night pans out.”

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As they stepped out of the lift into the Regency Club lounge bar, Price said to Jared “I’ll wait here in the bar, can you please find Lachlan, tell him I want to see him and then you can go. Take the car and I’ll let you know when I want to be picked up. You might as well take the car home as I don’t expect I will need you till morning.”

“Very well Jonathan. Does that mean you will be spending the night here or at Potts Point?”

“That rather depends on Lachlan’s availability.”

“Understood, I’ll go look for Lachlan now.”

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Most of the waiters and attendants at the Regency Club were not twenty-something students as in most hospitality venues. The club paid the staff very well for their services, loyalty and confidentiality, so some gave many years of service. Lachlan was one of these employees. He was a handsome man in his late forties and had worked at the club for nearly twenty years. He had known Price by sight since he started, but novice waiters were not permitted to serve Platinum members until they had served at least a five year apprenticeship. When he was eventually assigned to the lounge bar, he made a point of always being available for Price, and over the years they had developed an unspoken of friendship. It did have an occasional sexual aspect to it, but was more than that.

“Good evening Mr Price, you want to see me.”

“Yes, when do you finish your shift?”

“Actually, I finished at six but got back into livery when I was told you wanted me.”

“That’s very good, means we won’t have to stay here. Would you like to join me for a meal at the Bennelong restaurant and then see what happens after that?”

“Certainly Jonathan, it would be my pleasure.”

“I was hoping it would be so. When you change, call us a cab, I’ll wait here.”

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They dined sumptuously and then went to Jonathan’s apartment.

“Coffee or brandy, or both?” asked Price.

“Let’s start with coffee.”

“Good, you know where the coffee machine is. I’ll have one of your special cappuccinos.”

“So, we are having both after all?”

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“I have been reading the newspapers lately, they haven’t been kind to you at all.”

“That’s putting it politely, they completely derailed my campaign.”

“How are you going to fix that?”

“I’m not, in a way they’ve done me a favour. I’m now free to live my life my way.”

“You mean now that you’ve been outed, you’re staying out?”

“There are no more doors on my closets and no skeletons either.”

“Good to hear, but you’re still married.”

“Yes, that’s my next project, now that I’m not going into politics.”

“You mean you are going to work at fixing your marriage?”

“Hell no, I’m going to get a divorce.”

“How does your wife feel about that?”

“I haven’t told her yet, but I’m sure she’ll be pleased. It was her who suggested it.”

“Wow, that’s going to cost you heaps after what, about thirty years of marriage.”

“Maybe, but she’s not a greedy woman. As long as she gets enough for a comfortable lifestyle and her man, she’ll be happy.”

“Her man?”

“Yes, it’s been going on for years. He’s actually an employee at Crystalline, so there’s another saving. I get rid of an expensive wife and an employee at the same time.”

“And then what?”

“I was thinking, a year at the villa in France and then who knows where we’ll go after that.”

“Who’s we?”