Masters And Lovers 1-4

Twenty-Six Years Ago

“Hi, Mitch.” It’s Frank, his solid frame leaning back against the bar. “How’re you doing?”

“Hi, Frank,” she smiles then pulls a face. “I can't hang around I'm afraid. I only popped in to pick up a couple of things.”

Angelo pops up from behind the bar, holding up a carrier bag; gold and green with an expensive designer logo. “This the one?”

“That’s right. I’ll take that one with me. Can you let me see the others too.” Angelo passes Mitch’s collection of bags across the bar and she squats on her haunches to sort through them.

“Going away for Christmas?” asks Frank. “Visiting family, I suppose?”

“Yes and No. Yes, I’m going away, but not to visit family.” She smiles brightly up at him. “Larry's taking me away somewhere.”

“Oh!” Hands in pockets, Frank rocks on his heels. “Larry? He didn't mention anything to me.”

“It all happened quite suddenly last night. He's picking me up this afternoon.”

“Where are you going?”

“No idea. He says it’s a surprise.”

Frank rubs at a temple, then paints on a smile. “Well, good luck, Mitch. Have a great Christmas. You're landing on your feet there.”

holding up a silk blouse for inspection, pauses, looks at him. “How do you

mean, I know Larry’s a bit of a cold fish sometimes, but

head slowly,

know…” says Frank. “… with the kind of money

That place they were talking about in

mean, philanthropist or what?” He jolts back at her expression. “Whoops…. Let

“He never told me anything like that.

mouth. “Likes to keep his life under a bushel, doesn’t he. As for the travelling… I think he might be thinking of doing less of it. He's had

at him. He kisses her cheek. “Have a great Christmas, Mitch. Don’t forget

gathers up her collection of bags and, with

on the

the

No…. No, not really.” He swipes a hand back through his hair. “Feeling

the top shelves, holding it up with a questioning

will I

barman pours a measure, making it a generous one. “Why don't you make a play for

that? I mean, you can't blame her, can you? It's the chance

in his work, Angelo knows better

*****

- Twenty-Six Years

fun that I