Page 76 of The Cocktail Bar
“You’ve had it in for them since the official opening night,” said River, desperately trying to keep his cool now.
“Yeah, well, perhaps there’s good reason they haven’t been paying for their drinks and Mrs High and Mighty carried out that threat. The perfect cover up. They’re broke, just like the aristocrats you see on the TV documentaries with their pleas and the background violin playing because, poor things, they live in those crumbling stately homes that we have to fund with our taxes; how simply awful for them.”
River began to clap slowly, sarcastically, increasing his hand movements with speed.
“You really are too bright for this place, you know that? I’ll concede: your suspicions are one hundred percent correct when it comes to their former financial situation… perhaps have a chat with your dad though who will fill you in on the current turn in their luck… but the thing is there’s just a slight problem with that theory when it comes to the carnival weekend, George. You see, it seemsLord Pervertand his wife decided to go to Prague themselves to join in with the fun.”
“I… I… told you they were scroungers, beneath the Trilbies and… and the emeralds, they’re brassic… broke, inviting themselves along to everything.”
“But that still doesn’t explain how the float and takings don’t tally for the weekendwhen they were in Prague… when they were in a whole other country, a fact that you are completely overlooking!”
Georgina began to bite her nails, as if that might help her come up with something more convincing.
“Well, I’m waiting for a proper explanation, it’s that or your P45.”
“So that’s it?” she said after a lengthy silence. She rubbed her stomach in a manner that was getting über predictable already, and treated him to one of her atypical smiles, game face back on, kindly disguise of hours ago, ancient history. “First you cool things off with me… not long after shacking up with her in a caravan.”
“Alice has a name and yes, we are very much together… and happy, extremely happy.”
How he wished that were the truth.
“And now you are sacking me, after I nursed you this afternoon as well? I didn’t have to do that, you know.”
“That’s about the size of it, yes.”
“You are unbelievable, and as for this place, I hope it goes to the dogs.”
“Once upon a time, Georgina, not all that long ago, we could have had something meaningful, you and I. There was a seed, a spark, a call-it-whatever-you-will, and I’m not going to deny it. But you abused my trust, took me for a fool, and even those of us who are a little slower off the mark,” he didn’t dare look at Lee then, much as he would have made the perfect illustration for his point, “we get there in the end, see through the wool women like you pull over our eyes. Will that close my heart up if another relationship comes along… be that with Al, be that with anyone? No, because unlike yours, mine isn’t made of stone. I don’t hold a vendetta against the world. And yes, for the record, I am more than in love with Alice, I’ve loved her all my life, it’s just a shame it’s taken me until now to realise it. So thank you,thank youfor pushing me further away from you and closer in her direction. You’ve been more of a Guardian Angel than you’ll ever know. I want to grow old with her, have her babies and live happily ever after. There. You satisfied now?”
Georgina held her stomach with both hands now, her eyes boring into him with an intensity that spoke its own language: River Jackson, father of one.
“Okay, good bye, River,” she said, “you’ve more than made your point.”
She walked to the hat stand by the door, melancholy shrouding her, and slowly put on her trench coat. She unhooked the umbrella which had been hanging beneath it. River and Lee could only stand motionless as she reached for the door handle. River couldn’t wait to pour them both the nearest excuse for alcohol to hand. He couldn’t do this alone anymore, had to halve the problem by sharing it with a friend.
Georgina was midway out the door when she turned back to them, as if she’d forgotten something.
“Oh, what now?” sighed River.
She began to laugh a small laugh, making it heartier, ever more staged and deliberate, and then stopped, without warning, letting the peels of her joy linger in the doorway.
“Did youhonestlythink I’d walk away just like that?” she said finally. “I’m a pregnant woman, babe: you’re about to become a daddy.” She chuckled again, sadistically this time. “How’s that going to look when you want custody? Not to mention the fact that the dismissal of a woman in my position,” she stopped then to nod her head and purse her lips for added effect, “is just a wee little bit of a faux-pas in this day and age. So, it looks very much like I will be seeing you tomorrow.”
And with that, the door slammed on River’s life as he knew it.
