Page 50 of The Mission

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because you’re in deep very quickly. We can all see that. You’ve only known him a few days.”

“I’ve pined for him since I saw him crying.”

Rurik slung his arm over Arlo’s shoulder. “You’re a sweet guy but I still don’t know how you saw so much in him from that one night.”

I saw the other half of me.

It was dark by the time they returned to the chalet. Conrad was feeling back to normal. Well, no, he wasn’t. Normal had never been as good as this. While the children were given an evening meal by their grandparents, the rest of them had chosen to swim, use the sauna, or like him and Arlo, sit in the hot tub. When it started to snow, Conrad tipped back his head and sighed.

“Did you arrange the snowfall?” he asked.

“I did put in a request.”

Conrad smiled. “I can’t help wondering what’s going to go wrong because I’m just not this lucky.”

“Nothing’s going to go wrong.”

“Think I’ve left it too late to get presents for everyone?”Please say I don’t need to.Though he had bought those scarves for Arlo’s parents as well asSequence,a game for the family. “I feel I should have bought more.”

“Don’t even think about it. We don’t go mad with each other anyway. I always give my brothers and their wives the same thing.”

“Which is?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.” Arlo sighed and snuggled closer. “I did notice no inflatable mattress had been put in my room.”

“Then where are you going to sleep?”

“On top of you?”

“Maybe we were supposed to get it and inflate it,” Conrad said.

“I’ll puncture it if I get the chance.”

Conrad laughed. “While I think about it, what’s the cello playing about? Why did your parents’ eyes light up as if I’d just told them they’d won the lottery?”

“It’s a family thing. None of my brothers’ wives play, much to my parents’ disappointment. We’re a musical family. Anyway, we perform before dinner. Then we eat. Kids watch TV before bed, and as soon as the last child is unconscious, I go to bed and amazingly Santa comes. It’s a miracle.”

“Do you wish you had a child?” Conrad asked quietly.

“My family think I’m still a child but one day, yes, I’d like a family. What about you?”

Conrad nodded. “Me too. I like the idea of adopting, giving some kid a chance.”

“That sounds good to me. I’m not keen on babies. Every time I had to change a nappy, I gagged. Everyone still pisses themselves laughing about that. Bastards.”

“Do you have a cello over here?”

“Yes, and there’s a spare one for you. My grandfather’s. That stays here year-round. Julian brought mine over with the other instruments because he drove. His wife is afraid of flying.”

“Why don’t you play your grandfather’s cello?”

“We can’t agree who should have it.” Arlo hesitated. “You can actually play, right? Not justTwinkle, Twinkle?”

“I’m pretty good atBaa Baa Black Sheep.”

When Arlo brought out the cello that Conrad was to play, there was a lull in the conversation, but no one made any comments. The instrument was beautiful and the bow was a good one. Conrad could feel all eyes on him as he tuned up, which made him nervous. Rurik and Julian had cellos too, while Dieter, Benedikt and their father tuned violins, and their mother a viola. Two of the children had violins as well. Conrad’s parents hadn’t been musical, but when he’d asked for a cello, he’d been bought one. Though they’d never come to listen to him in a concert.

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