One evening, an hour after the Sun had gone to rest, I was standing in the kitchen beside the refrigerator, listening to its comforting sounds. The ceiling lights hadn’t been switched on, so I was there in the semi-light coming from the hallway. The Mother had returned late from her office not long before, and I’d come down to the kitchen to allow her privacy with Josie up in the bedroom. After a time, her footsteps came down the staircase, then towards the kitchen. Her silhouette appeared in the doorway, making the kitchen even darker, and she said:

‘Klara, I wanted to give you a heads up. After all, this involves you.’

‘Yes?’

‘Next Thursday, I’ve taken time off work. I’m going to drive Josie into town and we’ll be staying overnight. We were just talking about it. Josie has an appointment.’

‘An appointment?’

‘As you know, Josie was in the process of getting her portrait done. The times she came by your store, that’s why we were in town. There’s been a long break on account of her health, but she’s stronger now and so I want her to go in for another sitting. Mr Capaldi’s been very patient and kept everything on hold.’

‘I see. So will Josie be required to sit still for a long time?’

‘Mr Capaldi’s good at not tiring her. He’s able to take photographs and work from those. Even so, he needs her to come in from time to time. I’m telling you this because I want you to accompany Josie on this trip. I think she’d like you with her.’

‘Oh yes. I’d like that very much.’

The Mother stepped further into the kitchen and now I could see just one edge of her face illuminated by the hall light.

‘I want you, Klara, to be with her when she goes in to see Mr Capaldi. In fact, Mr Capaldi is keen to meet you. He takes a special interest in AFs. You could call it his passion. That okay with you?’

‘Of course. I’ll look forward to meeting Mr Capaldi.’

‘He may have a few questions for you. To do with his research. Because as I say, he’s fascinated by AFs. You won’t mind that?’

‘No, of course not. And I believe a trip into the city would be good for Josie now she’s a little stronger.’

‘Good. Oh and we may well have passengers. In the car I mean. Our neighbors are needing a ride.’

‘Rick and Miss Helen?’

‘They have some business of their own in town and she doesn’t drive any more. Don’t worry, there’s room enough for us all. You won’t have to travel in the trunk.’

I heard more about this trip the following Sunday when not only Rick but his mother visited the house during the early part of the afternoon. I’d once more stepped onto the landing to give Rick and Josie privacy in the bedroom. Standing beside the banister rail, gazing down onto the hallway, I could hear the Mother’s and Miss Helen’s laughter coming from the kitchen. I couldn’t hear their words well, except when one or the other exclaimed something loudly. Once, Miss Helen called out, ‘Oh Chrissie, that’s quite outrageous!’ and laughed. A little later, I heard the Mother, also with laughter, say loudly: ‘It’s true, it’s true, it’s absolutely true!’

Because I couldn’t hear many words, or see the Mother’s expressions, I wasn’t able to make a reliable estimate, but my impression was that the Mother was at that moment the most lacking in tension I’d witnessed since my arrival. I was trying to listen more closely when the bedroom door opened and Rick came out.

‘Josie’s in the bathroom,’ he said, coming over to me. ‘Thought it only good manners to come out here in the meantime.’

‘Yes, that’s considerate.’

He followed my gaze over the rail, then nodded down towards the adults’ voices.

‘They’ve always got on,’ he said. ‘A shame Mrs Arthur isn’t around more. It’s so good for Mum, having someone to talk to like that. She always cheers up around Mrs Arthur. I do my best. But I can never get her to laugh that way. I suppose, me being her son, it’s hard to relax.’

‘Rick must be a wonderful companion for Miss Helen. But as you can see, if you weren’t with her, she’d be able to find other companions to laugh and talk with.’

‘I don’t know. Maybe.’ Then he said: ‘Look, I’ve been thinking all this over. What you said the other night. And I’ve agreed now. I promised Mum I’ll try. Try my best, my very best, to get into Atlas Brookings.’

‘That’s wonderful!’

He was now leaning over even more, perhaps trying to catch words, and I was concerned he might topple over because of his greater height. But then he straightened, resting both hands on the rail.

‘I’ve even agreed to meet this…man,’ he said, lowering his voice. ‘Her old flame.’

‘The secret weapon person?’

‘Yeah, Mum’s secret weapon. She reckons he can pull strings for me. I’ve even agreed to that.’

‘But this might result in the best solution. The wishes in Josie’s kind picture could come closer to reality.’

‘Maybe they’re talking about that down there right now. How I’ve come round to Mum’s way of thinking after all this time. Maybe that’s what they’re finding so amusing.’

‘I don’t think they’re laughing unkindly. I think Miss Helen must be happy because of Rick’s promise. And hopeful.’

He was silent for a moment, listening to the voices below. Then he said: ‘I think we’re getting a lift into the city with Josie and Mrs Arthur.’

‘Yes, I know. And I’ve been asked to come too.’

‘Well, that’s good. Then you and Josie can both give me moral support. Because I’m not looking forward to begging this character for help.’

Josie’s voice suddenly called from the bedroom: ‘Great! So everyone’s deserted me!’ Then as Rick turned back towards the door: ‘Hey, Klara, you can come back in here too. It’s okay. We’re not performing any big sex acts.’

* * *

—

Two days later, I was to hear yet more about the trip to the city, and this time in a surprising way.

It was a rainy weekday with no visitors. Josie had gone into the Open Plan after lunch for an oblong tutorial, and I’d gone up to the bedroom. I was sitting on the floor, surrounded by magazines, when Melania Housekeeper appeared in the doorway. She stared down at me, her face neither kind nor frowning, and I thought she’d come to reprimand me for the times I’d left Rick and Josie unattended in the bedroom despite her warnings about hanky-panky. But she stepped further inside, then said in a kind of harsh whisper: