The Lover's Children novel Chapter 23

KLEMPNER

There’re plenty of hands on the work now. I stand back and watch.

James appears at my side. “How much of my brandy did you dose Kirstie with? And yes, I’ve noticed the level in the bottle falling. Now I know where it was going.”

“To a good cause, I think you’ll agree.”

“How much has she drunk?”

I give the flask a shake. It sloshes inside. “Maybe half. Want to help me with the rest?” I tip back a small sip then pass him the bottle.

He pulls a face, then glancing furtively around. “Oh, fuck it.” The flask tips back and empties with a small sucking sound.

Ryan appears at my shoulder. “What did you say to Kirstie? Whatever it was…” He leans forward, sniffing. “Brandy?”

“Yup. Got a problem with that?”

“Nope. Look at her…”

To a backdrop of the smashed window and the river, the crashed tree and the scaffolding, the chain of volunteers is rescuing the remains of the rescuable from the debris. In the foreground, a conveyor belt of aged aunts is lining up with small children to take their turn at having their pictures taken with a smiling Kirstie.

“It’s going to be a unique photo album,” comments James.

Ryan slaps me on the shoulder. “Thanks, Larry. I can handle this…” He waves a hand across the devastated dining hall…. “… this shite… But I wanted this to be Kirstie’s day and…”

A short kid with a handful of cake and about as much again smeared over his face rushes out of the line and up to me. “You Cara’s Grandad K?”

“That’s right. Why d’you ask?”

“Is it right about the maggots?”

Ryan and James exchange glances… Hearing ice creaking under my feet, I reply carefully. “Yes, it’s true.”

“They wuz coming out her eyeballs?”

“Yeeesss…”

“Just her eyeballs? Or wuz it like her nose and her mouth too?” The cake aimed roughly at his mouth, another layer of chocolate veneer is plastered over his face.

“Yes. Her mouth and nose too.”

“That’s totally sick!” He breaks into a pumpkin grin. “Hey, can I stand next to you for my photo?”

The ground shifts under my feet. “I suppose so.”

“Great!” He thrusts a sticky hand at mine. “C’mon… Hey! I’m having my photo with Grandad K!”

Some elderly harridan in purple stamps forward, a tissue gripped in one hand. Advancing with purpose in her eyes, she snags him by the arm, bringing him screeching to a halt. Stooping to his eye level, she spits on the tissue then uses it to clean away the chocolate pebble-dashing his face.

The outer doors swing open and Michael enters with Haswell. His voice raised. “Alright everyone, the coaches are here. Everyone on board please.”

Haswell makes a bow and a flourish of the arm to Kirstie. “Your carriage awaits. Elizabeth, perhaps you could help Kirstie get to the car without wreaking any more damage on Mitch's workmanship. Ryan, would you like to accompany your wife please.”

*****

JAMES

Children cluster around Klempner. His eyes dart, one way and the other, his expression is… hunted… Close by, foot tapping, Mitch watches him.

“'lo.”

Klempner looks around, then down, to where a small figure of indeterminate sex tugs at his trouser leg. It could be a girl. “Paulie sez you was with a maggoty lady and I sez that int true. So, is it true? She was all maggoty?”

Pain flits across his face. “Yes, it's true.”

Her mouth opens to an O. “Wicked!” She rushes off, arms waving. “It IS true.”

Do I take pity on him?

Making my way through the throng of wedding guests, I stand close by him. My voice low. “What are you looking for?”

His lips barely move. “A legitimate reason to not be here.”

I run that through my social translators… “Legitimate meaning, acceptable to Mitch?”

“That’s about it, yes.”

I raise my voice, slap him on the shoulder. “Larry, I'm shorthanded in the kitchen. Can I borrow you?”