The Lover's Children novel Chapter 24

JAMES

Since I’m excess to need in the kitchen, I leave them to it.

What’s next?

Help out in the gym…

The sports area is a standard enough example of its type. The main workout room contains treadmills, cycles and rowing machines, along with benches, dumbbells, pull-up frames and the like. Most of the rest is a single large space, normally partitioned into sections for dance and yoga classes, pilates, the self-defence classes that Charlotte sometimes oversees, rumba and line-dancing.

All that has gone. As I walk in, the partitions have all been opened wide or removed altogether. Tables are laid out in rows, Mitch and Beth spreading them with paper table-roll. Another series of tables line one wall, stacked with paper plates, plastic cutlery and glasses. Richard and Ross are carrying in cardboard boxes and crates of bottles.

At one end, the band is setting up. As luck would have it, they’d not even unloaded their van when disaster struck at the mill, so for them, it’s no more than a change of venue.

Cabling and spotlights that I recognise as Michael’s exhibition equipment are stacked at one end, Klempner up a stepladder fixing it into place. A battalion of small children is lined up close by, the tallest ones nearest to his ladder…

He snaps out orders. “Lift it as high as you can while I get this pinned.” The boy who sheltered under the table with him stands on tiptoe, stretched upwards to hold the cable… “That’s it. Now hold it there for just a minute.”

He aims a finger. “You. What’s your name?”

The girl of maybe six or seven lisps her reply. “I’m Milly.”

“Alright, Milly, pass me that drill… No, that one, that’s plugged in. Don’t touch the switch.”

On celery-stick arms, she lifts the heavy-duty tool, huffing as Klemper stoops to take it from her.

“Did she really have maggots coming out of her head? Really and truly?” She’s saucer-eyed.

Klempner flicks a switch on the drill, the hammer-action I assume, and sets the bit against the wall. “Yes, really and truly. Now move away.”

Obediently, Milly takes a step or two back, but another small boy, his face etched with suspicion, says, “Where from her head? Just her eyes?”

“No, out of her nose and mouth too.”

“Yeah?” His mouth and eyes fling wide. “Brilliant!” He runs off, arms windmilling.

Klempner watches him go, then leans into the wall. The drill whirrs and clatters for a few seconds and he backs off again. “Milly, take this and put it over there on the floor. You, Archie, pass me that strip of wall-plugs… No, not the yellow ones, the brown ones.”

A young woman approaches. “There you are, Milly. Come on. Time for your nap, or you won’t enjoy your evening.”

Milly’s face crumples to a mask of tragedy. “But I want to help Grandad K.”

“You’ve already helped him. Now you have to have a nap.” She looks to Klempner. “I’m sorry if she was being a nuisance.”

“Not at all. She was a great help.”

“I’m pleased to hear that. Now, come along, Milly.” She takes the girl’s hand, pulling her towards the door.

“Don’t wanna!” She digs her heels in. “Don’t wanna go! Wanna stay and watch. Wanna help Grandad K.”

Still up his stepladder, Klempner shouts down. “Hey, you. Milly’s Mom.” He points a finger. “There’s a stack of gym mattresses and workout mats over there. Why don’t you put her on one of those and lay your coat over her.”

Milly’s Mom hesitates. “Milly, If we do that, do you promise to be good and have your nap?”

The tragic mask morphs to cherubic. “Promise, yes.”

“James…” Mitch appears at my elbow. “Even with all the paper plates, we’re short of enough to go around.”

Hmmm…

“How about getting the kids to fold up napkins into cones? They can have their nuggets out of those.”

A chuckle by my ear: Richard. He nods toward Klempner. “Mitch, get Larry to put his team of minions onto it.”

She snaps her fingers... “Gotcha.” … and strides away. A few moments talk up the ladder and Klempner nods. Mitch vanishes, returning only moments later with a box of napkins. Two minutes later and children are fighting for the privilege of folding napkins into cups.

Richard shakes his head, murmuring, “You’d never thought of Klempner as having a way with kids, would you?”

“No. I wouldn’t. It’s certainly a unique way.” I huff a laugh. “I think he’s as baffled by it as the rest of us. How’s it all going? Kirstie and Ryan settled in?”

“They’re fine. All the guests are safely here now. And it’s just as well. The weather’s moving in and it’s getting dark. The snow plough’s heading back for the day.”