The Drowning Child. Alex Barclay
one lover to ask another to wait before running up to join them?’ There was a sparkle in his eye.
‘Behave,’ said Ren.
‘Come on …’
I’m committing to nada.
‘So, are they?’ said Paul.
‘No, they’re not,’ said Ren.
‘OK,’ said Paul, with no conviction.
‘And no one should use the word “lover”.’
‘I have definitely heard you say “I’m a lover, not a fighter”.’
‘No one other than me, then …’
He smiled. ‘Now that I have cornered you alone,’ he said, ‘how are you doing? Really doing? You were very quiet over dinner.’
‘I was enjoying everyone else,’ said Ren. ‘I’m finding it hard to raise my game.’
‘You were perfectly pleasant, but …’
‘Struggling – I know.’
‘That’s understandable, after what you’ve been through.’
Tears welled in her eyes. She blinked them away. ‘I keep crying randomly.’ You don’t cry. Tears well, you blink, they’re gone. And you think the feelings go with them.
‘It’s not random,’ said Paul. ‘We’re talking about your boyfriend, your friends, your colleagues—’
‘It’s all so weird,’ said Ren. ‘I’m not a widow; Ben and I weren’t “long-term loves”. Just a year. But I did love him.’
You don’t know what love is. You’re not a victim. You don’t know how to love. And he doesn’t want to hear about love.
‘Have you thought about grief counseling?’ said Paul.
‘I’d rather shoot myself in the ass.’
‘Vivid,’ said Paul.
Ren smiled, took a drink. ‘But enough about me – how are you doing? How’s Marianne?’
‘Well,’ he said, drawing out the word, ‘the easy answer would be “great” …’
Oh, no, no, no, no. Do not appear available to me.
‘Shall I go on?’ he said.
‘Please do.’ Not.
‘It’s a dramatic move, getting back with your ex-wife,’ said Paul. ‘It’s exciting at the start, everyone is happy – the kids, our families, our friends – well, most of them – but then, the door is closed at night, everyone’s going about their business, and we’re just there, the two of us, and …’ He shrugged. ‘It’s like what people say about funerals: once it’s over, everyone disappears and you’re left on your own and … Jesus Christ, Ren – I can’t believe I just started talking about funerals. That was the most—’
Ren shook her head. ‘Stop. I get it. I know what you’re saying. Don’t tiptoe around me or I will shoot myself in the ass. Just, be normal. Please don’t look at me like I’m a victim. I can’t deal with that. Relax in the knowledge that I know you’re not an insensitive prick.’
‘OK,’ said Paul. ‘OK. I’m sorry. Thanks.’
‘No need to be,’ said Ren. Tears welled in her eyes again. ‘Ugh. This is getting ridiculous.’
‘Stop …’
‘I just … lost so many people I loved,’ said Ren.
Paul reached out and squeezed her hand. She looked up at him through tears.
At least I have you.
‘Well, I’m still here,’ said Paul. He blushed. ‘Not saying that you love me, or loved me, but, I just mean … what’s wrong with me tonight?’
Ren laughed, and wiped her eyes.
Of course I loved you. In my own special and fearful way. But I have no idea what it is I’m feeling right now.
Safe?
‘You … unsettle me, Ren Bryce.’
‘Jesus.’
‘Maybe I like being unsettled.’
Ren laughed. I beg to differ.
‘Why are you laughing?’ said Paul.
‘It was just your delivery …’
She checked her watch. It was 11 p.m. ‘OK, I’m wide awake. I’m going to take a drive.’
‘What?’ said Paul. ‘Now?’
Ren nodded. ‘Every second counts.’
And every second out there is one less second I spend alone in my bed with nothing but my own mind to fuck me.
‘Do you want company?’ said Paul.
Mos def not. ‘No, thank you.’
Ren drove out of the parking lot and read the sign: left was Tate, right was Lake Verny.
The Crow Bar will still be open. I can ask about John Veir, I can check out Seth Fuller.
I can throw myself into the beautiful, icy, moonlit water.
Seth Fuller stood on the bottom step of The Crow Bar, clutching the handrail. Eyes closed, he sucked air through his nose, held it, exhaled slowly through his mouth – 7-11 breathing: he had been taught how to do this by the psychologist at BRCI. He had been embarrassed at first, sitting in front of this nerdy guy, Lockwood, in his brown round-neck sweater and red shirt, closing his eyes and counting in for seven, counting out for eleven.
‘You’ve got this, Seth,’ Lockwood used to say. ‘And if you’ve got this, you’ll see … you’ve got the rest of your life.’
Seth thought it was a pretty sweeping statement, but he liked the idea of having the rest of his life. He just wasn’t sure if he really did, and that, if so, he’d ever be able to breathe properly through it.
He leaned hard on the handrail and vaulted up the steps. He walked into the bar, pulled a fifty-dollar note out of his back pocket and slapped it on to the counter in front of Shannon. He nodded toward Clyde Brimmer.
Shannon frowned. ‘Where did you get that?’
Seth smiled his lazy smile. ‘I choose to take no offense at the tone of your remark.’
‘I’m serious.’
‘Don’t be,’ said Seth. ‘A friend of a friend of a friend.’
Shannon rolled her eyes, but there was anger in them. ‘You better not be—’
‘I’m not be,’ said Seth. ‘Don’t worry.’
‘Goddammit,’ said Shannon. ‘The town is crawling with police.’
‘Well, if it helps,’ said Seth, ‘I won it playing pool with the police. Gil Wiley. You can ask him yourself.’
‘Jesus, Seth – why do you have to create mysteries for no reason?’ said Shannon. ‘What’s the point? “Friend of a friend of a friend.” Why would you want to cause more stress for me than I’m already under?’
‘I’m sorry, Aunt Shannon. I wasn’t thinking …’
‘I worry,’