Saturday night, part 1
Saturday night, part 1
With a sigh of relief Therese closed the door of the guesthouse. It had been a rollercoaster of a day. Leaving her camera bag on the couch in front of the fireplace, she kicked off her heels and unzipped the tight black dress she wore, when working, to official gatherings, leaving it on the floor. She moved to the fridge in the kitchenette that filled a corner of the small living room. When Carol had shown her around that morning, she had mentioned the fridge and the drinks and snacks she would find there.
“Don’t hesitate to ask the maid to refill it,” Carol said, in the slightly ironic tone she had used the entire day.
“I’m not much of drinker,” Therese wondered why she said that, knowing very well she would gratefully use it.
“Oh really?” Smiling, Carol slowly turned to Therese. Shyly returning her smile, Therese felt exposed by the cool blue gaze. Carol handed her the small trolley.
“Well, I’ll leave you to unpack, then.”
Before she opened the door she once again turned to Therese.
“If you like, you can have lunch with Rindy and me. We’ll be on the terrace in half an hour.”
Therese looked up from her trolley. “Yes. Yes, I would like that.” She shifted into her professional mode. “Is it okay if I bring my camera ? I might as well get started today.”
Carol’s smile faded.
“Must you?” Then she corrected herself, realizing that there was no escaping it. “Yes, do. Rindy will love it.”
After she had unpacked and changed into black shorts, t-shirt and sneakers Therese took her camera and went to the terrace that adjoined the spacious living room of the big house. Carol had not yet given her a tour of the house and Therese wondered if she would. It didn’t escape her that her hostess wasn’t too keen on her being here. Did it matter? Fred had been very clear when he ordered her to go. He was doing Harge Aird a favour and she would make sure Fred was as good as his word.
When she reached the terrace, Rindy was already there. Therese smiled at the girl, who was blond like her mother and tall for her age. Dressed in a soccer outfit, she was standing next to the set table, clearly intending to already pick a sandwich before the others. Seeing Therese, she quickly removed her hand.
“Hi, you must be Rindy. I’m Therese. I’m here to take some photos.” Therese extended her hand, noticing that, unlike her mother, Rindy was more than willing to shake it.
“Cool,” the girl said. Her eyes were as blue as her mother’s, Therese noticed, slightly unnerved.
“Did you wash those hands, young lady?” Carol’s warm, deep voice startled them both. Rindy’s suddenly red cheeks said it all. “Go and clean them, then.” Smiling, Therese was reminded of the many times Sister Alicia, her foster mother, had sent her back to the washbasin, not pleased with her efforts to look like a neat girl. She liked Rindy’s tomboyish attitude.
While her daughter ran upstairs to her bathroom to clean up, Carol, who had changed into a light blue linen dress, brought the last dish to the table. It was set in the middle of the spacious terrace that offered an undisturbed view of the mountains. A huge parasol provided enough shade for all three of them.
“Tea, coffee, water?, “ Carol offered. Only now she looked directly at Therese, who had chosen a chair on one of the long sides of the table, expecting Carol to take the seat at the head. Once again Therese was struck by the indifferent tone of Carol’s voice. It angered her. “I’m only here to do my job,” was at the tip of her tongue. Instead, she looked at her evenly, hiding her irritation.
“Water, please.”
Their hands touched briefly when Carol handed Therese her glass. Carol became acutely aware of the coolness of Therese’s skin, wondering how she remained untouched by the heat. This young woman was full of surprises, she mused, but she was not willing to ponder on this for long. Therese Belivet would be out of her life in a few days. Until then, she would be polite, if distant.
But lunch turned out to be an unexpectedly pleasant half hour, giving Therese the opportunity to show off her knowledge of soccer to Rindy. Once she had discovered that, unlike her mother, Therese actually knew who Abby Wambach was and could discuss the subtleties of the off side rule, Rindy swooned over the young photographer. Carol was visibly softened by her daughter’s efforts to entertain their guest. Listening to them discuss the chances of Team USA at the Olympics in Rio next year, she unwillingly was touched by Therese’s genuine interest in Rindy. Carol’s hectic scheme forced her to divide her attention over her work and the many political and social obligations that came with Harge’s career, which left her little time to spend with Rindy. It bothered her. Seeing Rindy opening up to Therese filled her with joy and something that resembled regret.
Therese had put her camera on the chair next to her, hoping for an opportunity to take some pictures of Carol and Rindy. She wanted them to be completely at ease, but feared Carol would not be able to relax. But somehow the pleasure of being together, in this moment that was warmed both by the sun and Rindy’s enthusiasm, made Carol forget her inhibitions. And when Rindy went over to her mother, leaning against her while Carol circled her waist with her arm, Therese cautiously reached for her camera. They did not notice it and Therese was excited to capture them in such an intimate and loving pose. She had snapped a few shots before Rindy became aware of the lens pointed at her.
“Wow ! Can I see the pictures ?”
Carol’s eyes were immediately focused on the camera. Through her lens Therese saw how their colour changed to a darker blue, how her face clouded. In awe, she was acutely aware of Carol’s anger but at the same time her breath taking beauty. Unwilling to stop herself, she pressed the shutter.
Therese took a beer from the fridge and thought how Carol’s attitude had changed after that moment. She had sent Rindy up to her room to shower and started to clear away the lunch. Therese’s offer to help was brusquely rejected and she remained seated at the table. After what seemed an incessant wait, Carol had returned, bringing a folder with her. In it was the schedule for the next few days.
“Read it and let me know when you want to join us. I suggest you start tonight with the fundraising dinner at the Eccles Theatre.”
Carol had returned to her initial, unnerving formality.
Therese took a sip of her beer and walked to the couch where she had left her camera bag. Taking out her camera and going through its memory, her thoughts returned to the moment she had taken Carol’s picture after she had discovered the camera. Although she understood Carol’s irritation, she did not regret her impulsive act. When she found the image, she marvelled at the intensity of Carol’s gaze, the darker blue of her slightly narrowed eyes and the fine lines that encircled them, the smile leaving her broad, sensuous mouth. Next to that, Therese also saw vulnerability. Carol was used to publicly wearing a mask and by making this picture, Therese was certain she had pierced it. It had given a depth to Carol’s beauty, she had not noticed before.
“Who are you?”, Therese mumbled, her eyes fixed on the small screen of her camera. It was then that she felt what could only be desire permeating her body. Oh God, was she in trouble.