(5) That Sweet Dream Of Life
Lara waylaid the exiting Andrew with considerably more aplomb than
previously, and riding the wave of her success, guided him over to Vee’s,
where they lay in wait forher to put down her Inspector Lynley novel and pass
out, and then hopefully, up. Lara warned that that could not always be relied
upon. Vee could just as easily stay within her sleeping frame for the night.
They waited and watched. Finally, the book was closed and placed on
the bedsidetable, the lamp switched off and body wiggled into repose. Soon
she was standing beside them asking, Are we all ghosts together then?
Grinning at each other, the three of them, accomplices in something bigger
they didn’t understand, fell to hugging. This brought tears and then laughter
and attempts at commiserating that lead to more falling about and laughing.
The next morning neither Vee nor Andrew could recall much more than
fleetingimages and sensations of being with Lara. They told their stories, such
as they were, separately, and wondered why they each remembered Lara but
not each other. That’s if they had been there together. Various psychological
theories were bandied about then abandoned as insufficient. They agreed to
remain mystified, as that was the most fun.They also agree to meet at the
famed caffeine dispensary for latte and muffins before Vee headed into the city
to do her dutiful daughter bit.
Andrew looked about the place before leaving, thinking maybe he
should tidy up.After much solemn deliberation he decided against it, as it
might ruin his buoyant mood.Can’t have that can we? Somehow even the
vague fragments of the Lara dreams seemed to confer some blessing upon
this meeting and he felt, well, almost guilt free about his excitement. Almost.
Stepping out into the cold gray day did not serve to diminish his giddy
prospects.His did acknowledge his fealty to the lake before passing on, as
had become his habit, but he knew it was more affectation than proper
gesture. Never mind, he’d make it up next time. He grinned at his own joke
before driving away. Vee seemed in a very good humour when they sat down
to enjoy their sort-of brunch and he commented thus. Ah, it was only pushing
herself to the top of the hill so that the rest of the day would be a long slide
down.
Interesting technique Vee.
She waved a hand. Ah, been doing it for years, just never fessed up before.
