Chapter 6 Aching Hearts

Mark was at home, watching children's television on a Saturday morning, when he heard the doorbell. He turned off the TV, opened the door and found Juliet there with a large piece of cake in her hand. She had clearly come straight from a bakery.

`Cake?' she offered.

`No, thanks,' he said.

`Good. I find it difficult to share cake.’

`Oh, right.’

`Can I come in?’

`Er... yes. I'm a bit busy, but...’

They went inside.

`I was just passing,' said Juliet, `and I thought we could check your video. I thought I could exchange it for some cake or...' She pulled sweets from her pocket,'... for some sweets.’

`Actually, I was serious. I don't know where it is. I'll look around tonight and then...’

`Mark, can I say something?’

`Yes.’

`I know you're Peter's best friend,' Juliet began. `And I know you don't like me very much.' He opened his mouth, but she continued. `Don't argue. We've never become friends. But I hope that can change. I'm nice - I really am. Well, I buy a lot of cake, but it would be good if we could be friends.’

`Yes. Sure. Sure,' Mark said, coldly.

`Great,' said Juliet, feeling hurt.

`But that doesn't mean we'll be able to find the video. I had a good look when you first called and I couldn't see it, so I'll have to...

`There's a video here that says "Peter and Juliet's Wedding" on it. Could that possibly be it?’

'Ah, yes,' said Mark. `Well... yes.’

She moved towards the TV and put the video in the machine.

`I've probably recorded something on top of it,' Mark told her. `All my videos have West Wing on them now.’

She sat down as the video started to play. He stayed on his feet. There Juliet was, walking down the centre of the church.

`Oh great! That's lovely!' Juliet cried. `This is just what I was hoping for. I look quite pretty.' Mark stood silently as, again and again, Juliet's face appeared on the screen. `You've stayed rather close to me, haven't you?' she said slowly.

They watched in silence as it became clear that there was only one person in this wedding video. Finally, there was Juliet leaving for her honeymoon, waving goodbye.

`The whole video,' she said. `All me.’

`Yes,' Mark said. `Yes.’

`But you never talk to me,' Juliet said. `You always talk to Peter. You don't like me.’

Mark didn't know what to say. `I hope it's useful,' he said, finally. `Don't show it to too many people. It needs cutting. Now, I've got to meet someone for... lunch. An early lunch. Sorry.' He walked towards the door and then turned back. `I don't want to get hurt,' he said. `Do you understand that?’

He left without waiting for an answer.

Outside the house he walked away, then turned back, then walked away again.

*

There was a knock on the door of the Prime Minister's office and Annie came in.

`Annie, my love, my sweet, my dream, I need you to do something for me.’

`Of course. What would our country's hero like?' Annie said. `Don't ask me why, but... you know Natalie, who works here?'

`The plump one?’

`Do you think she's plump?’

`I think her bottom's quite big, yes, sir. And she has very fat legs.'

`Right. Well, I'm sure she's a lovely girl, but... could you find her work somewhere else?’

`Of course.

The Prime Minister looked out of the window for a minute. Then he sat down at his desk and started to write.

He had worked for hours when there was another knock at the door. He jumped.

`Yes - come in.’

The door opened and a girl came in with tea. It wasn't Natalie.

`Prime Minister,' the woman said.

`Thank you.’

He looked at her and realized sadly what he had done.

*

Late the same night, Daniel was in his office at home, staring at a picture of his dead wife. As the door opened and his stepson came in, he tried to look more cheerful.

`Hi, Sam. Can't sleep?’

`I got some terrible news today,' Sam told him.

`What is it?’

`Joanna's going back to America.’

`Your girl is American?’

`Yes,' said Sam. `She's American and she's not my girl, and she's going back to America and that's the end of my life.’

`That is bad news,' Daniel agreed. `We need Kate and we need Leo.’

They went into the living room and put a video on. Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, came on in the middle of the film.

`Do you trust me?' Leo's character was asking, up at the front of the ship.

`I trust you,' Kate answered.

They stood there with their arms out, like birds flying.

Daniel and Sam put their arms out too. Daniel stood behind Sam.

`Do you trust me?' he asked his stepson.

`I trust you,' Sam said.

`Fool!' Daniel pushed him down onto the sofa and they lay back, laughing.

`You know, Sam,' Daniel told him, `I'm sure she's a great girl. But most people believe there isn't just one person for each of us.'

`There was for Kate and Leo. There was for you. There is for me. She's the one,' Sam replied.

`Right... And her name's Joanna?’

`Yes. Like Mum.’

Daniel thought about this.

*

The next day, Jamie left his French farmhouse to return to England for Christmas. Aurelia helped him fill every corner of the car with wine, cheese and other presents for his family.

`Apologia,' Jamie said, in no known language. `Grande familio. Grande tradizione di Christmas presents stupidos.'

He drove Aurelia to the edge of town for the last time before the holiday. Then he got out of the car and put out his hand. She took it.

`Well, goodbye,' he said.

`Thank you,' said Aurelia, in Portuguese. `I will miss you, and your very slow writing, and your very bad driving.'

He smiled at her without understanding. She gave him a gentle kiss on the mouth, and then walked away.

Jamie thought for a moment and then got back into the car. He started the car and moved out into the road without looking. A car drove into the back of his.

*

Through the window of a record shop, Sam watched a video of Billy Mack's Christmas song. Behind Billy, seven girls dressed in red and white were dancing enthusiastically.

Suddenly, Sam turned and ran home.

`Daniel! I've got a plan!' he shouted, as he ran into his stepfather's office.

`Thank God, Daniel said. `Tell me.’

`Girls love musicians, don't they? Even the really strange men get girlfriends.’

`That's right. Ringo Starr married a girl from a James Bond film.’

Right. There's a big concert soon at school, and Joanna's in it. If I'm in a rock group and play really wonderfully, she might actually fall in love with me. What do you think?’

`I think it's a great idea. There's just one small problem...'

`That I don't play a musical instrument?’

`Yes.’

`That's so unimportant.’

Later that evening, as he was walking past Sam's room to bed, Daniel heard the sound of drumming. Sam was teaching himself to play.

*

It was a cold evening, but Mark's art gallery was warm, music was playing, and everybody was having a good time at Fairtrade's Christmas party.

Karl was getting a drink. Sarah stood nervously alone beside a large photo of a naked woman.

`I'll go round and talk to everybody, shall I?’ Karen asked her husband.

`You're wonderful,' said Harry.

Suddenly Mia was there next to him, looking wonderful in a tight red dress. `Is there any chance of a dance with the boss?'

`Yes, sure... if your boyfriend doesn't mind.’

`I haven't got a boyfriend,' Mia said.

Karen talked sweetly to a very dull couple, but her eyes were on her husband and Mia.

`You're looking very... pretty tonight,' Harry told Mia. There was silence for a second. `It's for you,' Mia said.

`Sorry?’

`It's all for you.... sir.’

Karen moved on to talk to Sarah and they both watched Harry and Mia.

`I suppose it's his job to dance with everyone, isn't it?' Sarah said, softly.

`Yes - but some more than others,' Karen replied. Karl appeared beside them. `Just one dance?' he asked.

`Who - me?' asked Sarah.

`Unless you...’

`No, no,' Sarah said. `Good... yes... thanks.’

As they started to dance, a slow, romantic song began to play.

*

That evening, Billy was being interviewed by Michael Parkinson, a very famous TV presenter.

`Well, this must be a very exciting moment for you,' Parkinson said. `You are fighting for the Christmas Number One. How's it going?’

`Very badly. Blue are selling five times more CDs than I am. But I'm hoping that sales will improve. And if I reach Number One in the charts, I promise to sing the song naked on TV.

'Do you mean that?' Parkinson asked.

`Of course I mean it. Look.’

Billy stood up, faced the presenter and opened his trousers.

`That will never reach Number One,' Parkinson laughed.

*

Much later, Karl said good night to Sarah in the hall of the building where her flat was.

`Well, I'd better go,' he said.

'OK.’

`Good night! 'Good night,' Sarah replied.

Karl kissed her - on the cheek and then on the lips. `I don't actually have to go,' he said.

`Right,' said Sarah. `Good. That's good.' She tried not to show her pleasure. `Would you excuse me one second?' She went outside, screamed silently, and jumped up and down with excitement. Then she went back inside. `Right,' she said. `Why don't you come upstairs in about ten seconds?’

She was tidying the flat when Karl entered. He took off his coat and waited. Then they ran towards each other and kissed. Clothes fell to the floor.

`You're beautiful,' he told her.

As they kissed again, the phone rang.

Sarah paused. `I'd better answer it,' she said sadly. She pushed him away and covered herself. `Hello, darling... No, I'm not busy.' Karl looked at her, surprised and a little hurt. `Right... Right... Yes,' Sarah continued. `I'm not sure it's going to be possible to phone the Queen tonight but... Yes, yes... I'm sure she'll be interested' She moved further away from Karl. `OK,' she said. `I'll talk to you later. Bye bye.' She put the phone down. `I'm sorry about that.!

'No, it's fine,' Karl said.

`It was my brother. He's not well. He calls a lot.' `I'm sorry.’

`No, it's fine,' said Sarah. `I mean, it's not really fine - but we've got no parents now and it's my job to... help him if I can. Well, not "job". I'm glad to do it.’

`That's OK,' Karl said. `Life is full of interruptions and difficulties. So...' He kissed her.

The phone rang again. They both looked at it.

`Will it make him better?' Karl asked.

`No.!

'Then maybe... don't answer?’

There was silence for a minute as Sarah looked at Karl. Then she picked up the phone.

`Hey, how are you doing? Right... Right.' Karl sat quietly beside her. `Little darling,' said Sarah, `please don't. We're going to find the answer between us and it won't hurt any more...

'Karl put his head in his hands, waiting.

`No,' said Sarah, `I'm not busy. If you want me to come now, of course I will.... OK...' She looked at Karl.

*

In the early morning, after the Fairtrade Christmas party had ended, Karen and Harry were in their bedroom. `That was a good night,' said Karen, `although I felt fat.'

`Oh, don't be silly,' Harry said.

`It's true.' She took off her dress, shyly. `I can only wear clothes now that used to belong to Pavarotti.’

Harry watched her. `I think Pavarotti dresses very well.'

`Mia's very pretty.,

'Is she??

'You know she is, darling," said Karen. `Be careful!’

*

Sarah, at that moment, was visiting her brother in a special hospital. The cold, lonely room had very little furniture in it and a large male nurse stood by the door.

Michael was paler and thinner and had dirtier hair than in the photograph on Sarah's desk.

`Have you been watching TV?' Sarah asked him.

`No... Yes. Every night.! 'Oh, good! 'Every day. The nurses are trying to kill me!’

'Nobody's trying to kill you, darling.’

Michael was silent. Then he suddenly lifted his hand to hit her. The nurse stepped towards her to protect her, but Sarah took Michael's hand.

`Don't do that, my darling,' she said, very gently.

*

On the day after the party, everyone at Fairtrade was quieter than usual. Harry was talking to Mia.

`Right,' he said. `I'll be back at three. I'm going Christmas shopping - never an easy or a pleasant job.’

`Are you going to get me something?’

`Er... I don't know. I hadn't thought.' They stared at each other. `Where's Sarah?' he asked.

`She couldn't come in today,' said Mia. `A family problem.!

'You mean, she drank too much last night? See you later.'

`Yes. I'll be waiting for you. Any time.’

Harry left the office, very confused about his feelings. He walked down a busy street, decorated with Christmas trees and Christmas lights everywhere. He thought for a second and then took out his phone and called.

`Are you going to give me something?' he asked.

`I thought you understood last night,' said Mia. `You can have everything. All of me.’

Harry was shocked. `So... er... this Christmas present. What do you need? Something for the office? Pens perhaps? A ruler?'

`No,' said Mia. `I don't want something I need. I want something I want. Something pretty.’

`Right... right.' Harry turned his phone off. Then he saw his wife in the crowd and waved.

`Sorry I'm late,' said Karen. `I had to take Bernie to school. There's a rehearsal for the Christmas play.' They went into one of London's biggest shops. `Look after yourself for ten minutes while I get some boring stuff for our mothers,' Karen said, and disappeared into the crowd.

Harry looked around and saw some jewellery. He stared at it for a minute or two, thinking.

`Are you looking for something special?' the assistant asked him.

`Yes.... er.... How much is that necklace? he asked, finally, pointing at one with a gold heart hanging from it.

`It's £270,' said the assistant.

Harry thought about spending all that money on a woman who was not his wife.

`All right. I'll have it,' he said, quickly.

`I'll put it in some nice Christmas paper,' the assistant said.

`Yes, all right.’

The assistant took the necklace and put it carefully in a box. `Listen. Could we be quite quick?' Harry said.

`Certainly, sir. I won't be long.' The assistant took out some paper and put it around the box. `There,' he said. `That's great.’

`I haven't quite finished,' the assistant told him. He took out a bag.

`I don't really need a bag,' Harry said nervously. `I can put it in my pocket.’

`This isn't an ordinary bag,' the assistant told him. `Look' He took out some little dried roses and put them carefully into the bag with the necklace. Then he opened another drawer.

`Actually, I really can't wait,' Harry said.

`You won't be sorry,' the assistant said, as he put more dried flowers into the bag.

`I might,' Harry told him, looking around him.

'Just a few more seconds,' the assistant said. He tied the top of the bag and then opened his drawer again.

`Have you almost finished?' Harry asked. `What now? Are you going to cover it with chocolate?’

`No, sir. I'm going to put it in this Christmas box.’

`I don't want a Christmas box!’

`But it's a gift, isn't it?’

`Yes, but... Can I just pay?’

`Well, I just need...’

`No! No!’

'But sir...’

`Leave it - leave it, just leave it.’

'Ah, looking at the jewellery, are you?' Karen said, appearing beside him.

Harry moved quickly away. `No, I hate jewellery.’

`Don't worry,' Karen said. `I don't expect much after thirteen years, Mr But-You-Always-Love-Chocolate-At-Christmas.’

*

In another part of London, in a large, brightly lit room, students from around the world were learning English. They sat at their desks listening to cassettes through earphones.

`Sherlock Holmes is not a real detective,' one student repeated carefully.

`Is this the way to the train station?' a Russian student translated into her own language.

`I would like a kilo of oranges,' another one said, in English.

`I would like a one-day travel card,' said a fourth student seriously.

At one of the desks, Jamie was learning Portuguese. `I've got a terrible stomach ache,' he said slowly, in Portuguese. `I think it was the fish.’

When he left the building and entered the underground station, he was still talking to himself in Portuguese.

`This is a very big fish!' he said loudly. `It tastes wonderful!’

*

`Has she noticed you yet?' Daniel asked Sam.

`No, not yet. But romantic films are like that, aren't they? People only come together at the end.’

`Of course,' Daniel agreed.

`I feel bad that I never ask you how your love life's going,' Sam said seriously.

`Ha! I've finished with all that,' Daniel said. `Unless, of course, Claudia Schiffer calls.’