didn’t know when to stop. ‘A transatlantic flight is tiring for anyone, let alone someone her age, but you know Oma: now she’s finally made up her mind to go, she won’t be happy until she gets there.’
‘Have you given a thought as to how you’re going to get around Poland?’
‘I passed my driving test when I was seventeen, dear cousin.’
‘You’ve rented a car?’
‘It will be waiting at the airport.’
‘Be careful –’
‘Claus, if you’ve rung to lecture me, you can stop right now. I can look after Oma just as well as you.’
‘I wasn’t suggesting you couldn’t.’ He paused for a moment. ‘But I don’t think you should let her drive.’
‘There’s something wrong with Oma?’ she asked in concern.
‘Apart from the stomach ulcers – she has told you about her ulcers?’
‘No.’
‘According to her, they’re minor and the only treatment is diet. She looks as though she’s going to go on for ever –’
‘Then why shouldn’t I let her drive?’ she interrupted.
‘She seems a bit peculiar. Nothing I can put my finger on but … preoccupied. It’s difficult to explain but I have a feeling that something isn’t right.’
As it was obvious that her grandmother hadn’t told Claus about the existence of the documents, Laura made a swift decision not to mention them. She didn’t take pleasure in withholding the knowledge from Claus but the secrets weren’t hers to tell. ‘Oma’s finally decided to go home after sixty years in exile. Wouldn’t you be feeling a bit peculiar if you were in her shoes?’
‘I’d be running like hell in the other direction, and I only left Germany six years ago.’
‘You do like to play hard done by.’
‘If that means army discipline, cold showers and a father with the temperament of a Rottweiler, then yes, but to get back to Oma –’
‘Are you genuinely worried about her, Claus, or simply peeved that it’s me, not you, who is making this trip with her.’
‘Bit of both,’ he conceded frankly. ‘I always assumed that the three of us would go together.’
‘You were the one who got Carolyn pregnant.’
‘Why do I have the feeling I’m being got at?’
‘Because you are,’ she said flatly.
‘It’s not just Oma. It’s Poland and the Eastern bloc. According to the press, it’s not the place to be right now.’
‘Since when have you believed anything printed in the papers?’
‘Since you took up journalism.’
‘I work for television now.’
‘That’s even worse. Go for maximum audience impact and to hell with the truth.’
‘Only in America.’ She changed the subject again. ‘Oma keeps telling me that you are blissfully happy. The full fairy story. Happily ever after.’
‘She’s right. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve Carolyn and the baby, but I’m afraid to think about it too much in case the spell breaks. You?’
‘I have my moments and my work.’ ‘You’re welcome to visit any time.’
‘I know. I’ll try to come after Carolyn’s had the baby.’
‘Come back with Oma. She’d love to have you, and you wouldn’t have to see us unless you wanted to.’
‘You live at the bottom of her garden.’
‘Like English fairies.’
Remembering her abandoned dinner date, Laura said, ‘This phone call must be costing a fortune.’
‘It’s only money,’ he answered carelessly. ‘Laura, you will take care of Oma, won’t you?’
‘As well as you would, Claus.’
‘Carolyn sends her love.’
‘Love back.’
‘Stand godmother to our daughter?’
‘Aren’t you afraid a journalist might hex her?’
‘I’m prepared to take the risk. Phone me from Poland.’
‘As soon as we reach the hotel.’
‘Check the time difference first. I like my sleep.’
The aircraft was swaddled in cloud. Inside, silence reigned and headsets were plugged in, as people prepared to listen to the programmes they’d chosen to be shown on their personal screens.
Only Charlotte’s
‘Have you given a thought as to how you’re going to get around Poland?’
‘I passed my driving test when I was seventeen, dear cousin.’
‘You’ve rented a car?’
‘It will be waiting at the airport.’
‘Be careful –’
‘Claus, if you’ve rung to lecture me, you can stop right now. I can look after Oma just as well as you.’
‘I wasn’t suggesting you couldn’t.’ He paused for a moment. ‘But I don’t think you should let her drive.’
‘There’s something wrong with Oma?’ she asked in concern.
‘Apart from the stomach ulcers – she has told you about her ulcers?’
‘No.’
‘According to her, they’re minor and the only treatment is diet. She looks as though she’s going to go on for ever –’
‘Then why shouldn’t I let her drive?’ she interrupted.
‘She seems a bit peculiar. Nothing I can put my finger on but … preoccupied. It’s difficult to explain but I have a feeling that something isn’t right.’
As it was obvious that her grandmother hadn’t told Claus about the existence of the documents, Laura made a swift decision not to mention them. She didn’t take pleasure in withholding the knowledge from Claus but the secrets weren’t hers to tell. ‘Oma’s finally decided to go home after sixty years in exile. Wouldn’t you be feeling a bit peculiar if you were in her shoes?’
‘I’d be running like hell in the other direction, and I only left Germany six years ago.’
‘You do like to play hard done by.’
‘If that means army discipline, cold showers and a father with the temperament of a Rottweiler, then yes, but to get back to Oma –’
‘Are you genuinely worried about her, Claus, or simply peeved that it’s me, not you, who is making this trip with her.’
‘Bit of both,’ he conceded frankly. ‘I always assumed that the three of us would go together.’
‘You were the one who got Carolyn pregnant.’
‘Why do I have the feeling I’m being got at?’
‘Because you are,’ she said flatly.
‘It’s not just Oma. It’s Poland and the Eastern bloc. According to the press, it’s not the place to be right now.’
‘Since when have you believed anything printed in the papers?’
‘Since you took up journalism.’
‘I work for television now.’
‘That’s even worse. Go for maximum audience impact and to hell with the truth.’
‘Only in America.’ She changed the subject again. ‘Oma keeps telling me that you are blissfully happy. The full fairy story. Happily ever after.’
‘She’s right. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve Carolyn and the baby, but I’m afraid to think about it too much in case the spell breaks. You?’
‘I have my moments and my work.’ ‘You’re welcome to visit any time.’
‘I know. I’ll try to come after Carolyn’s had the baby.’
‘Come back with Oma. She’d love to have you, and you wouldn’t have to see us unless you wanted to.’
‘You live at the bottom of her garden.’
‘Like English fairies.’
Remembering her abandoned dinner date, Laura said, ‘This phone call must be costing a fortune.’
‘It’s only money,’ he answered carelessly. ‘Laura, you will take care of Oma, won’t you?’
‘As well as you would, Claus.’
‘Carolyn sends her love.’
‘Love back.’
‘Stand godmother to our daughter?’
‘Aren’t you afraid a journalist might hex her?’
‘I’m prepared to take the risk. Phone me from Poland.’
‘As soon as we reach the hotel.’
‘Check the time difference first. I like my sleep.’
The aircraft was swaddled in cloud. Inside, silence reigned and headsets were plugged in, as people prepared to listen to the programmes they’d chosen to be shown on their personal screens.
Only Charlotte’s
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