‘Let me be the judge of that.’
Violetta waited, summoning up the courage to speak. ‘I am seeing someone. Well, I think I am seeing someone.’
Grace looked up. ‘Do I know him?’
‘Yes.’
‘Who, who? I can’t think. Simon Ponters? William James? Topper Blacklock?’
Violetta shook her head.
‘OK, don’t tell me, I want to guess.’
Violetta sighed, there was no way Grace would be able to guess.
Grace sat with her fingers on her temples. ‘Jeff Carson.’
Violetta gasped. ‘How did you know? Who told you?’
‘No one, he just popped into my head. Jeff? Really? I was right? How lovely.’
‘What’s lovely? You being right or me seeing Jeff?’
‘Both.’
‘You don’t think it’s weird?’
‘What? You dating a brain surgeon? No weirder than me once dating a bike courier.’
Violetta laughed. ‘Man, our life is crazy.’
‘Crazy? No. Interesting? Yes,’ said Grace as her phone rang.
‘Hello?’ she answered. ‘Yes, I know, I’m coming now. See you soon.’
‘I have to go to Pajaro. The images of Calypso are ready for approval. You coming?’
‘Yep, come on,’ said Violetta.
And they walked to Pajaro together, more companionable than they had been in years, amidst an interesting world.
*
Matthew’s apartment was in the financial district and Carlotta jumped out of the cab, throwing twenty dollars at the driver.
She stomped inside, waiting for a man to exit. She watched him get onto a bike chained up to the lamp-post outside. She rang Matthew’s buzzer, waited for him to answer.
‘Yes.’ She heard his voice.
‘It’s Carlotta.’
And then she heard the buzzer and the door opened. He was waiting at the front door when she got out of the elevator.
‘What the fuck do you want?’ he asked.
‘I want to know what the hell you did to my sister?’ she demanded in the hallway.
Matthew stepped inside, gesturing for her to follow him. She left the door opened just to be safe.
