“I’m sure Mitch Peters wouldn’t mind helping out.”
I smiled weakly. Clearly the ‘boys’ she was thinking of were quite different to the ones – the one – I had in mind.
“I thought you might have been tempted,” she continued.
I was ready to crawl through the floor: her words laced with unintentional double entendres.
And then I saw Sebastian.
He looked so handsome in his crisp, snug uniform; no one would have guessed he was still only 17. Certainly not me – he looked more like early twenties. It was easy to see how the club could get away with allowing him to serve alcohol. It seemed I suffered from the same hypocrisy.
Donna turned to see what, or rather who, I was staring at.
“Oh, there’s the Hunters’ boy. I remember Shirley Peters mentioning that her son was going to get him a job here.”
She waved to attract his attention, as I sank lower into my chair.
He hesitated for a moment, then strode over.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said smoothly.
His audacity brought a small smile to my lips.
“Hello, Sebastian,” said Donna.
“Hi,” I said, shyly.
“How long have you been working here?” asked Donna.
“Just a few days. Ches Peters got me a job.”
“And how are you liking it?”
“It’s getting better,” he said, glancing at me.
Donna raised her eyebrows and I could tell she was trying not to smile.
I frowned: Sebastian’s recklessness was hardly helpful.
“Can I get you ladies anything?” he said, sounding a little flustered as he correctly interpreted my cool expression.
“No, we’re good, thank you. We’re just having coffee.”
“Well, okay, then… I’d better get back to work…”
Donna waved him on his way and with a last flicker of his eyes towards me, he headed off.
“He’s such a nice boy,” said Donna thoughtfully. “Amazing he’s turned out so well when you consider…” She paused. “I was very impressed with how he handled his parents last Saturday.”
“Yes,” I agreed quickly, wanting to get her off the subject but not sure how.
“Of course,” continued Donna, “you knew him as a child. What was he like then?”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Oh, he was so sweet. He used to come to our house after school. My father was particularly fond of him.”
Dear papa. My smile faded. How he would have loved Sebastian the man, as well as the boy he’d known.
Donna touched my arm. “Sorry, Caroline.”
I shrugged.
“So, do you think you and David will join?”
Now that I realized how popular the club was with Base families, I was a lot less keen, but I didn’t know how I’d get out of it.
“Maybe. It’s quite pricey. I’ll have to see what David says.”
Secretly I had no intention of telling him I’d been here.
“I know what we’ll do,” said Donna, enthusiastically, “I’ll ask Johan to suggest it to him.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.” I said, feeling a little panicky.
“It’s no trouble,” said Donna, decisively. “Besides, it’ll be much more fun coming here with you. Do you play tennis?”
My trip to the country club hadn’t gone exactly as planned. In fact, it was hard to imagine how it could have been worse. Despite my feeble objections, I had Donna’s cast iron promise that her husband would speak to my husband about a membership.
I sat in my hot car in the club’s parking lot, surrounded by expensive foreign cars, and rubbed my forehead, trying to ward off an incipient headache.
The whole situation was ridiculous – even hilarious – although not to me.
I sent Sebastian a quick message.
* Sorry. Not the surprise I’d planned. Cx *
I waited a few minutes but there was no reply: he was probably still working. I drove home, determined to sketch out some more ideas for City Beat. There was no point in letting the day be a complete wash-out.