Page 26 of The Best of Times

I suppose I was blocking everything out.

His phone rang in his pocket, bringing him back to the real world. When he got it out, the caller ID said Calvin.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.”

Sundays. Bank holidays. Annual leave. None of them had much of an impact on his boss. He supposed he should be grateful it had taken him this long to get in touch.

He pressed Answer and took a deep breath.

“Calvin? Is everything all right?”

“Did you forget you have a meeting with Mary Hilton this week? To talk about her research.”

To avoid that meeting had been a plus point of booking this annual leave.

“No,” he replied, keeping his voice steady. “Pip said he’d take it.”

“Pip wouldn’t know the difference between James Baldwin and James Joyce.”

Aron rolled his eyes. He’d cleared all this with Calvin before he’d even booked the damned leave. He was determined to make him suffer, evidently. Probably to avoid any repeat occurrences.

“It’s an exploratory meeting,” Aron said. “You know as well as I do that Mary will do most of the talking. What is the real problem?”

Calvin sighed. “Can’t you come earlier? Surely you’re bored of that freaking backwater by now.”

So that was it. The back of Aron’s head tingled with annoyance. He’d worked his arse off for this man and he still resented him spending time with his family.

“Calvin, please don’t,” he replied. “I’m catching up with people I’ve not seen in two years. I’ll be all yours in January. Then we’ll hit the ground running. I promise.”

Considering Calvin was New York born and bred, he’d probably never experienced living apart from his loved ones. Also, empathy had never been his strongest suit. When Theo’sgrandmother had died, Calvin had asked him if he wanted the morning or the afternoon off for the funeral.

“Fine,” he said in a tone that suggested otherwise. “I’ve told Theo to book a working weekend in the cabin for January. We’re going to be the busiest we’ve ever been next year. I want you coming back full of ideas.”

“Sounds exciting. I’d better go.”

“Fine. Run along and do whatever it is you’re doing that’s more important than the New York Public freaking Library.”

“Happy Christmas, Calvin.”

The line went dead. Aron supposed that Calvin wouldn’t be contacting him on the big day to wish him glad tidings.

It was odd to hear from his new life whilst retracing the steps of his old one. At this point, he had no idea which he preferred. The anonymity of New York had been exhilarating at first.

Is it still?

As he turned the corner, Paul walked toward him. Paul’s face instantly broke out into a huge grin. Once more it went straight to Aron’s legs.

He was getting better at not showing it though. Instead, he put on his finest haughty expression.

“Oh, good afternoon,” he said. “And how are you this fine day?”

It was drizzling.

“I’m going to The Swan.”

Aron leant against the railings. “How very interesting. I’m coming from Club C, actually. It’s very nice inside. I suppose you’ve not seen it yet.”

“So I’ve heard,” Paul said with a glint in his eye. “Is that your venue, then?”