The Dead Bed by Robert Edsall

Author:Robert Edsall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clifftop Publishing
Published: 2022-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

When he woke in the morning his hangover was almost defeated by enough sleep. His body was a machine. He should treat it with more respect. He would treat it with more respect. Would that be his new year resolution? He was never very good at them because they generally included a resolution to drink less.

Another year was almost over. This time last year he had been moving out of Balmain. The first time he had spent any time – real time, not bed time – with his new young lover, she had told him he was too old. He hadn’t disagreed. He had felt old. He had known he was making a big mistake, and was more than capable of feeling sorry for himself.

He was glad he had apologised to Claire. He should have done it sooner.

Eve jumped up on the bed and walked all over him. His bladder, mainly. It was way past the time when she should have been fed. He obliged her. After a pot of coffee, he decided to go Christmas shopping. The frangipani Christmas tree looked more like a decorated indoor pot plant. It needed presents. He used this as an excuse to phone Claire and ask about the Christmas rules.

‘Any more news on Ben?’ he asked.

‘No. People are being great. They’re looking and they’re calling me often.’

‘We’ll see each other for Christmas this year, won’t we?’ he asked. She agreed they would, and hopefully with Ben as well.

‘Like a family Christmas, but with Phil,’ Patrick said. He was his own worst enemy.

‘Leave Philip out of this,’ she said.

‘Great idea.’ There was silence on the line. ‘He won’t be there, will he?’

‘No. He has a family in Hobart.’

Patrick felt for him before he could stop himself. Christmas. Kids. Separation. But it was good news he would be somewhere else. On another island.

‘I’ve bought you a Christmas present,’ he lied. Why would he do that, he wondered.

‘Is it a T-shirt?’

‘It’s better than a T-shirt.’

‘Just in case you’re unsure, everything is better than a T-shirt.’

‘I want you to remember you said that when you see what it is. Have you got a Christmas tree?’

‘I do. I’m afraid it’s very David Jones this year. You pull a lever and it stands up and there it is, already decorated.’

‘I bet the decorations are purple.’

‘They are! How did you know that?!

‘You won’t throw away our old decorations, will you?’

‘Of course not. Why would I? Will you have a tree? I saw a box of decorations in your sunroom.’

‘I’ve got a tree, it’s decorated and everything.’

‘Well done!’

‘If – when – Ben appears, let’s get those old decorations out.’

‘Absolutely. We’ll get a real tree and hang them if that happens.’

‘Together.’

‘Hopefully.’

‘I love you,’ he said.

‘I unsensibly love you too,’ she said.

‘Shouldn’t that be insensibly?’

‘No. They’re different things but don’t argue.’

He wanted to say that was what they did well, but didn’t. ‘Thanks for dinner the other night.’

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