The Night Book by Charlotte Grimshaw

Author:Charlotte Grimshaw [Charlotte Grimshaw]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781869793500
Publisher: Random House New Zealand
Published: 2010-08-23T16:00:00+00:00

The air was still silvery but there were weaknesses in the force of it now, gaps that she might fall through, and her jaw was beginning to ache. When she drove home there were four other cars in the yard, and David was sitting by the pool with Dianne and a group of party people, activists and strategists. Rushing straight upstairs to fix her face, she thought, If David and I ever divorced it would be me against him — and all of them. When had it begun, that he belonged more to others than he did to her? There were people who would look out for him, close around him if they thought she was a problem. She remembered the old times, when it was just the two of them. Now she was married to the party. She’d thought the way to keep him was to hold herself separate, so that she and he shared something no one else did. A mistake. She’d kept her distance from the party, and now she was on the outside.

She went down to the kitchen. David saw her and called. She went out, and he offered her a glass of sparkling water and pulled up a chair while they went on talking, David topping up the wine glasses all round.

Dianne’s cheeks and neck were flushed. She said to Roza, ‘Are you coming to the Wellington dinner tomorrow?’

Roza said, ‘No.’

Dianne did a little mime of surprise, looked directly at David and said sweetly, ‘David. Shame on you.’

There was a silence.

Roza put down her glass. She could feel people watching.

David said, ‘Roza’s not coming because she’s working. And obviously why would she want to anyway. It’s just a work thing.’

Dianne widened her eyes, innocent. Roza stared. There was another silence, during which Roza considered what she was going to say. The air around her was ragged with holes; the brightness had gone. David’s chief strategist, Ed Miles, suddenly put his hand on Dianne’s shoulder and said, ‘Time to go.’ He looked at David, who nodded. Dianne got up, and David didn’t look at her, only nodded again at Ed. Roza watched Ed ushering Dianne away.

She looked around the group. They had relaxed: some were talking, some were gathering their things, ready to leave, and no one would meet her eye. She hugged her arms across her chest, chilled. David patted her shoulder and she started; she followed him and they saw everyone to the door.

In the sitting room, Roza turned on him, furious. ‘That little bitch.’

David said, ‘What is it? What is it now?’ He put his arms around her and held her.

‘That malicious little Dianne. The way she said “Shame on you”.’ Roza mimicked her sugary voice.

‘Forget about her, she’s nothing. Think of what we’re going to do. You and me, the big picture.’ He was holding her too tight. ‘We’re so close now. I’m going to pull it off, Roza. And you’re with me. Only you.’

‘Am I?’ She tried to free herself. ‘Get off me.

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