Chapter 25

Sunday 30th August, 4pm

Maurice Gisal had spent the majority of the afternoon in the lounge. He had been having a quick snooze if anyone had asked, although Daniele knew that he would sleep for hours if left alone. When the children were young, a snooze on the sofa was a luxury, and in those days they had rarely needed it. But now with the children older, it still seemed a little naughty, but a quick sleep after lunch certainly had a fortifying effect. He usually read a book for a while until his eyelids grew heavy, and then shut his eyes with the book on his stomach. He was reposed this way when the telephone bell jarred him out of his dream and back to reality. Daniele tried to answer the phone before he awoke, but to no avail.

“Hello, Gisal residence”

Maurice squinted while his eyes adjusted to the light. He sat up on the sofa, swinging his legs onto the floor.

“AnneMarie! How are you. How was the honeymoon?” He exchanged several grunts while he obviously listened to her news, his smile broadening as she told him of the wonderful time they had spent abroad. “Yes, I know, Lauren told us all about it. She said she had a great day, and that you looked so pretty ... No, she’s out at the moment, can I give her a message?” Maurice stared blankly at the wall as he listened. “To me? Oh OK, what can I do for you?”

The smile vanished from his lips.

“What’s wrong, dear?” asked Daniele. Her husband shook his head, raising his hand to silence her.

“Look, I’ve known you a long time, and you’ve known her just as long. If this is some kind of joke, I find it in the poorest of taste!” her said sternly, frowning at the carpet. “I’m sorry, I just don’t believe that Lauren would do such a thing. This is ridiculous, for Chrissakes, she’s only fifteen!” His face grew red and his breathing shortened as he listened to the unfolding story.

“What is it Maurice, what’s happened. Tell me!” shouted Daniele, tugging his arm.

“Just a minute!” he said into the phone, covering the mouthpiece. “It’s AnneMarie. She says that ... Hey, did you know that she used to live with a woman. I mean, really live with, like husband and wife?”

“No, I didn’t”

“Well, just before her wedding, they had a reunion of some of her past friends, and someone - she says - had some photos of Lauren naked!”

“Oh. That’s stupid!” she said, smiling as though he had made a joke. “I can’t believe it. It’s obviously a mistake, Maurice.”

“Annemarie, where are these photos?” His eyes darted around the room as she responded, his face growing paler now as the facts began to mount and tip the scales from `unlikely’ to `plausible’. “Yes, she’s been seeing him for a few weeks now. You don’t mean ... I thought he was too good to be true.” He paused again, listening to Annemarie. Daniele tried to get Maurice to let go of the phone so that she could talk. “You say that, but I’m not so sure. He may be a victim but if he’s in the pictures, then he’s bloody guilty. I’ll have the little bastard in court tomorrow.”

“Maurice, please, let me talk to her!” she said, taking the phone. She listened for several minutes while Maurice fumed quietly, walking up and down the lounge, the look on his face changing every time she spoke as he tried to catch any inference from his wife’s questioning that might give him some hope that there had been a terrible mistake.

Eventually, after some quiet questions and much nodding, Daniele signed off, her eyes filling with tears.

“Well?” asked Maurice.

“She’s in trouble, I think. Not just these photos, I think there’s more. Annemarie said that Kristal was also at this reunion in the hotel, with her new girlfriend, and they stayed the night.” Daniele reached for a tissue to dab her eyes.