The Clamour of Silence. Valerie Pybus

shake her off. How he disliked blood-red nails. A distant and vague memory assailed him. As a small boy someone had inflicted hurt to him, he never remembered the face or even the voice just the red nails, pinching him painfully. The hands had tugged angrily at his tousled curls, pulling him by his ear from room to room; the ear swollen and tender to touch for hours afterwards.

      Margot began to pull him inside the house.

      “Do come and meet my guests. I’ve told all my friends about our meeting at the restaurant.” She held tightly to his arm and led him firmly across the room to a group sitting at a miniature bar. She simpered, putting her face close to his.

      “They’re all so interested in the new man in my life!”

      Ryan stopped abruptly and gently disengaged Margot’s hand from his arm. “Margot I thank you for inviting me here tonight, but I want you to know I had no ulterior motive in accepting your invitation.” He went on, his tall frame leaning forward to talk to the woman who was clutching him. He wanted to make his meaning abundantly clear. “I had no commitments for tonight and you all seemed such an interesting group!”

      As he finished speaking he tried to move away from her.

      Too late he saw that Julia had walked up behind Margot and was watching his mouth intently. She must have understood every word he had spoken.

      The tiniest expression momentarily flashed across Julia’s face. Was it disappointment? Was it dislike? As quickly as it appeared it was gone, but the light he had seen in her eyes when he first arrived had disappeared. With a polite smile to him she rejoined her original group.

      Ryan was left standing near Margot who seemed not to hear the rebuff in his words, or chose not to acknowledge them. She playfully seized his arm and began to introduce him to some of the guests, but he felt strained and made only the most necessary greetings. He had to contact Julia. She would have misunderstood the portion of the conversation between himself and Margot.

      Later when alone, he reached for one of his business cards. He would get it to Julia somehow. Then he realised she would not be able to talk to him on the telephone. He heavily underlined his website and email address and wrote on the back of the card contact me PLEASE. He stood around for almost another hour but the opportunity never came.

      Eventually he sought out Margot.

      “Thank you for a pleasant evening, your home is delightful.” He said as he shook her hand. She leaned forward and gave him more than a perfunctory goodbye kiss.

      “Ryan I am sure we shall see you again before too long. A handsome bachelor is always welcome.”

      He knew where the catering party was cleaning up in the kitchen and quietly slipped into that well-appointed area. He approached the young woman who had greeted him at the front door some hours earlier. With his most devastating smile he said, “When you have a moment would you give this card to the lady in the green dress by the pool?”

      The girl, glad to be part of a conspiracy, agreed. “No problem,” she said with a grin.

      Chapter 3

      It was three long days before Ryan saw the email for which he had been diligently searching.

      ‘Hello Ryan how about coffee?’ Signed, ‘A Friend.’

      He could not erase the smile from his face; he had a contact, a tenuous contact to be sure. She wanted to see him. His heart sang, butterflies fluttered in his belly. Not since he was a sixteen year old boy and dating had he felt like this.

      He filed her email address in a folder marked JULIA. He wasn’t taking any chances and noted her details in his personal address book. Then he hastened to answer; suggesting several venues and times to be as accommodating as possible.

      They decided on a Saturday morning. Ryan suggested a popular but fairly pricey restaurant overlooking a beach not too far distant. He reasoned they would have some space to themselves and wouldn’t be hustled out as soon as the coffee cups were empty to make way for the next wave of people.

      He half hoped he could persuade her to continue on and have lunch there or alternatively drive on to one or other places he had in mind.

      He wondered if she lived in that area. Did she commute to her office? Was she able to drive? He knew nothing about her only that she filled his every waking thought and many of the sleeping ones. He had decided against flowers for Julia although he wondered which were her favourites.

      On rare occasions he visited his mother on Saturday mornings and now he had no hesitation in ringing through an apology.

      “Sorry Delma can’t see you on Saturday, I have a meeting arranged with a lovely lady and I think you’ll like her.”

      His mother’s voice always cool but beautifully modulated tsked! Tsked! With disappointment.

      “Oh Ryan, I wanted to show you my itinerary for my next trip. Never mind, it will have to keep. You must bring this young lady to dinner and soon.”

      Her voice had taken on the ever so brittle grating tone she used with him, inexplicably he felt guilty as he usually did when he ended the call. He had, from a small boy, always called his mother by her Christian name, at her insistence.

      At last the appointed day dawned. He did a little work on his computer. With lots of time in hand he retraced his journey to the southern suburbs, past the marina heading south to one of Sydney’s best surf beaches. The weather had cooled considerably in the past few days and this Saturday was overcast and promised light showers. He mentally gave thanks, for that meant the restaurants wouldn’t be bursting at the seams with towel carrying sandy- footed customers.

      Ryan hesitated as he entered the restaurant looking for a table which would give him a clear view of the entrance door. He found a discreet table for two and settled down to wait. His breath tightened in his chest with a tingle of anticipation.

      He leaned back in his chair. Mustn’t appear too anxious. Suddenly two hands descended on his shoulders from behind. Two generous breasts massaged the back of his neck. He went rigid with surprise.

      “Ah there you are. You’re nice and early. You must be keen!” Margot’s voice breathed in his ear.

      Ryan was unable to utter a word. He gaped at the person he least wanted to see.

      “But how? What?” He spluttered unable to marshal his thoughts.

      “Ah, you’re wondering how you missed me. Silly boy! I got here before you and I was powdering my nose, back there in the ladies.” She giggled, obviously thinking he was nonplussed by her sudden appearance from behind.

      Margot settled herself in the chair opposite him, bracelets jangling, rings twinkling and those dreadful red nails. For her age she was an attractive woman, just not his type of woman. Ryan’s mind was now rapidly turning over ideas about how to deal with this new situation. There must have been mixed communications. This woman was his means to Julia. He would have to be very careful not to hurt her feelings. His good manners not deserting him he summoned a waitress to take their order. Whilst Margot was busy deciding between scones and cream or French pastries his mind was working overtime.

      Ryan courteously made small talk and discussed the previous party hoping to steer the conversation towards Julia. Suddenly Margot leaned closer to him and whispered, “Now Ryan why did you want me to contact you?” She smiled and tapped him playfully on the hand. Ryan looked blank; she went on. “The card, your business card; the one you gave the girl in the kitchen to give to me!”

      He was about to blurt out that his card was meant for the goddess in the green dress, when he remembered with a shock Margot had also been wearing a dark green cocktail dress. The girl must have seen him give Margot the flowers and given his card to the wrong green clad woman.

      It all fell into place. At first, a jolt of disappointment that Julia had not been interested in him; now he had an embarrassing situation that must be resolved gently.

      He began, “Yes Margot,