Chapter 9 – Contact

Mr. Aquitaine unclasped his watch as his wife reached for the light switch in their bedroom. Unphased of the lack of illumination, he walked towards his dresser.  Light filling the room only a moment later. Placing the watch on the dresser, he heaved a sigh, and rubbed his wrist. The exposed skin felt cool to the air after having been restricted by the tight band all day.  Perhaps, he was getting fat, well, fatter anyways. It felt like only the other day he’d gotten links added to the band again.  

As he sat on the bed to unlace his shoes, his wife wandered into the bathroom next door to begin her evening rituals. Well, he thought to himself, the evening had certainly been an interesting one.  Though hardly a satisfying one. All of his questions remained. To be fair dinner at Ramon’s restaurant was never going to be a ‘family only’ affair. Ramon was constantly buzzing with new ideas, and never one to let an opportunity go to waste to bend his lender’s ear; i.e. him. Still…the food had been delicious and probably the reason the band fit so tightly.  Least so he tried to convince himself. All the same. Little time had been left between the wine, the cheese, and how many courses was it? Seventeen? (He shook his head in brief incredulity.) to inquire into his daughter’s outburst from earlier in the morning.  

“Your pills dear.” Mrs. Avery nudged him. 

“Mmm?” He looked up to find his wife had returned to their bed with a glass of water and two pills in hand.   

“Ah. Yes. Thank you love.” He took the pills with a small nod of gratitude before tossing them back with a quick gulp of water.

“Ramon was surely animated this evening. I thought for sure he’d serve us half his pantry had you not finally agreed to meet with him tomorrow.”  She placed her earrings in her jewelry box as she made the observation.

Mr. Aquitaine chuckled. His wife’s sentiment nearly mirrored his own. “Seventeen courses! And a cheese tray!”  Turning to his wife as she crawled into the bed. “The man does have a way with food though. I will give him that.”

“You are right of course.  Though I worry about your waist-line.  Any more of his ‘ideas’ and I’ll be sending your pants to the tailor’s again in short order.”  She chided mockingly.

“I do believe you’re right my dear.” He kissed her lovingly as he got up from the bed. “Now if you’ll excuse me I think I will leave you to rest in peace.  You know what port does for this old man’s tired soul.”

“Yes.” Hardly able to keep her eyes open, she yawned, nuzzling into her pillow.  “It leaves his wife contemplating being widowed in return for a peaceful night’s rest.”

He scoffed in jest. “My snores are barely above a whisper”.  

“Mmm. Leave me in peace you Old Tom Cat.” She turned away from him settling in for the night.

He slipped out of the room, shutting the door gently.  Stopping only for a moment to lay his hand on the door and to listen for what he knew he’d hear.  His wife’s own soft snores, only just audible through the door. He smiled even as he turned away.

Padding softly down the hall, he made for his study.  Though there was little he could do about his daughter.  There was at least one individual he might call who could provide him more information….

Emerson was sitting in his chair, glass of wine in hand, when he felt the vibrations against his leg.  Setting his wine down, he retrieved the phone from his pocket and cocked an eyebrow upon seeing the name listed on the screen. He paused for a moment to consider whether he should answer.

Pressing the answer button.

“Hello?”  A tone of curiosity underlying his greeting.

The tight response was a simple, solitary question  “What happened?” 

“I do believe I laid all of it out in the letter you received.  Did I not?”

Emerson could hear the frustrated silence emanating from the other end of the phone in response.  

“While I’m certain you are no doubt frustrated.  As I had written, though the development was unexpected, it was only a minor inconvenience and has been dealt  with, with the utmost finality.” A smile curved his lips as he savored the dark humor.

The other man breathed his agitation through the phone.  “And how do you propose we address this, as you call it, minor inconvenience, moving forward?”

Looking towards the second empty glass of wine on the coffee table in front of him. Emerson continued to smile as he considered his response. “Unfortunately I’m not at liberty to discuss those sticking points at the moment. It would be rude of me to keep my guest waiting.”

A moment’s pause as his caller worked through this response.

“I see, perhaps we can discuss it another time then.” 

“I think that would be most appropriate.”  The smile never left Emerson’s face. “And thank you for the receipt.  It was under the door when I returned home. You are nothing if not a man of your word.” 

“Enjoy your evening.” 

As abruptly as he had started the call, Mr. Aquitaine ended it.  

Emerson pulled the phone away from his ear to look at the call-end screen amusedly, then smoothly returned it to his pocket.  Retrieving his wine glass from the side table. He brought it to his lips and tilted it back. 

“Who is calling you at this hour?!”  Queried the man who had just walked into the room. Fresh bottle of wine in hand.

Emerson turned and smiled.  “Just work. It appears it was too important for the matter to wait till morning.  You know how Henry Aquitaine can be.”

Duncan nodded sagely.  “You think he’s something.  You should try working with his daughter.” He walked past the seated man to collect his own glass from the coffee table.  He poured himself more wine, before setting the bottle down. 

Emerson smirked knowingly. “I hear she can be quite the hard one to pin down.”  

“Amen to that!” Raising his glass towards Emerson’s before taking a sip. 

Emerson returned the gesture with his own glass. He did enjoy his own dark humor.