In The Fast Lane

by Lotte Moore

  “I do. Georgie misses him dreadfully too. It’s even affecting her school work,” Vivi said sadly.

  Jonty frowned. “We didn’t realise that. Why not come down more often?”

  “I can’t. There are always clients to see on a Saturday.”

  Bella welcomed Vivi and the children home three hours later with a big apple pie and ice cream.

  “I have missed you all. Mr Theo phoned. He sounded very tired but said everything is going well,” Bella said and Vivi sighed.

  “Oh, I wish I had spoken to him! Did he say when he would finish his rehearsal?” Before Bella had a chance to reply Georgie interrupted, “Look what I’ve got, my own little kitten, Bella.”

  “Our kitten!” Jago corrected indignantly.

  Chapter Five

  St Petersburg

  Theo lay on the ornate couch in his dressing room fifteen minutes before the concert was due to begin. His nerves were like little stabs in his stomach.

  What a magnificent building this is, Theo thought. A theatre of astounding proportions.

  Yesterday, after Vivi had arrived, he’d walked into the Philharmonic Hall to see a long, wide stage with seats stretching in a rectangle beneath tall, white columns. Boxes hung draped at each side of the stage.

  There’d been a few problems adapting to the new orchestra, but he felt confident they’d all be resolved in the dress rehearsal. Such amazing acoustics!

  There was a faint tap on the door and Vivi came in looking radiant in a red satin gown, her hair swept back with a flower coiled into the knot.

  “Oh, my love, how are you feeling? Have you done the breathing I suggested?” She kissed him deeply and they held each other.

  “I’m ready. Oh, how ready I am,” said Theo with a tremor. “Ivan’s injury’s given me such an opportunity. This could be a turning point in my career. I have to prove myself to a big new audience and the critics tonight.”

  “Be calm,” Vivi said, softly putting her hands round his head and massaging both temples in a circular motion.

  Sergei, Theo’s manager, came in hurriedly as the loudspeaker announced, “Five minutes please.”

  “Hello, Vivi, you look wonderful. You have to go now, I’m afraid. It’s nearly time. Good luck Maestro,” Sergei said, giving Theo a quick hug.

  Vivi blew kisses as they swept off. Shortly afterwards, Theo walked gracefully up the podium steps to scattered applause. He flipped his tails over the piano stool and settled himself.

  Everyone fell silent, then suddenly Rachmaninov exploded throughout the great hall. Theo’s fingers flew across the keys with amazing energy. You could sense the audience becoming electrified. No one stirred. Seven minutes later, as the slow movement began, there was a palpable hush that became contagious.

  It was the first time Vivi had seen Theo perform in Russia and she was transported. Later the mood changed as the third movement began languidly, mounting to a rapturous crescendo. The ecstasy was almost painful. An ovation burst out as the final notes died away.

  Theo looked down to see Vivi’s moist eyes meet his soul. Baba, Theo’s mother and Sergei were wrapped in an emotional hug. The audience stood up as thunderous applause greeted his second return to the platform.

  After a wonderful supper with family and friends, Vivi and Theo ambled back to their hotel beside the canal. Relaxed at last, they stood gazing at the water in silence. Theo kissed Vivi tenderly. As they walked slowly into the reception area several staff and guests cheered.

  “What a surprise. Thank you so much,” Theo said bowing to them all. “Please forgive me but we must go to our room. My wife has to leave early tomorrow.”

  They climbed the steep stairs leading into a charming candlelit room. A second surprise awaited them as they stepped out onto the balcony where shimmering light reflected from the beautiful canal below. A bottle of Champagne was on the side table.

  “Oh darling, what a magical evening,” whispered Vivi. “You’ve certainly captured St Petersburg. I’m so proud of you. I’ve never seen you play like that.” She put her arms around him. “Just look at those beautiful hands,” she said, gently caressing them.

  They talked, sipping Champagne, then collapsed onto the enormous double bed, giggling with warm laughter.

  *

  Early the next morning, they went by taxi to the airport, both deeply reluctant to say goodbye.

  “I’ll be back soon once I’m done with the next concert. Tell Georgie and Jago I’m longing to see their little kitten!”

  Tears coursed down both faces. Vivi couldn’t look back to wave.

  Once she’d disappeared from view Theo turned to see Sergei beckoning him.

  “Thought I’d find you here. Come! We have a press conference in an hour. Let’s have breakfast first.”

  He put an arm round Theo and guided him to the car where they talked avidly about the previous night’s performance.

  The press conference was daunting. If Theo had expected praise after a brilliant performance he soon realised things weren’t so simple in St Petersburg, where the journalists and critics were wary of newcomers, especially those replacing their own favourite soloists. He sensed some hostility in their questions but was later rewarded by applause. He left the room accompanied by Sergei who patted him on his shoulder.

  “Great! You managed those hounds well. Let’s celebrate.”

  Chapter Six

  Kensington

  Serena was busily trying to hurry up the family breakfast. “I’ve got my first day at the Qatar Embassy,” she said, closing Freddie’s sandwich box.

  “You’re looking splendid in that red suit, darling. I’m sure they’ll treat you like a queen,” Lang said. “See you all tonight.”

  The children rushed over to hug him as he opened the front door.

  At the school gates, ten minutes later, Serena saw Vivi parking.

  “Hi sis, you’re looking very smart!” called Vivi.

  “It’s for some new clients at the Qatar Embassy. I don’t quite know what they want me to do,” said Serena anxiously. “How was Petersburg?”

  “Fantastic! Theo played amazingly. I’ll ring you later. Mum’s having fun with the children,” said Vivi, waving before rushing off.

  Fifteen minutes later, Serena hopped out of her car to be met by an official who offered to park it for her. She was shown into an enormous hall with ornate urns and vast baskets of hanging flowers.

  “Come this way, madam. Abdul Tendri is expecting you.”

  Serena almost gasped as she followed the tall, elegant Arab into another enormous room with a mosaic tiled floor and long windows adorned with rather drab velvet curtains. There were six vast sofas in faded gold, red and yellow brocade and as many large armchairs. Lots of carpets were scattered around under huge chandeliers. Ancient sculptures were placed on pedestals amongst more exotic flowers.

  “Miss Mayne, how good to see you.” Abdul Tendri stretched out a hand and shook Serena’s firmly. “I’ve heard a lot about your interior design work through a friend of mine. It seems you have a flair for colour. His Excellency would like some re-furnishing done in this room and the reception hall. He thinks the curtains could have more interesting colours and the upholstery will need to match.”

  “Oh yes, of course. Now I’ve seen the two rooms I wonder if I can bring some samples of different materials. I’d be delighted to suggest a new colour scheme,” said Serena confidently.

  *

  “What a day. What a place!” Serena was dying to tell someone about her visit to the Qatar Embassy as she rushed in to her office.

  Gems was answering two phones at once. Serena signalled for her to put them down so she ended both calls abruptly, saying there was a sudden emergency.

  “It’s unbelievable, Gems… just a billionaire’s paradise. Five floors of opulent rooms. Rich Persian carpets—so beautiful. No one seems to get up until midday. The head guy seems to wander round in a long robe with slippers on. I peeped into the kitchen, which lo
oked like a circus with masses of people chopping, peeling, grating, cooking and baking; it was amazing! It felt as though the only aim of the help as to pamper everyone. I’ve never seen such a vast reception room with tons of sofas and lots of beautiful, ornate chairs. Long velvet drapes at the windows and—”

  The phone rang.

  “Yes, hold on please.” Gems handed the phone to a radiant Serena, mouthing ‘It’s them!’ as she did so.

  “Hello? Yes, Mr Tendri, I’ll bring some more samples tomorrow. I’ll see you at midday as arranged.”

  “I’ve never seen you so happy, Serena,” said Gems.

  “Well, it’s quite a challenge,” replied Serena breathlessly. “I’ll have to work like a racehorse to achieve their deadline. They want the best of everything. At least I’ve finished Poppy Le Harvre’s penthouse. The others will have to wait.”

  Gems kept quiet, knowing that her boss’s drive would be uncontrollable.

  Serena continued, “Oh, and I must give you a raise. Things are going to get hectic around here!”

  She arrived home longing to tell Lang her news, but rang Vivi instead, knowing he wouldn’t be back until late.

  The children were climbing all over her for attention. Vivi listened avidly to her sister’s enthusiastic descriptions.

  “Don’t wear yourself out and ignore the family,” she said cautiously.

  “No, of course not! You know me, bags of energy,” Serena replied. The front door slammed and Lang appeared looking ashen. “Must go—I’ll ring back later.” Serena put the phone down and frowned at Lang’s pale face. “What’s the matter darling?”

  “Think I’ve got food poisoning, I’ve been so sick.” He hurried upstairs.

  Serena shuddered inside as she heard him retching. Her enthusiasm evaporated.

  The children were running upstairs to see Daddy, then back down again to get Serena’s attention.

  “Leave your father alone, he’s not well. Please sit down. Your tea’s ready.” They followed her into the kitchen where Maggie had placed a large pizza on the table. “You serve it please, Maggie, I’ve got to make some urgent phone calls.” Serena plonked Benjie into his high chair.

  “Mummy, I must tell you what happened in class today,” said Alicia agitatedly. “We found a poor little frog hopping along the window sill and—”

  “Tell me later, darling.” Serena hurried to check on Lang but got distracted by some samples of exotic materials in the hallway that she had collected from Peter Jones on her way home. This purple and cerise shot silk will be splendid for the curtains, she said to herself.

  “What are you doing?” asked Lang leaning over the banisters. “Could I have a cup of tea please? I feel awful.”

  “Sorry darling, I’ll bring one up straight away.”

  As Serena went back into the kitchen, Freddie was standing on a chair with his mouth wide open while Alicia threw Hula Hoops towards his face. Benjie was giggling, trying to blow bubbles through his jelly, and Maggie was trying her best to control the mayhem.

  “Come along, your Mummy’s here now,” she said, still smiling. “What are you doing? Freddie, get down at once. Alicia, stop throwing Hula Hoops.”

  “We’re practising circus taming. Freddie’s the lion and I’m the lion trainer.” Alicia laughed.

  “Maggie, please go and bathe Benjie, Freddie can jump in afterwards. Alicia, have you done your homework? And your piano practice?”

  Serena stood waiting as Alicia rushed past into the sitting room and started plonking through a Mozart minuet with great speed and quite a lot of mistakes.

  A few minutes later, Serena walked slowly into the bedroom where Lang lay inert looking extremely pale.

  “Here you are,” she said, putting his tea down.

  “I’ve asked Dr Williams to pop in as I’ve got a bad pain in my guts,” Lang said quietly.

  “Oh you poor darling,” replied Serena, stroking his forehead tenderly. “Shall I get you some dry toast and Marmite?”

  “No thanks,” Lang whispered.

  Dr Williams arrived half an hour later. He walked down the stairs with Serena, saying it was a nasty viral infection. “Try to keep the children away. It’s very catching but should only last about 24 hours.”

  “Thank you for coming at such short notice.”

  “Of course. Your man is looking very thin,” the doctor added as a parting shot. “You must feed him up.”

  “I will doctor. Thank you again.”

  Shutting the front door, she heard a loud shriek from upstairs, she rolled her eyes and raced up to the bathroom where Freddie was emptying his wellies into the bath, which was overflowing.

  “Oh Freddie, must you? Mummy is very busy. Come on, let me dry you. It’s past your bedtime.” Serena sighed, wishing she was back at the Qatar Embassy.

  Chapter Seven

  Chiswick

  “How relaxing this house is compared to Kensington. Serena is a dear, but she’s always on the run,” said Beady, rocking Jago in her arms.

  “Why don’t we go for a stroll in Kensington Gardens after dropping Georgie off?” suggested Vivi. “It’s such a lovely morning, although I must be back for a client at 11am.”

  Georgie started singing in the car, teaching Granny a song while Jago clapped hands singing, “Ah, ah, ah.”

  “There’s Serena driving off. She must be going to her Embassy job,” said Vivi who went on to describe Serena’s new job at the Qatari Embassy.

  “I didn’t realise she was working for such important people these days!” said Beady proudly.

  They drove through heavy traffic and parked in a side street near the entrance to Kensington Gardens.

  “What a lovely sight seeing the road leading up to Kensington Palace. It reminds me of poor Diana,” Beady said as they strolled along five minutes later.

  The sun radiantly lit up an avenue of large chestnut trees. Jago began chasing the pigeons for a while, then plucked some daisies, which he handed to Vivi, broken stems and all. Vivi held a hand to her chest and made a big deal of smelling the flowers much to Jago’s delight.

  They strolled towards a fountain, swinging Jago up and down between them to squeals of delight. Suddenly, he broke free and rushed to the fountain, splashing his hands in the water.

  “Want a drink, Mama?”

  “No, you mischief!” Vivi laughed and picked him up, swinging the boy round in circles, then hugged him.

  “Oh Vivi, you look so happy with the little fellow,” said Beady. “It’s amazing how fast dear Georgie is growing up. Such a sweet-natured child, so eager to do everything. She tried to make my bed yesterday. I said to leave that for Bella to do but she said that Bella’s is her friend and she should help her.”

  “Yes, she’s very caring and sensitive,” Vivi agreed. “That’s why she misses Theo so dreadfully. They are very close. He’s not here long enough to see her progress, and I’m worried that her work is being affected by his absence.”

  “Yes, I can see she misses him by the way she says, ‘Daddy would do this if he was here.’ Look how little Jago’s growing too; such a bright, cheeky boy.”

  “I’m going to write a long letter to Theo telling him he must give us more of his time,” Vivi declared. “And I’ll ask Sergei to book concerts here or in Paris. After all, it’s not just the kids who miss him.”

  “You’re a wonderful, generous wife, dear Vivi. He’s lucky to have you. When your father was alive he used to say, ‘Keep that flame cherished in little Vivi, she has a rare soul’.”

  “I wish I’d known Daddy more, but he was always away, just like Theo is for Georgie,” said Vivi sadly, squeezing her mother’s arm.

  Just after returning home Jago fell asleep, just in time for Vivi’s client, who she led upstairs for their counselling session. Once Vivi was done with her second client, she made a light lunch. Jago was pushing cars under her feet and running them along the grass and up her leg as they chatted at the garden table.

  “It’s
so warm today, just like Madeira. I wish you’d all come out and stay with me.”

  “You sound lonely Mum.”

  “Well, I am when I come back and see you all,” Beady confessed.

  “We’ll definitely come over and stay this summer. The children would love it. Even if Theo is still busy in Russia or Europe, we’d all benefit from some sun, and we could teach Georgie to swim in your pool. Maybe Jonty and Cheryl might come? It depends on how his forest is growing. Come on, let’s ring him now,” suggested Vivi enthusiastically.

  They each spoke in turn to Jonty. Vivi filled him in on Serena’s wonderful new job.

  “Goodness, she’ll be designing Buckingham Palace next!”

  “Listen JJ, what about you and Cheryl coming out to stay with Mum in July when we’re there?”

  “That’s an interesting thought, but I’m not sure when the big riding school opens,” he said. “Oh, and I’d have to get someone to look after the trees in case there’s a heat wave. I tell you, it’s worse than having kids.”

  “Oh Jonty, do try; it would be such a treat for Mum.”

  “I promise I will try,” Jonty said. “Especially after Henry. Is she doing any better?”

  “She is, thankfully. She understands there was nothing anyone can do but feels guilty that she didn’t know about it at her birthday. I told her to stop being so ridiculous.”

  “Too right,” Jonty agreed. “I’ll come and spend some time with her soon.”

  Chapter Eight

  Moscow

  As he drove west out of the city, Sergei chatted non-stop to Theo who was gazing at the sparkling birch woods that stretched for miles. They shimmered in the May sunlight like tinsel. The light was so brilliant. Theo suddenly recalled the slow movement of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2. The sheer beauty of the forest captivated him.

  “What are you going to work on for the Vienna concert?” Sergei asked.

  “I’m already thinking of Shostakovich No.2 plus a few Chopin waltzes which should suit a Viennese audience. I can’t wait.” Theo smiled, glancing at Sergei’s deep sparkling eyes.