‘I was kidding. Sort of.’
Loris chuckles, slips from the embrace and tugs Charles back inside the salon.
This time, they stay beside the couch, Loris’ arms bracketing Charles from behind.
They’ve already contemplated the painting for an hour. They’ve teared up, fumbled for words, worried about the strength of their pulses, and gradually accepted thatKaunaswas neither a dream nor a hallucination. But facing Her again, majestic on the cream wall, sends Charles’ heart back into his throat and his fist around his pendant.
‘I can’t pick a favourite now,’ Loris says against his cheek.
‘Your initial vote went toLjubljana. It’ll be confirmed when you see Her at Christmas.’
‘Really? We’re going to San Francisco for Christmas?’
‘Perhaps at Easter. Depends how much I earn and manage to save. Because it’ll be on me. I’ll get you to complete yourLandsbingo card too.’
‘I didn’t pay for your flight here.’
‘You opened the doors of this villa, Loris.’
‘It didn’t take much.’
Charles is spared the trouble of finding a non-betraying response by Enrica, who enters the room with a maid carrying a tray of nibbles.
‘My husband just got back from work. He doesn’t know a lot about Olwinski, but is it alright if he joins us?’
‘Please!’
‘I will send him to the cellar to choose a bottle. He knows a lot about that.’
‘Just one quick question!’ Charles exclaims as Enrica edges back towards the door. ‘Before we get to the heart of the matter. What’s your take onThe Mind of Wonders?’
‘In what sense?’
‘Do you believe it’s a convoluted made-up life story or that—’
‘Charles…’
‘—Pavel told the truth about his past and how much his ordeals have influenced the creation of theLands?’
‘The truth! The book and the paintings don’t work separately. But I could talk about it for hours, it might be best not to get me started.’
‘Oh, we’d be over the moon to listen!’
Charles beams at Enrica, making it easy for Loris to shove a bread-stick between his lips as soon as she leaves the room.
‘You know I won’t have the nerve to take her arguments apart!’
‘Mm-hmm.’
‘I’m gonna have to nod along.’
‘Mm-hmm.’
‘You’re gonna pay for this.’
Charles crunches the stick and traces a vein on Loris’ forearm with the other half of it. ‘I’m counting on it.’
He can’t think of better reunion foreplay than an unspoken debate about Pavel in front of the most incredible of his paintings.
