The three of them had quiet drinks and then a lunch that was good but light and they drank Tavel and when they were eating cheese and fruit Catherine said, “Should I tell him?”
“If you want,” the girl said. She picked up her wine and drank part of it down.
“I forgot how to say it,” Catherine said. “We waited too long.”
“Can’t you remember it?” the girl said.
“No, I’ve forgotten it and it was wonderful. We had it all worked out and it was really wonderful.”
David poured himself another glass of Tavel.
“Do you want to try for just the factual content?” he asked.
“I know the factual content,” Catherine said. “It’s that yester day you made siesta with me and then you went to Marita’s room but today you can just go there. But I’ve spoiled it now and what I wish is we could all just make siesta together.”
“Not siesta,” David heard himself say.
“I suppose not,” Catherine said. “Well I’m sorry I said it all wrong and I couldn’t help saying what I wished.”
In the room he said to Catherine, “To hell with her.”
“No, David. She wanted to do what I asked her. Maybe she can tell you.”
“Fuck her.”
‘Well you have,” she said. “That’s not the point. Go and talk
with her David. And if you want to fuck her then fuck her good for me.”
“Don’t talk rough.”
“You used it. I just knocked it back. Like tennis.
“All right,” David said. “What’s she supposed to say to me?”
“My speech,” Catherine said. “The one I forgot. Don’t look so serious or I won’t let you go. You’re awfully appealing when you’re serious. You’d better go before she forgets the speech.”
“The hell with you too.”
“That’s good. Now you’re reacting better. I like you when you are more careless. Kiss me goodbye. I mean good afternoon. You really better go or she really will forget the speech. Don’t you see how reasonable and good I am?”
“You’re not reasonable and good.”
“You like me though.”
“Sure.”
“Do you want me to tell you a secret?”
“A new one?”
“An old one.
“All right.”
“You aren’t very hard to corrupt and you’re an awful lot of fun to corrupt.”
“You ought to know.”
“It was just a joke secret. There isn’t any corruption. We just have fun. Go on in and have her make my speech before she forgets it too. Go on and be a good boy David.”
In the room at the far end of the hotel David lay on the bed and said, “What’s it all about really?”
“It’s just what she said last night,” the girl said. “She really means it. You don’t know how much she means it.
“Did you tell her we’d made love?”
“No.”
“She knew it.”
“Does it matter?”
“It didn’t seem to.”
“Take a glass of wine, David, and be comfortable. I’m not indifferent,” she said. “I hope you know that.”
“I’m not either,” he said.
Then their lips were together and he felt her body against his and her breasts against his chest and her lips tight against his and then open, her head moving from side to side and her breathing and the feel of his belt buckle against his belly and in his hands.
They lay on the beach and David watched the sky and the movement of the clouds and did not think at all. Thinking did no good and when he lay down he had thought that if he did not think then everything that was wrong might go away. The girls were talking but he did not listen to them. He lay and watched the September sky and when the girls had fallen silent he started to think and without looking at the girl he asked, “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing,” she said.
“Ask me,” Catherine said.
“I can guess what you’re thinking.”
“No you can’t. I was thinking about the Prado.”
“Have you been there?” David asked the girl.
“Not yet,” she said.
“We’ll go,” Catherine said. “When can we go, David?”
“Anytime,” David said. “I want to finish this story first.”