The Sunset

(Pix by aidan jones)

"How was the cake, Mrs Bennett?" the waiter asked as he placed the cup of coffee in front of her.

"It was delicious as it always is here. Please tell the chef I'd like to take some with me when I go on the Safari, this week. It’s perfectly delectable."

“Thank you, Mrs Bennett. He will be pleased. Would you like anything else to be added?”

She was distracted and didn’t answer. Out of the corner of her eye, Mrs Bennett was watching the man again. He had been sitting over the other side of the room; slowly rise from his chair, leaving his pretty young companion still sitting at the coffee table, as he had done every evening since Mrs Bennett had arrived. He made his way out onto the balcony where selecting his usual chair he turned it around then sat down in it facing the sunset. A big Alsatian dog who had been sunning itself in the last rays of the sun moved over and sat at the man's feet.

"Nimal” she said. She always had trouble pronouncing the names, but she made a conscious effort to learn and call by name most of the hotel employees who took the trouble to learning hers’. “can you tell me who that man is that just went out to the balcony? I find his face so familiar."

"That's Robert Smith, Mrs Bennett. He’s a very famous author. If you've read any of his books you have probably seen his picture and he's been on television quite a few times. Mr Smith lives in Sri Lanka, you know, it’s his adopted country. He spends a lot of his time with us, when he comes down south." Nimal gestured at the young lady, who had been left at the table and was animatedly talking into her cell phone now. "The lady with him is his secretary, Viola. Very pretty, isn't she."

"Yes, she reminds me of myself when I was her age."

"If you don't mind me saying, Mrs Bennett, I remember you were extremely pretty as a young lady too, when you used to come down here with Senator Bennett. I must say you still are a very beautiful woman. The Senator is a very lucky man."

"You flatter me, Nimal. But some men do not realise what they have got until it's too late."

"I'm sorry, Madam." Nimal didn't understand what Mrs Bennett was getting at.

"Never mind, Nimal, it's not important, Thank Suresh for the lovely cake, again."

Nimal, realising that he had been dismissed, retired towards the kitchen.

Mrs Bennett watched Robert Smith through the window as she drank her coffee. He sat almost motionless staring into the distance, one hand gently stroking the dog's head.

She thought about what had brought her here. Initially it had been the allure of books and the Galle Literary Festival, but in her heart she knew it was also the escape from the harassing media blitz and secondly she cared to be in Galle, Sri Lanka, for more than just for the literary activities itself. She was accustomed to travelling alone. Lawrence had gotten her used to that. She had accompanied his trips to the capitol and to other countries on endless diplomatic missions whenever possible. And she was doubly used to Sri Lanka being a regular traveler here, ever since her younger days as a teenager with her parents. She had always found herself coming back to these same beaches and this same hotel.

The Festival had kept her occupied the past week. It was refreshing to absorb the views of most authors and had kept her away from all her worrisome thoughts. She was glad that she could build this mental distance to further strengthen her resolve on what she had done. But unlike others she has stayed back after the festival, to fully appreciate the peace and quiet this place brought her.

When she had finished her coffee, Mrs Bennett stood up. For a moment she hesitated, undecided, thinking about her next action, then having made her decision, she walked out onto the balcony.

Before her was a view of the sea, the palm tree lined naturally sculptured garden giving way to the golden glittering sand of the beach. The gentle waves lapping at the edges of it, sensually drawing it towards the sparkling ocean, just about to be kissed by the crimson halo of the descending sun. Robert Smith was the only other person on the balcony; his gaze remained apparently locked on the distant horizon. He had made no sign that he was aware of her presence.

"Lovely view, isn't it?" Mrs Bennett said as she stood by him.

"Yes," was his only reply.

"I love watching the sun go down."

"Yes."

"I like, the way the colours change as the sun gets lower."

"Yes." Still Robert Smith did not turn his head in her direction. Mrs Bennett tried a different tactic.

"I'm sorry, that was very un-thoughtful of me. I'm disturbing you."

"No, you didn't disturb me. I see this view every night when I lay in bed; it's burned into my brain. I sit on this balcony at sunset whenever I'm at this hotel and live it again." Robert Smith’s eyes hadn't moved from the horizon; he still didn't turn and look at the beautiful woman standing close to him.

"You've been here before?" she continued.

"Many times."

"It's nice here, and I love the view. Especially at sunset."

"There's some views that you can never forget. This view is very special to me."

"If you don't mind me asking, Mr Smith. I know from your books that you've travelled all over the world and seen so many wondrous places. What makes this view so special to you?"

"What would you like the long or the short story, Mrs Bennett?" Still the man's head didn't turn towards her.

"Oh, you know my name. Either story - I've got plenty of time."

"I heard Nimal talking to you in the dining room at Lunch." Robert Smith was silent for a few moments; Mrs Bennett thought he was steeling himself before he continued. "Many years ago when I was a very young man, I used to sit on those flat rocks over there in the evenings, with a young lady. Isabel – Isabel Lane was her name, a young lady that I loved very much. “

"But then I was only fifteen years old and I never did get up the courage to tell her how I felt about her at the time. We sat there every evening for two weeks of our holidaying and talked about anything and everything. Now, whenever I come back here to this hotel, I sit here and watch the one love of my life, sitting there on the beach. I can see her sitting there now in my minds’ eye."

"What happened to her?"

"When the holiday finished, it was over. She went back to America with her parents and I back to England with mine."

"Didn't you write to her or anything? She might have felt the same way about you."

"Oh, I intended to write to her, she gave me her address and telephone, but on the journey home the airport was attacked by the tiger terrorists. Fortunately we were all in the terminal and we were all safe, but all our luggage had been blown up and was totally destroyed. I could not find her address."

"Surely the hotel could have given Isabel's address to you."

"I was just a child back then. It was many years before I thought of getting in touch with the hotel. By the time I did, there was no records available."

"So you gave up on looking for her?"

"No, I come back here each year. I watch her sitting over there, and I remember."

"From what you say I assume that you haven't found anyone for whom you have the same feelings."

"You assume correctly. There can only one girl of my dreams."

"Not even your beautiful young secretary?"

" Viola?" he smiled to himself, "She is certainly a beautiful young lady, and I've become very attached to her in the last five years. I really don't know what I'm going to do when she's not around anymore."

"She's leaving you?"

"V is getting married next month, to a handsome young man who is very nice and much closer to her own age. I will have to find a new secretary who will put up with me. Now, if you will excuse me, it's getting a little chilly with the sea air now that the sun has gone down. I think it's time Sheba and I moved into the lounge before V comes out and starts fussing over me. She can be very protective."

Robert Smith reached down and took hold of the collar attached to Sheba's back with his hand. The loyal animal immediately changed from the loving pet, to a dog with a job to do. As her master stood up Sheba was ready to lead him safely inside the building.

Mrs Bennett watched the two of them go in silence. For the next hour or so she sat there, staring at those rocks on the sandy beach that Robert Smith had apparently been looking at. She slowly played back over in her mind again and again what Robert Smith had said to her.

Then with determination in her step she went into the hotel. In her room she picked up the phone and asked the desk to get her a number in Richmond, Virginia. It was going on seven PM in Galle - that should make it around 9 AM over there.

"Davis and Field, attorney's at law. Good morning." An efficient female voice said to her.

"Shirley, its Mrs Bennett. Had my husband been in yesterday?"

"Oh, yes, Mrs Bennett, he came in last evening. I'll put you through to Mr. Field. Will you hold for a couple of moments?"

There was a moment's silence, then a barely audible click told her Gary Field was on the line.

"Good morning Bella, or is it evening there, Lawrence came in and signed the papers yesterday evening. There's no hang-ups. You got everything you asked for and more really. I told you he didn't have a leg to stand on. So now you are a lady of means as well as being single again."

"Thank you, Gary. You've been an angel."

"Any time, Bella, and you don't have to worry about our bill, Frank's paying for everything. You really had him by the er, well..."

"The balls, Gary, that is what you mean to say. Come on, I'm not a prude. That is unless I catch my husband in bed with his whore."

"Well, the paperwork should only take a couple of weeks, but as far as you are concerned you're free of him from today."

"Thanks Gary. Send the paperwork over here will you, by air-mail. Shirley has the address of the hotel where I'm staying. If I move on, I'll let her know. Good night."

Mrs Bennett replaced the telephone in its cradle and sat there with a smile on her face. Through the window she saw Viola taking Sheba for her evening walk before she settled the dog down for the night in Robert Smith's room. Mrs Bennett knew the routine by now. She had watched it every night since she had arrived.

As Viola began to make her way back towards the hotel, Mrs Bennett left her room planning on intercepting her downstairs.

When Viola entered the foyer, she saw Mrs Bennett walking towards her. Sheba began to wag her tail as she spotted the lady whom her master had been talking to on the balcony earlier. Off duty now she was free to show affection to whomever she liked.

"Excuse me, Viola, could you spare me a minute, I would like to have a quick word with you?"

"Yes, Madam, what can I do to help you?" Viola had seen the attractive lady speaking to her employer on the balcony earlier and was wondering what the lady could want.

"Would I be correct in assuming that Mr Smith has charged you with the task of finding your own replacement?"

"He's asked me to set up some meetings with prospective candidates, yes. But I haven't placed an advertisement yet."

"Well, I would like to apply for the position. Could you kindly set up an interview for me?"

Viola was taken aback. This lady had the look about her of being of independent means. Just to be staying in a hotel of this class meant she could not be short of money. Why would she want to be anyone's secretary?"

Viola thought to stall.

"I suppose I can. But can you take short-hand?"

"Oh, yes. My Pittmans might be a little rusty, but I'm sure I'd soon get back into the swing of it again. It's like riding a bike, once it's learnt you never really forget. And I'm pretty sure I could find my way around that computer you carry around with you. I was a PA for some years before I got married and a good one to boot."

Viola felt trapped; she couldn't think of any way of putting this lady off.

"I'll ask Mr Smith if he'll see you tomorrow. Can I tell him your name?"

"Oh, tell him it's Mrs Bennett. He'll remember me from earlier. No, that's silly. I'm single again now.. I know, tell him if he would like, I'll meet him for breakfast on the balcony and that my name is Isabel Lane.”