Genuine Lies

let your dinner get cold?”
    Eve made a few agreeable noises and continued to build.Brandon waited until the terrace doors closed, then whispered, “She sounded like a mother.”
    Eve glanced up, brows lifted high, then let out an uproarious laugh. “My God, child, you’re absolutely right. One day you’ll have to tell me about yours.”
    “She hardly ever yells.” Brandon’s mouth pursed as he worked out the engineering of the bridge. “But she worries all the time. Like I might run out in the street and get hit by a car, or eat too much candy or forget my homework. And I hardly ever.”
    “Get hit by a car?”
    His chuckle was quick and appreciative. “Forget my homework.”
    “A mother’s meant to worry, I’d guess, if she’s a good one.” She lifted her head, smiled. “Hello, Julia.”
    Julia only continued to stare, wondering what to make of the fact that Eve Benedict was sitting on the floor playing with her son and discussing motherhood.
    “Miss B. came to see you,” Brandon supplied. “But she said she could wait until you were off the phone.”
    In an absent and automatic gesture, Julia switched off the television. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”
    “No need.” This time Eve gave in to the urge and stroked Brandon’s head. “I’ve been beautifully entertained.” She rose, suffering only minor aches in her joints from squatting on the floor. “I hope you don’t mind if I eat while we talk.” She gestured to the covered tray. “I haven’t had time for dinner since returning from the studio, and I have a story to tell you.”
    “No, please, go right ahead. Brandon, tomorrow’s a school day.”
    It was the signal for bedtime, and he sighed. “I was going to build this bridge.”
    “You can build it tomorrow.” After he’d gotten reluctantly to his feet, she cupped his face. “It’s a first class space port, pal. Just leave everything here.” She kissed his forehead, then his nose. “And don’t forget—”
    “To brush your teeth,” he finished, and rolled his eyes. “Come on, Mom.”
    “Come on, Brandon.” Laughing, she gave him a quick squeeze. “Lights out in ten.”
    “Yes, ma’am. Good night, Miss B.”
    “Good night, Brandon.” She watched the boy climb the stairs before turning back to Julia. “Is he always so obedient?”
    “Brandon? I suppose he is.” She smiled as she rubbed a day’s worth of tension away from the base of her neck. “Then again, he knows there are only a handful of rules I’m unlikely to bend.”
    “Lucky you.” Eve lifted the top off the tray and examined her steak Diane. “I remember when many of my friends and associates were raising young children. As a guest, you were often subjected to the whining, the crabbing, the tantrums and tears. It quite put me off children.”
    “Is that why you never had any of your own?”
    Eve took the napkin out of its porcelain ring, spread the square of rose-colored linen over her lap. “You could say it is why I spent a great deal of time wondering why anyone would. But I didn’t come here tonight to speak of the mysteries of parenting.” She chose a delicate spear of asparagus. “I hope it’s convenient for you to talk now. And here.”
    “Yes, of course. If you’ll give me time to see to Brandon and get my recorder.”
    “Go ahead.” Eve poured some herb tea from the pot on the tray and waited.
    Though she appreciated the tastes and textures, she ate mechanically. She required fuel to give her best on the set in the morning. She never gave less than her best. By the time Julia settled in the chair opposite her, she was halfway through the meal.
    “I should tell you that I had a visit from Victor tonight, which is why I decided to talk now, while it’s so much on my mind. His wife attempted suicide this morning.”
    “Oh, my God.”
    Eve lifted her shoulders and sliced at the meat. “It isn’t the first time. Nor, if medical science pulls Muriel through, is it likely to be the last. God seems to protect fools andneurotics.” She slipped the slice between her lips. “You find me unfeeling.”
    “Unmoved,” Julia said after a moment. “There’s a difference.”
    “Indeed there is. I feel, Julia. Indeed I feel.” She went back to the tea, wondering how much it would take to ease the ache in her throat. “What other reason could there be for me to give so many years of my life to a man I could never really have?”
    “Victor Flannigan.”
    “Victor Flannigan.”