By the time I had changed my clothes and come back down to the kitchen, the coffee had brewed. I had a cup while I checked the phone messages. Voices on an answering machine are like snapshots, each one separate and singular within its frame of whirrs and beeps.
Whirr, beep. “It’s me, Mr. Bear. And if it isn’t the most wonderful bear in the world, I don’t know who is. These earrings—honestly, I thought they were fake, but I said to myself, ‘Mr. Bear wouldn’t give anybody fakes, not when they look like this. That’s not the kind of guy he is.’ They can’t be real, but they are, aren’t they? I’ll let you know tonight how grateful I am. You’ll recognize me, I’ll be the one in earrings. And nothing else. See you tonight. I’m having some terrific ideas, Mr. Bear.” Beep, whirr.
Beep. “Ted, the roses are brilliant. Happy Valentine’s Day to you too, lover. I have to be on the West Coast for the next few days but I’ll call when I get back. We’ll get together. If you want to get ahold of me before then, the office knows where to reach me.” Beep.
Whirr, beep. “Mr. Mackey’s office calling, Mr. Mondleigh. Mr. Mackey wants me to remind you that under the terms of the Trust he can’t authorize any such sale. Mr. Mackey suggested that you were, and I quote, ‘Trying him on.’ If not, he recommends that you make an appointment with him, during which he will advise you about other ways of raising capital, which he suggests—and I quote again—‘you know as well as he does.’” Beep. Whirr.
Beep. “Ted. Kyle. The court’s reserved for nine Saturday. Meet you there.” A brief hesitation for thought. “That’s nine a.m., Ted.”
Beep, whirr, beep. “Nobody, but nobody, has his secretary call to break a date with me. Nobody. Good-bye, Mr. Bear, you were real fun for a while.” Beep.
Whirr, beep. “Teddy? It’s Carol Hingham, you probably don’t remember me it’s been such a long time, Kyle Singleton introduced us…? But if you don’t remember, it doesn’t matter and besides, I can’t jog a memory you don’t have, can I? So I—The reason I’m calling is, I’m having a dinner on the twenty-eighth. Nothing much, just a few friends, nothing fancy, just—And I’d love it if you could come. Let me know, OK? 614-3025. I’m a pretty good cook, and I think you’d like my friends, they’re pretty interesting people, at least some of them—My number’s 614-3025. Did I already say that? I feel like a jerk.” She cut herself off. Beep, whirr, the machine didn’t care how she felt.
Beep. “Lisette here, Teddy. I’ve never seen a bigger box of candy. They had to turn it sideways to get it through the door, and I laughed and laughed. Love to you too, Teddy. Give me a call. Soon, hm?”
Beep, whirr, beep, then a hesitating silence. “Hello, Gregor?” I almost jumped. I stared at the black box as if it could actually see me, catch me out. “This is Mrs. Mondleigh speaking. Theo has invited…us to dinner tonight. I’m concerned that he might have forgotten…you. I’m calling to…We can always eat out.” Beep, whirr.
Beep. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bear, I shouldn’t have said that, I know I shouldn’t and I’m sorry I did. So I’m calling to say, I just—I got carried away. I guess you know how carried away I can get. Call me quick and say you aren’t angry.” Beep.
Whirr, beep. “There’ll be three for dinner, Gregor, it’s my parents.” Beep, beep, beep.
I got to work.