The server names a brand. It means nothing to Anna. For all her efforts, John is still only halfway through the second part of the song when propriety and the waitress’s impatience dictate she has to make a decision.
“I’ll have the margarita.” She leans over and touches Bella’s shoulder. “Do you want a cocktail, too?” she asks.
Bella, her concentration on her brother, gives a quick, annoyed shake of her head. Anna leans further and touches James on the upper arm.
“Do you want anything?” She indicates the server. Risking a glance at the stage, she can see John, his hand outstretched pleadingly in her direction as his voice wobbles on a long-drawn out “you”.
James looks down at his bottle. “Another beer, please.”
Anna has never realised before how slow paced the song is. It seems like an eternity.
“Do you want the same one again?” She is praying he asks what brands they have, but unfortunately, he just shrugs and says, “Yeah, it’s fine.”
The waitress departs and Anna resorts to checking her phone. Anything to keep her eyes off the stage. It’s a matter of plausible deniability. If she looks as if she hasn’t been paying attention, no one can fault her for not understanding she is the target of John’s unwelcome love song. Fortunately, the last few notes sound and a smattering of applause breaks out, helped along by a whoop from Bella, who is on her feet.
Anna puts her phone away and gives a polite, slightly bemused clap, as if she has only just realised John was on stage.The waitress returns, bringing the margarita Anna has no wish to drink and another beer for James as John struts back to the table.
“That was magnificent!” Bella cries.
“Elvis and I, brothers in soul,” he declares. Then he looks at the tray pointedly.
“Sorry, mate. I’ll get another.” James passes him the beer Anna bought and puts in his order with the departing server.
Anna frowns. John hasn’t bought a single drink all evening. She takes a sip of her own and coughs.
“Wow!” she breathes out. “That’s strong.”
“Let’s try.” Bella motions for the glass and Anna hands it over. She takes a sip. “That’s ace.” She takes a larger swallow.
Anna figures if she leaves the glass in Bella’s hand, she may not have to drink any of the margarita, but after another gulp, Bella gives it back. “James, will you get me one of those?” she asks.
By the time they leave the bar, Anna just wants the evening over. Except everyone else is keen to move on to Korean barbecue. Once more, Bella is practically vibrating with excitement. Anna doesn’t know where she gets all her energy. Even worse, as they walk the few blocks, Bella and James pull ahead, leaving her walking beside a sulky John.
Desperate to avoid an awkward conversation about the point of his karaoke love song, Anna says, “It’s nice to see Bella happy with James. I heard about her ex.”
“Yeah, she struck out there.”
“I must admit, I never thought Bella would be so naïve as to fall for the whole ‘my wife doesn’t understand me’ spiel.”
John huffs. “Of course she’s not naïve. You know Bella – does she strike you as stupid? She knew what she was doing, but she underestimated how much the guy loved his kids.”
Anna blinks but holds her tongue. Is John suggesting Bella deliberately targeted a married man with children? But then she reconsiders. Bella could have her pick of men. There must be more to it than that. Looking at John and Bella, it is obvious who inherited all the brains in the family. It is easy to conclude John’s analysis might be off. Neither complexity nor subtlety is his strong point.
As if to prove her right, John says, “What did you think of my song?”
“Elvis was made for karaoke.” She gives a neutral smile. “It’s like that bit inKing Creole, when he’s forced up on the stage to prove he can sing and the audience goes wild. It’s basically karaoke.”
“Don’t know it.” John frowns, although as his default expression seems to be a perpetual glower when in her company, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the level of his unhappiness.
“You should watch it,” she advises. “Great film. Elvis reportedly said it was his favourite role. And when he sings ‘Trouble’, he’s every girl’s bad boy dream.”
“Is he?” Another frown.
Anna thinks it may be time for another change in the direction of the conversation. “Hey, Bella!” she calls. “Where on earth is this place? Is it much further?”
Bella turns and points across the street. Anna quickens her pace, leaving John behind and crosses the road alongside James and Bella.
The place is busy, but there are a few empty tables. Bella picks one on the walkway. The night is warm enough to eat outside but even with the late hour, the traffic is constant. Much to Anna’s discomfort, James gets to the seat beside Bella and Anna is left side by side with John. She surreptitiously moves her chair further away from his as she pulls it in.
