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Charlotte
‘After lunch today, we will have a special assembly,’ Mr. Wilson said, one side of his face twitching as though he were very pleased with himself indeed. ‘I know this has come out of the blue, but we only got a call last night.’ He held up a crumpled promotional poster and Charlotte felt her stomach lurch. ‘This is James Steamblack. You know, the famous illusionist? He’s doing a residency at that old theatre in Sycamore Park over December. I know that some of you have already been to his shows. Well, yesterday he called the school and asked if he could come in to show a few magic tricks to the kids.’
‘Reckon he could work his magic and stop the little animals taping down the toilet seat?’ muttered Old Don Jones. ‘Last week I nearly—’
‘We’ll have a word,’ Mr. Wilson quickly interrupted. ‘Anyway, we need someone to act as a liaison for when he arrives, just to show him around the school, where he can set up and all that … and Ms. Harding, I’d like you to do that.’
Charlotte felt the blood drain out of her face. ‘Excuse me, sir, but I’m a little busy with my class. We’re really far behind—’
‘It’ll be all right on the night,’ Mr. Wilson said. ‘And even if it isn’t, people will forgive a few ten-year-olds for messing up.’
‘But sir—’
‘All you have to do is show him where to set up his gear,’ Mr. Wilson said. ‘Can I get a little cooperation, please?’
Charlotte nodded, forcing a little smile. ‘All right.’
As Mr. Wilson closed the meeting and the teachers headed for their classrooms, Jennifer leaned over and tapped Charlotte on the shoulder.
‘Are you all right?’
‘Ah … yes … I’ll be okay. I’m just—’ she struggled for a decent excuse. ‘I’m scared of magicians. You know, like how some people are scared of men on stilts or clowns? They just give me the creeps.’ She pushed a strand of blonde hair back behind her ear. ‘Plus, you know, I went on a couple of dates with him.’
Jennifer’s eyes widened. ‘Ah. I see. This is before you met Jacob, is it?’
Charlotte grimaced. ‘Just before. Like, there wasn’t quite an overlap, but it was pretty close. And, well … I didn’t exactly break it off with James first. We only had two dates … I don’t consider it a relationship until at least three.’
‘It’s a grey area, for sure,’ Jennifer said. ‘Do you want me to cover for you? If you start coughing, we can claim you’ve suddenly come down with the flu. It starts around this time of the year, doesn’t it?’
Charlotte shook her head. ‘No. I have to face the music. Well, the magic, I suppose it would be, wouldn’t it?’
A few hours later, she found herself reluctantly standing by the school gates as James’s Mercedes pulled up. He parked across two disabled spaces right by the entrance, then climbed out. To her surprise, for the first time that she had seen, he wasn’t dressed in his theatrical gear, but in a simple sweater—albeit an expensive London brand—and a pair of Levi’s.
He didn’t appear to notice her as he walked around to the back and opened the boot, retrieving a large suitcase. As he shut the boot and walked back to the front of the car, Charlotte put up a hand as though to ask a question.
‘Ah, hello, James.’
He turned and appeared to see her for the first time. His smile dropped; he made a show of looking pensive, then gave a little shake and smiled.
‘Charlotte. How lovely to see you again.’
He took a step forward and put out a hand. She lifted hers, and he took it gently, giving it a little shake rather than anything extravagant like a theatrical kiss.
‘James, I—’
‘You’ve been busy, I know. I understand. You don’t need to explain. I had hoped … but a person with the amount of emotional baggage that I carry can’t be easy to get to know.’ He sighed. ‘I did enjoy our brief time together. I will always treasure it.’
Charlotte frowned. While he had cranked the niceness meter up to eleven, it was a little over the top. Had he not seen her with Jacob after all? The Mercedes they had seen had to have been his. There couldn’t be two cars like it in all of Brentwell, what with its modified chassis, large snow tyres, tinted windows. Had the fairy lights outside the tearoom window somehow obscured his view of Jacob and her dancing together?
‘James … I wanted to explain. It’s just that—’
‘Mr. Steamblack, is it?’ came Mr. Wilson’s voice from behind her; then the old headmaster was stumbling past and reaching for James’s hand. ‘I’m such a fan. I have all your DVDs. The wife thinks you’re some kind of God. She wrote a letter to Penn and Teller, asking them to do an exposé on your tricks. The best illusionist since Copperfield.’
‘My inspiration,’ James said. ‘If I can only become half as good—’
‘You’re already twice as good,’ Mr. Wilson said. ‘That’s what my wife thinks. Has Ms. Harding here not shown you the way in yet?’ He rolled his eyes as best as his stricken face would allow. ‘Look at the poor thing, totally starstruck. My wife thinks you’re more handsome than George Clooney, and you’re twenty years younger! Come on, I’ll do it myself. Ms. Harding, perhaps you could help Mr. Steamblack with some of his equipment?’
