CLEANER II: Chapter Five - Part Eleven

MELISSA

The call to Tommy didn’t go through immediately. There was an extended delay of silence as my phone reached out across the curvature of the world and tried to find his.

I stood. I walked toward the balcony. The double doors were open. I could see sky and a sliver of horizon. I turned my back on it. The phone started to ring. I changed hands from one to the other. I sat down.

It rang on and on. Tommy didn’t pick up. Physical tension crept into my shoulders and down my arms. I changed hands on the phone again.

He picked up.

“Dahlia? Is that you?”

I held my breath. My lips opened and my tongue rolled forward ready. I said nothing.

“Dahlia? Hello? You there?”

I made a funnel with my lips. I couldn’t make myself reply. There wasn’t a chance he would believe I was her. This was all about to come crashing down around me. He would expose me for a fraud and both he and Katherine would charge over here to denounce my manipulations. They would find Dahlia and do everything they could to destroy me. They would convince her to sue me for ruining her life; for trying to steal it. I would be ruined. I’d end up just as fat as I ever was, penniless and alone; without even Robert to look after me. I would end up far worse than I had ever started.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s me.”

“Jesus,” said Tommy. “Thank God you’ve called at last, We’ve been worried as fuck. It was like you dropped off the face of the world. Where have you been?”

“I’ve been—” I stopped. My voice wasn’t like hers in the least. It was my old voice – my real voice. I cleared my throat. “I’ve er...” I cleared it again.

“Are you okay?” He paused and said the next words tentatively. “You don’t sound yourself.”

I swallowed, my throat tightening and drying. I had to end the call. This wasn’t going to work. I was going to ruin everything.

“Dahlia? You there?”

I closed my eyes. I had to get a hold of myself. I tried to reason with my chaotic mind; to draw it under control.

Breathe, I told myself. Breathe.

“Dahlia?”

“I’m here,” I said. “Sorry.”

The voice was perfect now; as good as I’d ever managed to do it. I sounded exactly like her. I smiled, a new confidence settling over me.

“I was just distracted for a minute. I’m fine now.”

“Where are you?” asked Tommy. “Katherine’s been trying to find you. She’s worried sick. What happened? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine Tommy,” I replied. “I’m much better now. I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact. I... needed some time to myself, to get my head straight. Everything just... got on top of me. That’s all. My... uh... My brother’s death. The pressure of going back to work. You know.”

Tommy went silent.

“I’m in Greece at the moment.”

“Greece? Where are you staying? I know Katherine will want to get in touch.”

“I’m... not quite ready for that yet,” I said.

“Oh, uh, okay.” Tommy was uncertain; treading lightly. He was aware of how screwed up the real Dahlia had been when she left the country and he had to have concluded how uncharacteristic it was for her to break all contact for several months with those closest to her. He must have been treading very carefully. “No problem. I understand. Do you want me to keep it quiet that you got in touch?”

I considered this. “Yes. For now. Is that okay?”

“Sure. No problem.”

He had accepted I was really her. There was no doubt. I got another swell of confidence that this crazy scheme really could succeed, even face to face.

“Will you be coming back to England sometime soon?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “It won’t be too long now. But not quite yet. I’m... Before I come back I’m getting a little work done... to my face.”

“What? You don’t need that. You’re beautiful as you are.”

“That’s nice of you to say Tommy, but it’s all booked in. I’m doing it. And that’s why I was calling.”

“Uh, what did you gave in mind?”

“I know I let you down before about my... my comeback... but there were things going on at the time, what with my brother’s—”

“Don’t worry about that. It’s all just water under the bridge. Seriously. Forget about it. It wasn’t a problem.”

I knew he was being kind; that it had been a problem; Dahlia had told me enough about her life for me to understand that.

“I want to thank you for everything you did,” I said, “and I want to ask you a big favour.”

“Anything sweetheart.”

“I want you to set it up again. I want you to organise another comeback for me.”

He hesitated. “Dahlia... sweetie... Are you sure you’re ready for that? After the last time?”

“I’m sure,” I said. “I’ve had a lot of time to get my head straight and think about what I want.”

I pictured the real Dahlia on a magazine cover looking like a beautiful princess. I pictured her walking the catwalk and acting on the big screen.

“I assure you Tommy. I want that life more than anything you can possibly imagine, and I’m willing to do anything to get it. You don’t have to worry about me.”