Perfect Freedom (43 page)

“I don't know,” he said perplexedly. “Of course, I love it here but how would I get in and out to work?”

“That shouldn't be a big problem. I imagine there'll be a lot of coming and going between here and town. You have to be in about eleven? We could probably arrange to take you but I'd prefer you to be free to come and go as you please.”

“That would be better,” Toni agreed. He wondered if he was going to be offered an automobile. He had been offered automobiles before, but not by anyone like Stuart.

“I was going to get a motorbike for Felix. Would that do? You and he could work out the times when you need it. Can you ride one?”

“Oh sure. We have one on the farm.” Toni was having a lesson in tact. Stuart was making it easy for him to accept without feeling that he was getting too deeply obligated.

“How much longer are you going to be appearing in that place?” He glanced at the golden head. In the daylight, he was pretty sure it wasn't natural. He suppressed a little twinge of distaste at adopting a son with dyed hair and removed his hand from his knee.

“I'm booked until the end of July but they're already talking about an extension if business goes on being so good.”

“You must be pleased to be such a success even if you don't like the work. I don't suppose you'd consider giving it up. I'd pay you whatever you're getting there of course, so you wouldn't lose anything.”

“Ah no. It's not the money. You'd laugh if I told you how little I get. It's my career.”

Stuart supposed that it was impossible to talk about a theater career without sounding a bit pompous. He remembered the hint of insolence last night, but there was none of that now. He was simply making it clear that he was his own man. Stuart liked him for it and didn't mind waiting to be thanked for offering him a home. He sat poised and assured, enviable in his youth and physical splendor, accepting as his due anything that came his way. Stuart had a feeling that he might be in the presence of a star. “I certainly don't want to interfere with your career. On the contrary, I'd like to find ways of helping you but we'll probably have plenty of time to talk about that. Don't let's get sidetracked. Let's decide whether or not you want to move out here.”

“There's another thing. I don't know about Robbie, but I have girls. Would there be any difficulty about that?”

“You mean, you'd want them to stay here? I don't think I want to run a bawdy house. Does that sound old-fashioned?”

“Of course not. I wouldn't expect them to stay, any more than I would at home, but you know how it is. If you get caught up with a girl you don't think much about anything else. I wouldn't want to be tied down socially.”

“I understand. I expect it to happen with Robbie any day now. Have you seen his house?” He thought of the way Robbie had sort of teamed up with Rico and hoped he'd feel the same way about Toni. “Maybe you'd like to stay up there with him. You'd be even more independent. Of course, we'd have to ask him. If I'm not mistaken, there's only one bed up there but we could put in another.”

“I've shared beds with my brothers all my life. That doesn't matter. He might not want me around all the time.”

“Well, I'll leave that up to you two. I don't expect to fill all these rooms. You can keep this one if you want. Is it settled?”

“I appreciate your suggesting it. I really do but—well, I know everything's very informal down here and so forth, but you don't know me at all. You know I'm probably not your son. I don't quite see—”

“Why I want you to stay?” Stuart interrupted. “Forget about being my son. Let me try to explain. You see, we lived here for a long time very simply—probably more simply than you've ever lived.” He looked around the handsomely appointed room. “All this luxury is still very new to us. I suppose I want to share it, bring it alive. I've always been sorry that Robbie's an only child. I'm sure he'll love having you here even if you're not brothers. You give me a new interest in life. If that sounds sort of pathetic, you've got to remember that I'm not used to being rich. When I first came here, all I cared about was my freedom. I worked for it and fought for it and in ways that I didn't expect or want, I got more of it than I'd asked for. I've got to find out what to do with it.”

“I imagine this is the most extraordinary conversation I'll have in my entire life,” Toni said as if he were just beginning to take it in.

Stuart smiled at him thoughtfully. “I'm not thinking only of this summer. We'll talk more about it when we know each other better but I think my wife and I will want to spend some time in Paris in the future. Robbie probably will too when he's finished school. If I take an apartment, it could be yours most of the time. You'd be doing us a favor by taking care of it. I promise you one thing: I'll never spoil you with money. I believe in people making their own way. The only reason I mentioned quitting your job is that I don't think much of that place where you're working. I guess that's show business. You must know what you're getting into. I'm sure you can handle it. Is your hair dyed?”

“Yes. It's not really this curly, either.”

“It must be a nuisance keeping it like that. I have a hunch you're going places. It'll be exciting to watch. I think Robbie's going to make his mark too. Maybe I'll become a patron of the arts.” Toni's smile flooded him with sweet funny memories.

“Well then. If you'll lend me a car, I'll go in this afternoon and get my things.” There was no reason to hold out any longer. He hadn't jumped at the invitation; he'd made sure that his wishes would be respected. They both stood. “I don't know how to thank you, Mr.—what am I supposed to call you?”

“Well, certainly not Papa.” They both laughed. “What
have
you been calling me? I haven't noticed.”

“Monsieur.”

“That won't do. What's wrong with Stuart?”

“Very well, thank you very much, Stuart.” He gave the name a fine French flourish.

Stuart gripped his shoulders and gave him a little shake. “We can thank each other. I think it's going to be good for all of us.”

Robbie lingered with the statue, cleaning and polishing it and making a careful study of proportions to be sure he got the pedestal right in relation to the surrounding landscape. He lay on the lawn looking up at it and made calculations with his eyes. Toni found him there.

“Are you worshiping Apollo?” he asked, smiling in the way that made Robbie's heart stop. He leaped to his feet.

“Oh, I do. What did he want to talk to you about?”

“Guess. I'm going to stay here all summer.”

“No. Oh Toni, how marvelous. It's what I've been thinking about all along. I was afraid you wouldn't listen if I suggested it.”

“I had to make sure I'd be on my own. You know. I have to see people and make contacts now that I have the chance. I found out why he's been asking me all those questions. Are you ready for a surprise? He thinks we might be brothers—half brothers.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It's only an idea.” Toni told Robbie the sketchy little story, looking at Robbie's mouth as he did so. He found it very seductive, with the slight fullness of the upper lip, a reaction left over from his initial fleeting thought of him as a girl. If he were a girl, he would've kissed it by now. Brothers kissed. Maybe he would yet. “You see, he's just making a wild guess. He knows that but he says he likes to pretend.”

“Yes, I suppose he does. Well, I'm not pretending. I think it's true. I feel it. Don't you?”

“In a certain way. It's funny. I mentioned it to your father. I feel almost the way I do about my favorite brother, Pierrot. He's a good deal older. You're my baby brother.” Their eyes met and Toni slipped an arm around Robbie's shoulders and gave him a gentle hug. Robbie took a deep calming breath. Life with Toni was going to be full of hazards and pitfalls but if he managed to avoid any hideous
faux pas,
all his problems were solved. He would never be lonely with Toni here. He would devote himself to his work and try not to think about sex. Being brothers would permit them to take small liberties with each other, an embrace, even a kiss. That would be enough. Perhaps someday he would be able to tell him about himself. It was something a brother should understand and be tolerant about.

“Not such a baby,” he said, drawing away with an attempt at brotherly bravado. “I'm bigger than you are. I also happen to have a house of my own where I
might
let you stay. Did you talk about that?”

“He said it was up to you.”

“You see? Your baby brother is a very important person. Would you like to be with me?”

Toni looked into smiling dark eyes and was struck by the depths of raw emotion in them. It was something he should learn how to do as an actor—to smile and look tragic at the same time. He must remember that. Robbie was dangerously sensitive. “He said I'd be more independent up there with you. What do you think? We won't get in each other's way?”

“You're older. You can tell me if I do anything you don't like. There's only one bed but it's a double. Is that all right?”

“He said we could have another but I don't care so long as you wash regularly.”

“I'm as clean as a whistle.” They laughed and their eyes told each other that they were going to have a good time together. Toni realized that Stuart had given him much more than a beautiful place to live. He was having a fresh taste of the wholesome life he had abandoned more than two years ago. He was again with people who could be kind to each other without waiting to see what they could get out of it. He was amazed at what a relief it was.

“You know, the theater is pretty tough,” he said, looking from Robbie to the statue and deciding that Robbie was more beautiful. “Everybody's out for himself. People don't let themselves like each other. Oh, girls, of course, but that's different. It's about time I found a friend.”

Robbie found it extraordinary that a boy with the world at his feet could be looking for a friend. Thanks to his father, he was going to be it. He hadn't felt so grateful to him for years. “Everybody thinks—” He broke off self-consciously as his father appeared in shirt and slacks.

“I'm ready for whatever guests land on us. You two needn't change. If anybody wants to swim, show them the beach house. Have you been talking things over?”

“Toni says he'd like to move in with me,” Robbie said, careful not to sound overenthusiastic.

“Fine. I told him it was up to you. You must admit I've picked out a pretty special brother for you.”

“He'll be all right if he doesn't think being older gives him the right to boss me around.” He checked an impulse to thank him. He didn't want his father to think he had some particular reason for wanting him here. Let him take full responsibility for the invitation.

Activity quickened around them. A vast awning had been unfurled over part of the terrace. A white-jacketed Felix was busy at a drinks table under it. Agnes bustled. Boldoni emerged briefly in full chef's regalia to cast an eye on another long table where food was being set out. Helene crossed the terrace looking grandly beautiful in a simple summer dress.

“You boys are going to stay as you are?” She looked from one to the other with admiration. “You're both stunning.”

“Toni's staying here now,” Robbie interjected. “Did you know? He doesn't have to dress like a guest.”

“Your father said he was going to ask him.” She turned to Toni. “So you've accepted? I'm so pleased. You and Robbie will have such fun together.” She gave him a welcoming maternal kiss on the cheek and felt immediately that he wasn't indifferent to women. It amused and flattered her. Life had an added zest when sex was acknowledged, however distantly. She need no longer fear or deny it.

Minutes later, the terrace was swarming with guests. Stuart was pleased to find that he recognized most of them. There were the prince and princess who instantly became Hilda and Alex, the famous French playwright, the film star, the film director. The heir apparent to a Scandinavian throne accompanied by a famous French beauty had been brought by somebody. Wives were standard equipment. Stuart found that he had selected his guests with more attention to their permanent local ties than he had realized. They all had houses nearby, some on lease, some recently built, a few remodeled old farm houses purchased for a song when the tourists had first begun to take notice of the place. None of them, it appeared, could compare to this one. The house. The house. The fabulous house that belonged to the fabulous Coslings. Everyone was agog. Of course, it was pointed out, the Coslings had owned the whole peninsula so they'd had the pick of the choice sites. A French woman publisher who, Stuart assumed, had been with the admiral the day before turned out to be the owner of what had once been a sail loft. It had been known in the old days as
la batellerie
, she told him.

Toni watched the guests arrive and was satisfied that he'd made a wise decision. The theater people were at the top of their field. He had met some of them casually but now he could cultivate them on a footing of equality. Word had already spread somehow that he was a member of the family. He was no longer just a flash celebrity but an established resident of St. Tropez. He was introduced to a very pretty model from one of the big Paris couture houses. They agreed that they made an attractive couple if the director was looking for new faces. She was bright and ambitious. They began to have fun together.

Drink flowed. People sampled the hors d'oeuvres and exclaimed over their excellence. The admiral and his party were the last to arrive. Robbie was glad to see that Toni looked thoroughly occupied with a pretty girl as he geared himself to Edward's audacious conversational style. Their eyes met and Edward's charming face lighted up as he came ambling over looking very elegant in a white shirt and loose scarf and white flannels. Robbie moved to meet him. He saw Edward's eyes widen as he caught sight of Toni. They stopped in front of each other and Edward put his hands on Robbie's elbows and held him.