The Cardturner (32 page)

I held my head in such a way that I didn't look at Deborah. It had nothing to do with my stiff neck. It was just that every time I saw her, I couldn't help but imagine her coming out of that closet "in all my glory." Worse, even though the closet story had occurred when she was in her twenties, it was the present-day version of Deborah that I kept imagining.

When we returned to the playing area, Arnold checked the top hundred, starting at the bottom and working his way up. He and Lucy were sixty-ninth.

I started at the top and worked my way down. Finnick and Trapp were in ninth place. I wondered how big a game they would need to move to the head of the pack.

I noticed Lucy noticing me. "Syd Fox is in second place," I said, glad to be able to use him as my excuse. "Toni and I went to his lecture."

Our table assignment for the final session was A-5, East-West. I sat West. Arnold and Lucy were in our section, also sitting East-West, at A-12. At least we wouldn't have to play against them, but I knew they were sure to see the names of Annabel Finnick and Lester Trapp when the results were posted. I also noticed that Syd Fox was in our section, sitting North at table nine.

When the game got under way, I could actually feel a change in the level of intensity. Even Trapp's voice seemed to have an edge to it as he told me what cards to play. I doubted there would be any more winks from Annabel.

We played against Syd Fox in the fourth round.

"Hi," Toni brightly greeted him when we sat down. "We went to your lecture the other day."

"I hope it wasn't too boring," he said.

"No, it was great," she assured him. "Alton got his head chopped off three times."

"But on the fourth, I got to marry the princess," I said.

Syd Fox eyed Toni, then looked at me. "I think you came out ahead on the deal."

Toni blushed. "We're just bridge partners," she told him.

On our first board, Syd Fox was the declarer in four hearts, down one. One hundred for us. He didn't seem too concerned. In the post-mortem, he told his partner that it took good defense to set him, "but in this field, that should be the normal result."

On our second board, Annabel was the declarer in three no-trump, and made an overtrick for 630. When the hand was over, Syd Fox turned to Toni and said, "Next time, you should be the one giving me the lecture."

Three tables later we came across two other people I knew. (Who would have guessed I'd know so many bridge players?) They were the two women world champions that Trapp and Gloria had played against in the regional knockout. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see them here.

I didn't remember their names, but they remembered mine, and introduced themselves as Robin and Natalie. (In what other sport do you have the opportunity to play against the best players in the world? It would be like playing a round of golf and being joined by different people at each hole. "Hello, my name is Tiger, what's yours?") I introduced them to Toni. There was no point telling them she was Annabel Finnick, since they already knew I wasn't Lester Trapp.

"I noticed your uncle's name right up there among the leaders," said Robin, the younger of the two women. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if he won?"

"Yeah, it would," I agreed. Robin and Natalie must not have had a chance, or else she wouldn't have said that.

"I'm surprised we haven't seen him," said Natalie. "I guess he must have somebody else turning his cards for him."

"Yeah, a really cute guy," said Toni.

"Oh, really?" asked Robin. "And does he know you think he's so cute?"

"It's complicated," said Toni. "I've been going out with his best friend."

"A word of advice from someone who's been there," said Natalie. "You don't want to come between friends."

"Oh, I know," said Toni.

"Enough of this friendly chitchat," declared Robin as she removed her cards from the board. "Now it's war."

I didn't know what Toni was trying to do with those remarks, but it totally messed up my mind. I couldn't perceive anything from Trapp. Toni opened the bidding, 1
. Robin passed, but all I could hear was "really cute guy" and "going out with his best friend."

I looked at my cards.

I knew enough to set the 1
card on the table.

Natalie passed, Toni bid 1
, Robin passed, and it was back to me.

I had to choose between 1NT and 2
. I think most experts would bid one no-trump, because of the scoring. You get more points in a no-trump contract than you do in a minor-suit contract. For example, you get 120 for making two no-trump, and you only get 110 for making three diamonds.

But I had something else to consider. I didn't know when my brain would settle down enough for me to hear from Trapp again. If I bid one no-trump, I'd be the declarer. In diamonds, Annabel would play the hand. I put my money
on Annabel and pulled out the 2
card.

Everyone passed, and two diamonds was the final contract. As I tabled the dummy, I heard Trapp say, "Interesting bid."

At least he didn't call me a donkey. Of course I wouldn't have made that bid if I'd known I'd be hearing his voice so soon.

Either I made the right bid, or Annabel played it exceptionally well, or both, but she took ten tricks for a score of 130. In the post-mortem, Natalie and Robin agreed that the most I could have made in no-trump was 120. Those ten extra points would be the difference between an average score and perhaps a cold top.

I hoped that made up for the donkey hand.

73
The Final Table

Table four would be our final table. We had to stand aside and wait until the people there finished playing a hand from the previous round.

"Whatever happens," Toni whispered to me, "this has really been great."

I gave a half-nod in agreement, about as much as my neck would allow. "I hope Trapp and Annabel think so too," I said.

"Oh, they do," said Toni. "They've waited forty-five years for this!"

I smiled as I thought about Annabel, her wink, and the way she had purposely won a trick with the "beer card." Toni was right, I thought; Annabel was having the time of her life, although I guess that might not have been the most appropriate expression.

The people at table four were finished. They placed their cards in the slots on the board. The man sitting North recorded the score. The boards were passed to table three. The pair sitting East-West got up and moved to the next table and Toni and I took their place. A caddy collected the scores.