Heads You Win

“Thank you. And here’s your trick question,” said Anna, sitting down at their favorite corner table. “How many years have we been married, or was that what you were trying to work out on the back of your menu?” Fortunately Miss Robbins had reminded him just before he left.

“Thirteen, but it would have been fourteen if Lawrence hadn’t left me his fifty percent of the bank.”

“You live to fight another year. What’s this?” Anna asked coyly.

“Open it and you’ll find out.”

“I suspect it will be more of a surprise for you than me.”

Alex laughed. “I’ll pretend I’ve seen it before.”

Anna slowly removed the red ribbon, unwrapped the parcel, and lifted the lid to reveal a small, elegant light gray Chloé bag that was both practical and stylish.

“It’s so you, I thought, the moment I saw it,” said Alex.

“Which was just now,” said Anna, leaning across and kissing him again. “Perhaps you could remember to thank Pamela for me,” she added as the maître d’ appeared by their side.

“I know exactly what I want, François,” she said. “Salade niçoise and the Dover sole.”

“I’ll have the same,” said Alex. “I’ve made quite enough decisions for one day.”

“Dare I ask?”

“I can’t say too much at the moment, because it could turn out to be either a complete waste of time or the biggest deal that’s ever crossed my desk.”

“When will you know which?”

“By this time next week, would be my bet. By which time I should be back from Leningrad.”

“But haven’t you always said you’d never go back to Russia in any circumstances, and Leningrad in particular?”

“It’s a calculated risk,” said Alex. “However, I think it’s safe to assume that after all these years, Polyakov will have retired.”

“Your mother once told me that KGB officers never retire, so what does she think?”

“She won’t relax until she’s attended his funeral. But when I promised to see her brother, Kolya, find out how the rest of the family are, and visit my father’s grave, she reluctantly came around.”

“I don’t want you to go,” said Anna quietly. “Let Jake Coleman take your place. He’s just as good a dealmaker as you are.”

“Maybe, but the Russians always expect to deal with the chairman. By the way, there’s a spare seat on the plane if you’d like to come.”

“No, thank you. Not least because I’ve got an opening on Wednesday.”

“Anyone I know?” asked Alex, pleased to change the subject.

“Robert Indiana.”

“Oh yes, I like his work. I’ll be sorry to miss the opening.”

“The show will still be on when you get back. If you get back.”

“It’s not that bad, my darling. So am I allowed to know what my anniversary gift is?” asked Alex, hoping to lighten the mood. “Because I don’t see a package.”

“It was too big to bring with me,” said Anna. “It’s a six-foot-square bronze by Indiana called LOVE.” She drew an image on the back of the menu.

L O

V E

“How much is that going to cost me?”

“With the usual discount, around sixty thousand. And if you were to gift it to Konstantin, he can avoid estate tax.”

“So let me try and understand this, one I love,” said Alex. “My anniversary present is going to cost me sixty thousand dollars, but it’s Konstantin who will actually own it?”

“Yes, my darling. I think you’ve grasped the idea. But the good news is, there’s now an outside chance you’ll go to heaven.” Anna paused. “Not that you’ll enjoy it.”

“Why not?” demanded Alex.

“Because you won’t know anyone,” she said as the waiter returned with their first course.

“So what do I get?”

“To look at it for the rest of your life.”

“Thanks,” said Alex. “And can I ask where the beneficiary is?”

“He’s staying overnight with his grandmother.”

“Does that mean my mother has taken a night off?” Alex asked in mock disbelief.

“Half a night. Konstantin likes Elena’s margheritas better than anything I ever cook for him,” Anna said as she finished her salad. “And don’t give me that me too look. So what else have you been up to today?”

“Sheldon Woods came to see me this morning to ask if I’d be interested in standing for the Senate.”

“How long did it take you to turn down that attractive offer?” asked Anna as the waiter whisked away their empty plates.

“I thought long and hard about it for twenty seconds.”

“I can remember the time, not so long ago, when you were fascinated by politics,” said Anna. “The only thing you ever wanted to be was the first elected president of an independent Russia.”

“And I confess that would be far more tempting than the Senate,” said Alex. “But that all changed the day Lawrence died,” he added as the waiter reappeared and presented them with two Dover soles.

“On or off the bone, madam?”

“Off please, François, for both of us. My husband isn’t making any important decisions tonight.”

“And the management hoped that you would enjoy a bottle of Chablis Beauregard to mark this special occasion, with our compliments.”

“I should have married you, François, as it’s clear you would never have forgotten our wedding anniversary, and would have known exactly what gift to give me.”

François bowed and left them.