Jonathan Whitaker opened the door to his hotel room and flicked on the light. The room was small, with just a bed and night table, and a tiny adjoining bathroom. He took off his coat, which still smelled of Sally's sugary vanilla perfume. Now he could understand why Brian was so hung up on her—Jonathan found himself fascinated by her too. He felt awful about it, because after all, Brian was in love with this woman, and Jonathan had just met her and was already smitten. He also felt guilty for lying to Sally about being in Berlin "on business" and he was certainly glad she had not asked what he did for a living, because he did not know how he would have responded. The truth was that he did not really do anything for a living; he had never needed to. He had always had enough money to do whatever he pleased, whenever he pleased. He had never been to Berlin, though, and Brian had raved about it so much when he got back that Jonathan had decided to take a trip himself. Brian had told him about the Kit Kat Club, and had asked if he would just pop into the Club one night and "check on" Sally for him. He was worried about her, and Jonathan understood that and had said he wouldn't mind; he was always up for some good entertainment anyway. Brian had probably not expected Jonathan to actually talk to Sally, much less drink champagne with her and hold her hand when he walked her home. The deal was that Jonathan was supposed to call him after he had "checked on her," but now Jonathan didn't know if he could call Brian and lie to him. Well, it wasn't really lying…just bending the truth a little. Or rather, omitting certain details. Certain important details. But he had to make the call, because if he didn't, Brian would worry that something had happened to him or more importantly, that something had happened to Sally. Reluctantly, Jonathan placed his call. Brian picked up on the first ring, and they talked about Jonathan's trip for a while and then it was quiet for a minute and Brian said, "Have you…been to the Club yet?"
Here we go, Jonathan thought. "I went tonight."
"Was she there?"
"Yes, she was there. She sang."
"So she's all right?"
"Brian, she's fine." Jonathan had not meant to sound agitated, but he didn't want to talk about Sally anymore for fear he would slip and say something he shouldn't.
"Did you talk to her?"
Well, he asked for it. No point in lying about that now. "Yes, I did. I introduced myself and—"
"You told her you knew me?"
"Well yes, Brian, I didn't want her to think I had been following her or something."
"What…what did she say?"
"She was surprised, but she didn't seem to mind. She wasn't angry or anything."
Brian sighed audibly. "Well all right. Are you going to see her again?"
Jonathan did not know what to say. He certainly intended to, but admitting that to Brian was probably not a good idea. "Maybe," he said instead. "If I go back to the Kit Kat Club while I'm here."
"Well if you do…Would you tell her I miss her?"
"I'll tell her." They said their good-byes and Jonathan hung up the phone with a sigh of relief. Thank God that's over, he thought. It had gone better than he had expected, and he hadn't had to fib too terribly much. Still, he worried…he knew he wanted to and he knew he would, without question, indeed see Sally again.