Short Story

Partner, Familie und Freunde spielen eine wichtige Rolle im Leben – gelegentlich im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Von JULIAN EARWAKER

“Family and friends”

The cream-and-white drapes of the giant marquee contrast with the yellow and orange flowers of the table decorations — strong colours that represent my wife, Lily, and her life choices. Sitting to my left, she looks radiant in her beautiful, cream-coloured Roland Mouret dress — paid for, like everything else today, by her proud parents. Guests stand in small groups, chatting and drinking. Everything is in its place, perfect. A million-dollar wedding in a castle hired especially for this event.

The best man rings a small bell for silence. The room quietens as Lily’s father stands up to make his speech.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he begins, “I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and a loving partnership of over 30 years. Not everyone is as lucky…”

He’s right. It’s hard to find good relationships in this day and age. Intimacy is a demanding and time-consuming business for which we no longer seem to find the space. Loneliness is a real and present danger.

“…Which brings me to Jack,” continues Lily’s father, “a man for whom family and friends mean everything.”

That’s me. A loyal husband, a patient father, a trusted brother, a wise uncle, a handsome, loving boyfriend. A consummate professional.

It all started ten years ago, when my friend Stella asked me whether I would go with her to a business function. Would I, she asked, be willing to play the role of her boyfriend, who — and this was the important bit — worked as a high-level executive in an American corporation? Stella’s boss wasn’t sure of her ability to do the job. She needed to show him what she could do and my job was to make her look good. For me, it was an easy role — I created an imaginary profile for myself, read up on the business that I was supposed to be working in and perfected my American accent. It worked: Stella was promoted and soon given an even more lucrative job overseas.

Not long after that, the theatre I was working at closed, leaving me with some tough choices. The world is full of out-of-work actors.

Then I remembered the evening with Stella. I decided to start my own business, offering everyone access to family and friends. My service employs fellow professionals from the world of the stage and screen. It has brought me to this wedding and the beautiful woman beside me, while her loving partner sits patiently and alone in a nearby hotel — waiting to accompany Lily on their honeymoon.

I’ve been married before. Four times, in fact, but this is the biggest celebration by far. Lily’s parents are as demanding as extreme wealth allows and very old-fashioned with it. When they discovered that Lily had a girlfriend — a woman 20 years Lily’s senior to boot — they made the consequences very clear: disinheritance and permanent exile from a wealthy and respected family. A wedding to a suitable man was the only acceptable solution.

This is what brought Lily to my door. After some tough negotiations, we signed a contract — but let me make one thing clear: it’s not an escort business I run, although I do get offers, of course. Attraction and attachment can be a problem. More often than not, I’m dealing with people who are lonely and vulnerable, even though they don’t see themselves as such. So, there are strict rules: no sharing of personal details except for those I need to create a convincing partner, and no physical contact beyond holding hands.

It’s a demanding job. Lily’s parents know me as a city trader. Tomorrow, I’m preparing for an interview at an exclusive school, where I’ll be acting the role of husband and father, accompanying a single mother and her son to an interview. The school won’t consider the boy without a high-net-worth father alongside the mother who has cared for him every step of his young life. I’m being paid well for the role, and rightly so. Deception comes at a price. In future, it will mean attending parent-teacher events, school prizegivings and sports day celebrations.

Today’s wedding took many months of planning. From the priest to the waiters, from the best man to the numerous members of my family and friends. They’re all actors. In my stage career, I played many different roles, but none as demanding, or satisfying, as those of the past decade. What I offer is a clean, tidy form of reality. My relationships are better than real: they’re fair. Corporate events, workplace awards, birthday parties, funerals and graduation ceremonies… So long as it isn’t criminal, I’ll always consider a commission.

Tonight, Lily and I will glide across the dance floor under the satisfied gaze of her parents and relatives. I’ve enjoyed her company. She’s a good client. Tomorrow, she’ll be getting married for real in a small private ceremony, while I’ll have a school headmaster to convince.

The guests applaud and raise their glasses as Lily’s father proposes a toast to absent friends and family. Then to the newly-weds. I look at my almost motherin-law. There are tears in her eyes. She touches my arm, lightly. I stand up to make my speech.