📖导读
在这一章节中，视角转向保拉，围绕艾丽斯的新恋情展开。艾丽斯带着新男友伊万与保拉、罗伯特见面，起初保拉对伊万的“富豪”人设充满揣测，却发现他是个务实的房产从业者。正当保拉对伊万的印象逐渐改观时，艾丽斯却在洗手间里爆出怀孕的消息，这一意外转折打破了原本的社交场景氛围。章节中展现了保拉对艾丽斯复杂的情感，既有长期相处形成的审视与怀疑，又在艾丽斯的孕期期待中生出一丝关切。同时，也通过保拉与罗伯特的互动，侧面反映出他们对艾丽斯感情生活的惯常态度，为这段关系的后续发展埋下了充满变数的伏笔。
📖Chapter 39
Paula
Of course, Alice and her new beau are late. Far be it from her to ever miss the chance to make an entrance. Robert and I are offered a seat at the bar, or the option of going straight to the table, which is the one we take. It’s not as if we’re on a date and want to prolong the evening any more than we have to.
‘This is lovely,’ I say, looking around. That’s my best effort at making conversation.
‘Mmm. It is.’
The waiter appears and we order wine and sparkling water.
‘God, I hope he’s not an arsehole. I hope he doesn’t spend all evening telling us how rich he is.’
Robert laughs. ‘He definitely will.’
‘Do you think she asks for their bank statements before she agrees to go on a date with them?’
‘No, because most of them are conmen, so far as I can tell. She’s just too trusting.’
‘Poor Alice. Why is she so hung up on going out with rich men, though? I don’t get it.’ That’s not true, I do. It’s because she has no income of her own and no intention of ever getting a job, even if anyone would have her. But I’m not going to say that to Robert. I’m trying to be nice.
‘I think that’s just the kind of men she meets,’ he says, always keen to let his sister off the hook.
‘How old is this one?’
He shudders, no doubt remembering the (very wealthy) near-octogenarian she introduced him to once. He’d had the gall to keel over without ever getting around to changing his will in her favour.
‘God knows.’
We both pick up a menu and browse. I will the evening to be over.
A couple of (silent) minutes later and we’re greeted – well, Robert is – by a shriek of ‘Robbie!’, and there’s Alice in a baggy vintage dress that shows off her skinny frame. Everything else is the same – tousled hair, kohl-rimmed eyes, floaty scarf. Trailing behind her is a presentable-looking man in – I would say – his late forties. Maybe early fifties, if he has good genes and an even better surgeon. I was expecting either an Adonis or a wrinkled old prune with cash falling out of his pockets. Ivan is neither. He’s pleasant-looking. Unremarkable.
Alice thrusts him forward like he’s won a prize. ‘This is Ivan.’
Ivan, I have to say, seems like a perfectly nice man. I warm to him, because Alice keeps trying to big him up and he keeps undercutting her boasting.
‘Ivan is a film producer,’ she says proudly.
‘I work in property, really,’ Ivan says, smiling at her indulgently. ‘Doing up houses and selling them, that kind of thing. A couple of times I’ve put a small amount into a film purely as an investment. But do I know anything about the film business? No.’
‘Ivan lives in a huge house on Wildwood Road,’ she says, mentioning a road not that far from us where all the houses are huge.
‘Wow,’ I say. ‘Lovely.’
Ivan does a little eye roll. ‘It’s my latest project. I’m staying on site while I renovate it.’
‘Oh, do you do the work yourself then?’ Robert says, articulating what I was thinking. I’d imagined Ivan sitting in a penthouse office and telling people what to do.
‘Most of it. Not everything, obviously, I have to get the trades in. But the basics, yes. That’s the only way to make money, really. You have to be hands-on.’
‘So, how do you do that if you’ve got a load of properties on the go at once?’ I’m worried he’ll think I’m interrogating him, but I’m genuinely interested.
‘That’s why I don’t. I do one at a time. Big projects. And I project-manage each one myself.’
Alice is looking a bit put out. Somehow, rather than presenting himself as Harvey Weinstein, her boyfriend is allowing us to think he’s Bob the Builder. I, on the other hand, am quite impressed, and I can sense Robert is too.
Robert has always loved the idea of house-flipping. He used to talk about it as his alternative career choice if it all went tits up with the acting. Of course, he knows nothing about it in reality, can barely change a plug. I think he imagined himself swanning around choosing paint colours and granite worktops all day.
He happily quizzes Ivan on his trade secrets and Ivan seems happy enough to engage. I turn to Alice and mouth, ‘He’s nice,’ and, even though I can see she’s irritated he hasn’t kept up the front that he’s a Hollywood player, I can also tell that she’s pleased we like him.
‘I’m nipping to the loo,’ she announces when there’s a gap in the conversation. ‘Paula, come with me.’
Alice has never done this. Never tried to engage me in girls’ talk or act as if we’re BFFs, not just thrown together by our relationships to ‘Robbie’. I’m intrigued. I follow her to the ladies’. Thankfully, she’s not expecting me to go into a cubicle with her, because that would be a step too far. Once the door is shut, she grabs my arm.
‘You like him? He’s lovely, isn’t he? I told you.’ She’s looking a bit hyper.
‘He seems really nice. Not what I expected.’
‘He’s downplaying the film stuff, obviously . . .’
‘I think he has a really impressive job,’ I say, interrupting.
‘Well, it would be better if he had a permanent place to live rather than on a building site, but he’s just done it like this since his divorce because he says it makes sense.’
‘Does he have any kids?’ I’m looking for the downside because, knowing Alice’s taste in men, there must be one.
‘No. Not . . . Paula, you can’t breathe a word of this, not even to Robbie yet . . .’ She takes hold of both my hands. I just know what’s coming.
‘I’m pregnant.’
I do what everyone does in these circumstances. I can’t resist a glance down at her belly. Nothing. It’s practically concave.
‘Wow. Alice . . . that’s . . . are you pleased?’
‘Of course I am! It was an accident, obviously, but, imagine, I’m going to have a baby! Ivan’s going to need to find somewhere to live sooner than he thought, of course . . .’
‘What does he think about it?’
‘I haven’t told him yet. I’m not even two months . . .’
‘You are going to tell him, though?’
‘Of course! I’m just waiting till I’m past the dodgy bit.’
‘And how do you think he’ll take it?’ I can’t help it. I’ve known Alice for too long. I’m looking for the angle, the trap. Although her excitement feels real. And, if she were going to use a baby to try and solidify a relationship, wouldn’t she have done it with one of the ones she thought would keep her in luxury?
‘It’ll be a shock because we’ve only been together such a short time but, honestly, I think he’ll be thrilled. He’s always wanted kids. His ex-wife couldn’t . . . they went through loads of IVF, everything.’
‘And where is she now?’ What’s the catch? He’s still married to her? She has a contract out on him?
‘Devon. She’s remarried. I’ve met her. She came up for his niece’s wedding with her husband. She seems nice, bit dull. She’s an office manager.’
‘Right.’
‘Aren’t you going to congratulate me?’ she says suddenly, looking a bit teary.
‘Of course! Congratulations! Sorry, it was just a shock . . .’
‘I’m so happy, Paula, truly.’
I give her a hug. Feel her skin and bone. ‘I’m not nagging, but you have to start eating. No more dieting and picking away at your food, like you think we won’t notice you’re just moving it around your plate.’
‘I don’t!’
I raise an eyebrow at her. ‘I’m not even joking. If you want this baby, then you have to be healthy.’
‘OK. I will. I promise.’
‘Don’t think I won’t be checking up on you. And stop with the vaping. I mean it. God knows what’s in those things.’
She nods like a compliant child and I think that, maybe, this new dynamic between us might work. I boss her around and she lets me. I like it.
‘Do you want me to come to your next appointment with you?’
Her face lights up, making her look ten years younger. ‘Would you? Oh God, Paula, I’d be really grateful. None of my friends live nearby.’
I refrain from saying, ‘What friends?’ I know she’s driven most of them away over the years with her sense of entitlement and the way she uses people. It suddenly strikes me as very sad. Alice. Her whole life. Maybe this really will be the making of her.
‘I like him,’ Robert says in the cab on the way home. ‘He seems like a good bloke.’
‘I really like him. Good for Alice. Maybe this is the one that’s going to work out for her.’
‘Stranger things have happened,’ he says, but I can’t think of many.
📖 译文
葆拉
爱丽丝和她的新欢果然迟到了。她这种人，绝不会错过任何一个闪亮登场的机会。服务员请罗伯特和我在吧台就座，或者直接去餐桌——我们选了后者。我俩又不是在约会，没必要刻意延长共处的时间。
"这儿真不错。"我环顾四周，没话找话地说。
"嗯，是不错。"
侍者出现，我们点了葡萄酒和苏打水。
"天哪，希望他不是个蠢货。可别整晚都在吹嘘自己多有钱。"
罗伯特笑了："他肯定会。
"你说她答应约会前，会不会先查人家银行流水？"
"不会，要我说她那帮男友多半是骗子。只是她太容易轻信别人。"
"可怜的爱丽丝。不过她为什么非要傍大款？我不理解。"——我在说谎，其实心知肚明。因为她既无收入也不愿工作，就算有人愿意雇她。但这话不能对罗伯特说，我得保持风度。
"可能她碰巧总遇上这类人。"他永远急着为妹妹开脱。
"这位多大年纪了？"
他打了个寒颤，准是想起那个她曾引见的（超级富豪）八旬老翁。那老头竟没来得及修改遗嘱就猝死了，丝毫没让她沾光。
"天知道。"
我们各自拿起菜单翻阅。我默默祈祷今晚快点结束。
（相对无言地）几分钟后，一声"罗比！"的尖叫打破了寂静——只见爱丽丝穿着彰显骨感的宽松复古裙，其他标配一成不变：凌乱秀发，烟熏眼妆，飘逸丝巾。她身后跟着位体面男士——约莫四十七八，若保养得宜或许刚过五十。我原以为会见到阿多尼斯美男或是口袋漏钱的老皱皮，没想到伊万两者都不是。他相貌讨喜，平平无奇。
爱丽丝像展示战利品般把他推到前面："这是伊万。"
说实话，伊万看起来是个顶好的人。他不断拆穿爱丽丝的吹嘘，这种反差让我心生好感。
"伊万是电影制片人。"她得意洋洋。
"其实我主营房地产。"伊万宽容地对她微笑，"翻修房子再转手，偶尔投点小钱拍电影纯属投资。但对影视业？我一窍不通。"
"伊万住在野林路的豪宅里。"她提到的这条街离我们家不远，全是巨宅。
"哇，"我说，"真棒。"
伊万微微翻了个白眼："是我最新项目。装修期间暂住工地。"
"哦，那你亲自动手装修？"罗伯特问出了我的心声。我原以为伊万是坐在顶层办公室发号施令的类型。
"大部分是。当然不是全部，专业活要请工人。但基础活都自己来，这才是真正赚钱的门道，必须亲力亲为。"
"同时推进多个项目的话怎么忙得过来？"我怕他觉得我在审问，但确实好奇。
"所以我不同时做。一次只接一个大项目，每个都自己管理。"
爱丽丝脸色不太好看。她男友非但没摆出哈维·韦恩斯坦的派头，反倒让我们觉得是个装修工。不过我颇为欣赏，感觉罗伯特也是。
罗伯特一直幻想炒房致富，以前总说如果演员路走不通就转行。当然他实际上对此一无所知，连换插头都不会。我猜他想象的是自己整天悠哉挑选墙漆和花岗岩台面。
他兴致勃勃地向伊万讨教生意经，伊万也乐于交谈。我转向爱丽丝做口型："人不错。"虽然她因男友没维持好莱坞大亨人设而懊恼，但看得出她高兴我们喜欢他。
"我去趟洗手间。"趁谈话间隙她宣布，"葆拉，陪我。"
爱丽丝从没这样过。从不和我聊闺蜜话题，也没装过我们是挚友——而不只是因"罗比"才凑在一起。我心生好奇跟她走去。幸好她没要我进隔间，那可就太越界了。门一关她就抓住我胳膊：
"你们喜欢他？他很可爱对吧？我早说过。"她显得有些亢奋。
"确实很好。和我想象中不同。"
"他故意低调处理电影行业的事......"
"我觉得他的事业很了不起。"我打断她。
"要是他有固定住所而不是住工地当然更好，但他说离婚后这样安排最合理。"
"他有孩子吗？"我在找隐患——以爱丽丝挑男人的眼光，必定有雷区。
"没有。不过......葆拉你千万保密，连罗比都不能说......"她握住我的双手。我瞬间预感到下文。
"我怀孕了。"
我和所有人反应一样，忍不住瞥向她腹部。平平无奇，甚至有些凹陷。
"哇。爱丽丝......这......你开心吗？"
"当然！虽然是意外，但想想我要当妈妈了！伊万得提前找房子了......"
"他怎么看？"
"还没告诉他。还不到两个月......"
"你会告诉他的吧？"
"当然！等过了危险期再说。"
"你觉得他能接受吗？"我忍不住追问。认识爱丽丝太久，我总在警惕套路陷阱。虽然她的喜悦看似真实——若真想借孩子绑住男人，她不该找那些能供养她奢侈生活的对象吗？
"虽然交往不久他会震惊，但说实话我觉得他会狂喜。他一直想要孩子。前妻不能生......他们尝试了很多次试管婴儿。"
"他前妻现在在哪？"有什么隐情？还没离婚？被追杀？
"德文郡。再婚了。我见过，她带丈夫来参加他侄女婚礼。人不错，有点乏味，是个办公室主管。"
"这样啊。"
"你不恭喜我吗？"她突然眼圈发红。
"当然恭喜！抱歉，只是太突然了......"
"我太幸福了，葆拉，真的。"
我拥抱她，触到她瘦骨嶙峋的背脊。"不是唠叨，但你得开始好好吃饭。别再节食，别像以前那样把食物在盘子里推来推去，还以为我们看不出来。"
"我没有！"
我挑眉看她："绝无玩笑。想要孩子就得健康。"
"好吧，我会的。我保证。"
"我会盯着你的。还有把电子烟戒了。说真的，天知道那里面有什么。"
她像顺从的孩子般点头。或许这种新模式能改善我们的关系：我管教，她服从。这感觉不坏。
"下次产检要我陪你去吗？"
她容光焕发的脸瞬间年轻十岁："真的？天啊葆拉，太感谢了。我朋友都不住在附近。"
我咽下"你哪有朋友"的吐槽。这些年来，她的理所当然和利用成性早已逼走大多数人。突然觉得她很可悲。爱丽丝，她这一生。或许这个孩子真能让她获得新生。
"我喜欢他。"回家出租车里罗伯特说，"像个靠谱的人。"
"非常喜欢。爱丽丝总算走运了。说不定这次能修成正果。"
"世上不缺奇迹。"他说。但我想不出几桩。
📖 注释
📝文化背景知识
1️⃣ Harvey Weinstein vs. Bob the Builder：
📌哈维·韦恩斯坦：美国前著名电影制片人，后因性侵丑闻入狱。在此处，他代表的是好莱坞权力大佬、大制片人的形象。爱丽丝希望伊万能展现出这种成功人士的光环。
📌巴布工程师：英国著名儿童动画角色，是一个总是亲力亲为、戴着安全帽的建筑工人。伊万描述自己亲手装修房子，让保罗和罗伯特联想到的是这个亲民、实干的形象，而非好莱坞大亨。
这个对比极具喜剧效果，凸显了爱丽丝的虚荣和伊万的务实之间的反差。
2️⃣英国住宅与房产文化：
📌House-flipping：指炒房，即低价购入房产，翻新后快速高价卖出以获利。罗伯特对此的幻想，以及伊万的实际操作，都是这种文化的体现。
📌Wildwood Road：文中提到“一条离我们不远的、全是豪宅的路”。这不仅是地理信息，更是财富和地位的象征。爱丽丝特意提及此点，是为了抬高伊万的身价。
📌Trades / the trades：在英式英语中，这特指水电工、木工等专业建筑工人。伊万说“I have to get the trades in”，意思是一些专业工程需要请这些工人来做。
3️⃣社会生活
📌BFFs：是“Best Friends Forever”（永远的最好的朋友）的首字母缩写，是网络和口语中常用的词。保罗惊讶于爱丽丝突然表现得像她的BFF，说明她们以往关系并不亲密。
📌Nipping to the loo：“Nip”在英式口语中是“快速去一下”的意思，“Loo”是厕所的常用俚语。整个短语意为“我去一下洗手间”，非常生活化。
📖 英语语言点
1️⃣习语与固定表达
📍Far be it from her to...：一个带有讽刺意味的固定句式，意思是“她绝不会（错过某个机会）...”，通常用来形容某人一贯的、不招人喜欢的行为模式。这里讽刺爱丽丝总是喜欢迟到以引人注目。
📍let his sister off the hook：习语，意思是“为他的妹妹开脱，让她摆脱责任或批评”。体现了罗伯特总是护着妹妹爱丽丝。
📍have the gall to...：习语，意思是“竟有脸/胆量做...”，用于表达对某人厚颜无耻行为的震惊和不满。指爱丽丝那位年迈的男友居然没改遗嘱就死了。
📍it all went tits up：英式俚语，非常口语化，意思是“彻底搞砸了、完蛋了”。形容罗伯特的演员事业万一失败。
📍big him up：英式俚语，意思是“吹捧他、给他捧场”。形容爱丽丝不断试图抬高伊万的身份。
📍looking for the angle, the trap：“Angle”在这里指“隐秘的动机、算计”；“Trap”指“陷阱”。保罗在怀疑爱丽丝宣布怀孕背后是否有不可告人的目的。
📍the making of her：习语，意思是“使她成功/成熟起来的关键因素”。保罗希望这个孩子能成为让爱丽丝走上正轨的契机。
2️⃣词汇与表达
📍An arsehole：（英式俚语）混蛋、蠢货。语气很强，体现了保罗对爱丽丝男友们的预判和负面情绪。
📍Keel over：动词短语，意思是“（突然）倒下、死亡”，常用于非正式语境。
📍Presentable-looking：形容词，意思是“看起来体面、像样的”。
📍Swanning around：动词短语，带有轻微的贬义，形容优哉游哉、大摇大摆、不干实事的样子。准确地描绘了罗伯特对炒房不切实际的幻想。
📍The dodgy bit：“Dodgy”在英式口语中意为“不稳定的、危险的”。“The dodgy bit”在这里指怀孕初期不稳定的危险阶段。
📍A good bloke：“Bloke”是英式英语中对“男人”的口语化称呼。“A good bloke”意思是“一个好家伙、一个不错的人”，是非常高的评价。
3️⃣修辞与潜台词：
📍I will the evening to be over：“Will”在这里作动词，意思是“强烈希望、用意念促使”。生动地表达了保罗希望这个夜晚尽快结束的迫切心情。
📍What friends?：这是一个内心独白式的反问。保罗没有说出口，但读者能清晰听到她的想法，辛辣地揭示了爱丽丝几乎没有朋友的现实，体现了叙述的层次感和幽默感。