Don plumped for Law & Order. Sasha tried to focus on the twisting plot and the laboured tension of the detectives’ banter, but it was a losing battle. She didn’t even notice when Don switched over to the ten o’clock BBC news until her mother walked in and asked her a question about the Middle East. A few seconds later, however, and the TV had Sasha’s full attention.
‘Isn’t that your professor, love? The fellow from St Michael’s?’
Sasha felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach. Theo’s face on screen looked even more handsome than it did in her dreams, if that were possible. He was doing that half-frown, half-smile thing that he did when he concentrated. It was the same face he pulled when he made love, right before he came.
‘What’s he doing on the news?’
It was a good ten seconds before the pounding of Sasha’s heart quietened enough for her to hear what Theo was saying. He was talking about some sort of breakthrough. Something that would change the face of physics and astronomy. Odd words and phrases leapt out at her…Einstein’s field equation, but seen through a mirror…changing our perceptions of existence…space-time continuum re-imagined…
Sasha felt a momentary swelling of pride. Those are my words. I wrote that.
The report then cut to a ludicrously simplified CGI of the Big Bang and the formation of earth. Above the graphic of the spinning planet was an equation. And that’s when it hit Sasha: It’s my theory. He’s gone public with my theory. It’s on the news.
Her hands and feet began to tingle with excitement, as if someone were passing an electric current through her body. Wordlessly she grabbed the remote from the coffee table and turned up the volume, waiting to hear Theo mention her name.
Is this why he’s been so distant? He wanted to surprise me.
Theo was talking. ‘Sometimes an idea is so profound, but so simple, you can’t quite believe it yourself
He knows how to handle these things better than I do. He didn ‘t want me to screw it up.
‘…culmination of years of work
Only six months actually.
‘…grateful to all those who have supported me. Especially my wonderful wife Theresa.’
Excuse me?
‘Science can be a lonely profession, but Theresa has been there for me through thick and thin. It’s easy to get caught up in competition with one’s peers. But clearly this is not about me personally. This isn’t Theo Dexter’s triumph. It’s a triumph for the whole physics community. For the human race, in a way’
Cut to various eminent physicists from around the globe. Sasha watched their mouths move, but her ears were ringing. Slowly, hideously, the truth began to dawn.
Oh my God.
‘I’m just the lucky man who happened to be sitting in the right place when inspiration struck.’
Yeah you were in the right place! Naked in a field with ME. You stole my idea!
‘Bastard,’ Sasha muttered, getting unsteadily to her feet.
The report was finished. Huw Edwards was saying something about the Special Olympics. Sasha grabbed the arm of the sofa for support. The room was starting to spin.
‘Are you all right, darling? Sasha?’ Don gave her a worried glance.
‘I need some air.’
Outside in the garden, warm summer scents of jasmine and freshly mown grass assailed Sasha’s senses. The world looked and smelled and sounded familiar, but everything had changed. Her hand shook as she dialled Theo’s number.
He won’t answer. He’ll see it’s from me and he won’t answer. He…
‘Sasha. How are you, angel? Look, I’m sorry I didn’t call you back earlier. It’s been a manic day’ He sounded so calm, so normal, for a moment Sasha wondered if she’d imagined the news report. There was no hint of guilt or apology in his voice.
‘I saw you. On the news. Five minutes ago.’
‘Oh.’ There was a long pause. Irrationally, Sasha’s spirits soared. This is where he’s going to explain everything. It’s all some sort of ghastly mistake and he’s going to put it right. ‘Listen, all that stuff about Theresa…I had to say it. She’s been so low recently, and she was desperate to be a part of all the excitement. You understand, don’t you?’
Sasha shook her head in disbelief. This was getting more surreal by the second.
‘Theresa? What are you talking about, Theo? You stole my theory! I just saw you on the BBC bloody news, telling people my thesis was your idea.’
‘I think you’re a wee bit confused, sweetheart.’ There was an edge to Theo’s voice that hadn’t been there before. T’ve been working on this theory for years. Long, long before I met you. Now, granted, you developed a couple of my ideas further than I had. Your paper really got me thinking
‘Liar!’ Sasha exploded. I didn’t develop your ideas! They were my ideas and you know it.’
‘Come on, Sash. This is nonsense. I don’t know anything of the kind. Listen, I’m jumping into a cab now. Can we talk about this tomorrow, when you’ve calmed down?’
Sasha hung up on him.
When Don Miller walked into the garden ten minutes later, he found his daughter pacing the stone path, mumbling to herself like a lunatic.
‘Sash, love? What is it? Your mum and I are worried about you. Won’t you tell us what’s happened?’
Sasha stopped mumbling, stared at him and burst into tears.
When she finally stopped crying, she told him everything. Her affair with Theo, how it had started, his marital problems, the secrecy, and how it had alienated her from her friends and family. Finally she told him about her theory, a simplified version but Don got the gist. How she had trusted Theo to advise her on it and he had stolen it and was trying to pass it off as his own work.
Don Miller listened in silence. When Sasha finally finished talking, he said gently, ‘I see. So what are you going to do?’
‘Do?’ Sasha looked at him blankly. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean what are you going to do? I hope you’re not thinking of letting this wanker get away with it. Are you?’
‘But Dad, it’ll be his word against mine.’
‘So?’
‘He’s a fellow, a respected, professional scientist. I’m just a student about to start her second year.’
‘So?’
‘So no one
