They were all sitting in a row in the nail bar, when Cassie’s phone rang. Oh, bloody hell, she thought, could the timing be any worse? Her lavender-coloured nails were still gloopy under the drying light. She could hear Mam tutting beside her and contemplated ignoring the call. Maxine, on her other side, gave her an encouraging look. She gingerly flipped open her phone case and saw the agency number displayed. Her heart leaped. There was absolutely no way she could discreetly slip away; all she could manage was to stab the screen with the pad of her finger. Sunita’s jubilant voice rang out over the speaker.
‘Darling, I’ve just heard. You got it.’
‘What .?.?. What? Are you serious? Oh my God, what did they say?’
She was conscious of virtually shrieking down the phone.
‘They loved you. They said you were so authentic and natural. That’s exactly what they said. That you were a natural.’
‘I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.’
‘What? What?’ everyone was shouting.
‘I just got the part inWentworth Way.’
Mam was not to be outdone.
‘She said you were a natural! D’you know what the part is, girls? A convict.’
One–nil to Mam.
Cassie was inwardly thrilled but conscious of not making too much of a fuss. It wasn’t as though she was feeling like knocking back a load of champagne, anyway. This was Mam’s big moment; hers could wait.
It wasn’t until that night, as she lay in bed, that she allowed herself a moment to bask in her success. She was only too aware that they’d have to be ready for the makeup lady at nine thirty tomorrow morning, including Ramona, who was coming to get dressed with the rest of the girls. All her adult life Cassie had waited for this moment, but now the person she most wanted to share it with was gone. How ironic that she’d got exactly what she wanted just after she’d stopped wanting it. Five years ago, this would’ve felt like the answer to a prayer. Now, it was just one more complication. She put her hands on her belly and addressed the person whose existence almost nobody else in the world was aware of.
‘Whatever happens, little one, it’s you and me now.’
Chapter 37
The wedding morning dawned, and in keeping with Eric’s meteorological predictions, the garden was reasonably dry. The guests were to begin arriving at two thirty for the ceremony at three.
Mam’s bedroom had been transformed into a boudoir, complete with illuminated mirrors and rails of dresses. They each had a sateen robe and their hair was done first, while they waited for makeup. Maxine had brought the traditional bottle of champagne and all the girls, apart from Cassie, were sipping excitedly.
Ramona had changed from her tracksuit into a black snakeskin-pattern minidress, embossed with gold, teamed with gold cowboy boots which showed off her mile-long legs. She eyed the lavender-blue frocks with her head cocked to one side.
‘Don’t say anything,’ muttered Maxine.
‘Naaa, they’re not so bad. I mean they’re cute, they’re just a little hokey—’
‘And now is not the time to say “but they suit you”,’ hissed Cassie.
Maxine sniggered and topped up her glass.
‘Iris, you look like a goddess,’ Ramona announced to Mam’s delight, as everyone else crowded round and toasted her.
Just then, Eric popped his head round the door with his hand theatrically covering his eyes.
‘I didn’t see anything, ladies, I swear. Cassie, there’s someone here to see you.’
Careful not to catch anyone’s eye, she followed Eric downstairs to find, standing on the doorstep, Finn, looking sheepish but just as she remembered him .?.?. except his hair looked slightly longer.
Her heart practically leaped out of her chest.
‘Hey,’ he said.
‘Hey,’ she said.
Which was, admittedly, pretty minimal but all she could come up with in the moment. He seemed a little unnerved at the family drama he’d blundered into, what with the caterers tramping in and out with crates of food, while flower arrangements pirouetted past as the two of them dodged out of the way.
