‘There’s something so forlorn about an empty stage, isn’t there?’ she said to Sam.
‘Never mind. Soon it’ll be all decked out again and we’ll be dancing together at the Fezziwiggs’ Christmas party.’
‘Sam, help me with this?’ Cara called, picking up one end of a green velvet chaise.
As Sam jogged over to Cara, Sive made her way to the wings. The backstage area was equally busy, the tech crew dismantling lighting rigs, while more stagehands packed props and furniture for storage.
Sam was right, she thought, as she went through the dressing rooms, gathering all thePrivate Livescostumes. The end of one show was just the beginning of another. It was nothing to be upset about. She piled clothes into laundry baskets, and filled storage bins with shoes, bags and hats. Then she sat at one of the dressing tables and spent the rest of the afternoon sorting through everything, inspecting costumes for damage and setting aside those that needed repair. The rest she put aside to bring home for cleaning and sanitising. Finally, she sorted through the jewellery and other accessories, making an inventory of everything before storing them away neatly. The quiet, methodical work calmed her, and she felt more cheerful by the time Jonathan came to collect her and Sam.
They loaded laundry baskets and storage bins into the boot, then he drove them home, where Aoife had prepared dinner. While Rocco helped Sam and Jonathan unload the boxes from the car, Sive found Aoife and Mimi in the kitchen taking dishes out of the oven. The room was warm and steamy, filled with instantly comforting food aromas.
‘How did the strike go?’ Mimi asked, lifting the lid on a chicken and mushroom casserole while Aoife placed a large dish of gratin potatoes on the table.
‘Fine.’ Sive said as everyone took their seats and began helping themselves. ‘It was very efficient.’
‘Are you okay?’ Mimi frowned at her in concern and she realised how flat she’d sounded.
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.’ Sive shrugged. ‘I can’t believe you two are getting married,’ she said brightly, tilting her chin at the rock on Mimi’s ring finger, keen to deflect attention from herself.
‘Me either.’ Mimi grinned.
‘When are you planning to do it?’ Aoife asked.
‘We haven’t made any concrete plans yet, but as soon as we can organise it – hopefully after the run ofA Christmas Caroland before Rocco starts filming.’ Rocco had been signed to a movie that would start shooting on location in the spring.
‘Then Mimi could come to Vancouver with me before filming starts and we could make a honeymoon of it,’ Rocco said.
‘Oh, that’d be lovely.’
‘It’s such a gorgeous ring,’ Aoife said, looking at Mimi’s hand. ‘I presume you chose it yourself?’
‘No, Rocco picked it out.’ Mimi beamed at him proudly. ‘It was a complete surprise.’
‘Wow! Well done, Rocco,’ Sive said. It was so perfect for Mimi – so exactly her style.
‘That was brave,’ Sam said. ‘When I got engaged to Sophie, we went shopping for the ring with her mother and her best friend. My only input was handing over my credit card.’
‘That should have been your first clue,’ Jonathan said to him with a wry smile.
Mimi shrugged happily. ‘Luckily Rocco knows me well.’
‘And he’s got excellent taste,’ Sive said, smiling at him. Not to mention plenty of money – that ring must have cost a fortune.
‘Do you know what kind of wedding you’re going to have?’ Aoife asked.
‘And what you’re going to wear?’ Sive added.
‘Steady on.’ Mimi laughed. ‘We’ve only just got engaged. But we definitely want to keep it small – well, as small as Rocco’s family will allow.’
Rocco had a large extended family, and it gave Sive a pang, thinking how scanty Mimi’s side would be in comparison.
‘So just you lot, Rocco’s lot and a few of our closest friends. Small but exquisite – that’s the theme.’
‘And private,’ Rocco said. ‘We’ll keep the details hush-hush until it’s over. We’ll probably have to release a couple of official photos to the press, but that’ll be it.’
Sive tended to forget that Rocco was such a high profile celebrity. To her he was just Rocco, someone she’d known for years, long before he became famous. It was strange to think there were so many strangers out there in the world who felt they knew him and had some claim on him.
‘You two will be bridesmaids, naturally,’ Mimi said, nodding to her sisters.
