“How are you? Tired from yesterday?”
“A little. But it was so good. Thank you for coming.”
“I meant to ask you, is there anything you need? Anything I can get for you?”
Phelan’s shaky cry made Newt gulp.
“Nothing, thank you. Speaking to you…was all…I wanted. At least Sean …managed to find you and talk to you. Did he…threaten you?”
“I came because I wanted to see you, not because of Sean.”
“Will you come to my funeral?”
Newt’s heart lurched. “If you want me to.”
“They won’t do what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“No fuss. No flowers. But what I want doesn’t matter. Except you there.”
“I’ll come.”
“Bye, Newt. Be happy.” Phelan ended the call.
His brother wouldn’t know if he went or not. But Newt would honour his wishes, even though he had no desire to see his family.
After lunch they worked on the new Lego kit. River had chosen the Avengers tower. It was huge, over five thousand pieces, and expensive. While they put the bricks together, Newt had River talk to him about the Marvel films, then aboutKaden’s Monster.
“We said we’d read the script. We ought to start that.”
“How will we find time for fun?”
“I’ll reward you for excellent reading.”
“I will be per…perfect.”
He wasn’t, but he was getting there.
“What’sMedway Boysabout?” Newt asked.
“Two boys. One from rich UK family. That’s me. One from…Middle-East. I’m a r…rebel and…rice…hmm…risk-taker. Other is a good boy who’s never good enough for father. They’re in love, p…planning their future when…an act of b…betrayal tears them apart. Lots of bad stuff happens but it has a…happy ending.”
“You’re playing a gay guy?” Newt whispered.
River shrugged. “It will piss off a few people who think…only gay guys should play gay roles.”
“But gay guys also play straight guys so… It sounds like the perfect time to come out.”
River gave a heavy sigh. “I know but Max says I have to wait…until I getKaden’s Monster.”
Newt couldn’t help wondering if another reason to stay in the closet would arise then.
Newt’s suit arrived two days before the premiere. He’d barely closed the gate on the delivery guy’s van before River was pressing him to try it on.
“Now!” River started to unzip the suit carrier. “Try it!”
Newt opened the box that had come with it. “Wow! Max has sent everything. Shoes, shirt, bow tie… What are these? Oh, cufflinks. Black socks, an ear piece and… Oh God.”
