For The Sake Of His Child

‘Just be patient with Joey. He’s learning fast, and now he’s got you back he’s-well, he’s perfectly happy. If you’ll just learn a few signs-’

‘No way. That stuff gives me the creeps. If Joey can hear now, it’s time he sharpened up his act. And he’ll do it a lot better without you around, miss. So-out.’

There was a noise in the doorway and they both turned sharply to see Joey standing there. He was looking from one woman to the other and it was impossible to tell how much he’d followed. Angelica was in profile to him, making lip-reading difficult, and anything he’d heard would be no more than a jumble of sounds.

The actress gave her son an effusive greeting, which made him smile. He began to sign, which made her mouth tighten.

‘He said “Hello, Mummy”,’ Gina told her in a strained voice.

‘Well, he can say it, then, can’t he?’ Angelica demanded.

‘Let him do it when he’s ready,’ Gina begged.

‘I told you to keep out of it, lady. He can speak properly if he wants to, and he’ll be fine when he hasn’t got you here holding him back.’

Her tone changed and she swooped on Joey again. ‘Come along, darling. You can do it for Mummy, can’t you? Now say it-Hello, Mummy.’

He tried. It was a good try for a child who’d only been able to hear for a few days, but not close enough to please Angelica. She winced.

‘Never mind,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘We’ll try again later.’

Carson overheard part of this and it increased his sense of moving through a nightmare. Gina, who had taken every situation in hand and shown him the answers, seemed to have no answer for this.

The nightmare deepened with the discovery that Angelica had invited the press back that very day, determined to restage their reunion.

‘If she thinks I’m going to allow that-’ he growled.

‘Let her,’ Gina said. ‘Sooner or later she’s going to do this, and better now while I’m here to help Joey. After that, I’ll have to go.’

‘Have you explained that to him? He’ll take it hard.’

‘I’m not sure. I’m dispensable. I have a feeling that he may not even notice that I’ve gone.’

‘After everything you’ve done for him-’

‘Children are practical, darling. They take what they need to survive, and pass on.’

Joey was following his mother around, trying to communicate with her. When she didn’t understand his signing he attempted speech, and managed some of the words. He didn’t know that Angelica had expected to find all the problems solved.

He read her lips as she explained that they were going to have another party, some friends of hers would be coming and he must be on his best behaviour. He smiled, enjoying the thought of another party, but wondering when his mother would want to be alone with him so that they could talk, as they did in his dreams. As he talked to Gina.

He decided that Gina would know the answer to this, and went in search of her. He found her in her room, packing.

Where are you going?

‘Back to my job, darling. That was what we agreed at the start-that I’d be here for just a few weeks.’

I don’t want you to go.

‘I have to. You don’t need me any more. You’ve got Mummy now.’

Joey didn’t react to this with the brilliant smile she’d seen so often on his face since yesterday. Instead he frowned and tilted his head in a considering manner, as though it was only just occurring to him that he couldn’t have them both.

‘You love your mother, don’t you?’ Gina asked gently.

His lip-reading seemed to fail him and she had to sign, crossing her folded hands on her chest to indicate ‘love’.

Joey nodded, and now there was the smile. He understood that sign. It was what he felt for Brenda, Gina thought sadly. And that was how it should be.

He went away without communicating any more. Gina watched him go, with an aching feeling that made her angry with herself. What had she expected? The child had recovered his mother, and if Angelica’s career really was on a downward slide perhaps she would be scared into behaving well. If not, Carson would know how to protect Joey. Everything was working out well.

Downstairs Angelica was getting agitated. She’d put on a glamorous dress and made herself up to kill. What was left of the cake had been wheeled out, and she was distributing the presents that she’d brought the day before. She frowned when she saw Joey.

‘Why aren’t you wearing the clothes I bought you? I don’t want you in old jeans and a sweater.’

She spoke too fast for him and Gina, who’d followed him into the room, interpreted.

‘For pity’s sake!’ Angelica muttered. ‘Don’t tell me he didn’t get that. What is he, dumb or something?’

‘No, he’s exceptionally intelligent,’ Gina said. ‘But he couldn’t see your lips and he doesn’t know the words yet.’

‘Well, get him into those things I brought. It’s top-quality designer gear and it cost me a bomb on Rodeo Drive. What’s he saying?’ For Joey was signing something.

‘The clothes are too small,’ Gina explained. ‘He’s grown a lot recently. ‘Does it matter what he wears?’

‘All right. Leave it. But make him hold this.’

Angelica took up a football and pressed it into Joey’s hands. ‘You like football, don’t you?’ she asked.

He shook his head.

‘Nonsense, of course you do. All kids like football.’

Carson entered the room, having overheard the last part of the conversation. ‘He doesn’t,’ he snapped. ‘It bores him. He’s interested in marine life.’

‘In what?’

‘Fish, to you.’

‘Well, if you think I’m going to let people see him holding a damned fish-! Of course he likes football.’

Joey shook his head.

‘Yes, you do! All boys like football. That’s how you know they’re boys.’

Joey tried to explain, using words since she didn’t understand signs. Angelica listened to the incoherent noises that came from his mouth, and she froze.

‘Look,’ she said, dropping down so that her face was on a level with her son’s, ‘I don’t want you doing this. Just keep quiet. OK?’

But in his urgency to explain the child ignored her. His quick brain lined the thoughts up too fast for his mouth to cope with. Sounds poured from him in a jumble and he grew more and more agitated.

So did Angelica. She rose and tried to pull away from him, but Joey seized her arm, trying to make her listen.

‘Yes-yes-’ she said, struggling to maintain her smile and free herself. ‘All right, all right, but not just now- careful-my dress.’

He couldn’t follow. He held her more tightly and words poured from him. ‘Mom-mee, mom-mee-’

In his agitation he didn’t notice a tall glass of milk-shake on the table. His sleeve brushed it, sending it flying, and next moment strawberry milk was sprayed over Angelica’s beautiful gown.

‘Look at me!’ she screamed. She whirled on Joey. ‘What’s the matter with you, brat? I thought you were supposed to be normal now.’

Gina tensed at the look on Joey’s face. He’d read Angelica’s lips without trouble. He’d also heard her, not making out individual words, but sensing the malevolence in her tone.

In that moment Joey understood all about his mother, and his eyes filled with tears.

Gina began to edge carefully towards the child, letting him see her and know she was there, but not putting pressure on him. Young as he was, what happened next was for him to decide.

Angelica pulled herself together, evidently realising that she was ruining her own performance. Somehow she hoisted a fractured smile into place.