‘I’m glad to see you two have gotten over your disagreement.’
His gaze tracked Bruce across the stage. ‘We talked and sorted things out.’
‘Good. Because I’d hate to think you didn’t have a friend in this town, especially if anything happened to me.’
His eyes dropped to her. ‘Mamá, don’t talk like that. You’re going to be fine.’
She took his hand and squeezed it but didn’t seek to reassure. She had to be alright. Chemo, radiotherapy, surgery, whatever it took, she’d be cured. Larrikin might be the last play she worked on in this theatre, but it wouldn’t be her last. He sat beside her, her hand still clasped in his. His thumb stroked the back of her hand and felt bone.
‘Sofia!’ Lexi cried as she approached. ‘Sorry to have kept you waiting. Hello, Gabe. I’ve brought Angela along as well so we can see what you’ve come up with.’
While Lexi marched with a singular focus, Angela walked in a way that demanded attention. Sharp hips jutting side to side, her chin tilted slightly up, lips plumped and kohl-lined eyes wide and intense beneath dead straight black bangs. She wasn’t model-thin but she had a statuesque build that harked to an old glamour.
As well as working as wardrobe supervisor, Angela also ran a clothing store that stocked Australian designers and that night she wore a Glenn Lo blue leaf print on white blouse and Evelyn Dartford black wide-leg trousers. She held one hand to the short turquoise and emerald beaded necklace at her throat, her thumb turning the big bead in the centre. Every second of her approach captured Gabriel’s attention. Even with all that pretence and drama, she was one of the nicest people Gabriel had ever met.
‘Darlings!’ Angela’s arms extended high into the air. ‘Gabriel, you get more dashing every time I see you.’ She kissed him on both cheeks then lowered herself into the seat next to Sofia. ‘Now, what magic have you got for us?’
Gabriel moved out of the way so Lexi could sit and they could pore over the designs. He perched in front where he could watch their reactions and held his breath as Sofia turned to the first page.
‘So, the Australian setting, especially a historical, doesn’t give us many options to work with so it’s mostly browns, blacks and whites. Collars, cuffs, workmen’s hats, that sort of thing. But we could just pull them out of storage and be done so I had to think of something else. We’ve got a touch of glamour in there with the Hollywood angle but it has to permeate throughout, so like the sets we need this rolling and ever-changing look that plays on what is real and what is fake.’
‘I like where this is going.’ Lexi leaned closer with her head on her hand.
Sofia smiled at Gabriel before gathering her breath. ‘We start with the harsh reality of the Australian countryside, adhering to historical accuracy first, but then that morphs towards the Hollywood angle—glamour but also falsehood. His wartime story is a mix of reality and fantasy; we’ll have him in a pristine uniform with embellishments, gold trimmings, over-the-top decorations on the medals, while the other soldiers will be muddied and bloodied.
‘Then it’s on to Hollywood where everyone else is in glam but he still has a touch of reality about him. I’d then like to see, as we get towards the end, the effect of Ron’s life on those in Brachen so that modifies the costumes further, bringing his glamour to them.’
She flicked through the pages as she talked with Lexi and Angela; they were nodding and oohing, pointing out touches of details they appreciated, and making suggestions for small changes.
‘What do you think?’ Sofia closed the book and slouched in the chair.
Angela and Lexi looked at each other and smiled.
‘Sofia, they capture the feel of the play exactly.’ Lexi hugged her.
Angela took the book out from between Sofia and Lexi and flicked through the pages. ‘The designs are inspired. I could sell these in the shop!’ She played with the beads on her necklace. ‘I think they are the best you’ve ever done.’
Angela’s admiration inflated Gabriel’s chest and he had to cover his mouth to hide the smile burgeoning on his lips. For years he’d hidden his designs but to hear praise from someone he admired, who knew what she was talking about … He couldn’t believe how much she loved what he’d created.
His pride burst.
What he’d created.
He was only supposed to have helped his mother. No matter how much they gushed over the sketches, his chest ached knowing he’d gone too far. This was supposed to be Sofia’s work. Her talent. Her vision. Yet another thing he’d taken from her. He should never have agreed to do it.
‘I’m glad you like them.’ Sofia beamed. ‘You should know—’
‘Mamá …’ Gabriel warned. Her name—and her name only—had to be in the program as costume and set designer.
She frowned at him. ‘Gabriel helped with the drawing. My hands aren’t quite what they used to be.’
‘Really?’ Angela said. ‘Gabe, I knew you were good but these are excellent. You two make an amazing team. Sofia, how lucky you are to have him here to help bring your vision to life.’
He ground his teeth together, keeping his smile in place. It wasn’t luck that had brought him there but cancer.
Angela closed the book. ‘We can get started on these right away, don’t you think, Lexi?’
‘Absolutely. Go forth and sew!’ Lexi kissed Sofia on the cheek then was off with a thank you and a wave as she went to begin rehearsals.
‘Honestly, Sofia,’ Angela said, ‘I wish you’d shown me something like this years ago. You’ve always been good but these are next level.’
Gabriel dug at his scar.
‘Well, I wanted to do my best in case this really was the last play. I didn’t want to let anybody down.’
He searched Sofia’s face for any disappointment, but
