Playing the Spy

by Maggie Brown

  Before Sophie could speak, Valeria hurried forward to greet Eleanor. “I’m so sorry. The restaurant is closed for a private function.”

  Sophie nearly fell over the chair getting to them. “Mum,” she hissed. “She’s my guest.”

  “Oh,” said Valeria, flustered. “This is the woman you’ve been expecting?”

  Eleanor, seemingly not at all embarrassed by the confusion, flashed a charming smile. “I’m sorry I’m late, darling. I was held up.” And then to Sophie’s astonishment, Eleanor leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth. She let her lips linger far too long for there to be any doubt what it meant. “Happy birthday,” she whispered.

  Sophie’s mouth became dry, her heart raced. Well, hallelujah! That fixed that! I’m out.

  “Hello. You must be Sophie’s mother. She looks so much like you. I’m Eleanor Godwin,” Eleanor said, thrusting out her hand.

  Valeria clasped it with a bemused look, her colour heightened. “I know perfectly well who you are Ms. Godwin, but I’m at a loss to understand what you are doing here with my daughter.”

  “Call me Eleanor please, Mrs. Marsh. Sophie and I got to know each other over the last couple of months and we’ve become close.”

  “Exactly how close?”

  “Very. We’ve become…ah…fond of each other.”

  “Oh, Mum,” Sophie said in a low voice. “Don’t be dense. Eleanor’s my girlfriend.”

  “I saw the kiss Sophie, but I’m still coming to terms with it.” She gave a little shake of her head. “I’m sorry, Eleanor, you must think me very rude. Sophie is the one of my children who never ceases to surprise me. Come along and meet the family, all the in-laws and outlaws. I have to congratulate you. This is the first time they’ve been collectively quiet for years.”

  Sophie shyly took Eleanor by the hand as Valeria introduced her around. Her father raised his beer in a salute at the back of the room. She grinned and gave him a wink, guessing her mother must have dropped the L clanger before they came.

  It didn’t take her relations long to monopolize Eleanor, they swarmed around her like bees to a honeypot. Sophie was slowly inched away, and she found herself on the edge of the circle beside Jolene’s boss at the punch bowl. She looked at Sophie with a wry grin. “So you two are a couple?”

  “We are,” said Sophie.

  “Good for you. She’s a very talented actor and now has your family eating out of her hand. No mean feat,” she remarked. “I had no idea she was a lesbian.”

  “It’s not public.”

  “Then I wish you both the best. It’s not going to be this easy, you know. The press will have a field day when they find out.”

  Sophie looked fondly at Eleanor who was trying to answer a barrage of questions, idly wondering if her relatives would be quite so accepting of their relationship if Eleanor hadn’t had such a high profile. “I know. It’s something we’ll have to face.” She looked at her curiously. “You haven’t a partner, Kathy?”

  “I have. She’s over there.” Sophie followed her gaze. When it lit on her cousin, she gave an incredulous hiss. “Jolene?”

  “Yes. We’ve been dating for a year.” Kathy smiled. “You’ve paved the way for us to make our announcement.”

  Sophie broke into a fit of giggles. “My mother was trying to set you up with me. So I guess the family is in for more than one shock.” She sobered up when she caught her aunt waving imperiously at her. “I have to go. I can’t put Aunt Angie off any longer.”

  “Best of luck with the old tartar. Jolene’s petrified of her.”

  “So are we all.” She searched over the heads of people to catch Eleanor’s eye, but to no avail. She’d have to do this alone.

  Her aunt pointed to the seat beside her. Those nearby scattered to get out of the line of fire, though Sophie was well aware everyone would eavesdrop on the conversation.

  “Sit down,” Angie ordered. “Now tell me what you were doing kissing a woman.”

  Sophie gritted her teeth as she tried to maintain her dignity. “We’re together.”

  “Together? Like a man and woman?”

  “I’m a lesbian.” Sophie started to perspire. Goose bumps prickled her neck as the image of an ax poised above it hovered in her mind. And by the look on her aunt’s face it was about to fall.

  “You’re carrying on with that…that shameless movie star?”

  Sophie bristled, her fear forgotten. “Eleanor’s one of the nicest people you’d ever meet. If you want to pick on someone, pick on me, but don’t you dare slander her.”

  “I won’t have it, do you hear me. If you don’t…”

  “Actually, our relationship has nothing to do with you,” a soft voice interrupted. “You are neither her mother nor mine.”

  Sophie nearly cried out with relief as Eleanor pulled up a chair beside her. She put an arm around Sophie’s shoulders and drew her close.

  Eyes dark and beady like a magpie, Angie stared at them. “You think I’ll allow this?”

  “Allow what?” said Eleanor. “Equal rights for the gay and lesbian community is no longer a debateable issue for either the church or the state. It’s only being kept alive by bigots.”

  “So, I’m a bigot?” Angie snapped.

  “Yes you are. You’re obstinately sticking to your outdated opinions and prejudices.” Eleanor leaned forward until she was looking her straight in the eye. “This is the twenty-first century, Mrs. Sacchi, so get over it. All you’re doing is alienating yourself from your family. For your information, I can’t imagine my life in the future without Sophie beside me. There will be trying times ahead of us from the paparazzi and gossip columns, so I would expect Sophie’s family to stand firmly behind her.”

  “It’s Ms.”

  Eleanor frowned. “Pardon?”

  “It’s Ms. not Mrs.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “Sophie should have told you,” she growled, then drummed a red nail on the armrest of her chair. She looked at Sophie and then back at Eleanor. “I have to say this for you, Ms. Godwin. You have a glib tongue and fire in your belly. It’s refreshing to find someone willing to state her case to me. I suppose if I must sanction the relationship, then I must. And I can see you will look after her.”

  Sophie stared at her in surprise. She had expected more of an argument. For a brief second as she caught her aunt’s eye, she was surprised at the odd gleam reflected there. She glanced down at the aging left hand. No ring…she’d never thought much about that. Could she possibly be? She glanced back up, but the shutters had fallen—Angie had moved on. She would never know.

  “Now, Sophie, your mother is signalling to be seated for the meal so we’d better move.” She looked regally at Eleanor with a half-smile. “You may call me Angie.”

  “And you may call me Eleanor,” she answered with as much aplomb.

  Sophie looked at Eleanor, dazzled. The rest of the night passed in a cloud of happiness. Eleanor was everything that she could ever want. Bright, compassionate, loving, and the glow in her eyes reminded her that there was heat inside the elegance.

  When she tugged Sophie out into the small courtyard at the end of the night, their mouths met in a long sweet kiss.

  “Will you come with me to Sydney? If you were thinking about freelancing with your work, would it matter where you are? There’d be so many more opportunities in Sydney, and eventually perhaps, the States.”

  “I was actually thinking about moving more into reporting Federal Politics. And as you say, Sydney would be in the hub of things. Easier access to Canberra from there as well.”

  “Then you’ll come?”

  “Of course. The family would be scandalized if I left you after you stood up to the ogre.”

  “Is that the only reason?”

  Sophie chuckled. “Now you’re fishing for compliments.” She rested her head on Eleanor’s shoulder, smiling as she felt her lips brush over her hair. “I’m going not because you’re gorgeous, sexy, and wonderful, but bec
ause I love you.”

  “Amen to that,” whispered Eleanor.

  Epilogue

  Eleanor brushed her fingers down Sophie’s arm as their car joined the long queue of limos with darkened windows. “You look beautiful, darling, so don’t worry, it’ll be a walk in the park.”

  Sophie wasn’t so sure about that—the sea of people on the Hollywood street looked intimidating. When they finally reached the arrival point at the Dolby Theatre, Sophie, wearing a simple black three-quarter length Louis Vuitton dress, alighted first to help Eleanor out of the car for her grand entrance.

  One long leg unfurled, and then another onto the fringe of the red carpet. Eleanor rose up like some fairy tale goddess into the blaze of flashing cameras.

  “Eleanor! Eleanor! We love you!” the crowd chanted.

  When she waved, the crowd roared louder. With hands clasped together, they walked past the myriad of TV crews and banks of photographers, Eleanor smiling to the fans shrieking for her attention. Once through security into the crowded foyer, Sophie had to stop herself gawking at all the famous people. She was barely able to refrain from shouting, “I’m at the Academy Awards!”

  The large Oscar statues stood to attention like rows of gladiators as they manoeuvred through to the special areas set aside for photography. Here Eleanor stopped to pose, then turned to allow shots of the back of the dress. Sophie watched her proudly from the sideline—Eleanor looked smoking hot in the lavish floor-length aqua-blue Louis Vuitton evening dress. The photographers must have thought so too, for they spent an inordinate amount of time snapping away. As much as Sophie tried to blend into the background, Eleanor insisted they have a few shots together before they moved into the theatre.

  “You look incredible,” Sophie whispered, squeezing her arm as they made their way down the aisle. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Just so long as you know that you mean more to me than all this, darling,” Eleanor murmured back.

  Their coming out to the world hadn’t been quite the trauma they expected. It amazed Sophie how accepted their relationship had become after its initial sensation. When Brie’s article hit the media outlets worldwide, they were engulfed in a storm of tabloid journalism. But months down the track after keeping a very low profile, it was no longer newsworthy enough to haunt their every move. The paparazzi had moved on to more exciting fodder. Now here in Hollywood, no one seemed to be overly interested in Eleanor’s sexuality.

  As befitted an important nominee, Eleanor was allotted two front row seats. Sophie turned to look behind, hoping to catch a glimpse of Eleanor’s parents and Ginny. She gave a chuckle when someone waved from the back stalls—there was no mistaking the pink hair. Next to her, Frances Godwin stood out like a beacon as well, wearing a brightly coloured turban that glittered under the lights. Sophie nudged Eleanor with her elbow. “I can see the old girls at the back.”

  “God,” muttered Eleanor. “Just tell me they’re dressed appropriately.”

  “What do you think? Ginny must have got her hair touched up for the occasion, ’cause it’s a vibrant lolly pink now. And your mother…well, she looks like she should be in a kasbah.”

  “Please don’t tell me she’s got on that damn gaudy turban she loves so much.”

  Sophie snickered. “Yep, it’s like a beacon.”

  Eleanor groaned. “I don’t know why you think they’re so wonderful.”

  “You do as well, so admit it. What would we do without them? And Ginny actually charmed Aunt Angie, a minor miracle in itself. Who would have thought it could be done?”

  Then there was no more time to talk as the Master of Ceremonies began his introduction to the night. When it finally came to the Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination, Jennifer Lawrence and Denzel Washington walked on stage to announce the nominees. Sophie wriggled to the edge of her chair when the video clip of Eleanor as an emaciated drug addict flashed onto the screen. She swallowed back the bile that rushed up her oesophagus at the sight. It was harrowing. Even though she’d seen the movie twice, the sight of her love like that was still heartbreaking. A calming hand rubbed her thigh soothingly—Eleanor understood how adversely it affected her.

  While they readied themselves for the announcement of the winner, Sophie forced herself not to fidget or cough. She was acutely aware of the roving cameras focused on them and wondered after a sidelong glance at Eleanor, how she could look so composed.

  “And the winner is…” announced Jennifer as she slid open the envelope.

  Sophie held her breath.

  “Eleanor Godwin for her role in On the Edge of Life.”

  The breath sizzled into a long sigh of happiness.

  Eleanor swung around to Sophie, giving her a tight hug before she turned to embrace the fellow members of the film. Then she took the famous walk up the steps to the podium to deafening applause, flashing cameras and even a few ear-splitting whistles.

  “Thank you,” she said with a radiant smile as she accepted the Oscar. “It is indeed an honour to receive this award tonight. It is a tribute to my director, Nigel, who somehow managed to get the best out of me. I couldn’t have been blessed with a more helpful crew and fellow actors.” She went on to thank pertinent people but Sophie wasn’t listening. She was thinking how spectacular she looked, standing there proudly with her trophy.

  “And I especially wish to thank with my whole heart, my partner and love of my life, Sophie Marsh. Without her I would be lost.”

  Sophie’s heart swelled with happiness. Hot damn, she loved that woman.

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