by Natasha West
Fourteen
‘It’s working’ Denise was saying down the phone some days later. It had been a weird week. Emily had been shackled to her the whole time, sat around in the trailer at Denise’s insistence, quietly reading most of the time. But sometimes they talked too, and Ruby thought it was kind of nice having her around, she was a calming presence. Not that Ruby would have admitted that.
While that was going on, Denise monitored social media and the click-bait articles that sprang from it, fielding calls from interviewers who wanted to hear all about the hottest new couple in Hollywood. Denise had refused them all. She had two reasons. Firstly, she didn’t think Emily was up to intense scrutiny. Ruby thought that was wise, Emily was no born liar. But Denise had a second reason, which she was currently explaining. ‘You trended this week.’
‘Yeah, I know. I’m getting way more people coming up to me now. In the gym, on the sidewalk, coffeeshops. In the restroom of the coffeeshops. I think I liked it more when no one watched this show’ Ruby complained as she changed out of costume, the phone on speaker. She was in her trailer. Emily was waiting in the car.
‘This is fame. You don’t like it, you should have been a plumber. But you’re not a plumber. You’re a C-lister who’s about to make the jump to A-list. Because people are talking about you. That’s the other reason I don’t want you doing interviews. The less you talk, the more people wanna know. We’re tantalising them. I mean, look at the traction that last post got’ Denise said, referring to a photo of Ruby with Emily on the set, both with a copy of the latest Wolfwater Creek script, Ruby apparently running lines with the wife. ‘People love you two.’
‘I don’t care’ Ruby said.
‘It’s a compliment. Take it.’
‘You’re complimenting yourself’ Ruby told her flatly.
‘How did you arrive at that conclusion, might I ask?’ Denise enquired, sounding like she was opening mail.
‘Because all this was your idea.’
‘Yes, and you’ve got to admit, it was good.’
Ruby relaxed. It was easier knowing her mom wasn’t really trying to say something nice to her. She was a lot more comfortable listening to Denise blowing smoke up her own ass. That was the standard. Denise talked herself up and Ruby mocked her. It was how they dealt with each other.
‘It’s not a good idea until it works’ Ruby said.
‘It is working. I talked to Barry. Or, his assistant, anyway. And she said that Barry knew about your marriage, mentioned it.’
‘And…’
‘That’s it. He knows.’
‘So?’
‘You don’t see it, do you? You’re at the front of his mind for the movie. He can see your mass appeal.’
‘I think you might be letting your imagination run away with you. Because all I just heard was that Barry’s assistant thinks she heard him mention it.’
‘You wait and see. I’m right’ Denise said with confidence.
‘Sure, Mom. You’re always right’ Ruby said. She actually meant it. Denise was always right. It was just that the things she was right about happened to be horrible. Manipulation and mind games, it was Denise’s stock and trade.
‘I know. And did you see that thing on Buzzfeed?’
‘Is it up?’ Ruby asked.
‘Jesus, Ruby. Google yourself once in a while, you might learn something. It’s being shared all over the place. ‘Ruby Knight Marries Mystery Girl.’ They’re eating it up.
‘I’ll look later. Anyway, gotta go’ Ruby lied.
‘Look, I want to take you two out to dinner tonight’ Denise said. ‘At that place, you know the one.’
Ruby had no idea what place, but she could infer from the context that it was exclusive. Denise liked exclusive.
‘No thanks’ Ruby said automatically. ‘I’ve got twelve pages to learn for tomorrow. They sprung an entirely new scene on me.’
‘Don’t be short-sighted. This is for the movie deal.’
‘I know it is. You think I thought you wanted to take us out to dinner for any other reason?’
There was a pause. ‘OK, so I can tell Chad to book for three?’
‘I just said no.’
‘Ruby, don’t be difficult’ Denise growled.
Ruby sighed. ‘Can we do it tomorrow?’
‘No. Chad will text you the details.’
Denise hung up. It was an old trick of hers, to have the last word and leave. That way, if you wanted to keep arguing, you had to call back. And if you didn’t have the energy, which Ruby frequently didn’t, Denise won by default.
So they were going to dinner. Her and Denise and Emily. Fun.
***
‘What? Why?’ Emily asked.
‘I don’t know. I got the impression she’s got something up her sleeve.’
‘But…’ Emily began.
‘What?’ Ruby asked.
‘Your mum scares me’ Emily admitted.
‘Get in line’ Ruby told her wryly. But she did sympathise. ‘Look, if you want me to cancel, I will’ Ruby said, truthfully. There’ll be hell to pay but…
‘I can’t say that, can I? She’s basically my boss’ Emily muttered.
‘You shouldn’t see it that way’ Ruby said.
‘But that’s the way it is. This was her idea. She says jump, I say how high and can I do anything else while I’m up?’
Ruby bit her lip. Emily wasn’t completely wrong about this. Her Machiavellian mother was the shot caller, however Ruby tried not to see it like that.
Still, Ruby didn’t want Emily to feel the fear that had lived inside her for her whole life. ‘We could make it quick. No appetisers. No dessert. We order an entrée, we bolt it and we run. Thirty minutes or less.’
Emily nodded, relieved. ‘That… That would be better.’
Ruby smiled down at Emily. ‘Good. It’s a plan.’
Emily smiled back, and Ruby felt her own grow wider. And then she felt the smile go on a bit long. ‘OK, so!’ she said too loudly. ‘I better get ready.’
Emily’s face fell. ‘Wait, this place is going to be fancy, isn’t it? I don’t have any clothes like that with me.’
‘So borrow something of mine.’
Emily laughed without reserve. ‘Your clothes will not fit me, Ruby. I think we can be honest about that’ Emily said plainly.
Ruby raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you saying I’m skinny?’
‘I’m saying I’m not’ Emily said.
‘You’re not exactly big, either.’
‘But still…’
‘Look, I didn’t always have to be this ripped, only since the show. That was when my mom started talking about unforgiving HD was. I’m sure I have something that’s not meant to make me look like I’ve never eaten bread.’
Emily smiled. ‘Alright, let’s see what I can squeeze myself into.’
***
Ruby held up the red, silk dress. ‘There you go, that’ll do it.’
Emily took the dress and caressed the soft fabric. ‘Wow.’
‘You like it?’ Ruby asked.
‘I do. I mean, I’m not sure I can pull it off but I’ll give it a go.’ Emily ran off with the dress and Ruby looked at her phone while sitting on the edge of her bed. A moment later, Emily walked back into Ruby’s bedroom. ‘What do you think?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Do I look like mutton dressed as lamb?’ Ruby almost dropped her phone at the impact of the costume change. It was something that had hung in the back of Ruby’s wardrobe for eternity, forgotten. But it looked fresh and stunning on Emily. It fitted her beautifully, making Emily’s curves pop. Out and in and out again, she was a damn hourglass. Ruby suddenly wondered why everyone was so obsessed with getting rid of any spare inch of fat on themselves. Because no one in Hollywood could rock this dress the way Emily did.
Some moments after Emily had appeared in the dress, Ruby remembered to speak. ‘You look… Nice.’
‘You sure? You looked like you were trying to figure out how to tell me I looked r
idiculous’ Emily joked.
That had not been what Ruby had been thinking. But what she had been thinking was not to be said. ‘No. Really. It’s perfect.’
A flush touched Emily’s cheeks, nearly matching the dress. ‘Well, that’s that then.’
Ruby nodded. ‘Yeah. That’s that.’
‘Well, I better leave you alone to get changed yourself.’
Ruby checked the time on her phone. ‘Shit, you’re right.’
Emily left, and Ruby went back to her wardrobe. As she looked at the outfits, she realised just how badly she wanted to look nice. And not for her mother.
Fifteen
Emily waited for Ruby in the living room, standing straight as an arrow. She didn’t dare sit. The dress would crease. She was surprised at how good she felt in it. However, it was a bit daring for her and as time ticked on she wondered whether Ruby’s ‘nice’ comment was just said out of kindness. Maybe the dress was a bit much?
But then Ruby walked out in her own outfit. A black number, sheer and graceful, showcasing her elegant length, those endless legs. Emily forgot about her own appearance. ‘Oh!’ she exclaimed.
‘And what exactly is Oh British for?’ Ruby asked with a grin.
‘It means you look, um, fine’ Emily stuttered. ‘Nice. Alright, shall we go?’ she asked desperately. Standing here looking at Ruby – looking like that - she could feel something stupid trying to get out of her mouth. She didn’t know what form it would take exactly, but she could sense it would be accompanied by regret and embarrassment. She needed to get the hell out of this flat, where she could say something unguarded. If she were around people, she could say anything nice she liked, and Ruby would assume it was part of the act, so it was safe. She could say, ‘You look like sex on a stick’ and Ruby wouldn’t think twice. If she were the type of person to say things like that. Which she wasn’t. Unless she kept standing here. ‘We don’t wanna be late for your mum, or she might dock my pay’ Emily said, trying to joke her way out.
Ruby look surprised but checked her watch. ‘I guess traffic at this time might be bad, sure.’
***
Emily looked at the wine list and she didn’t have the first clue. What she drank cost less than a fiver and came from Sainsburys.
Across from her, Ruby and her mother were looking too. They didn’t seem conflicted. Emily felt sure she was about to choose something that would make a fool of her in front of Ruby, that ever-widening class gap making its regular appearance. This place was swish. The prices were horrifying, but Denise was paying, according to Ruby. Thank god because Emily would have gone into her overdraft just ordering a starter. But that was apparently the price you paid to sit two tables over from people who you thought you might, possibly, sort of know from somewhere.
The waiter came over, she knew the moment was here. And then Ruby said, ‘Mom, you know what you like, just order a bottle of whatever.’ Denise smiled, satisfied, and said something Frenchy sounding.
Ruby leaned in to Emily. ‘I don’t know jack about wine.’
Emily smiled, relieved. ‘No?’
‘I bet you Brits all know about that shit, don’t you?’
Emily chortled. ‘Yeah, it’s on the syllabus. Right after horse dressage.’
Ruby snorted. It was close to being a nice moment. But then Denise muttered under her breath, ‘Very good, girls. Very believable. Keep it up.’ It killed the moment stone dead.
Later, after main courses had been served up – chicken for Emily, fish for Denise, the usual salad for Ruby – they began to eat in silence. Emily kept wondering what they were doing. Denise didn’t strike her as someone who did anything without reason.
She was right. Three bites into her meal, the reason was revealed.
‘Barry?’ Denise suddenly said and Emily looked up to see a well-dressed man with very good hair plugs being seated at the next table with a woman about thirty years his junior and around the same number of pounds lighter. Barry smiled slickly and said, ‘Denise!’
Denise stood and kissed him on the cheek. They burbled the usual inane greetings, Denise all the while acting like she was very surprised. But then Ruby muttered, ‘The studio head’ with an eyeroll. This was the decision maker on Ruby’s career, and the three of them had been sat at an adjacent table. Emily wondered how Denise had set this up. How did she know this guy’s schedule, down to the table he’d be sat at? It was nearly impressive. If it wasn’t insanely calculating.
After they’d done all the ‘How are you’ stuff, Denise turned to the table and said, ‘I was just having dinner with my daughter and her new wife. Have you met Emily?’
‘Don’t believe I’ve had that pleasure’ Barry said, shaking Emily’s hand.
‘Hello’ Emily said quietly.
Barry introduced his young guest; her name was Mara and she was a practicer of contouring. Emily could get absolutely no sense of her actual face.
‘You guys… You guys wouldn’t want to join us, would you?’ Denise asked.
Barry considered and said, ‘Why not?’
Emily glanced at Ruby to see her rub her temple with her eyes closed. She knew what was happening and she hated it. Emily wasn’t thrilled herself. it was one thing to Instagram a few photos. But this? It was a job interview. And she was as much up for assessment as Ruby was.
Once everyone was sat, Barry put in a quick order for his meal (Mara was fasting and asked for water with lemon juice and cayenne pepper, which was an astonishing order to Emily, but the waiter didn’t blink), and him and Denise got to chatting like old friends.
Soon enough, Denise steered the conversation to Ruby. ‘Of course, Ruby should be on her honeymoon right now, but she’s got work, so I wanted to take the girls out to celebrate. Ruby works so hard, you know. She’d be home right now learning lines if I didn’t force her out.’
‘Oh, that’s right. You guys just got married, didn’t you?’ Barry said, taking his cue like a good puppet.
Ruby nodded. Denise looked like she wanted more but she wasn’t getting it, not from Ruby, ‘Yes, just this week. Vegas. I asked for a big wedding so I could play mother of the bride but this one wanted something private, quiet.’
‘And cheap’ Ruby added with an easy smile.
Denise laughed a bit too loudly at that. ‘She’s kidding, of course. We could have gone big if we’d wanted.’
‘Nothing wrong with a cheap wedding. If I’d had the benefit of hindsight, I wouldn’t have spent a cool mil on a wedding to someone who would divorce me four years later’ Barry said with an easy chuckle.
Denise laughed. Emily hadn’t realised it was a joke - tossing terms around like a ‘cool mil’ had grabbed her attention, she didn’t know people with anything approaching a ‘mil’, and certainly not a cool one for a one-day event – but she added her laughter to the table, as directed by Denise’s eyes. She looked to see if Ruby was feigning laughter. She was not. It made Emily wish she hadn’t.
Denise, sensing what a social washout her daughter was determined to be, turned the spotlight on Emily. ‘Emily, tell Barry about how you guys met.’ She turned to Barry, ‘It’s so cute, you’ll die.’
Emily’s heart just about stopped. Denise had just demanded an improvised story with charm and romance. Emily didn’t know if she could generate such a thing. Then she remembered Ruby’s story, about the flight. She just hoped it was enough. She wasn’t a natural story-teller, she preferred to read them then tell them. But she had no choice. Denise had decreed.
‘Well, I was at… Heathrow. I was flying to, err… New York… To visit a friend. And I was in the departure lounge and…’
‘Babe, let me tell this part’ Ruby suddenly piped up, enlivening suddenly. Emily looked to Ruby with such incredible gratitude that she hoped wasn’t obvious. But Ruby looked back like it was nothing. Emily supposed to her, it wasn’t. She was a performer.
‘So, yeah, we’re waiting for the same flight. I’m sitting at one end of the lounge, her at the other. I�
��m coming back from a thing in the UK, shooting a part in some period thing and it was a rough shoot, pouring rain.’
‘Oh, when’s the release?’ Barry asked.
‘It’s kinda stuck in post at the moment’ Ruby said smoothly. ‘No distributer either.’
Emily realised later than she should that there was no movie.
‘But the script was good’ Ruby went on. ‘And I love England. But the weather…’ She cast a look to Emily.