Page 46 of Just Like in the Movies

Ruby’s fingers tightened on the handset.

Whoever this woman was, she wasn’t calling from the bank or Tasty Treats Gourmet Popcorn, which ought to be good. But Gerry was right, she sounded very important, so important Ruby felt intimidated. Not only that, Ruby recognized that commanding crystal-clear voice, but she couldn’t quite place it. Did she know this woman? She didn’t sound like the sort of woman you would forget.

‘There’s no call to thank me, my dear,’ the woman said with a deep throaty chuckle that sounded even more disturbingly familiar.

Good grief, was sexual frustration now messing with her cognitive skills, too?

‘In fact, I believe I am the one who should be thanking you,’ she added.

Why? Ruby wondered as the strange conversation strayed even deeper into The Twilight Zone.

‘I … I see,’ Ruby said, although she didn’t see at all. ‘Could I ask who I’m speaking to? I’m afraid my …’ She struggled for a more upmarket sounding title for Gerry than barman. ‘My colleague didn’t catch your name.’

‘Yes, of course, my dear. Silly me.’ The woman gave another smoky chuckle, that finally pierced through the fog of confusion.

Was this …? Surely, it couldn’t be? Could it?

‘My name’s Helena Devlin, darling. I’m Matty’s sister,’ she added, not that there was any need to clarify that announcement.

Oh.

My. Fucking. God.

I’m talking to an actual Broadway legend … And Rafael Falcone’s lover … And Luke’s mum.

‘I … Wow. Hi. It’s … it’s such an honour to be talking to you,’ Ruby stuttered, almost dropping the phone, pleased she’d managed to stop herself from saying anything completely inane out loud.

She really ought to have recognized the voice immediately. Apart from the fact that Helena Devlin was a stage legend, Ruby had seen every one of her movies, and she’d watched her debut, One Summer in Sorrento, about thirty times. It was the film the then twenty-two-year-old British ingénue had starred in opposite Rafael Falcone. The film that had kicked off their tempestuous and famously short-lived affair. The film that had effectively created Luke, Ruby realised, as her gaze tracked back to the buns of steel across the auditorium. With his earphones in as he applied the last of the plaster he was oblivious to what was going on.

Both Jacie and Gerry were staring at her expectantly, obviously wondering what had gotten her so flustered.

‘No, dear, it is I who am honoured,’ Helena Devlin announced, sounding more sincere than Halle Berry giving an Oscar acceptance speech.

‘Really?’ Ruby asked. ‘Oh? Why?’

‘Because I understand you’ve managed to persuade my son Luke to take leave of absence from his construction firm. Which, believe me, is no small feat. I’ve certainly never managed it.’

‘You … you haven’t?’

Helena laughed again, the rich throaty sound making Ruby feel as if she were the most amusing and erudite person on the planet – which seemed unlikely seeing as she was struggling to string a sentence together.

‘My dear Ruby, I can’t even manage to persuade him to stop by for a ten-minute mimosa break before curtain-up.’

Helena sounded more amused than offended by her son’s lack of attention, but Ruby still felt the sting of guilt. And the need to explain herself. ‘I really didn’t persuade him to come to London. He was sort of forced to,’ she said. ‘To complete a community service order.’

‘Really?’ It was Helena’s turn to sound incredulous. ‘A community service order?’ she added, sounding intrigued. ‘My goodness, what on earth did he do to acquire that? I’ve never met anyone more boringly law-abiding than my eldest progeny in my entire life.’

My eldest progeny?

Ruby swallowed down her own incredulity as Jacie started flaying her arms about wildly – obviously losing patience with having the identity of the mystery ‘important lady’ caller revealed.

‘Well, we got arrested, about a month ago,’ Ruby winced. ‘Which was entirely my fault. I asked for Luke’s help and, even though he told me not to do it, that it might be illegal, I wanted to do it anyway.’ The whole sorry saga began to spill out of Ruby’s month. Luke had not been to blame and she really didn’t want to get him into any more trouble, especially with his mother. ‘And, well … The Royal Parks police weren’t very impressed. Although I still think the young constable who arrested us was a bit over-enthusiastic. I mean, there was no one else about. And it had been Matty’s dying wish to have his ashes scattered at the Serpentine. And, I actually think our rendition of “Over the Rainbow” was quite tuneful, considering.’

She finally stopped to draw breath. And realised she could hear Helena chuckling down the other end of the phone line. Not a sarcastic laugh, but a genuine, heartfelt full-bodied inclusive laugh – as if Ruby were part of the joke, not the butt of it. Ruby’s anxiety faded a little.

‘My darling, that is simply priceless,’ Helena murmured. ‘I don’t know how you managed to get my Luke singing a show tune while scattering my brother’s ashes in a park and then getting him arrested but, however you managed it, I salute you. And I’m sure Matty would have adored you for it, too …’ She paused. The rich amusement in her voice had faded when she continued. ‘But then I’m sure you know that, if you knew Matty well, and it sounds as if you did.’

‘Yes, I did.’ Ruby’s throat began to clog. This was so surreal, to be talking to Matty’s sister about him. The sister he hadn’t talked to in more than thirty years. She wondered if Matty would see this conversation as a betrayal. After all, he’d had a thirty-something-year-old feud with this woman. But as soon as the thought occurred to her, she dismissed it. On the very few occasions Matty had mentioned Helena, or spoken about her, he had never seemed angry with his sister, more sad and disappointed. Ruby had no idea what had caused their long silence, she’d always sort of assumed Helena must have instigated it, but now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe it was some silly disagreement that they’d never had a chance to resolve.

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