Celine laughed. 'I'm delighted to say that she's not in the Ascot scene.'
'She'll be disgusted. Ah, sustenance!' he cried as Tracy set down a loaded tray between them.
Celine winced when she saw the pile of food. 'We'll have to lie down after eating this lot.'
'If you insist,' he said cheerfully and Tracy moved away, chuckling to herself.
Between them they polished off the food and as they sat over their coffee, Celine nodded towards Richard's mobile. 'Try again.'
'Fergus or Declan?'
'Both.'
Richard dialled, sighed and disconnected. 'Still out of service.' He dialled Declan's mobile and got an answering service. 'Declan, it's Richard Lawrence again. Can you call me as soon as possible? Thanks.'
'We'd better go.' Celine stood up.
Richard walked to the desk to pay Tracy. 'You are coming to my place after the show tonight, aren't you?'
'Wouldn't miss it,' she assured him. 'And I'm looking forward to the show too.' She smiled at Celine. 'I can't wait to see your dresses.'
Celine stared at her. 'How on earth do you know about that?'
'Dominic was in earlier,' she laughed. 'Anyway, everyone knows everything that goes on in Hopefield.'
Celine rolled her eyes. 'Don't I know it!'
That evening when Celine arrived at the community centre, laden down with all her sewing gear, most of the cast were already there.
'She's here!' Cathy shouted and one by one they started to applaud. She cringed when Dominic broke into a chorus of 'For she's a jolly good fellow' but was thrilled with the warm hugs and kisses she received.
'I can't wait to try my dress on,' Maggie Doyle, one of the larger ladies, told her. 'I've never worn anything as glamorous.'
'Just move carefully,' Celine warned her. 'They're all only stapled together.'
'They're magnificent, Celine.' Cathy kissed her. 'I can't believe you managed to do all that work in one night.'
Celine caught Dominic's eye and smiled. 'I had lots of help. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like the ladies to have a fitting. I haven't done any of the hems yet.'
'Of course.' Cathy clapped her hands and directed the ladies from the Ascot scene to the dressing room.
Celine spent most of the next hour on her knees, her trusty stapler in hand. The room was swarming with women admiring each other, fixing hair and trying on different hats and jewellery.
Thirty minutes to curtain,' Cathy called from the doorway and there was a groan from some, excited giggles from others.
'I don't know how you do it,' Maggie Doyle said to Celine as she admired her gown.
Celine laughed. 'I don't know how you go out and perform in front of a room full of people. I'd die of fright.'
'Not at all, it's great fun!'
Celine stood up and glanced around at her handiwork. 'Is everyone okay?'
There was a chorus of assent.
'Okay then. Please get changed for the first scene and please, please be careful. Remember there are only a few staples between you and nudity!'
Everyone laughed. 'Now that would bring the punters in!' one of the women said.
'I think the parish priest might faint.'
'Rubbish, he'd love it!'
Celine gathered up her stuff as they joked amongst themselves. 'Ladies, I'm going to check on the boys but holler if you need me.'
'Thanks, Celine!'
'Cheers, Celine!'
She was smiling as she left the room.
'Everything okay?' Dominic asked.
'Fine. You look very handsome. How do you feel?'
'Sick.'
'You'll be great. Do all your costumes fit okay?'
'All three of them?' he grinned. 'Yeah, they're fine.'
'Do me a favour and stick your head into the men's dressing room and see if anyone needs me.'
Dominic did as he was told but there was a chorus of 'fine', 'grand', 'ace' — this from the only man in his twenties! 'Looks like you're off the hook,' he told Celine.
'Right then, I'll go out front and see how things are going.' She reached up to kiss Dominic's cheek. 'Break a leg!'
Before she left backstage, she went in search of Cathy to let her know where she'd be if she was needed. 'And I'll come backstage to help the ladies and Eliza with their ballgowns.'
Cathy smiled. 'Bless you. Now all I have to do is persuade Eliza that her voice is fine and we'll be ready to go.'
Celine was still chuckling as she went down to the hall. Phyllis Jenkins was a very nervous, anxious woman with the voice of an angel. Unfortunately she never thought it was good enough. But no doubt Cathy would reassure her.
'What's so funny?' Richard asked, appearing at her side.
'Just the leading lady's suffering with her nerves. Is everything ready out here?'
'Seems to be.'
'Any news?'
He shook his head.
She sighed. 'I think we'll have to spend the evening dodging Rose.'
'But we'll tell her tomorrow.'
'Do you think so?'
'We can't leave it any longer than that. He's her son.'
By the time the curtain went up, the hall was full and except for a slight smell of smoke, no one would have known of the previous day's crisis. Celine was standing at the back of the room, grateful she had an excuse not to sit with Rose. 'I need to go backstage for some of the costume changes,' she'd explained after introducing her dad, Brenda and Alan to everyone. Richard wasn't so lucky. Rose had patted the seat beside her and he'd thrown Celine a desperate look. 'Enjoy the show!' she'd said with a sympathetic smile and slipped away. Now at least she was able to forget about Fergus for a little while and get lost in the story of Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins. The time raced by and before she knew it, it was time to go backstage again. The dressing room was full of hushed excitement. 'You're all fantastic,' Celine told them honestly. 'The audience are really enjoying it.'
They hurriedly put on the ballgowns and Celine moved among them, helping with hair, fastening necklaces, touching up make-up and supplying a safety pin when necessary. She had deliberately worn her lightweight cotton jacket with the large pockets that were laden with pins, buttons, combs and even Superglue for real emergencies! After a frantic five minutes, she was alone again as the women hurried to their positions in the wings. Celine hadn't expected this buzz from an amateur production but there was an amazing atmosphere in the cramped backstage area. She hurried back out front so that she could see the full effects of the costumes from the hall. A ripple went through the audience as the curtains opened revealing the ballroom scene. Celine smiled. If only they knew that under the corsage pinned to Eliza's waist there was a tear; that the elaborate feathers attached to another gown hid a nasty burn and that the gauzy net material adorning some of the ballgowns had come from some old net curtains!
At the break, Celine went to find her dad and Brenda to see what they thought.
'Excellent!' her dad pronounced. 'That Eliza Doolittle has a beautiful voice.'
Brenda shook her head. 'No, I think Henry — Dominic — is better.'
Marina joined them and beamed at Brenda. 'He is wonderful, isn't he?'
'He's marvellous!' Rose told her. 'Kay and I were just saying he could go professional.'
'The costumes are wonderful, Celine.' Brenda smiled at her sister-in-law. 'You've done a great job.'
'She's done an amazing job,' Richard said, putting an arm around Celine.
'Wait until you see the Ascot scene,' Rose told Brenda.
'Kay told us about the fire,' Frank said. 'You did well, love, to get the new dresses finished on time.'
'I enjoyed every minute,' Celine admitted.
Brenda's eyes lit up. 'Really?'
Alan laughed. 'I think, Rose, that Celine may not be working for you for much longer.'
Rose nodded. 'Yes, I know, but at least I'll be able to buy and sell her clothes.'
Frank looked at his daughter. 'Are you really going back to dress design?'
She nodded. 'I even have my first customer.'
'She's making my wedding dress,' Marina told them.
Frank hugged Celine tightly to him. 'That's wonderful.'
There was an announcement telling them to return to their seats. 'I'll see you later,' Celine said, squeezing his hand. She kissed Richard as they left to go back to their seats. 'I'll go back to the apartment with Daddy after the show.'
'And Alan can follow me. Rose said she'll go with them.'
'They all seem to be getting on well,' she remarked.
He grinned. 'Like one big happy family.'
As the lights went down, Celine went backstage to help the women into their gowns but by the time she got to the dressing room most of them were already dressed.
'We couldn't wait,' Maggie told her. 'But we could do with some help with our hats.'
'And can you fix my feathers, Celine?'
'Have you got your stapler, Celine?' another shouted, 'I think my boobs are going to fall out!'
This was greeted with laughter and Cathy ran in to hush them. 'You all look beautiful,' she whispered, 'but keep the noise down.'
As they went to take their positions, Cathy drew Celine into the wings. 'You can watch from here for a few minutes. You'll be able to see the audience's reaction.'
When the curtain went up there was an audible gasp. Then someone started to applaud and soon the entire audience were applauding.
'That's for you,' Dominic whispered in Celine's ear.
'Daddy and Richard probably started it,' she joked but her heart was thumping in her chest. She hurried down to the hall so she could judge the dresses for herself. Her heart thumped even faster and her eyes filled with tears as she studied her own designs and admitted to herself that they were good. 'You were right, Dermot,' she murmured under her breath. 'I can do it.'
'More champagne?' Richard moved from group to group, a bottle in each hand.
'The champagne's never going to last at the rate he's pouring it,' Marina said as Celine loaded another tray of vol-au-vents into the oven.
'It doesn't matter, there's plenty of beer and wine.'
'You should be out there with your adoring public,' Marina told her.
'No chance. Anyway, this is Phyllis and Dominic's big night. Weren't they sensational?'
'Wonderful,' Marina agreed, misty-eyed.
'Can I help?' Brenda walked in and put her empty glass on the counter.
Celine looked up and smiled. 'Perfect timing, Brenda, we're just about to start the food. Can you take the sandwiches and sausages around?'
'No problem.' Brenda took a bunch of napkins, the two plates and went out again.
'I can't believe the difference in that woman,' Marina remarked as she arranged canapes on a plate.
'I know, isn't it great? I think if Alan's grin gets any bigger it's going to split his face!'
'Speaking of grins, my mum and your dad haven't stopped nattering all evening.'
'I hope Rose doesn't feel left out.'
'Rose? Not at all! She's holding court in the studio and Richard's pal from the art gallery is hanging on her every word.'
'You're kidding!'
'Nope.' Marina loaded a tray with food and napkins. 'I'll see what else is going on and report back.'
Celine wiped her hands on a cloth and sat down on a stool to enjoy her champagne.
'What are you doing out here all alone?' Richard asked, walking up behind her and slipping his arms around her waist.
Celine rested her head against his chest. 'Someone has to look after the guests.'
'Is there no end to your talents?' He leaned across her to take a spring roll. 'Mmmn, these are good!'
'Have you called again?' she asked.
Richard sat down on the stool beside her and pulled out his mobile. 'Several times. I left a message for Fergus telling him everyone would be here after the show.'
'Did you tell him Rose was here?'
'About three messages ago.'
'What about Declan?'
'I phoned the station but they said he wasn't available.'
'All this waiting is driving me mad. What if something's happened to Fergus?'
'What's going on?'
Celine whirled around. 'Rose! I didn't see you there.'
'Obviously. What's happened to Fergus?'
Richard went to her and put an arm around her shoulders. 'Rose, there's nothing to worry about—'
She shook his arm off. 'Don't treat me like a child, Richard. I want the truth and I want it now.'
Richard met Celine's eyes and she shrugged.
'Let's go outside,' he said. 'It's quieter.'
When they were sitting on the sofa in the hallway outside the apartment, Richard started at the beginning and told Rose everything.
She paled at the mention of Mick Garvey but listened in silence as Richard talked.
'Why didn't you tell me?' she said when they were finished, tears rolling silently down her face.
Celine crouched at her feet. 'He begged us not to. He didn't want to worry you.'
'I'm his mother, that's my job,' Rose said wearily. 'He did this to protect me, to protect the shop? As if I give a damn about the bloody shop! I'd gladly move to Timbuktu if necessary.'
'If this works, Mick Garvey will go down for a very long time.' Richard pointed out.
'But at what cost?' Rose snapped.
'The police will look after him,' Celine murmured and hoped it was true.
'How the hell can they look after him if they don't even know where he is?'
Celine shot Richard a helpless look.
Rose stood up, wiping here eyes on her sleeve. 'I'm going down there.'
Richard stared at her. 'To the station? There's really not much point, Rose—'
'Don't try and stop me! I'm going down there and I'm not leaving until I get some answers.'
She walked over to the lift and pressed the button.
Richard nodded. 'I'll drive you. Hang on and I'll get my keys.'
On arriving at the police station, Rose and Richard were shown into the same room that Fergus had been in hours earlier.
Minutes later, Declan Murphy walked in and Richard introduced Rose.
'So what can I do for you?' he asked.