four years ago. Today, Abel was as healthy and chubby and rambunctious as any other little boy his age. Much more handsome of course, thought Tish proudly. It had been a long and arduous struggle to adopt him formally, even though Abel had lived with her since he was thirteen months old, and Tish was the only mother he’d ever known. Tish’s one regret was that her beloved father, Henry, had never got to meet his grandson. Abi’s paperwork had taken years to complete, and Henry had been too frail and sick to travel. Abel’s passport was finally granted a month after Henry’s funeral, a bitter irony for poor Tish.
Now, though, she’d have a chance to take Abel home. To show him England and Loxley and Mrs Drummond, and introduce him to his adopted culture and family. Better late than never.
Will he love it as much as I did? she wondered. If he does, will it be hard for him to come back?
This was something that hadn’t occurred to her before, and it worried her. Because, of course, she would have to come back. Her whole life was in Romania now. We’ll be gone a month or so at most, she told herself. Carl can hold the fort here while I throw these vandals out of Loxley and find some suitable tenants. Then it’ll be back to business as usual.
She would tell Abel it was a holiday. It would be a holiday for him. For her, it was more complicated. Part of her was longing to see Loxley again, although after Mrs D’s letter she dreaded the state she might find it in. But another part felt desolate at the prospect of leaving Michel, even for a few weeks. Before he died, Henry Crewe had implored his daughter to settle down and get married. ‘Find a good man,’ Henry told Tish. ‘A kind man. Someone who can make you truly happy.’
That’s the problem, Daddy, she thought sadly. I’ve already found him. All I have to do now is get him to love me back.
CHAPTER FIVE
Striding past the waiting paparazzi, ignoring the catcalls and boos from the gaggle of kids on the sidewalk, Sabrina Leon slipped into Il Pastaio on Beverly Drive feeling like a million dollars. In black skinny Balenciaga trousers and a figure-hugging black silk vest from Twenty8Twelve, accessorized with a vintage DVF leopard-print scarf and her trademark oversized Prada sunglasses, she looked every inch the star. After two long months climbing the walls at Revivals, it felt good to be back in the action. OK, so most of the attention she’d gotten had been negative. But at least it was attention. Given time – and another hit movie under her belt – Sabrina felt sure she could turn the tide. Just as long as I’m not forgotten. Hatred’s cool. It’s indifference that scares me.
Ed Steiner, her manager, waddled up to the maître d’. ‘We’re joining the Rasmirez party for lunch. Table eight, twelve thirty.’
‘Follow me, sir. You’re actually the first to arrive.’
He looks even fatter than usual, thought Sabrina, watching Ed attempt to weave between the other diners to get to the coveted table eight, the best in the house. Nervous too, she thought, clocking the rivers of sweat streaming down his forehead and the twitchy, rabbit-in-the-headlamps look in his beady agent’s eyes. He’d better not start fawning all over Rasmirez like we’re some kind of fucking charity case.
In fact, over the last two weeks, Ed Steiner had moved mountains trying to convince Dorian Rasmirez of his client’s softer side. ‘She’s edgy, I’ll grant you, and yes, she can be difficult. But you have to remember where she came from. Sabrina’s childhood was like a Hammer Horror. Seriously. Her mom tried to sell her when she was two. Actually sell her. For a drug debt.’
Rasmirez was sympathetic. He was a kind man. But he couldn’t afford to take on somebody else’s problems, or let them spill over onto the rest of his cast. Ed had sworn blind that Sabrina had changed, that she’d learned her lesson. He just prayed she didn’t undo all of his good work today.
Early signs weren’t good. Coiling her long legs beneath her seat, ignoring the No Smoking signs, Sabrina lit up a Marlboro red. ‘He’s late,’ she drawled, deliberately blowing smoke in the direction of the most disapproving-looking diners. ‘If he’s not here in five minutes, we’re leaving.’
Reaching across the table, Ed removed the cigarette from Sabrina’s mouth, stubbing it out in a plant pot by his side.
‘Stop being infantile. The man only flew in from Europe a couple of hours ago. With his schedule, you’re lucky he’s seeing you at all.’
Serena laughed bitterly. ‘Oh, yeah. I’m soooo lucky. When I’m giving him a year of my time, for free, the tightfisted son of a bitch. You watch. He’ll probably ask me to pay for lunch.’
She knew she was being childish. In part this was to try to hide her own nerves. Today’s meeting was important. Rasmirez had cast her, the contract was signed; but he could easily wriggle out of it if he met her and had a change of heart. On the other hand, Sabrina was savvy enough to know that Hollywood was all about bravado. The moment she started acting like a failure, like she was washed up and flailing and desperate for the lifeline Rasmirez was throwing her, was the moment she knew she would sink without trace. What was Jack Nicholson’s mantra? Never explain, never apologize. Ed had already apologized for her, so that ship had sailed. But Sabrina was determined to undo the damage by projecting nothing but A-list star quality to Rasmirez today. She did not appreciate being kept waiting.
Listening to Sabrina bitch about everything from the menu to the air-conditioning to the glare from the restaurant windows, Ed Steiner felt his self-control tanks running dangerously low. Just as he was about to lose his temper, a visibly tired and dishevelled Dorian Rasmirez walked in and was led over to join them.
‘Sorry I’m late.’ He addressed himself to Ed, who had stood up to greet him, and not to Sabrina, who hadn’t. ‘Complete craziness at my office. I’ve been out of town for three weeks, so I’m sure you can imagine. Have you ordered?’
Ed shook his head. ‘We only just got here ourselves.’
‘Oh, good,’ said Dorian, who couldn’t see Sabrina’s furious glare behind her enormous dark glasses. He glanced round for a waitress, who materialized instantly. ‘Hi there. We’ll have three green salads to start, please, and just bring us a selection of main dishes, whatever the chef recommends. Hope that’s OK with you.’ He turned back to Ed. ‘I’m on a really tight schedule today and we’ve got a lot of ground to cover.’
‘Of course,’ said Ed. ‘We’re grateful you could fit us in. Aren’t we Sabrina?’
Slowly, with a melodramatic flourish worthy of Zsa Zsa Gabor, or a young Joan Collins, Sabrina removed her sunglasses, folded them neatly and laid them down on the table. She looked at Dorian Rasmirez, her eyes crawling over his face with disdain. It was the sort of look an empress might give to an unkempt page boy. Who the hell did he think he was, showing up late then ordering food without even asking her what she’d like? Presumptuous jerk. She turned to a passing waiter. ‘I’ll have a sour apple martini please, not too much sugar. And the lobster. And I’d like to see the menu again, please. I haven’t quite made up my mind about an appetizer. You can cancel the earlier order.’
‘Of course, Ms Leon,’ muttered the waiter. ‘Right away.’
Dorian watched this little charade with a combination of irritation and amusement. So the stories are no exaggeration. She really is a little madam. So much for rehab having humbled her. No wonder her manager looked as if he was one Big Mac away from a fatal coronary. Working for Sabrina Leon had clearly driven him to the brink.
The rumours about Sabrina were true in other areas too. Dorian had worked with some
