because they had each other.’
‘They met when Dad was doing a stint working on stage as a magician’s assistant. My mother, Rosa del Rios, came across from Spain with the Bartoleni Flamenco Dancing Troupe. Both were appearing at the same theatre in Margate during the summer.’ She smiled at him. ‘They were so in love … Gran used to tease them about their kissing and cuddling, but I remember that I thought it was terrific.’
Intrigued by her tender tone, he asked, ‘Why did she tease them?’
‘Gran’s husband, my grandfather, walked out on her when my father turned six. She never forgave Hector Forsythe for abandoning them. He came crawling back ten years later and got short shrift.’ She shook her fair head. ‘Gran was not a forgiving woman. She said Grandfather only came back ’cause he was sick and wanted her and his son to look after him.’
‘Sounds like a tough lady.’
‘She was when she had to be, but never with me. I was staying with Gran when my parents were killed in a train crash — Dad had got work in a stage production in Glasgow and Mum went with him. Kind of a short holiday for them both. The train crashed head-on into a freight train. Sixteen people died.’
Bren made a sympathetic murmur. ‘Losing them both at the same time must have been awful for you.’
‘It was. I don’t know what I’d have done if it hadn’t been for Gran. Welfare wanted to put me in an orphanage but Gran insisted she could care for me. She did.’ The smile she gave him turned radiant as the reminiscing continued. ‘Through her I learned so much about acting and stagecraft. She was my first and best drama teacher and when she thought I was ready, she introduced me to Kerri.’
‘You don’t have any other relatives?’
She shook her head. ‘No one in England, and in Spain my mother was a rare, only child. I’ve a few distant cousins on the maternal side, they’re scattered about Spain. I’ve never met them but we still exchange Christmas cards. That’s all.’ She gave him a quizzical glance and said, ‘That’s enough about me. What about you, Bren?’
He shrugged at her. ‘My life reads like an open, and not very interesting book. Apart from boarding school and time at university, I’ve spent my life in the outback, on Amaroo.’
‘No girlfriends, sweethearts?’ she teased.
‘A few. I was engaged twice but neither arrangement worked out.’ Thank goodness they hadn’t otherwise he wouldn’t be here talking to her, watching her, falling more in love with her as every minute passed. ‘I’ve a brother, Curtis, you almost met him in Darwin, and a sister. Lauren’s the youngest, she’s married to Marc, who manages a station, Cadogan’s Run. They have three boys. Then there’s my mother, Hilary, and my father’s brother. Uncle Stuart — he’s mega wealthy — lives in Broome with his family …’
‘How I envy you. It must be wonderful to have a big family, people to be with at Christmas, and birthdays to celebrate together.’
Bren thought about his mother and wasn’t so sure it was wonderful, then he glanced at his watch. ‘Hell, it’s 3.30.’ He got to his feet and pulled her up in front of him. ‘We’d better be getting back. You’ll want to rest before tonight’s performance, won’t you?’
Impressed by his thoughtfulness, she kissed him impulsively on the cheek. ‘Guess so. I’ve enjoyed today. Thank you.’
‘Thank you!’ He grinned back at her. ‘Could I impose and invite you to supper after the show?’ He raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Or does Kerri frown on that sort of thing?’
‘She probably will but,’ she wrinkled her nose cutely, ‘we’ll do it anyhow. And tomorrow night, after the play I’ll take you out, to meet my friend, Melody. She manages one of the best disco-nightclubs in Soho.’
As they walked back to the car, Bren issued another invitation. ‘My friends, the Montgomerys, would love you to come for Sunday lunch. That is, if you
‘They met when Dad was doing a stint working on stage as a magician’s assistant. My mother, Rosa del Rios, came across from Spain with the Bartoleni Flamenco Dancing Troupe. Both were appearing at the same theatre in Margate during the summer.’ She smiled at him. ‘They were so in love … Gran used to tease them about their kissing and cuddling, but I remember that I thought it was terrific.’
Intrigued by her tender tone, he asked, ‘Why did she tease them?’
‘Gran’s husband, my grandfather, walked out on her when my father turned six. She never forgave Hector Forsythe for abandoning them. He came crawling back ten years later and got short shrift.’ She shook her fair head. ‘Gran was not a forgiving woman. She said Grandfather only came back ’cause he was sick and wanted her and his son to look after him.’
‘Sounds like a tough lady.’
‘She was when she had to be, but never with me. I was staying with Gran when my parents were killed in a train crash — Dad had got work in a stage production in Glasgow and Mum went with him. Kind of a short holiday for them both. The train crashed head-on into a freight train. Sixteen people died.’
Bren made a sympathetic murmur. ‘Losing them both at the same time must have been awful for you.’
‘It was. I don’t know what I’d have done if it hadn’t been for Gran. Welfare wanted to put me in an orphanage but Gran insisted she could care for me. She did.’ The smile she gave him turned radiant as the reminiscing continued. ‘Through her I learned so much about acting and stagecraft. She was my first and best drama teacher and when she thought I was ready, she introduced me to Kerri.’
‘You don’t have any other relatives?’
She shook her head. ‘No one in England, and in Spain my mother was a rare, only child. I’ve a few distant cousins on the maternal side, they’re scattered about Spain. I’ve never met them but we still exchange Christmas cards. That’s all.’ She gave him a quizzical glance and said, ‘That’s enough about me. What about you, Bren?’
He shrugged at her. ‘My life reads like an open, and not very interesting book. Apart from boarding school and time at university, I’ve spent my life in the outback, on Amaroo.’
‘No girlfriends, sweethearts?’ she teased.
‘A few. I was engaged twice but neither arrangement worked out.’ Thank goodness they hadn’t otherwise he wouldn’t be here talking to her, watching her, falling more in love with her as every minute passed. ‘I’ve a brother, Curtis, you almost met him in Darwin, and a sister. Lauren’s the youngest, she’s married to Marc, who manages a station, Cadogan’s Run. They have three boys. Then there’s my mother, Hilary, and my father’s brother. Uncle Stuart — he’s mega wealthy — lives in Broome with his family …’
‘How I envy you. It must be wonderful to have a big family, people to be with at Christmas, and birthdays to celebrate together.’
Bren thought about his mother and wasn’t so sure it was wonderful, then he glanced at his watch. ‘Hell, it’s 3.30.’ He got to his feet and pulled her up in front of him. ‘We’d better be getting back. You’ll want to rest before tonight’s performance, won’t you?’
Impressed by his thoughtfulness, she kissed him impulsively on the cheek. ‘Guess so. I’ve enjoyed today. Thank you.’
‘Thank you!’ He grinned back at her. ‘Could I impose and invite you to supper after the show?’ He raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Or does Kerri frown on that sort of thing?’
‘She probably will but,’ she wrinkled her nose cutely, ‘we’ll do it anyhow. And tomorrow night, after the play I’ll take you out, to meet my friend, Melody. She manages one of the best disco-nightclubs in Soho.’
As they walked back to the car, Bren issued another invitation. ‘My friends, the Montgomerys, would love you to come for Sunday lunch. That is, if you
Similar Books
