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“Yeah, I mean, even if he’s had surgery, the plumbing isn’t going to be exactly the same, you know?”
Darcy covered his eyes with his hand. “I do not want to think about my cousin’s plumbing, thank you very much.”
“But—”
“If it doesn’t bother Jane, it’s not really an issue, is it?” Darcy pointed out, and Charlie grumbled an incoherent response. “Maybe you’re just upset that she’s not still pining for you.”
“No way; I am so over her.” He folded his arms over his chest and slouched into his seat.
“Did she say anything about where Elizabeth and Lydia are?” Darcy asked him.
“No. Aren’t they here?”
“I haven’t seen them.”
“Huh.”
All conversation ceased as Roberta Perez walked out onto the stage to a round of enthusiastic applause. She gave a short introduction before the screen lit up with the opening credits.
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sp; In the Shadows was magnificent, even better than Darcy had anticipated. Perez had managed to pull subtle performances from all the actors. Dialogue that had seemed hokey on the page worked far better on the screen. Moments that could have veered into sentimentality were handled deftly. The camera work was atmospheric and haunting in places.
Jane was terrific, as Darcy had known she’d be. He was happy that an actor of her caliber had been given a role that highlighted her talent. No doubt this performance would help her land higher-profile projects. Although Darcy found her annoying, Caroline had turned in a stunning performance. Maybe she was right about having a chance to win an Oscar. Darcy found it difficult to be objective about his own performance but believed he had done justice to the part.
As the movie ended, Darcy could practically hear the audience let out a collective sigh. The movie had cast a spell over everyone, even the hardened veterans of Hollywood. There was a pause as everyone processed what they had just seen, and then the audience burst into thunderous applause. It was immensely gratifying to hear. In the Shadows wasn’t a summer movie blockbuster, but the denizens of Hollywood recognized the quality of the work that had been created.
Perez got up on the stage and made a short speech. Then it was Tom Bennet’s turn. Tom climbed the steps to the stage with a stiffness Darcy didn’t remember seeing before. Was age catching up with him?
Tom smiled as the applause died down, but the grin didn’t seem to reach his eyes. His response was oddly muted for someone who surely had been dreaming of this moment for his whole life. “Thank you, thank you. It’s gratifying to hear our little film get such an enthusiastic reception. This film has been my dream for some time, but it also is the dream of many others who have worked hard to see it to fruition. I want to thank each and every member of the cast and crew. I couldn’t have asked for better people to work with.”
He paused as everyone applauded again.
“I had a longer speech planned out.” His voice cracked with emotion, and Darcy exchanged an alarmed look with Charlie. Something was definitely wrong. “But I don’t think I can deliver it now. Most of you don’t know that our daughter, Lydia, was in a horrific car accident about a month ago.” There was a collective gasp from the audience. “We managed to keep it out of the press until we knew that she would survive.”
Tears trickled down Tom’s face. “Today the doctors told us they think she is out of the woods.” Applause. “So please forgive me if I can’t deliver a longer speech. All I can say is that I advise you to go home and hold those you love very close because you never know how much time you have with them. Thank you and good night.”
As the lights rose, conversation burst out all over the auditorium. From the shocked expressions on most of the faces, the news of the accident had not been widely known. For a vertiginous moment, Darcy wondered if Elizabeth had been in the car as well.
Charlie had been frantically googling on his phone for information about the crash. “I think I found an article about it. It doesn’t identify Lydia by name, but the age and the timeframe are right.”
Darcy peered at Charlie’s screen, skimming through the article. Single car accident with a telephone pole. Female passenger, 19, in critical condition taken to Presbyterian Hospital. Unidentified male driver fled the scene before police arrived. DUI is suspected. It was right before Darcy would have departed for Vietnam. No wonder Elizabeth hadn’t responded to his texts or voice-mails. But at least she hadn’t been involved.
Oh God, what a nightmare for Elizabeth and her family. He wished he could go back in time and be there in the hospital to hold her hand while they awaited news about her sister. If he had known, he never would have left for Vietnam; screw the shooting schedule.
But there was no reason Elizabeth would have called Darcy with such news. He was just the blowhard who insulted her and gave her unwelcome kisses. He was irrelevant in her life. No, worse than irrelevant. Unwelcome.
He hadn’t thought it was possible to feel worse about himself. He had been wrong.
Maybe Elizabeth missed the premiere to stay with Lydia at the hospital? That would be like her. Darcy burned with the need to talk with her, but his needs seemed a lot less important than ten minutes ago. Elizabeth probably wouldn’t want to see him anyway, and he could hardly present his abject apology over her sister’s broken body.
Darcy suddenly felt claustrophobic, as if all the people, talking, laughing, speculating, were crowding in on him, enclosing him, trapping him. It was too much. If one more person wanted to shake his hand, he thought he might scream.
“I have to get out of here,” he muttered to Charlie.
Charlie took one look at his face. “Go. Take the limo. I can grab a cab.”
“If you talk to Jane, ask her where Elizabeth is.”
