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‘Who said anything about getting shut down?’ Jacie’s mouth fell open in horror.
Balls, that was too much Arnie and not enough Annie, because the Munchkins – who weren’t known for their lack of drama – were all staring at her as if she’d just reanimated the Wicked Witch of the East and helped her wrestle the ruby slippers off Dorothy.
‘It’s okay, Jace,’ she said. ‘Everyone. Everything’s great. Errol’s waiting to start the movie, so I think we should head into the cinema,’ she added hurriedly, scrambling to take the tremble out of Gerry’s bottom lip – and the shock out of everyone else’s eyes.
‘Mr Devlin, would you like to join me?’ she asked, cutting through the crowd towards the auditorium, keeping a firm grip on her guest’s elbow, despite the goose bumps ricocheting up her arm. His forearm beneath the cashmere was quite spectacular. ‘We have a seat for you at the back – where no one is going to bother you,’ she said casting an evil eye over everyone they passed.
‘I’ll bet,’ he said, raising a sceptical eyebrow. The panic had gone, if it had ever been there in the first place. She must have imagined it. He didn’t look like the type to get freaked out by a load of overeager film buffs.
‘No, really,’ she said. ‘Are you still happy to stay?’ she added, not wanting to give him a choice, but knowing she had to.
She waited for his reply, aware of the silence, as if the whole theatre was holding its breath. But thank god, no one said anything. And no one app
roached him.
He nodded, finally. ‘Yeah, I guess so. I’m here now.’
It was hardly a fulsome endorsement, but she’d take it.
She led him into the auditorium and to one of the two-seater sofas right at the back, which she had reserved for them both. The rest of the audience filed in behind them. Every single one of them stared at him while trying to look as if they weren’t staring at him.
He took the seat nearest the wall and ignored the attention.
The house lights went down at last, cocooning them in darkness, and the film’s opening credits began, accompanied by the opening bars of the overture.
‘Would you like a drink? On the house,’ she whispered as everyone finally found their seats and stopped whispering and glancing their way. ‘We have several wonderful themed cocktails …’
Perhaps one of Cameron’s Munchkin Mojitos would redeem the evening – after all, they were super-delicious.
‘A beer will do, if you have one,’ he said, his striking features cast into harsh lines by the sepia light from the screen.
‘I’ll be right back.’ She shot off past the bar, which bar staff were busy clearing as quietly as possible for the start of the movie, and into the kitchen alcove behind.
‘Shit, Ruby, what’s going on? Is he going to shut us down?’ Jacie wedged herself into the small space next to her.
‘No. No one is shutting down The Royale,’ Ruby replied. She grabbed a bottle of Camden Hells lager from the fridge, and popped off the cap. Not ever.
She peered round the bar at Devlin. His body language screamed indifference as he watched Dorothy hound Auntie Em and Uncle Henry about the imminent arrival of Miss Gulch and her plan to eviscerate Toto.
Dorothy was scared and anxious and about to run away to save her dog. Ruby knew how she felt. If only she could run away, too.
She reached for the pitcher of Emerald-aritas Gerry had put in the fridge for after the screening and poured herself a generous glass. She was going to need something stronger than a beer to get through two hours of watching Devlin watch this movie while praying for a sign he was falling under its spell … or had at least forgiven her for the Munchkin mobbing in the lobby.
‘Could you to do me a massive favour, Jace,’ she murmured to her assistant manager, who was also eyeballing Devlin.
‘Sure, what?’
‘I’m going to sneak Devlin up to Matty’s flat during the end credits of this movie’ – the entrance to which was conveniently situated in the foyer – ‘so he can leave via the flat’s fire escape before anyone spots him and we don’t get a repeat of what happened when he arrived.’ Perhaps she had imagined his panicked look, but she wasn’t taking any chances.
‘But everyone will want to meet him,’ Jacie said, still not getting it.
‘I know, but he doesn’t want to meet them. Not yet, anyway.’ She could only hope that one day he would, but that wasn’t going to be today.
She should have laid the groundwork for his appearance tonight and she hadn’t. She wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
‘So, what’s the favour?’ Jacie asked.
‘Could you handle everything down here till I’ve gotten him safely out of the building? Create a distraction if you have to. Get Glinda and Gerry to help you.’
