Page 38 of Nantucket Gala

Natalie snorted. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be stupid enough to get engaged again. You can’t trust men, Sophia. Surely, you know that by now?” Her eyes glinted strangely. Sophia wasn’t sure what to think.

And then, as though he’d been summoned, Francis’s arms wrapped around Sophia’s waist, and he kissed her neck. Sophia giggled and leaned against him. “Hi, darling! I want you to meet someone. An old friend, Natalie Masterson.”

Francis extended his hand. “Charmed.”

Natalie shook it. “It looks like you’ve made my sister very happy.”

“Sister?” Francis’s eyes widened.

Sophia giggled. “We played sisters in a film together.”

“Oh? Any good?” Francis asked.

“It wasn’t bad!” Natalie said, throwing her head back. “Of course, that was the last film I ever performed in. Maybe it was the end of my career!”

“Why would it be?” Francis asked.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Sophia said.

Suddenly, Francis was distracted, bucking away to say hello to a producer friend. Sophia and Natalie settled into their private conversation again, at ease without the famous director there.

Sophia was struck with an idea. “Listen, I’m not supposed to say anything, but Francis just finished writing a new script. I’m sure if I told him to, he’d watch your audition.”

Natalie’s cheeks were cherry red. “You don’t have to do that for me, Sophia. I’m no charity case. And I’m getting old. I know that.”

“You’re not a day over twenty-five,” Sophia corrected her. “And you look twenty-one, tops.”

Natalie smiled. She said she’d appreciate it. “But if it doesn’t work out, no hard feelings. I promise you that.”

Now, two years after that fateful night in Cannes, Sophia watched Natalie out of the corner of her eye. It was hard to believe that after a series of auditions, auditions that had included some of the top-grade actresses in the business right now, Francis had opted for Natalie. Sophia told herself that it was partially due to Natalie’s lower monetary rate. She doesn’t demand such a high salary. She’s just starting out. After Natalie had learned she’d gotten the gig, she’d called Sophia and thanked her over and over again. “You saved me, Sophia. I don’t know how to repay you.”

Sophia hadn’t known what to think.

At first, she’d congratulated Natalie and thanked Francis for choosing her “friend.”

But she’d found herself stirring with unhappiness.

Natalie would be a world-famous actress after this.

I’d be nothing but Francis Bianchi’s wife.

It seemed tremendously unfair.

Now at the Nantucket Gala, Sophia and Francis sat as guests of honor at the long table near the stage. A glass of champagne glinted before Sophia, but she didn’t dare touch it. The baby. Because of the flashing cameras, she put a pretty smile on her face and pretended to be listening to whatever Francis was saying to Bernard, who sat across from them. Greta appeared a few minutes later, wearing a burgundy gown that brought out the darkness in her eyes. It was hard to believe that only a few hours ago, she’d been the portrait of a homemaker. Now, she was sultry and fabulous.

Natalie pulled away from the paparazzi and began to walk toward Sophia’s table. Sophia tried to remember the last time she’d seen her. Six months ago? Probably. It had been right before rehearsals had begun forThe Brutal Horizon. Francis had wanted his actors to feel the intensity of their characters, even before they’d generated enough funds to make the entire movie. He’d wanted the film to have the same artistry as a play, which meant at least five hours of rehearsals per week, sometimes more.

Sophia hadn’t attended rehearsals. She’d stayed home and begun work on her next screenplay. Sometimes at her desk, she felt trapped in the chaos of her churning creative thoughts.

Sometimes she’d wondered what Francis was really up to.

Natalie was getting closer and closer. Sophia thought about running away. Why was she so frightened of this beautiful woman? They were once very close friends. Wasn’t I the one whostopped returning her calls? Sophia couldn’t recall the answer to this last question. Maybe Natalie had stopped calling first.

Sophia forced her eyes away from Natalie and pretended to listen to Bernard. But suddenly, Bernard was on his feet, striding up to the podium in the center of the stage. The crowd quieted, and people took their seats. Changing direction at the last minute, Natalie hurried to her table, where she sat next to the main actor inThe Brutal Horizon. Once there, she leaned over to whisper into his ear. He laughed.

Everything Natalie did seemed easy and free.

Bernard was already talking at length about his “ex-mentor and dear friend, Francis Bianchi.”

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