Page 121 of The Girl with the Irish Secret
Fidelma nodded. ‘I see what you mean.’
Vi continued. ‘I’m sure she protected herself because the truth would affect her career. But that’s not at risk now. If she was battling with something, if she had this amazing career despite some incredible hardships, I think that’s a part of her story we should tell. She wasn’t just a beautiful woman. There was much more to her than that.’
‘You’re right. She was so much more than Don and their love story. And I appreciate that you don’t want her to be like a cardboard cut-out. That’s understandable. It means you’re a real actress, not just a pretty face either.’
‘I hope so,’ Vi said softly.
Fidelma sat up. Vi’s heart was beginning to beat faster while she waited with bated breath to learn the secret Kathleen had hidden from the world.
As Fidelma began to speak, Vi’s eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat. This was incredible and more startling thanshe had expected. She knew then that the movie would have to be a lot more than a mere account of a love story. It had to depict a woman carrying a secret she was terrified to reveal. If it didn’t, Vi couldn’t play the part.
25
When Vi joined Leo in the cafeteria half an hour later, she felt so shaken she had to sit down to catch her breath for a moment before she could speak.
Leo looked at her with concern. ‘You’re as white as a sheet. What happened?’
Vi met his gaze, knowing she should tell him what she had just learned, but no words came out. Then it felt wrong to tell him; he shouldn’t be the one who heard the news first. ‘I can’t tell you yet,’ she said. ‘I have to talk to Jack first. And the rest of the production team. The story, the script has to be changed. If they agree to do that, this movie will be so much better, the plot more dramatic and the whole story a lot deeper and more true to the real Kathleen and her relationship with Don.’ She drew breath and put her hand on Leo’s arm. ‘Please don’t be upset, it has nothing to do with you.’
‘Only with the fact that I’m just the makeup artist,’ he said with a touch of bitterness. ‘I get it.’
‘It’s not like that,’ Vi protested. ‘I really appreciate our friendship and that you came with me. But this is about the movie and how to handle what I’ve just found out. It has to bedealt with sympathetically and be a big part of the love story in the movie. Then that “happily ever after” ending will be even more touching than what’s in the script right now. It will berealinstead of some cheesy Hollywood ending.’ Vi stopped, feeling exhausted. ‘I’m sorry if I upset you.’
Leo smiled. ‘It’s okay. I’m not insulted. I understand that it’s important to you and that you can’t talk about it until you’ve spoken to the producers. And I’m glad if I could help in any way.’ He got up and held out his hand. ‘Come on. Let’s get out of this mausoleum and grab a bite to eat and a pint of the black stuff. On me.’
Vi took his hand, grateful that he was so supportive and not too hurt by the fact that she hadn’t told him what she had found out. He seemed to understand that it had to be kept under wraps until she could speak to the producers of the movie.
They walked out of the nursing home and down the street until they found a small, cosy pub where they had a cheese sandwich and a pint of Guinness. Vi decided to contact Jack later that evening, when she was back in the flat and could talk to him in private. After an hour in the pub, they parted company, Leo to go into town and Vi to catch the bus back to Stillorgan. She hugged Leo goodbye and promised to call the next day so they could meet up for lunch before they both took the bus to the airport and got on the flight to London.
‘Thanks a million again,’ she said as she pulled away. ‘You’ve been such a brick.’
‘Glad to have helped,’ he said, his deep blue eyes warm and empathic. ‘I know it took it out of you. Feeling better?’
‘Yes, much better,’ Vi said, smiling. ‘Thanks for the sandwich and the pint. That helped a lot too.’
‘Nothing more cheering than some Guinness,’ Leo remarked. ‘But I see the bus coming down the street. You’d better get going or you’ll miss it.’
Vi turned and started to run towards the bus stop. ‘See you tomorrow,’ she shouted over her shoulder before she jumped onto the bus. She waved at him through the grimy window before she sat down. She saw that he waved back. Good old Leo. What a friend in need he had turned out to be. It felt good to know he’d be there all through the filming, like a solid wall to lean on.
Then Vi’s thoughts turned to Jack and what she was going to tell him. How would he react when he learned the truth? She hoped he wouldn’t let what had happened between them cloud his judgement and that he would see that the script had to be changed and that it would make the movie into something more than just a clichéd love story. She would have to call him as soon as possible and set up a meeting with him – and Liz. Not a prospect she liked but it was necessary. Jack and Liz… were they still in some kind of relationship? That photo was an old one but the attraction between them had been obvious. If they had been in love then, there had to be something still there, whatever it was. If Liz didn’t agree to change the script, there would be a real problem if Jack took sides with her.
Vi knew she was going to have to fight for what she wanted to achieve but it would be worth it. It might seem unfair to Kathleen’s memory, but Vi believed it would show her to have been a strong woman who’d had to hide who she really was in order to make it in the world of show business in the 1950s. It might seem crass to have lived this lie, but Vi felt in her bones that it had been necessary in order for Kathleen to succeed. If only Jack would understand and agree to make this movie what it should be – a woman’s struggle to survive.
Just as Vi let herself into the little apartment, her phone rang. She fished it out of her pocket, her mind so full of thoughtsof Jack she imagined for an instant it was him. But it was her mother, calling from Donegal.
‘Hello,’ Patricia Fleury said. ‘How are you managing in the flat? Everything okay? Is the heating working and did you find the clean sheets and a warm duvet?’
‘Yes, Mum,’ Vi replied. ‘Everything is fine and working. Don’t worry about me. And I’ll turn off the water before I leave and put the sheets in the linen basket and switch off all the lights and lock up properly.’
Patricia laughed. ‘Sorry. I’m such a control freak. I wish I could be there with you. It would be fun to have an evening together. But I couldn’t get away. I have to organise the sale of the farm before I can think of doing anything else.’
‘I know. It must be hard.’ Vi felt a dart of pity for her mother, who had to cope with the sale of the farm and everything to do with her old life with her late husband before she could move on and think of herself. ‘It’s been two years,’ she said. ‘And you’re still trying to sort out all the probate stuff.’
‘Yes, and I’m an accountant,’ her mother remarked. ‘Imagine what it must be like for people who’re not trained to deal with this kind of stuff. But never mind me. How are you getting on with the preparations for the movie?’
‘Fine,’ Vi said. ‘I’m going to London for rehearsals and costume fittings and then I’ll get back to Kerry and we’ll start shooting in March.’
‘Sounds exciting,’ Patricia said. ‘How do you like the flat?’
