Page 76 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"Ophelia stole the show from Hamlet!"

"Evie's a genius," Dave replied. "Drives our parents up the wall."

"Why?"

"They don't believe show business is serious work. They want us both to go into politics." He rolled his eyes.

Cameron's father, Woody Dewar, overheard. "I had the same problem," he said. "My father was a United States senator, and so was my grandfather. They couldn't understand why I wanted to be a photographer. It just didn't seem like a real job to them." Woody worked for Life magazine, probably the best photo journal in the world after Paris Match.

Both families went backstage. Evie emerged from the girls' dressing room looking demure in a twinset and a below-the-knee skirt, an outfit obviously chosen to say I am not a sexual exhibitionist, that was Ophelia. But she also wore an expression of quiet triumph. Whatever people said about her nudity, no one could deny that her acting had captivated the audience.

Her father

was the first to speak. Lloyd said: "I just hope you don't get arrested for indecent exposure."

"I didn't really plan it," Evie said as if he had paid her a compliment. "It was kind of a last-minute thing. I wasn't even sure the nightdress would rip."

Crap, thought Cameron.

Jeremy Faulkner appeared in his trademark college scarf. He was the only teacher who allowed pupils to call him by his first name. "That was fabulous!" he raved. "A peak moment!" His eyes were bright with excitement. The thought occurred to Cameron that Jeremy, too, was in love with Evie.

Evie said: "Jerry, these are my parents, Lloyd and Daisy Williams."

For a moment the teacher looked scared, but he recovered quickly. "Mr. and Mrs. Williams, you must be even more surprised than I was," he said, deftly disclaiming responsibility. "You should know that Evie is the most brilliant pupil I have ever taught." He shook hands with Daisy, then with a visibly reluctant Lloyd.

Evie spoke to Jasper. "You're invited to the cast party," she said. "My special guest."

Lloyd frowned. "Party?" he said. "After that?" Clearly he felt a celebration was not appropriate.

Daisy touched his arm. "It's okay," she said.

Lloyd shrugged.

Jeremy said brightly: "Just for an hour. School in the morning!"

Jasper said: "I'm too old. I'd feel out of place."

Evie protested: "You're only a year older than the sixth-formers."

Cameron wondered why the hell she wanted him there. He was too old. He was a university student: he did not belong at a high school party.

Fortunately, Jasper agreed. "I'll see you back at the house," he said firmly.

Daisy put in: "No later than eleven o'clock, please."

The parents left. Cameron said: "My God, you got away with it!"

Evie grinned. "I know."

They celebrated with coffee and cake. Cameron wished Beep was there to put some vodka into the coffee, but she had not taken part in the production so she had gone home, as had Dave.

Evie was the center of attention. Even the boy playing Hamlet admitted she was the star of the evening. Jeremy Faulkner could not stop talking about how her nakedness had expressed Ophelia's vulnerability. His praise for Evie became embarrassing and eventually kind of creepy.

Cameron waited patiently, letting them monopolize her, knowing that he had the ultimate advantage: he would be taking her home.

At ten thirty they left. "I'm glad my father got this assignment in London," Cameron said as they zigzagged through the back streets. "I hated leaving San Francisco, but it's pretty cool here."

"That's good," she said without enthusiasm.

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