‘Why not just enjoy the moment. Away from the rest of the world we’re great together. That’s all that matters.’
Looking at him standing there, his face so open and hopeful, made her want to believe, want to give in to the illusion.
‘Apart from the obvious difficulties…’ she said, then faltered, not wanting to bring up the age difference for fear of hurting him. ‘There just isn’t enough left of me to become involved with someone else. Surely you can see that.’
He looked away and she knew she had hurt him nevertheless. Picking up a pebble, he threw it across the court and into the green, then swung back toward her. ‘Not everything needs defining, Julia.’
He stepped back into the theatre, leaving her staring at the Santa Monica skyline and the rising moon.
The foyer was packed with people mingling around a table covered with plastic glasses of cheap champagne and bowls of taco chips and salsa. Julia studiously read the program while waiting for Gabriel and Naomi to join her.
‘I’m not entirely convinced Shakespeare meant The Tempest to be a condemnation of colonialism. I mean, Prospero as a Dutch spice merchant—please.’ Naomi, dressed in a low-cut gingham smock, her hair arranged in a dishevelled pile, a couple of chopsticks thrust through for effect, appeared slightly tipsy.
‘Where’s Gabriel?’ Julia said.
‘Getting champagne. I need a drink after all that doom and prophecy…’
She leaned forward and Julia noticed a definite smell of marijuana lingering in her long hair.
‘Have you noticed that Gabriel’s changed,’ she continued.
Julia reached for a bowl of peanuts and stuffed a handful into her mouth nervously. ‘I think he’s in love,’ Naomi continued. ‘But you’d know all about that.’
Coughing in panic, Julia spat peanut pieces all over the front of Naomi’s smock, but her friend didn’t seem to notice. ‘Well, I guess that’s only natural for someone his age,’ she said, then wiped the front of Naomi’s dress with a paper serviette.
Naomi leaned forward, swaying slightly. ‘And you know what else? I know who it is.’ She looked at Julia knowingly. Julia felt a slow burn of panic rise from beneath her collar.
‘Naomi, I can explain—’
‘She’s very beautiful, don’t you think?’ Naomi continued, much to Julia’s confusion.
‘She is?’
‘India—the girl playing Miranda. I mean, it has to be her, right? Gabriel’s never shown an interest in the theatre before, then suddenly he has to see this particular production. It’s why I insisted on coming—I had to see her close up. She is gorgeous.’ Bleary-eyed, she peered into Julia’s face. ‘Did he say anything to you? You guys seem really close—I’m almost jealous. I mean, it was me who used to have all these fantasies about my son being my best friend. He was until he turned thirteen. Now we lead entirely separate lives—I didn’t even know whether he was straight until now.’
‘Naomi, you’re raving.’
‘I’m not raving, I’m stoned. Parental nerves. I was so excited about meeting his first girlfriend, I had a joint in the car before the play. I hate this “responsible parent” shit.’
Gabriel appeared, holding a tray with three plastic champagne glasses balanced precariously on it. Naomi immediately grabbed one.
‘Just in time.’ She knocked back the champagne. ‘We were just discussing your sex life.’
‘You were?’ Gabriel looked at Julia, surprised, while, behind Naomi’s back, Julia gestured wildly at him.
‘Absolutely—your sex life with India.’ Naomi pinched her son’s bottom. ‘She’s so gorgeous.’
‘She is?’
‘Oh, please, Gabriel, now I know why you’ve been so distracted. You should have told me.’
Concerned that her facial expression might betray her, Julia moved towards the exit. Gabriel followed with Naomi stumbling behind.
‘Mom thinks I have a girlfriend. Don’t you think that’s hilarious, Julia?’
Naomi looked at her son then at her friend, utterly perplexed. Panicked, Julia broke away.
‘I have to go, I have an early start tomorrow.’ She turned to Gabriel. ‘See you at the lab on Monday.’