Darcy hugged her mug of lemon tea. Susannah being around was a blessing. Somehow, just needing to do her usual tasks shook off the clouds and she could think. She wasn’t ready to see anyone else, but Marge needed her to conclude the series.
“Mum, Marge is here,” Susannah said, opening the door. “I’ll make the tea.”
Marge hurried in and pulled her bag off her back. “Zoë had me bring supplies.” She glared at the window. “There’s swarms of them.”
Darcy nodded. She’d heard her neighbours complaining in the hallway. The police had been called to move them on a few times. They still came back, though; her picture was worth skirting around laws.
“I’m sorry you lost the series,” she said, sounding far more composed than she felt. Marge, the crew, they depended on her. It was a regular job for them and had been for years. Now, they would have to find another show.
Marge bustled over, sat on the sofa opposite, and dropped her bag beside her. “You sound like you mean that.” She shook her head. “Don’t go getting all nice on me now.”
She smiled. “Are you another that prefers me unlikable?”
Marge grinned. “That’s the woman I know.” She pulled out her clipboard. “Susannah said that you wanted to do the round-up here.”
“Yes.” She smiled at Susannah as she brought over two cups and a plate of biscuits. “I’m not sure if I can make the reveal in person…” She held up her hand as the pair frowned. “It should be about celebrating Kate finding herself. It should not be overshadowed by my problems.”
“Mum, I think you’ve tortured Kate enough.” Susannah thunked the cups down. “She loves you.”
“She loves the thought of me.” Kate would be sad, yes, for a while, but she would soon relish the freedom. It wasn’t something she’d courted or even asked for. She hated attention. “I doubt she can stand the sight of me right now.”
“Can you blame her?” Marge pulled the camera out and pursed her lips. “It’s clear how much you care about each other, and you’re cutting her out.”
“Yes. I’m a bitch.” She nodded to the camera. “I’d like to do this quickly before I lose my nerve…please.”
Marge switched it on and nodded. “Rolling.”
“A security guard who needed to find her smile.” She opened as she always did, the person and their problem. “Kate Bonvilston was heartbroken, twice, and her wardrobe seemed to reflect that. I set out to revamp her style and show her who she was inside.” She sipped at her cup. Hands were trembling. Hold back the tears. “Instead, this patient, and her dear super sprout of a brother, touched something in us all on the crew. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone breathe such life into the people around them. It has been a show that unearthed more of me than Kate.” She glanced at Susannah, who nodded. “And that wasn’t quite as I’d planned.” She took a deep breath. “The rumours are true. Zoë and I were once happy together. She’s Susannah’s mother as much as me… And…I abused my position on the show, but not intentionally.”
“You didn’t abuse anything,” Susannah muttered, and Marge swung the camera to her. “I know you think you did, Mum, but you tried really hard not to show how you felt.” She shrugged. “You can’t help how you feel.”
Marge swung the camera back to her.
“No, I can’t. I feel tired of hiding who I am. I feel tired of ignoring the goodness and happiness that rolled onto the set in a security guard uniform and a Sproutman costume.” She laughed. It was that laugh Kate always provoked from her. “My thoughts on Kate? She shines whatever clothes she wears. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Marge peered around the camera.
Susannah hugged herself. “So why isn’t she here?”
Darcy smiled at the camera. Might as well let the whole façade drop. “I’m…unpleasant.” Best not to swear on camera. “I sent her away.” She held up her hands. “My way of protecting myself and her. However, I can’t back that up with logic.”
Susannah pulled her lips to the side. “I’d say that makes you scared and human…and genuine.”
She soaked in Susannah’s words, focusing on the camera. “So my round-up is that style shows some levels of who you are, and beauty helps people to like you, but it is who you are beneath the skin that makes you worth more.”
“Hashtag embrace designer,” Susannah called out with a grin.
Had she remembered that from her visit to Mikey’s school? “Yes, embrace it.” She smiled into the lens. “So, Mikey, thank you for helping me find my smile… And Kate, thank you for rejuvenating me. I love you.”
Marge lowered the camera, tears in her eyes. “That’s the best round-up I’ve heard.”
Darcy nodded and lifted her mug. “To a show worth watching.”