19

Beth’s eyes briefly locked onto mine before she averted her gaze. Hot rage swelled in my chest. Yes, I’d lost my temper with her earlier, but she’d deserved every word I’d said. From Beth’s demeanor, it didn’t look like I’d get an apology any time this century.

Theresa’s raucous laughter drew my attention away from my sister. While the actors wore their wedding finery, Theresa sported the black-and-white tuxedo that was the costume for the female amateur dancers. For the first time since we’d met, the woman was all smiles. I barely recognized her. Beth preened under Theresa’s attention. Judd treated the woman with magnanimous indifference. Perhaps Lenny had been correct in his assertion that most people would love to be involved in a movie. 

Theresa’s good humor was replaced by a thunderous expression when she caught sight of Lenny. I was too far away to hear their exchange, but judging by my assistant’s face, Theresa had once again lashed out. He marched out of the tent without bothering to greet my sister or Judd. It didn’t take a lot to rile me, but Lenny was the most easygoing guy in the world. Theresa, meanwhile, looked smugly satisfied.

Suddenly, I was hit with a wave of nausea, probably brought on by the nagging pain. I hadn’t eaten enough today, either, especially with the medication I was taking. I needed a blast of fresh air. I fought my way through the crowd, jabbing my bad arm twice. By the time I neared the exit, I was close to tears.

My sister, Judd, and Theresa had gathered around a table right next to the exit. They were helping themselves to a full tray of shots. Theresa knocked back two green drinks in quick succession and did the same with the yellow ones.

Breathe, Maggie. In a few more steps, I’d be in the fresh air.

I’d almost made it out of the tent when a megaphone blasted from outside, hurting my ears.

“Attention everyone participating in the dance scene,” a woman’s voice proclaimed. “Please report to your scene coordinators.”

At that instant, a waitress carried a second tray of pale yellow drinks past my sister’s table. 

“Oy,” Theresa shouted. “I want one of those.”

Startled, the waitress stopped and held out the tray. Judd eyed the plate with a dubious expression. “Are these non-alcoholic?”

The waitress shook her head. “These are all champagne shots, sir. Only the brown and purple varieties are non-alcoholic. We have a few leftovers at the front of the marquee if you’re interested.”

Judd nodded but made no comment. He did not, I noted, take a glass. After a brief hesitation, my sister took one, holding it delicately in her hand as though it’d shatter at any second.

Theresa grabbed two. “One for the road,” she roared over the noise, “and one for good luck.”

Beth held her glass up to her lips and took the barest of sips. “Delicious,” she murmured. Her expression of distaste amused me. Beth loved cocktails, and she adored champagne. If she was turning her nose up at a champagne shot, it had to be because of her argument with Coco.

Theresa knocked hers back in record time and followed it up with more.

Turning away from them, I stepped outside the tent and into the blissfully fresh evening air.

The woman with the megaphone barked orders, and cast and crew fell into step with her commands. In an astonishingly short space of time, the amateur dancers were lined up and ready to make their entrance on one side of the terrace, and the pros were assembled on the other. I found a safe spot behind the camera crew and settled into an empty director’s chair to watch the action. Even if I could justify crawling back to my tent, I’d never sleep through this din.

Within twenty minutes of me claiming my seat, ten dancers whirled across the terrace and out onto the lawn. I wasn’t a fan of ballroom dancing, but even I had to admit that the dance Coco had devised was spectacular. The castle in the background and the dramatic clifftop yards away provided a unique backdrop that made the most of Ireland’s lush landscape.

The pros swirled and dipped in a wild blur of colors. The amateurs in the background strutted their stuff with surprising finesse. Coco had obviously concocted a routine that was easy to follow and blended seamlessly with the more complicated moves by the pros.

The dancers glided into position in carefully coordinated groups. I strained to catch sight of Liam, Lenny, and Magnum, but they weren’t part of the first sets of extras to hit the floor. After the pros completed their first routine and the music came to an end, the second routine started up. The extras already performing gracefully swirled off the set, leaving space for more groups. Magnum, complete with a heavy beard, was among the new additions. He wore a canary-yellow ball gown with matching high-heeled shoes. He was partnered with Melanie, who looked stunning in her fitted tuxedo.

The next couple to spin into sight was my sister and Judd. She wore her beautiful sheath wedding dress. The cream lace twinkled under the lights, drawing my attention to the sparkling crystals woven into the lace. Judd looked handsome in his best man’s suit. I didn’t care for the dude, but boy, could he dance. Beth was good, but Judd ruled the floor.

I was so busy watching them move that I almost missed Liam’s entrance. He’d been partnered with Dolly O’Brien, who was obviously in her element. Liam swirled Dolly in time to the music, dipping her at the appropriate moment, and twirling off again.

Lenny and Theresa entered with the last group of amateur dancers. Lenny was surprisingly good on his feet, and it was evident he was compensating for his partner’s deficiencies. While Lenny’s moves were quick and graceful, Theresa’s dancing resembled an elephant on the stampede. My assistant’s frustration was plain to see, but his partner appeared to be oblivious. Theresa’s leathery face had grown tomato red under her tan. She tugged at the bow tie of her tux as though it were strangling her. Lenny dragged her back into line when she missed yet another step.

The next sequence required Lenny to dip his partner. He performed the move with aplomb, but instead of arching her back into an elegant bridge like the other female dancers, Theresa hung like a dead weight. Lenny struggled to get her back into a standing position. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he radiated tension.

The children huddled at one of the guest tables, looking adorable in their wedding finery, and watched the dance with delighted horror. Their faces contorted in an apparent effort not to laugh at Theresa’s antics. The battle was lost the next time Lenny and Theresa swung by their table. Theresa stumbled, forcing her partner to pull her back into position again. His efforts to keep his partner vertical were rewarded when Theresa let out a massive fart.

The kids succumbed to a fit of the giggles, and their laughter set me off. Lenny recoiled, presumably at the smell, before manning up and resuming the dance.

In the next moment, a gurgling sound emanated from Theresa’s throat. She clutched at her neck, and her nails carved jagged marks onto her skin. Eyes bulging, the woman’s mouth opened and shut. She reminded me of the angry carp I’d once seen at an aquarium. A moment later, her body jerked violently, and her face contorted in pain. Lenny, unable to see his partner’s face, whirled her to the edge of the lawn and out of my line of vision.

When they swirled into sight again a moment later, the children’s laughter died. Theresa’s face had turned from bright red to mottled purple. Her eyes bulged, and her mouth formed a silent plea for help. My heart pounding, I leaped to my feet, but a burly security guard blocked my progress.

“You need to get back, ma’am. You’ll ruin the take.”

“Hang the take,” I shouted. “Can’t you see one of the dancers is seriously ill?” Ignoring the horrified yelps of the onlookers, I pushed past the security guard and charged into the swarm of dancers.

The music reached a crescendo and the dancers’ flurry of feet upped the beat. Theresa staggered against her partner, trampling her partner’s feet. Lenny, oblivious to her distress, tried to steer her around the lawn. “Lenny, stop,” I cried. “Theresa’s sick.”

Startled, he turned at the sound of my voice, loosening his grip on his dance partner. Theresa’s inert body slumped against him, sending them both toppling onto the lawn. Lenny thrashed under her weight but to no avail. Theresa had him pinned in place. Suddenly, her eyes rolled back in her head, and her body convulsed violently. She drew in a shuddering breath, exhaled an agonizing rattle, and then fell silent.