clouds. âItâs supposed to clear by then.â
âGary,â Richard called out. âThe generators need to go to the three sites youâve got on your plan. Youâll need tarps ready, too.â
âIâll leave you to it, Richard. Iâll go inside. I donât want any damage at all, and I know theyâve begun walk-throughs with the dancers.â She hurried back into the house and headed up the corridor to the ballroom to double check all the furniture had been moved. As she entered, one look at the expressions of the dancers soothed her fears. They might smoke or sup vodka as they practiced plies, but they understood beauty.
âSian, this place is so cool. Itâs awesome.â
She nodded to the girl in the luminous pink leg warmers, and smiling, moved through the room to step out onto the terrace. Her initial panic had settled. Things seemed to be going according to schedule. The mobile kitchen offering food for the crew and cast had started to serve coffee. She counted the band members as they stood next to the truck with steaming mugs in their hands. Theyâd better use the ashtrays provided. If she found one butt where it shouldnât be, sheâd kick someoneâs ass for sure.
A light breeze promised no rain despite the wretched weather forecast.
âSian, come look at this, will you?â Jerry beckoned.
She followed him out into the long corridor, entered the music room, and was pleased to see Jerry had covered the worst part of the damaged walls with his big mirrors. This room, where so much beauty was spoiled by damage from the fire in the house, always brought a sigh. As to the wrecked conservatory beyond, she could only guess how much Magnus wanted that renovated next year. âRight, whatâs the problem?â
âOur lead ballerina has put on pounds since the fitting. One twirl and sheâll pop the seams. I think sheâll look like a split saveloy roll in this frock if she tries to perform in it. I want to put her in a green gown I have on the rail.â
âShow me the gown, Jerry.â Sian crossed the room to him. âWhy has Tanya put on so much weight?â she whispered.
He smirked and cocked his head toward the dancer. âNatureâs bounty. Sheâs three months gone.â
âOh, God.â
The elfin-blond ballerina in a short robe sat waiting with a worried expression.
âShould I say congratulations, Tanya?â Sian asked.
The girl smiled. âOh, yes. This is my last job this year. When this one is finished, I go home to Shropshire and Carl. We are going to grow spuds, keep chickens, and have a beautiful baby.â
Sian leaned forward and gave Tanya a hug. âJerryâs got another dress he thinks will be right for you. Shall we take a look and try it?â
âThanks. I didnât want to let you down, but I never thought Iâd get this big so soon.â
âBig?â The girl looked ethereal slender. âItâs not a problem as long as this dress fits. Will you be okay with the arabesques? What about the lifts?â
âSure. Robbie could lift a brick privy. Heâs got a lot of inner body strength. He wonât drop me.â
Jerry held up a sheaf of ivy green chiffon, the bodice decorated with jet and silver spangles. âThis is the dress. What do you think?â
âPerfect. Try it on, Tanya,â Sian said. âWeâve got the shoes to match, yes?â she asked Jerry.
The blond-haired girl beamed. âI carry a lot of spare shoes in the car. Iâve got flats and blocksâsilver, black, emerald, and bottle green.â
âSilver with it. Jerry, get the makeup girl to put a silver spray on her hair, green ribbons, maybe feathers, anything floaty.â She turned to the dancer. âThat okay with you?â
âGreat, I was so scared youâd send me home.â
âNo, I think youâve done us a favor, too. This green
Yvonne Lehman
Laura Boudreau
Bryan Gruley
Saro Yen
Nino Ricci
Verónica Wolff
Dana Elmendorf
Jasmine Haynes
Melody Carlson
MAGGIE SHAYNE