Invisible(44)

On her birthday, Hamish organized a party for her at San Lorenzo, and a large group of them went dancing at Annabel’s afterward with some of the cast, since he was a member there. She was twenty-one now, and had come of age. She felt very adult, which made him smile. Twenty-one was still a baby to him, and to most of them. But after her London summer, Antonia felt very sophisticated and grown-up.

She hadn’t heard from her father all summer. He was still angry about the movie she would be in. But Lara called her from time to time. They had rented a different, smaller house in the Hamptons, went there on weekends, and for the month of August. Things were tense between Lara and Brandon, ever since she had confronted him about his treatment of Antonia. He couldn’t tolerate being criticized and challenged, particularly by his wife. And she couldn’t stand the heartless way he treated his daughter. Lara felt guilty being the object of his affection, when his daughter got none.



* * *



—

There were tears when Antonia said goodbye to the crew in London, and she had promised to come back. Hamish had cleverly gotten around her needing a work permit, by depositing a “gift” for her in her bank in the States. It was more than she’d expected, and she was surprised by how generous he was.



* * *



—

    Senior year took off in a rush. She and Jake had been given rooms in the same dorm again, and they hung out together more than ever, and worked side by side doing their homework assignments.

He had met a sophomore he liked in October, so he had a little less free time for Antonia, but he had dinner with her regularly, so she didn’t feel abandoned. It was the first serious relationship he’d had since he was there, and he was enjoying it. Antonia was happy for him, and focused on her schoolwork.

She was in her dorm room when Hamish called her in December. It was snowing outside, and she was happy not to be out. She was surprised to hear his voice. She hadn’t heard from him since she left London three months before. He had no reason to call her. The movie was finished, and due to open before Christmas. She couldn’t wait to see it.

He asked her how she was, and then switched to the reason for his call, as soon as she said she was fine.

“What are you doing day after tomorrow?” he asked her.

“My laundry,” she said with a laugh, but it was true.

“No, you’re not. You’re coming to the premiere of Summer Snow with me.” It was the movie she was in. “I flew in for it, but I need a date, and I’d like you to be it. I hate going to those events alone, and this is your debut,” he teased her, but it was true. And it was a good excuse to see her. The premiere was at a new theater, and there would be a party at the Plaza afterward. “Those events are always a zoo, but I have to go, and you really should too.” There would be a red carpet for press interviews, and the two stars of the picture were going. The media would corner any big star who came to the event. And there would be plenty of photo ops. It sounded overwhelming to Antonia.

    “Do I have to go?” she asked, sounding skittish.

“Do you know how many women would give their right arm, left leg, and several other body parts to go with me?” he said, teasing her. She laughed. “Come with me. If it’s too big a mess, we’ll leave. I promise.” He had always kept his promises to her so far.

“I have nothing to wear.” The time-honored, all-purpose excuse.

“Then go shopping. That’s easily remedied.”

“I have a paper due.” Another excellent excuse, and he knew it.

“I’ll write it for you. Now go buy something to wear. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime appearance in a film, you have to go!”

She followed his advice and went to Bergdorf the next day, and found a simple black velvet evening gown with a rhinestone jacket that made her look like a czarina. She bought rhinestone earrings too, and she had a small black velvet clutch. All she was missing were the shoes, and she found those at Bergdorf too. She had everything she needed. She’d used some of her money from her summer job to pay for it. She liked the simplicity and clean lines of what she’d chosen, and her figure was sensational, and the dress showed off her tiny waist.

He picked her up the next day at five-thirty. She had put her school assignments aside. He had allowed half an hour to get uptown to the theater, and he felt a little odd picking up a schoolgirl to go to the premiere. He was wearing an impeccably cut tuxedo and looked like a movie star himself.

    When they got to the theater, there were banks of photographers outside held back by red velvet ropes with security guards to keep them in line. Inside, there were even more photographers, and waiters were serving champagne and caviar hors d’oeuvres. There was a long area roped off as the red carpet, with a backdrop that would work well in photos. Assorted stars were lined up to be interviewed by newspapers, magazines, and TV.

Hamish and Antonia made their way decorously down the expanse of red carpet, and had almost reached the theater itself, where they would view the movie, when the press realized who she was and started shouting her name. She felt foolish posing for photographs with such a small part in the film. But the press didn’t care. They wanted her. Antonia and Hamish posed for a few shots and then walked into the theater to claim their reserved seats. Hamish could feel her shaking as she held his arm, and she looked spectacular in the black velvet dress and rhinestone bolero. A hundred flashes went off in their faces as they walked into the theater, and he could feel her flinch.