Invisible(67)

“She’s got an incredible talent,” he whispered to Antonia after a particularly difficult scene of Olympia’s, which she handled masterfully.

“She must have gotten it from her grandmother, not from me.” She smiled at him, remembering Fabienne’s visit. She had never returned.

“I’ve seen all your movies. We both know where she got it from,” he said. He was forty and looked like a boy to her. He had a youthful style and energy, and couldn’t believe his good luck to be working with her. She was one of the best directors he’d ever seen. And no matter how difficult she was, Olympia had talent too. And time and life might soften some of her sharp edges.

Olympia held up well during the filming, and watched the other actors intently during their scenes, which was also a good way to learn how people worked. Antonia was pleased with what she saw her do.

    And Boden had proven himself to be an able assistant, who tried to anticipate her needs, and understood a lot about camera angles, and how she liked to work. She was grateful for his help, and was coming to trust his eye and his suggestions. He was profoundly respectful of her talent as a director.



* * *



—

They wrapped the film just before Thanksgiving, and as they left the set, something occurred to Antonia, and she turned to Boden with a smile. She thought he had moved to New York recently from Boston or Chicago, or some other city, and she wondered if he had anywhere to go for the holiday.

He looked mildly embarrassed when she asked him, and he felt like a loser but decided it didn’t matter.

“Actually, no, I don’t,” he admitted. “My parents moved to Florida last year, and they don’t want my brothers and me home for the holidays. They go on cruises instead now. My brothers live in Montana, in a place that’s murder to get to. And I just moved to New York. So, the short answer to your question is no.”

“Then why don’t you come to my place? We always have a mixed bag of friends over for Thanksgiving lunch.” She noticed he looked like a cowboy himself, tall and lanky with an easy style. She wondered if he came from Montana. He was grateful for the invitation, and accepted with pleasure. He liked being with her.

When Dash came home from UC Davis for the holiday, he told his mother almost as soon as he came through the door that he was going to South Africa for six months on a special project for school. Four students had been chosen, and he was leaving in January. She was happy for him, he was following his dream, which she had encouraged him to do.

    “Can I come and visit?” she asked him.

“Sure,” he said with a shy smile so like her own. They were so much alike, so much more so than she and Olympia, who always reminded Antonia of her mother, although she scarcely knew her, and her memories of her weren’t happy ones.

On Thanksgiving, when he showed up with a bottle of wine, Dash and Boden got into a serious discussion before lunch about the game preserve where Dash was going to be working as an intern for six months. Fred joined them for major holidays, since he had no family of his own, so he was there too. He liked being around her kids and her.

It was always a warm family gathering at their table, despite the occasional snide remark from Olympia, or criticism aimed at her mother, which she could never resist. Antonia still hoped she’d grow out of it one day and soften up. At eighteen, there was still hope that she might. Antonia had invited Lara too, but she was going to friends in Dallas this time with a new man in her life. She had never remarried and always said she didn’t want to.

Boden thanked Antonia for inviting him before he left. It had been interesting seeing Antonia at home, where she seemed so comfortable, aware of everyone, and tried to make them feel welcome. She was much more intense on the set, constantly checking the camera angles, and creating a bond with the cast to get the best performances out of them she could. She had learned that from watching Hamish direct.

Boden was looking forward to working with her on post-production. She had a reputation for being a taskmaster, but got extraordinary results. And post-production was important too.

    “I’m glad you could join us,” Antonia said easily as he was leaving.

“You have wonderful kids,” he said, smiling at her. He was a good-looking man, and was older than he appeared. He had a boyish style about him, with a ready smile and warm brown eyes.

“That depends on the day,” she said about her kids with a grin, and he laughed. “But generally, you’re right. I’m pretty crazy about them myself.”

He had enjoyed talking to Fred Warner too, and knew who he was. He was a famous dramatic agent. He had a good sense of humor and had everyone laughing at dinner. At first, Boden had wondered if he and Antonia were a couple, but he eventually figured out that they were good friends and there was no man there attached to Antonia, which surprised him. She was such an attractive woman and her husband had been dead for a long time.

It had been a nice Thanksgiving, everyone had had a good time, and Antonia, Dash, and Olympia sat relaxing for a few minutes in the living room after all the guests had left.

“I like your new AD, Mom, he knows a lot about animals. He lived in Africa for two years after college,” Dash commented.

“Good to know,” she said vaguely. “I think he lived in Italy too. He speaks Italian. I heard him talking to one of the soundmen on the set. I think he lived in Florence. I haven’t talked to him much. He just started with this film when Harry McAvoy left. And things have been moving pretty fast on the set. He just moved here from somewhere.”