At that moment Christina the movie star comes out of the back room and Lucy wants to drop through a hole in the floor. She’scryingin front of amovie star. This is possibly the most embarrassing moment of her life, and that includes when a boy in her first-grade class pulled her pants down in front of everyone.
‘Hi, Lucy,’ Christina says.
Lucy sniffles and can’t look Christina in the eye, although she sees Daphne and Christina look at each other. Great. They probably both think she’s pathetic.
‘Sit down, love,’ Daphne says, gesturing to the old-fashioned chair that’s always next to the counter. For the old ladies to take a rest, Daphne told her once, and Lucy thought that was funny because she’s pretty sure Daphne’s an old lady.
Lucy sniffles again and plops down on the seat, her shoulders sagging. Despite her embarrassment she feels tremendous reliefto be here, of the kind that makes her want to close her eyes and sleep for a year.
‘Now, what’s going on?’ Daphne puts a hand on her shoulder.
Lucy looks up, sees kindness and concern, and starts crying again. ‘I can’t sew,’ she says.
‘Yes, you can!’ Christina cries. ‘I’ve seen evidence of it.’
It feels like a year ago that Lucy brought in the Christmas dress to show Daphne.
‘No,’ she says. ‘I mean … I’m not able to use the machines. I haven’t worked on anything for days.’
‘Why not?’ Daphne says.
A lady enters the shop and Lucy starts jiggling, not wanting to be seen here crying to two people she doesn’t even know that well.
The lady glances over inquisitively.
Daphne looks over her shoulder and says, ‘Hi, Prue – I’ll be there shortly.’
‘Just browsing,’ Prue replies and turns to look at the cabinet where they keep the earrings.
‘Now,’ Daphne pats Lucy’s shoulder again, ‘tell us what’s going on.’
‘My brother doesn’t like me sewing.’
Daphne frowns. ‘And? My son didn’t like my daughter playing the violin, but that didn’t stop her.’
For a brief, treasonous second, Lucy wishes Daphne could have been her mother instead.
‘My brother – my stepbrother … he’s older.’ She stops, thinking of Russell at the dry-cleaning business, the way he used his size to menace her. ‘Bigger.’
Christina looks as though she may be about to cry. ‘Did he hurt you?’ she says.
‘No,’ Lucy says quickly. ‘But …’
‘He doesn’t have to,’ Daphne adds.
‘No,’ Lucy whispers.
Daphne nods slowly. ‘I understand. You can’t sew when he’s not around?’
‘He’s always around.’
Daphne sighs and rolls her eyes. ‘Sounds like he needs a hobby. That’s usually the problem with menaces – they have too much time on their hands. If they just had a hobby they’d be too preoccupied to menace anyone.’
She sighs again and glances at Christina, who is biting her bottom lip and looking away.
‘You all right, love?’ Daphne asks gently.
Christina shakes her head slowly. ‘No. I’m not. I’m sick of men getting away with things like this.’