At this Daphne’s eyes well. Can Christina know about Ophelia’s shop? She can’t know that she’s picked the one name guaranteed to make Daphne cry as she thinks of those early years and the fun she had, and all the fun she has lost since.
‘Are you all right?’ Christina says, putting an arm around her.
‘I’m not sure.’ Daphne pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at her nose and eyes. ‘I seem to have come over all emotional.’
‘I don’t want to impose anything on you,’ Christina says softly. ‘I just love the idea of seeingyourideas come to life.’
Daphne sniffs. ‘So do I. But what about your acting?’
Christina flaps a hand. ‘I may do some of that. But I can have the shop and come and go from Sydney if I need to.’ She smiles mysteriously.
‘What’s that look for?’
‘Duncan’s encouraging me to go for things I want.’
Daphne smiles. She’s always liked the sound of this Duncan and she likes him even more now.
‘I mentioned the idea of the boutique to him,’ Christina says, ‘and also how I wasn’t sure if I could do it alongside any roles that come up. He said he’d help keep an eye on things if I need him to.’ She shrugs and laughs. ‘He has his own shop, so I guess he knows what he’s talking about! And I’ll have other clothes in here – it wouldn’t be that you’d have to make everything. I just …’ She shrugs again. ‘I want to see your designs made.’
Daphne thinks of the customer who just bought the pink dress, how she said she wanted to make it new again. Daphne’s long thought it too late for her to do anything new. Newness is for younger women. Women with more time ahead of them than past.
Yet here’s Christina, one of those younger women, offering her the chance to be new again. The chance to do something she’s always wanted to do. No matter how many years she has left – and no one ever knows how many there are – Daphne knows that this time she would regret not trying.
‘All right,’ she says, and she feels her face relax and a big smile emerge.
Christina’s eyes light up. ‘All right?’
‘All right.’
‘Daphne!’ Christina grabs her and practically jumps up and down on the spot. ‘We’re going to have a frock shop!’
‘We’re going to havethefrock shop,’ Daphne says, patting Christina’s back almost like a mother would.
She knows it’s because she can’t help feeling proud: of Christina, of herself. They are going to make something. They’re going to put loveliness into the world. What better use of her time on this Earth than that?
‘Thank you,’ Daphne says as she lets Christina go.
‘Thankyou,’ Christina says. ‘Now … we have to get to work!’
Daphne doesn’t have the first idea where to start with all of this but she supposes Christina can find out. Or perhaps Lucy can. That girl keeps to herself in the way of people who know a lot more than they wish to let on.
A list. Daphne could start by making a list, then they can work through it all methodically. Yes, a list will help her feel more in control.
Her delight at the prospect of seeing her clothes become real bubbles up as she opens the notebook she keeps on the counter, turns to a new page and writes:
THE FROCK SHOP
1.Talk to Lucy
Then a customer arrives and she decides the rest of the list can wait.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Some nights Lucy stays so late at the charity shop, with Daphne’s blessing, that she doesn’t get home until after her parents are asleep.
Russell isn’t asleep – she can hear him in his room, doing who knows what – so she’s as quiet as she can be. He’s only caught her a couple of times, and both times there was a silent stand-off. The second time, Lucy thought he looked less intimidating than before, but she didn’t stick around to confirm.
She’s become a phantom in her family life, but not in her own. In her own she feels strong – like she’s doing exactly what she’s meant to be doing.