Page 70 of Best Supporting Actor

He would have said more, but a voice behind them called out, “Hey, you two!” and they turned to find Bea jogging towards them. She persuaded them to take a diversion to her favourite coffee shop where she sprung for coffees and pastries for everyone. When they reached the venue, this offering prompted muchoohingandaahing, not to mention a good-natured tussle between Henry and Freddie over the only chocolate twist. Once the pastries had been divided up and they were all eating, Jay told the others about his mother’s plan.

Tag had half-expected Henry to disapprove, but he seemed delighted.

“We’re in great shape for opening night,” he said. “I was already planning to tell you all to take the weekend off and completely relax before the final push on Monday.” He grinned. “I think a party is just what the doctor ordered—and your mother’s parties are always wonderful, Jay.”

No doubt on Henry’s part, then, as to who the real hostess of this bash was.

Everyone else seemed equally excited. Freddie was delighted that she’d have an opportunity to wear her new dungarees, while Bea was already texting her father to find out if he would be coming. Only Jay seemed indifferent as he sat quietly, shredding his uneaten Danish into a pile of crumbs.

When breakfast was over, Henry announced that he wanted to run through the first scene of the second act again. They all groaned, mostly good-naturedly. They had tried this scene two different ways at the last few rehearsals and Henry couldn’t seem to decide which he preferred.

“Today, we decide,” he said firmly.

Bea announced, somewhat irritably, that since she had already given her view on the matter the day before, she’d go and ‘deal with her inbox’ for the next couple of hours.

They were running the scene for the second time when someone slipped through the door at the back of the auditorium and sat himself down a few rows back from Henry and Freddie.

It was Giles Cox, Tag noted with irritation. Now that they were at the main festival venue every day, Giles had taken to popping in from time to time, usually hanging all over Jay like a bad smell. Even though Jay had told Tag that nothing had happened between him and Giles, Tag still felt an irrational bolt of jealousy whenever Jay so much as smiled at him. He tried not to show it, but it bothered him that Jay seemed to feel it was his responsibility to keep Giles happy. Particularly since Tag knew Giles kept badgering Jay to ‘let the cat out of the bag’ about his involvement, when it was obvious Jay didn’t want that.

“Tag!” Henry said sharply, and Tag realised he’d got lost in his own head.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I got distracted by—” He waved in Giles’s direction, and Henry frowned, turning to see who he was gesturing at.

“Don’t mind me,” Giles said, unabashed. “Just observing for a bit.”

Henry turned back to face the stage, his expression tight. But all he said was, “Take it from‘What is this place?’” and they resumed.

They’d barely been going five minutes, though, before they were interrupted again. This time, the door was flung open, and the new arrival swept inside with unapologetic regality.

“Mother,” Jay said, and there was a note of resigned exasperation in his voice that was not echoed by the other cries that followed an instant later.

Henry, delighted: “Cordy, darling!”

Giles, awestruck: “DameCordelia Warren!”

Freddie, affectionate: “Cee, you old tart!”

They all left their seats and went to her, moths to a flame.

Dame Cordelia in the flesh was a little shorter than Tag had expected—a good head shorter, if not more, than her son—but she certainly packed a punch. Her high-necked dress, which hugged her ample curves, was a deep emerald green. She’d paired it with bold, jet jewellery and clunky black boots, and her short hair was styled into irreverent spikes. But it was her expressive face that really captured you.

As she greeted Henry and Freddie, she was all sparkling delight, eyes merry as she laughed. Then, as Giles introduced himself, she was graciousness personified, her gaze warm and interested as he spoke, modestly pleased when he showered her with obsequious compliments.

“Now where is this son of mine?” she demanded, though she had clearly already spotted Jay, standing on the low stage beside Tag. She eyed him, her eyes twinkling with mock reproach. “Come here and give your mother a hug, you heathen! I haven’t seen you in forever!”

Jay rolled his eyes at her theatrics, but there was a smile tugging at his mouth as he left the stage to go to her, and when he reached her, he pulled her into a tight, affectionate hug. Tag knew that Jay’s mother wasn’t the easiest parent—from the things Jay had said, Tag had the feeling that everyone in Dame Cordelia’s life, including her children, came second to her greatest passion in life—but they were clearly very fond of one another, and seeing them like this made Tag’s chest ache a bit. He missed his own family.

When they broke apart, Jay turned and beckoned Tag over. “Come and meet my mother, Tag.” A bolt of pleasure went through Tag at that invitation, and he wasn’t sure whether it was at the thought of finally meeting one of his acting idols, or at the intimate note in Jay’s voice that made the invite feel oddly special. Just for him.

In truth, it was probably both.

He hopped down from the stage and jogged over to them, smiling shyly at Dame Cordelia, who beamed at him and grabbed hold of his hands, squeezing them lightly as Jay said, “Mother, this is Tag O’Rourke. Tag, my mother, Cordelia Warren.”

“It’s justmarvellousto finally meet you, Tag,” she gushed, looking right into his eyes. “Henry speaks very highly of you, and he’sverydifficult to please!” She grinned at Henry, who just shook his head wryly.

“You’re very kind,” Tag said. “I’m absolutely star-struck right now, as you can probably imagine.”

“Oh,pshaw!” Dame Cordelia scoffed, but she liked what he’d said; he could tell. She clearly adored being the centre of attention.