The Playing Fields

Chapter 21

The sound of the doorbell ended their discussion, and Victoria sat back, waiting for Nigel's reaction. When he stayed, looking down at the top of the table, she shrugged resignedly and went to answer the door.

"Hi Victoria," Susan stood bubbling on the door step, her gauzy, flower print dress clutching at the back of her legs from the breeze, "here's the list... is uh, Nigel here?"

"Sure, c'mon in Susan, he's in the kitchen." She followed the young woman down the hall toward the bright space.

"Nigel, hi!"

"Susan." He glanced past her to his aunt, who ignored the look and went to the coffee pot.

"I just made some coffee," she said, emptying the basket, "would you like a cup? We're going to have ours out on the deck."

"Sounds delish. I'd like to hear what you think of our choices, Nigel, they took quite a while to make." She helped Victoria with the coffee and followed Nigel to the sliding doors of the deck, "I thought we'd never agree on some of them." Susan set the tray on the glass table and helped herself to one of the mugs, bringing one to Nigel and settling beside him on the lounge.

Nigel casually removed himself to the patio table, pleading the need for space to examine the list. It was all neatly typed and organized on a sheet of Ashton Hills, town stationery, a product of the efficient Amanda, he suspected, with the character's names down one column on the left, and the chosen actor on the right.

"I see Mrs. Osborne was selected for Thelma O'Brien's part after all." Nigel smiled to himself, having used her as his model for the role of the promiscuous wife.

"She actually seemed quite willing to take on the part. Daryl was a little upset though." Susan sat on the edge of the lounge cradling her coffee mug in both hands.

"And Benbow went to Milo. Why am I not surprised?" He tossed Victoria a smirk for her design of that particular character.

"It's funny you know, that was a unanimous choice. Even Daryl voted for Milo, and you heard him the other night." Susan got up and stood behind Nigel at the table. "I want to know what you think of my character." Her voice hinted disappointment.

Nigel traced his finger down the list until he found her name and read across. "Mary Woo." He bit his lip and avoided Victoria's challengingly innocent look. "Well it certainly isn't a role any of the others could handle." His neck hairs rose as she leaned over his shoulder. "I mean, aside from the fact that she's uh, ethnic, she uh, shares the same uhmm, enthusiasm and vitality as you... I uh- I think it's a good choice. A good part." He sat dead still, dreading her reaction, stunned when she gave out with her trademark "Eeeeeew!" and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Oh golly Nigel, I'm so pleased you think that. I just know I'll do justice to the part. It's almost like you wrote it with me in mind!"

"Yes. Well ..."

Susan wiggled in her invisible hula-hoop and kissed his cheek. "Look at the rest. See what you think of them."

As planned, and predicted, the roles went to exactly the right people. Victoria sighed contentedly and sipped her coffee, her eyes closing slowly as she let her thoughts drift in a waltz of complete rapture.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Susan set her mug down and went to Victoria, taking her hands with excited affection, "The council wants you to consider being our dialogue coach. You and Nigel seem to work together so well, I'm sure, as director, he'd love to have you there helping." She bounced around between the two of them, her flimsy dress wrapping and unwrapping about her legs.