Page 31 of Once Upon a Time in Venice

Issy glanced at the clock, wondering what time he would be back. She wanted to be here to greet him – she didn’t like the idea of Brad Redford coming home to an empty room. Issy knew that tonight he was a guest of Lucia de Santis, and that she was keen to have a role in his movie. Brad had laughingly confided to Issy that she was the kind of woman who didn’t expect to hear the word ‘no’.

Still, it seemed as though he might be coming round to the idea anyway. He’d been looking forward to attending the opera – Issy had hired a tuxedo for him and helped him fasten his bow tie, studiously avoiding eye contact while she did so, hardly able to believe how handsome he looked. He’d been brainstorming ways that they could incorporate La Fenice – and La Leonessa – into High Voltage 3. Issy thought she seemed more trouble than she was worth – Lucia had a reputation as a notorious diva – but she trusted that Brad knew what he was doing.

Issy switched on her laptop and was about to run through Brad’s calendar when her mobile, sitting on the table beside her, began ringing. She snatched it up quickly, assuming it was Brad, but the name flashing on the screen stopped her in her tracks. Issy hesitated, a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn’t want to answer it, but knew she had no choice.

‘Hi, Mom,’ she sighed.

‘Issy? Issy, it’s me.’ Her mother voice was gravelly, and her words were a little slurred.

‘I know, Mom. How are you?’ Issy tried to keep her tone light, but she already knew her mother wasn’t calling to check in on her.

‘Can you come see me? Now?’

Issy found herself getting upset and frustrated at the same time. ‘I told you, Mom. I’m in Venice.’

There was a pause, then her mother asked in confusion, ‘Venice Beach?’

‘No, Venice in Italy. I told you, remember?’

‘What the hell are you doing there?’

‘It’s for work. Speaking of which … I have to go. It’s late here, and—’

‘Please don’t hang up.’

Issy heard the desperation in her mother’s voice and it almost broke her heart.

‘Are you still there?’

Issy paused. ‘Yes, Mom, I’m still here,’ she whispered. She wondered where her mother was, trying to build up a mental picture of her. She hoped she wasn’t in some seedy bar, or – worse – some seedy guy’s house. ‘Where are you?’

‘At home. Can you wire me some money?’

‘Mom … I just sent you some.’

‘Please, honey, you know I wouldn’t ask unless I was desperate.’

‘But you’re just going to … I can’t …’ Tears sprang to Issy’s eyes. She was so tired of dealing with this, and she didn’t know what to do for the best.

‘It’s the last time, I promise. Please. Just a few hundred dollars.’

Issy exhaled, closing her eyes as though it might make all her problems go away. ‘Look I have to go, I’ll call you tomorrow, OK.’

‘What about the money, honey? You know I need it.’ Her mother coughed down the phone, and it sounded like a death rattle. Issy felt a tight knot in her stomach.

‘I’ll see what I can do, Mom,’ she said eventually. ‘Please don’t call me again, not while I’m working.’

Without waiting for her mother’s reply, Issy hung up. Her hands were shaking as she pressed the button, and she sat with her head in her hands for a moment, before wiping away her tears on the cuff of her sweater. She stood up to check in the mirror for the telltale signs of streaming mascara, but jumped as she heard the suite door swing open and Brad’s deep, drawling voice call out, ‘Iz?’

Issy hastily checked her appearance and dashed through to the living room, pasting on a bright smile. ‘I’m here! How was the opera?’ she called cheerily.

‘It was amazing. Lucia de Santis – whew, she is really something.’

‘Are you going to put her in the movie?’ Issy asked in surprise.

‘You know what, I actually think I might. She was goddamn dynamite, and it could really broaden the reach of the movie – if it translates on screen.’

Issy nodded, trying to focus on what Brad was saying, and forget about the call she’d had with her mother. Should she send her the money? Issy knew exactly what it would be spent on, but her mother had sounded desperate on the phone, and if it would just keep her going until Issy got back to the States …