Chapter 14
Sonya poured water into the bottom chamber of her new percolator, then spooned ground coffee into the top basket. Setting the basket onto the stem, she then put the cover on and placed the percolator on the stove burner.
“How’d you sleep?” she said as April joined her in the kitchen.
“Dad snored all night,” she whined.
April had slept on the sofa while Dr. Ang placed pillows and cushions on the floor to sleep.
“Consider the mattress he had, that’s surprising.”
“Dad said we should be getting our own bungalow soon. I think we can make it work until then.”
“Good.”
“Need help with breakfast?”
“If you’d like. There’s some pancake mix in the pantry.”
“Pancakes. It’s been ages since I’ve eaten that.”
Dr. Ang joined them. “What smells so good? Coffee?”
Sonya glanced at the percolator. The glass knob atop the cover of the pot had yet to show the rich brown of a well-brewed coffee. “It won’t be long.”
“We’re making pancakes,” April declared as she mixed the batter.
“With real maple syrup?” Dr. Ang ventured.
“I’m afraid not,” Sonya said, pulling out a bottle of store-bought imitation syrup. “But this is actually quite good.”
The coffee finally bubbled up with the desired shade of brown. Sonya turned the stove burner off and poured a cup for Dr. Ang.
“Thank you,” he said as he leaned back against the dinette table.
April let out an annoyed sigh. “I don’t think we’re going to have enough of this mix for all three of us.”
Sonya pointed to the four yellow tin boxes on the counter. “The biggest one has flour in it,” she told April. “Just add a bit, and we’ll add another egg.”
April smiled as she looked at the decorative boxes. “Tea. Coffee. Sugar. Flour. Is that what’s really in each box?”
“Yes, but I’m considering getting rid of the sugar – I hardly ever use any – and putting in cookies instead.”
“I’ll be sure to remember that.”
With more pancake mixture ready, she poured a large spoonful into a hot cast iron pan and spread it out.
“You look as if you’ve always made pancakes.”
“I’m a fast learner.”
Dr. Ang, quietly sipping his coffee, watched them with tender eyes. Sonya caught his glance and wondered what he was thinking.
With breakfast ready, Sonya set the table and they settled in to eat.
It was hard to not stare at her daughter, to not make the comparisons.
The shine of her hair, the wisdom in her eyes and the grace of hands; all so similar to her own, especially when she was that age.
But at that age, Sonya was already engaged, then married to the Emperor, who was also only a teenager. That was how it was back then.
She saw so many similarities, but then again, as her mother, she wanted to see them. She wanted that visible confirmation that this young woman came of her womb.
Did the young woman see the resemblance as well? Like the way she ate; April had the habit of looking at every morsel of food at the end of her fork before putting it in her mouth. The very same habit Sonya now tried to control to avoid the obvious comparison.
“Have you read the script yet?” Sonya said as she set another pancake on her plate and poured syrup over it.
The cozy little dinette table barely had room for their plates, but they made it work.
“Not all of it, but it really seems like an interesting role. I take it that I’m the smart one who figures everything out.
” April looked squarely at Sonya for a confident moment.
“I don’t want to impose...” Her confidence waned and faded away with every word.
“You’ve already taught me so much those years as my teacher but. ..”
“Go ahead, April. Tell me. You know you can tell me anything.”
She looked down at her plate for a long moment before locking eyes with Sonya again. “I was hoping we could read lines together.”
Sonya smiled, immensely pleased with the request. “I was hoping you’d ask. I’d love to read lines with you. We have several scenes together.”
“Yes. I noticed that. I think it could be helpful for both of us.”
“And what about me?” Dr. Ang said with a teasing grin.
“Fortunately for you, Dr. Ang, the king is more of a brooder than a talker. I do believe you have very few lines, with the exception of one long and emotional speech.”
He shrugged. “It’s just as well. While I’m excited about appearing in this production, I don’t feel I’ve had a true calling for the stage.”
“Oh, Dad,” April said. “I’m sure you’ll do a great job.”
He grabbed his coffee cup and got up to pour himself more.
“It might only be lukewarm by now. It’s been sitting there for over twenty minutes.
“Too bad you don’t have one of those new microwave ovens,” April said.
“A new what?” Sonya said, looking at the younger woman as if she’d spoken in a foreign language.
“It’s this new thing that’s hitting the market. You put your food or drink in it, zap it for a minute and it comes out piping hot.”
“I’m too old for these new-fangled things,” Sonya said with a laugh.
“I’m with you,” Dr. Ang said. “Nothing better than the simple, old-fashioned way.”
*****
“WE HAVE ONE SPECTACULAR song together,” Sonya said, pulling out her copy of the script as well as the music and lyrics to their song. “Want to give it a try?”
“Can I take a look at that?” April said.
Sonya handed her the music. “It’s a bit of a complicated melody and there are a few unusual harmonies here and there. I could sing it for you to give you an idea.”
But, looking at the music, April began to sing. “If ever we meet, would you know me.” Her voice was perfect; her tone angelic. “It’s been so long since you’ve been free. If I climb higher, I’ll lose sight of you. But if I fall, we both lose.”
Stunned, Sonya smiled and applauded when April finished the song.
“Was that okay?” April said.
“Okay? That was so beautiful.” Sonya looked at the sheets of music in April’s hand. “I don’t remember teaching you to read music.”
“You did, very briefly. I think I was too young and inexperienced to really make the connection with the note I sang and the dots on the paper. After you left, I practiced. I was determined to prove to myself that I could do it. I sat at the piano, played the note, then sang it. At first, I stuck to simple melodies and even read songs for which I already knew the melody. In time I managed to train myself to grasp every note.”
“I’m impressed. Even I still struggle to read properly.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Want to run through the song together?” Sonya said. “The one thing that does not appear on the music sheet is the harmony in the bridge. For whatever reason, the composer neglected to put that part down.”
“Let’s do it.”
They sang the song but struggled through with the harmonies.
“Like you said, this little part here is strange. I can’t seem to wrap my head around it.
“Think of the tension,” Sonya said. “Those two notes come together during the line, ‘come to the end of my life’. Those notes are fighting one another. It’s not meant to be a pretty harmony. It’s meant to bring a sense of unease to the listener.”
April nodded. “Okay. I understand. Let’s try again.”
They sang the song once more, playing with the emotions, whispering certain lines softly then belting it out, making it a truly special rendition. Finishing their last run through, they were surprised by the soft applause of Dr. Ang.
“Angels,” he said, a broad grin on his lips. “That’s what you two sound like together; earth angels. Sonya, you have the more mature, earthy tone while April; you have a sweet yet raw quality to your voice. And together, it’s heaven.”
“You’re too sweet,” Sonya said.
“And biased,” April added. “He thinks I always sound like an angel, even when I first get up in the morning.”
“I have an idea,” Sonya said. “Why don’t we go and share our version of this song with Betty, see what she thinks.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet,” April confessed.
Baffled, Sonya looked at her. “Why? Why wouldn’t you be?”
“I heard that she could be a little intimidating.”
“Oh,” Sonya said with a laugh.
“I would like to meet her, and I know I’ll have to at some point, but... I heard that she could be tough when things don’t go her way. What if she doesn’t like me?”
“Don’t worry. First off, Betty has to be a little hard and demanding if she wants to get what she needs out of her cast. Sometimes that determination comes out as rough or intimidating, but she really is fair.”
“If you say so.”
“Besides, with me at your side, she won’t dare take a hard line with you.” Sonya put a protective arm around her daughter’s shoulder, said goodbye to Dr. Ang and headed out of the small bungalow.
“I love how confident and self-assured you are,” April said as they slowly walked to the studio. “I’d heard that women out here are just playthings. They’re used and discarded like a worn-out toy. But you... You’re different, aren’t you?”
Sonya bit her lip. “Is that a good thing? Perhaps I’m too hard and no one wants me as their plaything.”
“Ah, you know that’s not true.”
Sonya shrugged. “Some people don’t like a woman who is too self-assured, a woman who is a little aloof. But not all, there are some level-headed people out there with good old common sense who aren’t intimidated by smart people but knows how to work with them.”
“I think the only people who might not want to be around you are the very same people you wouldn’t want to have around. There’s a difference between being someone’s plaything and being a playing partner... you know, on the same level with one another.”
Sonya stopped walking and turned to her daughter. “When in the world did you get so wise? You’ve just barely arrived, new to the entertainment business and yet you seem to grasp what others don’t after years out here.”
April laughed. “I guess Dad taught me that I was worthy of someone’s love and respect; that I wasn’t just a plaything.”
“Good job, that man.” Sonya resumed walking.
But as they walked, April looked at her, tender yearning in her eyes. Did she have any clue? Was it possible that she questioned their true connection?
No, dear. Don’t even think of it. It’s far too dangerous for the world to know that you are mine.
“This is so much more exciting than I expected. There’s something magical about this place. How do you not get lost in all this?”
“Actually, I did a few times, at the beginning. I once walked into the wrong studio and interrupted the taping of this really funny show. Everyone stopped to look at me. It was so embarrassing.”
April laughed and leaned into Sonya. “I hope I don’t do something like that. I think I would die.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Don’t be so afraid to do embarrassing things sometimes,” Sonya said with a laugh. “They make for good stories.”
“Right.”
“Here we are.” Sonya opened the door and led April down to the set of the queen’s chambers. “Much of the action happens here... at least the parts that involve us.”
“It all looks so real. These stone walls...” April reached out to touch the wall.
“Please don’t touch the sets.”
Startled, they both turned to see Betty coming up to them.
“Oh, my,” Sonya said. “You really startled us.”
“So, this is our new queen’s lady.”
“Yes, this is April. April, this is Betty, the director.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss.”
Betty looked at April with an appraising eye. “You’re young. That usually mean inexperienced.”
“I could sing for you if you’d like,” April said. Fear was painfully evident in her eyes; fear of not being good enough.
Betty clucked her tongue and shrugged with chilling nonchalance. “Zwick already hired you. There’s nothing much I can do about it now. If you can’t sing, we’ll just have to dub you.” She turned on her heel and walked away. “And don’t touch the set!”
“Hmm,” April let out. “I don’t think she liked me very much.”
Sonya didn’t know what to say. She’d never seen Betty so harsh and rude.
“Don’t worry,” she finally said. “These past days have been hard on her... you know... losing cast members, having Zwick hire people without her knowledge... all that. Give her a day or two and she’ll be fine.
The minute she hears you sing, she’ll love you. ”