What Goes on Tour(22)
"Why didn't you use the internet?"
"That wouldn't help me learn how to perform in front of real people," Adrian said.
"How many get-ups do you think we tried?" George asked.
Adrian flashed a glance at Libby. "At least a dozen." He shifted in his seat.
What was he uncomfortable about?
The waitress arrived with four different appetizers. Libby gaped at the amount of food they put down on the table. Adrian wasn't kidding when he said they'd over ordered.
Kate waited until the waitress had gone and then picked up the little tongs next to the rice paper rolls. "Who wants a roll?"
George lifted his plate toward her. "I do."
Kate dished out the rolls and then dunked her own into the dipping sauce, taking a bite with relish. "Yum."
Conversation abated while they each tried the appetizers. Libby waited to see if the others ate using their fingers before she did. She'd been out with people who used cutlery for finger food and thought her downright uncouth for using her fingers. She didn't want to make a bad impression.
The food was delicious and Libby had to stop herself from scoffing it down, she was so hungry. Sometime during the day she'd run out of snacks and hadn't wanted to stop writing to get more.
Curious to find out about how Adrian had created Kent, she asked, "Did you always perform as Kent?"
"No." He took a bite of a little parcel of something.
Was he going to elaborate? She waited.
Adrian swallowed. He sighed. "I tried a few different looks before Kent. The crowd absolutely loved him so there was no real doubt about using him. We signed a record deal less than three months after the first performance."
"Did you sing the same kind of music the whole time?"
"Yeah, it was always rock."
Libby pressed her lips together, thinking. Did a singer's appearance really change how an audience reacted that much? Or did Adrian behave differently on stage when he was Kent? She suspected it was the latter.
"You should see some of the pictures of Uncle Ade before Kent." Kate laughed.
"I'd love to."
"Trust me, you don't want to see them," Adrian said, grimacing. He smiled a little at her, his eyes dancing, his lips turned up just a touch at the sides.
Libby's heart stuttered and she stared at him until a waitress reached in front of her to clear the table and broke her line of sight. Had anyone noticed her reaction? Kate was playing with her fork, and George was handing one of the plates to the waitress. She was safe.
What was it about Adrian that made her react this way? She took a sip of her drink to lubricate her dry mouth. She needed to change the subject. "Tomorrow's our last day in Melbourne, isn't it?"
"That's right. On to Sydney the day after," George said.
"How long does it take to pack up the stage?"
"The crew will do it straight after the show tomorrow night and it will be in Sydney by morning. They'll have a couple of days off before we have access to the center to set it up."
"We're going to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and go on a boat cruise and other things too, aren't we, Uncle Ade?"
"Sure will, kiddo."
It sounded like a lot of fun, but Libby reminded herself she wasn't required for the first couple of days while they were in Sydney. Besides, she had her novel to edit. Hopefully she'd get a good portion of it done before she started looking after Kate. But maybe she'd find an activity for the two of them to do. She would see what was suitable for a ten-year-old in Sydney.
The main meals came out and Kate kept chatting about all the things she wanted to do. They were going to be there for just over a week so she should have time to do most of it.
When they finished they decided against dessert and coffee and instead headed back to the hotel. Libby got her purse out but Adrian put a hand on hers to stop her getting money out. A pleasant zing went up her arm and she shivered.
"We invited you to join us. I'll pay."
There was no arguing with him so Libby put her purse away.
It had stopped raining but was dark and cold when they stepped outside the restaurant. Libby shivered, glad she had someone to walk with back to her hotel. In the lobby, Kate chattered about which game she wanted to play when they got back to the suite. She finally decided on a card game.
At their floor they went their separate ways. Libby ignored the twinge of disappointment she felt when Kate didn't invite her to join them. George had told her Adrian liked his space when he wasn't working and Libby had to respect that. She was the nanny, not part of the family.
She'd run herself a bath and read the book she'd brought with her. Then she'd have an early night, so she could start on her edits first thing in the morning. It would be great. She hadn't had a bath in ages, as her rental shack didn't have one. She'd add some bubbles, have a long soak and pamper herself.
Libby opened the door and walked into the dark, empty hotel room.
She wasn't lonely.
She was perfectly content by herself.
She'd learned she had to be.
Chapter 8
The next night Libby knocked on the door to Kate's suite. To her surprise, instead of Kate's smiling face popping out from behind the door, it was Adrian who opened it. He gave her a small smile. "Come in."
There was something wrong.
Libby stepped into the room. In a quiet voice Adrian said, "Kate's been in a mood for the last couple of hours but she won't tell me what's wrong. Maybe you'll have better luck." Raising his voice as he moved into the room, he called, "Kate, Libby's here."
There was no response.
"She's in her room." He sighed, worry lines creasing his forehead.
"I'll talk to her," Libby said. What had happened for Kate not to be her cheerful self?
He hesitated for a moment and then said, "I haven't had a chance to pack yet, so if you could I'd appreciate it." He didn't look at her while he spoke, as if he was embarrassed. "There's a cooler in the cupboard for the food and Kate generally packs her own suitcase, but you need to gather up all the games and DVDs." He gazed at Kate's room, clearly worried.
His cell rang and he answered it. "I'll be right down."
Libby smiled what she hoped was an everything-will-be-fine smile. "If I can cheer her up, I'll send George a text." She reached out and grasped his hand, then realized she'd overstepped the limit. Before she could let go, Adrian squeezed her hand and then dropped it.
He turned and knocked on Kate's door, stuck his head in and said a few words. Kate jumped up and gave him a hug before returning to her bed. He closed the bedroom door behind him and turned to Libby. "I hope you have more luck," he said. With one last look at the closed door, he left.
Libby let out the breath she'd been holding.
Knocking on the bedroom door, she called, "Are you all right, Kate?"
"Go away." The voice was loud despite the closed door.
"Is there anything you want to talk to me about?" Was there something Kate couldn't speak to Adrian about?
"No!"
"Would you like anything in particular for dinner?"
"No. Go away. I don't want to see you." There was a hitch to Kate's voice, part anger, part hurt.
Libby's heart fell. Was it something she had done? There wasn't anything she could think of. She paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. No, she'd leave Kate a little longer, do the packing, and then maybe Kate would talk.
Checking the cupboard and fridge, she sorted out what they would have for dinner, a smorgasbord of leftovers, and then put all the non-perishable items in the bags Adrian had left out. She went around the room collecting the games and DVDs and stacking them on the dining room table, ready to pack. She double-checked the entire room, making sure nothing was left in drawers, under tables or underneath the couch cushions before she was satisfied she'd collected everything.
Half an hour and there hadn't been a peep out of Kate's room. Time for some action.
Libby knocked on Kate's door again before opening it a crack. Kate was lying face down on her bed, Sebastien Bear clutched under one arm. It must be bad for Sebastien to be out. "Kate, can we talk?"
"No." The word was muffled against Kate's pillow.
"I'd really like to know what I've done wrong."
That got her attention. Kate peered suspiciously out from under her armpit. "What makes you think it's you?"
"You gave your uncle a hug before he left, so it didn't seem like you were angry at him." Libby reviewed the night before. Kate hadn't invited her to play games with them and it was Adrian who'd invited her to join them at dinner. "Didn't you want me to join you at the restaurant?"