3PM

Bernie had definitely perked up. She'd been a shadow of her former self, hesitant, miserable, stumbling. The divorce had taken it out of her and she was at an all-time low, despite having initiated it. Her mood was an ongoing resigned sigh of existence, the only fire reserved for work. But he'd seen a spark emerging from her shell, finally a smile, a relaxing of the shoulders. She wasn't locked up in her flat anymore, drinking alone. These days she drank in Albie's with everyone else. Especially with Serena. Ms Campbell was a force to be reckoned with and by the looks of it, Bernie was smitten. It had taken him far too long to realise it because it simply hadn't occurred to him before.

But the remnants of the conversation he'd overheard stayed with him and he was able to finally put his finger on what had been off in his parents' marriage, something that had been kept from them all this time. It worked. She was happy to see him, to start again. He was starting to see sides of her he'd never seen as a child. But most telling was when her eyes lit up when she saw Serena, this glow he'd never seen on her before. The 'inappropriate relationship' mentioned on the phone now made sense. Marcus had known about what had happened with that army colleague. Cam had heard the name but never linked it to anything relevant.

Now he could decipher the vibe between Bernie and Serena much better. He could see how Serena appreciated Bernie's presence; the smile when Bernie brought her coffee and pastries at the start of a morning shift, the touch of the arm as she walked past, the bordering on intimate way they sometimes held each other's gaze when silent. Both more upset about criticism they gave to each other, more sensitive to what the other might say. They picked up on each other's moods and telepathic understanding of what needed to be done in theatre. He was certain there was something there. But first he needed to know the truth.

'Tell me something' he said as they drank their coffee in her office.

'Did the divorce have anything to do with Alex Dawson?'

She flinched. Looked at him with panicked eyes, said nothing.

'I heard dad talking about her on the phone.'

Still she said nothing. Her hands trembled. He reached out and clasped them, willing her to stay steady.

'I won't judge you if you tell me the truth.'

'What do you expect me to say?' She asked in a whisper.

'I think you're gay.'

He spoke quietly and gently but she leapt up as if she'd been stung, horrified by his words.

'Not now Cam' she hissed.

'I need to know.'

'Not here.'

'I can't be angry with you now. The divorce is in the past. I'm just trying to understand what's going on with the two of you.'

'What are you talking about?'

He nodded towards Serena's desk. She panicked. He knew.

'She's a colleague.'

'Mum.'

'She's a friend.'

'Mum, please. I saw you checking her out the other day.'

Bernie blushed hotly. She'd been caught out by her own son.

'Don't pretend its nothing. I'm sure I know what I'm seeing. You should tell her.'

'Are you trying to humiliate me?' Her voice shook, her heart thudded against her chest, thought she was going to be sick.

'I want you to be happy but you're hiding away from me. From her.'

Bernie wanted the ground to swallow her up.

'The way you are with each other, it makes sense.'

'Does it?'

'You've never looked at dad the way you look at her. Just admit it. I can handle it. Charlie can too.'

'You think she'll forgive me after everything I've done?' She said bitterly. Her daughter would never forgive her.

'Just be honest with me.'

She stared at him, fury mounting. How could he understand the sheer panic, the tentacles of shame and guilt surrounding her and tightening her tongue, crushing her ribs? She took short sharp breaths to control it.

'You think it's that easy do you?'

'I didn't mean that.'

'You have no idea what it's like to hide in a net that traps you in a hold so tight you can't breathe, that stops you from speaking. That suffocates you every time you think about it.'

She took a shuddering breath and tried to control the tears that threatened to fall. She hated crying in front of people. She turned away and saw the one person she didn't want to see at the door to their office. She must have heard everything, her friend and co-lead, standing there concernedly.

Serena hesitated.

'Sorry to interrupt.'

Bernie's anguished expression jolted Serena's heart but she couldn't get involved. Especially where Alex was concerned. She turned to go.