‘Oh, you know me, Cab. I wasn’t cut out for small-town life. What would I have done here? I couldn’t steal a rich man like Diane. I didn’t have it in me. Probably, I would have been one of those women back at the welcome center. I’m sure they’re very fulfilled, but me, I would always have been on a low simmer, wishing I’d done something else.’

‘How did Diane feel about your leaving?’

‘She hated it. Hated me. At least for a while. However, when you chase a dream, you know you’re giving something up. There’s always a price. Your grandmother and I moved west, and a year later, she had a heart attack and died. I was alone. I really had no business making it on my own out there. I should have been ground into nothing. Most wannabes are. I was lucky. I never forget how lucky I was.’

Cab frowned. Somehow, it was painful for him to think of his mother alone in Los Angeles, with nothing and no one to rely on for support. Tarla touched his sleeve. When he looked at her, she took his hand.

‘May I ask you something, Cab?’

‘Of course.’

‘Am I a bad mother?’

He was aware of the seriousness in her face and her fears over what he would say. ‘Why on earth would you ask me something like that?’

‘Hollywood types are not exactly known for their parenting skills, my dear. We can’t all be Brad and Angelina. I dragged you around the world. I threw you into crazy social situations with no preparation. I couldn’t help but notice that as soon as you had the opportunity to get away from me, you did.’

‘I assumed you wanted me to follow in your footsteps,’ Cab said.

‘Guilty,’ Tarla admitted. ‘Nepotism is the new black when it comes to actors. You could well have outshined me.’

‘I wanted to make my own footsteps, not follow yours. I was very much like you in that respect.’

‘And how is that working out for you?’

‘Not altogether well,’ Cab admitted, smiling. ‘I guess your shoes are hard to fill.’

Tarla laughed. ‘Mine? Minuscule, compared to yours. Not just those size thirteen feet of yours. Imagine me raising a son who would actually do something worthwhile with his life.’

‘Do you really mean that?’ he asked.

His mother looked at him with genuine surprise. ‘Are you serious? Of course I mean it.’

‘Well, thank you,’ Cab said.

‘I apologize if it seems that I’m trying to run your life, darling. I’m afraid it comes with the territory. I could promise to quit, but you wouldn’t believe me.’

‘No, it’s fine. As long as you don’t mind when I pay no attention.’

Tarla grinned. ‘Sooner or later, I’ll wear you down. Which brings me to you and Caprice.’

Cab held up his hand. ‘Enough.’