A Seaside Affair (27 page)

‘I can’t drive. I’m still pissed.’

‘Fine. We’ll walk. I need to stop at the chemist anyway.’

‘Me too.’

*

The morning was hard work. Brooke, Jess and Ollie were distinctly below par. Ollie kept fluffing his lines, Jess wasn’t her usual self and Brooke was completely out of step when she was doing her dance numbers. The fluffs built up and it was clear that their hangovers were seriously affecting everyone’s ability to rehearse properly.

Jonathan’s stretched patience finally snapped.

‘What a bloody shower the three of you are. Opening night is looming and we’re going to have to go at it full tilt to be anywhere near ready, and may I remind you that you are doing this because there is something important at stake! We’re trying to save the Pavilions! Everyone here is working their bloody arses off and all the three of you can do is come in half-pissed from the night before and cock it up for the rest of us!’

Ollie and Jess hung their heads, suitably shamed. Brooke attempted a sulky pout but soon dropped it when she got a thunderous glare from Jonathan.

‘We’re really sorry, Jonathan, and everyone,’ said Jess. ‘We just got a bit carried away, it won’t happen again. Promise.’

‘It better bloody not!’ But Jess thought she saw Jonathan’s face soften a little. ‘Now, let’s break for lunch. Perhaps some food will help to dry you all out.’

*

Feeling slightly revived after a lunch of egg sandwiches, salty crisps and sugary Coke, Brooke and Ollie found themselves outside the stage door taking in some sea air.

‘How are you feeling now?’ Ollie asked.

‘Bit better, but had to concentrate hard on not throwing up during the dance number.’

‘What did you make of Ryan?’

‘Yeah. Nice.’

‘Really?’

‘Why, what did you think?’

‘Slimy shit.’

Brooke laughed into the wind. ‘Me too! He kept putting his hands on my legs. Every time a little bit higher. And all that stuff about how big and important he is in LA – he’s just another English telly actor. Not exactly George Clooney.’

‘What does Jess see in him?’

‘God knows. She’s such a sweetie and he’s such a big head.’

‘How long is he staying for?’

‘Dunno.’

‘If he hurts her, I’ll kill him.’

Brooke turned to look Ollie in the face. ‘You said that as if you mean it.’

‘I do.’

*

‘But why have you got to go now?’ Jess couldn’t understand. She’d just got back from the Pavilions and here was Ryan packing.

‘Bloody PR. They’ve heard I’m back in the UK and I have to “be seen”’ – he made the sign of two quotation marks with his fingers – ‘at a few parties in town. The new series of
Venini
goes to air here in the next couple of weeks, and—’

‘Golly. So soon.’

‘I did tell you,’ he snapped.

‘Did you? Sorry, Ryan, my head has been full of this show and—’

‘Yeah, well – yada yada. And they want me to promote it before going back to the States and promoting the first series which airs on NBC next month.’

‘Does it? Oh, congratulations.’

‘I have told you all this.’

‘Sorry.’

‘So, much as I’d like to stay to see you in your small-town show …’

His words stung her like a slap on the face.

‘Ryan, that’s a horrible thing to say.’

He was gazing in the mirror, playing with his hair. ‘Sorry, darling. But
Hats Off, Trevay!
is hardly
A Chorus Line
,
is it? Hm?
Venini
is huge and I have a responsibility, as the name above the title, to get out there and be seen.’

‘I do get that, Ryan. I’m not stupid. In fact
Good Housekeeping
are looking for a date when they can come down and do a feature on me for
Horse Laugh
. It looks like we’ve definitely got a second series. I’m just waiting for the contracts.’

‘
Good Housekeeping
? Hardly
Vanity Fair
,
is it?’

‘No, but its readership are our viewers and …’

Ryan looked at his watch. Then crossed the room and hugged her.

‘Well, darling, it’s been so lovely to see you. Gotta go. Love you.’

*

That night, back at Granny’s Nook and playing Scrabble with Brooke, Jess thought about the last twenty-four hours. Ryan had been so wonderful and then so awful. Had she done something to upset him? She must be more understanding. After all, he had come straight off the flight and down to Cornwall to see her. He was jet-lagged and had so many commitments at work. She couldn’t remember him telling her anything about
Venini
being shown in America, or the second series coming out early here. Maybe she had been too wrapped up in her work to listen to him properly. Mind you, he hadn’t been very excited to hear about
Horse Laugh
being recommissioned. But, compared to the global success and pressure of filming he had with
Venini, Horse Laugh
was just a simple little job. He was tired and she must be more understanding.

‘Xanadu on a triple-word score.’ Brooke crowed with pleasure. ‘Beat that, Miss Tate!’

Jess marshalled her thoughts back to the here and now. ‘Not bad, Miss Lynne. Not bad at all.’ She’d apologise to Ryan tomorrow, Sunday, her day off.

*

You’ve reached Ryan Hearst’s phone. Please leave a message.

‘Hi, Ryan. It’s me. It was great seeing you and thank you so so much for taking the time to come down. I know how busy you are, darling. Call me when you can. I hope the PR stuff is going well. I’m just walking the girls on the beach. They love paddling and they say they miss their daddy. I miss you too. Love you so much. Bye.’

Jess felt really low. She was tired from working so hard, she had a cold coming and her relationship with Ryan was just too long-distance. Maybe she should give up the idea of her own career and support Ryan. Travel with him. Be a proper partner to him. She needed to talk to him about setting a wedding date. A small affair in a registrar’s office would do …

But then she recalled how miserable she’d been when she had no work, and now her career was just taking off … She loved
Horse Laugh.
She didn’t want to give it up … but if it meant that she and Ryan would be a proper couple again, it would be a sacrifice well made. Wouldn’t it? And if she didn’t have to worry about a career, she could start the job she really wanted: to be a mum.

She stopped at the water’s edge and watched Ethel and Elsie splash about in the wavelets. The sea was calm today and the sky a real Cornish blue. Three gulls were playing on the air currents made warm by the early June sun. She turned her face to the heat. With her eyes closed she could see the pink of the blood in her eyelids. She heard a shout coming towards her on the breeze and opened her eyes to see who it was. Ollie was bounding over to her.

‘Brooke told me you were here. Are you OK?’

‘I’m fine, thanks. Bit of a cold, that’s all. What are you doing here?’

He looked anxious. A bit uneasy. ‘Err, have you seen the papers?’

‘Not yet. I was going to pick them up from Queenie’s when I get back. Why?’

‘It’s probably nothing but … there’s a story about Ryan.’

‘H
ere –’ Back at Granny’s Nook, a white-lipped Jess took the newspaper from Ollie.

‘But it’s the gossip page.’ Jess was shaking with fear and anger. ‘Nothing in here is ever factually correct.’

‘I know, but … I just thought you ought to see it.’

Which English actor, currently filming and hustling for movie projects in Hollywood, is playing away behind his fiancée’s back? Who’s going to tell her? It’s only a matter of time.

Alongside, under an engagement photo of Ryan and Jess was a malicious snippet: ‘Isn’t this a super photo of Ryan Hearst and Jess Tate on their engagement day?’

Jess’s phone rang. ‘Jess, babe, It’s me. Just got your message. You OK?’ It was Ryan.

‘Yeah. I’m fine. Ollie’s just shown me something from today’s paper.’

Ryan looked down at the same article in front of him and his palms grew sweaty. ‘Oh yeah? What’s it about?’

She frowned and bit her lip. ‘Oh, it’s nothing.’

‘Sure?’

‘Yeah.’

‘What paper?’

‘The
Sun on Sunday
.’

‘Oh. I think I have that. Let me look.’

‘Don’t bother.’ But Ryan was already adding fake sound effects of searching, by rustling the paper in front of him.

‘Ah yes. Here we are. What page?’

‘Nineteen.’

Ryan rustled and paused, then, ‘The little shit.’

‘How do those people sleep at night, writing lies like that?’

‘Agreed. But I meant Ollie. Put that toe-rag on the phone.’

Jess did so, happy to prove Ollie wrong.

Ollie put the phone to his ear and swallowed. ‘Hi, Ryan.’

‘Listen, you wanker, I don’t know why you want to make trouble between me and Jess, but back off. I’ve already given you the benefit of the doubt after you shared a bed with her last week. And if I get even a sniff of you trying it on with her again, I’m going to hurt you where the sun don’t shine. Geddit, sonny?’

‘Ryan, I wasn’t doing anything, I just thought it better that Jess should know …’

‘GEDDIT?’

‘I get it. Yes.’

‘Good. Pass me back to my fiancée.’

Ollie did as he was told. Ryan sounded very angry. ‘I don’t want you mixing with that man.’

Jess, always the peacemaker, said, ‘He’s a mate. Just looking out for me, that’s all.’

‘Well, I don’t like him. I want you to come up to London tonight.’

‘I can’t. I’m working tomorrow.’

‘You’ve got a cold, haven’t you? Tell that bloody director you’re ill and need to have a couple of days off.’

‘I can’t let him down. Besides I’ll feel better tomorrow.’

‘OK. I’ll phone him myself.’

‘No, Ryan!’

‘You are coming up to London and I am going to spoil you. I’ll take you to the Ivy for dinner. Pack something sexy. Now get on the next train and I’ll pick you up from Paddington. Tell them you’ll be back when you’re better.’

*

The Ivy Club was soothingly warm and friendly. The waiter escorted them to a table where they could both see and be seen by the great and the good who were members here.

‘You look lovely, Jess,’ said Ryan, reaching across the table to hold her hand.

She smiled. ‘Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.’

Ryan picked up the menu. ‘What do you fancy?’

‘You.’

He raised the lids of his dark, almond-shaped eyes and gave her a look that melted her heart.

‘Not Ollie?’

‘Not Ollie.’

Jess couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a dinner like this. She’d never been to the Ivy Club before. More exclusive than the world famous Ivy restaurant, it was star spotter heaven. Underneath an enormous canvas of Damien Hirst butterflies, Jess recognised Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss and Harry Styles laughing and enjoying themselves. Everyone in the place was a butterfly, drawn to the heady mix of fame and fashion. Membership was very expensive but had been a present to Ryan from his agent when he’d landed the second series of
Venini.
The waiter was diligent but not intrusive, the smoked salmon followed by the saddle of lamb was fragrant and melting. Jess was starting to think the time was right to mention marriage plans when a tall, very thin dark-haired woman in a Donna Karan dress walked past, stopped and then draped herself all over Ryan.

‘Darling!’ She left blood-red lipstick on his top lip. ‘Haven’t seen you for ages. How’s Serena? I thought she looked a-may-zing in LA.’ She glanced towards Jess and feigned surprise. ‘Hello.’ She held out her bony hand. ‘I’m Amanda. I’ve been working with Ryan in the States.’

She turned back to Ryan. ‘You and Serena are coming to the Huffington Post fundraiser, aren’t you?’

Jess was watching Ryan carefully. He was completely unruffled. ‘I think so, yes.’

‘Good. See you there. I’m sure it will be ghaaastly.’

She kissed him again and nodded at Jess. ‘Byeee.’

Ryan picked up his napkin and wiped away the lipstick. ‘Sorry about that. Horrible woman. That’s why I didn’t introduce you.’

‘Who’s Serena?’

Ryan was cutting into the last of his steak. ‘What, darling?’

‘Who’s Serena?’

‘Oh, she’s been in a couple of the new
Venini
episodes. Young actress. Quite good. Sweet.’ He eyed Jess warningly. ‘The equivalent of your Ollie, so nothing to worry about, is there?’

*

Two days later and Ryan had gone back to LA and Jess was back in Trevay being bawled out by Jonathan. ‘Where’s your sick note?’

Jess blushed. ‘It was a cold, that’s all.’

‘If it was just a cold you should have stayed here. Not been outside the Ivy Club being photographed on the arm of your boyfriend wearing next to nothing.’

Jess bit her lip to stop the tears that had started to blur her vision. Jonathan was becoming meaner and more unpleasant to work with as the opening night drew closer.

‘I …’ a thousand excuses whirled through her mind before she decided on, ‘I’m sorry, Jonathan. I really wasn’t feeling well and Ryan insisted I went home to rest. The night out was supposed to be a treat.’

Jonathan stared hard at her, frowning, before turning away with a sigh. ‘OK, you’re here now and you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.’

Colonel Irvine, watching this exchange from the sidelines, beckoned her over to where he was sitting. ‘My dear, he’s got his knickers in a twist. You are wonderful in the role and you’ve missed very little. Ignore him. I suspect his annoyance is based on something other than a couple of days off.’

‘What do you mean?’

But the Colonel gave her a sphinx-like smile and said only, ‘Youth is wasted on the young!’

Jess couldn’t think what he meant, but she was worried that she had got on the wrong side of Jonathan. She liked and respected him and she didn’t want him to think that she was a shirker. She resolved to work harder to make up for it. Perhaps she could take him out for a drink when he was less cross?

*

At the end of the working day, she and Brooke prepared to go home to Pendruggan.