Always Something There to Remind Me (17 page)

‘I hadn’t realised you were here on business.’

‘Mixing business with personal stuff, actually. Look, have you got time for coffee? We can’t chat here. I noticed we’re next door to Costa.’

We made our way through the checkouts and were soon settled at a table with our drinks. Alice was a great talker and chattered incessantly. She was in town to host an Anglo-Australian co-production of a TV special.

‘What sort of show is it?’

‘A chat show, with some music and an element of audience participation,’ she replied. ‘It’s a pilot, for a possible series. We’ve been rehearsing all week and it’s being recorded tonight with a live audience.’

‘How exciting!’ I wanted to ask her where Des fitted in but I didn’t have the courage.

‘If it goes down well, we’ll be doing the next one in Sydney. If it flops, well at least they’ve paid for my trip and I’ll have dealt with my “loose ends”.’

‘Loose ends? Oh, you mean the personal stuff…’

‘Yes …’ She hesitated for a moment. ‘Lydia, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you wear your heart on your sleeve, you know. You have nothing to worry about.’

‘What do you mean?’

She smiled kindly. ‘I’m not here to start things up with Des again. I came to finish it properly and to tell him I’m getting married in April.’

‘Why are you telling me this?’ I searched her face, looking for clues.

‘Because I saw your reaction last week when he arrived with me and I saw his reaction when you left so suddenly. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that you two have something going on. He should have given you an explanation. I take it you’ve been seeing each other?’

I nodded. ‘Well, sort of …’ I began. ‘We were friends and he was helping me … do something …’ I didn’t want to tell her about the list. ‘And then …’

‘You slept together and it got complicated? I know how that feels. I don’t know you very well, Lydia, but I lived with Des for eight years, so I might understand better than you think. If it helps at all, I believe he’s just as confused as you are.’

‘He talked to you about it?’

‘Not in so many words, but, like I said, we were together for a long time. He didn’t have to say much. When I gave him your phone message and witnessed the atmosphere between the two of you, I pretty much knew how it was. Then yesterday I went round for coffee and we were chatting and somehow your name kept popping into the conversation. Eventually, he admitted that he’d been trying to call you all week and that you weren’t taking his calls.’

‘I think I’ve screwed up badly here. I should have given him a chance to explain.’

‘Well, it may not be too late. It’s Valentine’s Day, after all – what better time could there be for a reconciliation? I know he’s free tonight; I was going to ask if he wanted to come and see the show we’re recording, but I’m sure you could make him a better offer.’

Oh, there’s a thought! In a couple of hours, Josh Greenwood’s driver will be calling to whisk me away for a fun-filled evening with a megastar. So, all I have to do is ring and cancel the opportunity of a lifetime on the off-chance that Des will forgive me for being an idiot!

‘I’ve got plans for tonight …’

‘It’s up to you, of course.’ She stood up to leave. ‘I have to go now. Make-up, lighting checks and so on start at three-thirty and I haven’t even showered yet, so I need to get a move on.’ She handed me a business card. ‘Stay in touch; I’m rooting for a happy ending.’

That makes two of us. What am I going to do?

The choices were simple enough; I could call Des and then cancel my date with Josh, or I could go out with Josh and call Des on Sunday.

As I unpacked the shopping, the phone rang and the decision was taken out of my hands.

Chapter 30: Double Date

‘It’s Josh. We’re on the way to pick you up now. I know it’s early, but we’ve had to move everything forward. You can be ready in forty-five minutes, can’t you?’

‘I … er … well, I’m not sure …’

‘Aw, come on. You can’t let me down now, Luvsik Lydia.’ Of course I couldn’t; he didn’t give me time to make excuses. He ended the call and I raced for the bathroom.

For the record, it took me thirty-seven minutes to shower, dress, put on my make-up and have a nervous breakdown. I spent the next six minutes staring at my mobile trying to compose a text to Des. I gave up when a car horn tooted outside and grabbed my coat and bag on the way out.

In most respects, I’m quite unimpressed by the trappings of fame and fortune, but I have to confess that the thrill of seeing a silver Rolls-Royce Phantom parked outside my gate would take some beating. The sight of Josh Greenwood getting out of the back seat and holding the car door open for me was pretty cool too and caused a fair bit of curtain-twitching in the street. Josh waved at my next-door neighbour who was standing on her front step gawping unashamedly.

She waved back and her jaw dropped further still when Josh made a great show of kissing me on both cheeks, continental-style.

‘Are you enjoying your fifteen minutes of fame?’ he asked. I nodded and turned to smile at the neighbour as I got into the car. Josh slid in beside me and Paul started the engine and pulled away. I glanced back in time to see a familiar figure outside my gate, watching us leave. He tossed the flowers he’d been carrying to my bemused neighbour and walked away.

What have I done?
I closed my eyes and lowered my head. Maybe I’d wake up from this dream in a minute and do things the right way. But then again, why break the habit of a lifetime?

‘You OK?’ Josh asked. ‘We’re supposed to be having fun.’

I raised my head and forced a smile. ‘I’ll be fine,’ I said. ‘I just need a minute.’

‘I know what you need.’ He produced a bottle of vodka and two glasses from an elegant drinks cabinet fitted behind the driver’s seat, and poured us each a generous measure. The alcohol hit home straight away as I hadn’t eaten all day.

‘Where are we actually going?’ I asked. ‘You didn’t tell me.’

‘TV studio first. I have to record an interview for some Aussie show. I thought you might enjoy tagging along. Then there’s an after-show dinner. How does that sound?’

I gulped my drink down and let him refill my glass. ‘So who else will be at the dinner?’

‘Some TV bigwigs and the other guests from the show, I suppose. Oh and a few reporters, I imagine.’ He winked. ‘You won’t be the only journo there.’

I laughed. ‘You’re not supposed to tease me!’

‘Well, at least you look happier now… is that me or is it down to the booze?’

‘I don’t know,’ I replied, and that was the truth. ‘Maybe a little of both …’

‘Then, I shall have to eliminate my rival.’ He took my empty glass and put it and the bottle away. ‘I can’t stand competition.’ His eyes were laughing as he put his arm around me and pulled me towards him. ‘Now let’s relax and have a little fun.’

I leaned against his shoulder and closed my eyes as he tilted my head back and kissed me. The vodka was coursing through my veins and my body seemed to have a will of its own. His arms were strong and comforting, but he was the wrong man. I responded to his kisses on the physical level while my mind tried to erase the image of Des walking away from my house, probably for ever.

Paul dropped us off at the grand front entrance of the studio. A liveried doorman escorted us to the green room where a few other celebrity guests were chatting over light refreshments. Everyone seemed to have met before and lots of ‘air kisses’ were exchanged. My knees were a little shaky as I stood in the same room as people I’d only ever seen on TV: a comedian, an actress from one of the soaps and a Michelin-starred chef who warned me not to try the vol-au-vents.

‘Darling, they’re soggy!’ He looked outraged. ‘If you have to have pastry, I’d go for the vegetarian sausage rolls. I don’t know what the BBC’s coming to – all those cookery shows and they can’t lay on a decent buffet.’ He wandered off to rejoin his partner who was staring in disbelief at a slice of limp pizza. Josh caught my eye and laughed as he tasted one of the soggy pastries.

‘Don’t stand on ceremony, love. They’re not that bad,’ he said. ‘We won’t be having dinner until eight-thirty, so we may as well get stuck in.’

I was starving, so I took his advice. The comedian came over to join us and hugged Josh.

‘Good to see you, mate. It’s been too long.’ He turned to me and offered his hand. ‘I’m Jonny; Josh and I go way back. And you are …?’

‘Lydia.’ I shook his hand. It was time to bite the bullet. ‘I’m a reporter for a web-based fanzine. Josh was kind enough to invite me to cover the show tonight.’

‘Bringing your own press now, Josh? That’s a new one! You used to spend most of your life avoiding them.’

‘Lydia’s not like the others.’ Josh looked around the room. ‘Wonder where our hostess is? Have you met her yet, Jonny?’

‘No, but I saw her on Aussie TV when I was over there in October. She had a chat show called
Afternoons with Alice.
She’s pretty cool.’

I almost choked on my vol-au-vent as I made the connection. This was Alice’s show? Thank heaven Des had turned down her invitation to come along. I had no more time to think about it as an official from the studio came in to make an announcement. The celebrity guests were escorted to the make-up room and their ‘plus ones’ were invited to take seats in the auditorium and watch the warm-up acts.

Alice spotted me as I took my seat in the second row. She was engaged in conversation with the floor manager, but excused herself and came over.

‘Good to see you again. Where’s Des?’

‘I thought you said Des wasn’t coming. I came with Josh Greenwood. I had no idea it was your show.’

‘Oh dear. This could be awkward. Des called me an hour ago and said he’d changed his mind about coming and could he bring a guest. So I added him to the list. When I saw you I assumed … well, you know.’

I swallowed hard and forced a smile. ‘I guess we’ll be on a double date then.’

Alice wasn’t fooled by my feigned levity. ‘I have to get back on set,’ she said, taking my hand. ‘If you’re with Josh, I’ll be seeing you at the party later. I’d better warn you – Des and his “date” will be there too. This could prove to be an interesting evening.’

That may well be the understatement of the year!
I thought.

Chapter 31: Spotlight on Romance

The house lights went down. I’d never witnessed a TV show being filmed before and the excitement managed to penetrate my emotional turmoil to some extent. It was similar to being in a theatre, but there was so much technology around in the form of cameras and microphones that it wasn’t quite the same. I hadn’t seen any sign of Des and his date yet but, as the lights on the set came on, I was aware of movement in the front row. I didn’t pay much attention at first as the show was starting. The PA system burst into life.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to
In the Spotlight
, a new venture from the BBC in collaboration with Crayford Media Australia. Here is your host, Alice Mayfair.’

As Alice took her seat on set, I risked a glance at the late arrivals. As I’d feared, Des was sitting directly in front of me with his companion – Tess, the man-eater from our writing group. Could things get any worse? They hadn’t noticed me and I wondered briefly if I should try to sneak out, but Alice was introducing her first guest so I sank lower into my seat and prayed that neither of them would turn round.

‘Please give a warm welcome to award-winning actress Jackie Henderson, better known to most of us as barmaid Mollie King from
The Local.
’

An electronic sign instructed the audience to applaud. Alice greeted Jackie and the interview began in earnest. Five minutes of standard questions and chat about her recent BAFTA and her plans for the future had me stifling a yawn. Alice’s final question snapped me out of my reverie.

‘Thanks, Jackie. As it’s Saint Valentine’s Day, tonight’s spotlight is on romance. We invited all of our guests to bring a date. I believe your fiancé is in the audience; let’s get him onstage for a minute.’ She turned to the audience. ‘Richard – come on down.’ A roving spotlight swept along the rows and tracked the young man as he was led onto the set and given a radio microphone. He shook hands with Alice and hugged Jackie.

‘What a lovely couple,’ Alice said, producing a bouquet of red roses for Jackie and a bottle of champagne for Richard from behind the sofa. The huge monitors dotted around the studio showed close-ups of the smiling pair. ‘Thanks for joining us tonight on
Spotlight
and good luck for the future. Let’s hear it for Jackie and Richard, ladies and gentlemen, the first of tonight’s happy couples.’ The ‘Applause’ sign flashed again and the couple walked off arm-in-arm.

She’s not going to do this with all of the guests, surely?
I wondered, starting to panic. I wouldn’t have long to wait as she was already making the next introduction.

The other interviews followed a similar pattern – chat, followed by putting the ‘dates’ in the spotlight. I wanted to die or at least crawl away and disappear, but there was no chance of escape. The dreaded moment arrived.

‘My final guest is truly a superstar. With a recording career spanning more than thirty years and still going strong, former front man for rock band Luvsik Kitten and now headlining with Alley Kat, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the one and only Josh Greenwood.’

Applause! Applause! Applause!

The sign screamed at me as Josh walked onto the set, waving to the audience and kissing Alice, before sitting on the sofa and answering her questions about his latest album.

‘Will I be getting flowers too?’ he asked as the interview was drawing to a close. ‘No one sends me flowers these days.’

Alice laughed. ‘I can’t believe you’re short of admirers. My researchers tell me your current tour is a sell-out.’

‘Well, that’s true, Alice. But the fans nowadays aren’t quite as prone to random romantic gestures as they used to be; their husbands tend to object. Some of their grandkids aren’t too keen either.’

The sign flashed
‘Laugh!’
just in case we hadn’t realised this was a joke. As the laughter died down, Alice spoke again.
Was it my imagination or did she cast a glance in my direction?