Always Something There to Remind Me (20 page)

I woke early on the morning of April 26
^th
to find that Des was already up, sitting at the writing table with his laptop open.

‘Happy birthday, darling,’ he said, pulling me onto his lap and kissing me. ‘Do you want breakfast or coffee or …?’

‘Or what?’

‘I could carry you back to bed and we could recapture our lost youth.’

‘What? You want to sleep for another couple of hours and then watch music videos all day? That’s how I spent my youth.’

Des laughed. ‘That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. I thought we could hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and make love all day.’

I ran my fingers through his hair. ‘No sightseeing today, then?’ I teased.

He looked at me. ‘I have a great view in front of me right now and a strong desire to explore the local landscape.’

I allowed myself to be persuaded and we went back to bed, but only until lunchtime when the need for sustenance roused us and we called room service. I showered and dressed while we waited for lunch to arrive and Des called his sister. It would be our last night in New York and we were taking Janie and Mike out for dinner.

I started packing after lunch while Des checked his emails. We were catching an early flight the next day and I wanted everything to be ready before we went out on the town. I felt a little sad that we had to leave, but holidays can’t last for ever and I would be taking home so many memories. The events of the last few months had changed my life and I had Des to thank for that. His faith in me and his friendship at the start of my dream-chasing quest had led to me discovering an inner strength I’d never been aware of. The fact that we’d fallen in love along the way was an added bonus. Although I was saddened by the knowledge that our holiday was ending, I looked forward to the rest of my life, knowing that I would start the next chapter as a woman who could make up her mind to do something and then do it. Whatever the future held for me – for us, even – I knew I could face it with confidence and hope. Funny how being loved can make you feel that way.

‘Lyd! Come and have a look at this …’ Des sounded excited. I went out onto the balcony to join him. ‘I’ve had an email from Alice. Check it out.’

Hi Des,

First, let me say ‘Yay!’ Lydia must be a very special lady to bring out the romantic in you and I totally forgive you both for the show-stopping display at the reception. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!

But, more important, we’ve just received the rushes – that’s what we call the unedited version of the wedding film. As you know, the cameras roamed at will and recorded as much as they could of the atmosphere. I’m attaching an excerpt for you and Lydia. I definitely want it included in the televised version but need to check that you are both OK with it. Please take a look and let me know immediately. The broadcast is scheduled for tonight in Oz as a forerunner to a rerun of ‘Spotlight on Romance’. What are you waiting for? Watch it and get back to me.

Alice xx

‘Sounds intriguing,’ I said. ‘Have you watched the clip?’

‘Not yet, I thought we’d watch it together.’ He seemed a little shifty somehow, but I dismissed it and told him to go ahead.

The film started with a long shot of me talking to the DJ, then the camera moved forward as I took to the stage. In this unedited version, I could hear Des talking to the cameraman in the background as my onscreen performance was about to start.

‘Thanks, mate,’ he was saying. ‘This really means a lot to us.’

‘You set me up?’ I was stunned, watching myself sing, blissfully unaware of the cameras and not at all nervous, because I was convinced no one but Des was watching.

‘Well, maybe just a little bit …’ He put his arm around me. ‘Are you mad at me?’

I carried on watching the video. ‘No, of course not. I’m just glad I didn’t know I was on camera. I’d have died a thousand deaths.’

My song finished but the cameras had stayed on us and captured our very public declarations of love. It had all happened so fast and I enjoyed this chance to relive the moment.

‘So, do we tell Alice she can use the footage?’

‘Yes, why not?’ I couldn’t stop smiling and neither could Des. I could see that he was thinking the same as I was, but neither of us said anything until his reply to Alice was sent. He opened a file on the computer and we looked at the action plan he’d drawn up for me back in October – the things I wanted to do before I turned forty-five and how I should try to achieve them.

‘Seems a long time ago, doesn’t it?’ Des said at last. ‘But you did it, babe. In a few hours you’ll be on TV in Australia – your bucket list will be completed.’ Des highlighted the second target, the only one as yet unfinished and added the word ‘ACHIEVED’ in the final column.

‘I couldn’t have done it without you, darling. I wouldn’t have known where to start.’

‘Neither did I, to begin with. I mean, we didn’t exactly stick to the plan, did we? But we got there in the end. I’m so proud of you – my beautiful superstar.’

‘Just one thing, Mr Fixit … when did you hatch your fiendish plot to get me to sing at the wedding? That was devious to say the least.’

‘There was music, a stage, cameras and you. What else could I do but throw you all together?

I had no idea it would turn out so well, or that Alice would want to use it on the show, but I had to give it a go. If I’ve learned anything from my computer games, it’s never to miss an opportunity.’

‘Hmm! I can see I’ll have to watch you very closely from now on. Who’d have thought you could be so sneaky?’

‘But you love me anyway, right?’

‘Of course I do.’

* * * * *

The next day we left New York. I went back to work but decided it was time for a change and started searching for a new job. I had no idea what I wanted to do, just that I had to escape from the housing department. After three weeks of scouring the adverts, I was almost ready to give up.

Des came round one evening after work, looking serious.

‘What do you want first – the good news or the bad news?’ he asked.

‘Give me the bad news,’ I said. ‘Things can only get better after that.’

‘OK. Pam resigned today. She’s been my PA for the last four years.’

‘Oh dear. That’s a pity. Why’s she leaving?’

‘Her husband’s got a new job in London, so they’re moving away. I’ll miss her; she’s so efficient and she gets on with everyone.’

‘But you have good news too?’ I searched his face for clues. He gave in and smiled.

‘Yes – the job’s yours if you want it … subject to the usual terms and conditions, of course.’

I stared at him in amazement.

‘Darling, I appreciate the offer, but I don’t know the first thing about your business and I’ve never been a PA. I’d hate to let you down.’

‘Lyd, you could never let me down … and, as for the rest, you can learn as you go along. Pam was new to it all when she first started too.’

‘Are you sure about this, Des? What about your partners, George and … thingy?’

‘George and Aidan? They have their own PAs. We all work independently most of the time. It’s a cool set-up, you’ll love it.’

‘I haven’t said yes, yet.’

‘No, but you’re going to, aren’t you?’ He was right as usual. How could I resist the idea of working for him? We discussed the terms and conditions over dinner at the kitchen table and agreed that I would start working for ADG Games in June.

We held a small party the following Saturday. One of the cable channels was showing Crayford Media’s film of Alice and Jim’s wedding, so we invited a few friends to join us for drinks and nibbles to watch the show. Tess arrived first, bursting to tell us that she’d had a short story accepted for publication in a magazine.

‘Now all I have to do is finish my novel and become world famous,’ she joked.

‘I’m sure that can’t be too far off,’ said Des. ‘I’m trying to persuade Lydia to write a novel, but she’s having none of it at the moment.’

‘I’m far too disorganised to tackle anything like that,’ I said. ‘I only write for fun. Besides, I’d need a good idea for a story and I don’t have one.’

‘I’m sure you could come up with something if you put your mind to it. She could do it, couldn’t she, Tess?’

Tess nodded in agreement. ‘I’m sure the woman who turned down Josh Greenwood can do anything she wants to.’ We all laughed as the rest of our guests started to arrive.

At 9 p.m. the programme started with a short bio of Alice and Jim, telling how the TV presenter and the soap star met and fell in love during an interview on daytime TV, then the scene switched to The Foundry and the highlights of the wedding ceremony. The camera panned across the congregation and there was a brief shot of Des and me.

‘Oh, look! There you are, hobnobbing with the stars!’ squealed Trudi, who was sitting beside me on the floor.

‘You ain’t seen nothing yet…’ said Des as the scene changed to the reception, the speeches and a few of the interviews that had been recorded. ‘Here it comes …’ He slid down from the sofa to sit beside me. We hadn’t told the others what to expect, not even Trudi. The room fell silent as our friends saw what was happening on the TV. Des put his arm around me. We hadn’t seen the final version of the clip before, with the background noise removed. A tear trickled down my face as I watched myself singing just for Des and realised that this was the moment when a teenager’s dreams came true – thirty years on, but not too late. With entertainment value in mind, the TV editors had enhanced the applause at the end of my performance and had even left the declarations in. Des and I were both blushing as the scene was replayed.

‘Oh …oh! That was just too beautiful!’ Tess was bouncing up and down on her seat. ‘There’s your story, Lydia! Romance fans will love it! You have to write it.’

‘Oh … I couldn’t do that.’

‘Tess is right,’ Trudi announced. ‘You have to write it. You can call it
Lydia’s List
. It’s a sure-fire bestseller.’

Epilogue

24
^th
April 2013

Dear Diary,

I can’t believe I’ve finished it at last! Now all I have to do is start submitting. Fifty thousand words – phew! I never knew I had it in me, but Des insisted I could do anything I wanted to and I’m finally starting to believe him. It’s going out as romantic fiction, but some of us know better. They say that truth is stranger than fiction, don’t they?

My life has moved on in the last three years and when I look back through these pages I realise how much I’ve grown. Love did that for me – it completed me. Des is at the heart of everything I do. He is my confidence and my hope; he is my reason for living and all because he loves me and he believes in me.

I watched the video of Alice’s wedding again this afternoon. I know now that the moment onstage in New York wasn’t the first time that Des had told me he loved me. It was just the first time he’d used words to do it. He’d been telling me for months through his actions. All the trouble he went to, helping me get through my list, putting up with my insecurities and distrust; calming me down; building me up and just being there whenever I needed him. He’s still the same, three years later.

I’m so glad we moved out of town. I thought I’d miss it, but the view is spectacular and it’s so peaceful. The garden looks beautiful in the spring sunshine and the forecast is good for tomorrow so the photographs should turn out well. I have to check on a few details with the caterers and get the spare rooms ready. Oh yes, and I’d better pack too. Des won’t tell me where we’re going. He says it has to be a surprise, but we’ll be spending my birthday somewhere wonderful.

I’ve struggled with the title of the book. Up until half an hour ago, I was going to call it ‘Lydia’s List’, like Trudi suggested, but I’ve changed my mind. It started with the list, but as time went on the list became less important and all I could think about was my unspoken love. So there’s the title – ‘Unspoken’ – a love story, by Lydia Ryan (well, as of tomorrow).

It will be dedicated to Desmond John Ryan, my friend, the love of my life, my inspiration.

THE END