Taking Chances (16 page)

Matty took some time to consider the question before saying, ‘I think it’s a bit of both. She’s a good actress and with some work on the accent she could probably play the part well.’

‘But so could you, better even than she could and you’re already a lot closer to the accent than she is. God, you even look like Rachel. I’ve got to introduce you to Tom. It’s the only way I’m going to get through to him on this.’

‘Have you talked to him about it all?’ Matty asked.

Ellen shook her head. ‘Not really. He knows I’m not happy about Michelle playing the part, but he probably thinks it’s because I don’t want her around Michael and Robbie for so long. Which he’s not wrong about, because believe you me, the prospect of her being here for the next ten days is bad enough, three months or more …’ She shuddered and took another sip of wine.

‘I was thinking,’ Matty said, ‘if I really do look like Rachel, it could be a tough call for Tom, you know, having to see someone who looks like her stepping into her shoes and bringing it all back to life.’

Ellen stared at her with wide, disbelieving eyes. ‘Matty, don’t do this to me,’ she said. ‘For God’s sake I need someone to back me on this, and if I can’t depend on you, then who the hell can I?’

‘It was just a thought,’ Matty said. ‘But I think it’s one you should consider.’

‘What is it, do you suddenly not want the part?’ Ellen demanded.

‘Sure I want the part. Under any other circumstances I’d kill for it, but we’ve got to see things from Tom’s perspective too, and after all, he’s the one who owns the rights to it. It’s his story every bit as much as it’s Rachel’s. I just think that if we’re really going to sell him
on
me, then a better way to play it would be to let him come up with the idea on his own. Not force it down his throat.’

‘And how are we going to do that now that Michelle’s here and ready to sign a contract the minute it’s drawn up?’

‘Is it drawn up?’ Matty asked.

Ellen’s heart tightened. ‘Not that I know of,’ she answered. ‘But no, Michael wouldn’t do that to me. Just no way would he go behind my back and sign her up without telling me first. Note I say telling, not discussing, because we’re a long way past the stage of debating anything where Michelle is concerned now. He tells me and I either like it or I lump it.’

‘Why don’t we take this gently?’ Matty suggested. ‘I mean, we don’t want to frighten Tom off by introducing me like I was some kind of ghost of kidnaps past, do we? So we just bring me in as your cousin, who also happens to be an actress.’

Ellen laughed. ‘Michael will see straight through it,’ she said. ‘But what the hell? You’re right. I should at least get you two to meet, and what better time than the present? What are you doing tonight? Which reminds me, what happened to the camera operator you met in Denver? I thought he was staying here?’

‘He went back to Denver on Tuesday for a couple of days reshoot. It didn’t include me, but it’s over anyway. You know how these things always seem like a good idea on location and turn out to be about as appealing as gout when you get home.’

Ellen smiled in sympathy. ‘So you’re free tonight?’ she said. ‘Can you come up to the house with me? Be there when they all get back?’ She looked at her watch. ‘They’ll probably beat us to it now, but who cares? Why shouldn’t I have someone from my camp around, God knows he’s got enough in his.’

‘You’re making this sound like a war,’ Matty
remarked
.

Ellen looked at her, slightly shaken by that, then picking up her keys she said, ‘If it is, then it’s of his making.’

Michael’s car was outside the garage and the lights were on in the house as Ellen drove through the gates and came to a stop next to the Cruiser. ‘I’m doing this all wrong,’ she declared to Matty. ‘I shouldn’t have walked out. I should have just called you and got you to come over.’

‘But you didn’t,’ Matty stated, ‘so quit trying to deal with what’s already done, and figure out how you’re going to make this work to your advantage.’

Ellen glanced at her sharply. ‘I’ve got about thirty seconds in which to do that,’ she remarked, ‘so unless you’ve got any suggestions …’

‘As a matter of fact I do. Get rid of that anger and stop turning yourself into the victim here. No-one’s trying to shut you out of this, you’re doing it to yourself. So lighten up. Smile. Remember, he chose you, not her, and you can afford to be generous in your victory.’

Despite herself Ellen laughed. ‘He’s going to be pretty mad that I wasn’t here when they got back,’ she said. ‘And seeing you is going to tell him exactly where I’ve been and why …’

‘Ellen shut up and get out of the car,’ Matty commanded.

Ellen did as she was told, and walked in silence up to the closed front door. Slipping her key in the lock she glanced at Matty, then pushed the door open and walked into the sitting-room.

‘Ah, there you are,’ Michael said, getting up from the sofa. ‘I was starting to worry. You didn’t take your phone. Oh, hi, Matty. How are you?’

Ellen searched his expression for any signs of annoyance, but there appeared only a genuine pleasure
to
see Matty, and why not, they’d always got along perfectly well.

‘Matty! Matty!’ Robbie cried, suddenly bursting in through another door and racing across the room.

‘Hey big guy!’ Matty laughed, swinging him up in her arms. ‘How ya doing?’

‘My mummy’s here,’ he told her excitedly. ‘She came all the way from … from … an aeroplane, and she’s got the room next to mine and we’re going to the movies tomorrow after school and then we’re going to Magic Mountain the next day …’

‘Hang on, calm down,’ Michael chided, slipping an arm around Ellen. ‘Sorry about the McDonald’s,’ he murmured in her ear. ‘There wasn’t a way out of it.’

‘It’s OK,’ she answered, and felt her heart starting to melt as his lips came gently down on hers in the first kiss they had shared in over a week.

‘Mummy!’ Robbie suddenly cried, and leaping from Matty’s arms he raced across the room to grab Michelle’s hand. ‘This is my mummy,’ he told Matty proudly. ‘She’s staying here with us for ten whole days.’

Ellen couldn’t not be aware of the way Robbie was shutting her out, and saw the slight confusion on Michelle’s beautiful face as she looked from the woman Robbie was taking her to, to the woman Michael’s arm was around.

‘Hi, I’m Matty,’ Matty said, holding out her hand. ‘I’m Ellen’s cousin.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you, Matty,’ Michelle smiled, and Ellen felt her throat tighten at the genuine warmth in her sparkling green eyes. This was a woman it was going to be shaming to dislike.

‘And this is Ellen,’ Michael said, keeping his arm around her as Michelle turned to them.

‘Ellen. I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you,’ Michelle said, taking her into a gentle embrace. She laughed self-consciously. ‘I’ve heard so much about you
I
feel I already know you. Thank you for letting me stay in your home.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Ellen smiled, trying not to bristle at the way Michelle’s greeting had seemed almost to reverse their roles of guest and hostess. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived. I had to go back to the office for something, then I went over to pick up Matty so she could join us for dinner.’

‘We don’t need dinner we had McDonald’s,’ Robbie protested.

‘Hey!’ Michael said sharply. ‘Less of that attitude, thank you. And just because you had McDonald’s doesn’t mean the rest of us wouldn’t prefer something else.’

Ellen smiled past the ache in her heart. ‘Did you have a good journey?’ she asked Michelle.

Michelle laughed. ‘It was hell,’ she answered, ‘but worth it to see this one.’

Ellen’s smile remained in place as she looked down at Robbie, then over to Tom who was standing in front of one of the sofas watching them all. As their eyes met Ellen got the uncomfortable impression that he knew exactly how difficult she was finding this.

‘Hello Tom,’ she said, going to greet him. ‘We’re all ignoring you. Do you have a drink?’

‘I do. How about you? Would it be presumptuous of me to go fix you one?’

‘Not at all,’ she assured him. ‘But say hi to Matty first, then all the introductions’ll be over.’

Unable to stop herself Ellen searched his face as he shook hands with Matty, wanting to see if there was any flicker of recognition, or perhaps any other kind of interest that went beyond mere politeness. There was nothing she could detect, but from the few occasions she had met Chambers she had already learned how very skilled he was at giving nothing away unless he wanted to.

As she turned back she briefly caught Michael’s eye
and
knew instantly that he had recognized her purpose in introducing Matty and Tom. From the way his eyebrow went up she realized that far from being angry, he was much closer to being sad that she was still fighting the inevitable.

‘What are you having, Matty?’ Tom said, as they all moved towards the sofas.

‘A Chardonnay for me,’ she answered.

‘And I guess yours is the same?’ he said to Ellen.

She smiled and sat down next to Michael as Michelle and Robbie sank down beside Matty on the opposite sofa.

‘You must tell us all about Pakistan and your work there,’ Ellen said to Michelle.

Michelle gave a mock frown and waved a dismissive hand. ‘Believe me, it’s too depressing a subject for tonight,’ she said. ‘Tell me about my little tearaway here instead. How’s he doing at school? Top of the class I hope,’ she added, digging him playfully in the ribs.

‘I got a commendation last week!’ he boasted. ‘That’s my second.’

‘And what about all your black marks for talking too much?’ Michael enquired.

‘I only got one, and that was because Andrew kept talking to
me
.’

As Tom returned with the drinks and went to sit in the large two-seater armchair between the two sofas, Ellen watched and listened to the banter and tried not to be hurt by the way both Michael and Michelle seemed to have forgotten any part she might have played in helping to settle their son into his new school and country, never mind all the running around she had done for him since. It wasn’t so much thanks that she wanted, but some kind of recognition would have been nice, or perhaps just a glance from Robbie that held some of the affection she had always been treated to before. But since she’d walked in the door he hadn’t looked at
her
once and no-one, not even Michael, seemed to have noticed.

As the laughter and teasing grew louder and more animated she watched Michelle and found herself wondering how Michael had ever been able to leave her. With her gorgeously sleek blonde hair and flawless complexion, she was one of the most beautiful women Ellen had ever met, and her laughter was so natural and warming that even Ellen found herself smiling in response.

Yet all the time she was hating her more and more for the way she was so supremely British and shared so much background with Michael. It was as though they were all part of another world and though Tom and Matty seemed to be having no problem joining in, for Ellen it was impossible even to step up to the threshold. She had no idea what Michael’s feelings were for Michelle now, but it was plain to see that there was still some kind of bond between them.

In the end Ellen got to her feet. ‘I guess I should go fix some dinner,’ she said. ‘Is anyone else interested, or is it just me and Matty?’

‘What are you offering?’ Michael asked, rolling on to his back and grunting as Robbie jumped on his chest.

She shrugged. ‘There’s plenty in the freezer, whatever you like,’ she answered. ‘Chicken, pasta, fish. The question really is, are you full after the McDonald’s, or would you like something else?’

‘I’ll have whatever you’re making,’ he said, trying to fend off Robbie’s monster.

‘Me too,’ Tom added.

Ellen looked at Michelle.

‘Nothing for me,’ Michelle laughed. ‘But I’ll come and give you a hand if you like.’

‘No, really,’ Ellen replied. ‘Stay with Robbie.’ She looked at her watch. It was past his bedtime and he had school in the morning, but did she dare say so and risk
being
overruled by one of his parents?

As though picking up on her thoughts Robbie suddenly said, ‘I want Mummy to take me to school in the morning.’

Michelle grinned and leaned over to pinch his cheeks. ‘I don’t have a car, silly,’ she reminded him.

‘You can use Daddy’s, can’t she, Daddy?’ he responded.

Michael shrugged. ‘I guess so,’ he answered. ‘I’ll go to the office with Ellen and get cabs if I need to after that. Yeah, sure, you can use mine,’ he told Michelle.

The words were out before Ellen could stop them. ‘Well, if you’ve got a car, Michelle, perhaps you wouldn’t mind taking Robbie to the dentist tomorrow as well. He’s got an appointment at eleven.’

‘I don’t want to go to the dentist!’ Robbie protested. ‘I hate the dentist.’

‘Don’t be difficult,’ Michelle reprimanded. She looked up at Ellen. ‘I’m afraid I promised to check in with the Christian Children people in the morning,’ she said. ‘I can probably drop him off at school though.’

Ellen could feel the colour rising in her cheeks as she nodded. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’ll be the unpopular one and do the dentist.’

Almost as soon as the kitchen door closed behind her Michael came in after her. ‘Was that really necessary?’ he demanded. ‘She didn’t know Robbie had to go to the dentist or I’m sure she’d have arranged things so she could take him.’

‘Yeah, I’m sure you’re right,’ Ellen responded, slamming the refrigerator door as she carried the overflowing salad tray to a nearby counter. ‘So what do you want me to do? Apologize?’

‘It would do for a start,’ he bit back. ‘And then perhaps you could take a decision to make our lives tolerable for the next ten days, instead of going the route you seem to be set on right now.’

Ellen swung round with the chopping knife. ‘She’s
here
, isn’t she?’ she seethed. ‘You got what you wanted, so get off my case. Or maybe
you’d
like to take Robbie to the dentist tomorrow.’

‘What
is
all this about the dentist?’ he snapped. ‘What’s the big deal? You’ve always taken him before. Or do you have more important things to do now you’re working on this script?’