“Of course you will.” Callum shook his head.
“Oh, there you are.” Ms Jones stood up from her table to greet Steve. “I wondered if you’d like to join me for dinner this evening.” There was a twinkle in her eye. Did she know who he really was? Surely not…Steve straightened his glasses on his face. Act dorkily. “As you know, I’m all alone in this hotel.”
Lydia frowned, and Steve grasped her hand firmly. “I’m sorry, flattered as I am, I have a girlfriend and we’re going out tonight.” Lydia beamed, and Steve tugged her arm, “Let’s get some lunch, sweetheart.”
Ms Jones gave Lydia a dirty look.
Steve rushed out of the bar, and then remembered Ruby’s call. Cautiously, he looked around, checking the coast was clear. Hopefully Ruby had the reporter hidden away in her office. Alice walked out from the spa, heading towards Ruby’s office. There were raised voices coming from inside. He wanted to help but knew it would make matters worse. Quickly, he jerked at Lydia’s hand and pushed through the double doors, striding along the corridor, eager to tuck himself away in the staff room.
“Why are we walking so fast?” Lydia said, running to keep up with him.
“I’m hungry.”
***
Terence had knocked at Ruby’s open office door, and leaned casually in the doorway, as she finished her warning call to Steve. Lydia had given her the heads up that he was in the building.
“I was going to meet you at reception,” Ruby said, coldly, scowling, her hackles up.
“It’s okay, I told the receptionist I’d find my way to your office.”
“You’d snoop about more like.” Ruby shut up. You’re acting like you have something to hide. Which you do, and he’ll cotton on.
“Ruby, I was in the area, and thought I’d pop in to see you.” Terry took the seat opposite Ruby’s desk – uninvited. The man really had a nerve. Ruby would not be taken in by this guy’s charm. She’d lost all trust in him a long time ago, and it would not be returning any time soon. He might look hot with his good looks and flashy suit, but underneath his falsely warm exterior ran an ugly cold-hearted liar.
“But I no longer wish to see you.” Ruby interlinked her fingers in front of her, leaning on her desk. All business, no messing.
“Please don’t be like that. I made a mistake all those years ago.”
“It’s been three years, Terry. I can even give you to the exact day you hurt me. You can’t walk back into my life as if nothing happened.” Ruby stood up from her chair as her fist thumped her desk and her blood pounded around her body with rage.
“Tell me what I need to do to get your forgiveness?”
“Nothing. I don’t trust you.”
“Is everything okay? I heard shouting.” Brett poked his head around the door. When he spotted Terry smiling at him from the chair, Brett’s expression hardened, and he entered the office, making more of a presence.
“Everything is fine, we’re catching up on old times,” Terence said, grinning at Brett. Too annoyingly cool for Ruby’s liking.
Brett frowned. “Ruby?”
“Terry was just leaving – weren’t you?” She glared at Terence, her hands still forming fists.
“I’ll show him out,” Brett said. He looked impressive in his chef whites. Twice now he’d rescued Ruby from Terry. Terry stood, and Brett stood a remarkable couple of inches taller than him.
“Ruby, what can I do to make you forgive me?” Terry pleaded. He’d grabbed her hand in the moment, trying to soften her will. Ruby paused at his touch, good times flooded in to her mind, good memories, then the heart-breaking horror which had followed. Her heart hardened. Terence had had his opportunity, Ruby would be a fool to give him a second chance. She deserved Brett – better – she meant better.
“No, get Doug to make sure he leaves the property,” she said, coldly to Brett. “I wouldn’t want you getting your hands dirty.”
“Oh, hello, are we all having a party in Ruby’s office?” Alice entered, bubbly and looking her usual striking self. She gave an appreciative smile towards Terry.
“Terry was just leaving,” Ruby said, sternly, and Brett took the hint to escort him out of her office. Ruby didn’t like the way Terry had smiled back at Alice as he’d left.
“What can I do for you, Alice?” Ruby’s words were still laced with anger. She needed to calm down.
“Someone’s in a bad mood.”
“You’d be too if you were being harassed by your ex.”
Chapter 18
Saturday 30th November
Lydia snuggled into Steve, as they sat in a café on a well-worn sofa, sipping mochas. Olivia and Rosie, Lydia’s cute nieces, sat opposite. Each sucked through a straw thick banana milkshakes and nibbled chocolate chip cookies.
Steve had just shared another fabulous date with Lydia. He’d also shared it with a chatty five-year-old, Olivia, and a giggly, butter-wouldn’t-melt, three-year-old, Rosie. Both with blonde hair and blue eyes like their aunt. When Steve had suggested the theatre, and then found this time of year he could only book a pantomime at the Bristol Hippodrome, Lydia had asked if her nieces could come too.
“I can call it an early Christmas present,” she’d said. “And Paul and Emma could use the time for Christmas shopping.”
They’d also agreed it would be a good practice run for when he babysat with Lydia next week.
And so, now at the point Steve would do anything to please Lydia, he’d booked the matinee performance. It had been so much fun, booing and hissing at the baddie, and it had brought back some childhood memories of Christmases with Mum and Ruby. He now had a lovely memory to treasure with Lydia too, who had participated fully with the show alongside her nieces.
With November coming to a close, it meant Christmas was rapidly approached. Everyone buzzed with excitement and shops were decorated and full of gift ideas. The hotel now had a huge Christmas tree in the reception, adorned like something out of a Dickens’ scene. Everywhere you went, you couldn’t miss it, the festive season was drawing near. The café they sat in also had a large Christmas tree already up. Steve had totally forgotten Thanksgiving, which had been two days ago, glad that it was one less thing to worry about. He’d received a couple of emails, forwarded from Marie, to wish him a happy Thanksgiving, but he hadn’t seen any invitations from his friends and associates in LA, as he normally did to remind him of the occasion. Maybe Marie had dealt with them as he was out of the country. Or maybe, he realised, they were only acquaintances in the business, rather than good friends, if Marie felt she needn’t forward on the messages.
Either way, he didn’t care. Life would get busy with the run up to the launch of the film, plus the making of a new one, so he was savouring every relaxing, mundane moment. Not that being with Lydia was dull. He just felt at ease, peacefully happy.
Originally, he’d considered taking Lydia to the cinema, but decided against it. He had managed to get away with it on his date with Alice, but didn’t want to risk his chances with Lydia. He had some paranoia about going to the cinema, fearing he’d see his next film’s trailer. With his next movie, Nothing Happened out sometime next year, he had good reason. He didn’t need to be sitting there, trying to remain anonymous, with his face flashing up on the big screen. It was an action comedy, and he was the leading man. You wouldn’t miss his face on the screen.
With a three-year-old perched on his lap for the majority of it, Steve had appreciated the live performance instead. Theatre – not panto – was something else he wanted to do as an actor – one day, to be on stage and having to get it right first time. No cuts, edits, to make you look better. You couldn’t laugh, and lose it (unless it was panto) – there was no bloopers reel for the DVD – and then take another shot. You had to remember your lines.
As he and Lydia discussed the pantomime afterwards, laughing with her two nieces, he tried not to sound like he knew what he was talking about when it came to acting. He wanted to move the subject on, fortunately Lydia’s
niece helped.
“Auntie Lydie, I need a wee wee.” Rosie looked at her aunt desperately, holding herself between her legs.
“That’s okay, sweetheart, I can take you.” Lydia scooped Rosie up.
“I want Stuart to take me.” Steve gulped. He loved kids, but he’d not had much practice with them, with no little people in his immediate family, he wasn’t sure he wanted to take a little girl he’d only known a couple of hours to the toilet.
“No, I will take you,” Lydia said firmly. Steve found it attractive. “Stuart can’t go in the little girls’ room.”
“And they’re much nicer that the little boys’ room,” Steve added, trying to aid Lydia’s argument. “I’ll guard your cookie.” Steve threw a macho pose and Rosie giggled, holding her small, podgy hand over her mouth.
“Okay.” She dramatically nodded. “Don’t eat it.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Lydia said, pushing Rosie higher onto her hip. “Will you be okay with Olivia?”
“Of course. Olivia was just about to tell me who her favourite princess is.” Steve moved round to sit on the couch with the little girl, dressed as a princess.
“I told you silly, it’s Cinderella.” Olivia rolled her eyes. If it wasn’t for the endearing voice and the fact she wasn’t much taller than three feet, she could easily have been fifteen with the attitude.
“Oh, yes you did.”
“Oh, no you didn’t.” Olivia laughed. It had been their little joke after watching the pantomime. “Can I call you Uncle Stuart?” Olivia looked innocently into his eyes.
Steve sobered. “Oh, um…”
“You’re going to marry Auntie Lydie, aren’t you?”
Steve chuckled, rubbing his hot palms down his jeans. “I don’t know. It’s very early days. We’ve not been seeing each other long.”
“Cinderella only went to a ball, and she married Prince Charming afterwards.”
“Yes, good point. It’s just that some relationships take a little longer.” Steve patted the little girl’s hand, then found his mocha for comfort.
“What’s a relationship?”
Steve swallowed. He did not need this conversation to lead to the point of birds and bees. That certainly was not his domain. Nip in the bud. Now. “Um, well, it’s when two people want to be together.”
“Why?”
There it was; the dreaded why question. Lydia had dealt with most of those over the afternoon. “They want to be together because they love each other – like your mummy and daddy.”
“And you and Auntie Lydie.”
“Yes, yes, hopefully,” Steve said nervously. The whole point was to find someone to spend the rest of his life with, even marry, but confronted by the reality of it with a five-year old made Steve anxious. Was Lydia the one? Would he really ever know?
“What did we miss?” Lydia appeared, lowering Rosie onto the sofa beside her opposite.
“Stuart’s going to marry you!” Olivia blurted, grinning triumphantly.
Steve didn’t usually blush, but the temperature in the café had risen suddenly.
Lydia chuckled. “Oh, Olivia, I think it’s a little early for me and Stuart yet.”
“Why?”
Lydia and Steve laughed. “I’ll let you answer this one. They’re your nieces.”
“Oh, thanks.” Lydia pulled a face.
“I’ll do what I’m good at…and get us another coffee. Same again?”
Steve escaped to the counter. When he returned with two more steaming mochas and more biscuits, the girls were happily, and quietly, colouring. Rosie had her tongue out, fully concentrating on her picture. Although occasionally interrupted by the little princesses with questions like ‘do you like my drawing?’ their focus enabled Steve and Lydia to talk about things they’d like to do – together, which pleased Steve. He wanted to walk a beach, hand in hand. The golden coastline of California, but he didn’t hint at it. Lydia was thinking more of the sandy beaches of Cornwall. They dreamily discussed sitting in coffee shops in different European cities, watching the world go on around them. These things they would do, Steve promised himself. He’d make her dreams come true.
Steve wanted to know everything about Lydia. They’d only touched the surface with their discussions as new romances usually did, scared of saying something to put the other off. So far, their interests were similar; from the way they liked to relax by reading rather than television, to similar views on life. And silly things like brown sauce always with fried eggs and bacon.
“Because tomato sauce is just yucky,” Lydia said wrinkling her nose, and he would remember that adorable image for the rest of his life.
“No it’s not,” Olivia said, looking up from her picture. Steve had forgotten the two girls were there, they had been so quiet concentrating on their colouring. “I like it with fish fingers.”
“Me too.” Rosie squeaked.
“Ah, yes, tomato sauce with fish fingers is the best,” Steve said, giving the little girl a thumbs up.
“I think on that note we best get you two back to your mummy and daddy,” Lydia said.
Both girls started complaining and moaning.
“Be good, you two, or Stuart won’t come and help me babysit.” Lydia turned to Steve. “You still want to keep me company?”
“Of course.” He stroked her hair, and kissed her head. “As long as it’s not this weekend.”
“No, next week,” she said happily, toying with his hair and running her fingers around the back of his neck. The sensation sent delight to his soul.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And I get to see these two cuties.” He reached across the coffee table and tickled each of the girls, and they giggled. Then, Steve kissed Lydia chastely, remembering they were getting too snug on the sofa in the café. They were in a public place. Plus their five-year old and three-year old chaperones thought it was disgusting to see a boy and a girl kissing.
“So what’s so special about this weekend?” Lydia said, gathering up coats and bags. Steve helped Rosie into her puffy pink coat.
“I’ve got an early Christmas present for Ruby, and I promised we’d go buy a Christmas tree.” Plus, he needed to get Lydia a special Christmas present, but what to buy?
“You’re such a good big brother, Stuart.”
Every time she said his name, it reminded him of the lie. The disguise had worked, letting someone get close to him. But it was still a lie. Ruby and Steve hadn’t thought this through.
“Lydia?” Should he come clean? They were so close now.
“What?” She looked at him, probably sensing the seriousness in his tone, her tone equally sober.
This wasn’t the place, or the time. Everything was perfect; he didn’t want to ruin a good day. What if she reacted badly? They were in a public place and Olivia and Rosie could get upset.
“Nothing, sweetheart. I had a good time today.”
“So did I.”
Chapter 19
Sunday 1st December
“Come on, Ruby, aren’t you ready?” Steve called up the stairs. It was the first Sunday in December – they were going Christmas tree shopping – a family tradition.
When his head wasn’t busy, he’d drift off in his thoughts, remembering how fantastic his day had been with Lydia yesterday. Over the past few weeks, they’d taken it slowly. He hadn’t done anything really past first base. They were both ready to take the next step but he wanted to make sure they’d got to know one another well enough before he took things further. There was a nagging voice inside his head not to rush this – although he did need to, as the weeks ticked away and January hurried towards him. He only had till early New Year at the latest, then Hollywood would beckon. But he wanted to feel sure Lydia was the right woman and that she loved him like he loved her.
He did love her. She was his first thought when he woke, and his last before he slept.
Nothing was going to disturb his good mood today. Excitement
bubbled inside him, too. He wanted to treat Ruby. Christmas with Ruby. Nothing was going to spoil it.
“I’m coming!” She ran down the stairs, jumping the bottom one and pulled on her boots. “I want to get a real Christmas tree this year, if you’re staying for Christmas. Can we do that today? Please?”
“Yes, yes, but first I want to show you something. It’s an early present.”
“Early one? I haven’t even thought about buying you something yet. I mean, what do you get a man who’s got everything?”
“I haven’t got everything.” What he wanted most was a woman in his life. A soul mate, a wife. Something money couldn’t buy; true love.
He unlocked Ruby’s car and got in the driver’s side – he would drive today. It had taken him a while, but he was now walking around to the right side of the car to get in. Luckily, he hadn’t made that mistake too much with anyone else about – except Lydia. But then she fuddled his brain.
“Where are we going?” Ruby asked as Steve reversed the car off the driveway.
“You’ll see in a minute.”
“So what would you like for Christmas?”
“Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and spending it with you. That would be perfect,” Steve said.
“I’ll make sure I wear a bow.” Ruby giggled.
“Well, and maybe if Lydia could be there too…”
“You and Lydia really have hit it off.” She clapped her hands excitedly.
“We really have. I just hate lying to her, though. I want to tell her the truth.”
“Wait a bit longer, Steve. Things can fizzle out very quickly.”
Yeah, he knew that, too, but he couldn’t wait to get more intimate. To show her how much she meant to him.
“Right, close your eyes,” Steve ordered, stopped at a set of traffic lights, focussing on Ruby. She was important too. Her happiness needed to be attended to, just as much as his. When he went back to Hollywood, he wanted the knowledge that Ruby was secure and happy.
“Why?”
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