They sat on the worktop, with the pots and bowls between them, so that they could pick at the food and natter at the same time. They talked and laughed and the time soon sped past.
“I had better get going as I have to track down Esme’s cousin and see if he’s free for Amy’s party. Apparently, he’s got some exotic pets.” Andy raised his eyebrows at this. “Not Playboy pets, animal pets! And he’s willing to bring them round, so I’m doing an animal- theme party.”
“She’ll love that. Before you go, have a look at the patio.”
“You’ve laid a patio?”
“Yeah, I was fed up of all the inside work.” Sarah gathered up her things and followed Andy out to the back of the house, where they stepped onto what Sarah thought was the prettiest patio she’d ever seen. In front of her was a circle of marbled yellow stones spiralling out into a large, circular patio, with a path looping around the garden and another smaller circle the other side, which Sarah thought would be a fabulous barbecue area.
“Wow, Andy, this is gorgeous!”
“The stones are a type of Indian sandstone, so you get all these colour variations from the yellow through to that pinky colour like that one there,” he said, pointing out a pinker one with his dusty boot.
“I bet it was expensive.”
“Not bad, really. I have a couple of friends in landscape gardening and this is popular right now, so they’ve bought huge quantities of the stuff. I’ve done them both good prices on kitchens in the past, so they do me virtually trade price on the stone. I’ve got loads left over, too. I majorly miscalculated!” Andy said, pointing down the side of the house to the stacks of stones piled up in neat rows.
“Ooh, are those going begging? I’d pay you for them, of course.”
“What do you want them for?”
“A hot-air balloon!” Sarah pulled a silly face. “A patio, like this one. I’d need you to help me, obviously,” said Sarah, screwing up her face in anticipation.
“There’s enough for a small patio,” he sighed, good-naturedly.
“Brilliant. Thank you!” and she flung her arms round his neck.
The rest of the day of rehearsals had seemed to whizz by in a blur. Kate’s head was spinning with all the advice and explanations from Marcus, and excitement from watching the actors run through the scripts.
“Have Tim and Lumina made up?” asked Kate, after the pair had done another read- through where Lumina had held her own and Tim had been utterly brilliant.
“I hope so. I told him to do whatever it took to achieve an agreeable working relationship.”
As they were talking, Tim came striding past, still speaking into his mobile. “I’m just glad the op went well. Just let me know if you need anything else.” And then he was past them. Clearly, Kate wasn’t the only one who had heard, as one of the crew said snidely,
“Probably an abortion he’s paying for.” And another responded with, “More likely to be a boob job!” and they all cackled with laughter. Marcus coughed loudly and the crew dispersed.
Kate was keen not to get in the way, so she set herself up in a corner with her laptop. She was just opening up a file when Pippa appeared at her shoulder.
“Are you a dog person, Kate?” she asked, looking frazzled.
“I like all animals, but I’m probably more cat than dog. Why? Is there a problem?”
“It’s Horse.” Kate was about to ask the obvious question, so Pippa continued. “That’s the bloody stupid name that Lumina has for her horrible little dog. He hates me; he’ll bite me if he gets half a chance. I need someone to babysit him so I can get some work done. It’s driving me mad!” Oh, great sales pitch, thought Kate, I really want the job now!
“Could Lumina’s PA not look after him?”
“What PA? She’s had two and they lasted all of five minutes each. Since then she’s conducted an endless round of interviews but can’t find anyone she connects with, darling,” mimicked Pippa.
“You could leave him with me, if you like,” offered Kate, trying not to sound as reluctant as she felt. Maybe one day she would say no to someone, but that clearly wasn’t going to be today.
“You’re a life-saver!”
Pippa returned a short while later with a small pink-and-white bag and plonked it on the table next to Kate’s laptop.
“There you go. He’s been fed and watered so shouldn’t need anything for an hour or so. Thanks again,” Pippa said and she disappeared before Kate could get any words out. The end of the bag was made of mesh and inside sat a very sad-looking chihuahua. He was a creamy-beige colour with a white stripe down his face and chest. He had some fluffy patches by his ears that made him look cute and puppy-like. His big, dark eyes met Kate’s.
“Hello, you must be Horse,” she whispered, leaning her face in closer.
“Grrrr” grumbled Horse, with more menace than you would think possible from a very small dog zipped into a bag.
“Right, okay. You can stay in there, then,” and Kate gently moved the bag further onto the table. He soon went off to sleep, which made for easy dog-sitting. Kate gave the occasional look over the top of the laptop to check on Horse. Before long, people were packing up around her and it was the end of day one. She sat back in her chair as a rhythmic tap of heels announced that Lumina was approaching. Kate turned to see her scowling face half hidden by sunglasses.
“You’ve got my dog!” Lumina said, snatching the bag off the table and sending poor Horse into a spin inside.
“Yes, I was dog-sitting for Pippa. Well, for you, actually,” said Kate, with a smile. “We didn’t really get a chance to meet. I’m Kate,” she said, offering a hand to shake.
“Horse is delicate. I don’t like him being left with just anyone.”
“I was just trying to help,” stated Kate, feeling quite put out by Lumina’s rudeness.
“Has he been sprinkles?”
“Sorry?”
“Tinkles, sprinkles?”
“He’s just been sleeping for the last couple of hours. He’s been fine.”
Lumina gave a huff and waltzed off, slung the bag over her shoulder and started speaking into her mobile. Kate couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Horse – she’d be grumpy, too, if she spent half her life under Lumina’s armpit, however silky-smooth and deodorised it most probably was.
Kate packed up and headed down to join the small remaining group. Pippa began ushering Tim and Lumina out of the building and Kate and Marcus followed on behind. Pippa opened a door and Tim and Lumina stepped out. They were all momentarily blinded by flashes of light. Kate hadn’t realised that it had grown dark outside and for a moment she was stunned as the flashbulbs went off around her. There were about a dozen or so paparazzi waiting next to the exit. Tim raced to the waiting car, cursing as he went, whilst Lumina flicked her hair back and trotted after him, making a half-hearted attempt to cover her face with one hand. Horse started yapping as if throwing insults at everyone. Kate felt an arm around her shoulders and Marcus guided her back inside and shut the door. Kate found she was trying to catch her breath. She had no idea how famous people coped with that all the time.
“But, nobody’s meant to know we’re rehearsing here,” puzzled Pippa with a frown. “If they do get a tip-off, they usually wait at the front, not at this exit,” she said, clearly confused. “There’s been no press here all day, so why now?” she asked nobody in particular.
When Tim finally calmed down, he sat quietly in the limo sipping some bottled water. Lumina was studying her own reflection in the dark glass of the windows and smiling to herself.
“Are we going out this evening?” Lumina asked. Tim closed his eyes and slowly drew in a deep breath. “Tim, you promised, we have a deal, remember?”
“And I am a man of my word. So, yes, we can go out this evening. How does the cinema sound?” to which Lumina sat up straight and stared at him.
“I hope you’re not serious!”
Chapter 13
A few days lat
er, Kate found herself exhausted and crashed out in her garden, as it was an unexpectedly warm April day. Amy was busying herself looking for mini beasts with lots of help from Marmalade, who was keen to round up anything that scurried out from underneath the pots and rocks that Amy was lifting up. Kate and Sarah were sitting lazily in the steamer chairs, taking in the much-needed warmth. Sarah handed a newspaper to Kate.
“Newspaper? You?”
“Look who is on the front,” Sarah said, adjusting her lounger awkwardly in an attempt to get it to lie flat. Kate unfolded the newspaper and looked at the picture on the front. It wasn’t the main story, but it took up a good quarter of the page and the heading of “Tim Called Her” and a subheading “We’re back together, says Tumina”.
“Please tell me that’s a typo. Tumina! Seriously?”
“Yep, you had Brangelina now you’ve got Tumina; they do look quite sweet together don’t you th… Ahh!” yelled Sarah, as she finally moved the right lever and found herself crashing down into the flat position. “Bloody silly thing.”
“I agree,” Kate said, studying the photograph. Tim was wearing full evening dress and Lumina was in a floor-length magenta gown with some sort of fishtail detail.
“Lumina looks fabulous in that dress, doesn’t she?” said Sarah, moving the lounger up a notch.
“Looks a bit like a sunburnt mermaid to me.”
“Oh my goodness,” said Sarah, in shock as she turned to face Kate. “You never bad- mouth anyone,” to which Kate raised an eyebrow. “Well, hardly ever. But now you mention it, she does look a bit fishlike.”
“This explains the truce at rehearsals, then, if they’ve got back together. I’m surprised nobody said anything.” Kate read a few more details about the event, which had been a film premiere in Leicester Square. Kate felt a pang of disappointment. She folded the newspaper back up and slapped it on Sarah’s chest, making her jump.
“Thanks, mate!” Sarah said, removing the newspaper. “Lovely Andy is ripping up tree roots and laying me a patio.”
“That’ll be good. You need somewhere to sit outside at yours,”
“Exactly. I’m hoping it’ll be done for Amy’s party. It’s just a hole with plastic over it at the moment.”
“Baby-sitting, patio, what next, I wonder?” Kate said.
“What are you insinuating?” said Sarah, leaning up on one elbow.
“Just that you are spending more and more time together and that’s nice,” said Kate, who had her eyes closed.
“I do like him, but he’s just a friend,” said Sarah.
“And friends make bad partners because… they know that you’re really a horrid old tart?” said Kate.
“There is that,” said Sarah, taking a half-hearted swipe at her friend and missing. “The thing is, I value his friendship more than anything. And he’s nice. He’s not what I’d usually go for.”
“So that would be a huge improvement.”
“I don’t know. What if he doesn’t like me like that. Not that I’m saying I like him like that!” Sarah said quickly, to get her message across.
“Of course not. Andy is a decent guy; he’d let you down gently. He’d explain that you have legs like a flamingo, the body of a twiglet and you clap like a retarded sea lion when something’s funny.”
“Arp, arp, arp!” mimicked Sarah, before whacking Kate with the newspaper and this time scoring a direct hit.
“Mummy, what are you doing,” asked Amy, looking quizzically at her mother, who was having another go at her sea-lion impression. Sarah and Kate started laughing.
“Mummy was being a sea lion. How are you getting on?”
“Very good. I found some spiders, earwigs and woodlice!”
“How lovely!” exclaimed Sarah, giving Amy a hug. Amy skipped off back down the garden. “I was into Barbie at her age not creepy crawlies!”
“She’s her own little person. No stereotypes for our Amy. That’s one of many things I love about her,” Kate said, watching her disappear behind the rosemary bush.
“Like you and your cardigans,” laughed Sarah.
“I’ll close up that steamer with you in it, if you’re not careful.”
“You need a mini makeover, then Timothy Calder will whisk you off to a film premiere!”
“Hang on! Who said I wanted to be whisked off ?” Kate was now feeling affronted.
“Are you female?” to which Kate nodded. “Then of course you do!”
“You’re as bad as Didi!”
“Oh, how is Didi?” asked Sarah, who was very easily distracted.
“She’s causing mischief. I think they’ll let her go home in the next couple of weeks,” said Kate.
“That’s good news, but don’t sidestep the matter in hand. You would, wouldn’t you?”
“You lost me,” said Kate, “I would what?”
“You know. Timothy Calder. You would?”
“I would?”
“Shag him,” stated Sarah.
“Sarah!”
“I would, defo,” said Sarah with a wicked little grin.
Kate offered Sarah first dibs on house-sitting again but Sarah declined for the same reasons as before, and Andy jumped at the chance of a dust-free home, even if it was only going to be Monday to Friday this time. When Monday came round, Kate found she had those same excited butterflies tumbling around as she’d had before, but this time she was also looking forward to catching up with the people she’d met. Filming was at a big London studio and Kate had felt such glee when she had proudly announced her destination to the taxi driver, who very disappointingly hadn’t responded with matching excitement, he’d just said, “Okay, love,” and set off.
Once safely inside with a lanyard and name badge, Kate was free to wander, but she headed off in the direction she’d been told in the hope of quickly finding a familiar face. There was a series of huge warehouse-type buildings and signs everywhere, most of which made little sense to her. She was totally amazed by the scale of the site, or the “lot”, as Marcus had called it. Kate was just starting to fear that she had been given incorrect directions when she saw a sign for “C Stage” and lots of activity going on outside. People were carrying things inside and there were vans parked nearby with their rear doors open. Groups of men, mostly in black t-shirts despite the April breeze, were milling about either on mobile phones or studying pieces of paper. She spotted Dennis.
“Hello, Dennis, this looks exciting,” said Kate.
“Morning, Kate. I don’t know about exciting – there’s loads of issues with the set build, the rig and dolly, but you don’t need to worry about that. Marcus is inside. They’ve made a home for you next to the green room – go straight through past the set, then through the elephant doors into D Studio.” He nodded his head, obviously thinking the instructions he’d just given were quite clear. Kate was not as sure, but thanked him and strode inside.
Kate hadn’t really known what to expect but was amazed by what greeted her. The huge space had been divided up into smaller sets, and the first that she saw was Marcie’s apartment, which looked like a real home apart from being open on two sides and with no ceiling. Patrick’s office was next, complete with large, green window into which Kate assumed they would add a scene in post-production. Then there was Patrick’s car – a vintage Jaguar, surrounded by green boards, again ready for post-production wizardry to make it look as if it was speeding up a motorway or through the countryside. Patrick’s apartment was a smart and stylish bachelor pad and Kate found that she had slowed to a shuffle as she wandered past open-mouthed.
“Darling girl, over here!” came a call she recognised, and she turned to see Marcus waving enthusiastically.
“So, here we are. It’s not perfect but it’s a good start. Excited?”
“Very,” nodded Kate, who wanted to run and play in the giant doll’s house they had created next door. Marcus was wearing what looked very much like a golf jumper with a diamond pattern on it, and a pink shirt underneath.
/> “So, any sign of the actors?” asked Kate.
“Briefing, then hair and make-up, followed by wardrobe,” said Marcus.
“Of course,” said Kate feeling like the rookie she was.
Pippa came scurrying in with what looked, for a second, like a baby harness strapped across her chest. Once Kate’s eyes had a chance to process the sight before her, she realised that it wasn’t a baby, but a dog. In fact, it was Horse. He was suspended in a pink-and-black harness, which clashed wonderfully with the lime of Pippa’s shirt, with his little legs dangling in front of him. Kate failed to stifle her laughter, which made Pippa’s already unhappy face turn even sourer.
“I’m sorry, Pippa, but what are you wearing?” asked Kate.
“It’s a luxury dog-carrying harness. Lumina bought it for me so I wouldn’t have to leave Horse anywhere. You know, the sooner that woman gets a PA the better. I’ve a good mind to find her one myself,” said Pippa, with passion.
“You don’t think you might put them off at interview, dressed like that?” asked Kate.
Pippa sat down opposite Kate, so it now looked as if Horse was sitting on her lap. This made it even harder for Kate not to laugh, as Horse was staring straight at her; he didn’t look particularly happy with the set-up either.
“I used to love my job,” confided Pippa, “but this is pushing me to the edge,” she said, pointing a finger firmly at Horse, who was momentarily distracted by it, but soon returned to staring at Kate.
“Then you need to tell Tim you’re his PA. Maybe if you fail to do a couple of things for him, he’ll realise you’re overworked and he’ll encourage Lumina to get her own assistant?”
“My pride won’t let me drop any spinning plates,” she said with a sad smile. All of a sudden Horse began a shrill ear-splitting yap that made them both recoil. Unfortunately for Pippa, she had nowhere to recoil to.
“Hello, dear boy,” they heard Marcus say behind them. So Horse was just signalling the arrival of Tim, his arch nemesis.
“Pip, I’ve told Mina that bloody dog is not coming on set!” said Tim in a voice raised enough to be just audible over the yapping.
It Started at Sunset Cottage Page 15