The Boy I Love

by Lynda Bellingham

  Jeremy gave her a second look to see if she was suggesting something else, but her face was inscrutable.

  ‘Oh, just a trip to Manchester. Eddie is returning the favour by giving me a tour of the city.’

  ‘Lovely, dears. Well, see you later – and be good.’ The big woman could not resist a huge wink which made Jeremy wince with embarrassment.

  ‘Thanks,’ he stammered. ‘Yes – right. Come on then, Eddie, let’s go!’

  Once they got down the road they burst into a fit of giggles.

  ‘She is a witch, I swear it,’ chuckled Jeremy. ‘Will she tell everyone, do you think?’

  ‘Oh, who cares. We are not doing anything wrong, are we? Come on, let’s get this weekend started.’ Eddie grabbed Jeremy’s hand and pulled him up the street warbling a rendition of Doris Day singing ‘Once I Had a Secret Love’.

  Chapter 29

  Sally yawned and stretched, then sighed. She could hear Dora banging about in the kitchen making coffee. God, I would love a cup, thought Sally, but that means facing my sister. It is too early for discussions of any sort, let alone family confrontations. Although as she lay here, this morning, Sally wondered if there was any point in bringing up the whole thing again. It was a fait accompli as far as Dora was concerned. Would it not be better if Sally just got on with her own life? And if that meant being less than open with her sister, so be it. She thought about home, and her parents, and how trusting and loving her childhood had been; Dora’s too, for that matter. When had things changed? Why did they change? Sally loved her sister and would always love her, of course, but now there was a beat missing somehow, and she wasn’t sure she could find her way back to how it was before. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door and Dora’s head appeared.

  ‘Fancy a coffee?’ she said, and came into the room with coffee and toast.

  ‘Wow, what a treat, Dora! Thank you. To what do I owe this attention?’ asked Sally, sitting up in bed.

  Dora looked contrite. ‘I have behaved badly, I know, sis, but I honestly didn’t mean to cause you grief. I just didn’t think as usual, I suppose.’

  ‘No, you did not, and yes, it has upset me quite a lot, as a matter of fact. But I have decided to leave things be, because to be honest, Dora, there is too much going on in my life at the moment and I don’t want to fall out with you on top of everything else. But please do try and think about other people’s feelings and remember that you are here because of me.’

  ‘I know, you are right and I will try harder – but please understand, Sally, I am serious about wanting to try a career as an actress, and hopefully that will not mean we are in competition.’

  Sally caught a look in Dora’s eye. What was it, a challenge?

  ‘What are you doing today – apart from two shows, I mean?’ asked Sally. ‘Only I was wondering if we should try and set up a rehearsal for my Dumb Show asap, and I have just remembered that Rupert and Isabelle arrive some time this weekend.’

  Dora looked at her blankly. ‘Who?’

  ‘Our stars! How could you forget? I think Giles wanted me to greet them and make sure they are OK. Mind you, I have got enough to do as usual with two shows, plus the get out, and preparing for the big “meet and greet” on Monday morning. Can you help me at all, do you think?’ Sally gave her sister her best pleading look.

  ‘Oh well, I suppose so, but Simon has organized for us all to go to Manchester tonight to a club, and I have invited Mack up for the night – thought it would be a nice surprise for you, actually.’

  ‘Mack? As in Mack McKinney – Muriel’s Mack?’ Sally was stunned by this news. ‘Whatever brought this on?’ she pressed. ‘And what has Mack to do with me?’

  ‘Oh come on, Sally, don’t pretend you didn’t fancy him when you were there in the summer. I suggested he might like to come up and visit one day and he seemed really chuffed to be asked.’ Dora disappeared into the other room, leaving Sally to gather up her thoughts.

  Mack here? She had to admit the idea was not unattractive to her, but she couldn’t quite work out how Dora was involved in all this. She followed her sister into the kitchen.

  ‘Did you see Mack then, when I had gone?’ she asked. ‘I didn’t know you knew him that well.’

  ‘No, I don’t know him that well, but Muriel told me you had got on well, and I thought as you have been a bit tense the last couple of weeks, it might do you good to see someone from home. Simon was organizing this club thing and it occurred to me that you might like someone to go with. Oh for goodness sake, Sally, it is no big deal, just a bit of fun.’

  ‘Keep me happy and out of your way, you mean?’ snapped Sally, suddenly feeling very manipulated again. ‘I really do not need you to organize my life, Dora. Please stop!’

  ‘Fine,’ returned Dora. ‘You are such a drama queen, Sally. It doesn’t matter. You stay here and practise your little Dumb Show while the rest of us have a life. Blimey, even Jeremy has gone away this weekend – and good on him.’

  Sally was suddenly reminded that indeed she really was on her own this weekend, as Jeremy was away finding true love. So there you go, Sally! Miss Goody Two Shoes again trying to do the right thing. Well, sod it! She would at least have a heads-up before Monday on what to expect from the new ‘stars’. Avoiding any more conversation with Dora, she got dressed and made her way to the theatre, just stopping at the corner shop for milk and biscuits and a bottle of wine for later. Come midnight they would be gagging for a drink.

  As she was crossing the square she saw Peggy struggling with her weekend shopping and went to relieve her.

  ‘Oh bless you, darling,’ Peggy huffed and puffed. ‘Bloody shopping always does my head in on a Saturday, but if I don’t do it now there will be nothing for Sunday lunch, and His Lordship would be very cross indeed. Come on, let’s have a coffee and a bun before we shut ourselves away for the rest of the day.’

  Sally followed Peggy across to the tearoom round the back of the Memorial.

  ‘You are so right, Peggy,’ she said, putting the bags on the floor and plonking herself down at a corner table. ‘There is something about Saturdays that is really depressing, because everybody else seems to be getting ready for a night out, and they are out and about shopping, and having fun, and the likes of you and me are preparing to hide away in the dark until ten thirty tonight doing two shows. I mean, don’t get me wrong – I love performing – but sometimes it would be lovely to have a normal weekend, wouldn’t it?’

  Peggy chuckled. ‘There is nothing normal about this game, dearie. Now what are you going to have?’

  Once they had ordered coffee and two Eccles cakes, Peggy had a confession to make.

  ‘I suppose you have noticed that young Sarah has been hanging about round Percy, haven’t you?’ she said.

  Sally answered carefully, ‘Well yes, she does seem to be overly attentive, but I suppose that is normal in younger actresses. She is probably learning a good deal from Percy.’

  Peggy snorted. ‘She is taking the silly old fool for a ride, and I am getting fed up with it. Listen, Sally, I have had to deal with this all my life with His Lordship. Always young women, and that is why I even tried to put a stop to it by spreading rumours that he liked the boys! But it never worked. Normally I turn a blind eye, but this one just won’t give up, and I think that Percy must be going through a midlife crisis because he is besotted. I have to admit it is getting to me, Sally, and I don’t know what to do.’ Peggy sniffed and held her paper serviette to her nose.

  Sally wanted to reach across the table and give the woman a big hug. Instead she said gently, ‘Oh now, Peggy, I think you are getting your knickers in a twist for nothing. I know she is pushy, that Sarah, but Percy is not a fool. He knows the score.’

  ‘Well, you would think so, wouldn’t you, dearie? But there is no fool like an old fool.’ Peggy popped the last morsel of her Eccles cake in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. ‘What can I do?’ she whispered.

  Sally was suddenly v
ery angry with all these girls making waves. Well, two girls – Sarah and Dora as it happened.

  ‘Do you want me to have a word?’ she suggested. ‘I am very happy to warn her off – and maybe we can turn her attention elsewhere. Who else can help her career? What about Robert?’

  ‘Huh! He is another one who spends all his time playing games,’ said Peggy. ‘He’s not to be trusted at all, dearie.’

  Sally thought about Jeremy and his little secret and made a mental note to warn him to be careful.

  ‘OK then,’ she said aloud. ‘I will deal with this, Peggy, and don’t you worry – we will get Miss Sarah Kelly to see sense.’

  When Sally got to the theatre she was accosted by Heather, who was going mad trying to find one of the blonde wigs which had gone missing.

  ‘If those boys have had it away as a joke I will kill the little sods.’ She shook a finger at Sally. ‘Do you know anything about this?’

  ‘No, you daft thing,’ laughed Sally. ‘Give me a break, Heather, I have got enough on my plate. Do you know where Giles is, by any chance?’

  ‘Yes, he is in his office – but he is with Lord Graham, so watch out . . .’

  Sally made her way to the front of house and up the stairs to the Royal Circle where Giles’s office was situated. She knocked on the door and waited. After a few moments Giles himself opened the door. He seemed less than pleased to see her.

  ‘Yes?’ he barked. ‘I am very busy, so if it isn’t important can it wait until later?’

  Sally heard the sound of someone clearing their throat and a waft of cigar smoke curled round the door.

  ‘No, it is fine, I will come back later but I do need instructions about the arrival of Rupert and Isabelle.’ She turned and went away feeling very miffed. What on earth was the matter with everyone? They all seemed to have agendas that had nothing to do with getting the show on the road. She decided to seek out Sarah and give her a job to do. It might not ultimately help keep her away from Percy, but it would make Sally feel better! She found the young lady in the Green Room making coffee. Sally noted there were two mugs.

  ‘Hi, Sarah, are you busy?’ she asked.

  Sarah stirred the coffee and smiled sweetly. ‘I was just going to take this to Percy, as a matter of fact.’

  ‘OK then, when you have done that, can you go down to the stage and help Heather find a lost wig? She is going mad.’

  ‘Actually, I know where the wig is,’ answered Sarah. ‘I caught Simon wearing it after the show last night, so I took it off him and kept it in my dressing room.’

  Sally was rather nonplussed. ‘Oh right, good. Well, can you take it to Heather and then see if Janie needs help to start putting costumes in skips?’

  Sarah nodded and set off with her two cups of coffee. Sally couldn’t resist calling after her, ‘I don’t think you have time to drink that with Percy, do you? Best get a move on.’

  The sound of voices coming from the stage door reminded Sally that it was nearly time to get ready for the afternoon performance. She ran up to the dressing room and spent five minutes doing a warm-up for her voice. Suddenly, she found she could forget all the petty ups and downs and focus on herself. She must not forget this was what she was here for; to learn to grow as an actress. She had a great deal to get through in the next three weeks, so no distractions.

  Her serenity was interrupted by the arrival of her sister. ‘Sally, look who is here!’ yelled Dora and stepped back to allow the surprise guest to enter the dressing room.

  ‘Hello, Sally,’ said Mack.

  Sally was struck dumb. The room was full of this gorgeous handsome man who was smiling at her and moving forward to give her a kiss on the cheek.

  ‘Mack – what a surprise! Oh my goodness, I am gobsmacked. Why are you here?’ The question was out before she could stop herself.

  ‘Charming,’ he laughed. ‘I am not quite sure how to respond to that.’

  ‘No, sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude, it is just such a surprise. Actually Dora did mention it this morning, but I have been so busy it completely went out of my head. It is lovely to see you. Are you going to watch the show? Shall I get you a ticket?’ Sally could feel herself wittering on and tried to pull herself together. Bloody Dora had done it again!

  But Mack seemed to be taking it all in his stride. ‘Don’t worry about me,’ he said. ‘I will have a wander round the town, and probably get something to eat, and then we can either meet between the shows or after. It is not a problem. I know you are very busy, so just do your thing and we will see what happens later.’

  ‘Thank you, Mack.’ Sally breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I must say there is a lot to do, and, Dora, you should have been here an hour ago.’ She turned her attention to her wayward sister. She was not going to let her get away with this disruption.

  ‘You had better get up to the wardrobe department a bit quick.’

  Dora had the grace to do as she was told, and Sally left Mack wending his way back to the stage door. By the time she had changed and got her make-up on she was exhausted!

  Chapter 30

  By the end of the second performance Sally was feeling like death. She was so tired, and the last thing she felt like doing was going clubbing.

  ‘Oh come on, sis, don’t be a spoilsport. You have got to come.’ Dora was standing in the doorway dressed to the nines.

  ‘What will poor Mack think? He has come all this way to see you and you are being a party-pooper.’

  ‘You invited him, Dora, not me,’ Sally retorted. She was well aware that Mack was waiting downstairs with the others, but she just couldn’t face him. ‘Tell him I am truly sorry, and that we can go and have a pub lunch or something tomorrow. I presume he is sleeping on our sofa tonight?’

  ‘Who knows?’ Dora giggled. ‘Things might change in the night, sister dear.’

  ‘Oh, don’t be so stupid and childish. What is the matter with you, Dora? I hardly know the guy, for Christ’s sake. Why are you pushing him in my face?’

  Dora just waved her hand and disappeared down the stairs, calling, ‘See you later!’

  Sally was in a really grumpy mood now. Left on her own, she almost wished she had gone with them all. Almost. Then Janie appeared in the doorway with a load of dirty washing. ‘Anything for me?’ She stopped and noticed Sally’s long face. ‘Everything all right?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh yes, fine. It is just Dora is getting on my nerves. She sort of set me up tonight with this old friend from home. He is the brother of my best friend from school, but I don’t really know him that well. Anyway, he is very nice and everything, but she invited him up here for the weekend, and then expects me to drop everything and go out clubbing. She can be very irritating at times.’

  Janie nodded. ‘She is still very young, Sally. Don’t let it get to you. Come on, come and have a glass of wine with me and Heather while we finish clearing up. Gwendoline left early tonight with Geoffrey, so work that one out. Mark my words, it is all going to end in tears.’

  After Janie had left, Sally pondered on her situation. Why was she being so dismissive of Mack? The last time she had seen him she was full of passion and longing, and now suddenly she was talking about him as if he was a complete stranger. Yet if truth be told, Mack had crept into her thoughts many times over the last few weeks. She had gone over and over their last evening together. She had even managed to pluck up the courage to send him the odd postcard of Crewe, with a reasonably bland comment like So this is show biz! but he had not replied, and as the days passed Sally had put him to the back of her mind and concentrated on the job in hand. Now he was here and she was just too tired to respond.

  Sally finally crawled into bed about 1 a.m. and fell instantly asleep, not waking until nine the next morning. Wondering what was going to greet her on the other side of her bedroom door, she donned a dressing gown and pulled open the door quietly, creeping into the sitting room to find a body filling the sofa. She had left out a pillow and blankets last night, hoping that Mac
k would feel welcome. He had made full use of the sofa, and was sprawled over it with his feet hanging over the edge.

  Sally tiptoed into the kitchen and put the kettle on. She was hoping that she could get some work done before everyone woke up, and then enjoy the rest of her Sunday with Mack, catching up on news from home. She made herself coffee and toast and honey, and crept back to her room. Now that Giles had done her the honour of offering her the job of directing the Dumb Show in Hamlet, Sally was determined to make her mark and do him proud. She had discussed masks with Gwendoline, who was happy to oblige, and Dora had promised to make white robes for the actors – though whether that offer still held was anyone’s guess.

  Sally spent the next couple of hours reading the text, and also acquainting herself with the part of Ophelia, since she was the official understudy, as well as director of the Dumb Show. Her thoughts turned to Hamlet and Rupert Hallam, who had been in the news a good deal lately as the new heart-throb, due to his role in an ongoing series on TV. Isabelle James, his opposite number, had just won a BAFTA for her performance in a very moody film about incest. Sally had not seen it but all the reviews raved about her performance, and there was much comment made about her nude scenes. She had apparently had to undress through most of her scenes. Well good luck to her, thought Sally. If you’ve got it, flaunt it! The phone rang suddenly and she was up and out to the hall, quick as a flash.

  ‘Sally? It’s Giles Longfellow here. I am sorry to trouble you on your day off, but I think I did mention I might need your help today with our new arrivals. I am still in the countryside, but apparently Rupert has arrived at the theatre and no one knows what to do with him. Can you get down there and ask Gladys to open my office so you can pick up the keys to his flat, which are on top of my desk. The address is number 1, Greenbanks – you know that block of new flats down by the river? Take a taxi and keep the receipt, and I will reimburse you. If you could just get him milk and bread and stuff and see him in safely, I would appreciate it.’