‘Yes, that’s fine, Giles. I will go now.’ Sally put the phone down with a sigh. So much for her day off and a pub lunch in the country.
‘Problems?’ A voice at her elbow startled her.
‘Oh gosh, Mack, you made me jump! Sorry, did I wake you? I have got to go to the theatre and play host to our new arrival, Rupert Hallam. Help yourself to tea and coffee, et cetera. I should be back within the hour. I was going to suggest a pub lunch, but I don’t know how much time we will have left. It’s eleven o’clock now.’
‘Don’t worry, I will hang out here and wait for you,’ he said. ‘I take it Dora is still asleep? Shall I wake her up in a bit so we can all meet up together?’
‘Yes, why not,’ replied Sally, without much enthusiasm. ‘I’ll see you later. Oops, I had better get dressed,’ she added, realizing she was still in her pyjamas.
Sally threw on an old jumper and some jeans and gave her hair a quick brush. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she could see the brush had done nothing useful, so found her favourite hat and hid the mess underneath. A tiny voice did hint she might have wanted to try a bit harder as Mack was here and they might go out later, but it was quickly squashed by a glance at the time. Sally grabbed her bag and left the flat as Mack was putting on the kettle.
When Sally arrived at the stage door she was greeted by Gladys looking very overexcited and decidedly pink in the cheeks.
‘Oh, Miss Sally, thank goodness you got here. Poor Mr Hallam has been waiting so patiently and me not knowing what to do for the best. Mr Hallam, this is Sally. She is the ASM and knows all about everything.’
Rupert Hallam turned to shake Sally’s hand, saying languidly, ‘Thank God you have arrived. I was starting to think that everyone had forgotten about me.’ He stuck his nose in the air.
Sally replied, ‘Oh, not at all – and I’m so very sorry you’ve had to wait.’ She turned immediately to Gladys. ‘I need the keys to Mr Longfellow’s office, please, so I can get the keys to Mr Hallam’s accommodation. If you don’t mind waiting a few more minutes, Rupert, we will sort this out, and I will take you to your flat. Can you also get me a taxi, please, Gladys, to Number 1, Greenbanks.’ Inside, Sally was fuming. This guy was so aloof and full of himself. Well, we’ll soon bring him down a peg or two, she promised herself.
By the time she got back to the stage door the taxi had arrived and she and Rupert were able to set off immediately. He did not say a word on the journey over and Sally was in no mood to try and be friendly. The taxi dropped them off and Sally made her way to the front entrance of Greenbanks. It suddenly occurred to her that she had no means of transport back to her flat, so that meant more grief. She managed the locks, and finally opened the front door to a very smart and obviously expensive first-floor flat. It had a glass window right across one wall and a leather sofa, and a glass dining table and four chairs. Sally couldn’t help thinking, ‘Oh, this is lovely!’ Then realized she had spoken out loud.
‘Yeah, not bad, I must say,’ agreed Rupert Hallam, putting his bag down and going into the bedroom. Sally decided to investigate the kitchen, which was very modern and had every gadget imaginable. Lucky sod, she thought to herself. She dumped the carrier bag with the groceries on the counter.
‘Well, I will leave you to settle in then,’ she declared frostily. ‘I have written out a list of useful numbers for you, including mine and the stage manager’s. Her name is Heather Rollings and I am sure she will be calling you later.’
She had started to make her way to the door when Rupert stopped her.
‘Listen, I apologize if I was a bit curt earlier. It’s just all a bit overwhelming, to tell you the truth. Don’t suppose you know where to get some food? Is there a pub you all go to? I guess there is no one about because it’s Sunday.’
Sally suddenly felt a bit sorry for him. He looked very forlorn standing there.
‘Yes, absolutely right. Sunday is a dead day but we all love it. It is the only time we have off, really – the rest of the week is full on.’ Sally wasn’t quite sure what to do next. Leave, or invite him to join them in the pub. Her good nature getting the better of her, she decided to give Mr Hallam a second chance.
‘As a matter of fact, we were thinking of going for a pub lunch so you are welcome to join us. I share a flat with my sister Dora, and we have a friend visiting from home, so please – do come if you would like.’
Rupert gave her a beaming smile that completely changed his face from moody and mean to young and boyish – and very good-looking, Sally had to admit.
‘That would be really cool. Thank you so much.’ He picked up his rucksack, found his wallet and started to leave. Sally remembered his keys and handed them to him at the door.
‘Won’t get far without them,’ she grinned. ‘Oh actually, can we use your phone to call a taxi? It is not far but a pain to walk it, and time is marching on if we want to get to a pub before it closes.’
‘Be my guest,’ replied Rupert, pointing to the phone.
Sally rang the cab company then tried her flat and luckily got hold of Dora.
‘Listen, can you and Mack be ready to come down when I ring the doorbell? We can take this taxi on to the pub and charge the theatre. I thought we could go to the Cross Keys on the Nantwich Road.’ Dora agreed and Sally put the phone down. ‘Right – all sorted, let’s hope the taxi gets here quickly.’ While they waited Sally explained who she was exactly, and how she was the understudy for Ophelia, and about her Dumb Show ideas. Rupert seemed genuinely interested and admitted that this was his first theatre role since drama school and he was very nervous.
‘Do you know Isabelle?’ asked Sally.
‘Not really. I have met her at a couple of film things, but that’s all,’ replied Rupert. ‘She is scarily beautiful though,’ he added. Sally caught the admiration in his voice and thought that was par for the course; two beautiful young things together. She knew where that would lead.
When the two of them arrived at Sally’s flat Dora was at the front door with Mack, bursting with excitement.
‘Hi there! I rang Janie and Peter and they are joining us, and Simon may raise himself from his pit, so we should have a good laugh.’ Dora clambered into the car leaving Mack to find his own place in the front, as it happened. It was only as Dora settled back in the seat that the penny dropped and she recognized Rupert. For one blissful minute there was silence and then she was off again.
‘Oh wow, hi! You are Rupert Hallam, aren’t you? I am such a fan and I think it is brilliant that you have given up your career to come here and do Hamlet.’
Rupert burst out laughing. ‘Hang on a minute – give up my career? I do hope that is not how the rest of the world sees it, or I am finished. I have given up nothing, if you don’t mind. It is an honour to be doing this production, and part of my heritage as an actor.’
Dora had the good grace to apologize profusely, and then shut up, as indicated to her by Sally making a zipping gesture across her mouth. The rest of the journey passed in relative silence, apart from Mack asking the driver various questions about local sights. The pub was on the edge of town so was nearly like a country pub. It served good wholesome dishes like shepherd’s pie or Sunday roast with all the trimmings, and it was cheap. The gang were just in time to order food, and while they were doing that, Rupert went and bought everyone drinks, plus a couple of bottles of wine for later.
Sally joined him to help carry the drinks to the table. ‘Nothing like bribery to get the cast on your side,’ she quipped.
‘Oh now, come on, Sally, don’t have a go at me. I am trying my best to get off on the right foot, that is all.’
Rupert paid the bill and followed Sally back to the others. Janie and Peter were there already and had commandeered a table. Introductions were made and everyone got down to serious drinking. It turned out to be a lovely afternoon. Actors very rarely have trouble making friends. In fact, they tend to love everyone instantly, and it is only later that they see the cr
acks and start bitching. Rupert was very good company, Sally noticed. The aloofness she had seen at the beginning of the day had gone completely, and in its place was a joky, open young man enjoying the company, and loving the limelight – which was inevitable, thought Sally as she watched Dora hanging on his every word and flirting outrageously. Even Janie was doing her best to get his attention with all her talk of costumes and fittings.
‘One of the perks of my job,’ she piped up. ‘Measuring the inside leg of handsome young actors.’
Peter pretended mock horror and everyone laughed. ‘No leg could match up to that of your beloved boyfriend, Janie, my dear,’ he leered, and he gave her a squeeze.
Simon arrived just as last orders were being called and found himself getting a round. Dora offered to go halves with him but he refused. Sally’s sharp eyes picked up a look between them and suspected that things were not very happy. Sally had spent quite a good deal of the lunchtime observing everyone. She loved people-watching and would always try and sit in a corner if she could. She had inevitably found herself comparing Mack and Rupert. Both were good-looking, confident men, yet so different. Mack was impressive just by his physical presence. He was by far the tallest of the bunch, and seemed like a gentle giant. His hair was thick and long and very shiny, and when he laughed he revealed strong white teeth. He was a very attractive man and not at all cowed by a load of actors wittering on about themselves. On the contrary, he seemed to really enjoy their anecdotes and stories, and even added a few of his own. Sally wondered if she was being foolish not getting to know him better. He had come all the way to visit her, after all.
By comparison, Rupert was very much the face of the moment. He seemed much slighter than he appeared on the television screen. He was not quite as tall as Mack, but still about five foot eleven. He had a perfectly chiselled jaw, and his mouth and lips were perfect – almost like a girl’s. His face was saved from being too pretty by an aquiline nose and high cheekbones, and those deep, penetrating dark eyes. He had the long floppy hair of an actor which he constantly kept flipping back out of his eyes. For all his good looks Rupert was definitely one of the lads, and seemed immune to Dora’s attempts at flirting. Just as well, thought Sally, noticing Simon getting grumpy in the corner. Even Mack tried a couple of times to attract Dora’s attention, to no avail.
As soon as they were thrown out of the pub Dora invited everyone back to the flat.
‘But we have work to do and washing to sort, so let’s leave it for now,’ said Sally.
‘Sis, what have I told you about being a party-pooper. We have got to finish Rupert’s lovely wine he bought and the football will be on soon so the boys can put their feet up and watch telly just like being at home.’
This brought a roar of approval from the male contingency and Sally knew she was defeated. The afternoon passed very quickly, with lots of cheering and rowdy jokes. Janie managed to drag Peter away at five, and Rupert called a cab.
‘Mustn’t mess up my first day with a hangover,’ he grinned to Sally at the front door. ‘Thanks so much for today, Sally. I feel as if we have known each other for ever. Promise you will keep an eye on me? I sometimes find it hard to stay focused and then I fuck up.’ For a moment he looked very serious.
‘We won’t let you fuck up, don’t worry,’ she promised. ‘I will be your shadow, never fear.’ She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and Rupert responded by giving her a big hug.
‘Thanks again, Sally.’ And he was gone.
‘Well, aren’t you the dark horse, getting a snog in so soon.’ Dora was standing behind her in the hallway.
‘Don’t be stupid,’ Sally sighed. ‘Let’s just get an early night, shall we, as it is a busy day tomorrow.’
‘Oh yes, miss, whatever you say, miss. Actually, Mack and I might go out for a drink later, seeing as how you have ignored him most of the weekend, and he goes back to Cheltenham tomorrow.’ The girl turned and flounced off into the sitting room.
Sally suddenly felt very tired and decided enough was enough. She went into the sitting room and started to clear away. Simon was asleep on the floor and Mack was dozing on the sofa.
‘Where’s Dora gone now?’ asked Sally, working her way round the room. ‘We need to tidy up and send people to their homes . . . Simon!’ She gave him a nudge in the ribs which produced a groan of protest.
‘Time to go home, Simon. Come on, please.’
Dora appeared at her bedroom door. ‘Actually I am knackered now. Do you mind if I just have a quick nap before we go out, Mack?’
Mack stood up and then realized there was nowhere to go.
‘Sure thing, whatever,’ he said. ‘If Sally doesn’t mind me watching TV, and taking up space in her sitting room tonight.’ He turned to her, looking like a lost dog.
‘Of course I don’t mind, Mack, you are our guest. Though God knows we have hardly been the most attentive hosts, have we?’ she said loudly enough for her sister to hear.
Simon had dragged himself to his feet and was looking for his shoes. When he had finally left, and there was silence from Dora’s bedroom as she took a nap, Mack sat back and fixed Sally with his big brown eyes. He had a way of looking at one very directly; his gaze was like his camera lens, thought Sally.
There was a long pause and Mack seemed to be gathering his thoughts together. Finally he said, ‘Are you pleased to see me? It is just that I feel I am intruding on your life somehow. Dora made me think it is what you would have wanted. She can be very persuasive at times.’ He smiled shyly. ‘We have had a couple of nights out together since you left, and to be honest I am not sure that was such a good idea.’ He hesitated.
‘What do you mean?’ asked Sally with a growing sense of foreboding. ‘When you say you went out together, do you mean as friends or . . . something more?’
‘That’s just it, Sally. You see, she invited me to come and stay here when we were out one night in Cheltenham, and I think I misunderstood the situation – and now I don’t know how to extricate myself without embarrassment all round. Shit, I feel such a fool.’ Mack ran his fingers through his hair with frustration.
‘I am sorry, Mack, but I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Are you and Dora an item?’ Sally nearly choked on the word. Surely this could not be happening? Had Dora managed yet again to crash through her life and create chaos? Could Mack be such a bastard, able to replace one sister with another? Sally wanted to get up and rush out but Mack seemed to read her thoughts and placed his hand on her arm.
‘No, Sally. I thought Dora was trying to help. I have wanted to contact you so many times over the last few weeks but I just couldn’t pluck up the courage. I know how much this job means to you and I didn’t want to get in the way. But to be honest I can’t stop thinking about you and our date together. I thought you and Dora had devised this plan between you so we could meet up again, but the way Dora has been behaving I think she thinks I fancy her. I am sorry if that sounds arrogant or offensive but it is not at all what I intended. I just wanted to see you again, Sally.’ Mack seemed to run out of steam then and sat back looking wretched.
Sally’s heart took a huge leap and wiped out any fatigue she had been feeling.
‘Oh Mack, I am pleased to see you – you have no idea. I am sorry I have been so grumpy and dull, but I really have had a hell of a time, and I apologize for not ringing you. But as you have so rightly understood I am trying hard to get to grips with this job and my career. I have so many mixed feelings about it all now, and no one to talk to about it all.’
Mack suddenly got up, came round and took Sally in his arms. He then kissed her with such ferocity she was completely taken aback, and when he stopped she practically dropped into her seat again.
‘What happens now?’ asked Mack slightly breathlessly.
Sally looked up at him and felt a surge of excitement. She wanted to drag him into her bed right now – but the thought of her sister in the other room was not conducive to her sense of ro
mance. Dora. She could not bring herself to think about what her sister had had in mind. Certainly nothing as unselfish as helping Sally find love. But these thoughts were for another time. She stood up and gave Mack a hug.
‘Much as I would like to seal our pact, I really don’t think now is the right moment, Mack. Can we arrange for you to come up to stay another time, and maybe we could go and spend a night somewhere away from Crewe. Away from Dora,’ she added.
Mack looked disappointed but he answered with a smile in his voice, ‘I will wait for as long as it takes, Miss Thomas. Meanwhile, I will dream of you tonight and of things to come.’
They took their time saying good night. Sally loved kissing Mack – he was so good at it! Finally he drew back breathless and shaking slightly with desire.
‘That’s enough, Sally. I can’t take any more. It is torture not being able to make love to you. I want you so badly. Are you sure I can’t change your mind?’ He moved towards her and Sally put out her arms to stop him.
‘No – please, Mack. I want us to be alone and private. That will not be the case when Dora wakes up, believe me.’
‘OK, I concede defeat but if you don’t mind I will go now and get the late train back to Cheltenham. It will give me time to cool off and have a good think.’
They shared one last lingering kiss and then he was gone. Sally ran a bath; she lit lots of candles and soaked in the soothing water until she was prune-like. Not a good look, she smiled to herself, and stepped out into her towel. She was so tired she just lay down on top of her bed and fell fast asleep. She woke later and crawled under the covers, going straight back to the Land of Nod, dreaming that Mack was in bed beside her, wrapped in her arms . . .
Chapter 31
‘Good morning, everyone. May I take this opportunity to extend a special welcome to our two newcomers, Rupert Hallam and Isabelle James.’ Giles Longfellow paused long enough for the cast to recognize their new stars, and sensing that there was not going to be a round of applause forthcoming, started one himself.
The Boy I Love Page 20