O' for the love of Shakespeare (13 page)

“Here.”  He hands me my drink.

“Thanks.  So you know I go home tomorrow?”

“Yes.  Are you looking forward to getting back?”  He seems
annoyed again.

“No not really I would much rather stay here but alas my
boring life is dragging me back.” 

“Jane life is all about choices.  Your life is boring because
you have chosen for it to be that way.  Open your mind and you will find
endless possibilities.  You are beautiful, intelligent and talented but you are
completely closed off.”  I can’t help but feel he is also referring to my
choice of wanting to be friends for now but I blush at the lovely compliments. 

“It’s hard to be brave.”  I say honestly.

“Yes it is but you have to eventually jump or stop
complaining that your life is boring and live with your chosen lot.”  This
conversation isn’t going the way I had planned.

“So what are your plans next?”  I don’t want the focus on me
anymore and I need to know he is going to be alright.  It surprises me how much
I have actually come to care for Malcolm in the last couple of days.

“The season is nearly up.  I’ll be heading back home and will
have to hope something comes up soon job wise.”  He seems fairly carefree about
this statement.  It would scare the life out of me not knowing when I might
work again.

“I do want to stay in touch, if that’s OK?”

“Yes of course.”  He seems relieved.  “Earlier when you said
you just wanted to be friends, I thought that was it.  I’d lost.  You didn’t
want to know anymore.”  He leans forward slightly in his chair.

“I meant it, I do want to be friends and I want to stay in
touch.  I like you very much and I hope we can still talk, sometimes.”

“I would like that.  Really like that.  You know I think you
are amazing Jane and I want the opportunity to get to know you better and for
you to know me.  I’ve had such a good time these past few days with you.”  Hmm
I still think he thinks that more is on the cards but this way at least we part
on good terms.   I take a big gulp of lemonade it is ice cold and refreshing.

“Good.”  I say smiling.

“Would you give me something?”  I’m confused what could he
possibly want?

“What?”

“The drawing you were sketching when I walked over to the
table will you sign it for me?”

“But it’s not even finished?”

“I don’t care I think it’s great.  When I get home I’m going
to have it framed to keep.”  I can feel the heat inching up from my chest, my
throat, my face.  “By the way Jane you really need to learn how to take a
compliment, I’ve never met anyone who blushes as much as you.”  His admission
makes me blush even more.  He laughs.

I take my sketch book out and pull the lid of the pen with my
teeth quickly scribbling my signature in the bottom right corner of the
drawing.  I rip the picture from my sketch book in one swift movement.  Holding
the picture out to Malcolm I cannot even bring myself to look at him.  This is
so embarrassing.  I hope no one just saw that.  I have barely even shown anyone
my drawings before, let alone signed and presented someone with one.   Would I
be doing this if I didn’t feel guilty about pulling the ‘let’s be friends card’? 
Probably not.  I drop my book back in to my bag without saying another word.

“There that wasn’t so hard, was it?  Thank you.  I will
treasure it.”  He lays the picture on the table and places his hand over it to
stop it from blowing away.

“You’re welcome, I think.  So I’ll call you next week
sometime?”

“Perfect, no doubt I will be in London at some point soon for
auditions too.”  We’ve nearly finished our drinks and I feel we are approaching
the awkward goodbye.   “Do you want another one?”

“No I’ve got a few bits to pick up in town and I promised Mrs
McCree that I would help her with some bits back at the Bed and Breakfast. 
Anyway you have to get off to work don’t you?”  I raise an eyebrow looking at
Malcolm.

“Oh right yes - work - yes I guess I better be off too.  But
you’ll call me right?  Next week?  You promise?”

“Promise.” 

We get up from the table and walk back down the stairs to the
pavement.

“Speak soon Jane, safe trip home tomorrow.  Drop me a text
when you get back so I know you have got home OK.”

“Sure.  I’ll send a text tomorrow.”

He gives me a brief, light kiss on the lips and turns
strolling off back in the direction of the Church.  I can see the small scrap
of paper from my sketch pad grasped in his hand.  I stand on the pavement
watching him for a few moments as he walks away. 
 

Malcolm exits the stage. 

Act III Scene IV

‘Off with his head.’  Richard III

Now that Malcolm has gone I feel a little lost
so I go to my safe place.  I press the call button on my phone and it rings and
rings but eventually she answers.

“Vic?”

“Get off!  Get off!”  She’s laughing
hysterically.  “Jane you.  Please stop.  Jane you there?”

“Yes are you?”

“Urgh Oliver I’m trying to talk.”  She’s still
giggling while I stand awkwardly on the pavement waiting for her to actually
speak to me.  The sounds go muffled as if she has put her hand across the mouth
piece of the phone but it distinctly sounds as if she says ‘oh yes let’s do
that but just let me get rid of Jane’.  Nice Vic.  I start to walk down the
road waiting for Vic although I strongly consider hanging up on her.  Unfortunately,
I need to hear her voice though.

“Vic it’s practically lunch time on a Sunday. 
Really?”

“But we are pretty much newlyweds now.”  She
laughs down the phone.  “Everything OK?”

“Yes just walking about on my own and felt like
I hadn’t heard your voice for ages.”   Although I’m wishing I hadn’t bothered
now.

“How was the rest of your birthday, did that
guy give you a nice BIG present?  I got your answer phone message.”  Despite
myself I smile.

“Almost but it became an awkward threesome with
the owner of the Bed and Breakfast.”  I shake my head remembering Angela’s face
as she walked in and caught sight of Malcolm in his tight, little, neon yellow
pants.

“WHAT?”  She shouts down the phone clearly
shocked.

“Nothing we were fooling around in my room and
I hadn’t locked my room door.  She was coming in to clean.  It was all fine in
the end but sort of squashed the romance so he left.  But I actually ended up
having really a very nice evening with Angela, the owner of the Bed and Breakfast
at an outdoor performance of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
.  It was breath-taking
in truth.”

“Sounds dull.”  I roll my eyes.  Vic’s
automatic response whenever I bring up anything to do with Shakespeare.

“Well it wasn’t.  How’s Oliver?”

“Delicious.”   She’s laughing again and I get
the impression she is addressing Oliver rather than me when she says it.  When
I say Oliver, I mean a part of Oliver’s anatomy.  “Oh and I took your advice and
I called Oliver’s mum to ask if she wanted to go out for lunch next week to
talk about the wedding plans.  The invitation seems to have gone down well.”

“That’s great Vic, I’m sure she will love you
in no time.”

“And you.  As Maid of Honour you will be at the
lunch too.  You have to come, not sure if I could do a whole lunch on my own
with her and there is a legitimate reason for you being there being my right-hand
woman.”

“Really Vic, do I have to?”

“Yes you have to.  What you up to today?”

“I met up with Malcolm this morning for a bit
and now I’m just walking around town.  Weather is not as great today.   Angela
is cooking a big Sunday lunch later for all the guests so will be heading back
to the Bed and Breakfast in a bit.”

“Hang on who is Malcolm?”

“Oh yes sorry Malcolm is Ryan.  Ryan is
Malcolm’s stage name.”

“OK.  So you met him again today, you must
still be quite keen on him then?  Shall I cancel the blind date with Oliver’s
friend?”

“No not really, I mean he is lovely really
lovely, I just don’t feel that spark with him that I thought I did.  So I guess
I am keeping the blind date.”

“That’s a pity you seemed so excited about this
one.”

“I know - I was - but I’m still going to stay
in touch with him, I do like him a lot.  What are you guys up to today?”

“Staying in bed mostly.”  I can hear Oliver in
the background loudly agreeing with Vic’s plans.

“OK enough said, I don’t need any more
details.”  We both laugh.

“But you are still on for tomorrow night? 
Dinner?”

“Yes of course I can’t wait to see you, and Oliver
of course.”

“Brilliant, I better go Oliver is … err … a tad
tied up.”

“Urgh Vic go away.”

“Love you Janey.”

“Love you too, bye.”

I haven’t been paying attention to where I have
been walking when I look around I can see an amazing looking coffee shop.  I
pop in through the low doorway.  The shop has every possible cake imaginable. 
There are; apple and caramel cakes, profiteroles, cheesecakes in every flavour
and so many different pies.  I could quite easily eat them all.

I decide to get a couple of scones to take back
to the Bed and Breakfast for Angela and I to have as a snack.  I bet she hasn’t
had a chance to eat with cleaning and getting dinner ready for later.  I can’t
leave with just scones though so I ask for a whole chocolate cheesecake to take
away.  I can give it to Angela as a thank you for the dinner and it means she
won’t have to worry about dessert for us all.  My hands laden with sweetie
goodness, I walk back to the Bed and Breakfast.

When I reach the kitchen door I hear a heated
conversation between Angela and, I think, Ben. 

“But can’t you see I cannot keep this up.”

“I just don’t think you should be rushing it. 
You’ve only been here five minutes.”  He sounds exasperated. 

Angela did mention to me this morning she was going
to talk to Ben today about moving on but I thought Ben would have left by now. 
Not wanting to intrude I step back from the door as quietly as possible but
just as I am about to turn the kitchen door swing open banging me on the arm
making me stumble slightly.

“What?  Eavesdropping too?”  Ben spits at me.

“No I was just going to drop these off to the
kitchen, actually.  I’m sure nothing you could say would be worth listening to.” 
I try to look at nonchalant as possible whilst actually seething.

“It’s you, isn’t it?”

“Me what?”

“Filling mum’s head with loads of nonsense. 
You know this was their dream all their lives.  This was mum and dad’s plan for
retirement.”

“Yes it was your mum and dad’s dream but your Mum
is on her own now.  Your dad isn’t here.”  I say more spitefully than I mean
and I feel bad as soon as I say it.  “Sorry.”  I add quietly.

 “You don’t know what you are talking about,
you don’t know them, you don’t know us.  Leave things alone that your
intelligence clearly does not stretch to.”  And with that he storms out of the
dining room.   I scowl at him as he walks away.  I walk in to the kitchen to
check that Angela is alright.  Angela is sat at the kitchen table, apparently
just staring at the kitchen wall.

“Everything OK?”

“Fine.”  Angela gives me a false smile and
stands up busying herself by putting the kettle on.  “Tea?”

“Love some thanks.”  I pop the cake box and
paper bag containing the two scones on the kitchen side.  Angela eyes them with
interest.  “I thought you might be hungry getting dinner ready so I got us a
couple of scones for lunch. And…”  I lift up the top of the cake box to unveil
the beautiful cheesecake.  Luckily it didn’t get damaged in the door
incident.   “Voila!”

“Wow.  That looks delicious.”

“Yes I thought it could be pudding?  It’s the
least I can do if you are making dinner for all of us and for looking after me
these last few days.  One more thing you don’t need to think about then.”

“Thank you Jane that was very thoughtful of you.” 
She turns back to the kettle and it sounds as though she starts to sob.

“Oh Angela, what happened?”

“He just won’t listen.  He was so very close to
his father and I think he feels I am going against what his dad wanted.  I feel
that too - and - perhaps he is right maybe I haven’t given it enough of a
chance.”

“If you’re not happy now do you really think in
a year, two, three years you’ll be happier?”

She sighs, “no probably not.”

“So what is the point in wasting the next few
years being miserable just to prove a point?  Life is so incredibly short all
any of us can do is live a life that makes us happy.”  Angela looks at me
raising one eyebrow.  “Yes, yes I know I’m not one to talk.  So shall we cheer
ourselves up with a scone?”  

“Yes lets.” 

I stand up and get two plates from the
cupboard.  Whilst I get the two scones from the white paper bag Angela
retrieves some butter and jam from the fridge and pops them on the kitchen
table.  I take a seat at the table while Angela finishes the teas.

“Thanks for this Jane, you are lovely.”

“You are more than welcome; is there anything I
can do to help for dinner?”

“No I think I’m doing OK.  The lamb is in the
oven.  I’ve peeled the potatoes.  So I only need to sort out some vegetables
and make the Yorkshire pudding batter.  And now thanks to you I don’t need to
rummage through the cupboards trying to think of something to make for
pudding.”  She smiles warmly at me.  “Have you had a good morning?”

“Yes it was fine, I met Malcolm and we spoke.”

“That good eh?  What was the outcome?”

“He wants to see me again but I have asked if
we can start over as friends for now.  I’ve told him I’ll contact him when I
get home tomorrow and I guess we will see.”

“Well that sounds very sensible, if a little unexciting.”

“Angela!”  I say shocked.  We both laugh.

Ben steps back in to the kitchen still with a
face like a smacked bottom.

“Seriously why are you everywhere I go?”  He
says looking pointedly at me.

“Ben!  Jane why don’t you head off for a bit
you’ve still got a good couple of hours until dinner will be ready.”  Angela
smiles at me.

“Are you sure I can’t help?  You always seem to
end up having to do everything on your own around here.”  I glance over at Ben.
 I hope that he gets my message that he shouldn’t lecture his mum when he
clearly does not help with anything.  Although maybe I shouldn’t be getting so
involved in their lives.  I have after all only known Angela for a few days.

“No thank you, I think I need to speak to my
son on my own.  I’ll see you later for dinner.”  She squeezes my hand.

“Oh for goodness sake.”  Ben storms over to the
sink and looks out through the window.  He crosses his arms over his chest and
makes a loud huffing noise.

“And apparently I need to teach him some
manners even though he is almost forty.”  That is definitely my cue to leave. 
As I leave the kitchen I close the door quietly behind me and stand for a
moment.

“I just don’t want you to sell this place then
in six months’ time regret your decision and feel guilty about dad.”

“I don’t feel guilty nor will I feel guilty
Ben.  I knew your dad a lot longer than you and I feel confident that he
wouldn’t want me working from seven in the morning till nine at night every day
trying to keep on top of the maintenance, cleaning and the worry of the bills for
this place.  I’m not young enough to do this on my own and it will only get
worse.  It was a lovely dream your dad and I had but I never wanted this dream
on my own.  I’m lonely.”

“Cut it out Mum, dad hasn’t been gone that long
and you have me.”

“You need your own life Ben; I know things
haven’t worked out for you yet.  I mean Hannah who you lived with - she was
lovely - but that was over a year ago now.  One day you will want to have
another partner and you won’t be able to come around as often as you do now. 
I’m only slightly over sixty, I do still have some life in me and I don’t want
to be shut away in this place wasting it.”

“So you want to pick up men now is that it?”

“Ben, so help me I am still your mother.  I
know you are upset but you cannot speak to me like that.  This is my life not
yours.”  She is practically shouting at him.  I knew mean Angela was still in
there somewhere.  Good for her. 

Realising I have been stood there for a little
longer than is polite, I recognise that perhaps Ben was right in his
eavesdropping comment.  I walk quietly away from the door and up to my room.  I
run a warm bath and once again try to ignore the patches of mould around the
edges of the bath and tiles.  I pull my hair up in to high knot.  Once
undressed I lower myself into the hot water letting the water flutter against
my chin.  A bath is a wonderful thing; comforting and cleansing all in one
tub. 

I really hope Angela doesn’t cave into Ben’s
badgering.  She deserves a little fun and happiness.  I close my eyes letting
every muscle in my body relax.  With my eyes closed I feel like I am floating
and drifting as if I weigh nothing at all.

I am standing in the chambers of Hamlet’s
mother, Gertrude.  Hamlet storms into the room, angry at Gertrude.

“Now mother, what’s the matter?”

“Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.”