Prime Time (18 page)

‘There is a theory that it can be even be used as a natural form of birth control,' Sally-Ann said, after she'd finally taken a breath. ‘But I wouldn't bank on that one, honey.' Then she laughed loudly. ‘Though you're probably infertile now anyway …'

‘Terrific,' I said to Cal as we left, me clutching various packages of powders, pills, and creams and the diet sheet that excluded every single foodstuff I'd ever loved. ‘I don't know about rejuvenation – I've never felt so ancient in my entire life. I feel like slitting my bloody throat!'

‘She's supposed to be the best in the business,' said Cal. ‘Costs a fortune normally – all the Notting Hill set use her. She's got a six-month waiting list.' He nudged me. ‘But don't let her get you down. You don't really need her – you look fantastic already. And much younger than 42!'

‘Thank you.' I grinned at him, feeling suddenly happier.

He grinned back boyishly, showing lots of very even white teeth. ‘And you're going to look even yummier shortly – we're getting your hair done next.'

I wondered if anyone would think about food. It seemed a jolly long time since the muffin I'd eaten on the train that morning. We'd been offered herbal tea in Sally-Ann's and I'd seen Russ eat an apple outside on the pavement between cigarettes. Might lunch be forthcoming at some point?

It seemed not. Cal and I got back in the car while the others carried the equipment away along the pavement. ‘Antonio's now, please,' said Cal cheerfully to the driver who put down his newspaper and nodded in the rear mirror. ‘Address on your list.'

Antonio's was just off Sloane Square – all mirrors and chrome with fountains running through slate chips and cool black-and-white fittings.

Antonio himself was a smouldering Italian with black curls, beautiful dark eyes, and a sulky expression. ‘Who did this to you?' he said, in his heavy accent, picking up a lock of my hair and inspecting it with disdain. ‘It is a – how do you say it? A trav-est-y? A dog's breakfast?'

I gave a small snort of laughter.

‘It is not good,' he summed up, curling his lip.

‘What would you recommend for Laura?' Cal adopted a smooth interviewer's tone as Matt moved in with the camera. ‘We're looking for something young and funky.'

In the mirror I saw the skinny Tanya arrive, wearing black leather trousers and a waistcoat. Her hair was spikier than ever, her eyes smoky black, her lips today as purple as her nails. Cal turned and kissed her on the cheek. She didn't smile.

Antonio was still picking at bits of my hair. ‘The colour, it is all wrong,' he said. ‘There is too much heaviness here –' He flicked his fingers across the top of my head. ‘And it is needing something here –' He held up a strand of evening plum at the back of my neck and looked at it pityingly.

‘You do whatever you think,' said Cal, smiling at my reflection. ‘But we're thinking fun, sexy hair to reflect the modern 40-something woman who's still 19 inside.'

Over his shoulder, I saw Tanya roll her eyes.

Chapter Nineteen

It took hours. Cal and Tanya disappeared somewhere while a smiling girl called Kelly first lightened my hair all over to get rid of the plum and then washed it. Matt filmed me with a towel wrapped round my head, then he and Russ wandered off as well. There was no sign of Gabriel.

They all came back for a while when the colourist, Selena, did her bit, after she'd been in a huddle with Antonio. And then what felt like days later – I was seriously starving by now, despite being given a little wafer biscuit thing with my coffee (nobody seemed to remember what Sally-Ann had also said about caffeine and I wasn't about to remind them) and some grapes – they all regrouped around me once more when Antonio appeared in a flourish of scissors.

As he furiously snipped, Tanya sat on a stool with a clipboard, writing things down and occasionally calling Cal over to look at whatever she'd written. She looked thoroughly bored. Cal seemed as smiling and energised as he had all day.

‘You OK?'

He touched my shoulder as Antonio swung my chair round and began chopping away at my fringe. I pulled a face that was supposed to convey the impression I was having the time of my life even if I had no idea what this crazed Mediterranean was doing to me, and Cal laughed.

I now had my back to the mirror so I really did have no idea what Antonio was doing but there seemed to be an awful lot of hair on the floor. God knows what colour it was supposed to be – it just looked wet and brown, though Selena had said she was using four different highlights.

I tried an experimental smile on Tanya. She bent her mouth into a small grimace in return and went back to her notes. After a while she threw the clipboard on the floor turned her back on everyone and made a very long phone call. I heard her mention “Len” a couple of times, who I remembered was the lighting bloke with the pony tail from
Cook Around the Clock
and – presumably – her boyfriend.

‘Hey, Laura, mind if we blindfold you for the last bit?'

‘What?' I looked stupidly at Cal, who was smiling down at me.

‘We probably won't use it but it might be fun – you know they way they do it in the DIY programmes? We'll unveil the new you and you can scream in joy as you see yourself in the mirror.'

‘Or cry,' put in Russ laconically.

There was a bit of general laughter as a scarf was put around my eyes. I hoped it wasn't at whatever had happened to my hair, which was now being dried.

I suddenly wondered guiltily how Stanley was. He must be back at Charlotte's by this time – she'd been going to collect him from the bus stop after she'd got Joe. Charlotte would look after him, I knew, but I hoped he was cheerful and had had a better day at school. I couldn't help feeling that whatever Charlotte said about him growing up and the problems of settling into a new school, really all his anxiety was down to Daniel and I splitting up.

He'd always been a bit of an introvert but it was since Daniel moved out that he'd stopped laughing altogether and started sighing like a little old man. Bloody Daniel …

My hair was being sprayed with something and combed out and I heard the clunk of hair straighteners. That bit went on for some time.

‘OK under there?' Cal's voice was close by. ‘Round here, Matt. Russ can you …? Thanks. You're looking good, Laura.'

Fingers were twirling and patting – involuntarily I put a hand up to the back of my head. It was firmly removed but not before I'd noticed that there didn't seem to be anything there. How short was my hair?

‘OK, shall we take the scarf off?'

‘Hang on,' I heard Matt say. ‘I need to …' There was the sound of equipment being moved about.

Leanne seemed to have returned. I felt her pass a big soft brush over my face. ‘I'm just going to touch up your lips – can you open your mouth a little?'

Cal's voice was telling Antonio where to stand. ‘If you can be the one to undo it –'

I opened my eyes into Antonio's brooding ones. ‘You like?' He swung my chair round to face the mirror.

Blimey! I stared at a me I'd never seen before. My hair was shorter, for sure, but there was still quite a lot of it and it was the most amazing shape, with short, spiky bits against long, feathery fronds. It was several shades lighter than before – a sort of dark honey colour with very fine blonde streaks and a single red splash on one side. Even I could see it was a work of art.

But the most amazing thing was what it had done to my face. It looked more heart-shaped – almost elfin. Even though Leanne hadn't done anything further to my eyes, they looked bigger and more luminous, my skin creamier than before. I stared into the mirror, speechless.

I looked sophisticated, expensive, stylish. I looked like someone else.

‘You like?' said Antonio again, sounding peeved.

‘Oh yes, I love it. Thank you,' I gushed.

He preened and smiled for the first time. ‘I am the best,' he said.

‘You look fantastic,' said Cal. ‘Really great. Can you just smile into the mirror for a couple more minutes? Make sure Matt's got all we need?'

I grinned at myself. No problem. I couldn't wait to show Charlotte. There was no doubt I looked younger. In fact, I couldn't wait to open the door to Daniel on Sunday morning. I'd been dreading facing the slimeball after last time, when he'd dropped his little bombshell about remarrying, but now I loved the idea of him seeing me like this. I could just imagine his double take.

We spent the next ten minutes getting various extra shots – me nodding and smiling at Antonio, him nodding at me, me looking as though I were listening intently while Antonio explained how to dry my hair and then spike it up with a pot of putty stuff that smelled of apples, and me gazing at myself in the mirror and lovingly twiddling those spikes. I felt fantastic – I felt like a star.

Russ nodded approvingly as he started packing away his mikes. ‘It's cool,' he said.

Even Tanya smiled and nodded – she was really quite pretty when she stopped scowling – and then she yawned. ‘OK, we're done for today then?'

I looked at my watch. It was nearly seven o clock. My stomach had gone into a cramp from lack of food. Everyone else looked quite relaxed – perhaps they'd all gone off stuffing lunch while I was having my hair done. Though by the look of Tanya she ate about as much as Daniel's Twiglet did. She was at this moment opening a can of Diet Coke. ‘Want one?' she said.

‘Er no thanks.' I drank the last of my cold coffee, hoping it would settle my internal rumblings.
Wouldn't mind a proper bloody drink though, and double fish and chips to go with it
.

‘Oh, I'm sorry Laura.' Cal seemed to read my mind. ‘You must be starving. This all took longer than I thought and I totally forgot – Gabriel was supposed to go out for some sandwiches but he wasn't feeling well and I sent him home. I'm so sorry.'

I smiled. ‘No problem – I'm fine,' I assured him, hoping he hadn't heard the noise my stomach had just made.

‘There's a wine bar round the corner,' he was saying. ‘We can get some food round there. And I want to get a few shots of you relaxing with a glass in your hand. We'll go as soon as we're packed up. ‘

I read a text from Charlotte saying everything was fine and whizzed off a reply sending Stanley my love and saying I'd call him before he went to bed, then spent another five minutes gazing lovingly at my hair while Cal stood talking to Russ and Matt, who were putting their stuff away. Leanne had long gone. Tanya sat in one of the chairs, reading a magazine and talking on her mobile.

After a bit, Cal came over. ‘Come on.'

The wine bar was literally round the corner. Cal and I walked there with Tanya lagging behind, still talking on the phone. We went down to the basement – dark with wooden floors and candles on the tables. ‘What would you like?' said Cal.

‘Some sort of dry white wine?' I looked at the blackboard behind the bar. ‘Pinot Grigio?'

He smiled one of his delicious smiles. ‘What would Sally-Ann say?'

I gave a mock shudder. ‘Save me from that.'

He got himself a bottled beer and Tanya a Diet Coke and carried them over to a table in the corner. ‘You OK here for a few minutes? I've just got to speak to the manager – remind him what we're doing.'

I looked at my phone – there was no signal down here, and I'd have to go back up to the pavement to phone Stanley. Presumably that was why Tanya was still outside. Matt and Russ appeared with their gear and spent a lot of time setting it up around the table. Just as we appeared ready to start, Matt shook his head. ‘We're going to need a couple of blondes in here.'

Cal nodded. And then laughed at my raised eyebrows. ‘Extra lights,' he said. ‘Want another glass of wine?'

I wanted food, really – I'd already had a surreptitious look at the menu on the table and was gearing up for the homemade burger with chunky chips or the chicken fajitas with guacamole and sour cream. I could probably have happily devoured both. But I nodded. Might as well have another drink while I was waiting. Perhaps I'd better have a glass of water too …

Tanya came in and sat opposite me with her Diet Coke. A few more people had come downstairs. I saw them looking curiously at the camera. After what seemed like ages, by which time the second glass had definitely gone to my head and Tanya hadn't said more than two words to me, the chaps all came back and set up the new lights.

At last everyone was in position and Cal sat one side of me while Russ perched the other holding a furry black microphone.

‘How did you feel about being 40, Laura?'

‘It was a bit of a shock, really.'

‘Great. Could you say that again?'

‘It was a bit of a shock, really.'

‘Again?'

Really – it was a bit of a shock.'

I shared my amazement and disbelief several more times and did endless nodding, smiling, listening, and being shocked all over again, until I felt like one of those nodding dogs in the backs of cars and my brain was swimming. Someone had brought me another glass of wine but if I didn't get some food soon I was going to have to gnaw the table leg.

A small knot of young people had gathered behind the table and were listening – clearly wondering who I was and if they should recognise me.

‘Is she famous then?' a girl of about 18 asked suspiciously, as Russ and Matt began to pack up.

‘She will be soon,' said Cal, giving her one of his smiles. The girl gazed at him longingly.

At last, Russ and Matt were gone and it was just the three of us. Finally, Cal picked up the menus. My stomach felt as though it had given up on me and started gnawing itself.

Tanya yawned. ‘I'm a bit past the point now. I'll just have another Coke.'

I stared at her in disbelief and Cal turned to me apologetically. ‘I'm not really that hungry myself just yet, but hey, Laura, we'll get you something – what would you like?' My heart sank.

‘Oh well, if you two aren't …'

‘No, I'll have a salad,' said Cal kindly, obviously seeing the desperation on my face. ‘Keep you company.'

I looked at these two thin, stylish young people and felt like a block of lard. ‘That'll be fine for me too,' I said, hoping the disappointment didn't show.

‘You've got to be starting your diet anyway, haven't you?' put in Tanya.

I felt my eyebrows rise. Cheeky cow – was she saying I was fat? I looked from her to Cal but he was looking at the menu.

‘Goats' cheese and walnut?' he asked. ‘That sounds good, doesn't it?'

‘Fine,' I said, not liking to admit that I hated walnuts and wasn't over-struck on goats' cheese either. ‘Unless they've got tuna?' I said, adding ironically, ‘I'm not supposed to have dairy.'

‘I think goats' cheese is all right, actually,' said Cal seriously. He looked at the menu again. ‘No, sorry, no tuna.'

‘OK, cheese it is then,' I said brightly, trusting it would come with a huge crusty roll I could get down my throat before I fell over.

‘No carbs is the best way to shed pounds quickly,' continued Tanya, ‘so that's perfect. Just keep eating protein and salad and it will fall off.'

It was the longest sentence she'd managed all day. I stared at her, speechless at her rudeness. What was it with these skeletal types that they thought they could get off on advising everyone else on their nutrition? I looked at Cal again – he was frowning at her.

‘Tanya's not meaning to be rude,' he said hastily. ‘You're fabulous as you are – you don't need to lose weight. It's just that, actually ' he fingered the bottle of beer in front of him as if feeling awkward ‘ we wondered whether you would give Sally-Ann's regime a try?' He looked at me appealingly. ‘You don't have to go the whole hog.'

‘No pun intended,' chipped in Tanya, grinning.

Cal shot her another look. ‘I meant – if you could just cut out some of those foods she mentioned from your diet? Eat other things?'

I laughed sourly. ‘There isn't much left.' The wine had really got to me now – my lips had that funny tingling feeling.

Cal laughed too. ‘Just do your best. You know we've organised you a gym membership and we thought we could do some filming there. There's no need to kill yourself, but I thought if you don't mind having a go at the health and fitness angle … It's all part of the inner beauty thing – that being fab at 40 is about being well and taking care of yourself.'

I was saved answering by the arrival of the waitress. The salad was tiny – an artfully arranged little stack of leaves and cheese lumps drizzled with balsamic vinegar, which I could have devoured in one mouthful. The only thing there in any quantity was the loathsome walnuts. I made a pile of them at the side of the plate. ‘I've got a nut allergy,' I informed Tanya untruthfully.