The Angel Tree (29 page)

‘I promise, and really, try not to worry. Cheska will be absolutely fine. Oh, and by the way, could you fit in a lunch at some point in the next couple of weeks? I’ve had a very
interesting call from an American producer. He operates from LA, but he’s a friend of Charles’s and has been over here for the past few days. He’s seen some of the rushes and
thinks Cheska might be able to make it really big in Hollywood.’

‘Well, I have a few things on next week,’ Greta lied, wanting to keep up appearances, ‘but I could make it the following Monday.’

‘Good, good,’ replied Leon. ‘Let’s meet at the Ivy at one. And don’t worry, I’ll look after Cheska for you.’

She put down the receiver and wondered what on earth she was going to do by herself whilst Cheska was away.

Cheska sat in the bath in her suite at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, soaping her legs, and feeling miserable and depressed. The day’s filming had been a nightmare. They
had been trying to shoot the scene on Brighton beach where she and Bobby had their first kiss. The weather had been dreadful – a gale howling around their ears – and she had been so
nervous about The Kiss she’d kept fluffing her lines.

In the end, with the weather worsening and tempers fraying, Charles Day had called an early wrap.

‘Don’t worry,’ Charles had said earlier as they had walked along the promenade back to the hotel. ‘We’ll go again tomorrow after a good night’s sleep,
okay?’

Cheska had nodded, run upstairs to her suite and flung herself onto her bed in tears.

‘Oh, Jimmy, isn’t this wonderful? I’ve never felt so happy!’ Cheska repeated the simple line that led into The Kiss as she stepped out of the bath and dried herself. The
rest of the cast and crew were having dinner downstairs, but she didn’t feel like joining them. She was too embarrassed. She decided to order some sandwiches from room service and have an
early night.

The telephone in her bedroom rang and she walked from the bathroom to answer it. ‘Hello?’

‘Darling, it’s Mummy. How are you?’

‘Fine.’

‘How did filming go today?’

‘Very well.’

‘Good. Are you eating?’

‘Of course I am!’

‘No need to shout, Cheska. I’m just concerned about you.’

‘Mummy, I’ve only been away a day.’

‘You’re not too lonely by yourself, are you?’

‘No. I’ve got to go now and learn my lines for tomorrow.’

‘Yes, of course. As long as you’re all right.’

‘I am.’

‘Oh, and Cheska, don’t forget to take your pills, will you?’

‘No, Mummy. Goodnight.’

Cheska put down the receiver and fell back onto the bed in irritation.

Charles Day was having a drink with Bobby in the hotel bar. As they talked, they were constantly interrupted by blushing teenagers holding out scraps of paper for Bobby to
sign.

‘The problem is there’s no chemistry between you and Cheska Hammond at the moment. This is her first adult role and she’s having problems. Every time you tried to kiss her on
camera today she looked scared out of her wits.’

‘Yeah, she definitely needs to loosen up,’ agreed Bobby.

‘The whole point of the film is the sexual buzz between the two of you. If that doesn’t jump out at the audience, then the film goes up in smoke. Maybe she’ll have calmed down
by tomorrow. Cheska’s a great actress, but she’s used to playing Little Girl Lost, not Sex Kitten.’

‘I’ll bet she’s a right little goer under all that uptightness,’ muttered Bobby. ‘Listen, do we need to shoot that beach scene tomorrow?’

Charles shrugged. ‘I suppose we could reschedule it to later in the week. Why?’

‘Give me a few days, and I’ll have your little problem sorted for you, okay?’

‘All right, but tread carefully. Cheska may look like a blonde bombshell but she’s a complete innocent. Her mother has kept her under lock and key up until now.’

‘Kid gloves, mate, kid gloves,’ murmured Bobby, grinning.

The telephone rang again in Cheska’s room at half past nine, just as she had switched off the light.

‘Hello?’

‘Cheska, Bobby here. Where’ve you been hiding yourself all night?’

‘Oh—’ She gulped in shock at the sound of his voice. ‘I was tired, that’s all.’

‘Well, now you’ve had a little rest get your backside down here. I’m taking you partying.’

‘Well, I . . . I’m in my nightie, I—’

‘Sounds good to me. Wear that. See you in the bar in ten minutes. Goodbye.’

The line went dead in Cheska’s hand.

‘Hey, baby doll! Love the outfit!’

Bobby was standing by the bar with some of the crew when Cheska came downstairs. She blushed at his comment on her corduroy pinafore dress and woollen tights.

‘I was cold,’ she said quietly.

‘Come here.’ Bobby opened his arms to her. ‘I’ll soon warm you up. I won’t eat you, promise.’

Reluctantly, Cheska stepped closer, and he pulled her towards him.

‘You shouldn’t be hiding that great body, that’s all,’ he whispered, nuzzling her ear. ‘Now, you already know Ben, the electrician, commonly known as Sparks, and
Jimmy, or Boom, who picks up our dulcet tones on his mikes.’

‘’Ow do,’ nodded Sparks, lighting a cigarette.

‘Drink?’ asked Bobby.

‘Er, Coke, please.’

‘One Coke, please, with a dash of rum to warm her up,’ Bobby said to the barman.

‘Oh, I don’t think—’

‘Come on, Cheska, try it. You’re a big girl now.’ Bobby handed her the glass. He pulled up a stool and she perched on it uncomfortably as he chatted to Sparks and Boom.

‘All right, baby?’ Bobby smiled at her.

‘Yes, fine.’

‘Okay, drink up and let’s shift. Got a coat?’

‘It’s in my room.’

‘You’ll just have to cuddle up to me, then, won’t you?’ Bobby helped her down from the stool and they followed Sparks and Boom through the hotel lobby and out into the
cold night. Bobby put his arm around her and they set off along the seafront.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked.

‘To a club I know. You’ll enjoy it. When I was an unknown singer, the owner gave me a spot. It’s a great place.’

A few hundred yards along the street, Cheska followed Bobby down a flight of steps. The room was packed with young people jiving to an Elvis Presley number played by a band on a small stage.

‘Sit there and I’ll get you a drink.’ Bobby indicated a table in a corner and ambled off with Boom to the bar.

Cheska sat down and Sparks sat next to her. He opened a tin and began rubbing something brown between his fingers and letting it drop into a cigarette paper. He added tobacco, rolled up the
cigarette and lit it.

‘Smoke?’ he offered Cheska.

‘I don’t, thanks.’

Sparks shrugged. He dragged hard on the reefer, letting the smoke stream slowly out of his nostrils. He nodded contentedly. ‘Good stuff, good stuff.’

Bobby arrived back with the drinks and sat down next to her. ‘All right, darlin’?’

She nodded, wide-eyed, and reached for her drink.

Bobby placed a proprietorial arm around her shoulder. ‘You know, I’ve been waiting for a chance for you and me to get together.’

‘Have you?’ Cheska said in surprise.

‘Yeah. You’re one of the cutest chicks I’ve seen in years. C’mon.’ Bobby pulled her to her feet. ‘Let’s go and dance.’

As they stepped onto the crowded floor, the band began to play a haunting melody.

‘This song’s called “Moon River” and it’s the theme tune from that new film
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
. I’ve heard the version they’re
releasing over here next month and it’s gonna be a monster hit.’ Bobby held Cheska close and crooned the words into her ear. ‘Maybe I’ll take you to see the film. That
Audrey Hepburn’s a bit of all right.’

When the song finished, they separated and clapped. ‘Having a good time?’ he asked her.

‘Yes, thank you.’

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ came a sudden voice from the microphone. ‘I’m sure you’ve all noticed we have a star in our midst. I’m proud to say that it was this
very club that gave Bobby Cross his first break. Bobby, please would you return the favour now and come up here and sing for us?’

A rousing cheer went up as Bobby waved modestly and made his way up onto the stage. He took the microphone and Cheska made her way back to the table.

‘Thanks, ladies and gents. I’d like to perform my new song “The Madness of Love”, which I dedicate to a friend of mine, the lovely Miss Cheska Hammond.’ Slinging a
borrowed guitar over his shoulder, Bobby began to sing the slow ballad. ‘Yes, that’s the madness of love . . .’ he crooned, staring right at her, and Cheska watched transfixed,
unable to break eye contact. When the song finished there was loud applause and calls for more. Bobby went into another of his hits, an up-tempo song that soon filled the dance floor.

Cheska reached for her drink and Bobby winked at her. Could he be interested in her? He was certainly acting as if he was. She giggled, as a sudden delicious feeling of happiness rose up inside
her.

Bobby came over to her and pulled her up for a dance.

‘Having fun, sweetheart?’

‘Oh yes, Bobby. This place is great.’

‘Yeah, it is.’ His hands gently caressed her waist. ‘And you’re beautiful, do you know that?’

After a heavenly couple of dances, Bobby introduced Cheska to Bill, the club’s owner.

‘I remember coming to see you in
Little Girl Lost
. Grown up a bit since then, haven’t you?’ he said approvingly.

‘She sure has,’ nodded Bobby, as he ran a hand down her back.

The club had begun to empty and when Cheska and Bobby got back to their table Boom and Sparks had vanished.

‘Probably pulled a couple of chicks and slunk away,’ Bobby remarked as he led Cheska by the hand up the stairs and outside.

The wind had picked up since earlier, whipping Cheska’s hair into a wild mane around her face.

‘C’mon, let’s brave the walk back to the hotel. I love the weather when it’s stormy like this.’ Bobby pulled her across the road and leant on the railing that
overlooked the beach. ‘Those waves are so powerful. We may think we’re in control, but no one can stop that.’ He pointed at the dark mass of crashing sea.

Cheska shivered involuntarily, from the freezing wind but also from excitement.

‘Sorry, baby. Take this.’ He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. He tipped her chin up towards him. ‘You know, you really are gorgeous. I understand why,
in the film, Jimmy’s prepared to throw up everything for you. So, have you ever been kissed?’

‘No.’

‘Well, give me the honour of being the first.’ Bobby put his lips to hers and touched them gently.

Cheska felt the tension in her body ease away as he teased her mouth open. Tentatively, she allowed her own tongue to touch his and, realising there was nothing much more to it than that, she
relaxed and began to enjoy it.

Eventually, Bobby broke away. ‘Boy, you’re a fast learner,’ he quipped as he wrapped his arms around her. ‘Romantic this, isn’t it? Alone on a deserted seafront in
the middle of the night, the wind howling, the sea crashing. You never forget your first kiss, Cheska.’

‘Where was yours?’

‘I can’t remember!’ He laughed. ‘Come on. We’ll both be in bed with double pneumonia by tomorrow if we don’t get our backsides inside soon! Mind you, if I was
snuggled up next to you, I wouldn’t half mind.’

They ran back to the warmth of the hotel and Bobby escorted Cheska up to her suite.

‘You know I’d like to come inside with you, baby, but I won’t rush you. Dinner tomorrow night?’ he asked her, kissing her gently on the forehead.

Cheska could only nod silently in agreement.

‘Night. Sleep tight.’ With a wave, he disappeared along the corridor.

Back in her room, she changed back into her nightdress. Sitting down to brush her hair, she looked at the tranquilliser and the glass of water sitting on the bedside table.

She wouldn’t take it. Tonight she felt fabulous and she didn’t want anything to dull the feeling. She lay down in the cold bed and put her head under the sheets to try to warm up,
reliving every second of the wonderful evening she’d just had.

‘All right, Bobby, I want you to swing Cheska round in your arms. Cheska, you throw your head back and laugh, then look into Bobby’s eyes. Bobby, lean forward and
kiss her.’

Standing on the windswept, freezing beach, Bobby winked at Cheska. ‘Right, let’s go for a take before it pisses down,’ said Charles, looking up at the sky.

‘You all right, sweetheart? You look half frozen. Come here,’ said Bobby, cuddling her against him.

Cheska relaxed into his arms. Her feet were numb, the wind was making her eyes water, but she had never felt happier.

‘Scene five. Take one.’ The clapperboard snapped in front of their faces.

‘Action!’ shouted Charles. Bobby lifted Cheska off her feet and swung her round in his arms. She threw back her head, laughing, then looked into his eyes. He smiled at her and moved
his lips towards her. Cheska shuddered involuntarily as he kissed her. She put her arms round his neck and closed her eyes.

‘Cut! . . . I said “Cut!”, you two,’ laughed Charles, and eventually Bobby and Cheska pulled apart. Cheska blushed. Most of the crew were grinning at her. She glanced at
Leon, who was standing behind the camera. He winked and gave her a thumbs-up sign.

‘I’ll just check the gate, but if that’s okay, then the scene’s in the can. Great stuff, you two,’ said Charles, walking over to congratulate them. ‘Cheska,
you’ve finished for the day. Get back to the hotel and straight into a hot bath. I don’t want that agent of yours suing me for negligence.’

‘I’ll walk her back to the hotel and make sure she does just that,’ said Leon. Putting an arm round Cheska’s shoulder, he led her away. She turned and gave Bobby a small
wave goodbye.

‘See you later, sweetheart,’ shouted Bobby, before turning to Charles with a grin. ‘Told you I’d sort it, didn’t I? Not that it hasn’t been an enjoyable
process.’

‘Thanks, but just watch your step. With your – er – situation, we don’t want anyone upset.’

‘Discretion is my middle name, Charles, you know that.’