The Boy I Love (27 page)

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!

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 Mack 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.’

‘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.