NATE READ OVER THE NOTES FOR HIS NEXT SCENE,a breech birth, but his mind was elsewhere. When Sarah called in sick, he’d blurted out to Laney that Jess might fill in, but he hadn’t thought it through well. Did he really want to spend the day working with Jess? The conversation they’d had after the cafe didn’t seem as sensible as it had at the time. Why did he tell her about Samantha? He didn’t go into the details of their breakup, or mention the resemblance between the two women. He definitely didn’t explain that whenever Jess was nearby it stirred up unwelcome thoughts of his ex, or that he couldn’t help feeling familiar with her. His head knew she wasn’t Samantha, but his body hadn’t received the memo.
Is that why he’d opened up? Because it felt like being around Samantha? Even in his anger, he knew part of him missed their closeness.
Before he’d caught Samantha having an affair, they’d talked about everything. Or at least he’d believed they did. Apparently, noteverything.
That had been something he’d loved about her. She’d made him open up. When they’d met, he hadn’t exactly been an open book. Too much work, not enough play. That hadn’t changedmuch, but at least he’d been trying. He’d kept up his close friendships from med school, going out for a beer with his mates once a month, when his busy work schedule allowed.
But thinking about it now, he’d cancelled on them several times, too. Socialising never ranked high in importance to him. He’d assumed his friendships were deep enough to withstand long absences; that loyalty counted for something. Clearly, not everyone agreed.
The words on the page in front of him blurred out of focus. His heart ached with the loss. Was any part of his life salvageable? Was anything left? He had his family; they’d always be there, and he was grateful for that.
Nate looked up from his script, distracted by a group of cameramen talking and laughing loudly across the room. Maybe he hadn’t been as open and connected with his friends as he’d imagined. Maybe that’s why his friend cheated with Samantha. Had he shut people out? Was he here in New Zealand, shutting his family and friends out again?
This was why working with Jess was a ridiculous idea. He’d attempted to be cordial, but it was impossible to concentrate with all these thoughts and memories banging around in his head.
She entered the room, and Nate lost his breath.
With a tightly belted nurse’s costume and her hair swept back off her face, she was even more stunning than usual. Even if this was a bad idea, it was too late now.
“You signed me up for this?” Jess said, adjusting her belt and giving him a look he couldn’t interpret. She had her typical annoyed face on, but something else danced in her eyes.
“Sorry, I might have. Yes.”
“That means you owe me. I’d say one cottage would clear the debt.”
Nate opened his mouth to protest, but Laney interrupted.
“Did you get a chance to look over your lines, Jess?”
The entire room turned, and a clear flash of anxiety passed over Jess’s face. There weren’t many lines for her in this scene, but she hadn’t had much warning either. For the second time that week, he couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.
“Frankie ran them with me,” she replied, looking uncertain.
“Great. You’ll be great.” Laney turned toward the cameras, and the room became a blur of action as people got in position. “Stand here, and ready?”
A chorus of ‘readys’ and then silence as she counted down.
Even after hours of practice, Nate still felt nervous when the cameras rolled. He couldn’t imagine how Jess must be feeling. He opened a door and entered the fake hospital ward, Jess following behind.
“Mrs. Rutherglen?” he said, checking his clipboard and avoiding eye contact with the very pregnant-looking woman on the bed.
The pregnant woman delivered her line and groaned.
He nodded dismissively, still avoiding eye contact. His character was such a jerk. Quickly readjusting himself back into the role, he squared his shoulders and allowed the cold arrogance to creep into his eyes. “I’m just going to check the baby’s position, Mrs. Rutherglen.”
Jess helped the mother rest onto her back, adjusting the sheet over the woman’s knees, while Nate pretended to check. The mother cried out—the cue for him to increase the tension inthe scene, his character suddenly realising it would be a difficult delivery.
“Nurse Hall, the baby is breech. Bring me the twilight sleep. She’s not going to want to remember this.”
“Yes, doctor uh…wait. What was your…I’m so sorry.” Jess broke character and frowned at Nate apologetically.
“Cut!” called Laney. “All good. Let’s take a minute.”
They took a break, allowing Jess to go over her lines before resetting the scene.
“She’s not going to want to remember this,” Nate said, holding his breath and trying, telepathically, to send Jess her line.
She stared at him, panic on her face. Without saying her line, she turned and exited the fake hospital ward.
