‘Without all the kids hopefully,’ he quipped. ‘What can we make with Pandey and Blake?’
‘Blandey,’ said Nora. ‘Jasha or Bandey?’
‘Maybe not then,’ said Jay pulling a face.
‘You don’t seem as enthusiastic as I thought you’d be.’ She studied him– the bowed head and sloping shoulders were not the body language of an excited man. ‘Or at allenthusiastic, actually. About the film I mean, not Tasha. Obviously you’re excited about Tasha because she’s the most gorgeous blonde on the planet. Right?’ For some reason she pushed her mousey brown hair behind her ear.
‘She is.’ He sighed. ‘You’re right about the film. It doesn’t feel real. Maybe I’ll believe it once it’s premiered.’
Something was niggling her like grit in a sandal. ‘But this is it. It’s what you always dreamed of. The famous girlfriend, red carpet premieres, the big career.’ It suddenly brought Nora’s little life into sharp focus. Jay was leaving her behind. His life was going to change beyond recognition, and it was very unlikely there would be any space in it for her. Something like panic gripped her and she took a sharp breath, making him look up.
He swivelled around. ‘But you remember when my agent got all mega excited about the Blake Seven film and started looking at yachts because that gig was going to catapult me to stardom and make him rich?’
‘Yeah. What happened to that film?’
‘Last I heard it was on its twelfth rewrite and still had no funding. And my agent still has no yacht. I think for now it’s best I manage my own expectations. The life of an actor teaches you to expect disappointment. Then if it’s good news it’s a nice surprise.’ He gave her a half smile.
‘That’s depressing.’
Bruce jumped up and almost knocked Jay backwards off his chair as he got as close to him as he could. ‘Does myboy need a cuddle?’ Jay wrapped his arms around Bruce’s neck. ‘Who knew he was just a big softie underneath?’
‘I guess we all hide our true selves to an extent,’ she said, but Jay was busy fussing the dog and was probably no longer listening. A cloud moved and blocked the sun’s rays. Perhaps summer was already over.
36
Amelodic ringing woke Dixie. ‘Where are you?’ asked Nora.
‘That’s a very good question,’ said Dixie, sitting up and looking around. She lowered her voice. ‘I’m lying down in the campervan with Ned and Renee.’
‘Please tell me you’re not naked.’
Dixie had a quick check. ‘We are all fully clothed.’
‘Thank goodness for that. Wait. Were you and Ned—’
‘Gosh, I don’t think so.’ Although Dixie ran a finger over her lips. Something was making her body tingle.
‘And why on earth is Renee there?’
‘She came to fix Elsie.’ At least Dixie could remember that, even if everything else was a little fuzzy. ‘But we ended up doing leapfrog over giant hotdogs.’
‘What?’ asked Nora. She sounded as confused as Dixie felt.
Renee stirred next to her. ‘Don’t squish the pineapples,’ she muttered before going back to sleep.
‘Hang on, Renee is sleeping.’
Dixie wriggled off the bed like a caterpillar. She wasgoing to sit in the deckchair outside but that was in pieces. Pictures of her and Ned danced into her mind. ‘I think we kissed,’ she whispered.
‘Please tell me you don’t mean you and Renee.’
‘Ha, very funny. No. Me and Ned. We definitely kissed. After we’d been dancing in colours. Hang on. I remember what happened. Renee fed us magic mushrooms. We must have been tripping. Oh thank goodness. At least that explains the giant hotdogs and Ed Sheeran.’
‘But you’re all OK?’ asked Nora.
‘I feel fine. I actually feel zen and happy.’
‘You’re probably still high.’
