‘Err… hello, Ali. All healed, thanks.’ The surprise of this new development slightly sobered her madness.
‘You know each other?’ Noms was wide-eyed. Gracie thought back to Ali’s kindness in the street when she had fallen over.
‘Not as well as you two do now, I guess.’ Gracie shook her head in disbelief at the scenario unfolding.
Before Gracie had had a chance to explain to Noms how they knew each other, there was a knock at the door.
‘If it’s Lewis, I don’t want to talk to him.’ Gracie rushed past Noms and a now open-mouthed Ali.
It was Noms’s turn to look surprised. For standing in front of her – in all his handsome glory – was none other than Leo Grant.
She opened the door a small crack so Ali didn’t see him and lowered her voice. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
‘I’m filming in London and…’ He clocked the horror on Noms’s face. ‘Is it not a good time, sweet cheeks?’ He handed her a card. ‘My UK cell. Look, I shouldn’t have turned up unannounced, I know, but I’ve thought about it long and hard and I have a right to meet Jack.’
‘He’s not here.’ Noms was furious. ‘He’s at a friend’s overnight, thank goodness. What about our agreement? I can’t believe you’ve got the audacity to turn up at my home!’
Leo noticed her dishevelled appearance. ‘Ah, and you’ve got a visitor, I get it.’ He winked and clicked his teeth.
Noms took a deep breath. ‘Look, Leo. I appreciate we need to talk, just not today, eh? I’ll call you, I promise.’
‘OK, OK. I get it. Is Grace still living with you?’
‘Yes, she’s just had a terrible shock, though.’
‘Gee, that poor girl. Get her to call me on my cell. I’m in town all week if she fancies a chat. I’m a good listener, she knows that.’
With that, he pulled his cap down to meet his sunglasses and sauntered back to his chauffeur-driven Mercedes.
‘Who was that?’ Ali enquired as she made her way back up the stairs.
‘Just Ed, a guy Grace was seeing – is seeing. Actually, I’ve no idea what’s going on anymore.’
‘Oh, Ed, yes. Tall, handsome, goatee beard, drives a red van?’
‘This is just too much for me. You knowhimtoo? So much for a discreet afternoon dalliance.’
‘I’ll get dressed and go. I think your sister needs you more than me right now.’
‘Yeah, OK.’ Noms smiled. ‘It’s been great. Let’s do it again, if you fancy?’
‘Sure.’ Ali grinned. ‘Let me know when you’re about and I can work around my shifts.’
‘Will do. And I promise it’s not always like being on the set of Eastenders here.’
Ali let herself out as Noms knocked on Gracie’s bedroom door. She was face down on the bed.
‘Grace, come on.’ She gently pulled her sister up and into her arms. ‘Let’s be rational for one minute.’
‘Rational, bloody rational. My ex-boyfriend has got the girl he slept with pregnant! He is going to have a baby. We can’t have babies. And you tell me to be fucking rational.’
‘Did you ask him if he knew if it was his?’
‘He declared he had no idea,’ Gracie replied pitifully. ‘I just ran, like I always do when I have to face confrontation. If it is his I’m moving away, I can’t be near them.’
‘Oh, baby girl, don’t be so dramatic.’
‘It’s bad enough knowing that slag has managed to get pregnant in her forties. Miss Bloody Perfect. Managed to get everything she ever wanted.’
