‘I just said…’
‘I know you did, but I need you to listen to me. To hear me. I have learned a lot in these past few months. Rory has really helped me to see what I’ve done wrong.’
I nod. She’s my mother, I’ll have to give her a chance. I don’t get another one, and I’ve already lost so many people. I won’t ever trust her again, but it’s not as simple to cut her out like everyone else. ‘Okay. Let’s try.’
‘So, what’s next for Sienna Martin then?’ Rory asks.
I chew my food slowly.
‘I want to be in one place for more than a few months at a time. I want to feel like I actually live in my home. To decorate it, rather than it looking like a not-lived-in-show-home. To have food in my fridge.’
‘What are your plans forOdes and Ballads?’ Mimi asks.
‘I need to speak to the producer, but I see it as an acoustic album.’ I skewer a carrot. ‘I think we’ll be able to drop it at the end of the tour next year.’ Everyone continues eating. ‘An acoustic album doesn’t really suit a full stadium tour, so I think I will drop the album and then retire.’ I place the carrot on the end of my tongue. ‘Maybe in a few years… I’ll drop another album so that I’ll have released ten – I was thinking potentially a compilation of songs I’ve written but haven’t made it on the albums, because they don’t fit or whatever. But this will be my last tour.’ I pause for a few seconds. ‘You both, Kareem, Dennis, will all still have jobs.’
‘Don’t worry about us, Sienna. We’ll do whatever you want us to do,’ Mimi smiles but there’s almost a sadness behind it. ‘The end of an era.’
‘The tour doesn’t end until next November. We’ve got a little while yet.’ I pick up my fork again and stab a parsnip. ‘I have an idea of something I’d love to do.’
I look at Luc and he raises an eyebrow.
‘I’m listening…’
‘Would you like to use your writing skills to write a musical with me?’
Luc’s eyes widen and he uses his napkin to dab gravy from the corners of his mouth. ‘Oh my god. I wouldlovethat.’
‘I would love to sell a musical written by you two, after how well I sold your relationship,’ Mimi laughs, and the rest of the room joins her.
‘I’m sure Lindsay would want a piece of this action.’
Mimi brushes her hair over her shoulder. ‘I’m sure I can find something for your agent to do.’
‘Wow,’ Jess whispers. ‘I can’t believe you’re going to be Sienna Martin with a little s and a little m for a while.’
I exhale loudly. ‘I can’t wait.’
‘Neither can I.’ Luc leans over and presses a kiss to my temple. ‘I’ll follow you, wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do.’
EPILOGUE
THE ENCORE | IN THEATRES MAY 26TH
*two years later*
‘The Encore’ is a musical written by me and my boyfriend Luc Nicholls. It tells the story of a burnt-out popstar who is tired of everyone asking too much of her. From another album to fans screaming for her to come back out on stage after the concert has finished and she’s already performed for two hours. For the press wanting more interviews, more secrets. Even though she needs them as much as they need her.
My heart poundsagainst my chest. My mouth dry, but my palms clammy. I look at Kareem, and once I’m certain he’s not looking, I rub my palms on the seats in the back of his new car. Dennis catches me and glances at me knowingly in his overhead mirror. Luc laughs under his breath, reaching out and trying to hold my hand.
‘They’re sweaty,’ I complain.
‘I don’t care.’ He squeezes my hand, a glintin his eyes as we crawl through central London traffic. My dress is too tight around my stomach – it’s been a while since I had to wear something like this, but the occasion demanded it. I shift in my seat uncomfortably, the forest green fabric cutting into the skin under my arms and at my hips. I got too used to leggings and jumpers.
Luc and I celebrated our second anniversary by painting my bedroom and redecorating so that his stuff fit into the space as well as mine, and then we ate a takeaway on the floor in the conservatory, paint flecks under our eyes and in our hair. We watched the foxes at the bottom of the garden near the trees.
It’s crazy to think I looked like that less than twenty-four hours ago and here I am, magic performed by James and Dina to make us both look presentable.
The car stops and Dennis jumps out of the passenger seat. Luc gets out of the rear passenger door at the same time and follows Dennis around to the other side of the car. Their new arrangement is for Dennis to stand a bit closer to the bonnet so that Luc is free to open my door and help me out of the car.
