‘Speak to you soon, love, and be careful.’
‘I will.’ Kitty hung up the phone, curled her legs beneath her, and finished her wine. She twirled the glass around, watching it catch the glint from the ceiling pendant lights. Everything she told her mother was true. What she hadn’t mentioned were the nightmares that still woke her each night, or the emotions Emily revived, of another child she’d once thought of as her own. Those scars would always remain. What she needed now was to stop pretending they weren’t there, and learn how to live with them.
Chapter 30
‘Mate, I need to ask a huge favour.’ Nick leaned against the house wall, watching Luke fit a sheet of plasterboard.
Luke set down his tools and rolled his eyes. ‘Not another one. Wasn’t giving you a job enough?’
Nick grinned. ‘Yeah. And I’ve done all right for you, haven’t I?’
Luke shook his head, returning the grin. ‘Yes. You’ve been a real asset this past week, especially since Kev’s accident.’ He humphed. ‘The man should have known better than to carry a pallet on his own. The fool is going to have his foot in a cast for another six weeks.’ He none-too-gently punched Nick’s shoulder ‘It would have been a lot harder finishing this job without you.’
Nick’s chest puffed out, and he swelled with pride. Yes, it was a lowly manual job. Yes, most of the time he was lugging something heavy from one part of the building site to another. What he hadn’t expected to gain from this humble labour was a growing confidence, or the comfort of a daily routine, knowing his hours would be filled with useful work.
‘Come on then,’ said Luke. ‘What’s this big favour you need to ask me?’
Nick poured coffee from his flask and handed a cup to Luke.
‘Oh, right,’ said Luke, taking the cup, ‘you’re trying to butter me up. Now I really know there’s something going on. Come on, spit it out.’
‘Well…’ Nick sipped his coffee and avoided Luke’s gaze. ‘Remember how me and Kitty have been roped into putting on this play?’
‘Yes,’ said Luke, his voice laced with suspicion.
‘We’ve got the casting tonight, and… I guess I’m not sure anyone’s going to show.’
‘You’ve advertised it though, haven’t you? I saw something in the monthly village newsletter.’
‘Yes, we’ve advertised it. But finding people in the village who want to get up on stage and perform Shakespeare?’ Nick blew out his cheeks. ‘How many are there going to be?’
‘Right. And what’s this got to do with me?’ Luke’s suspicious tone remained.
‘I wondered,’ said Nick, ‘Umm… I wondered whether you could scrape together a few people to come down for the auditions.’
‘I can’t be in a play,’ said Luke, sipping his coffee. ‘I hate acting. I was always crap at it in school.’
‘I’m not saying you have to be in the play,’ said Nick. ‘Just show up, and bring some others along, especially anyone who might be persuaded to perform.’
‘Yeah, I might be able to rustle up a few. But if you don’t want me in the play, why do I need to come?’
Nick’s embarrassment burned its way up his neck. ‘I suppose… it’s … I’m doing this with Kitty, and I’m the one who’s meant to know everyone in the village, and…’
Luke laughed. ‘What you mean is, you don’t want to look bad in front of Kitty. You don’t want no one to turn up and her to blame you for it. Am I getting close to the real reason now?’
Nick nodded. ‘I don’t want this to look like another failure. At least if I could drag a few people along, it might seem like people round here respect me.’
‘Of course people around here respect you,’ said Luke.
‘No idea why they would,’ said Nick in a moment of honesty. ‘I’ve been a lazy bum for the last God knows how many years. I’ve not exactly done much to earn people’s respect.’
Luke narrowed his eyes and stared at his friend until Nick had to look away. ‘That’s not how people see you, Nick.’
‘Of course it is, and I deserve it. That’s what I am.’
‘It’s what you were,’ said Luke. ‘It’s not what you are now. You’ve changed a lot since Emily came into your life.’
People had noticed? Nick’s chest puffed out again. ‘So you’ll help me?’ he asked.
