Stars and Hearts

by Candy J. Moon

Chapter Twelve

  “We’ve really missed you Rose,” Suki said. “Did you get up to much when you were off sick?”

  “No,” replied a bewildered Rose. “I was too ill.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Suki replied, sounding totally false. “Yazmin and I went to see Mothballs the other night – Dudley and Ty were in it.”

  Rose blushed scarlet, and Suki gave me a cheeky sly look which made me giggle. I managed to turn the giggle into a cough without Rose noticing.

  “Was it good?” asked Rose, a noticeable quiver in her voice.

  “No,” Suki replied. “It was terrible – Dudley is an awful actor.”

  I could see Rose didn’t like this comment from the way her eyes narrowed for a second, but she managed to bite her lip and say, “I haven’t seen his acting yet. He’s an amazing singer though.”

  “If you like old fashioned music he’s ok, I guess,” Suki replied.

  “I wouldn’t call his music old fashioned,” Rose said. “It’s quite timeless.”

  “More like tuneless,” Suki laughed. “We saw him in the pub the other day – with a woman. He was all over her. It was quite disgusting.”

  Rose went very silent and turned very red.

  “You don’t look too well,” Suki said. “Perhaps the doctor should have signed you off for a few more days.”

  “I just don’t want to hear about relationships!” Rose cried. “I’m having problems with Tony – my husband, if you must know.” Then she stormed out the office, looking extremely upset.

  Suki looked at me regretfully. “I feel awful,” she said.

  “So do I,” I replied. “Did she just call her husband Tony?”

  “I think so. Why?”

  “It’s just that day when you heard her saying Ty is seeing someone else. Are you sure she didn’t say Tony is seeing someone else?”

  “It’s possible,” Suki replied. “She was whispering to Kalisha, so I guess she could have said Tony.”

  “So it’s her husband who’s been seeing someone else – that must be why she’s been signed off with depression.”

  “Yes – and throwing herself at Ty and sleeping with Dudley to console herself.”

  “I can hardly believe the woman who warned us away from actors just a few weeks ago is now throwing herself at them – the shock of finding out about her husband must have totally screwed her up.”

  “Must have. Poor woman. I feel a bit bad.”

  “So do I,” I said, wondering how we were going to make Rose feel better if and when she returned to the room.

  Then Kalisha arrived for work looking concerned. “Where’s Rose?” she asked.

  “She went out looking upset a few minutes ago,” I said. “She mentioned problems at home.”

  “I see,” Kalisha said, leaving the room in search of her friend.

  The atmosphere suddenly felt pretty gloomy, so I thought it might be best to change the subject. “How are your gran and her dog?” I asked when Suki finished booking tickets for a customer.

  “They’re ok,” Suki said. “I love little Max – it’s great having a doggy. It’s hard with Gran though - she keeps asking the same questions over and over again and putting things in odd places. She had some sorbet last night and she put the tub back in the kitchen cupboard instead of the freezer. Dad found it this morning all melted. I hate dementia!”

  “So sorry,” I said.

  “Mum’s just reduced her work hours so she can be at home a bit more to look after Gran and Max. We can’t really afford it, but she has no choice.”

  Kalisha and Rose came back into the office. Rose had a false smile painted on her face. She threw herself back into her work, answering call after call without pausing, to avoid talking to any of us.

  At lunchtime, I had a big sweet craving, so decided to nip over to The Sesame Bap café for a big sticky bun and a double espresso.

  I’d only just left the café when a man in a green parka tripped over and fell onto the pavement. Instinctively, I ran to his aid. Then I had a horrible shock. As I grabbed his arm and began to manhandle him, I realised it was Dudley. I cringed. It was almost as bad as the time I’d gone to step into my jeans last summer and found a big spider in the crotch. I very nearly dropped Dudley again, but the staff and customers in the café were all watching, so I felt I had no choice other than to continue helping the filthy frump. As he stood up, he gazed into my eyes, like we were lovers. I felt sick. Clearly, the spell wasn’t working yet.

  I helped him to his feet and went to walk away.

  “Ouch!” he yelled after me. “My ankle!”

  Reluctantly, I propped him up as he limped across to the theatre. He had all new clothes on for a change, and that’s why I hadn’t recognised him from behind. As I helped him along, my mind went back to the vile vision of him kissing Rose that night, but I imagined him doing it dressed in the wizard costume he’d worn at the Halloween party, and I found myself laughing. I couldn’t help it – I guess it was my nerves. Then he looked into my eyes and began laughing too. It was really nauseating, and yet I found it funny at the same time.

  I took him to the stage door, told the door keeper what had happened and left them to deal with it.

  When I returned to the office, it was Suki’s turn for lunch.

  “Jeff’s just reported he saw you with Dudley,” she said as we crossed in the doorway. “I thought you didn’t like him.”

  Rose, who was stuffing tickets into envelopes, looked up in horror – knocking a stack of mail onto the floor.

  “I don’t like him!” I snapped. “I had to help him coz he hurt his ankle - couldn’t Jeff see he was limping?”

  “He didn’t mention a limp – no.”

  “I didn’t even realise it was Dudley until I started helping him up. He was wearing all different clothes, which made him look younger from behind.”

  “LOL!” Suki laughed. “When Jeff told me he’d seen you with him I was thinking OMG first Rose and now Yazmin!”

  I saw the colour drain from Rose’s face as she listened in shock. “What do you mean?” she gasped.

  Suki turned around, realised what she’d said, looked extremely uncomfortable for a moment and then said, “We think the tart we saw him with in the pub was called Rose.”

  “I see,” Rose said, not looking convinced, before bending down to pick up the spilled letters with trembling hands.

  When the work day was over, Mum gave me a lift home. Feeling repulsed after having had physical contact with Dudley, I ran into the flat, threw my clothes in the washing machine and leapt into the shower like I was on fire. I stood under the gushing jets of water, scrubbing and rubbing from head to toe until I finally felt decontaminated and nice again. I couldn’t believe my bad luck – what rotten timing to be right behind the bastard when he tumbled. Pity the fall hadn’t killed him. As I dried my hair, I concentrated madly on the spells – particularly the one to get rid of Dudley’s unwanted attention. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow, as I had a strong feeling I was about to see some amazing results from the magic spells.