by Susan Lewis
‘You get Nigella in Oz?’
‘We get everything in Oz, even twits who cook.’
Smiling, Susannah turned round to look at her. ‘Are you missing it at all?’ she asked.
Surprised by the question, Patsy tilted her head to one side as she thought. ‘Actually, less than I expected to,’ she replied, ‘but that’s probably because I’ve been so busy.’
‘Enjoying Paris?’
‘How can you not enjoy Paris? I’ll be happier when I have my own place though. Staying at Claudia’s is great, naturally, given its location and how luxurious it is, but it’s not mine, and now my stuff has turned up from Sydney I’d like to start looking around for somewhere to buy. How I’m ever going to find the time when I’m in Rome for two nights this week, Madrid the next and Berlin the week after, is another story, but hey, I’m hardly in a position to complain. Now, back to the Marsala wine. Do you have any?’
‘I doubt it, but I’ll call Alan to ask him to pick some up on his way back. Ah, that might be him now, unless it’s our mystery caller again. Hello?’
‘Hi darling, it’s me,’ Alan told her. ‘We should be there in a couple of minutes, but I’ve just had a call from a patient in crisis, so I’m afraid I’ll have to drop Lola off and go straight out again.’
‘Oh no,’ Susannah groaned. ‘How long will you be?’
‘Hard to tell, but obviously I’ll try to get back in time for lunch.’
‘What’s the matter with her? Him?’
‘Him. You know I can’t really discuss it, but he has a severe depression, so it’s not something I can put off till tomorrow. We’re outside the house now, so I’ll bring Lola in first.’
Ringing off, Susannah filled Pats in as she went along the hall to open the front door. Seeing Lola coming through the gate performed its usual trick of bringing a smile to her face, while Lola’s rheumy blue eyes twinkled with pleasure. ‘Are you OK?’ Susannah asked, going to hug her.
‘Of course,’ Lola assured her. ‘Bit breathless after me jog round the park, and aerobics class, but nothing a spot of lunch won’t sort out.’
Laughing, Susannah hugged her again, then let her move on to Pats, who was standing at the door, while she walked back to the car with Alan. ‘Where do you have to go?’ she asked. ‘To the office?’
He nodded and opened the driver’s door. ‘My phone will be off while I’m in session,’ he said, ‘but I’ll call as soon as I’m free to let you know I’m on my way back.’
‘Great. I hope it goes OK. I think he might have called here, actually, because someone rang just before you did.’
He stopped. ‘What did they say?’ he asked.
‘Nothing. Whoever it was just hung up. Do all your patients have your home number?’
‘Only those who need it,’ and kissing her briefly he got into the car and started the engine.
As he drove down the street Susannah stood watching him, trying not to feel fed up that he’d been called out on their first Sunday at the house. It wasn’t that she expected him to ignore a patient in distress, but all the same, she couldn’t help hoping it wouldn’t turn into a regular occurrence.
‘Where’s Alan gone?’ Neve demanded, as Susannah closed the front door behind her.
Susannah looked up to see her sauntering down the stairs, all long skinny legs and bare midriff with a jewel glittering in her navel. ‘He has to go and see a patient,’ she answered.
‘On a Sunday?’
‘People don’t cheer up or get over their problems according to the day of the week,’ Susannah replied, more tersely than she’d intended. ‘He’s going to try to get back in time for lunch. Is Sasha joining us?’
‘No, she’s coming after. And Melinda, but Janey Munroe just rang and asked if I wanted to meet her at Scoffers on Battersea Rise for a coffee. I thought I’d go if there’s time.’
‘Fine, if your room’s up together. If it’s not, well, I guess it’s your friends you want to impress this afternoon … Go and say hello to Lola before you leave.’
After doing as she was told, with a lot more bounce for Lola than she was managing for her mother, Neve took off to meet her friend, while Patsy checked the joint and turned down the oven.
‘Does Alan often get called out at weekends?’ Pats asked, wiping her hands on a towel as Susannah started to make a sauce.
‘This is the first time I’ve known it,’ Susannah replied, ‘but obviously it happens.’ Then with a sigh, ‘I hope we’re not going to cause too much disruption in his life.’
‘I wouldn’t worry too much about that,’ Patsy said, with a wink towards Lola. ‘Remember he had three stepchildren before, so you and Neve are probably going to seem pretty tame by comparison.’
Susannah laughed. ‘You’re right,’ she said, ‘though I’m not sure I’d describe my daughter as tame. Quite the reverse half the time.’
‘Whatever. Behaviour’s his thing,’ Pats reminded her.
Susannah frowned as she nodded. ‘He seemed quite worried about the guy he’s going to see.’
‘Whoever he is, he was letting off some steam when he rang,’ Lola informed them. ‘I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but he sounded pretty desperate, poor chap. Alan had a job calming him down.’
‘It can’t be easy,’ Pats murmured, ‘having to deal with people’s inner demons all the time. I know he’s trained for it, but he must get some real weirdos turning up at times. Oh God, talk about right on cue,’ she groaned and laughed, checking the ID on her mobile as it bleeped with a text. Rooms and flights reserved for next Sat. Sea view as requested. F.
She blinked in surprise. ‘For once a sensible message,’ she commented as she clicked off. ‘I just hope this jaunt turns out to be on the level, because if it’s not I’ll brain the fool. Except he’s not a fool, because he has a brilliant business mind, which is all he has going for him.’
‘And we would be talking about … Fronk?’ Susannah ventured.
‘Who else?’
Chuckling, Lola said, ‘He’s still after you then?’
‘I’ve no idea what he’s up to,’ Patsy told her, ‘he has a wavelength all of his own.’
Susannah was watching her closely. ‘Are you sure you don’t fancy him?’ she asked teasingly.
Patsy’s eyes bulged as she gulped with the sheer horror of it. ‘Don’t even think it, never mind say it,’ she protested. ‘Even if he were the last man on earth I’d still rather have cellulite. The man’s a menace the way he goes about the place flirting like a vampire bat on Viagra. And I’m telling you this now, if he tries anything on when we’re in Monte Carlo he’s going to find out the hard way that yours truly is nothing like the French fluffies he’s so obviously used to.’
‘Which could be why he’s so interested in you,’ Susannah suggested. ‘You’re a challenge.’
Patsy recoiled at the mere thought of it. ‘Let’s change the subject,’ she demanded. ‘I have enough of him during the week, so I don’t need him turning up at the weekend, even in conversation. Now, what I want to know is if you’re going to contact your agent tomorrow to find out if there’s any news yet?’
Susannah immediately blanched as a storm of nerves broke out inside her. ‘She’ll get in touch with me as soon as she has some,’ she replied.
‘OK. But you’re giving up working at the club anyway?’
‘I am. My last night is next Friday. Sandrine, from your office, is coming to see the house on Tuesday, did she tell you?’
Patsy shook her head. ‘No, but I think you’ll like her. She can seem a bit flighty at times, but actually she’s very reliable and her English, as you’ve no doubt gathered, is pretty spot on. OK, let’s get these roasters in now and start peeling some sprouts. I’m sure this won’t be up to your standard, Lola, but I’m doing my best.’
By one thirty the meal was close to ready, so Susannah sent a text to Neve telling her to come home right away, and another to Alan letting him know they’d keep his warm until he
got there.
Ten minutes later, as Pats was lifting the joint from the oven, Neve sailed in through the front door shouting, ‘I’m back. It smells fantastic whatever it is.’
‘Sounds like the mood might have improved,’ Susannah commented under her breath.
‘So Alan’s still not back?’ Neve asked, coming into the kitchen.
‘Not yet, but we’ve laid him a place, just in case. You’re there, next to him. Lola, you stay where you are at the end, Pats and I can go either side of you.’
‘Has he called?’ Neve wanted to know as she went to wash her hands at the sink.
‘No,’ Susannah replied, ‘but he will, as soon as he can.’ Her eyes went to Patsy’s and she shook her head in dismay.
‘So how’s the boyfriend scene?’ Patsy asked, starting to carve the pork as Neve took her place. ‘Anyone I should know about?’
Neve shrugged. ‘Not really. I don’t want any potatoes, thank you. Where did Alan go? Back to the office?’ she asked Susannah.
‘Yes, now please, give it a rest.’
Neve’s eyes narrowed. ‘Oh, excuse me for breathing,’ she snapped. ‘I was only asking …’
‘The same thing, over and over,’ Susannah interrupted. ‘He’ll be back soon, I’m sure. Now Pats has gone to a lot of trouble, so let’s try to eat our lunch without falling out.’
Looking very much as though she didn’t even want to try, Neve blazed her a glare and reached for the gravy. She didn’t speak again for the rest of the meal, and when it was over she took herself off to her room.
‘Thank goodness for that,’ Susannah sighed, starting to clear the plates. ‘It’s like having a ticking bomb at the table that can’t make up its mind how much time it has left.’
‘Shame there’s no word from Alan yet,’ Lola commented, putting down her napkin. ‘That was a delicious lunch, Pats, and it’s never the same if it doesn’t get eaten right away.’
In the end it was almost six o’clock when he finally rang to say he was on his way home. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, sounding exhausted, ‘the poor guy has some serious issues, but I think he’s in the right hands now. It just took some time to get him there. Has Pats left yet?’
‘About an hour ago,’ Susannah told him. ‘She had to get the train. Lola’s still here, waiting to be taken home.’
‘Of course. I’ll do it as soon as I get there. I should warn you though, I’m looking a bit of a mess. The guy thumped me at one point, so I’ve got a lovely shiner in the making.’
‘He hit you? Oh my God, are you all right?’
‘I’m fine. One of the hazards of the job, I’m afraid, though fortunately it’s rare.’
‘Thank goodness for that,’ she replied.
It wasn’t until several minutes after she’d rung off that she found herself remembering the altercation he’d once got into with Duncan. However, the two events were hardly connected, so by the time she’d returned to her unpacking she’d already forgotten it again.
Chapter Eleven
IT WAS EARLY on Wednesday afternoon, just after she’d wheeled Lola over to bingo, that Susannah received a call from her agent telling her that the role of Penelope had gone to Polly Grace.
Susannah’s disappointment was so crushing that she couldn’t stop tears springing to her eyes and almost stepped off the kerb in front of a speeding van, she was so upset. The blare of the driver’s horn brought her back to her senses, but was so angry and loud that she could no longer hear what Dorothy was saying. But what did it matter? She’d only be spouting the usual platitudes of comfort, expressing how sorry she was and telling her not to give up because something else was probably right around the corner.
‘So, congratulations, my dear,’ were the next words she heard Dorothy uttering, ‘a leading role in a major new series. A bit more than you were expecting, mm?’
Susannah stopped walking. ‘But you just said I didn’t get the part.’
‘Of Penelope, that’s right, because they want to offer you Marianne.’
Shock sent a giant wave through her heart. ‘You mean …?’ No, it couldn’t be … but that was what Dorothy had just said. ‘I’m not sure I … You mean, Marianne the wife?’ she asked.
With an amused tut of exasperation Dorothy said, ‘That’s right. She’s the major character in the series, with her much older and rather stupid husband, who’s going to be played by George Bremell. So even more good news, yes?’
‘Yes,’ Susannah murmured. She was still so stunned that she was becoming oblivious to the traffic streaming by, the sun blazing down on her, the other pedestrians who were swerving to go round her, even where she was going. She was being swept from the mundane reality of Battersea into a dream world that she wanted so badly she hardly dared allow herself to believe her own ears.
‘Are you still there?’ Dorothy asked.
Susannah tried to answer, but lost it in a sudden sob of emotion. ‘Oh my God,’ she finally managed, pressing a hand to her mouth. ‘Are you serious? You’re not …’
‘Would I joke about something like this?’
‘But why? How? No one ever mentioned … I didn’t even know her name until you just told me.’
‘It’s all news to me too, sweetie, but what matters is that they’ve clearly had a major rethink. Or maybe they were testing you for both parts all along and didn’t want to get your hopes up about Marianne. Whichever, this is the break all actors dream of, and very few ever achieve, so your star is on the ascent, my love. This is going to make you famous, and a whole lot richer than you are now – though let’s face it, that wouldn’t be hard.’
Susannah’s elation was building to such a pitch that she could barely contain it. This was beyond anything she’d dared hope for, and yet everything she’d ever wanted. ‘What – what do I do now?’ she asked, putting out a hand for her bus. A bus. She was getting on a bus to Clapham, going to work at a dentist’s reception. For some reason that suddenly felt less real than becoming the lead in a major new drama.
‘I’ll know more later,’ Dorothy answered, ‘but before you find yourself inundated, let me get in first and take you to lunch to celebrate. Friday ends my last full week at the agency …’
‘You can’t leave now,’ Susannah protested.
‘I’ll still be coming in two days a week, and I’ll be at the end of the phone if you need me, but Samantha’s much younger and hungrier than this old banger who’s been round the block way too many times, so you’ll be in far more capable hands. I’ll invite her along for lunch too. Meanwhile, my only instruction for you is to start resigning from all those dreadful little jobs of yours.’
‘Of course,’ Susannah replied, hardly even thinking about it as she climbed aboard the bus. ‘But what about the riding issue? If Marianne owns the stables …’
‘I’m sure they’ve got it all worked out, so don’t worry yourself about it now. Apparently we’ll have a script by Friday, and I believe Michael Grafton’s going to be contacting you personally. He asked for your number, anyway.’
Susannah’s euphoria foundered on more surprise, then suddenly surged with such force that she almost kissed the driver just for accepting her bus pass. ‘Does that mean it was him who rang to tell you I’d got the part?’ she asked, wending her way to the back.
‘Actually no, it was the casting director. Michael rang straight after. He also asked me to pass on his congratulations, which this is me duly doing.’
‘Oh my God, Dorothy, I don’t know what to say,’ she laughed as she sank into a seat. ‘This is so fantastic I can hardly take it in. Never, in my wildest dreams …’ She took a breath. ‘I’m sorry, I’m trying not to gush and make a fool of myself. I need to think straight. What do I need to ask?’
Dorothy’s tone was full of fondness as she said, ‘Don’t worry about that now. There’s plenty of time to …’
‘What else do you know about the character?’ Susannah blurted. ‘Isn’t she supposed to be a bitch? Does she have children? Oh
God, does she have to take off her …’ Remembering where she was, ‘Does she have to do the same things as Penelope?’
‘You mean undress, no idea, but my guess is yes, because I can’t see them not utilising all your wonderful assets. Now listen, you need some time to digest it all, so I’m going to ring off, because I have a doctor’s appointment I need to get to. But I’ll call again later and we can have another chat then.’
After saying goodbye Susannah sat holding the phone so tightly it might have been a lifeline, or a vessel of good luck that would evaporate if she let go for a moment. She bubbled with laughter as she thought of it as a lamp, since that would make Dorothy a genie. Then so much emotion began trying to spill out of her that she buried her face in her hands. She dared not make a call yet. If she did, she’d end up making a public spectacle of herself by shrieking or sobbing with joy.
Finally her stop came and as she skipped down on to the pavement she caught the eye of an old lady passing by. Unable to stop herself, she said, ‘I’ve just been cast in a major new series.’
The woman looked startled, then apparently catching Susannah’s euphoria, she started to smile. ‘That’s marvellous news, my dear,’ she said. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Thank you,’ Susannah said, squeezing her hands. ‘Thank you so much.’
As the old lady walked on Susannah turned towards the dentist’s office, floating on air. Then she called Alan’s number. Even if she couldn’t reach him, she had to tell him the news. With any luck it might bolster his spirits a little, because he’d been quite down since Sunday, when he’d finally returned home with his bruised eye, and so wrung out that he’d brushed her and Neve’s fussing aside and gone straight upstairs for a relaxing soak in the bath.
Finding herself being diverted to his voicemail, she was about to blurt out a message when she decided to wait until she could tell him in person. She wanted to see his reaction, then hug him and dance round and round in circles and break out the champagne.
Next she tried Neve, knowing she’d be in class, but this time she left a message telling her to ring the instant she could to hear some unbelievably fantastic news. Of course Neve would think she’d got the part of Penelope, and Susannah could hardly wait to hear what she had to say when she found out what was really on offer.
