by Nancy Barone
‘Busy,’ he said, his eyes swinging to mine. ‘Was Emma there last night, with you, no doubt flirting with your Hollywood bloke, too?’
‘Em? You know her, the life of the party.’
‘Don’t I just,’ he muttered.
‘What’s happening between you two? Have you fallen out or something? I never seem to get a hold of you at the same time.’
He shrugged. ‘I’ve been busy.’
‘What does that mean?’ I asked. ‘Are you seeing someone?’
‘Maybe. And you? What’s going on between you and your Hollywood star?’
‘Luke? What do you mean?’
‘Are you and he…?’
‘Of course not.’ I hoped he didn’t notice the sudden flush rushing up my neck and into my cheeks. I was never a very good liar.
‘You looked pretty tight to me.’
‘You must be joking. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t argue.’
‘All the same, I saw the way he looked at you out at Predannack that day.’
I laughed. ‘Absolutely not. In any case, I’m not one to fall for an actor. They’re much too volatile. Not that I actually have time for a relationship, thank God.’
‘Women,’ he muttered.
‘Jack, have Emma and I done something to offend you? Because I sense something’s off.’
He shrugged. ‘I told you, Nina. Things change.’
*
‘I bet you Jack’s got a girl and she hates us,’ I said to Emma later. ‘And we don’t even know who she is.’
Emma gasped. ‘He said that to you? That he has a new girlfriend?’
‘Not exactly. But I tell you, if she’s changed him like this in the space of a few weeks, I already don’t like her.’
Emma coughed. ‘I’m sure there’s no one new, Nina. But if there were…?’
‘Well then she’d better clean her act up. I don’t want to lose him as a friend. Or you.’
‘You won’t lose me, Nina. At least I hope not.’
‘Sweetie,’ I said, ‘nothing you could do would push me away from you, save hurting my children.’
‘Or marrying Phil.’ She laughed.
I shuddered. ‘That would be your choice, but don’t expect me to hang around him.’
‘So… you would back me up, no matter whom I chose?’ she asked. ‘Even if it was the most unlikely candidate?’
‘Of course!’ I assured her. ‘If you love him, then I’ll love him.’
25
The Wedding Planner
The next morning found me sitting in my writing chair, waiting for the kids to surface before I started preparing breakfast. I’d been up since dawn, raring to get to work on our script. But Luke didn’t come down to work for another hour, and by then I’d already outlined the next few scenes.
‘Morning!’ he said, making me jump with a kiss on the side of my neck. ‘I thought we could all go for a drive today.’
‘Ooh, no can do; we’ve got much too much work to do. I’ve got an idea of where to shoot a scene and—’
‘Excellent. Let’s go take a look at it.’
‘But I already know the place, Luke. Trust me, it’s gorgeous. Have breakfast and then we’ll start, okay?’
‘Nina, you’ve got me working like a slave here.’
I stopped. ‘But I thought we were on a tight schedule?’
He poured himself a cup of coffee and shrugged. ‘The production company is mine. I dictate the timeframe. Maybe I’ll stay a little longer now. We can take our time. There’s no rush.’
No rush? I had to get my cheque so I could get Ben’s operation sorted. Of course I was in a bloody rush. But better to play it cool. At least for now.
A minute later Ben ambled in and sat down to his breakfast, absently mumbling a ‘Good morning’ when usually he was all kisses and hugs, happy to be up and alive. Luke, too, noticed this change and shot me a glance.
‘Are you okay, darling?’ I asked as I ruffled his hair.
‘Yep.’
I bit my lip. Ben was sensitive, but not fragile. This listlessness was new and unsettling.
‘Mum?’
‘Yes, love?’
‘If Dad came back and wanted joint custody, what would you do?’
Panic shot through my heart. If Phil was trying that on, it would only be to wind me up, because he already barely respected his visiting times as it were. I would have to deal with it immediately before he filled my children’s heads with all his codswallop. I pulled up a chair and sat opposite Ben.
‘Why do you ask, darling?’
Ben continued to shove his soldiers into his mouth and shrugged. ‘I was just wondering. If he said he was sorry for leaving, and wanted to get to know Chloe and me better, would you be upset?’
I swallowed, glancing at Luke whose wide eyes betrayed his poker face.
‘Is that… something your father’s suggested?’
He avoided my gaze. He’d never done that before.
‘Not really. I just wanted to know how you would feel.’
Was it possible that my kids were suffering whilst all I was trying to do was protect them? Even a judge had decreed that twice a month with Phil was more than enough. My throat had gone very dry, but I took his hand gently and held it in both mine. ‘Ben – what I feel is not as important as what you feel. Do you… want to see more of him?’
Please God, let him say no.
He looked up at me and I could tell he was troubled. ‘No, Mum, not particularly. I think we work just fine without him.’
Thank you God. He wasn’t the problem, then. ‘And what about Chloe?’ I asked. ‘Does she still want to spend more time with him?’
I didn’t know how the hell I was going to handle my whirlwind of a daughter if she made explicit, serious demands to see more of him. I couldn’t hide behind a judge forever.
‘Can I have some more toast, please, Mum?’ he asked, his eyes lowered again, as that was all he was prepared to say.
*
‘I knew it – I knew it,’ I fretted as I watched him playing in the garden with Olly and Joe who’d swung by.
Luke’s hands covered my shoulders. ‘Easy, sweets. You’re getting all worked up about nothing.’
‘Nothing? Phil wants to muscle in, and I can’t allow that. I can’t let our delicate balance be disturbed. I’m barely hanging in there and I can’t—’
‘You’re not barely hanging in there, Nina. I’m here with you. Every step of the way.’
I sank back against him, still not used to having a man under my roof. ‘Thanks, Luke.’
‘Anything for you, sweets,’ he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and nuzzling my neck, sending a shiver through me despite my worries.
‘Let’s go upstairs,’ he murmured naughtily into my ear.
I froze. He wanted to have sex with me? Now? I giggled off his offer like a consummate actress. Not that I didn’t want to. Because I did, of course. Who wouldn’t want to sleep with him? He was every woman’s dream. But I had to pace myself, at least a little. ‘Behave yourself. The kids are home. And we’ve only just woken up anyway.’
‘Oh, I don’t mean to sleep, hon,’ he whispered, lightly nipping my earlobe.
‘Hah, good one,’ I shot back. ‘The girls are still sleeping upstairs. Let’s – take our time.’
He sighed and let his head drop onto my collarbone, exaggeratedly but playfully resigned. ‘You’re the boss, Boss.’
‘And don’t you forget it,’ I played back, safe for the moment from making that huge leap of faith.
This man sure knew how to charm a woman, especially me. Because little by little, between POV predicaments and parenting, he’d certainly proved what a proper father he was – something sorely missing in our lives – and found his way into my heart. I don’t know if it was quite love yet, but he certainly had my full attention as my body began to tingle like it hadn’t in a long, long time.
*
That afternoon I got
a call from Emma.
‘Nina, please say yes.’
‘Yes, whatever you need, Em. What is it?’
‘One of Luke’s friends has already contacted me. I showed her my work and she’s hired me!’
‘Em!’ I gasped, warm waves of pride flowing through me. ‘Congratulations!’
‘Thanks, love. But now I need that help you offered. She has no idea what she wants, and for the first time in this job I’m at the end of my tether. Can I pick your brain?’
‘Of course. What kind of wedding is it?’
‘Very posh and very extravagant.’
‘Budget?’
‘Limitless.’
‘Crikey, who is it, someone from the royal family?’
‘Close. She’s a pop star. But I can’t say who because she’s a freak about her privacy.’
‘Okay. What’s the dress like?’
‘That’s the thing. The wedding per se is rich and lavish, but she’s a simple girl at heart, although still somewhat temperamental. I don’t do simple, so I thought of you.’
‘Gosh, thanks, I don’t know whether to be offended or flattered. Well, how about a simple champagne-coloured dress, maybe in taffeta, with silk wildflowers or something?’
‘That sounds nice. I’ll have a look tomorrow. Would you come into Truro with me in the morning to look at some invites and flowers? I’ve got a gazillion things to do and if I don’t get it right I’m afraid she’ll go for someone else. With this commission I’ll be fine for a whole year.’
‘Sure, why not? It’ll be fun. I haven’t looked at wedding dresses since my own marshmallow disaster thirteen years ago.’
She laughed. ‘Please, no stunts, Nina. If I can pull this off, I’m home free. She’s got three single sisters!’
‘Relax, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Bye, luv!’ she kiss-kissed me and we rang off. Emma was brilliant at her work. With her brains and sense of style, she’d establish herself in no time at all. Of course, the pop-star wedding would hasten her ascent. If anyone deserved to be up there, it was hardworking Emma.
So the next day I put Luke in charge of the kids and drove to Truro as promised. Emma was waiting at the entrance of Lemon Street Market and her face lit up when she saw me.
‘Hey, you!’ she cried and we hugged as if we hadn’t seen each other in a million years. Which was actually quite accurate. I missed her.
‘So what’s the plan? Flowers or invites first?’
‘Centrepieces,’ she answered, steering me inside the market. We were always adamant in supporting the local economy and steered clear from the flagship stores. ‘I’ve narrowed them down to a few, but I just can’t decide and she’s absolutely useless. We’re looking at an autumn wedding.’
‘This autumn? Can you manage it?’
‘I’ll have to, if I want the account.’
‘Talk about pressure. Okay, then, no worries. We’d better hop to it.’
‘See, that’s why I need you, Nina – you never lose it. What do you think of these for the tables?’
I studied the options. The centrepieces that seemed most appropriate were old-fashioned glass jars containing pine cones and white fairy lights. Simple and appropriate for a Cornish autumn wedding.
‘These ones are pretty,’ I suggested, holding one up. ‘Or these,’ I opted, pointing to the tallish glass vase filled with dried wildflowers in the shades of gold and cream and about a dozen mini pumpkins and other gourds in each one.
‘Jack could provide the gourds,’ I suggested. ‘He should almost be done harvesting by now.’
She huffed.
‘Will someone tell me what it is with you two?’
She lifted the centrepiece with the pine cones and fairy lights, turning it this way and that. ‘Let’s just say that lately I’m beginning to be fed up with Judge Jack.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know what I mean. He can be really judgemental sometimes.’
‘I’ve never heard him speak an ill word of anyone,’ I said.
‘Oh, not that he would,’ she countered. ‘But when he doesn’t approve of something you do, you can just see it on his face, can’t you? And when he ignores you, you know you’re not on his Christmas card list anymore.’
And suddenly it all made sense. That was why he had distanced himself from me. He didn’t approve of Luke being in the house with us. But it wasn’t like I was cheating on anyone. All I wanted was to rebuild a life.
Granted, Luke wasn’t the safest choice – larger than life, and definitely not your average Joe who had a nine-to-five job (at least he had one, as opposed to The Phil-anderer) plus there was potential for a new beginning. Even if he wasn’t one of us, hailing as he did all the way from California and a life diametrically opposed to ours. Maybe, even like this, there was potential for hope. Hope for us and our little Cornish farmhouse and household to flourish.
Because I had a right to get a life of my own. I’d earned it. So just how justified was Jack in his attitude after all?
‘Then why don’t you talk to him? Clear the air?’ I suggested, picking up a pretty bouquet of calla lilies, thinking that I should follow my own advice. ‘This would look stunning against the champagne-coloured taffeta dress.’
Emma examined the bouquet. ‘I was right – you are so the person to help in cases like this. If you ever get sick of slogging over a computer, would you go partners with me?’
I laughed.
‘You’d be perfect, Nina.’
‘I aim to please.’
‘By the way, how’s it going with Luke?’
I sighed.
‘Was that a huff or a happy sigh?’
‘A confused one.’ I blushed. ‘Let’s say we’re beginning to see eye to eye.’
She stopped. ‘You’ve slept with him!’
An old woman checking out some candle centrepieces opposite the display table frowned at us.
‘Of course not,’ I whispered, pulling her to the next display table where some hideous frog centrepieces crouched, looking like they were ready to jump to the next table.
‘But you want to! Has he asked? Oh, my God, Nina, tell!’ she hissed.
‘I want to,’ I finally gushed. ‘But I’m so frazzled.’
She put down the centrepiece and took my elbows, her face serious. ‘Honey – whatever you do, don’t ruin this! He is so the guy for you!’
I bit my lip. ‘I really hope so, Nina.’
She wrapped her arms around me. ‘If there’s anyone that deserves the best, it’s you, love.’
‘After you, of course,’ I said loyally.
We agreed to meet later in the week for the dress. When I got home, I found the girls in the living room watching some teenage movie while fiddling with their phones as Ben sat in his armchair reading his science book. ‘Is this programme fit for Ben?’ I asked.
He shrugged. ‘Some drivel about a runaway princess. But I guess it’s a formula that works on common minds.’
Luke, who was sitting at our work table, laughed across the hallway. ‘Ben, I swear, you are a character.’
‘She’s the character,’ Ben said, nodding towards the screen. ‘I’ve never seen such a sap in all my life, waiting for her estranged mum to come home. It’s not going to happen, and that can only be a good thing.’
‘Ben, shush!’ Chloe silenced him. ‘We’re trying to watch a movie here.’
Watching Ben out of the corner of my eye as I kicked off my shoes and hung my jacket in the hall. I decided to investigate that one later in private.
‘What are you up to?’ I asked Luke as I padded over to him, still keeping my eyes on Ben who went back to his book.
‘Just writing down a series of approaches for Bill’s point of view.’
Again with Bill. There was no moving this man. He was as stubborn as a mule. I huffed. I had eventually agreed to let Bill have a voice, but on condition that he didn’t come on with any tommyrot. ‘If you’re determined to show his
point of view, at least don’t make him so bloody saintly.’
‘You mean like your buddy?’
‘Who?’
He nodded towards the window. ‘Farmer Joe down the road.’
‘You know his name is Jack.’
‘Whatever. Just to make it clear, Nina. I’m not on a crusade to defend men. I just want them to get their say. Show their vulnerability as well. Just like Stella shows hers. And she has her faults.’
I bristled. ‘Of course she does. Who doesn’t?’
‘And yet, you expect everybody to take her side.’
‘Because she’s the victim!’ I said hotly.
He shook his head. ‘Men can be victims of circumstances too, you know?’ he said as he got to his feet and walked to the window overlooking the garden.
Uh-oh. Now I got it. ‘How bad… was it, if I may ask?’
He snorted. ‘It was purgatory. I was young and immature, working waiter shifts around the clock. Luckily my mom lived nearby, but she had my sick dad to deal with, and wasn’t getting any money for him, so I had to take care of her financially, while she took Jess on my night shifts. So I ended up taking Jess with me whenever I found a charitable boss. She was practically brought up in all the dinners across Iowa.’
It was then that I realised that Luke was my exact male counterpart. His Lauren was my Phil, why we had done the lion’s share of the slogging. Perhaps it was time for me to open my eyes to other people’s difficulties in raising their kids, and not just mine.
‘I’m sorry,’ I said, standing next to him at the window. The kids had in the meantime migrated to the garden and Chloe was pushing both Ben and Jess on the swings, and they were all laughing as Ben incited her to push harder. Jess closed her eyes, and the look of sheer happiness on her face was one to behold.
‘I’m sorry you had to go through that. I know that you sacrificed your whole life for her.’
He shrugged, not taking his eyes off them. ‘It’s what parents do, isn’t it?’
‘Not all parents. But look at what you’ve achieved. She is such a lovely girl. You had Lauren to deal with, and I had my cross to bear. Many people in the world are dealing with the same issues as we speak, Luke. Both mums and dads.’
