The Angel Tree (28 page)

Leon wondered whether her mother would allow that to happen.

‘
Please
, Mummy. I love the script! I think it’s groovy!’

‘Don’t use such a silly word, Cheska.’

They were sitting at the table eating breakfast. Cheska had read the script in bed last night. The few hours of sleep she did get had been filled with dreams of kissing Bobby Cross. For the
first time in years she felt excitement.

‘I don’t know, Cheska. I’ve read the script too, and I just don’t think your fans would like to see you in short skirts and false eyelashes.’

‘But, Mother, I can’t play little girls any more. I’m too old – even the reviewers have started to say that.’

‘Yes, but maybe we ought to have a look at other scripts before we decide. For goodness’ sake, there’s one scene when your character comes out of her bedroom in her
underwear!’

‘So what? I’m not ashamed of my body. It’s more natural to be naked than it is to wear clothes, you know,’ Cheska added, quoting directly from an article she had read
recently in a magazine.

‘Cheska, please! You may think you’re grown up, but you’re not sixteen yet and my opinion still counts for something!’

‘Mother, there are girls not much older than me living in flats by themselves, having boyfriends and . . . and . . . other things!’

‘And what do you know about boyfriends, young lady?’

‘All I know is that other girls have them and that I want to do this film!’ Cheska got up from the table, went to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

Greta made a mental note that she needed to call the doctor for another prescription of tranquillisers. Then she went to the telephone and dialled Leon’s number.

‘Hello, Leon, it’s Greta here. I’ve read the script and I’m worried about it. I want the semi-nude scenes removed and the slang taken out. Then we’ll consider
it.’

‘No can do, Greta. Cheska either takes the part as it is, or she doesn’t.’

‘Well then, it’s a no from this end, too. Can’t you look for other scripts for her?’

‘Greta, I need to make it clear to you: as far as the studio is concerned, it’s this or nothing. Should I tell them they should start screen-testing other girls for the
part?’

Greta was silent. She had been backed into a corner and she knew it.

‘What about Cheska?’ Leon asked her. ‘Does she want to do it?’

‘Yes, but with strong reservations.’

Reservations my backside, thought Leon. He’d seen the excitement in Cheska’s eyes when he’d mentioned Bobby Cross.

‘Well, let me call Charles and tell him Cheska will take it before he runs out of patience and casts somebody else. We can sort out the details later. Come on, Greta,’ he pleaded.
‘We’ve worked together for a long time, and you must see that it’s a golden opportunity for her.’

There was a long pause at the other end of the line. ‘All right.’

‘Wonderful! You won’t regret this, I promise you.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ Greta murmured to herself as she put down the telephone, then went to tell Cheska the news.

The expression of happiness on her daughter’s face was one Greta hadn’t seen for a very long time. ‘Thank you, Mummy. I know this is the right thing to do. I’m so
happy!’

And that, at least, made Greta glad.

‘Okay, all done.’ The make-up lady whipped the tissue from around Cheska’s neck. ‘They’ll be ready for you in about fifteen minutes. Want some
coffee?’

‘No, thanks.’ Cheska shook her head and stared at her reflection in the mirror, which was propped up against a wall on a school desk. Her face had been covered in foundation, then
her eyelids lined with liquid black. False eyelashes had been added and blue shadow highlighted her big eyes. Her lips had been painted with pink lipstick, accentuating her pearly white teeth. Her
head felt strangely light, used as she was to her long hair which had been cut into a pageboy and now hung just above her shoulders in a golden halo.

She was wearing a traditional school blazer, shirt and tie, but the pleated hemline of the skirt finished four inches above her knees, leaving her long legs to taper down to her ankle socks and
shoes.

Cheska giggled. Mummy would have a fit when she saw her. But she didn’t care. She felt wonderful.

The floor manager came into the room to take her on set.

‘You look great, Cheska.’ The girl smiled. ‘I can hardly believe it’s you.’

Cheska followed her out of the room, down the draughty corridor and into the large school hall.

‘You know which scene we’re shooting first?’

‘Yes.’ Cheska’s eyes darted around the hall, searching for a glimpse of Bobby Cross. ‘It’s the assembly scene, when the new music teacher is introduced to the
pupils for the first time.’

‘That’s right. Sit here, Cheska, and we’ll call you when we’re ready.’

The room was filled with chattering girls, all dressed in the same uniform as Cheska. There was a sudden hush as the hall doors opened and Bobby Cross entered with Charles Day. Cheska turned
with the rest and drew in her breath as she saw him in the flesh for the first time. He was more handsome in real life than he was in any of his photos. His dirty-blond hair was swept up into a
quiff and his chestnut eyes were framed by long, curly lashes. His lean body, with those infamous gyrating hips, was covered by a sober, grey suit.

‘Hi, girls, how you doin’?’ Bobby called out in his cheeky cockney accent, flashing his famous smile at the same time.

A collective sigh echoed around the hall.

‘Come and meet Cheska Hammond, your co-star,’ said Charles Day.

Cheska stood transfixed as Bobby walked towards her. ‘Hello, darlin’. We’re gonna have fun making this movie, aren’t we?’

She managed to nod and mutter a yes.

Cheska felt a blush rise to her cheeks as Bobby’s eyes travelled up from her ankle socks and came to rest pointedly on the swell of her breasts. He turned to Charles Day. ‘I think
all my dreams have come true!’

‘Hello. I’m Cheska’s mother, Greta Simpson. Pleased to make your acquaintance.’ Greta pushed past Cheska and held out her hand graciously to Bobby.

‘Hi there,’ Bobby replied, ignoring it. ‘See you on set.’ He winked at Cheska and turned to walk away with Charles. ‘Is that dragon gonna be chaperoning the best
piece of crumpet I’ve seen in months? It’ll ruin all my fun,’ he said to Charles Day, in a voice loud enough for them both to hear. Greta’s face was expressionless. Cheska
could have fallen through the floor, but there was pleasure mixed in with the embarrassment.

‘All right, everyone.’ Charles Day clapped his hands together. ‘Let’s get to work.’

‘Mummy, I want to go to the studio by myself from now on.’ Cheska, fresh from a bath and ready for bed, had joined Greta in the sitting room.

Greta looked up from the magazine she was reading, a frozen expression on her face.

‘Why on earth do you want to do that?’

‘Because I’m nearly sixteen years old now and I don’t need a chaperone any more.’

‘But Cheska, I’ve always come with you! You need someone with you to sort out any problems that might crop up, you know that.’

Cheska sat down on the sofa next to her mother and took her hand. ‘Mummy, please don’t think I don’t want you there, but none of the other girls in the film bring their mothers
. . . I feel like such a baby, and people laugh at me.’

‘I don’t think that’s true at all.’

‘But you’ve spent all these years looking after me.’ Cheska tried another tack. ‘You’re only thirty-four yourself. Surely, you want some time for yourself now?
Besides,’ she sighed, ‘I have to learn to stand on my own two feet.’

‘It’s very kind of you to think of me, but I love coming to the studios. It’s my life as much as yours.’

‘Well, would you mind awfully if I tried it by myself for a few days to see how I got on?’

‘But what about when you go away on location? You’ll need someone there to look after you then.’

‘Perhaps. Oh, please let me try, Mummy. It’s very important to me.’

Greta hesitated, looking into her daughter’s pleading eyes. ‘All right. If it’s what you want. Just for a couple of days, though.’

‘Thank you, Mummy.’ Cheska gave her mother a rare hug. ‘I’m going to bed now. Tomorrow will be a long day. Goodnight.’ She gave Greta a peck on the cheek and left
the sitting room.

At eight the following morning Greta watched Cheska leave in the studio car. She took a long, leisurely bath, then pottered around making the beds and tidying the kitchen, even
though they had a cleaner who came in three days a week. She brewed herself a coffee and saw that it was only just past ten o’clock. She sipped it and wondered what she could do to fill the
hours until Cheska came home. She could go shopping, but without her daughter to try on clothes with, it didn’t seem like an attractive option. She decided she’d ring David and see if
he was free for lunch.

Although she’d prayed that their relationship wouldn’t change after David’s proposal, inevitably, it had. Over the intervening years, they had kept in touch but they
hadn’t seen as much of each other as they had before. David was always incredibly busy and in demand; he now had his own evening television show on ITV, the new commercial television network,
and had become a huge household name. Although she missed him, Greta understood. He had to find his own future, meet other women.

But today, she needed him. She picked up the receiver and dialled his number.

David answered straight away. ‘Hello.’

‘David, it’s Greta.’

‘Greta!’ His voice was warm. ‘How are you?’

‘Very well, thank you.’

‘And Cheska?’

‘She’s fine. She started her new film a few days ago.’

‘Really? Aren’t you with her?’

‘Er, no, not today. I had a few things to do so Cheska gave me the day off. I was wondering, do you fancy meeting for lunch? I have to go in to town to do a little shopping. We could go to
the Savoy. My treat.’

‘Oh Greta, I’d love to, but I’m afraid I’ve got a prior engagement.’

‘Not to worry. Next week, maybe?’

‘Oh dear, I can’t, I’m afraid. I’m very tied up with the television show at the moment, but I’d love to meet up when things calm down a little. Can I ring you later
in the week and we’ll make a plan?’

‘Okay.’

‘Good. Sorry to rush off, but the studio car’s just arrived. Goodbye, Greta.’

‘Yes, goodbye, David.’

Greta put the telephone down, walked slowly to the window and stared down onto the street below. She checked her watch again and saw it was only five to eleven. Without Cheska, she had
nothing.

And Greta knew she was losing her.

Cheska spent the next two weeks in a haze of love and confusion.

Most of her scenes were with Bobby Cross. He was chatty, very flirtatious and treated her like a grown-up. She longed to fire back some witty retorts, but she found herself totally tongue-tied
when they were standing together waiting for a take. Unlike the other girls, who fluttered their eyelashes and flirted back, Cheska had no idea what to say or how to act.

And now she had her freedom during the day, the evenings at home with her mother felt uncomfortable. When she arrived back at the apartment after the day’s filming, Greta would be eagerly
waiting for her and Cheska would have to spend the evening going over every detail of the day’s events. A delicious supper would be placed in front of her and she would do her best to eat it,
even though she’d had a large lunch on set. The atmosphere was claustrophobic and she was always grateful when it was time for her to go to bed and she could shut her door and fall asleep,
dreaming of Bobby.

‘Okay, folks. That’s a wrap. We meet bright and early in the foyer of the Grand Hotel in Brighton on Monday morning. If you haven’t finalised your travel
arrangements, speak to Zoe. She has all the details.’

‘It’ll be fun, won’t it?’

‘Sorry?’ said Cheska, turning to Bobby.

‘I said, Brighton will be fun. We’re staying in the same hotel, you know.’ Bobby winked.

‘Yes,’ she replied, blushing furiously.

At that moment, Zoe came up to them. ‘Now, Cheska, I’ve booked a twin room for you and your mother. The car will pick you both up on Sunday afternoon at four.’

Cheska turned and saw Bobby frowning.

‘Er, no, Zoe, I won’t be needing a twin room. My mother isn’t coming with me.’

She looked at Bobby, who smiled in approval. ‘See you Sunday night, darlin’.’

‘Okay, then,’ said Zoe. ‘Any problems, you have my home number.’

Later that night she and Greta had their first major argument. Cheska was adamant that she was going to Brighton alone; her mother just as vehement that she was going with
her.

‘You’re too young to be by yourself in a strange town, Cheska! I’m sorry, but you’re not going alone, and that’s final.’

‘Mother, don’t you understand that I’m not a baby any more? Why won’t you let me grow up? If I can’t go by myself, then I’m not going at all!’ She burst
into tears, ran from the sitting room and slammed her bedroom door behind her.

In despair, Greta picked up the receiver and dialled Leon’s home number. He listened sympathetically as she explained the problem.

‘The point is, Leon, that Cheska is too young to be staying by herself. She thinks she’s so grown-up, but she’s not. She says she refuses to go if I insist on accompanying
her.’

‘Greta, I understand your concern, but Brighton is hardly the end of the universe, is it? It’s only an hour or so from London, and Cheska will be staying in a hotel full of cast and
crew. As a matter of fact, I’m going to be down there next week, anyway, so I can keep an eye on her. This is probably just an adolescent tantrum. If I were you, I’d let her go by
herself and find out how much she misses you. And, to be frank, for the sake of the film, we want Cheska as happy and relaxed as possible. Charles says she’s turning in a great performance so
far.’

‘All right,’ said Greta eventually. ‘I’ll tell her she can go alone. But I want you to promise me you’ll make sure that she’s in bed by ten every night. No
going out in the evenings. I know what location parties can be like.’