The Boy I Love (24 page)

‘What are you doing?’ she whispered. ‘You are surely not considering letting Simon stay the night by any chance?’

Dora turned and studied her. ‘What is this all about – the older sister taking care of her younger sibling’s moral welfare? I don’t know if he is going to stay the night
yet. It depends. But if he does, that is really my business, don’t you think? Come on, Sally, I am old enough to decide these things for myself.’

Sally snorted. ‘You are eighteen, for God’s sake! I was still a virgin then.’

‘Well, I’m not,’ replied Dora, relishing the dropping of this bombshell.

Sally was absolutely dumbfounded, but one look at her sister’s smug expression made her determined not to reveal the extent of the horror she felt.

‘Oh I see. Well then, I guess you know what you are doing. How many men have there been in your short life?’ she asked with no attempt to hide the sarcasm.

Uncomfortable now with where this conversation might go, Dora did not answer immediately. While she was deciding how to deal with this rather tricky subject, luck intervened, and Simon appeared
in the kitchen doorway.

‘Come on, girls, give it a break, I am trying to chill out here. Are we going to have a cosy threesome?’ he sniggered.

‘Oh grow up, Simon,’ snapped Sally. ‘I will leave you both to it. Good night.’

She marched off to her bedroom and slammed the door, then regretted the gesture. They probably thought she was jealous. Simon was always trying it on with her, and now he was hanging around her
sister. How pathetic was that? And what the hell was Dora up to? Had she really lost her virginity already? Sally was outraged and yet she realized that it truly was none of her business, was it?
She thought about their parents and wondered if they knew about Dora. Thinking about them made Sally feel so homesick and alone. Talking to Jeremy earlier had caused her to start thinking about her
own life and what she really wanted from it. Now she began to feel there was a chasm between her and Dora. Their lives were no longer under the auspices of their parents. The family had changed and
she had to change also – but how? She suddenly felt very tired and resolved to have a long talk to Dora about everything and get things straight between them. Life was difficult enough
without arguments with her sister.

As she hit the pillow, Sally heard music coming from the other room and Dora’s throaty laughter. Oh God, how was she going to face them both in the morning if Simon stayed? Sally accepted
that she was being ridiculous and getting herself in a tizzy for no good reason – except there
was
a reason: Dora’s welfare. Just because she had had a few drinks, did her sister
really have to stoop so low as to sleep with a slob like Simon? The answer was probably yes. If that was the case, then the less she knew about it the better. She would get up early, and if Simon
was here she would make herself scarce and get out quick.

Sally managed to smile to herself as she felt sleep starting to take her away from all this pettiness.
Come on, girl, you have dealt with worse than this in your life
, she told herself.
Get a grip
. . . but her body was gone, drifting into blissful unconsciousness. She would save the gripping for another day.

A Man for All Seasons
ended this coming Saturday, which would mean a busy night for everyone getting the old set out, and the new one in. However, it was a little
easier this weekend as they had three weeks’ rehearsal for
Hamlet
. The actors were given a special dispensation to have the night off, and Sunday and Monday morning too. Several of the
cast had decided to go home to family and loved ones.

Jeremy immediately rang Eddie and told him the good news.

‘Fabulous.’ Eddie was pleased. ‘I have such a plan for the weekend you will not believe your eyes. How about I come over Saturday morning and pick you up? Presumably you will
finish even earlier because you are not in
Lysistrata
, are you?’

Jeremy had not even thought of that! ‘Yes, you’re right – I will check today just to make sure. I can’t wait. Talk to you later.’

‘Oh yes, my lovely man, this is the beginning of a beautiful thing. Bye!’

The phone went dead in his hand but Jeremy held on a little longer, trying to feel Eddie through the handpiece. ‘Silly me,’ he whispered. He then set off to find Heather, and as
usual found the poor woman struggling with piles of props in her room.

‘Oh, Jeremy – perfect timing. Can you help me get these boxes off my desk, and find a space in a corner somewhere? It’s murder in here on Get-out Weekends. Would you like a
coffee? The kettle has boiled – it’s over there by the sink, and there is fresh milk in the fridge.’

Jeremy agreed to all demands and five minutes later the pair of them were sipping coffee on a relatively empty props table.

‘So how is the world treating you, my dear?’ asked Heather, who liked to keep tabs on everybody if she could. ‘I notice you have not been in the pub much lately. Are the lads
giving you a hard time still?’

‘No, thank God, they have learned to leave me alone, especially as I am the official cleaner of the boys’ dressing room in return. So we are all happy. No, it’s just because I
wasn’t in this week’s production, and you didn’t overload me with prop-finding or other such chores that I have been getting out and about a bit. There is some lovely countryside
outside Crewe.’

Jeremy took a swig of coffee before asking his question. Crossing his fingers under the table for luck he went on, ‘Heather, I don’t want to appear cheeky but as I am not in the last
performances on Saturday, and if I make sure I have done all my duties, is there a possibility I could leave lunchtime on Saturday?’

‘Cor, you are pushing your luck, mate,’ chuckled Heather. ‘However, in my great wisdom I see no reason why not. But how will you make it worth my while?’

Jeremy stood up and went and rinsed his mug in the sink, creating a moment of drama with the silence. He then turned slowly and announced, ‘You have a choice of chocolates, ciggies or
wine. Name your price, Heather Rollings.’

‘Chocolates, please – and make it a nice big box,’ she added.

‘Naturally, my dear, that is a deal.’ Jeremy blew her a kiss and practically skipped out of her office. He then went to the Green Room to call Eddie back, hoping there was no one
around while he did so. With luck, the others were all still in bed. He was in luck; the room was empty, though it smelled of last night’s stale ready meals, and Pot Noodles. But for once
Jeremy didn’t notice: he was a man on a mission. He dialled the number and waited nervously, picturing an enormous entrance hall and the butler, as described by Eddie, gliding serenely across
the marble floor to answer the telephone.

‘Crewe Hall, who is calling, please?’ The tone was perfect.

‘Oh, good morning, it is Jeremy Sinclair here. I am one of the actors at Crewe Theatre this season. I was hoping to talk to Eddie if that is possible?’

‘I am afraid he is out with His Lordship, sir. They have a shooting party this morning followed by lunch. Can I take a message?’

‘Yes, thank you. That would be great. If you could just tell Eddie I have arranged a tour of the theatre for him on Saturday, if that is convenient, and could he ring me as soon as
possible and confirm.’

‘Of course I will do so, and thank you for your call, Mr Sinclair.’

The phone went down. Well, I have done all I can, thought Jeremy. It is now in the hands of the gods. Two more days to wait – and oh, the anticipation! He made his way back upstairs to the
dressing room thinking to have a clear-up but also to look at
Hamlet
and start to accustom himself to the script. To his joy and delight he had been summoned to Giles Longfellow’s
inner sanctum a few days ago and Giles had offered him the role of Laertes. Jeremy was over the moon and said so.

‘Thank you so much, sir. I am very excited about the production and will not let you down.’

Giles looked at Jeremy from across his huge mahogany desk, which was his pride and joy, and steepled his fingers under his chin. This was his favourite pose, denoting thoughtfulness and good
nature, the all-giving master.

‘I hope not, Mr Sinclair. I hope not.’ He bestowed a smile upon his minion, and then turned to the papers on his desk. Jeremy had been dismissed.

He went back to the dressing room and did his usual clean around and collected dirty mugs. Bloody boys! He got his script and a couple of bits and pieces he would need at the weekend, then took
the mugs up to the Green Room, where he tried to call Sally at her flat. There was no answer but as Jeremy came back down, they met mid-stair.

‘Hi, darling, what are you up to this morning?’ he greeted Sally. ‘I just tried to ring you to take you for an early lunch or brunch, what do you say?’

‘Actually, that would just hit the spot, Jeremy. Thank you. Can you wait while I dump this laundry back for Janie for ironing? Dora was supposed to do it last night but she had a
visitor.’ Sally sounded fed up and weary.

‘Ooh, tell all,’ said Jeremy eagerly.

‘Wait till we are sitting down,’ said Sally and went on up to the wardrobe department with her bundle while Jeremy carried on down to the stage door to wait for her. Gladys was
ensconced in her corner with her knitting as usual.

‘Morning, young sir. How are you doing, my son? You’ve had a bit of time off this last couple of weeks. That must have been nice for you.’

‘Yes, it was lovely, Gladys, and I will be off early Saturday too. I am waiting for Sally to take her to lunch as the poor girl will be working non-stop.’

‘She’s a lovely lass, that Sally – so different from her sister. Chalk and cheese, that pair.’ She sniffed. Gladys’s sniff was infamous and could tell a thousand
tales. Jeremy was just about to ask her to illuminate, but Sally appeared at his side.

‘Ready when you are. Hi, Gladys, we are going into town: do you want anything brought back?’ asked Sally.

‘Nah, you are all right. Enjoy your lunch. See you later.’

The pair set off down the hill to the town square.

‘Where shall we go?’ asked Sally.

‘I know,’ said Jeremy, looking very pleased with himself. ‘They have opened a lovely little café just off the square. It does amazing all-day breakfasts. Follow
me.’

Once they had got sat down and Sally had ordered a ‘full English’, and Jeremy scrambled egg and smoked salmon – a real luxury – the pair attacked a pile of toast washed
down with huge mugs of tea. Jeremy let Sally settle down before he asked, ‘So what’s the trouble?’

‘Why do you think there is trouble?’ replied Sally still munching her hot buttered toast.

‘Well, you look tired and stressed, which is understandable with these schedules, but getting to act in between is usually the sweetener – and you don’t seem very sweet, my
love,’ noted Jeremy, sitting back as his food arrived.

There were a few moments’ silence while the plates were put on the table, and Sally took advantage of the time to try and get her thoughts in order.

‘When Dora came to stay with me it was partly for support, but also a way for her to discover new things she might like to do in the future if she abandons this idea of Business Studies.
She was always very keen on design and fashion, and very good at drawing and art. It was her idea to try and get a job in the wardrobe department, which she did. But now she has decided she wants
to be an actress.’ Sally took a big mouthful of bacon and sausage.

‘Well, that is OK, isn’t it?’ responded Jeremy, trying to understand. ‘You won’t be in competition. You are both very different.’

‘That may be so out in the big, wide world, but here in a small company like this, we all knew where we stood when we took the job. There were parts we would like to do, and hopefully if
we proved ourselves, those parts would follow. I know there are people in this company who will play dirty, given half a chance, to get what they want, but I just didn’t expect it from my
sister.’ Sally could feel tears pricking the back of her eyes and took another mouthful of food to distract her.

Jeremy looked shocked. ‘What are you talking about, Sally? What has happened to make you say this?’

‘Obviously you have not been around for any of this production. In fact, did you even come to the first night? Oh yes, of course you did – you wouldn’t miss hob-nobbing with
the great and the good of the repertory system in this country. Did you get any work offered to you?’ She waited for his reply.

‘No, I didn’t as a matter of fact, and I left early anyway. But come on, Sally, don’t start having a go at me again. I am in love for the first time in my life – cut me a
bit of slack.’

Sally smiled at her friend. ‘Yes, yes, OK, you are right – now is not the time. Well, on that first night it was a riot. You saw what we looked like. All that hair and see-through
costumes. I felt like a stripper, to be honest. Charmaine looked rather fetching though, because her wig was dark and she asked for a bit more coverage with the costume. So there we were, Dora and
I, in our matching strawberry-blonde wigs and diaphanous gowns, doing our thing. I was thrilled because I got a round of applause for my song, and I know I made the best of a bad job of a rather
dull character.