The Blackwell Lessons (4 page)

9

We leave the limo and walk through London in the spring sunshine.

The city workers wear pastel clothing and gold accessories, while trees hold pink blossom over them.

Marc and I get a few stares, but mainly everyone is too busy with their own lives to pay us much attention. That’s the good thing about cities, I suppose. It’s easy to be anonymous.

We arrive at a high-class department store built into an old theatre, with gold scroll letters painted on the windows. It has designer handbags  and is the sort of place I’d never look twice at. But with Marc, I’m in a whole new world.

Inside the store, we’re ushered to a private lift.

I hear an announcement that the second floor will be temporarily closed and feel myself smile.

‘Was that announcement something to do with you?’

‘Of course,’ says Marc. ‘At the wedding you said you wanted things to be private. So they’ll be private.’

‘Thank you.’ I squeeze his fingers.

The elevator doors open onto soft, cream carpet and I see paper storks, clouds and rainbows hanging from the store ceiling.

‘The baby section,’ says Marc, helping me out of the elevator. ‘In case you hadn’t guessed by the storks.’

‘I’ve never seen so many beautiful things in one place,’ I breathe, walking past rails of bright baby clothes and shelves of wooden toys. ‘Marc, you’re right. You’re so right. Focus on happiness. The idea of having a baby – it makes me happy. And if I’m not pregnant already, well … let’s get pregnant soon.’

I feel myself inwardly squeal as I see baby outfits, prams, cots, toys and gadgets.

‘Happy?’ Marc asks.

‘Very. Oh! Look at these.’ I pull Marc to a rail of Babygros with London buses on them. ‘Aren’t they adorable?’ I hold one up, feeling soft cotton under my fingertips. ‘So tiny! Marc – do you think our first baby will be a boy or a girl?’

‘A boy,’ says Marc, without any hesitation.

‘What makes you so sure?’

‘You could call it a family tradition. Blackwells always have boys as their first born. As far back as anyone can remember.’

‘Well I think we should play it safe and get clothes that could suit a boy or a girl. Don’t you?’

‘Sophia, buy whatever makes you happy. That’s the whole purpose of this trip.’

‘Oh look how adorable this little pirate outfit is!’ I drag Marc over to another rail.

‘A little big for a newborn, don’t you think?’ says Marc, his lips twitching into a smile.

‘I was thinking for Sammy.’

‘Ever the thoughtful big sister. Does Sammy like pirates?’

‘Well he likes making oo arg noises.’

Marc laughs. ‘Let me hear that noise again.’

I blush. ‘Oo arg,’ I say quietly.

‘You’d make a lovely pirate.’

I try to glare at him but I don’t quite manage it.

Marc unhooks the pirate outfit and puts it in a wicker basket. ‘One pirate outfit for Sammy. What else?’

I take down the tiniest London bus Babygro. The one labelled
new born
.

‘I wish my mum was alive to see our baby,’ I say, stroking the cotton.

‘She’ll see,’ says Marc. ‘Because she’s watching over you.’

‘Is that how you feel about your mother? That she’s watching over you?’

‘At times like this I do. And on our wedding day.’

10

We look at cots, mobiles and toys. And I end up choosing half the store.

‘You’re getting better at shopping, Mrs Blackwell,’ Marc remarks.

‘It’s so much easier when it’s not for myself.’

Marc suggests we get double of everything so we can stock up both the townhouse and the farmhouse.

I try to protest, but he won’t hear of it.

‘Trust me Sophia. If you want to visit Jen in the city, you’ll be glad of a well-stocked place to stay.’

‘I suppose you’re right. It just seems so extravagant. And expensive. I might not even be pregnant—’

‘This is about your happiness. Nothing is too expensive where you’re concerned. Remember that.’

As we leave the store, my mobile phone rings.

I frown at the number.

‘Who is it?’ Marc asks.

‘Leo,’ I say, stopping at the store entrance. ‘Strange. He never calls me. I hope everything is okay.’

I put the phone to my ear. ‘Hey Leo.’

‘Sophia!’ Leo’s Texan accent is warm as ever. ‘I have GREAT news. Grr-eat!’

‘You should do Tony the Tiger on the Frosties adverts.’

‘I’ll talk to my agent about that.’

‘So why are you calling?’

‘Do I have some good news for you, little Miss Sophia Rose.’

‘Sophia Blackwell now.’

‘You’re not keeping your old name? What about for acting roles?’

‘No, I’ll be Mrs Blackwell all the way.’

Beside me, Marc growls, ‘Your choice of surname is none of his business.’

‘We’re only joking around,’ I tell Marc.

‘Tell him to joke with someone else.’

‘I didn’t have you down as someone so old-fashioned,’ says Leo. ‘Don’t tell me you’re going to stay home from now on, ironing Marc Blackwell’s shirts.’

I laugh. ‘I
like
being at home.’

I sense Marc getting even more annoyed and lower my voice. ‘So what is this great news?’

‘Get a load of this. Nadia Malbeck is shooting a new movie – kind of like a twisted version of Rapunzel. She already cast me as the lead. But she’s been struggling to find a leading lady. Anyway – Nadia saw us together on stage and she wants you to try out for it.’

‘Oh my GOD! Nadia
Malbeck
?’

‘Yep. Her new movie. What do you say?’

I don’t even need to think about my answer.

‘Yes! Of course!’

Nadia Malbeck is one of my all-time favourite directors. Her movies are usually dark fairy tales, with elaborate sets and costumes. Kind of gothic and dark and beautiful. She gets amazing performances out of her actors too. Amazing Oscar-winning performances. In fact, Marc won an Oscar in one of her movies.

‘Marc, you’ll never guess what—’

‘Sophia, I hope you’re not agreeing to anything too strenuous,’ says Marc. ‘In light of our doctor’s appointment this morning.’

I lower the phone. ‘Nadia Malbeck has asked me to try out for her latest movie.’

‘Sophia—’

‘I know. I know everything you’re going to say. But you know what you said earlier? About our mothers watching over us? My mother would love me to do this. She always used to say,
Fortuna i forti aiuta e i timidi rifuta
. Fortune favours the brave. She was so excited by life, Marc. She lived it to the full. And she always told me to do the same.’

Marc sighs. ‘Okay fine. I’ll support you. If it’s what you truly want.’

I put the phone back to my ear.

‘Sophia?’ Leo asks. ‘Are you there?’

‘I’m still here. And it’s still a yes.’

I hear Leo whoop down the phone. ‘I’ll call Nadia right now,’ he tells me. ‘She’s going to want to meet you soon. Hey Jen! She’s gonna do it!’

I hear Jen’s voice in the background. ‘That’s not news to me. She loves Nadia Malbeck.’

Marc pulls me to him and kisses the top of my head. ‘Oh Sophia, Sophia. What am I going to do with you?’

‘You’re going to support me,’ I tell him. ‘Like you said you would. So you may as well skip the overprotective speech and just be there for me.’

‘Of course I’ll support you. But you’re right – I did have an overprotective speech planned. About your health and taking care of your body. If you’re pregnant—’

‘Pregnant women still go to work,’ I say. ‘And I’m no different from anyone else. Just because my work happens to be acting.’

‘How long is the filming schedule?’

‘I don’t know. I haven’t even got the part yet—’

‘You’ll need to tell Nadia that you could be pregnant. It will make a difference.’

‘Nadia?’ I grin. ‘Of course. You’re on first name terms with her, aren’t you?’

‘We’ve been friends for many years. I was in her very first movie.’

‘Really? Which one was that?’

‘
The Windmills of Your Mind
.’

‘She directed that movie?’

‘Yes she did. And wrote it. Her style was a little more mainstream then. But as time went on, she got braver and bolder.’

‘It was a great movie.’

‘She still had the emotional touch. Even at the start of her career.’

‘So you keep in contact with her?’

‘Sometimes we have lunch when she’s in London. And my agent keeps me up to date with her movies. I knew she had something in the pipeline.’

‘Do you think that’s why she asked for me?’ I say. ‘Because I’m connected with you?’

‘No. I think she asked for you because she’s seen
Beauty and the Beast
. And much as it pains me to admit it, you and Leo work well together. You have good chemistry. She’s looking for you as a pair, am I right?’

‘Yes.’

‘Would you like me to call Nadia – explain that you might be pregnant?’

‘She doesn’t even know I’ve agreed to the screen test yet.’

‘Then I can tell her.’

I feel myself grinning again. ‘I like you being supportive. It works much better than you telling me how to live my life. Don’t you think?’

‘I think there’s still plenty of scope for telling you how to live your life. But on this occasion I realise the wisdom of letting you make your own choices. And for the record, if you want me to be supportive in future just mention your mother. And I’ll be putty in your hands.’

I put my arms around his neck. ‘I’ll have to remember that.’

‘Now Mrs Blackwell,’ Marc whispers. ‘Where to? Back to the townhouse or home to the farm?’

‘I’m liking being in London right now,’ I say. ‘Maybe we could stay at the townhouse for a few days. And if I’m doing a screen test, I guess I need to be in the city.’

‘Okay. Let me call Nadia.’

‘Wait.’ I feel nerves dance around my stomach. ‘Marc, what if I
am
pregnant? And she says she doesn’t want to test a pregnant actress?’

Marc frowns. ‘That’s a chance you’ll have to take. You have to be honest with Nadia. If you’re pregnant, it will make a big difference to how they shoot the movie. Timings and so on.’

‘Yes but—’

‘Look, I’m calling her. Let’s get this over and done with.’ Marc puts his phone to his ear. ‘Nadia?’

I hear a tinny, ‘
Marc
!’ down the line.

‘Yes,’ Marc replies. ‘So you’re back in London. Yes. You’re right. She’s Sophia Blackwell now. As of yesterday. And I understand you’d like my wife to test for your new movie. She’d like to go ahead, but there’s just one thing. No, I don’t need to act as chaperone. But Sophia might be pregnant.’

I hear Nadia shriek down the phone.

‘Yes of course,’ Marc replies. ‘Completely understandable. I’ll tell her. Goodbye Nadia. Take care.’

‘Well?’ I grip Marc’s arm. ‘What did she say?’

‘She’d like to meet for lunch. So she can meet my new wife.’

‘And what about the movie?’

‘She’d still like you to test. Even if you’re pregnant right now, she can move the filming schedule around so all the full-body shots are done early on. And any face close-ups can be filmed later.’

‘Oh
wow
!’ I feel excitement bubble in my stomach.

‘There was something else she wanted to discuss. But she wouldn’t say over the phone. We’re having lunch next Friday – she’ll talk about it then.’

‘What kind of something?’

‘Something to do with the movie. She wouldn’t say any more. Nadia likes to keep people guessing.’

11

All week, I think about meeting Nadia Malbeck. Will she like me? Will she change her mind about testing me for her movie? And what is this thing she wants to
discuss
?

By the Friday of our lunch date, I’m a nervous wreck.

Marc watches in amusement as I cause havoc in the townhouse’s walk-in wardrobe, trying on outfit after outfit.

‘If you’d have told me yesterday you were so nervous, I would have taken you shopping for clothes.’

‘You’ve already bought me tons of new clothes,’ I say. ‘The problem isn’t the clothes. It’s that I can’t make a decision.’

‘You look stunning in everything you’ve tried on so far.’ Marc sits on a leather chair by the walk-in wardrobe, chin resting on his fingers.

‘Some help you are.’ I smile.

‘You already know I have a blind spot for clothes,’ says Marc. ‘I notice you. Not what you’re wearing. Why don’t you invite Jen over? I’m sure she’ll be a much better help than me. And I should talk to her anyway. About PR and your potential new movie.’

I feel a shimmer of excitement.

My new movie.

It’s unbelievable to think I’ve been asked to test for a
Nadia Malbeck
picture.

I’m still getting my head around it. A part of me thinks something has to go wrong. Something so amazing can’t really be happening.

But then again, I did marry Marc. And I am now Mrs Marc Blackwell. So dreams really can come true.

‘I wish I knew what Nadia wanted to talk about at lunch,’ I say. ‘It’s making me even more nervous, the not knowing. What if it’s something that means I can’t test for the movie?’

‘Do you want this role?’ Marc asks, suddenly serious.

‘Of course I do.’

‘Then fight for it.’

Half an hour later, Jen arrives looking shiny and perfect.

Her long blonde hair has been cut into a neat, straight fringe and she’s wearing a fitted shift dress in peach silk.

I meet her at the door and she kisses me on both cheeks.

‘Babes! What’s the emergency?’

‘My wardrobe,’ I say, leading her upstairs.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me. These days you have the best wardrobe of anyone I know.’

‘I know, I know. I’m so lucky. But I’m still having a meltdown. I’m so nervous about this lunch today and I just
cannot
decide.’

‘Whoa, wait a minute. Slow down.
What
lunch?’

‘I told you last week. The
Nadia Malbeck
lunch,’ I say. ‘Marc and I are meeting her, and there’s something she wants to discuss. And—’

‘Sophia. You need to calm down. There’s nothing to be nervous about. As soon as she meets you she’ll love you.’

‘But she
hasn’t
met me yet and—’

‘She’s seen
Beauty and the Beast
, right?’

‘I think so.’

‘Well that’s what Leo told me. He said Nadia saw you both on stage and thought you’d be perfect for Rapunzel. So it’s in the bag.’

We reach the bedroom, and Marc stands to greet Jen.

‘No, don’t get up,’ says Jen. ‘It’s fine. Honestly.’

‘You’re a guest in this house. I’m not going to stay seated.’ Marc kisses Jen on both cheeks. ‘Sophia is having something of a crisis.’ A little smile plays on his lips. ‘I’m failing to help her get things into perspective. So we thought perhaps you’d have better luck.’

Jen winks at me. ‘Men never understand
real
emergencies do they? It’s lucky I came.’