The Boy I Love (26 page)

‘Are you OK?’ murmured Eddie, gently releasing his arm from underneath Jeremy’s back. ‘Ooh, ouch! Sorry, but my arm has gone to sleep.’ He giggled
and sat up. ‘We had better make a move, hadn’t we, J? Someone is bound to be down soon.’ He reluctantly stood up and started to sort out his pile of clothing.

‘Shit – yes, you’re right. What am I thinking, lying here like an idiot.’ Jeremy pulled himself up to a sitting position and rubbed his face. He sighed, ‘Oh my God,
Eddie, I am in such a daze I can hardly function. Help me!’ He looked up at Eddie standing on the edge of the blue circle of light coming from the stage, and put out his hand. He
couldn’t see Eddie’s face and he felt a momentary slither of panic down his back. It was gone in a moment, as Eddie pulled him to his feet and planted a big smacker on his lips.

‘Stop it, you! We must get out of here quickly.’ Jeremy pulled on the rest of his clothes just as a voice boomed out from the lighting gallery.

‘Who’s there? That you, Eric?’

Jeremy recognized the voice of the Will Black, the head carpenter.

‘No, sorry, Will – it’s me, Jeremy. I lost the bloody switch. I am such an idiot – I was showing my friend round and couldn’t find the switch for the working
lights, but it is done now though.’ He had managed to get to the back of the stage by this time and find the switch.

‘Everything OK with you, mate?’

Jeremy searched the darkness above them and then heard Will coming down the ladder at the side. He quickly improvised for Eddie. ‘See, Eddie, this is where all the hard work is done. Will
Black is the man who makes it all happen up there in the gods. Will, may I introduce Eddie Graham. He is a friend who wanted to see how everything works backstage.’

Will Black shook Eddie’s hand and slapped Jeremy on the back, saying, ‘Bloody actors are useless! Still, you do all right, matey. Nice to meet you, Eddie. Now if you will excuse me,
lads, I need to get on.’ He strolled off across the stage like a huge bear.

‘God, he is enormous,’ whispered Eddie. ‘Wouldn’t want to bump into him on a dark night.’

‘Come on, you,’ said Jeremy. ‘Let’s get out of here, for goodness sake.’

They arrived at the stage door to find Gladys happily sat with her knitting and a huge mug of tea.

‘Right, we will be off now then, Gladys,’ announced Jeremy.

‘It was very interesting seeing everything onstage,’ added Eddie. ‘Thank you for giving me a tour, Jeremy.’

‘Well, you have a nice weekend, won’t you,’ said Gladys. ‘Going somewhere nice, are you, boys?’

Jeremy gave her a second look to see if she was suggesting something else, but her face was inscrutable.

‘Oh, just a trip to Manchester. Eddie is returning the favour by giving me a tour of the city.’

‘Lovely, dears. Well, see you later – and be good.’ The big woman could not resist a huge wink which made Jeremy wince with embarrassment.

‘Thanks,’ he stammered. ‘Yes – right. Come on then, Eddie, let’s go!’

Once they got down the road they burst into a fit of giggles.

‘She is a witch, I swear it,’ chuckled Jeremy. ‘Will she tell everyone, do you think?’

‘Oh, who cares. We are not doing anything wrong, are we? Come on, let’s get this weekend started.’ Eddie grabbed Jeremy’s hand and pulled him up the street warbling a
rendition of Doris Day singing ‘Once I Had a Secret Love’.

Sally yawned and stretched, then sighed. She could hear Dora banging about in the kitchen making coffee. God, I would love a cup, thought Sally, but that means facing my
sister. It is too early for discussions of any sort, let alone family confrontations. Although as she lay here, this morning, Sally wondered if there was any point in bringing up the whole thing
again. It was a fait accompli as far as Dora was concerned. Would it not be better if Sally just got on with her own life? And if that meant being less than open with her sister, so be it. She
thought about home, and her parents, and how trusting and loving her childhood had been; Dora’s too, for that matter. When had things changed? Why did they change? Sally loved her sister and
would always love her, of course, but now there was a beat missing somehow, and she wasn’t sure she could find her way back to how it was before. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on
the door and Dora’s head appeared.

‘Fancy a coffee?’ she said, and came into the room with coffee and toast.

‘Wow, what a treat, Dora! Thank you. To what do I owe this attention?’ asked Sally, sitting up in bed.

Dora looked contrite. ‘I have behaved badly, I know, sis, but I honestly didn’t mean to cause you grief. I just didn’t think as usual, I suppose.’

‘No, you did not, and yes, it has upset me quite a lot, as a matter of fact. But I have decided to leave things be, because to be honest, Dora, there is too much going on in my life at the
moment and I don’t want to fall out with you on top of everything else. But please do try and think about other people’s feelings and remember that you are here because of
me.’

‘I know, you are right and I will try harder – but please understand, Sally, I am serious about wanting to try a career as an actress, and hopefully that will not mean we are in
competition.’

Sally caught a look in Dora’s eye. What was it, a challenge?

‘What are you doing today – apart from two shows, I mean?’ asked Sally. ‘Only I was wondering if we should try and set up a rehearsal for my Dumb Show asap, and I have
just remembered that Rupert and Isabelle arrive some time this weekend.’

Dora looked at her blankly. ‘Who?’

‘Our stars! How could you forget? I think Giles wanted me to greet them and make sure they are OK. Mind you, I have got enough to do as usual with two shows, plus the get out, and
preparing for the big “meet and greet” on Monday morning. Can you help me at all, do you think?’ Sally gave her sister her best pleading look.

‘Oh well, I suppose so, but Simon has organized for us all to go to Manchester tonight to a club, and I have invited Mack up for the night – thought it would be a nice surprise for
you, actually.’

‘Mack? As in Mack McKinney – Muriel’s Mack?’ Sally was stunned by this news. ‘Whatever brought this on?’ she pressed. ‘And what has Mack to do with
me?’

‘Oh come on, Sally, don’t pretend you didn’t fancy him when you were there in the summer. I suggested he might like to come up and visit one day and he seemed really chuffed to
be asked.’ Dora disappeared into the other room, leaving Sally to gather up her thoughts.

Mack here? She had to admit the idea was not unattractive to her, but she couldn’t quite work out how Dora was involved in all this. She followed her sister into the kitchen.

‘Did you see Mack then, when I had gone?’ she asked. ‘I didn’t know you knew him that well.’

‘No, I don’t know him that well, but Muriel told me you had got on well, and I thought as you have been a bit tense the last couple of weeks, it might do you good to see someone from
home. Simon was organizing this club thing and it occurred to me that you might like someone to go with. Oh for goodness sake, Sally, it is no big deal, just a bit of fun.’

‘Keep me happy and out of your way, you mean?’ snapped Sally, suddenly feeling very manipulated again. ‘I really do not need you to organize my life, Dora. Please
stop!’

‘Fine,’ returned Dora. ‘You are such a drama queen, Sally. It doesn’t matter. You stay here and practise your little Dumb Show while the rest of us have a life. Blimey,
even Jeremy has gone away this weekend – and good on him.’

Sally was suddenly reminded that indeed she really was on her own this weekend, as Jeremy was away finding true love. So there you go, Sally! Miss Goody Two Shoes again trying to do the right
thing. Well, sod it! She would at least have a heads-up before Monday on what to expect from the new ‘stars’. Avoiding any more conversation with Dora, she got dressed and made her way
to the theatre, just stopping at the corner shop for milk and biscuits and a bottle of wine for later. Come midnight they would be gagging for a drink.

As she was crossing the square she saw Peggy struggling with her weekend shopping and went to relieve her.

‘Oh bless you, darling,’ Peggy huffed and puffed. ‘Bloody shopping always does my head in on a Saturday, but if I don’t do it now there will be nothing for Sunday lunch,
and His Lordship would be very cross indeed. Come on, let’s have a coffee and a bun before we shut ourselves away for the rest of the day.’

Sally followed Peggy across to the tearoom round the back of the Memorial.

‘You are so right, Peggy,’ she said, putting the bags on the floor and plonking herself down at a corner table. ‘There is something about Saturdays that is really depressing,
because everybody else seems to be getting ready for a night out, and they are out and about shopping, and having fun, and the likes of you and me are preparing to hide away in the dark until ten
thirty tonight doing two shows. I mean, don’t get me wrong – I love performing – but sometimes it would be lovely to have a normal weekend, wouldn’t it?’

Peggy chuckled. ‘There is nothing normal about this game, dearie. Now what are you going to have?’

Once they had ordered coffee and two Eccles cakes, Peggy had a confession to make.

‘I suppose you have noticed that young Sarah has been hanging about round Percy, haven’t you?’ she said.

Sally answered carefully, ‘Well yes, she does seem to be overly attentive, but I suppose that is normal in younger actresses. She is probably learning a good deal from Percy.’

Peggy snorted. ‘She is taking the silly old fool for a ride, and I am getting fed up with it. Listen, Sally, I have had to deal with this all my life with His Lordship. Always young women,
and that is why I even tried to put a stop to it by spreading rumours that he liked the boys! But it never worked. Normally I turn a blind eye, but this one just won’t give up, and I think
that Percy must be going through a midlife crisis because he is besotted. I have to admit it is getting to me, Sally, and I don’t know what to do.’ Peggy sniffed and held her paper
serviette to her nose.

Sally wanted to reach across the table and give the woman a big hug. Instead she said gently, ‘Oh now, Peggy, I think you are getting your knickers in a twist for nothing. I know she is
pushy, that Sarah, but Percy is not a fool. He knows the score.’

‘Well, you would think so, wouldn’t you, dearie? But there is no fool like an old fool.’ Peggy popped the last morsel of her Eccles cake in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
‘What can I do?’ she whispered.

Sally was suddenly very angry with all these girls making waves. Well, two girls – Sarah and Dora as it happened.

‘Do you want me to have a word?’ she suggested. ‘I am very happy to warn her off – and maybe we can turn her attention elsewhere. Who else can help her career? What about
Robert?’

‘Huh! He is another one who spends all his time playing games,’ said Peggy. ‘He’s not to be trusted at all, dearie.’

Sally thought about Jeremy and his little secret and made a mental note to warn him to be careful.

‘OK then,’ she said aloud. ‘I will deal with this, Peggy, and don’t you worry – we will get Miss Sarah Kelly to see sense.’

When Sally got to the theatre she was accosted by Heather, who was going mad trying to find one of the blonde wigs which had gone missing.

‘If those boys have had it away as a joke I will kill the little sods.’ She shook a finger at Sally. ‘Do you know anything about this?’

‘No, you daft thing,’ laughed Sally. ‘Give me a break, Heather, I have got enough on my plate. Do you know where Giles is, by any chance?’

‘Yes, he is in his office – but he is with Lord Graham, so watch out . . .’

Sally made her way to the front of house and up the stairs to the Royal Circle where Giles’s office was situated. She knocked on the door and waited. After a few moments Giles himself
opened the door. He seemed less than pleased to see her.

‘Yes?’ he barked. ‘I am very busy, so if it isn’t important can it wait until later?’

Sally heard the sound of someone clearing their throat and a waft of cigar smoke curled round the door.

‘No, it is fine, I will come back later but I do need instructions about the arrival of Rupert and Isabelle.’ She turned and went away feeling very miffed. What on earth was the
matter with everyone? They all seemed to have agendas that had nothing to do with getting the show on the road. She decided to seek out Sarah and give her a job to do. It might not ultimately help
keep her away from Percy, but it would make Sally feel better! She found the young lady in the Green Room making coffee. Sally noted there were two mugs.

‘Hi, Sarah, are you busy?’ she asked.

Sarah stirred the coffee and smiled sweetly. ‘I was just going to take this to Percy, as a matter of fact.’

‘OK then, when you have done that, can you go down to the stage and help Heather find a lost wig? She is going mad.’

‘Actually, I know where the wig is,’ answered Sarah. ‘I caught Simon wearing it after the show last night, so I took it off him and kept it in my dressing room.’

Sally was rather nonplussed. ‘Oh right, good. Well, can you take it to Heather and then see if Janie needs help to start putting costumes in skips?’