The Boy I Love (28 page)

‘Do you know Isabelle?’ asked Sally.

‘Not really. I have met her at a couple of film things, but that’s all,’ replied Rupert. ‘She is scarily beautiful though,’ he added. Sally caught the admiration in
his voice and thought that was par for the course; two beautiful young things together. She knew where that would lead.

When the two of them arrived at Sally’s flat Dora was at the front door with Mack, bursting with excitement.

‘Hi there! I rang Janie and Peter and they are joining us, and Simon may raise himself from his pit, so we should have a good laugh.’ Dora clambered into the car leaving Mack to find
his own place in the front, as it happened. It was only as Dora settled back in the seat that the penny dropped and she recognized Rupert. For one blissful minute there was silence and then she was
off again.

‘Oh wow, hi! You are Rupert Hallam, aren’t you? I am such a fan and I think it is brilliant that you have given up your career to come here and do
Hamlet
.’

Rupert burst out laughing. ‘Hang on a minute – give up my career? I do hope that is not how the rest of the world sees it, or I am finished. I have given up nothing, if you
don’t mind. It is an honour to be doing this production, and part of my heritage as an actor.’

Dora had the good grace to apologize profusely, and then shut up, as indicated to her by Sally making a zipping gesture across her mouth. The rest of the journey passed in relative silence,
apart from Mack asking the driver various questions about local sights. The pub was on the edge of town so was nearly like a country pub. It served good wholesome dishes like shepherd’s pie
or Sunday roast with all the trimmings, and it was cheap. The gang were just in time to order food, and while they were doing that, Rupert went and bought everyone drinks, plus a couple of bottles
of wine for later.

Sally joined him to help carry the drinks to the table. ‘Nothing like bribery to get the cast on your side,’ she quipped.

‘Oh now, come on, Sally, don’t have a go at me. I am trying my best to get off on the right foot, that is all.’

Rupert paid the bill and followed Sally back to the others. Janie and Peter were there already and had commandeered a table. Introductions were made and everyone got down to serious drinking. It
turned out to be a lovely afternoon. Actors very rarely have trouble making friends. In fact, they tend to love everyone instantly, and it is only later that they see the cracks and start bitching.
Rupert was very good company, Sally noticed. The aloofness she had seen at the beginning of the day had gone completely, and in its place was a joky, open young man enjoying the company, and loving
the limelight – which was inevitable, thought Sally as she watched Dora hanging on his every word and flirting outrageously. Even Janie was doing her best to get his attention with all her
talk of costumes and fittings.

‘One of the perks of my job,’ she piped up. ‘Measuring the inside leg of handsome young actors.’

Peter pretended mock horror and everyone laughed. ‘No leg could match up to that of your beloved boyfriend, Janie, my dear,’ he leered, and he gave her a squeeze.

Simon arrived just as last orders were being called and found himself getting a round. Dora offered to go halves with him but he refused. Sally’s sharp eyes picked up a look between them
and suspected that things were not very happy. Sally had spent quite a good deal of the lunchtime observing everyone. She loved people-watching and would always try and sit in a corner if she
could. She had inevitably found herself comparing Mack and Rupert. Both were good-looking, confident men, yet so different. Mack was impressive just by his physical presence. He was by far the
tallest of the bunch, and seemed like a gentle giant. His hair was thick and long and very shiny, and when he laughed he revealed strong white teeth. He was a very attractive man and not at all
cowed by a load of actors wittering on about themselves. On the contrary, he seemed to really enjoy their anecdotes and stories, and even added a few of his own. Sally wondered if she was being
foolish not getting to know him better. He had come all the way to visit her, after all.

By comparison, Rupert was very much the face of the moment. He seemed much slighter than he appeared on the television screen. He was not quite as tall as Mack, but still about five foot eleven.
He had a perfectly chiselled jaw, and his mouth and lips were perfect – almost like a girl’s. His face was saved from being too pretty by an aquiline nose and high cheekbones, and those
deep, penetrating dark eyes. He had the long floppy hair of an actor which he constantly kept flipping back out of his eyes. For all his good looks Rupert was definitely one of the lads, and seemed
immune to Dora’s attempts at flirting. Just as well, thought Sally, noticing Simon getting grumpy in the corner. Even Mack tried a couple of times to attract Dora’s attention, to no
avail.

As soon as they were thrown out of the pub Dora invited everyone back to the flat.

‘But we have work to do and washing to sort, so let’s leave it for now,’ said Sally.

‘Sis, what have I told you about being a party-pooper. We have got to finish Rupert’s lovely wine he bought and the football will be on soon so the boys can put their feet up and
watch telly just like being at home.’

This brought a roar of approval from the male contingency and Sally knew she was defeated. The afternoon passed very quickly, with lots of cheering and rowdy jokes. Janie managed to drag Peter
away at five, and Rupert called a cab.

‘Mustn’t mess up my first day with a hangover,’ he grinned to Sally at the front door. ‘Thanks so much for today, Sally. I feel as if we have known each other for ever.
Promise you will keep an eye on me? I sometimes find it hard to stay focused and then I fuck up.’ For a moment he looked very serious.

‘We won’t let you fuck up, don’t worry,’ she promised. ‘I will be your shadow, never fear.’ She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and Rupert
responded by giving her a big hug.

‘Thanks again, Sally.’ And he was gone.

‘Well, aren’t you the dark horse, getting a snog in so soon.’ Dora was standing behind her in the hallway.

‘Don’t be stupid,’ Sally sighed. ‘Let’s just get an early night, shall we, as it is a busy day tomorrow.’

‘Oh yes, miss, whatever you say, miss. Actually, Mack and I might go out for a drink later, seeing as how you have ignored him most of the weekend, and he goes back to Cheltenham
tomorrow.’ The girl turned and flounced off into the sitting room.

Sally suddenly felt very tired and decided enough was enough. She went into the sitting room and started to clear away. Simon was asleep on the floor and Mack was dozing on the sofa.

‘Where’s Dora gone now?’ asked Sally, working her way round the room. ‘We need to tidy up and send people to their homes . . . Simon!’ She gave him a nudge in the
ribs which produced a groan of protest.

‘Time to go home, Simon. Come on, please.’

Dora appeared at her bedroom door. ‘Actually I am knackered now. Do you mind if I just have a quick nap before we go out, Mack?’

Mack stood up and then realized there was nowhere to go.

‘Sure thing, whatever,’ he said. ‘If Sally doesn’t mind me watching TV, and taking up space in her sitting room tonight.’ He turned to her, looking like a lost
dog.

‘Of course I don’t mind, Mack, you are our guest. Though God knows we have hardly been the most attentive hosts, have we?’ she said loudly enough for her sister to hear.

Simon had dragged himself to his feet and was looking for his shoes. When he had finally left, and there was silence from Dora’s bedroom as she took a nap, Mack sat back and fixed Sally
with his big brown eyes. He had a way of looking at one very directly; his gaze was like his camera lens, thought Sally.

There was a long pause and Mack seemed to be gathering his thoughts together. Finally he said, ‘Are you pleased to see me? It is just that I feel I am intruding on your life somehow. Dora
made me think it is what you would have wanted. She can be very persuasive at times.’ He smiled shyly. ‘We have had a couple of nights out together since you left, and to be honest I am
not sure that was such a good idea.’ He hesitated.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Sally with a growing sense of foreboding. ‘When you say you went out together, do you mean as friends or . . . something more?’

‘That’s just it, Sally. You see, she invited me to come and stay here when we were out one night in Cheltenham, and I think I misunderstood the situation – and now I
don’t know how to extricate myself without embarrassment all round. Shit, I feel such a fool.’ Mack ran his fingers through his hair with frustration.

‘I am sorry, Mack, but I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Are you and Dora an item?’ Sally nearly choked on the word. Surely this could not be happening? Had Dora
managed yet again to crash through her life and create chaos? Could Mack be such a bastard, able to replace one sister with another? Sally wanted to get up and rush out but Mack seemed to read her
thoughts and placed his hand on her arm.

‘No, Sally. I thought Dora was trying to help. I have wanted to contact you so many times over the last few weeks but I just couldn’t pluck up the courage. I know how much this job
means to you and I didn’t want to get in the way. But to be honest I can’t stop thinking about you and our date together. I thought you and Dora had devised this plan between you so we
could meet up again, but the way Dora has been behaving I think she thinks I fancy
her
. I am sorry if that sounds arrogant or offensive but it is not at all what I intended. I just wanted to
see
you
again, Sally.’ Mack seemed to run out of steam then and sat back looking wretched.

Sally’s heart took a huge leap and wiped out any fatigue she had been feeling.

‘Oh Mack, I
am
pleased to see you – you have no idea. I am sorry I have been so grumpy and dull, but I really have had a hell of a time, and I apologize for not ringing you.
But as you have so rightly understood I am trying hard to get to grips with this job and my career. I have so many mixed feelings about it all now, and no one to talk to about it all.’

Mack suddenly got up, came round and took Sally in his arms. He then kissed her with such ferocity she was completely taken aback, and when he stopped she practically dropped into her seat
again.

‘What happens now?’ asked Mack slightly breathlessly.

Sally looked up at him and felt a surge of excitement. She wanted to drag him into her bed right now – but the thought of her sister in the other room was not conducive to her sense of
romance.
Dora
. She could not bring herself to think about what her sister had had in mind. Certainly nothing as unselfish as helping Sally find love. But these thoughts were for another
time. She stood up and gave Mack a hug.

‘Much as I would like to seal our pact, I really don’t think now is the right moment, Mack. Can we arrange for you to come up to stay another time, and maybe we could go and spend a
night somewhere away from Crewe. Away from Dora,’ she added.

Mack looked disappointed but he answered with a smile in his voice, ‘I will wait for as long as it takes, Miss Thomas. Meanwhile, I will dream of you tonight and of things to
come.’

They took their time saying good night. Sally loved kissing Mack – he was so good at it! Finally he drew back breathless and shaking slightly with desire.

‘That’s enough, Sally. I can’t take any more. It is torture not being able to make love to you. I want you so badly. Are you sure I can’t change your mind?’ He
moved towards her and Sally put out her arms to stop him.

‘No – please, Mack. I want us to be alone and private. That will not be the case when Dora wakes up, believe me.’

‘OK, I concede defeat but if you don’t mind I will go now and get the late train back to Cheltenham. It will give me time to cool off and have a good think.’

They shared one last lingering kiss and then he was gone. Sally ran a bath; she lit lots of candles and soaked in the soothing water until she was prune-like. Not a good look, she smiled to
herself, and stepped out into her towel. She was so tired she just lay down on top of her bed and fell fast asleep. She woke later and crawled under the covers, going straight back to the Land of
Nod, dreaming that Mack was in bed beside her, wrapped in her arms . . .

‘Good morning, everyone. May I take this opportunity to extend a special welcome to our two newcomers, Rupert Hallam and Isabelle James.’ Giles Longfellow paused
long enough for the cast to recognize their new stars, and sensing that there was not going to be a round of applause forthcoming, started one himself.

He then continued, ‘It is no secret that this production of
Hamlet
is my pet project, and one I have dreamed of creating for a long time. But I also hope that you, the cast and
crew, will become as enthused as I am and realize the importance of the production’s success. Not just for me or you, but for the future of Crewe Theatre. You see, I want this theatre to be
firmly on the map as an important contributor to the arts in the UK. I am hoping to take this production to the West End eventually, and with luck, it will be the start of many such transfers and
collaborations with different producers. Thanks to Lord Graham and his enormous generosity, we have been able to get the ball rolling with
Hamlet
– and may this be just the beginning
of a new golden age for this theatre.’