Page 94 of Doc Hollywood

‘When you say nice, you mean terrifying. Anyway, you’ll meet her soon as Mom has decided she’s escorting you at the premier. I hope that’s okay?’

Clara smiled as she read Taylor’s message.

‘It depends on what you’ve told your mum about me.’It still baffled her that she was talking to an actual movie star about his mum. But when she was chatting to him, he was just Taylor, nothing more than that.

‘Only good things. I promise.’

‘Great. That sounds fine. I’ll hang out with your mum. My car’s coming in five minutes. I’ll see you soon.’

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

Clara peered excitedly out the window as they drew up outside the cinema. She hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t the sight that appeared before her as they slowed at the curb.

There was a mass of people, photographers in the front, then a huge crowd with their phones out, trying to get photos of the celebrities as they arrived.

She stared out the window at the couple in front of her on the red carpet. They had just finished posing for photos and were walking in through the door. A trickle of ice ran down her spine and she frowned at the back of the man in the suit, trying to get a better look at him, but her driver blocked her view when he came around to open the door for her.

Clara stepped out of the car and froze as what felt like a thousand eyes swivelled towards her. She tried to make her legs walk, but they wouldn’t, and she frantically gazed around for someone to tell her where she needed to go.

“What’s your name, love?” One of the photographers yelled at her.

She stared at them for a long moment before some semblance of her senses returned, and she called back, “I’m the medical adviser. You don’t want pictures of me!”

She saw a couple of cameras raise to eyes after she said that, so she smiled and waved. Then she spotted a woman at the far end of the carpet holding an iPad and she strode off down the carpet, not looking either way or responding anymore to the shouts for a smile.

When she reached the door, the woman with the iPad stopped her and asked, “Name, please.”

“Clara Upford,” she replied, clearing her throat nervously.

The young woman tapped a few buttons on the iPad before she said, “Doctor Upford. You’re a popular woman. I have instructions from Mr. Atrosky and Mr. Anderson about you tonight.”

“Oh!” Clara exclaimed in surprise.

“Although you might want to hide from—“ The young woman trailed off when someone shouted Clara’s name. “Here she comes,” she muttered.

Clara swivelled to see who was calling her and saw the woman Taylor had shown her a picture of on his phone. It was his mum.

“Clara,” Taylor’s mum called again as she swept up to them, grabbing Clara and wrapping her up in an embrace before she could answer.

“Hi. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Anderson,” Clara said as politely as she could while being squashed in a hug.

“Please call me Gloria.” Taylor’s mum squeezed her one more time, then let go.

“No problem, Gloria.” Clara extracted herself from Gloria’s arms and tried to step away, but the older woman caught hold of her hand.

“Taylor asked me to look after you tonight. He said that you’ve never been to a premiere before.” Gloria began tugging her alongthrough the foyer of the theatre, easily weaving between people as they went, gushing, “Which is exciting. I still remember the first one I attended with Taylor; the movie was dreadful, and he was only on screen for three minutes, but the atmosphere was electric, so exciting. I’ve made a point to come to all his premieres. It’s been so wonderful to see what he’s achieved. And the seats I get given are much better than the first time when they shoved me right in the back in a seat that was so uncomfortable I barely managed to make it through the whole film.

“And I’m rambling. Taylor tells me I talk a lot. Anyway, tell me all about you. You’re a doctor. That’s so fabulous. It’s every parent’s dream for their child to either be a doctor or marry a doctor, so I was delighted when Taylor started to talk about you. I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but I know my son, and I see the light in his eyes when he talks about you. I know his career is pretty overwhelming, and the scrutiny can be intense. I also might be a bit biased as I’m his mom, but he’s worth it, and you should give him a chance.” Gloria stopped talking and drew breath.

Clara took the opportunity to speak. “It’s very kind of you to look after me. You’re right. I’ve never been to anything like this before, so I’m glad I get to spend the evening with you.” She ignored the things Gloria had said about Taylor, even though it made her heart beat faster when she heard Taylor spoke about her to someone who was so important to him.

“Anyway, you look stunning tonight. I hear Louisa took you shopping. That woman is a marvel; she has a fantastic eye, and if she weren’t an interior designer, she would have been a huge success as a stylist. I must ask her if she’d like to attend the Hollywood ladies club.”

“I thought it was the Hollywood mums?”

“I’ve broadened my horizons recently; it’s now anyone who needs a bit of company. Do you think you could introduce me so I can ask her?” Gloria stared at Clara expectantly.

“Oh yes. When we see her, I’ll introduce you.” Clara couldn’t work out if Taylor would be delighted or terrified if the fearsome Mr Atrosky’s wife joined his mum’s club.

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