Page 47 of Benidorm Again

I’ve been played like a fiddle.

‘You mean…’

Dolly nods.

I’m speechless.

She doesn’t wait for me to answer. She helps me put on the finale costume and says simply, ‘Leave him to me.’

‘Thank you. I really appreciate it. I’d rather not have to speak to him,’ I say finally, my fingers going to the locket round my neck. It comforts me to know I have my mother near me. Dolly’s eyes are immediately drawn to it.

‘Where did you get that?’

I hold it out, the delicate chain tugging at my neck. ‘Luke gave it to me. How can someone be so despicable on the one hand and yet be so thoughtful on the other?’

Dolly tuts. ‘That’s because he isn’t. The Maestro gave me the locket and I had it made up for you as a surprise. We were all going to give it to you on the last night.’ She shakes her head, sighing.

‘He made out it was from him.’

‘I bet he did. Typical. Well, I hope you like it.’

‘I love it, Dolly. I love it so much. Thank you,’ I gush, giving her a hug. She hugs me briefly back before her face hardens. ‘I’ll leave you to finish off. I have some unfinished business to attend to.’

Minutes later, the grand finale is a huge flop. I couldn’t summon up an ounce of enthusiasm and nor could Luke. We avoided eye contact. I refused to go anywhere near him. When he reached for my hand to take the final bow, I ignored it and left him hanging.

I’m also quite certain that my face was fused into an angry expression throughout the entire performance.

The only people overjoyed at me and Luke giving the worst performance of all time, were the three lead chorus girls. Once we were off stage, they pounced all over him. I watched them drag him off to his changing room and file in after him, slamming the door shut behind them.

Dolly came up behind me. ‘You won’t get any more bother out of him.’

I woke up super early this morning following another restless night. There’s only one thing on my mind. I ring Matteo. I really need to hear his voice. He picks up within a few rings.

‘I’m really sorry to wake you,’ I say. ‘But I just needed to ask you something.’

‘I wasn’t asleep. We’re still up working. It’s great to hear from you,’ he says, sounding pleased. There’s music playing in the background. ‘Let me just step outside a moment.’

I hear muffled sounds before he comes back to the phone. ‘Is anything wrong?’

‘No. I’m fine. It’s just that I wanted to ask…’ It sounds stupid now that I’m saying it out loud. ‘I just needed to ask you if this is real. What we have. It’s only been a week…’

‘It’s real,’ he says quickly. ‘Very real. And I know it might seem stupid but…’ he takes a deep breath in. ‘I can’t stop thinking about you.’

I sigh softly, my whole being immediately lighter.

‘You’re my muse,’ he says. ‘All the musicians I’m working with have noticed a fire and passion that wasn’t there before, apparently.’ He sounds excited and it fills me with joy to think it’s because of me.

‘I have to go but… I really can’t wait to see you,’ he says in a low voice. His meaning is unmistakably clear.

‘I can’t wait to see you too,’ I say. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’ I take a deep breath ready to rip off the band aid. I am going to tell him that Ged and Liam and The Dollz are also coming to Vegas, and that I have to squeeze someother activities into the trip. I’m going to suggest we meet earlier or stay later after they have gone. There’s a loud blast of music and some voices yelling his name.

‘I’m sorry, Connie,’ he yells over the noise. ‘I have to go. Can we speak later?’

‘Sure,’ I say, as Matteo clicks abruptly off the call. ‘Bye then.’

After breakfast in my room, reading the local newspapers that were delivered with it, the concierge helps me carry all my cases and costumes down to the waiting coach. As I climb the steps, Dolly greets me with a warm smile. As I pass the Maestro, I avoid eye contact. I’m not in the mood for any hostility today.

The York Press ran with the obvious headline this morning of “Royal Rift?” and an article claiming that the whole of the Royal Northern Sinfonia have fallen out. STIFF. WOODEN. OUT OF KEY. That we are all at war with one another. UGLY ENERGY. That we are all having affairs behind each other’s backs. OBVIOUS SEXUAL TENSION. That I am jealous and upset he is getting married to a Royal. COOPER DEVASTATED. That the Maestrohas lost all control and respect. APPALLING. NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON. That the leading man is humping the entire chorus line every which way imaginable. SPURNED COUNT SEEKS COMFORT IN ARMS OF COMMONERS, LOWLY BACKING SINGERS. And finally, that we all must think we are in a Jilly Cooper bonkbuster. Cooper by name, Cooper by nature. I have created a HOTBED OF SINfonia. All according to an anonymous source within the Sinfonia itself.

---