Page 106 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
We sat in silence for a moment staring at the statue in front of us.
“It’s amazing to think, isn’t it, that that whole story was thought of by a man sitting here on a bench just like we are now,” my companion said, still gazing up at Peter Pan.
I was surprised; people didn’t usually converse with you much in London. Let alone a stranger you’d just met. “Yes, although I have to say I only really know that story because of the movie that was made about it—FindingNeverland.”
“Yes…I believe I know it.” She paused for a moment. “What did you think of it?”
“It’s a lovely film,” I said, thinking about the movie. “It also stars two of my favorite actors, which helps. And I’ve actually met one of its stars too.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, Johnny Depp.”
“And what was he like in real life?”
“Erm…he was cool.”
“Yes, Johnny’s definitely very cool.”
“Oh, haveyoumet him as well?” I was slightly put out my bench buddie wasn’t more impressed at me hobnobbing with a Hollywood A-lister.
“Yes, just a few times.”
“Kate!” The trainer was back on the scene now. “Come on, or your pulse rate will drop out of your ideal training zone.”
My bench buddie turned to me now.
“Glad you enjoyed the movie,” she said, standing up. Then she lifted her hat for a second and winked at me. “And all my other movies too.”
And I sat and watched, aghast, as Kate Winslet and her personal trainer jogged away from me down the path and into Kensington Gardens.
Rose appeared seconds later from the same direction, hurrying along the path toward me. Out of her cinema uniform she was elegantly dressed again, this time in black trousers, leather boots, and a red wool coat. She didn’t appear to recognize the Hollywood A-lister who jogged by in her tracksuit and baseball hat any more than I had.
“I’m so sorry. I’m not late, am I?” she asked as she arrived by my side.
“No, you’re fine,” I said, standing up to greet her. “I wasn’t quite sure where Peter was, so I thought I’d better get here early. Though there’s been lots going on to keep me busy.”
“That’s good.” Rose looked up at the bronze sculpture. “You know I used to readPeterPanto you when you were a baby. I know you were too young to understand, but it was always one of my own favorite stories when I was a child.” She glanced at me.
I didn’t know quite how to respond, so I said nothing.
“Would you like to go for a walk, Scarlett? Or perhaps we could just have a coffee?”
“A walk sounds good.”
We set off together along the path. At first we kept to the safe subjects of the weather, the news, and the people we passed in the park. Then we moved into the semi-safe territory of my life, and I told her about David and Maddie and a bit more about the business.
That led us on to Dad again.
“Have you told him yet?” Rose asked, looking straight ahead. “About me?”
“No, not yet.”
“Will you?”
We had reached the Diana memorial fountain. I stopped walking and watched the tourists taking photos and the people just stopping for a moment’s reflection in the clear flowing water.
“I don’t know. Probably.”
