Page 31 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“Right.” Jess frowned. “Do you think they broke up and now things are just awkward?”
“Maybe,” Lisa mused.
“Doug seems pretty patient.” Jess studied him for a moment. “Have you worked on any of his movies before?”
“Nope. And I’m pretty sure that patience won’t stretch too far.” Lisa folded her arms. “Still, I guess he knew what he was getting into. He directed their last movie too.”
CHAPTER 16
Jess let herself into Ivy Cottage that evening and closed the paint-chipped door behind her with a sigh. She’d planned to throw a frozen pizza in the oven, make herself a simple salad and watchLove Island.
She’d spent a while watching Afric and Spencer on set and had come to the conclusion that there was more of a spark in the single low-wattage lightbulb in her bathroom.
Anthony had been sympathetic when she’d mentioned Mel’s request to take Afric into one of the tunnels.
“They’re perfectly safe, obviously. We wouldn’t have allowed them to be opened for filming if they weren’t. But you don’t have to do this if you’re not comfortable, Jess. I can organise to get a member of staff to take Afric instead.”
Aware of just how busy the rest of the staff were, Jess had quickly reassured him that she had it under control. Then she’d sent Emily a quick text to ask if she’d help with the problem some day she wasn’t working and, to her relief, Emily had texted back to say she’d love to.
Jess had noticed that even on her days off, Emily often hung around Linford, as her security pass meant she could come and go. Usually she used the time to watch the shooting but often dropped in to Jess to see if she wanted anything. Jess suspected she was slightly at a loss when she wasn’t working, and it made her more determined than ever that the proposed housewarming party would be a success.
She wondered how her parents were getting on back home. Having lived for nearly three years with Simon, it had been strange to move back to her family home after they’d called off the wedding. Only to move in with Adam just weeks later. She cringed when she thought about how quickly she’d agreed to that. They’d both taken a leap into the unknown, convinced it had been the right thing to do. Or the only thing to do.
But getting time away from home only reinforced what she already knew – she couldn’t live with her parents indefinitely. She had to treat these six weeks as breathing space and hope it would give her the confidence she needed to get out on her own.
It might also mean her parents would worry less about her. She knew that they’d been genuinely thrilled for her to get away for a while. She also knew that her nana would miss her a lot, just as she missed Zoe, now that she and Finn were in Vegas. Not that her nana would ever say anything. Once they were happy, Moira was too.
Jess turned on the oven and tore the wrapping off the pizza before popping it in on a tray. She phoned Moira but the call rang out. After she emptied a bag of leaves into a bowl with some chopped onion and tomatoes, she tried her again. When the call rang out a second time, she phoned her mother instead.
“Sweetheart.” Carmel sounded a little rushed when she answered.
“Hey, Mam, is it a good time?”
“Grand, grand. Well, I’m just getting a bit of dinner for your dad and me before I go to work. Three of the nurses on the ward are off sick at the moment, and we haven’t been able to get agency cover.” She tutted. “The whole situation is mad but sure what’s new?”
“No, right.” Jess paused. “I was just wondering if Nana’s there with you this evening? I’ve been trying to phone her because I’m pretty sure she has nothing on, on a Monday night.”
There was a brief silence.
“I meant to call you earlier, love,” Carmel said. “Your nana’s in hospital for a few days, getting some tests done. We managed to get her into Vincent’s so I can check in on her when I’m working. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“What?” Jess’s stomach squeezed. “What sort of tests? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Aren’t I telling you now?” Carmel’s tone was mildly chiding.
“Well, you say she’s being kept in for a few days. They wouldn’t do that for no reason, would they?”
“Jess, love, your nana is eighty-three so of course they want to keep her in. And it’s much easier to get everything checked at the same time rather than dragging her in and out.”
It made sense, Jess supposed. Still, Moira was never sick. It made her uneasy that she was in hospital at all.
“So, how are things down in Linford? Have you met any of those big movie stars yet?” Carmel asked brightly.
“Yep.” Jess pretended not to notice the deliberate change of subject. “They’re pretty cool, Mam. What you’d expect, I suppose.”
“I’m not sure what I’d expect, not being able to swan around with Hollywood people.” Carmel sniffed. “And I don’t want to know for myself. I just wanted a bit of news for your nana.”
Jess tried to think of something she could tell her mother without breaking any agreements – formal or otherwise – not to spill any behind-the-scenes secrets.
