Andrea stared at Carolyn, steadied herself, and launched into her line. ‘Please, Diana, I just want to go home.’
‘Of course you do, babe. Just let me shoot my lying, scheming bastard husband and then you can be on your way.’ Carolyn swung the gun towards Seb who did a great job of registering surprise even though the camera wasn’t on him. Carolyn tightened her eyes, braced herself for the explosion, forced a smile, and pulled the trigger.
Seb pulled out his tongue and crossed his eyes but Carolyn blocked out his antics and focused her attention on delivering her line. ‘Happy now, darling?’
Seb stuck his finger in his ear and wiggled it in and out. Carolyn waited a few beats, still focused on Seb even though she knew the moment would be cut in the edit and it would be Seb’s reaction on screen. Then she wagged the gun and delivered the last line of the scene.
‘See darling, there was nothing to worry about,’ she said. ‘I’m firing blanks, just like you.’ She flashed a tight smile and held it, knowing this was the close-up that would end the scene, only relaxing when Harrington shouted ‘cut!’.
Danny hurried over and took the gun from her and then she walked over to Harrington, who was watching the playback on his black and white monitor. He grinned and, when it had finished, he flashed her a thumbs-up. ‘That’s a wrap,’ he said. ‘Well done everyone.’
Seb came over, fastening the belt of his robe. ‘You are such a professional, darling,’ he said. ‘I am in awe of your talent.’
‘You are such a bitch,’ said Carolyn. She laughed and put her arm around him. ‘I’ll get you back this afternoon. Trust me.’
The director stood up, smiling broadly. ‘That was brilliant,’ he said. ‘Just what we needed.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘I never thought we’d get that in the first take. We’re actually ahead of the game for once.’ He clapped his hands loudly to get everyone’s attention. ‘Right, on to the boardroom scene,’ he shouted.
The crew burst into action, moving equipment and lights. Dougie began disconnecting wires and Terry started gathering up props.
‘Fancy a game of whist while we wait, darling?’ asked Seb.
Carolyn shook her head. ‘Rain check,’ she said. ‘I want to go through some lines.’ She walked back to her dressing room. She took her phone out of her bag and checked the screen, wondering if Eddie had called. There had been half a dozen calls while she’d been on the set and she scrolled through them, her heart in her mouth until she realised none was from him. She felt tears prick her eyes and she swore under her breath. She put the phone down onto the table, poured a mineral water and dropped in a slice of lemon. Her phone rang and she grabbed for it. It was her son, Robbie. She took a deep breath and took the call. ‘Darling, this is a nice surprise. Aren’t you in class?’ Robbie was boarding at a school in Cumbria and it had been a month since she’d last seen him.
‘I’ve got maths in five minutes but I wanted to ask you a favour.’
Carolyn sighed. ‘How much?’
‘Fifty.’
‘Fifty pounds? Please tell me it’s not for drugs.’
‘Very funny, mum. We’ve got a trip to Windermere at the weekend and I need some spending money.’
‘But fifty quid. What are you planning on buying?’
‘If you can’t, I can call dad.’
Carolyn bit down on her lower lip. Robbie was a master at playing her off against her ex-husband.
‘Please, mum. Everyone else is going to have fifty to spend and I don’t want to be the odd one out.’
‘Okay. I’ll put it in your account today.’
‘You’re a lifesaver, mum. Love you.’
‘Wait a minute, Robbie. How are you? How’s school?’
‘School’s school,’ he said. ‘Look mum, I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? And don’t forget the money.’
‘I won’t,’ she said, but the line had already gone dead. Tears were brimming in her eyes and she blinked them away. She scrolled through to Eddie’s number and called it but it went straight through to his voicemail. She didn’t leave a message.
CHAPTER 6
They filmed three more scenes before lunch, then Carolyn went through to the canteen where she picked up a smoked salmon salad and went to join Terry at a table by the window. He was tucking into a Shepherd’s pie and chips. ‘How’s the diet going, darling?’ she asked as she sat down opposite him.
‘Bitch,’ Terry said and laughed. ‘I’m in the gym with Gabe tonight, I’ll burn it off.’
‘You’re not going to the awards?’
Terry laughed. ‘I’m a prop master,’ he said. ‘One of the backroom boys. Out of sight, out of mind.’
‘Come with me,’ said Carolyn. ‘You can be my plus one.’
‘And sit with a load of prima donnas and network suits? I’d rather crawl naked across broken glass.’
‘I’m getting a lifetime achievement award.’
Terry grinned. ‘Well done, you.’
‘I’m not sure it’s a good thing,’ she said. ‘Doesn’t it mean that the best is over?’
‘It means you’re being appreciated,’ said Terry. He frowned. ‘Plus one? Where’s Eddie?’
‘Fucking some trollop,’ she said bitterly.
‘Are you serious?’
‘I found him in bed with a Barbie lookalike last night. ’
Terry put down his fork. ‘God, I’m sorry.’
‘Yeah. Me, too.’
‘And you never suspected anything was going on?’
Carolyn sighed. ‘I was too bloody busy.’
‘That doesn’t make it your fault.’
She nodded and prodded her salad. ‘I know.’
‘Do you know who the girl was?’
‘No, not that it matters. She wasn’t the first.’ She felt tears sting her eyes and she cursed.
‘Hey, come on,’ said Terry. He passed her a paper napkin. ‘Don’t let the bastard upset you.’
Carolyn dabbed her eyes with the napkin. ‘I went home early to surprise him,’ she said. ‘Well, that didn’t exactly go as planned.’
‘Your house?’
She shook her head. ‘His flat.’ She shook her head. ‘Forget it. It doesn’t matter.’
‘Of course it matters. You thought he was the one, right?’
She took a deep breath. ‘I hoped he might be,’ she said. ‘I really thought he loved me, Terry.’
‘You know what they say, darling. Women can fake orgasms but men can fake an entire relationship.’
Carolyn dabbed her eyes again. ‘I need a drink,’ she said.
‘You can hit the bottle at the awards thing.’
‘I need a drink now.’
Terry laughed. ‘Well you know that’s not going to happen,’ he said.
‘Why are men such bastards, Terry?’
‘That’s why we love them, right?’
‘Would Gabe ever screw around behind your back?’ Terry’s jaw dropped in mock surprise and Carolyn laughed. ‘That wasn’t a double entendre. You know what I mean.’
‘I know what you mean,’ he said. ‘I’m like the American military — don’t ask and don’t tell. Providing he’s in my bed every night, I’m not that worried about what he gets up to.’
‘Yeah, well Eddie made it clear that he’s done with me. It’s over.’
‘Then you’re better off without him.’
‘That’s easy for you to say.’
He leaned over the table towards her. ‘Darling, you’re one of the most famous faces in the country, you’re drop dead gorgeous and as fit as a butcher’s dog. If I wasn’t gay…’
Carolyn reached over and held his hands. ‘Thank you,’ she said.
‘I mean every word that I say,’ Terry said, and Carolyn could see he was telling the truth. She gripped his hands tightly but then the tears started again and she let go and dabbed at her eyes with the tissue. ‘Darling, the more you cry the more repair work they’re going to have to do in make-up,’ said Terry.
She nodded and took a deep breath. ‘I’ll be okay,’ she said.
‘Damn right you will,’ said Terry. ‘And tonight you’ll be surrounded by people who admire and love you. Think about that.’