‘Sweetie,’ Jess pounced, her voice soft but condescending. ‘Please try to keep up. Moving from the great West End stages to our modest production must be challenging, but we do like to keep the show moving.’
‘I have it in hand, Jess. But thank you anyway,’ she said smoothly but then she bit the inside of her mouth, tasting blood. The sting of Jess’s comments were worse than she had anticipated. It was like returning to school, with that never quite fitting in sensation. She looked at Nick, who rolled his eyes at Jess’s actions, his face a mix of irritation and encouragement, but it hurt and Lily swallowed the blood where she had bitten the skin.
Inhaling deeply, her shoulders drooping, she felt exhausted, every bit of her enthusiasm sapped by Jess’s continuous undercurrent of hostility and obvious hatred.
Nick leaned into her side. ‘You’re doing great.’ His breath was warm against her ear. ‘Don’t let her get to you.’
Lily nodded, but it didn’t take the sting away. They managed to get through the rest of the read-through but the fizz of excitement had left the room with Jess’s words.
‘I’ll drive you home,’ Nick said to her as Lily put her script into her bag.
‘Lily, dear.’ She looked up to see Jess standing in front of them, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear and tinged with phoney worry. ‘I hope you’re not finding this too… provincial for your tastes. It’s just am dram after all. I mean I’ve recently been in London, so I know how different this all is.’
Lily felt the rage swell up for a minute, a scorching flash building over her cheeks. She considered Gran, the summers spent in this very town, the cosiness of community theatre, the love of the shows and music and all those years she sang to Gran in the back garden of Pippin Cottage.
She inhaled steadily then turned to Jess, her face cool.
‘Actually, I’m having a great time,’ Lily said, her voice clear and calm. ‘Community theatre is unique and so important, don’t you think? The enthusiasm, the friendship.’ She gestured to the room. ‘It’s incredibly special, and as the professionals I work with on the West End say, there are no small roles, only small actors.’
She paused, knowing the rest of the room was listening. This was her chance to show Jessica she would not be bullied. ‘I just wanted to be a part of it all, after Nick told me about the auditions. I would’ve been happy to be chorus, just so I could sing this marvellous score, but I think only small-minded people believe any show or role is beneath them, don’t you?’
Jess’s smile stumbled a little, her eyes flickering with annoyance. This was not the answer she was expecting and she mumbled something about understanding and absolutely she was pleased to be a part of it and no role was too small for her either. Lily looked at Nick.
‘Shall we go?’ she asked him sweetly .
‘Absolutely,’ he said. His eye caught hers, and she saw pride there. He gave her the smallest of winks, and Lily had a flutter of hope in that instant, a feeling that perhaps this summer production might be just what the doctor ordered.
13
Nick drove Lily back to Pippin Cottage in silence. Lily wasn’t sure what was happening with Jess, but it felt more than just the production and she knew Nick could read the room.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked as he turned off the car and they sat in the darkness.
‘I don’t know. I mean, she’s actually acting so terribly,’ Lily finally said. ‘It feels like it’s more than the role. It’s not really about me, is it?’
Nick sighed. ‘She’s just a bit insecure. She’s upset because we broke up and she didn’t get the role and she’s threatened.’
‘But it’s not very nice to be around and it’s awful for the other actors and crew. I know I stood up to her tonight, but I don’t know if the drama is worth it.’ She paused. ‘I mean I think you need to work out what Jess is trying to say and maybe speak to her, because she’s taking it out on me and that’s not okay.’
‘I know,’ he said with another deep sigh. ‘I honestly didn’t know she would be back. She said she was staying in London.’
‘I get it but honestly I need to think about the show, because I don’t want to have every rehearsal like that. It’s not worth my mental health and everyone was so tense after her rubbish tonight. It changes the energy in the room and it won’t make for a good show.’
Nick stared ahead, his hands on the wheel. ‘If I talk to her, will you stay?’ he asked.
She opened the car door. ‘I need to think about it. I’ll call Jasper tomorrow and let him know I’m having second thoughts; besides, rehearsal isn’t until Saturday afternoon, and today is only Thursday. Gives me time to think and them to prepare.’
She got out the car and leaned down. ‘Thanks, Nick, you’re great and have been so wonderful with Gran. I appreciate it, and I know she does also.’
‘Goodnight, Lily,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Night,’ she said and she walked through the little gate to the cottage, as Nick waited in the car to ensure she got inside safely.
With great care not to create too much noise, Lily opened the cottage’s front door. The living room was semi dark, softly illuminated by one lamp in the corner and the television on, the sound almost too low to hear. Gran never left the television on, she thought, and when her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed Gran was still in her armchair. She usually would be in bed by now and Lily tiptoed closer to check on her.
Gran’s peaceful breathing mixed with the low sound from the television, creating a hum in the room. It was so cosy, Lily thought, as Mr Mistoffelees greeted her with a low meow and spun around her ankles in search of attention. Finding solace in the warm, familiar weight of him pushing against her legs, she stooped to stroke behind his ears.
‘Hello, trouble,’ she said softly to the animal, as the cat purred loudly, his eyes half-closed in satisfaction, and she picked him up in her arms.
