‘I don’t have that now.’ She laughed ruefully.
If she was truthful with herself and Nick, she would admit she had never even dared to think about what her life might be like if she deviated from her road to the West End.
‘Perhaps… I mean, I might decide to remain here. Work in the garden, help Gran, and consider teaching singing rather than performing. I do love teaching but like I said some people see it as failure. But most of all…’ She paused, watching a bee hovering about a geranium in the sun. ‘I think I want something less complicated.’
‘That doesn’t sound like failure to me,’ he said. ‘It sounds like a nice life, and I for one would be thrilled if you stuck around.’
Lily felt her cheeks blushing and the butterflies weren’t just in the garden. She opened her mouth to speak, but the way he was looking at her, with such a low-key intensity, caused her words to become stuck in her throat.
They both fell silent for a considerable amount of time. It seemed as though the world was getting smaller, with the sounds of the garden receding into the background until it was just the two of them, seated at that small iron table, the space between them being filled with many possibilities for the future.
Then Nick was the one who broke the stillness. He picked up his script and cleared his throat.
‘I think we better get on with the lines,’ but his tone had been more subdued and somewhat reluctant recently.
Lily couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed between them as they began to read their lines. She wasn’t quite ready to describe it, but it felt lovely, like the sound of the orchestra warming up before words on the page became jumbled together, and her concentration began to waver as her thoughts continued to dwell on Nick, thinking about the way he had looked at her and the way he had spoken to her, as if he had recognised her for who she truly was.
But he had given her something else other than a crush; she had the tiniest glimpse of hope for the very first time in a long time – hope that something else was waiting for her. She just had to be open to it, and if Nick was by her side, she might even find something truly special.
19
Another week passed without Lily seeing Nick other than at rehearsals. He seemed distracted but still attentive to her when she spoke to him, but she noticed Jessica and he didn’t speak at all; in fact, they seemed to be avoiding each other.
But she wasn’t about to ask and Jessica was leaving her alone, which was a relief, but she wondered what had happened.
After rehearsals on Saturday afternoon, Nick came to her side.
‘You around tomorrow?’
‘I think so, why?’ she asked with a smile. ‘Need more help with your lines?’
‘I’m nearly off book, I think.’ He laughed. ‘Do you want to go on a picnic with me?’
She was surprised by his offer. ‘A picnic?’
‘Yes, I know it sounds twee, but I have a lovely spot I wanted to show you. It’s fine if you can’t – no stress,’ he said and she noticed a red flush up his neck.
‘That sounds lovely,’ she said firmly. ‘I can’t wait.’
Nick’s face burst into a wide smile and he nodded. ‘Excellent, wonderful, I’ll pick you up before midday?’
‘Picking up? Where are you two off to?’ Jessica’s voice interrupted them.
Nick turned to her. ‘I’m taking Lily and her grandmother to an appointment,’ he said.
‘On a Sunday?’ Jessica narrowed her eyes.
Lily watched his face change as Jessica spoke.
‘I’m going. Have a nice night, everyone,’ she said and she walked out of the hall, wondering why he had lied to Jessica about their picnic and if this was going to be a problem.
*
Lily wore her sundress with the little daisies on it, which Jess had said looked like wallpaper, and, at the last minute, she pulled a denim jacket on and tied her hair up in a bun as she looked in the mirror in her bedroom. She felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had agreed to the picnic, but what did that mean? And why didn’t he tell Jessica? She understood that Jessica was hard work but this felt far too duplicitous for her. Maybe he just wanted to protect her?
The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. ‘Lily?’ Gran called. ‘There is a nice young man at the door. Should I send him away?
Lily couldn’t help but laugh. ‘No, Gran. Tell him I’ll be right down.’
