Epilogue
Bella’s voice, sweet, sad and achingly mournful, filled the living room.
The sound system, set up in one corner, worked beautifully in the space, and Bella was lip-synching like a pro from the first blocked spot on the sofa.
The large stage lights that were set up out of shot but near enough to cast her in a bright simulation of winter sunshine created just the right amount of atmosphere, a contrast to the grey mistiness of the lake outside the window.
From the far corner, Marc stood and watched the spectacle. He’d realised, as soon as the crew had descended that Monday morning, that it would be pointless to try to lock himself away in the study while they were here. He’d blanked out his diary and just observed the process.
The past week and a bit had been pleasant but different.
The boys had returned, buzzing, from their London trip, and then the next few days had been spent chilling out before school started again, on the same day that the crew from Bella’s record company were due to start shooting her video.
He and Lauren had met up a few times, taking full advantage of the fact that Joel had stayed on at the lake house until New Year’s Day, to use his skills as a babysitter.
They hadn’t yet broken the news of their developing relationship to the twins, but Marc felt that it would soon be time.
Marc had dropped the boys off at school, popped in for a coffee at the café and then come back to the lake house to welcome Bella and the crew.
Over by the window, Samira was running through the shooting order with the camera operator, Bella glancing up from her acoustic guitar and nodding along, occasionally questioning and then going back to her own notes.
The make-up and hair team had worked their magic, and the woman he knew as Bella West was once again transformed into Isabella Indigo.
She kept throwing him glances, sometimes apologetically, sometimes just happy grins, and he wondered if he needed to make himself scarce.
‘No, honestly, it’s fine,’ she replied, when he asked during a break. ‘Actually, it’s lovely having someone I know here. I’m not sure I could handle Noah watching my every move, but your friendly face is helping a lot!’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Marc smiled. The more he got to know Bella, the more he liked her.
‘And I popped into Lauren’s place on the way past, this morning,’ Bella continued. ‘She’s going to bring over some cake this afternoon for the crew. I hope that’s all right?’
Marc smiled. ‘She texted and told me. She’s well chuffed you asked her.’
‘That’s good to know.’ Bella glanced back at Samira. ‘Thanks again, Marc, for letting us use your home.’
‘Bella? Are you good to go for a take?’ Samira called from the window.
‘Yup.’ Marc watched as Bella walked back to the sofa and picked up her guitar.
As the song began to play once more, Marc smiled to himself.
The first time he’d heard it, he’d been affected by its melancholy; now, he could appreciate the beauty of it without feeling sad.
He couldn’t wait for Lauren to come by and hear it, too.
* * *
At the café, Lauren was getting ready to hand over to Cathy for the afternoon.
She’d asked her friend to cover for a couple of hours, so she could get up to the lake house and watch some of the filming.
And take some cake over, of course. On the strength of the sweet treats Bella and Samira had enjoyed during Samira’s recce, the producer had permitted a cake delivery on the budget.
‘I’m off now, Mum,’ Lauren called up the attic stairs.
Myriam had returned from her trip full of plans and optimism for the future, which included spending some more time with Gary.
Although neither of them was ready to make a more permanent move, Myriam had decided that she wanted to visit her old North Manchester haunts, to recapture some of the inspiration she’d had at the start of her career.
Gary was gently encouraging this, and Lauren was gradually coming to terms with the fact that both she and her mother might be breaking new, independent ground, forging new paths and finding new relationships.
Lauren, for all of her worries about Myriam, saw the light in her mother’s eyes, and the love that Gary had for Myriam, and couldn’t be anything other than happy for them both.
‘All right, love. See you later.’ Myriam appeared at the top of the stairs. She blew a kiss and Lauren jokily mimed catching it.
A short time later, Lauren pulled into the driveway of the lake house.
As she got out of the car, she heard Bella’s new song drifting in the winter air.
It was funny, she thought, how things changed.
She was opening the passenger’s side of her car to get the cake boxes when she a pair of warm hands slid around her waist.
‘Hi,’ Marc’s voice murmured huskily. ‘I’ll have to get you to deliver more often.’ Lauren leaned back into his embrace, enjoying their closeness for a long, delicious moment.
‘It’s only for very special clients…’ she laughed, as he kissed the side of her neck ‘…and Bella’s one of my very best.’
‘And there I was, thinking it was just for me.’ Marc’s tone, light and teasing, was such a contrast to the harried single dad she’d first met, Lauren couldn’t help smiling.
‘Perhaps, if you ask very nicely, I’ll let you have a taste…’
As Marc turned Lauren around and her lips met his with a kiss that instantly melted her heart, she knew that she had found her recipe for love.
* * *