Chapter 26
Lily’s heart was beating so fast that she could feel the rhythm in her throat as she stood outside the village hall. It was a warm summer evening, and she wondered if she was ready to return, but she knew she couldn’t leave the cast and crew with that debt.
After she had finished smoothing down her bright yellow sundress, which she had worn in an attempt to lift her mood and now seemed to be at odds with her fear, she pushed open the door.
As soon as she stepped inside, she was greeted with the familiar sounds and smells of rehearsal. Andrew on the piano, the smell of coffee and cake, and the scent of the old room and Sheila’s perfume.
She stood watching the room, unnoticed by anyone for a brief moment, and she took in the surroundings.
At the same time a group of chorus members were working on perfecting a dance routine for ‘Get Me To the Church on Time’, Sheila was trying on a hat in the costume area and then Nick appeared on the stage to the left.
The conversation he was having with David ended in the middle of a sentence when he noticed her, and Lily took a quick breath. He was still handsome but was he a liar? The expression of surprise appeared on his face, and then a gentle smile started to form.
The piano came to a sudden halt as Jasper followed Nick’s gaze throughout the room. ‘Lily!’ he yelled out, his voice stealing the attention of everyone else in the room. ‘Thank God you’re here!’
Instantaneously, everyone’s attention was focused on her. As a calm descended upon the gathering, Lily noticed that her cheeks had become red. Her throat cleared, and she managed to summon a smile as Sheila rushed up to her and some of the cast and Jasper hugged her.
She hugged people warmly and Sheila took a step forward with her arms extended, after which there was a brief pause in the conversation.
‘Oh, Lily, I owe you an apology. I was far too swayed by Jessica and when I look back so many of her stories didn’t make sense. I am deeply sorry,’ she said, and as far as Lily could tell, she was sincere.
Lily nodded. ‘It’s okay, Sheila, forget about it. We can just move on,’ she said. ‘We just need to get the show on.’
Sheila looked crestfallen but Lily couldn’t let her guard down and she wasn’t sure why. Jessica had damaged her reputation but more than that, she was worried if she got too close again to anyone, she might lose her nerve, or worse, her voice.
Lily’s eyes made their way back to Nick amidst the crowd. He stood tall at the back of the group observing everyone with a look that was difficult to understand. He had not moved towards her and she was grateful yet also disappointed. God the heart was so confusing.
‘Okay, everyone, let’s get to work. We have to find some more time to schedule rehearsals, and Lily now you are here, what is your schedule looking like? I know you care for your grandmother.’
Lily paused. ‘I also have a job now. I’m working a few days a week teaching.’
She saw a look of surprise cross his face.
‘Do you? Well done. Okay tell me your days and we can work out a schedule. We can do nights if it’s easier for you and your grandmother.’
Sheila scurried off to get a clipboard and came back to look at the times with Jasper as Lily went and put down her bag and then stood with David who was practising his Henry Higgins accent.
‘Glad you’re back,’ he said to her. ‘It’s been a nightmare.’
Lily smiled. ‘I’ve heard. Do you want to walk me through any new blocking?’
As she and David worked, she noticed Nick kept himself busy, but she was acutely aware of him as she practised, and she knew he was aware of her.
Jasper called out, ‘Act One, Scene Seven, Ascot. Actor please.’
Lily walked to the stage as Nick came over to her.
‘Hello,’ he said.
‘Hi,’ she answered.
‘Can we talk after rehearsals?’ he asked, his face hopeful.
She nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said as Jasper called for places and then she put Nick out of her mind and suddenly she was Eliza again, trying to fit in, shocking the Ascot crowd and making Freddy laugh uproariously and, for that moment, she forgot everything that had happened and was in the moment again.
At the end of the scene, Jasper clapped wildly. ‘That was as good as anything I have seen professionally – all of you, exceptional work,’ he said. ‘Let’s do it again with the chorus at the start, singing the “Ascot Gavotte”. Places, everyone.’
‘You were bloomin’ marvellous,’ said Nick as he walked past her and it took every ounce of willpower not to kiss him in the middle of the stage.
*
Nick was waiting outside for Lily when she left rehearsals.
‘Sorry, I had to get measured for a hat,’ she said to him.
‘Do you want to walk down to the river?’ he asked. Lily noticed Sheila looking at them from the doorway and Lily nodded.
‘Yes please. Away from prying eyes,’ she said with a rueful laugh.
They walked down the little, twisting path towards the river. After the stifling hall, the late afternoon air was refreshing as they walked in sync, their footsteps sounding lightly on the road.
Their view widened out before them as they rounded a mild curve, where a thin stone wall, its aged surface studded with tiny wildflowers and moss, ran beside the road.
There weren’t many tourists today, for which Lily was thankful, and Nick pointed to a quiet area somewhat off from the other groups.
‘Shall we?’ he asked, his voice matched in anxiousness to Lily’s own sensations.
Lily nodded, inhaled deeply, and followed them down to the river, prepared to meet the truth that lay ahead.
‘How have you been?’ he asked her after they were seated.
‘I’m okay,’ she said, and it was the truth. ‘I feel like my world has been shaken, but it had to be. I had to have some time to think about what I wanted, without any interference of promises.’
Nick was silent for a moment. The sound of the water was soothing, and Lily could see the late sun dappled in the trees over the river and some dragonflies darting about amongst the grasses.
‘Do you mean me?’ he asked.
‘Somewhat, but also, I had to decide what I wanted to do for me, not for you or for my mum or for anyone really.’
‘And you are teaching?’
‘I start on Monday, at a school in Silverton. It’s only part-time but that’s fine for now,’ she said.
‘I love that. I’m so happy for you. You will be amazing,’ he said.
‘Thank you.’ They were quiet for a while.
‘Lily, listen,’ he said and turned to her.
She turned to face him.
‘I wasn’t engaged to Jessica. We went out for six months but she was so intense, so quickly, and she spoke about marriage and children, but I told her that it was a bit soon.
It was kind of weird actually, and she just went on and on about it, and when I said something she would fly off the handle.
So I stopped saying anything and broke it off.
I told her I wasn’t ready for a relationship but then I met you and I was, I really was ready for one with you, and she became nasty.
I can deny it till the end of days but it’s true and you have to decide if I’m of good character or not and you believe me. ’
Lily brushed her dress of invisible lint.
‘I don’t think it matters anymore,’ she said. ‘I just want to do the show and help Jasper out. And then I will just live my little life, which I am actually looking forward to. I don’t want to restart anything while we’re in the show. I need to be focused and I can’t go through any drama again.’
‘So you’re saying we might be able to maybe start again after the show?’ Nick asked, his eyes hopeful.
‘I don’t know – maybe, maybe not. You might be sick of me by then,’ she half joked.
Nick gave a short laugh. ‘I doubt it. I have missed you every day,’ he said. ‘And Gran also. Gee she was firm with me when I came to the cottage. She might be ninety-seven but she’s still terrifying.’
Lily couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Yes, she keeps me in my place.’
‘Is she well?’ he asked.
‘She’s good,’ said Lily with a sigh. ‘Speaking of which, I need to get back to her.’ She stood up. ‘Friends?’ she asked. ‘For now?’
Nick nodded and smiled at her. ‘I will never not be your friend, Lily, now and forever.’
She smiled and then walked back to her car at the village hall, wondering why she felt so deeply sad, as if something she had was lost and she knew it was never coming back.