Chapter 21
21
Esme stood outside Garden Cottage looking up at the night sky again. A shooting star streaked across the navy blue in the centre of her vision, and she smiled. Her granny always used to say you had to wish on them for your heart’s desire. So why did she not have a clue what to wish for? What did she truly want? For the play to go well? Definitely. To be swept off her feet by the man of her dreams? That would be nice but he didn’t seem to feel that way about her, which was a bit of a barrier to that wish. To become an award-winning famous actress? And put up with what she had just experienced? With only one wish available, she wasn’t sure how to use it, so she silently told the universe she’d save it for another time. She wasn’t sure it was allowed but no one had ever said it wasn’t.
Judd was waiting at the kitchen table, a pot of tea ready and a plate of fancy biscuits sitting beside it. ‘How did it go?’ he asked with enthusiasm as he stroked Betty’s fur where she sat on his lap, again.
‘It was great. Everything ran smoothly until we left the building and were mobbed by Zach’s fans.’
‘Oh, shit, are you okay?’ he asked with wide, alarm-filled eyes.
‘Yeah, absolutely fine. The police came, it was all good. Parker loved it.’ She laughed. ‘Tried to make them photograph his good side.’
‘Figures,’ Judd said with a chuckle. ‘So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?’
‘Ugh… get up at the crack of dawn and try to eat something, drop Betty at Parker’s mum and dad’s house for a sleepover with Gladys.’ She huffed. ‘Don’t you just hate when your dog has a better social life than you do? After that I’ll head to Eden Court for a final run through. The first performance is at two and then the evening one is at seven.’
‘I’m coming to both,’ he announced.
‘What? Why? You don’t have to do that.’
He shrugged. ‘You’re my closest friend and I want to support you.’
Esme’s heart melted a little. ‘That’s so lovely, thank you, but please don’t feel obliged.’
‘I don’t at all.’
‘The rest of the film crew are apparently coming tomorrow night,’ she said, scrunching her nose.
‘Aye, Selina said that too. Why don’t you seem too happy about that?’
She heaved a sigh. ‘Because I’m worried it will be a disaster and that I’ll fail in front of a room full of professionals.’ Betty jumped from his lap and made her way around the table to Esme as if she knew she needed comfort. Esme scooped her up and nuzzled her fur.
Judd leaned forward. ‘If the play fails, that’s nothing to do with you. You’ve learned your lines until you can recite them effortlessly. You play the part incredibly well according to Zach and Parker. You’re a star, Esme, in more ways than one, so, you can’t fail. And even if things go wrong, no one can blame you for that.’ He was right but that didn’t stop her from worrying. ‘How long is it since you acted on stage?’
‘I was in the panto that Sylvia wrote at Christmas but that was just a fun mess about, really. This will be the first time I’ve acted in a Shakespeare production since I was at school. I’m excited and terrified all at the same time. I’m also a little worried that Rhys will show up and make a scene.’
Judd shook his head. ‘No chance of that happening. There are too many people who have your back. We wouldn’t let him near you so don’t worry about that. Just go and enjoy your moment in the spotlight.’
‘This was my dream for so long,’ she said wistfully. ‘All I ever wanted was to be on stage or screen. And now I have this chance, I’m panicking I’m going to fluff my lines or fall over my own feet.’
‘Not a chance. You’re going to be amazing. A real shooting star.’