Chapter 15
Wednesday was a strange day. The tension was palpable and it was clear everyone was more than ready to go home.
The crew broke down anything they could and people rushed here and there to pack things away and load up the trucks.
By the time they finished shooting the last scene, the castle had been stripped bare of everything but the small set they were using.
Brian had barely called cut before people were swarming over to carry off the furniture.
There was none of the usual celebratory end-of-shoot atmosphere thanks to the cancelled party.
Frankie said goodbye to as many people as she could without holding them up.
She was crossing the grand hall when a voice called out behind her. Frankie stopped and waited for Dalton to catch her up. ‘Hey, Frankie,’ he said, displaying his perfect white teeth as he grinned down at her.
‘Hey! Sorry, I missed you in the scrum back there and I didn’t want to keep Becca and Jessie waiting.’ She gestured down at her costume.
Dalton’s smile ticked up a notch. ‘I know what you mean! I’m under orders from Margery to get my ass back to my trailer, but I just wanted to say thank you.
’ His expression grew serious. ‘I know you didn’t want me for this part and it would’ve been easy enough for you to treat me like a joke like the rest of them.
’ He shrugged and gave a rueful smile. ‘I guess my acting was a bit of a joke.’
Sympathy welled inside her. ‘It’s a steep learning curve when it’s not something you’ve done before, but you did a really great job in the end.’ She reached out and touched his arm. ‘I’m proud to be your co-star, Dalton, and you should be proud of yourself too.’
‘You mean that?’ He looked so eager and puppyish and desperate for approval.
Frankie knew what it was like to crave a kind word. ‘I do.’
Before she knew what was happening, Dalton had swept her up into his arms and was spinning her around in a circle. Laughing, she placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. ‘Put me down!’
He set her down then leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
‘You’re the best, Frankie!’ He released her.
‘I gotta go. See you on the press tour!’ She watched him dash away, all youthful energy and exuberance.
There was only a couple of years’ difference in age between them, but Frankie was dead on her feet and watching him bounce away made her feel old as the hills.
When she reached her caravan, she didn’t miss the pile of boxes stacked up next to the steps so it didn’t surprise her to find it was almost empty inside.
The photos that had lined the mirror were gone, the rail where her costumes had hung was empty apart from the bag that would take her final outfit.
Jessie had packed all her equipment away other than the lotions she used to remove Frankie’s make-up.
Conscious of the younger woman’s need to get away for her train, Frankie dragged on her tracksuit and plonked herself down in the chair as soon as they’d helped her out of her costume.
‘Just get the wig off, Jessie, and then you can go. I’ll remove my make-up when I get home. ’
‘Are you sure?’ Jessie’s expression was a mix of hopefulness and guilt.
‘Of course I am.’ She glanced over at Becca, who was busy packing her costume away. ‘And you shoot off as soon as you’re ready, too. I’m sure there’s still loads of stuff that needs sorting out.’
Becca paused what she was doing to shoot her a sad smile. ‘Crappy way to end things, eh?’
Frankie nodded. ‘But we’ve had a great time up until now so I’m not going to let it spoil anything. Make sure you both message me the details so I can write you a testimonial.’
Jessie leaned down and flung her arms around Frankie. ‘God, you are just the best!’ When she pulled back, Frankie could see the tears shining in her eyes.
‘Don’t start,’ Frankie warned her as she pointed a finger.
Jessie sniffled and grinned. ‘I won’t.’
The three of them parted on the steps in a flurry of hugs and promises to keep in touch. When she got to the gate Terry was there, all smiles as usual. ‘Take care, Miss Webber, and Merry Christmas.’
‘Merry Christmas, Terry.’
Frankie took one last look over her shoulder at the imposing frontage of the castle.
Lights bloomed in every window on the ground floor and people scurried up and down the steep staircase.
She’d considered offering to help, but she didn’t know where anything went and it would take longer for someone to explain what to do than to just do it themselves.
There was no place for her here any more.
Frankie was just approaching the lights of the harbour when a man called out from behind her.
‘Miss Webber? Can I have your autograph, please?’ Her shoulders stiffened and not just because she was alone and it was already getting dark.
Being recognised was par for the course, especially when she was coming off the steep hill that led up to the castle, but it was the last thing she needed.
There was a street light just ahead so she stepped deliberately into its illuminated circle before she turned around.
Her cheeks pulled as she put on her best approximation of a smile and she realised with an internal groan that her face was still plastered in the remains of her stage make-up.
If the man insisted on a selfie as well as an autograph, she’d look like a clown.
All these thoughts raced through her brain in the half a second it took the man to step out of the shadows into the light and relief washed through her. ‘Ed! What are you doing here?’
‘I’ve just been at Ma and Pa’s for tea.’ He raised a hand and pointed back along the road that met Castle Hill. His smile faded at the same instant. ‘I scared you, didn’t I?’
‘Not scared, exactly, but it’s been a long day and I’ll admit the idea of dealing with a fan right now was not top of my list.’
Ed shook his head. ‘I should’ve thought, it was meant to be a joke.’ He slapped himself on the forehead and muttered, ‘Stupid, stupid.’
He was clearly concerned he’d upset her and Frankie found herself closing the small distance between them and raising a hand to place it on his chest. ‘It’s fine, Ed. I’m fine.’
‘Still, it can’t have been nice having a strange man calling out to you in the dark.’
Frankie raised her brows. ‘You’re not that strange.’
Ed tossed his head back and laughed. ‘I guess I asked for that.’ Reaching down, he took the hand she’d placed on his chest and tucked it into his elbow, turning them to face in the same direction.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked him in confusion.
‘I’m walking you home, of course.’ He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world and she was beginning to get the impression that it was to him. They began to stroll towards the harbour. ‘So, where are you going on this fine evening?’ he asked.
She didn’t even need to think about that. ‘Home. Shower. Food. Bed. Not necessarily in that order.’
‘Sounds fun. Do you want company?’
It was clear from his tone that he was teasing and Frankie pretended to consider it for a moment before shaking her head. ‘I think I’ll pass.’
‘Rejected again!’
She leaned into his side and laughed. ‘I’m sure your ego will cope.’
They reached the point in the road where things started to open up and houses gave way to public spaces.
The harbour curved to their right, the shadows of boats bobbing on the dark water like ghosts of themselves.
The red and green lights marking the harbour entrance glowed in the dark.
Frankie found herself wondering what it would’ve been like to grow up with the water a part and parcel of life.
She glanced up at Ed. ‘Did you always want to do something that involved the sea?’
He nodded. ‘Mum and Dad taught us to swim almost before we could walk. And we were out on the boat with Dad and Pa every weekend the weather was fit. I was always the first one in the water and the last one out. Mum used to joke that she’d given birth to a fish rather than a little boy.
’ There was a tenderness to his tone, the memory clearly a fond one.
He smiled down at her. ‘What about you?’
She shook her head. ‘Swimming lessons at school, but that was about it. I didn’t see the ocean until after I left home and went on a package holiday to Spain with some friends from drama school.’
Their gentle stroll had brought them to the roundabout at the top of Harbour Road, the lights of the businesses that faced the sea shining in welcome.
Traffic picked up and there were people around, some hurrying home, a few heading in the direction of the steamy windows of the fish and chip shop.
The smell of fried food made her stomach rumble loud enough for her to place an embarrassed hand over it.
With a laugh, Ed changed direction and led her across the road. ‘Come on, let me treat you to dinner.’
She should refuse. Under her hat, her hair was lank and sweaty after wearing a wig all day and her tracksuit was definitely designed for comfort, not style. Between that and the make-up… She hesitated outside the door. ‘I look a mess.’
Ed frowned down at her. ‘It’s the local chippy, not a five-star restaurant. No one’s going to look twice at you.’
It was exactly the reality check she needed. ‘Do they have mushy peas?’
Ed pulled a disgusted face. ‘I’m sure they do, though why anyone would eat something so vile is beyond me.’