Part 8 (1/2)

Mark grinned. 'Well, old Ma Bennet isn't exactly supposed to be a diva, is she?'

'She is as played by Carla b.l.o.o.d.y Dean.' I took a quick swig at my gin and tonic. 'And I can't wait to see her dance!' I put my gla.s.s down on the table and took a look at Mark's face. This seemed like a good moment to spring my proposition.

'Talking of movement, I've got something I want to run past you,' I said, looking at him from under my lashes in the way I knew turned him on.

'Oh?' He raised his eyebrows. 'Am I going to like it?'

'I hope so.' I toyed with the stem on my gla.s.s. 'Since Christmas I've been thinking a lot about us. We had a great time, didn't we?'

He nodded enthusiastically. 'The best.'

'I was a fool to be so rotten to you all those years ago,' I said. 'We have so much in common and I just couldn't see it. We make each other laugh. We're really compatible in every way, aren't we?'

'I've always thought so, yes.' He leaned towards me, his eyes twinkling. 'You're not trying to propose, are you? Because if you are I'm going to have to insist that you get down on one knee.'

'In your dreams!' I gave his shoulder a push. 'No, I'm not proposing not marriage anyhow. What I am suggesting is that it might benefit both of us if I moved in with you. The lease on my flat is about to run out and my flatmate would like to take it over from me. Of course it would only be until we go on tour with the show and ...'

'Lou!' He had grasped my hand so hard that the pressure made my eyes water and stopped the words in my throat. His grin spread from ear to ear. 'b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, that would be marvellous. Just fancy home-cooked food every day!'

I kicked him under the table. 'On your bike! That was a Christmas one-off. We share the cooking and the ch.o.r.es or the deal is off.'

He gave me a mock salute. 'Yes, ma'am! Anything you say. When can you move in?'

'Well, I'll have to break the news to my friend that I'm leaving sooner than expected. I daresay she'll be a bit upset but she'll get over it.'

'Are you sure? I'd hate you to lose a friend because of me.'

I smiled at him. 'I'm sure. I'll find a way to make it up to her somehow.'

'OK so when?'

'Give me a few days. I'll let you know at the next rehearsal.'

I started packing that night. I'd told Di that I'd found somewhere else to live and she seemed pleased. A bit too pleased to be flattering, actually. I overheard her talking to Mike on her mobile later and arranging for him to move in the week after next. She certainly didn't intend to waste any time. But it didn't matter, I told myself. Two weeks from now I'll be living in the lap of luxury in Mark's lush apartment.

The day of the next rehearsal was grey and wet; a typical January day. The walk from the bus stop seemed endless. My heels skidded on the greasy pavement and my umbrella blew inside out so many times that I eventually gave up and put it down. After that, the icy rain dripped relentlessly down the back of my collar all the way to St Mary's Hall. Pulling the heavy door closed behind me with relief, I took off my wet mac and shook as much of the water off it as I could. Mark was already there. He was standing with his back to one of the lukewarm radiators and I joined him.

'Brrr! Budge up and let the dog see the rabbit,' I said, giving him a playful shove. 'I've got good news. I can move in at the weekend if it's OK with you.'

He turned to me with an expression like a whipped puppy and my heart sank. I knew right then that it wasn't going to be my day.

He began haltingly, 'Lou, darling I don't know how to tell you this but I'm very much afraid that our plans are going to have to be put on hold for the time being at least.'

I stared at him. 'You what? Why? What's up?'

He took a deep breath and looked at the floor. 'Last night I got an email from Cathy, my sister in Australia. She and her husband have split up and she's flying home today.'

I frowned. 'Home?'

'To England and to me as there's no one else.'

'She's landing herself on you? What a cheek.'

'Not just her but her two kids as well. I couldn't say no, could I, Lou? She's the only family I've got and she's going through a crisis.' He looked at my bemused face. 'I've only got the two bedrooms so it's going to be a bit of a squeeze.'

'Yes, but I'll be sharing yours.'

'I know, but ...' He looked uncomfortable. 'She'll want to talk. She's bound to need some advice and moral support.'

'So? I won't get in the way.'

He shook his head. 'I'm sorry, Lou. It just won't work; not with five of us in the apartment. It won't be forever,' he added hurriedly. 'I'm sure she'll want to find a place of her own quite soon. Obviously she'll need to find schools for the kids and settle them down into some kind of normality as soon as possible, poor little devils.'

'Oh, yes tough!'

He reached for my hand but I pulled it away. 'I've already told Di that I'm moving out.'

'But she won't mind if you change your plans temporarily, will she? After all, it's your flat and it'll give her all the more time to find someone new to share with. And you said she'd be devastated that you were leaving.'

There, I'd done it again, I told myself. What's the phrase hoist with my own petard? (What is a petard anyway?) Mark was looking at me, his face creased with concern.

'I'm so sorry, Lou. I was really looking forward to the two of us being together.'

'So disappointed that you let your sister call all the shots,' I said, shaking off his hand. 'She and her kids have to come first, I suppose. After all, who am I?'

'Please don't be like that. I told you, it's only temporary.'

'Does she know you'll be going on tour with the show in a few weeks' time?'

'I did mention it, yes.'

'Then she's not going to be in any hurry looking for a place of her own, is she?' I gave a dry little laugh. 'You'll have the perfect flat-sitter. Just let's hope that you don't come back to find the kids have wrecked the place!'

'They're good kids actually,' he said.

I stared at him. 'How would you know? They live in Australia. How many times have you seen them?'

'Well, not many admittedly.'

'I just hope you know what you're letting yourself in for.'

Paul chose that moment to arrive with Marvin in tow and there was no more time to discuss our ruined plans. I poured my heart and soul into the rehearsal, putting special effort into my scenes with Darcy, who seemed delighted by my enthusiasm. Whilst close to him, I endorsed Mark's opinion that he wore a toupee. I also discovered that he had terminal halitosis which didn't auger well for our love scenes. After the rehearsal, Marvin came up to me and congratulated me on my talent and the hard work I'd put in learning the lines. I felt it was no more than I deserved.

'Paul's done a good job of the casting,' he said. 'Especially in your case. Just wait till we get to the West End.' He grinned at me. 'Fancy your name in lights, do you?'

'I certainly do.'