Read Online Behind the Film Star's Smile by Kate Hardy - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Hardy
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supposed to pick up the dog on Thursday afternoon. This afternoon.
But his aunt was clearly in pain and upset. Luke wasn’t mean-spirited enough to make her feel guilty about the change in plans on top of all that. ‘It’s fine,’ he lied. And he just hoped that Jess would be able to help him out. He had no idea how long her contract was with the film company—a week, a month, the whole of the film—but she’d been a dog trainer. Maybe she knew someone else who could step in, if she couldn’t do it.
‘Mon, is Laura still with you?’ he asked, not wanting to think that his aunt was alone and in pain.
‘Yes. She’s going to change her flight and stay here with me, at least until we know what’s happening.’
‘Good.’ Though he knew he’d be happier if he saw his aunt for himself. Laura was one of Monica’s closest friends, but there wasn’t quite the same bond as there was with family. And Luke was the nearest Monica had to a child. If he was honest with himself, he was closer to his aunt than he was to his parents. ‘Look, I can head to Heathrow now and get the next flight over. Tell me which hospital you’re in and which ward, and I’ll get a taxi from the airport when I land.’
‘No, love. You’re shooting the film this week. You haven’t got time to fly halfway across the world.’
That was true. But family was more important. He’d find some way of sorting this. Maybe the director could shoot out of order and do some of the scenes Luke wasn’t in, tomorrow. Half a day’s filming—it could be done, he was sure. ‘For you, I’ve got time.’
‘Lukey, don’t. I’ll start crying.’ She sniffed. ‘Really, I’ll be fine. Don’t go to the airport. You’d better get back to sleep. You’ll have bags under your eyes tomorrow and your director will want to strangle me.’
‘No, he won’t. The make-up team is pretty good,’ he said with a smile. ‘Don’t worry. Do you have your mobile phone or is there another number I should use to call you?’
‘There’s a phone next to the bed. I think I’m meant to keep my mobile off. Do you have a pen?’
‘Give me a second.’ He grabbed a pen and scribbled the phone number on the back of his hand as she dictated it. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow morning.’ He chuckled. ‘That’s tomorrow your time, I mean—it’ll be afternoon here when I call.’
‘I am sorry I woke you, Luke. I wasn’t thinking straight. I just—’ Her voice caught. ‘I just wanted to talk to you.’
‘Don’t worry about it, Mon. It’s not every day you break your leg.’ And, although his aunt packed more into her life than anyone else he knew, she was a lot closer to sixty years old than to twenty. A fall and broken bones were bound to shake her up, and he knew that it would take her much longer to recover physically than if she’d been his age. ‘Ask for anything you need and I’ll pick up the bill, OK? Just remember that nothing’s too much trouble or too expensive when it comes to my favourite aunt. Anything you need, you get it. I mean it.’
‘Thank you, Luke.’ She sounded close to tears again. ‘I love you.’
‘Love you, too, Mon. Get some rest and I’ll call you tomorrow.’ He put down the receiver. I love you . Monica was the only person in his life who said that to him and meant it. He blew out a breath. And how pathetic was he for minding? Anyone would think he was five years old again, not thirty-five. He’d minded then. He knew better now.
‘Get a grip, McKenzie,’ he told himself roughly. He was doing just fine. He had a good career, plenty of friends and a comfortable house. He didn’t need anything else.
During the conversation, Baloo had moved further up the bed and had curled up by his knees.
‘It looks as if you’re going to be my house guest for a bit longer,’ he said, stroking her head.
She licked his hand.
‘It’s still only temporary,’ he warned her. ‘Just until Monica’s leg has healed. And then
But his aunt was clearly in pain and upset. Luke wasn’t mean-spirited enough to make her feel guilty about the change in plans on top of all that. ‘It’s fine,’ he lied. And he just hoped that Jess would be able to help him out. He had no idea how long her contract was with the film company—a week, a month, the whole of the film—but she’d been a dog trainer. Maybe she knew someone else who could step in, if she couldn’t do it.
‘Mon, is Laura still with you?’ he asked, not wanting to think that his aunt was alone and in pain.
‘Yes. She’s going to change her flight and stay here with me, at least until we know what’s happening.’
‘Good.’ Though he knew he’d be happier if he saw his aunt for himself. Laura was one of Monica’s closest friends, but there wasn’t quite the same bond as there was with family. And Luke was the nearest Monica had to a child. If he was honest with himself, he was closer to his aunt than he was to his parents. ‘Look, I can head to Heathrow now and get the next flight over. Tell me which hospital you’re in and which ward, and I’ll get a taxi from the airport when I land.’
‘No, love. You’re shooting the film this week. You haven’t got time to fly halfway across the world.’
That was true. But family was more important. He’d find some way of sorting this. Maybe the director could shoot out of order and do some of the scenes Luke wasn’t in, tomorrow. Half a day’s filming—it could be done, he was sure. ‘For you, I’ve got time.’
‘Lukey, don’t. I’ll start crying.’ She sniffed. ‘Really, I’ll be fine. Don’t go to the airport. You’d better get back to sleep. You’ll have bags under your eyes tomorrow and your director will want to strangle me.’
‘No, he won’t. The make-up team is pretty good,’ he said with a smile. ‘Don’t worry. Do you have your mobile phone or is there another number I should use to call you?’
‘There’s a phone next to the bed. I think I’m meant to keep my mobile off. Do you have a pen?’
‘Give me a second.’ He grabbed a pen and scribbled the phone number on the back of his hand as she dictated it. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow morning.’ He chuckled. ‘That’s tomorrow your time, I mean—it’ll be afternoon here when I call.’
‘I am sorry I woke you, Luke. I wasn’t thinking straight. I just—’ Her voice caught. ‘I just wanted to talk to you.’
‘Don’t worry about it, Mon. It’s not every day you break your leg.’ And, although his aunt packed more into her life than anyone else he knew, she was a lot closer to sixty years old than to twenty. A fall and broken bones were bound to shake her up, and he knew that it would take her much longer to recover physically than if she’d been his age. ‘Ask for anything you need and I’ll pick up the bill, OK? Just remember that nothing’s too much trouble or too expensive when it comes to my favourite aunt. Anything you need, you get it. I mean it.’
‘Thank you, Luke.’ She sounded close to tears again. ‘I love you.’
‘Love you, too, Mon. Get some rest and I’ll call you tomorrow.’ He put down the receiver. I love you . Monica was the only person in his life who said that to him and meant it. He blew out a breath. And how pathetic was he for minding? Anyone would think he was five years old again, not thirty-five. He’d minded then. He knew better now.
‘Get a grip, McKenzie,’ he told himself roughly. He was doing just fine. He had a good career, plenty of friends and a comfortable house. He didn’t need anything else.
During the conversation, Baloo had moved further up the bed and had curled up by his knees.
‘It looks as if you’re going to be my house guest for a bit longer,’ he said, stroking her head.
She licked his hand.
‘It’s still only temporary,’ he warned her. ‘Just until Monica’s leg has healed. And then
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