At sunset the sun had put on a radiant show, disappearing behind the wall of dark clouds which hung over the sea on the distant horizon, and reappearing below them to melt into the water, turning the sky orange. Hetty and the camera crew were thrilled. They’d got some beautiful establishing shots.
The peacock had also been magnificent, and not camera-shy, displaying his tail feathers, splendidly fanned out in colours of blue, gold and green.
When they were done, Hetty thanked everyone for their efforts and professionalism, superb in view of the crisis earlier in the day, and the cast and crew arranged to meet after dinner in the bar at the hotel.
Oddly, considering everything that had happened with Karl, Ella was feeling chilled about the shoot. Watching them capture the beauty of Karadow Cove during Drake’s beach scene, she could hardly believe how good it was, being amongst the crew and a part of something creative.
* * *
Later, Callum gave her a lift into Porthkara in the campervan.
She walked into the bar in time to hear Hetty announce the news from the hospital. Karl was out of danger. Even so, his condition was serious and the doctors couldn’t commit to a discharge date.
‘The meds are working, and that’s the main thing,’ Hetty said. ‘He’s not coming back. Not after what he’s been through.’
Ella joined Drake and Hetty, and they ordered drinks and took them to an empty table.
‘What will you do?’ Drake asked.
Hetty frowned and tugged nervously at a silver hoop earring in her earlobe. ‘I’ll figure something out. In the meantime, I’ll tinker with the schedule. Push Karl’s remaining scenes to later in the week. We can’t shut down the production. We’ve got to wrap by the end of Friday. We’re over-budget as it is. I’ll have to find a stand-in.’ She picked up her glass. ‘Don’t ask me how I’m going to do that.’
‘I have a suggestion,’ said Drake. ‘You know my son Nick’s an actor. He lives in the village.’
Hetty’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Of course.’
‘Why don’t you offer him Karl’s role?’
‘Do you think he’d do it?’
‘I think I could twist his arm.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘He’s meeting me here.’
‘Really?’ Hetty was overjoyed. ‘That would be awesome. Thanks, Drake.’
‘Don’t thank me yet, wait until I’ve asked him.’ He tipped his head towards the entrance to the bar area. ‘Better still ask him yourself. He’ll be here any minute.’
Although upset at the way Karl had been loudly gossiping about Ella, the actors and crew were shocked about his injury. No one would wish it on their worst enemy. Relieved that he would be alright, they passed around the cocktail menus and placed orders.
When Nick Wells strode in, all heads turned towards him.
‘What?’ he said, jokily. ‘What did I do? Have I got spinach in my teeth?’
‘It’s more a question of what we’d like you to do,’ said Ella, waving him over to the table.
Nick looked perplexed. He leaned down and kissed Ella on both cheeks. ‘Good to see everyone. How are you doing? Would anyone care to translate for my cryptic friend?’
‘You heard what happened to Karl?’ Drake said.
Nick nodded.
‘He’s over the worst. But he’s out of action.’ As she spoke Ella looked to Hetty to fill Nick in.
Instead, Drake jumped in first. ‘Have you met Hetty Bartlett? She’s our very talented director.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Nick, all charm. ‘I know you by reputation, naturally, but our paths haven’t crossed.’
‘Drinks.’ Drake got up from the table and slapped his son heartily on the shoulder. ‘What would you like? Your usual? A pint of the best local brew?’
Nick grinned at his father. ‘Yes please. I’m not prepping a role right now, so no strict calorie count.’
‘Sit down,’ Ella offered, and he slid into the empty space next to her on the banquette.
‘How was the day?’ he asked.
‘Good,’ she said. ‘It went remarkably smoothly. I mean, apart from the near-fatal jellyfish incident.’
‘Quite,’ said Hetty. ‘It’s been eventful, but miraculously we managed to stay on schedule. Drake’s the best. What a pro. I got his death scene this afternoon in one take. One!’
Laughing with the guys standing by the bar, Drake stood in a pool of light, reflected from the wall of mirrors behind the bottles and glasses. He waited to order Nick’s beer and entertained everyone with an anecdote about a director he had once worked with, who had been so rude to everyone that every day on set the actors had placed bets on whose work, he would be most crushing about.
Hetty picked up her vodka and tonic, and took a small sip. Then she quickly set it down again and twiddled the earring in one of her earlobes. ‘I’m in a bind, Nick. And Drake suggested I ask. So here goes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.’
Nick laughed. ‘I think I know what’s coming. The answer is…’ He stopped theatrically. ‘Yes. Why not? I’d be happy to.’
‘You don’t know what the question is,’ Ella pointed out.
He traced a finger over the lettering on an unused beermat lying on the table in front of him. ‘I think I do.’ He turned to Hetty. ‘You’re asking me to stand in for Karl?’
‘Will you?’ said Hetty.
‘I don’t work with my father normally – because, well, he can be difficult, you know how it is,’ said Nick. ‘In the circumstances, I’m up for the challenge.’
Relieved that Nick had agreed to bail the production out, Hetty stopped worriedly twiddling her earring. ‘You’re a life saver.’
‘It’s been quite the day for saving lives,’ Ella said thoughtfully.
Nick nodded. He seemed to sense the incongruity between him stepping in to help, and the seriousness of the real life that had been saved. ‘Don’t let me leave here tonight without a copy of the script,’ he said. ‘And your mobile number, Hetty… my agent will want to call you.’
‘Fabulous,’ said Hetty. ‘Thank you, Nick.’
The bar buzzed with conversation and bursts of merriment. Nick turned towards Ella. ‘Who’d have thought it? Me and Drake on the same set.’
‘I know right,’ said Ella, delighted that he was on board, and the shoot could go ahead. ‘Drake’s been a sweetheart today. No sign of his infamous alter-ego.’
‘Wonders will never cease.’ Nick raised his eyebrows.
‘You two seem to be getting on okay.’
He shrugged. ‘He was a nightmare after he divorced my mother. Things were rocky for a long time – too long. Lately, he’s a lot less intense – thankfully.’
Callum, having made sure that all things computer were running smoothly for Gary, came in and sat down at the table, across from Ella and Nick. Drake spotted him and returned from the bar with two pints of beer. He set one down in front of each.
‘You’re not going to believe this,’ Callum said. ‘I heard in Reception there’s been another lifeboat callout. According to Gary, someone is stranded at the cave by the tide.’
‘In the dark? That doesn’t sound good,’ said Nick.
‘I don’t understand it,’ said Drake. ‘People are idiots. Can’t they read? There are warning signs on the beach.’
‘They’re easy to miss,’ said Ella. ‘If you’re walking, and daydreaming, and not paying attention.’ She and Callum shared a knowing look.
Nick gave her a nudge. ‘Like you, you mean?’
‘Hey,’ said Ella, deciding not to mention what had happened in May when Callum had nearly been stranded, or the incident with Saffie in the cave which had caused so much upset. ‘I’ll have you know I’ve got my head screwed on. I know the tide times like the alphabet.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Nick.
Ella sipped her drink.
‘Could be a city person like me,’ said Hetty. ‘I don’t know the first thing about the sea.’
‘Or a teenager?’ said Drake. ‘No sense of urgency – if memories of my sons at that age serve me well.’
‘I hope whoever it is, is okay,’ said Ella. ‘There’s been too much real-life drama for one day.’
Wearing a troubled expression, Gary strode into the bar and straight up to the table. ‘Sorry to interrupt. Bad news, I’m afraid.’
‘What is it?’ Hetty asked.
Silenced, they all looked up at him.
‘The young woman who’s been rescued from the cave – she’s one of your lot. A Lily Matteson.’
‘What?’ Hetty’s eyes scanned the bar in a panic. ‘That can’t be right. She’s here, isn’t she?’
‘No,’ said Drake. ‘I saw Lily after dinner. She was going to her room. What the devil was she doing at the cave? She told me she’d be running lines.’
Hetty automatically pinched her earlobe. ‘Is she okay?’
‘She’s safe,’ said Gary. ‘She’s been taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, according to the doc on the lifeboat crew, her arm is broken. He says she’ll have to wear a cast for weeks. I’m sorry to be the bearer of more bad news, but I thought you’d like a heads-up.’
‘I’d better get over there.’ Hetty looked at Gary. ‘Can you call me a taxi?’
Callum hadn’t touched his drink. ‘No need to wait for one,’ he said. ‘I’ll drive you.’
‘I’ll come too,’ said Drake.
Hetty pressed a hand to his arm. ‘I can handle it. You stay here and enjoy your catch-up.’ She sprang out of her seat. ‘Nick,’ she said, smiling at him, ‘I’ll have someone drop the details you need at Reception.’ A thought occurred to her. ‘By the way, there’s a scene with a horse, but don’t worry about it. We shot it already. We used a stuntman.’
Sorry that he was leaving, Ella watched Callum’s back as he and Hetty disappeared into the hotel lobby. Returning her focus to Drake and Nick, her gaze travelled between them. ‘Now what? Where are they going to find another spare actor?’
Drake leaned his elbows on the table and rubbed his temples. ‘What possessed her? Wandering off without telling anyone. Two casualties in one day,’ he complained. ‘It beggars belief.’
Ella feared that this second upset might destroy Drake’s calm mood. ‘Hetty will get onto the casting director. They’ll think of someone,’ she said, answering her own question.
‘They better,’ said Drake grumpily. He picked up his glass of iced mineral water and glugged it down. ‘My seat to LA is booked and I have no wish to cancel.’
‘So, fill me in, Dad.’ Nick sounded upbeat. ‘Tell me about my character.’
‘He’s a liar, a cad and a thief.’
‘Great.’
‘He steals money and promises to elope with Lily’s character. She goes to the rendezvous and the scoundrel has done a runner. He’s already married, see?’
Nick leaned an elbow on the table and propped his chin on his hand. He studied Ella thoughtfully. ‘Poor Lily. Whatever will we do without her?’ A slow smile curved across his lips.
Drake sat up straight in his chair and stared at Nick. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
‘I’m thinking the answer to the problem is sitting not a million miles away.’
Drake chuckled. ‘The solution is staring me in the face.’
‘What?’ Ella’s reaction was startled. ‘Oh no! No, no. No, no, no.’
Ignoring her protests, Drake picked up his drink and clinked glasses first with Ella, and then Nick.
‘Cheers. Your good health,’ he said. ‘You, Ella, are exactly who we need. You’re perfect to replace Lily.’
‘I don’t think so. I don’t do this anymore. It’s not my thing.’ Afraid of being bulldozed out of hiding, Ella’s heart raced. ‘It’s a non-starter. I don’t know how.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Drake, ‘it’s like riding a bicycle. You and Nick will have a blast. You were fantastic together in Vampires.’
‘Those days are long gone,’ said Ella, scrabbling to think of a way to get off the hook.
‘Hetty will make sure you’re comfortable. And if anything doesn’t feel right, they’ll cut around it, tidy things up in post-production.’ Drake’s tone had the confidence of someone for whom the deal was done.
‘No way.’ He’d tapped into her biggest insecurity about the acting work she’d done. ‘That’s it exactly. I can’t do an authentic job.’
‘It’s two or three days’ work, of course you’ll do it well,’ said Drake. ‘You’ll be outstanding.’
‘You’re a stellar talent,’ said Nick. ‘That doesn’t go away.’
‘At least say you’ll talk to Hetty about it,’ Drake said.
‘Fine.’ Ella held up the palms of her hands, deciding to half-agree and hope that Hetty would hate the idea. ‘Let’s wait and see. For all we know, she already has a substitute for Lily in mind, and she’ll be on set tomorrow, ready to go.’
Drake took his mobile phone out of his pocket. ‘Let’s ask her.’
He tapped a quick text message.
‘What are you doing?’ Ella’s heart climbed into her throat. ‘You mustn’t bother her. They won’t be at the hospital yet. She won’t have had time to think about it.’
The phone pinged. ‘Ha!’ Drake’s chest swelled with satisfaction. ‘Hetty and I are in agreement.’
‘Great minds think alike, hey?’ said Nick.
Ella scowled at him.
‘It’s official.’ Drake put his phone away. ‘Hetty says the part is yours.’
Picking up on the conversation at Drake’s table, the chatter in the bar hushed.
Drake stood up to address the actors and crew. ‘I have an announcement.’ His voice boomed across the room.
‘Wait,’ Nick whispered, ‘Ella didn’t say yes.’
Drake kept going. ‘I’d like to present our new cast members. My son – Nick.’ A round of applause echoed around the bar. ‘And someone else who needs no introductions. Ella Swift.’
She wished the ground would open up and swallow her. But Nick squeezed her hand encouragingly, giving her the strength to believe that she could do this. Someone at the back whooped and whistled – she couldn’t see who, but it might have been Gary – and everybody cheered, filling her with warmth, and suddenly the prospect of working again didn’t feel so daunting after all.
* * *
It was after one o’clock in the morning, and Ella and barman Jamie were the only people left in the bar when Callum and Hetty returned from the hospital. Lily was being kept in to see an orthopaedic consultant first thing in the morning. Ella had been counting on getting a lift back to Karadow Hall with Callum, and didn’t mind waiting so late, turning down offers from Nick and other locals.
As he drove the campervan along the dark, winding lanes of the headland she brought him up to speed.
He glowered at the road ahead. ‘So, you were forced into it? I don’t like the sound of this.’
‘You got that from what I said?’ She gulped. ‘Admittedly, I was dead against it at first. I thought nothing could persuade me to go back to acting.’
‘What changed?’
‘I’m not sure anything has, but I’m willing to give it a go, this once – seeing as it’s working with Drake and Nick.’
He found a small space to park on the driveway, squeezed the campervan into it, pulled on the handbrake and cut the engine. She leaned across from the passenger seat and brushed his cheek with a whisper of a kiss. ‘Thanks for bringing me home. I’m glad you’re staying.’
She wished he would take her in his arms and catch her lips with his and kiss her. It didn’t happen.
‘You’re welcome.’
She opened the passenger door and jumped out. He followed and, in the moonlight, they made their way between the dark shapes.
‘The set has come to you,’ he said.
She laughed. ‘You know what? I feel alright about it. Nervous, but quite okay really. I didn’t expect that.’
All the windows in the house were dark, except for the kitchen, where Jessie and Oliver sat at the table playing Scrabble, two figures silhouetted against the light. Asleep in her crate lay little Juno. Jessie was proving to be a very willing and experienced puppy-sitter. ‘I should say hi, double-check I can park here overnight.’
It had been a long day, and it was very late. Used to coming and going as she pleased, she dug in her handbag for her keys.
‘I’ll say goodnight then.’
‘I’ll walk to the door with you.’
He accompanied her around the side of the black, shadowy building. At the top of the steps, she turned the key in the door and it swung open to reveal a pool of moonlight illuminating the grand staircase through the glass dome above the hallway. She spun around and looked down at him where he stood at the bottom of the steps.
‘You can go see Jessie this way.’
He joined her in the moonlit hall and she opened the door to the kitchen corridor. She pressed the light switch.
‘Ta-dah,’ she said. ‘All light bulbs present and correct.’
He stepped through the door into the clutter-free corridor. ‘It’s a miracle.’
‘It wasn’t that hard when we put our minds to it.’
‘See you tomorrow?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered.
She watched his back as he walked down the tidy corridor. He was constantly walking away from her. As he knocked on the kitchen door, opened it, walked through and closed it behind him, she had never felt lonelier in her life. What made Callum different was that he’d been hurt. Emotion burned in her heart. All she knew for real was that she had a deep desire for him, and she didn’t want to see him go for good without doing something about it.