Page 7 of Crying in the Rain

“Thanks, honey.”

She hovered until he looked up at her but said nothing further, just gave him a sad smile and, with a courteous nod for Kris, returned to the counter.

“My mate,” Ade said. “Pip.”

Kris hadn’t planned on asking.

“We go way back.” Ade lifted a minuscule amount of egg to his mouth, knocked most of it back onto the plate with his top lip and swallowed with a grimace.

Kris averted his eyes, no desire to watch Ade eat, particularly as he seemed self-conscious doing so in front of someone else. The script was a handy tactical retreat, and it wouldn’t hurt to go through his lines…yet again. He’d never forgotten them during a performance, but that didn’t diminish his fear that he might, which was higher than usual. For some bizarre reason, it mattered to him that he didn’t embarrass himself in front of Ade.

I’m working on the play with you today, Ade had said.One of the other actors?Kris’s script only indicated his part, not who was cast in the other roles.Production team?He couldn’t very well ask the question when the guy was eating—or trying to eat was a more accurate description, and the little progress he had made with his breakfast came to a complete stop when he realised Kris was looking at him again. Rumbled, Kris blushed.

“Sorry. I was wondering…” His explanation petered out when Ade flinched and pressed his hand to his cheek. “Toothache?” Kris guessed.

Ade tilted his head from side to side—a ‘kind of’ response—and pushed his plate away. He gestured to the script. “What do you think?”

“It’s fab. I’ve been in one of O’Connor’s plays before—the one about the air crew and the passenger who gives birth during the flight. I can’t remember what it’s called. I think I’ve used up all my memory on my lines.” Kris smiled nervously.

“You’ve learnt your lines?”

“Yeah. I always do, and then I forget them all again, until I have to perform them for real. Like now? If you were to ask me to recite any of the script, I’d fluff it within about three words. Once I get into the studio? No problem.”

“We have digital editions in the studio, so no page-turning…”

“I know, I know. I just prefer to learn them beforehand. It gives me a better chance of getting properly into role. So would I be right in thinking you’re part of the production team?”

“Yes,” Ade confirmed. “As in it’s my team.”

“You’re the producer?”

Ade nodded.

“Cool.” That did nothing to settle Kris’s nerves. He sidetracked. “I wish I could remember the name of that play.”

“The one about the plane?”

“Yeah. Do you know the one I mean?”

“I do. And you’ll to kick yourself when I tell you.”

Kris made one last concerted effort to remember and shook his head.

“Air Born.”

“Of course!” He laughed at his temporary stupidness. “I wouldn’t mind, but it was only a couple of years ago.”

“I don’t think I caught that, but I have heard you as Doctor Derbyshire. You’re a talented actor.”

“Thanks, although it’s an easy role…” Kris sighed and reconsidered his comment. “I probably shouldn’t say this to someone from a rival station, but it’s not a good work environment there, which is why I auditioned forOn Sunday. I’m considering going for some TV auditions too.”

Ade nodded in approval. “You’d go far, especially with the obsession with Scandinavian shows at the moment. That’s a guess on my part…”

“You guessed right,” Kris said. “I’m Swedish, but I grew up in England.”

“Hence no accent.”

“No, but I can fake it if I have to.”

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