Page 50 of Love Me Till Wednesday

Then, it was the new guy’s turn. Was this Jim? He seemed in a hurry to sit down. He was a lot younger than the rest of the band and incredibly nervous. It was probably his first television appearance. Nick sat down next to him. ‘It'll be fine,’ he said, trying to reassure him. Jim didn’t reply.

Meanwhile, Lisa was indulging Andy's banter. Angry Lisa was nowhere to be seen. She still had the qualities that drew him to her all those years ago and she was looking good. They'd have made a good team. If only. He realised he’d stopped paying attention to the conversation.

Andy had turned to the new guy. ‘So Jim, as the baby of the band, how are you finding working with your mum?’

Nick snapped back to the present. Mum? The new guy was Lisa’s son? That explained the age difference.

‘I'm 32, so I'm not that much of a baby.’ Jim laughed shyly, attempting to appear relaxed.

‘You play bass just like the great Jonny Hart,’ Andy said.

‘Jonny taught me everything I know about music. He was like a father to me.’ Jim looked pointedly at Nick.

32. Blue piercing eyes. Nick did the mental arithmetic. He felt the blood drain from his face.

‘You alright mate?’ Andy looked concerned.

‘Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit of jet lag.’ Nick concentrated hard on appearing normal, but inside, his heart was racing even faster.Don't jump to conclusions! He must be someone else's son.There was the photo in the press of Lisa with that blonde, blue-eyed fit bloke that Catriona had shown him when they were filming in Greece. That must be why Lisa had said, ‘Don't mention Jim.’

Andy was still looking worried. ‘Let's take a five-minute break, everybody.’

He turned back to Nick. ‘You look like a ghost. Something disagreed with you?’

‘Possibly.’

Lisa was looking at him too now.

‘We need to talk,’ he said.

Nick quickly shut his dressing room door behind Lisa. She’d not said a word to him as they had walked quickly along the corridor from the studio. His mind had been working overtime. He couldn’t be Jim’s father. She’d have told him years ago, surely.

‘I … I didn't know what you meant earlier,’ he said as he motioned her to sit on the sofa.

Lisa put her finger to her lips and pointed to the microphone clipped to her top. Good job she was on the ball. He didn't want this conversation getting into the tabloids. He reached round behind her and unplugged her microphone from the battery pack. She did the same for him. Then she quickly stepped back out of his personal space like she was afraid to be so close to him.

‘You understand why I wanted to talk to you now,’ she said.

Before he could answer, there was a knock on the door. ‘Nick are you ok? Do you need anything?’

‘My publicist, Suki, ’ he explained to Lisa. ‘Suki, I just need a few minutes alone with Lisa. Can you stop anyone from interrupting us?’

‘If you’re sure.’

‘Yes, I’m absolutely sure. Thanks.’

He turned his attention back to Lisa. He couldn't read what mood she was in. Just say it, Nick. ‘I guess Jim’s father is that bloke you left me for.’

She looked bemused. ‘What?’

‘The guy you were in a rush to replace me with.’

She frowned. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

‘I can’t remember his name. It was over all the tabloids. Catriona insisted on having the English newspapers delivered on set when we were in Greece. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?’

‘Oh my god. Phil? He was our security man.’

‘But there loads of photos of you together.’

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