Page 43 of Second Act at Appleton Green
When she descended the stairs, she noticed Nick and Gran talking happily in the living room. Gran in her chair and Nick on the sofa.
As Lily walked in, he looked up and smiled warmly, making her heart skip a beat.
‘Ready?’ he questioned.
Lily nodded and quickly kissed Gran on the cheek. ‘Don’t get into too much trouble while I’m gone,’ she warned.
Gran waved them off with a knowing smile. ‘You two are having fun. And, Nick, make sure you get her back at a reasonable hour or she will turn into a pumpkin. It’s a genetic thing,’ she joked.
Lily kissed her grandmother goodbye. ‘You’re incorrigible,’ she said.
‘Good,’ said Gran. ‘I plan on remaining that way. Now off you go.’
Soon they were driving through the countryside, in Nick’s work car.
‘Why did you lie to Jessica about today?’ she asked.
‘Wow, okay, straight into it,’ he said as he drove.
‘It made me feel uncomfortable,’ she said.
‘I know, me also,’ he replied. ‘But the less Jessica knows about me and you the better. She’s got a way of twisting things and I didn’t want her to ruin this, because I like you, a lot,’ he said and he glanced at Lily.
She felt herself blush again, and she nodded. ‘I think I understand.’
‘It’s just this is new, and I like you and I don’t want it being ruined before it’s started.’
She wanted to ask if he meant friendship or more but said nothing. There was enough tension in the air.
‘So, where do you live?’ she asked him instead. ‘I don’t really know anything about you. Give me the Nick life’s story.’
He laughed. ‘Okay, I’m thirty-three, parents still married. Dad works in government and Mum is a nursery school teacher. I have two sisters, both older. One is a nurse – she influenced me to be a nurse, she loved it so much. The other sister runs the foodbank in Silverton.’
‘Gosh, your whole family is so community-minded,’ Lily said.
‘Maybe, I mean we’re a normal family, it’s just I suppose we like helping people. It’s how I grew up; it doesn’t mean everyone has to do that,’ he said. ‘We can’t all do one thing; everyone brings their special something to the world.’
Lily thought for a moment. ‘You’re right, that’s true. Sometimes I used to wonder that my pursuit of being on the West End was shallow, ego-driven.’
‘I get it,’ said Nick. ‘But probably it’s because you love to sing and act and dance and wanted to share it with audiences. Because my family and others are the ones in the audience; it gives us the relief from the hard day or difficult jobs. Everyone matters.’
‘I like that,’ she said. ‘So do you live at home?’
‘No.’ He laughed. ‘I bought a little flat in Silverton, close to Mum and Dad but not too close.’ He gave Lily a look and she nodded.
‘Yes, my mother would have me live next door if she could, but still ensure I was close to the theatre.’
‘It’s a nice flat; I bought it last year. I mean it’s nothing flash – nurses’ wages, you know,’ he said.
‘Do you like living in Silverton?’
‘I’ve lived there all my life. I don’t know any different,’ he said. ‘I mean it’s okay, not much community, you know but it’s nice enough. I don’t think I would stay there forever. I’d like to live somewhere like Appleton Green, doing district nursing like I do already; but the cottages are few and far between,’ he said. ‘Tell me about your place in London.’
‘It’s a nice flat, not big – it’s just Nigel and me. We don’t own it or anything; we rent it.’
Nick nodded and they drove for a bit.
She looked out the window, mentally comparing the scene to her life in London. The rolling hills draped in emerald, sheep like little white dots in the distance, and then there was London, all severe angles and steel and so many people on the streets.
