Page 82 of Second Act at Appleton Green
‘You all right, darling?’ Denise was by Lily’s side, watching her face.
‘Yes, fine,’ she said, smiling brightly at her mother.
‘No, you’re distracted,’ said Denise. ‘I might not know what’s right for you but I know you.’
Lily looked at her mother, and felt her eyes sting. ‘Nick’s ex is here. She’s been really difficult. Like really difficult.’
‘Well I know when a man is in love and that man adores you, and he’s worth being here for. He’s just lovely, Lily,’ Denise said.
Lily sighed. ‘I don’t know. Why didn’t he tell me she was coming?’
‘Maybe he didn’t know,’ said Denise putting her arm around Lily. ‘I feel like I’ve ruined you somehow.’
‘What do you mean?’ Lily asked.
‘I think I put so much time into telling you what to do that I ended up stifling your ability to trust yourself,’ Denise said.
Lily looked at her and saw her mother’s face. ‘You know, I did stand up to her a few times and I even quit the show for a while but seeing her tonight, it really threw me.’
Denise turned to her daughter and held her face in her hands. ‘You have everything you want right now, Lily. Don’t let your newfound freedom here get waylaid by anyone, least of all an ex-girlfriend.’
Lily nodded. ‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘Thanks, Mum. I needed that reminder.’
Nick stood up from talking to Gran and she smiled at Lily and she nodded at him. He came to her side and Denise stepped away.
‘We’re taking Gran back to the hospital,’ Denise said to Lily.
Lily said her goodbye as Nick waited.
‘My family are at the pub. Do you want to and come and see them? I didn’t think now was the right time for them to meet your gran and parents.’
Lily was silent for a moment. ‘What did Jessica want?’ she asked.
Nick shook his head sadly. ‘She wanted to talk to you, to say sorry, but I told her to leave you alone. That she’d done enough damage.’
‘Why was she crying?’ Lily asked, shaking her head in disbelief.
‘Because I told her I loved you,’ he said, his eyes searching hers.
Lily felt her mouth drop. ‘Oh, Nick,’ she said.
‘If you don’t feel that way, let me know. I mean I will still hang around anyway in case you change your mind; but Lily, I think you’re so talented and I know you love it here but I do think you should try again in London, if you want to, that is.’
‘But you hate London,’ she said to him.
‘No, I don’t hate London. I don’t have any opinion on it really but I love you, so if you said you wanted to be in Outer Somalia to pursue anything you wanted, I would follow.’
She leaned up and kissed him.
‘I love you too, Nick, I do; but I don’t think I want that. I want to be here. I just need to get Gran home and well.’
‘Well we can do anything, as long as we’re together,’ he said.
Lily smiled at him. ‘Okay, let’s go and get a drink,’ she said. ‘I really hope Jessica won’t be there.’
‘And if she is, have a great time anyway. She’s not an issue for us, okay?’ Nick took the flowers and cards from her arms. ‘Let me put these in the car and then I’ll come back and walk you to the pub.’
Lily nodded as the crowd started to dissipate and she stood alone at the front of the hall.
