Page 26 of Ex in the City
‘Standing next to you,’ I tell him simply.
The playground feels different today, with significantly fewer au pairs and more mums around. The boss-level mums – Rebecca, Carolyn, Teresa and Deanna – are all here, although they’ve left their cauldrons, black cats and broomsticks at home. They all very much look like they’re in the stance for causing trouble, though – the fact that they’re here at all is bad vibes. They’re like the four horsewomen of the apocalypse, although I don’t dare to consider which one is which.
Lisa comes running toward us, her face bright red as she bounds over like a hyperactive spaniel – confirming for me that when I met her earlier in the week and she thought she knew me, it probably was because she was a Dylan King fan.
I accept that I am affiliated with Dylan again, for lack of a better term, but I still desperately don’t want anyone to recall why Lisa might remember me. My brief run-in with the tabloid press – with personal photos of me gracing the pages – was nothing but a big misunderstanding. Of course, if you only look at the first story they printed, and not the one where I proved my innocence, it looks bad. The last thing I need is for that scandal to rear its ugly head. No one in this village will care that I cleared my name, only that it got muddied in the first place.
‘You’re Dylan King,’ Lisa informs him, rather pointlessly.
It’s amazing how many people remind Dylan who he is – then again, back in the day, he often forgot.
‘I am,’ he says with a smile.
‘I was in love with you,’ she informs him, before leaning in closer, lowering her voice. ‘I still am.’
‘That’s very nice of you to say,’ he replies politely – a phrase he always used to use to reply to fans declaring this, and probably women he’s dated too.
‘Dylan,’ another voice calls out. ‘Dylan, hello.’
It’s Jo Morgan, the boys’ head teacher, who cannot hide her delight to be seeing Dylan again.
‘We were hoping we might see you again,’ she says, confirming my thoughts. ‘I was going to ask Nicole if you might be in the area for any length of time.’
Dylan looks at me before answering the question.
‘Yeah, sticking around for a little while,’ he replies.
Jo’s enthusiasm is palpable.
‘The reason I ask… The children – the older children, that is, this is an all-through school – were so excited for their musical this year,’ she explains. ‘However, their music and drama teacher, Ms Telford, is off sick – we don’t know for how long. What the kids need is some musical direction, even if it’s just a talk, to help get the show back on the road.’
Dylan looks at me for guidance, and I nod with an encouraging smile. Helping the kids with their musical could only generate positive publicity – and it would genuinely help them out too.
‘Okay, sure,’ Dylan says.
‘Okay, sure?’ Jo repeats in astonishment. ‘What shall I put you down for? A pep talk? A one-off lesson?’
‘Happy to help in any way I can,’ he says generously, but oh-so casually. ‘I could meet the kids, see where they’re at, maybe do a few rehearsals with them? That way, they can get everything together, and it’s just a case of practising it until it’s time to perform.’
Jo claps her hands so loudly that one of the older women at the other side of the playground ducks.
‘The show will go on,’ she declares. ‘We were going to have a Parents and Teachers Society meeting in the morning – do you think you can attend?’
‘I’ll be there,’ Dylan agrees. ‘Can Nic come too?’
‘Of course, she would be more than welcome,’ Jo replies. ‘I’ve been trying to get Ms Wilde to join PATS for some time now.’
I force a smile. Even the fact they call it ‘pats’ annoys me – I’ve avoided it like the plague.
‘Marvellous, just marvellous,’ Jo continues. ‘Well, I’ll leave you to collect your children, and I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Can I charge you extra for this?’ I jokily ask Dylan once we’re alone.
‘Sure,’ he says through a laugh. ‘I actually think it might be fun.’
‘The mums aren’t all as friendly as Lisa,’ I warn him.
Eventually, Archie and Ned come charging over to us.
