Page 13 of Only You

It turned out a famous movie star had been in, and Ana hadn’t even noticed. Ana laughed along with the other girls while they all changed out of their uniforms. She approached Julie to thank her for her help and support over the evening. She appreciated all the other young women had done to make her first shift as pain-free as possible.

“How did your first shift go?” Ana spun around to find Robin Downsend behind her.

It shocked Ana to see him. She had expected him to leave it to the maître d’ to discuss her work with her.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” she said, meaning every word. “And Julie has been amazing.”

Julie appeared at her shoulder, grinning as if sensing she was being talked about.

“We’ve got a good one here, boss,” she said, slinging her arm around Ana’s shoulder.

Robin smiled. “We discussed potential shifts earlier. Are you still happy with those?”

Ana nodded, her heart growing lighter. It looked like she had a job. A well-paid one at that. She wanted to jump up and down on the spot and do a happy dance but refrained.

Instead, she heard herself croak out, “Yes.”

“Fantastic, welcome on board.”

Robin shook her hand before turning and leaving.

Julie grabbed Ana in a bear hug.

“Yay! It’s going to be so fun working together.”

Ana hugged Julie back. From speaking to Millie and George, landing the best job, and bumping into her ex-brother-in-law, Ana had to admit the day had been surreal.

Chapter Seven

Andrew

Andrew arrived at the television studio and delivered himself to makeup, dropping into one of the vacant chairs. These early morning starts were hard going, but it helped he didn’t have to worry about Olivia—yet.

Forgetting his parent’s trip had been a massive error on his part. He recalled his mum and dad telling him about their plans, their initial excitement. He’d been completely supportive of it, telling them not to worry about him and Olivia. How could he resent them for their retirement? His father had worked hard. They’d always put his and his brother’s needs ahead of their own. But he had to admit, he was in dire straits.

“Tough week?” Sally, his usual makeup artist, said, moving in front of him and getting out her things.

“You could say that,” Andrew said, rubbing his hand over his face before Sally pulled it away and gave him an over-the-top-of-her-glasses scowl. She had told him many times not to rub his face.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly.

“Come on, share. A problem shared is a problem halved,” she said as she set to work doing his makeup.

Andrew sighed. Sally had been amazing the past few months since he’d first been dragged into this crazy world of TV. She always asked after Olivia and ribbed him about his growing popularity. She had been in the business for thirty years and was one of the most down-to-earth people he had ever met. At seven in the morning, she made him laugh by recounting stories of some stars she had made up in the past. However, she was always professional enough not to mention names.

“My parents are taking a trip to Australia in four weeks, and I forgot.”

“Oh... but don’t they look after Olivia?” she started, stopping her brush strokes and staring at him.

“Yes. I forgot,” Andrew said, raising his hand to his hair, only to have it captured and returned to the chair arm.

“Wow. That is quite theI forgot,” Sally stated. Her face turned serious. “So, what are you going to do?”

“Nanny or au pair,” Andrew sighed. “That is my job for the rest of the day,” Andrew said, changing the subject.

It stressed him enough.

“What you need, young man, is to get out and meet someone,” Sally said, adding setting powder to the foundation she had applied.

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