The House Guest - Mark Edwards Page 0,13

looked back. She was standing still, staring across at where Mets and Muscles were chatting, oblivious to her glare. It was as if she were filming them with her eyes, fixing them in her memory.

Finally, she turned away and went in to get changed.

Chapter 7

Ruth came into the house, letting the door bang shut behind her, threw her bag on to the dining table and herself on to the sofa. She let out a long, dramatic groan.

‘What happened?’ I asked. A few hours had passed since we’d got back from the pool, but I was still a little shaken. Eden hadn’t wanted to talk about it much and had gone up to her room for a nap.

‘Oh, just . . . intense rehearsals again. Sally’s really putting us through it.’ She closed her eyes and her chest rose as she took a long, deep breath. When she opened them again, she said, ‘It’s all worth it, though. This play . . . You’re going to love it, Adam. I can’t wait for opening night.’

‘You’re not nervous?’

‘Of course I am. To actually step on to a Broadway stage.’ She clutched her stomach dramatically. ‘I’ll probably be sick.’

‘Well, that will be some debut.’

She smiled but didn’t seem particularly amused. ‘I actually do feel scared, Adam.’

‘You’ll be great. I’m—’

She didn’t let me finish. ‘I don’t just mean about the play. I’m sure first-night nerves are similar whatever stage you’re on. I almost vomited the first time I did that play above that pub.’

‘I remember.’ Her first lead role, in a tiny production in one of London’s smallest venues. We’d only been together a few months and it was the first time I realised she might actually make it; that one day she could be famous.

‘I’m talking about everything that comes after,’ she said. ‘As soon as this run’s over, we’ll be off to LA. I just got another new script to look at from Jayne.’ That was her agent, who was based in the UK. ‘It’s like I’m standing at this junction, with a dozen different paths to choose between and not a clue which one to take.’

Something or someone had clearly got her riled up today. For weeks she had been saying she only wanted to concentrate on the play and not think about anything else. Maybe it had been Sally, or one of the other actors, or perhaps something she’d seen on social media.

‘What does Jayne say?’ I asked.

‘Oh, well, she’s just going to want me to take whatever pays the most, isn’t she? She sent me a terrible script for this ridiculous action movie. A girlfriend role. But the money is insane.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Jayne’s great for British theatre and TV but I’m starting to wonder if she’s the right person for me now.’

I was taken aback. She hadn’t mentioned any of this before.

‘I was talking to Eden about it and she thinks I should do more indie films. Build a cult following . . .’

‘Wait. Is Eden an expert?’

‘Did I hear my name?’

Eden had come silently down the stairs.

‘Oh, we were just talking about the future,’ Ruth said. ‘Adam thinks I should take the dumb action role.’

‘What? No, I don’t!’

Ruth sat up and put her head in her hands. ‘Oh God, I don’t know what to do. If I make the wrong move . . .’

Eden sat beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Take a deep breath. I’m sure whatever you do—’

‘No, you’re wrong. It would be so easy to fuck it up now. It happens all the time. People make promises, tell you something is going to happen, and then they let you down.’

I went over. ‘Ruth, come on.’

‘Don’t “come on” me.’ She paused, then laughed. ‘Oh God, that sounded really rude.’ She kept laughing, and Eden and I joined in. It broke the tension. ‘I’m sorry,’ Ruth said. ‘It’s been a long day. Sometimes I let everything get to me.’ She stood up and gave me a hug. ‘It’s going to be all right, isn’t it? Whatever happens.’

‘Of course it is. But we should talk about this.’

‘I know. But not tonight, eh?’

It was half seven but it seemed less bright than normal outside. I went over to the window. The sky had clouded over. ‘Looks like it’s going to rain again.’

‘There’s going to be a storm. Can’t you feel it?’

I could. The air was heavy, oppressive, and the A/C was struggling to keep the house cool. Apparently, updating this ancient air conditioning