Real Love Read online

  ‘I hope this doesn’t mean you’re going to fall behind with your schoolwork?’

  Jake rolled his eyes. ‘Come on, Gran. Don’t be a killjoy!’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Howard’ Alexa said apologetically. She’d made Jake happy with the gift, but Daisy’s Mum was clearly a tougher nut.

  ‘Don’t apologise’ Daisy interjected. ‘It was a very thoughtful present. Wasn’t it, Mum?’ she prompted.

  Kathy surprised everyone in the room by replying. ‘Yes, Alexa, sorry. You’ll have to forgive my manners. We’re very pleased to have you for dinner this evening, Daisy’s told us all about you. Now, if I give you a glass of wine, do you promise not to throw it in my face?’

  Kathy had never made a joke before so there was a slight silence as everyone tried to decide how to react. But Alexa, the butt of the joke, made the call. She laughed, a genuine sound of delight. Now that those days were behind her, it wasn’t such a sore spot.

  In fact, now with the ending she’d forced them to shoot, Alexa felt like Laid in Medford hadn’t been such the waste it had seemed at the time. The girl in the coffee shop – Tara - had taught her that. And Alexa hoped that she’d made LIM mean something for the Tara’s of the world, that they would be reminded that they didn’t have to make the choices they thought they were supposed to, they could choose something for themselves. That’s what Alexa had done. She’d decided that what she’d said to Tara was good advice and worth listening to herself. It was alright to be happy.

  ‘I promise to keep my wine in the glass’ Alexa said to Kathy and Daisy poured her a glass, giving it to her with a wink.

  In a moment alone, Alexa had to ask Daisy something. ‘How am I doing?’

  Daisy smiled. ‘You don’t need to worry. You’re a hit. Speaking of which, are you still on for Thursday?’

  ‘What, to meet your friend who called me a serial showmancer?’

  ‘That’s the one. But she’s alright, really. She’s just a bit young and too certain of everything.’

  ‘I forgive her. But I am going to give her a hard time. I hope you’re alright with that?’

  Daisy grinned, wickedly. ‘Have at it.’

  As everyone finished their shepherd’s pie, Daisy felt confident that the evening could be considered a success. Everyone had been very polite through dinner and Kathy’s cooking had been spot on.

  Kathy had asked about Alexa’s plans now that she’d quit Laid in Medford and Alexa had told her that she was still waiting to see what would happen, but that she was optimistic. ‘My agent tried to talk me into more reality shows but I told him I would only do real acting from now on. And lo and behold, he found me an audition for a crime drama. We’ll see, though.’

  They also talked about Daisy’s play. Because it turned out that Ashley Kane kept her promises. She’d been talking Daisy up in the theatre world, telling them not to be such silly snobs and encouraging them to watch her performance on TV. A lot of them wouldn’t listen, declaring that they wouldn’t watch the show if their eyelids were stapled open. But one person had taken Ashley seriously. She was a director with a tiny play opening in a tiny theatre. And she’d happened to be at Daisy’s drama school showcase and remembered her. She decided she’d give Daisy a go, inviting her to an audition. Daisy obliged and was promptly given the lead in In the Dead of Night.

  ‘So it’s all turned out right, then’ Kathy said. ‘Even Jake’s got a part in Oliver!’

  Jake went pink. ‘Gran!’

  ‘What? I don’t care if you don’t want me to talk about it. I’m proud. Of both of you,’ she said, looking from Jake to Daisy.

  ‘I think you’ve had a bit too much to drink, Mum’ Daisy said, trying to laugh the compliment off.

  Kathy tutted, hurt. Daisy realised she’d spoiled a lovely moment. ‘But thank you, Mum. If it wasn’t for you, I couldn’t have gotten to this point. Thanks to you, I hope I never have to temp again.’

  Kathy pressed a napkin to her face, pretending she’d gotten some food on her cheek. But Daisy saw that she was wiping away a small tear. She realised she should have said it sooner, how grateful she was. Her Mum wasn’t perfect, but she’d done the best she could. And Daisy hadn’t been lying. She wouldn’t be where she was if not for her.

  ‘So, anyway’ Kathy said loudly, trying to cover her emotional leak. ‘Who’s ready for pudding?’

  Everyone cried out that they would love some and Kathy jumped up, going to the kitchen to fetch her summer fruit cheesecake.

  And then it was just Daisy, Jake and Alexa.

  ‘So, I heard you’re playing The Artful Dodger?’ Alexa said to Jake. ‘That’s the best part, isn’t it?’

  Jake was still a bit pink but he said ‘Yeah. It’s great. I get to wear a top hat and nick people’s wallets.’

  For Daisy, that was more information than she’d ever gotten out of him. But she didn’t care. It was just good to see him happy.

  ‘What’s that song The Artful Dodger sings? ‘Consider yourself’?’

  ‘Yeah! And it’s only me singing it at first and then everyone joins in’ he explained, warming to the topic. ‘And then I sing a song with this girl who plays Nancy, and it’s called ‘I’d do anything’. But it’s mostly my song.’

  Alexa nodded, impressed. ‘That sounds great. Any chance I could come and watch the show?’

  Daisy thought that Alexa had fouled up with that request because she hadn’t even gotten an invitation yet. But Jake said easily, ‘It’s on next Thursday. You can come with Mum and Gran if you like.’

  Daisy smiled to herself as her son went on about the show and all the things he got to do in it. And Alexa listened, genuinely absorbed. Jake and Alexa liked each other. There was no denying it.

  And then the cheesecake arrived, via Kathy. She plonked it down and said, ‘Did I miss anything?’

  ‘We’re invited to see Jake’s show’ Daisy told her.

  ‘Are we? Well, will wonders never cease?’

  It was a classic phrase of her mother’s, typically sarcastic. But as Daisy reached underneath the table to squeeze Alexa’s hand, who squeezed back appreciatively with the smallest of private winks, she thought her mother had a point. Maybe they never would.

  Jen Baxter@Dexafan OMG!!! The #LIM finale was amazing! Alexa chose Daisy! It was so romantic! #Dexa

  Nina Cooper@TheCoop I didn’t believe it would happen but somehow it did. Daisy and Alexa, you made me so happy with that ending! #DexaSpinOffNow

  Lucy Bowman@LIMFan But what about Reece? What will happen to the show now?

  Alice Hinkle@Pipex I don’t know but Alexa’s gonna be on Crimes of Passion this series, playing a detective. Can’t wait. #Dexa

  Kat Romero@Reece’sGirl I heard the show’s gonna be about Reece looking for love now. I volunteer #IHeartBadBoys

  Rachel Phillips@MissPhillips Actually, I heard it’s gonna be about Robyn and Will. They are clearly #EndGame

  Isabella Powell@MakeUpQueen #Dexa sucks

  Charlie Black@MarriedAndDangerous It’s the #HEA it should have been. Some stories are meant to be #Dexa

  Tara Metcalf@JustAnotherGirl Hey, everyone, in honour of the amazing #Dexa finale, I just want to let people know I’m coming out! #AlrightToBeHappy

  Other Books by Natasha West

  Hawke’s Prey

  Hawke’s Game

  Hawke’s Flight

  The Plus One

  Something for the Weekend

  A Marriage of Connivance

  Joined at the Hip

  A Mistletoe Moment

 

 

 
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