The shakespeare sisters.., p.103
The Shakespeare Sisters--The Complete Box Set, page 103
‘I won’t cause any trouble. I promise.’
There was a noise from the stage, as the chorus started to file in, sitting on the benches at the back. Juliet turned to look at them, her eyes wide, as she licked her lips to try and get rid of the dryness.
‘Are these the best seats you could get?’ Thomas huffed, pushing through the people who had seated themselves around her. ‘I thought you’d get here early, and save us seats at the front. You can hardly see the stage from here.’
‘You could have come early yourself.’
‘Some of us have a business to run. I had to leave an important meeting to get here in time. You could have been more helpful.’
‘I have a business to run, too’ she pointed out.
He ignored her words, ushering his parents along. ‘There are only three seats. We need four.’
Four? She frowned, looking over to Thomas and his parents. Behind them, looking as immaculate as ever, was his girlfriend. Or was she still his assistant?
Whatever. It didn’t matter.
‘I didn’t realise you were bringing Nicole.’
‘Poppy told her all about the play, and asked her to come.’ He said it matter-of-factly.
‘Okay.’ She waited for them to leave, but Thomas lingered there, with his parents and Nicole standing behind him. He was staring at her expectantly, and she wondered if she should say something else. It was only when he cleared his throat that she realised he was waiting for her to offer to move.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.
‘There are still some seats at the back,’ she said. ‘You could all sit together there.’
Thomas looked over her shoulder, and frowned. Then he brought his eyes back onto her, letting out a deep sigh. ‘You always have to be obstructive.’ He said it beneath his breath, a passive aggressive attempt to make her rise to his bait. But she ignored it, turning her head to the front, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her riled. Within moments the four of them had left the row and made their way to the back.
Her mouth was dry, her heart was speeding, but the sense of elation she felt for staying calm and holding her own more than made up for the agitation.
She’d almost certainly pay for it later, but right there, right then, she was proud of herself.
‘Can we sleep in here?’ Poppy asked. She was kneeling inside the fort they’d made up using an old sheet and a stack of cushions. Charlie was beside her, shining his torch around, watching as the light pierced the thin fabric, making shapes on the ceiling above.
‘Sure you can. Once you’ve finished your snacks I’ll bring some sleeping bags in here.’ Juliet had set up her laptop with a movie, ready for them to lay out and watch it as they stuffed their faces with kernels. ‘And then it will be time to sleep, okay?’
Poppy looked at Charlie, trying her best not to smile. ‘Okay.’
Leaving the room, Juliet shook her head. The two of them had clearly been scheming, but she didn’t really mind at all. It was the weekend, after all, and they deserved a treat after all the work they’d done on the play. Her eyes watered as she remembered how proud she’d been earlier that evening, as the children took a bow after acting their hearts out. She’d practically worn out her palms applauding them, with tears streaming down her face.
Even Thomas had been touched. He and his family had descended on Poppy with hugs and congratulations as soon as the play had finished. Luckily he hadn’t mentioned the seat issue again. She was sure he would, though, at some point.
She wouldn’t worry about that right now. Pushing Thomas to the back of her mind, she cleared up the kitchen, sliding dirty plastic beakers and plates into the dishwasher, before wiping down the sides with a clean, white cloth. She was rinsing it when she heard a rap at the door, three consecutive knocks that made her heart jump out of her chest.
Thomas.
Was he never going to leave her be?
Wringing the wet cloth in her hands, she placed it on the drainer. She put her hands on the counter, trying not to sigh.
Another knock made her stand up straight. She was so sick and tired of the way Thomas thought she was always at his beck and call. His lack of empathy, combined with his complete sense of entitlement was almost unbearable.
She’d had enough.
Juliet stomped her way down the hallway and wrenched the front door open. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for the barrage of insults. Her mouth was set in a tight line.
Until it dropped open with surprise.
‘Ryan?’
‘You look pissed. What have I done this time?’ He leaned casually against the door frame, a stuffed toy in his hand. ‘Did I laugh too loud at the play?’
She was still trying to compose herself. She’d been all ready for a fight, and her body hadn’t yet relaxed. ‘I could live with the laughing. It was the crying that really annoyed me,’ she told him. ‘Who knew you were such a softy?’
‘I reckon you knew.’ He gave her a lazy smile. ‘So anyway, why were you looking so angry?’
‘I thought you were Thomas.’ She moved back from the door, letting him step inside. He followed her to the kitchen, propping the soft toy against the tiles.
‘That’s not the best compliment I’ve ever had.’ He leaned against the counter. ‘Why would he be coming around at this time of night anyway?’
‘Because I made him sit at the back,’ she told him. ‘He’ll want to have the last word at some point.’
‘Well, you stood up for yourself like a badass. You should be proud of yourself.’
‘Thank you kindly.’ She gave him a mock curtsey. Looking up at him, his gaze immediately caught hers. The expression on his face took her breath away. A slow smile curled at his lips, and his eyes were soft, yet somehow heated. It was the same way he’d looked at her in the dance club, and it made her heart race.
Against her will, her own lips lifted in a smile. She could hear the rapid beat of her pulse in her ears, feel the pounding in the ribcage, all reminding her of one inimitable fact.
She still wanted to kiss him.
Taking a ragged breath in, she tried to ignore her body’s response to him. Tried to remind herself why this was such a bad idea. But his closeness was overwhelming her, making her want to reach out and touch him.
‘Ryan…’
He looked as conflicted as she did. ‘Yeah. I should go.’
But she didn’t want him to. She couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d felt in the dance club, holding his body tight against hers. His muscles hard against the softness of her curves, the two of them fitting together as though it was meant to be.
‘Stay.’ She reached out to touch his arm. Bad idea, Juliet, bad idea. Pushing that thought down, she circled her fingers around his wrist.
‘London, I can’t.’ He looked as if he was in pain.
‘Why not?’
‘Because every time I look at you, I want you.’ He closed his eyes, pinching the skin at the top of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. ‘You’ve made it clear you just want to be friends. I’m trying to respect that.’
‘Oh.’ She let go of his wrist. A mixture of emotions washed over her. Sadness that her friend was upset, elation that he wanted her. But more than anything she felt fear. Not of him, but of herself. Of her own desire.
‘I’m gonna go.’ He went to turn and make for the hallway. An impulse overtook her, made her reach out for his arm again. He looked at her with a quizzical expression, and without letting herself think about it, she stepped forward, rolling onto the balls of her feet, and pressed her lips against his.
His mouth was soft and warm, and for a moment he was a statue, as though the shock had frozen him still. But then she moved her lips against his, lifting her hand to cup his jaw, and he leaned into her. Still kissing, he threaded his fingers though her hair, deepening their embrace until his tongue slid softly against hers.
She couldn’t believe she was doing this, and yet it felt so good, so right. She looped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his, squeezing her eyes shut tight as they gave in to their desire. Her skin was flushed all over, tingling with need. He overwhelmed her senses – the feel of him, the taste of him, the sound of his rapid breaths as he tried to take in some air.
‘London,’ he murmured against her lips. She opened her eyes, and he was staring straight at her. She kissed him again, leaving him in no doubt how much she wanted this. She needed it, like she needed air.
‘Mommy, can we have some more popcorn?’ Poppy’s voice carried through the thick atmosphere between them. Alarmed, Juliet stepped out of Ryan’s embrace. They exchanged an anxious glance.
‘What, honey?’ she called out, her voice sounding unnaturally high. Her eyes were still wide as she glanced over Ryan’s shoulder, seeing Poppy running down the stairs, holding a bowl.
Juliet ducked under Ryan’s arms, trying to put some space between them. She could feel the blood pooling in her cheeks, making them flame as she tried to calm her body down.
‘We’ve run out of popcorn,’ Poppy said impatiently. ‘Oh, hi Ryan.’ She sounded normal, unalarmed. Had she seen anything? Juliet wasn’t sure, but either way she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
Kind of the way she’d wanted Ryan to do the same thing only seconds earlier.
‘You’ve eaten it already? You guys are going to explode.’ Ryan grinned, taking the plastic bowl from her daughter. How could he be so calm when she felt moments away from combusting? ‘Maybe you should take a break before you have any more.’
Still trying to control her breathing, Juliet took the bowl from Ryan, being careful not to touch his fingers with hers. She didn’t trust herself not to do something embarrassing if she did.
‘Oh, is that Fluffy? Charlie was wondering where he was,’ Poppy said, still oblivious to the atmosphere in the room. ‘Charlie, Fluffy’s here!’ she shouted. Moments later, Ryan’s son came running down the stairs, his face lighting up when he saw his dad, and his favourite stuffed toy on the kitchen counter, where Ryan had left him.
Suddenly, they were back to being mom and dad. Juliet wasn’t sure whether she was disappointed or relieved.
Either way, it felt as if there was unfinished business between them.
And she wasn’t sure if she wanted it finished or not.
Ryan closed his front door behind him, and leaned against the wall, rubbing the heel of his palms against his eyes in an attempt to calm himself. What the hell just happened? One minute he was leaving, the next they were kissing like teenagers. He touched his lips, remembering the sensation of her mouth against his, the sweetness of her tongue as she opened up to him.
He’d wanted to ask her what was happening. But Charlie and Poppy had hung around, asking for more drinks and demanding Juliet watch the movie with them. In the end he’d left the house with nothing more than a meaningful look, and questions that wouldn’t stop ping-ponging around his brain. What was she thinking? Did she make a mistake? Or did she want him as much as he wanted her?
He didn’t know the answer to any of those questions, and he wouldn’t without talking to her. Yet he’d made himself a promise, not to push her. That he’d respect her wish to be just friends. If she wanted something more than that, he wasn’t going to be the one to push it. He respected her way too much for any of that macho bullshit. As much as it killed him, he was going to have to wait for her to make any moves.
Whatever happened next – if anything happened at all – it was up to her. And the wait was going to be the death of him.
13
No sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved
– As You Like It
‘So, your neighbour’s kind of hot,’ Cesca said, as the two of them were walking through the woods at the back of the house.
Juliet rolled her eyes. She’d deliberately steered her sister clear of the tree house that Ryan had almost finished, though the growl of his electric saw still echoed through the trees.
‘So says the girl with the movie star fiancé. And you shouldn’t be looking.’ It came out sharper than Juliet intended. Cesca raised her eyebrows, looking at her suspiciously.
‘You’re not jealous are you?’
‘No.’ Juliet’s reply was almost instantaneous. ‘He’s just a neighbour. And I’d prefer it if you didn’t ogle him.’ Her mouth was dry, as she remembered their kiss the other night. She hadn’t had a chance to speak with him since – she’d been dealing with a big order at the florist. Maybe it was better that way, she still had no idea how she was supposed to deal with her feelings.
‘Hey a girl can still appreciate the view.’ They clambered over a moss-covered log. ‘And so should you. It’s not often you get a next-door neighbour that looks like that. Especially one that’s so good with kids.’
‘You’ve only been engaged for a few months. Has Sam’s lustre already worn off?’ Juliet tried to turn the conversation back to Cesca. She wasn’t enjoying being grilled.
Cesca’s smile lit up her face. ‘Not at all. He’s still lovely, and to be honest he makes your neighbour look like a troll. But beggars can’t be choosers.’ She winked at Juliet to show she was teasing. ‘But seriously, what gives between you two? When we dropped Poppy at school this morning he couldn’t take his eyes off you.’
Cesca had arrived in Maryland the night before, having flown in the previous day. She’d left Sam in Washington DC, where he was due to meet with reporters. He would join them that evening, and the four of them would squeeze into Juliet’s tiny bungalow. She couldn’t help but think how unglamorous they’d find it, after living the movie-star life.
‘Are you sure you wouldn’t be happier staying in a hotel in town?’ Juliet asked again. ‘Sam might be more comfortable there.’
Cesca stopped, leaning against an old oak tree. ‘Are you trying to change the subject?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’ Juliet didn’t want to talk about Ryan. Didn’t want to think about him. Every time she remembered that kiss, she felt like she was blushing all over, like a sixteen-year-old girl with her first crush.
‘Well to answer your question, we came to see you and Poppy, not to spend the night in some swanky hotel. And if we need to sleep on the floor in your basement, then we’ll be happy to do that.’ Cesca shot Juliet a smile. ‘And as to changing the subject, that’s not going to happen. I saw the way you were looking at him, too.’
‘There’s nothing going on between us.’
‘But you want there to be?’
They’d reached the brook at the bottom of the tree-lined slope. The water bubbled and danced as it made it’s way through the trees, heading for the Chesapeake River on the other side of town. They walked along the bank, their boots sinking into the soft mud. ‘I don’t know what I want. I’m in the middle of a painful divorce and I’m trying to protect Poppy from the fallout. Ryan may be the best looking man I’ve ever laid eyes on, but the timing’s totally wrong.’
‘But apart from that?’ Cesca started laughing. ‘Come on, we both know that when love strikes, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. I’m living, breathing evidence of that.’
Juliet couldn’t help but smile. Cesca and Sam’s love story had touched all their hearts. The two of them had been enemies for years, before they’d been thrown together in an Italian villa for the summer. It was there, in the Mediterranean heat, that they’d thawed out, and somehow fallen in love.
‘Well, if there’s anything I know, it’s that this isn’t love. Lust, maybe, but definitely not love.’ She stepped on a dried-out branch, feeling it crack beneath her feet. The sound reverberated in the air. ‘And anyway, it doesn’t matter, because as I said before, I’m still married. If Thomas found out—’
‘He’d have to put up with it,’ Cesca interrupted. ‘Because he isn’t acting married. He’s got a girlfriend, after all. And you’re in the middle of negotiating your divorce. You can’t use that as a reason not to move forward, Jules, not unless you want to be alone for the rest of your life.’ She leaned down to pick up a pebble, then threw it into the water with a satisfying splash. ‘And I should know, I stopped moving forward a long time ago. It took me years to realise the only person holding me back was me. I don’t want that for you, too.’
‘But you didn’t have a daughter to think of,’ Juliet said, coming to a halt beside her sister. ‘And Thomas has already made his dislike of Ryan clear. There’s bad blood between them, and this is a small town. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to use it against me in court.’
‘Jules, this will always be a small town. What are you going to do, live like a nun for the rest of your life? Let yourself be a sacrifice to the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets? You’re not the kind of girl who gives up like that. Thomas doesn’t have the right to dictate who you see any more, just like you don’t have the right to dictate to him. He’s trying to control you, even though you’re apart now. Don’t let him do that to you.’
Juliet rolled her lip between her teeth, staring out through the trees to the rolling fields beyond. Her family had always thought Thomas too controlling. It turned out they were right. She was just too blinded by love to see it at the time.
‘He’s not controlling me, not any more. But I’m not going to jump into anything, or onto anybody, without thinking things through first.’
Cesca was smiling. ‘Jump onto anybody? Is that what you want to do to him?’ She waggled her eyebrows, Groucho Marx-style. ‘Is there something you want to tell me?’
‘No.’ Her answer was too short, and too fast. She knew it would only pique her sister’s interest more. That was the problem with having a writer as a sibling, they were practised people-watchers, and Cesca could read Juliet like the words on her page. Growing up, they’d all naturally fallen into roles. As the eldest, Lucy was the strong one, the organiser. Juliet had been the dreamy perfectionist, pursuing a degree in fine arts that was cut short by her romance with Thomas. Cesca had been the observant writer, always listening, watching, typing away. Like their poor dead mother she’d dreamed of a career in the theatre, though unlike Milly Shakespeare, her heart belonged backstage, not right at the front, taking a bow. Their youngest sister, Katherine – or Kitty for short – was quieter than the rest of them, but no less affected by their family tragedy. She was in LA now, working as an assistant producer on a major production.
