TOYL

the end of the song when Emma’s mobile shrilled, seeming to echo all around the theatre.
    ‘Oh, God.’
    Emma scrambled for her pocket and just before she switched the phone off she noted that it was reading an unknown number. She moved out of her seat, face flushed, and hurried up the aisle, not waiting to hear any chastisement. Fortunately, it seemed as if the rehearsal was carrying on uninterrupted.
    She had got into the main foyer when the mobile called out again. It was the same number as before.
    ‘Hello,’ Emma said.
    ‘Emma!’ blasted a familiar voice, nearly bursting her eardrum with enthusiasm. ‘It’s Guy here, Guy Roberts.’
    Guy Roberts: the casting director. Emma nearly dropped the phone with shock.
    ‘Oh, hi,’ she said.
    ‘Look,’ he said. ‘I won’t beat around the bush. We had our second reading the other day, as you know. And I’m afraid to say that, although the people we had were very good, they just weren’t right for the part. Do you know why?’
    ‘No,’ said Emma, her heart fluttering with anticipation.
    ‘It’s because no one came close to touching what you did in that first reading. When I saw you read I thought you were perfect for the part, and it was really unfortunate you couldn’t make the second reading. I know you had your reasons.’
    ‘I’m sorry, too.’
    There was a pause.
    ‘Emma, are you still interested in this movie – in this role?’
    ‘Well, yes, I suppose so.’
    ‘I want to see you,’ he said, suddenly sounding extremely business-like. ‘Can you come over to my place, say, tomorrow around lunchtime? We can discuss everything then.’
    ‘Discuss everything?’
    ‘Of course,’ he said, ‘if you’re taking this part, then there’s a lot to discuss. Your fee, for instance, which I can assure you will be more money than you’ve ever earned in your life.’

29

    ‘Shouldn’t you be getting ready?’ said Lizzy, watching as Emma sat on the sofa reading a book, her legs tucked under her body. ‘We’re meeting Will in half an hour.’
    ‘Is it really that late?’ Emma got up, still focussed on the book.
    ‘Yes, it is. What are you reading, anyway? Must be engrossing – you’ve been glued to it for an hour.’
    ‘You don’t want to know.’ Emma closed the book.
    Lizzy peered at its red cover. She’d assumed it was a novel but on closer inspection it looked like a notebook. ‘I’m intrigued,’ she said, grabbing the cover.
    Emma released the book from her grasp and watched as Lizzy flicked through it.
    ‘What the hell?’ Lizzy looked up. ‘This is his diary?’
    ‘I took it before we found out he had died,’ Emma explained. ‘It was in his room – when you and Mrs Myers walked out I grabbed it and stuffed it into the waistband of my trousers. I thought it might give us some clues.’
    ‘You shouldn’t be reading it,’ Lizzy said. ‘It’ll just upset you.’
    ‘It’s okay. I just wanted to try and understand him. I thought if I read this, then…’
    ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea, Em,’ Lizzy interrupted. ‘And what’s this?’ She held up a photograph – the photograph of Emma that had been taken outside Lizzy’s flat.
    ‘A bookmark?’ Emma offered.
    Lizzy placed the photograph back in the book and handed it to back to Emma.
    ‘Promise you’ll throw this away.’
    ‘Okay,’ Emma agreed, ‘I’ll deal with it.’

    ***

    ‘He looks like he’s having fun,’ Lizzy said, as she and Emma watched Will salsa dancing with one of the girls from the musical.
    They had been in the salsa club for over three hours, and with over two of those hours spent on the dance floor it felt as if they’d burned off enough calories to last a lifetime.
    ‘Yeah,’ Emma said, watching as Will laughed and joked with the girl.
    ‘You’re not convinced?’ Lizzy said.
    ‘Not really. He looks like he’s trying too hard. And he’s had quite a lot to drink.’
    ‘Do you think he’ll be all right in Canada?’
    ‘I hope so.’
    ‘I don’t understand it,’ Lizzy said. ‘He always seems so happy and carefree. I’d never guess that something was wrong.’
    ‘I should have known,’ Emma said. ‘He’s my brother.’
    ‘But he hid it well.’
    ‘He did.’
    ‘And he didn’t say that there was a reason for him being depressed?’ Lizzy took a sip from her drink.
    ‘No. And I didn’t want to press him on it.’
    ‘How do you think he would feel about your dad’s news?’
    ‘It would probably tip him over