Wish You Were Her(14)
“Are you friends?”
“Yeah. We were in the same year at school.” Allegra felt Grace glancing at her before adding, “He’s a good guy. He just shows it really badly.”
Allegra decided to keep her opinion to herself. “What about the other one, Simon?”
They both chose that moment to recline into two suddenly available deckchairs. The sun was just right for Allegra, not too overstimulating. A nice brush of heat to a neurotypical could feel like a burn to her.
She closed her eyes for a moment, as Grace answered her question.
“I don’t know Simon very well; he was way more popular than Jonah and I were at school. He’s nice, though. Maybe a bit immature but he’s a good sort. He’s always nice to my mother, and she’s not an easy lady to be nice to. He throws the best parties, too. He was a big deal in school because of that.”
Allegra made a small sound of envy. “I haven’t been to school since I was thirteen. Not one with other kids, that is.”
She thought about the horrible luncheon where she and her pen-pal had first emailed. Perhaps parties suddenly became more enjoyable when you had someone facing them with you.
“Shut up!” cried Grace. “Is that true? God, that’s a stupid question, I’ve seen bits of your show. It’s been on for years.”
“Yeah, you can’t really film all that and do press and school. I had a tutor on set.”
“Is your mother in the business?”
“The business?” teased Allegra.
“I don’t know,” muttered Grace with a blush, but she was smiling. “Do they still call it that?”
“She’s in publishing. Court of Bystanders did a lot of open call auditions. I queued for hours with a number on my shirt and got it.”
“That’s so cool. Not a nepo baby.”
“No. But, like, ninety percent of the industry is.”
Allegra was used to sitting in green rooms with the children of models, actors, directors and producers. She didn’t really mind. They were always a little insecure but often sweet underneath all of the bravado.
“Your secret pen-pal is safe with me,” Grace reiterated. “Small towns aren’t the best at keeping things discreet. But you can trust me.”
Allegra hoped she would not regret it.
Chapter Six
[email protected]
to: [email protected]
RE: Wish You Were Here
Dear Friend,
Please find attached a picture of Emma by Jane Austen outside the Lake Pristine haberdashery, a place Emma and Harriet would happily frequent, I think. It’s sunny and I wish you were here!
Yours,
Bookseller
Allegra woke up in her father’s spare bedroom feeling positive. She felt even more so when she opened up a new email from the bookshop. As promised, her pen-pal had attached a picture of a beautiful new hardback of Emma by Jane Austen. It was propped up in the early dawn daylight against the large green door of the haberdashery. Allegra smiled in delight at the message and leaped out of bed.
She showered and then applied moisturizer and SPF. She rubbed body butter all over herself, blow-dried her hair and brushed out the long waves. She put on mascara and a soft pink lipstick.
She had no work engagements to attend. This was just for her.
And it felt incredible.
She threw on a yellow and green polka-dot sundress and moved into the reception room of the small flat. Her father was at the breakfast table, looking tired and a little stressed.
“Morning,” Allegra said, blazingly aware of the lack of routine between them. There was no comfortable, familiar way to be—they were practically strangers.
“Your mother told me that you don’t like to eat too much in the morning, but I can make you anything you want,” George said, speaking rapidly and with a worried look in his eye.
Allegra swiped a piece of brown toast and the jam knife. “This is fine. Thanks!”
They made their way down to the shop for ten o’clock and she noticed Jonah waiting by the entrance. While her father turned on the lights and brought the till trays through from the office, Allegra went to unlock the front door. She smiled politely at Jonah but he quickly looked away. She sighed and let him in.
“Welcome to the Saturday morning meeting,” she said cheerfully.
He merely grunted.
A table was set up in the middle of the shop, one that would normally hold a lot of books with reduced prices, but was now prepped and ready for a meeting, with water jugs, pens and paper, all arranged by Allegra. Mary arrived shortly after Jonah, ready to man the desk in case of customers, and Simon and Courtney, the publicist from JCPR (the publicity firm hired to help out) joined just after ten.
“I brought you a doughnut,” Simon said triumphantly, presenting it to Allegra with a flourish.
“Oh!” Allegra said, delighted by the charming gesture. “Thank you.”
She gingerly took the doughnut box and placed it in front of her. She felt a little awkward, being the only one to receive a gift of baked goods. If it were more than one, she would give them to the whole table, but Simon had bought her a single doughnut with pink icing and hearts made out of sprinkles.
“Can I just say,” the publicist spoke in a soft voice, full of wonder, “what an honor it is to meet you?”