Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 585(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 585(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
“You’re such a wife,” I say, running the tip of my finger down the centre of his chest. “I love it. You take very good care of me.”
“I can do nagging, too. You’ll find out how well if you’re not ready on time.”
“Nagging, aye? How feminist of you.” The remark earns me a cleaning cloth to the face, which I manage to catch before it falls to the floor.
“You know, if you move that in a smooth motion across surfaces, it removes dirt. Fascinating stuff.”
Not nearly as fascinating as William’s arse when he walks away from me.
“And what’s William saying about it?”
“Havnae told him yet,” I answer, just as sod’s law has William entering the room. “You just happened tae ring as a’ got off the phone wi’ em.”
I watch William’s eyebrows purse as he listens in to the conversation I’m having with my mum over speakerphone.
“Och, well, if you’re happy, son. Nothin’ sayin’ ye cannae go back to it, aye.”
“And a’ will. Just no’ this one. Listen, Maw, I need tae get tae goin’ or I’ll never be ready on time.”
“Hold fire, Keith says ye left ye gutties here. Says they look dear. D’ye want ‘em postin’ tae ye?”
“I got a hundred pairs o’ gutties, Maw. Tell Keith he can wear ‘em.”
I hear mumbling in the background, followed by my mum saying, “He says he wouldnae be seen deid in any’hin wi’ glitter.” More mumbling. “Says yer a soft shite.”
“Love ye an’ all, Keith!” I shout, knowing my mum doesn’t use speakerphone.
“Christ tonight!” Mum yells. “Yer bloody heid case, ye. Nae need fae that right down ma bloody ear. Guan, now. Go get on with ye day. Give ma love to William and come home soon.”
“Love ye, Maw.”
“Aye. Love ye, son.”
After ending the call, I look up to find William grinning. “It’s been over two years, and I still struggle to understand sometimes when you’re in family mode. I’m getting better, though. The words, at least. The speed, though?” he says, chuckling. “You know when your breath runs out, you’re allowed to take another?”
I have no comeback. I know he’s right. The first time I took him back to Clydebank to meet my family there, he spent most of the weekend nodding along and smiling awkwardly with his eyes trained very firmly on whoever’s lips were speaking. He looked lost, like he’d been abandoned in a foreign city amongst a language he’d never heard. I suspect it was drama school that formed my somewhat modified, or perhaps, more palatable-to-some accent. It’s not an effort. I don’t put on certain voices for different people. Yet, put me in a room with a fellow Scot and my tongue never left the outskirts of Glasgow.
“So,” William begins, perching on the edge of the settee beside me. “What have I got to say about what?”
Ah. “The meeting with Andy. I declined the part.”
“What?” he says, shifting to face me. “I thought you loved that script.”
“I do, but you know what I love more? This. Being with you. Not having to make the most of it because we’ve only got a set number of hours left.”
He goes to scratch his head but drops his hand, probably remembering he’s just styled it. “Are you saying you want to, what, quit being an actor?”
I inhale a chuckle. “No. No, I don’t think so. Not only do I not know how to do anything else, I also love my work. But I’m fortunate enough now that I can be selective. I’m past having to audition for parts I know I’d hate. I don’t need any more money. If a job comes along that really grabs me, I can do it…if I want it. Maybe I’ll take on a couple of passion projects. Could look into directing.”
“What about Andrew? Won’t he lose money, too?”
I wave a dismissive hand through the air. “Andy’s been threatening retirement for years. He’ll never do it, of course, but the point is he’s only my manager because he wants to be. Andy’s fine. If anything, I bet his wife will thank me.” I move closer until our thighs touch and rest my hand on his knee. “And in the meantime, I get to do this. Be here. Present.”
“You mean stand idle while you watch me clean?”
“See? You get it.” I start laughing. Thankfully, so does William. “I know you have a few weeks of holiday time saved up at work, so I’m thinking we could kick off with some family visits – Mum and Keith first, then spend a few days with my dad—”
“Sounds good to me,” William interrupts before I have chance to get to the good part. “Between your mum’s mince and mash and Josie’s trifle, you don’t need to ask me twice.”
I adore how much he loves my family. I’m equally proud of them for accepting William, too. There were some initial reservations on both my mother and father’s sides, more so from my mum who, understandably, was concerned for my heart. I expected Josie’s scepticism to last the longest, given her previously established relationship with the Walker family, but I’m almost certain that relationship, specifically with Rebecca is what helped Josie see William for what he is. Kind. Generous. Loving. I have no doubt Josie is responsible for plucking Emmett’s head out of his own arse, too.