A Starlit Summer by Kate Frost (best manga ereader txt) 📕

She smiled and turned to Sally. ‘Do you have a roast every Sunday?’

‘Yes, pretty much, whatever the weather. It’s tradition. The way I was brought up.’ Sally pulled on the oven gloves and took a bronzed roast chicken out of the oven and placed it on top of the cooker. ‘Although Gary has persuaded me a couple of times this summer to have a pub roast. Much nicer someone else cooking in the heat we’ve had and eating it in a shady pub garden. Right, if you all want to take your drinks to the table, I’ll start dishing out.’

~

The large polished wooden table looked out over the garden. Bi-fold doors led to raised decking, a neat lawn, and the border in front of a wooden fence decorated with colourful hydrangeas and phlox. There wasn’t a sea view, but in a quiet cul-de-sac with no other houses backing on to them, the view was of open fields.

Sally placed the roast chicken at the centre of the table next to the roast potatoes and vegetables and encouraged them to help themselves. She dished up sage and onion stuffing and bread sauce, and soon Jenna’s plate was piled high with roast potatoes, parsnips, cabbage and mashed swede and carrots. Gary carved the chicken and placed two large slices on her plate. Gravy cascaded down her roast potatoes and Jenna tucked in, so incredibly hungry. This was the best meal she’d had in a very long time, even with the catering on set being exceptionally good.

‘So,’ Sally said, after they’d all had a chance to start eating. ‘Have you always wanted to be an actress?’

‘I think so, yes. I mean I loved performing from an early age and was always into drama and dance at school, then got lucky enough to be accepted into drama school. I’ve dabbled in other things though, mainly to pay my way through drama school and then while going to auditions.’

‘Waiting tables and that kind of thing?’ Sally wedged a piece of chicken and roast potato on her fork.

‘Not so much waiting tables, although I’ve done my fair share, but I’ve had other things on the side to make money like a bit of modelling and writing. I wanted to be a potter at one point. My mum despairs of me.’

‘I think it’s a fascinating job,’ Sally said. ‘Must be lots of competition though, going to auditions and not knowing when you’ll be working next?’

‘Yeah, it’s been hard work. You have to have thick skin because the rejection can suck.’ Jenna glanced at Finn. ‘We were talking about the reality of an acting life today. It’s not an easy career. I think I’ve given my parents plenty of stress about where my next pay cheque’s going to come from, while my older, more sensible brother’s been building a steady and lucrative career as a lawyer. We couldn’t be more different, really.’

‘Well, I’m immensely impressed that you’re an actress on a big movie.’

‘Mum will be telling all her friends about you coming over.’

‘And why not, it’s exciting, one of the most exciting things that’s happened around here, having a Hollywood movie being filmed.’

‘It’s actually a British film, Mum.’

‘Is it? It’s got Hollywood actors in it, like that Milo Blake. Do you know him, Jenna?’

Jenna took a sip of wine. ‘Only since working on the film.’

‘Ooh, tell me more. What’s he like? Is he as handsome in real life?’

‘Mum, what’s with all the questions?’

‘I’m just interested that’s all.’ She turned back to Jenna, her wine glass clutched in her hand. ‘So, what is he like?’

Jenna hadn’t expected to be talking about Milo, and with Gary and Sally’s eyes on her, she squirmed in her seat. ‘He’s kinda like you’d expect – full of confidence, smooth-talking, the centre of attention.’

‘They’re all staying at that lovely big hotel on the cliff, aren’t they?’

Jenna nodded.

‘All the cast are there, are they?’

‘Yep, apart from a couple who live in Bristol and Cardiff. They’re commuting down for a couple of days when they have filming and going back home in between.’

‘But you’re at the cottage. Don’t you wish you were with the rest of the cast?’

‘Trust me, it’s a relief to escape – it can be quite claustrophobic on set at times; friendships are formed fast and the nature of the work means you end up spending a lot of time with people you don’t know very well. Having a place to escape to is good.’

~

With her stomach full of roast dinner and still feeling windswept and salt sprayed, Jenna relaxed as Finn drove her back to the cottage. She’d enjoyed the warmth and homeliness of Gary and Sally’s, and Finn’s company of course.

Finn pulled his van into the drive behind Jenna’s car and left the engine running. Should she should invite him in or not? It had been such a perfect day maybe they should leave it with a kiss and nothing more complicated than that. Sod that. Why was she being so good?

‘I, uh...’

Finn smiled. ‘I need to get home. I promised a mate I’d meet him at the pub tonight; can’t let him down, his girlfriend broke up with him recently and he’s a bit of a mess.’

Jenna put her hand on his thigh. ‘That’s fine. What I was going to say is thank you for such a lovely day.’

‘You really enjoyed it?’

‘I haven’t had such a fun and happy day in a very long time.’ She leant closer, sliding her hand up his thigh as she kissed him.

Finn shuffled in his seat, moving his hand on to her hip and kissing her back. He pulled away, with a grin. ‘Right, I’d better get going before I change my mind.’

Chapter Sixteen

Jenna’s first thought when she woke was Finn, but despite having a later call time, she was up and out of the cottage before he arrived. She vaguely remembered Gary saying something about needing to get plumbing parts before they started work.

She sensed something was up the moment she arrived