The Waltz. Georgia Hill

lucky cow!”

      “I am, indeed, a very fortunate girl. He sends his love by the way.”

      “Send back a big sloppy kiss please will you?”. Lucy clamped down on her envy. Julia and Harri were a perfect couple and she wanted just a little bit of that for herself.

      “Shouldn’t be a problem. We’re coming to next Saturday’s show, did you know? Can you fix it for me to meet Mr Fish?”

      “Shouldn’t be a problem,” Lucy echoed. “Daniel and I are doing the samba so watch out!” She stifled her unease. It would be her second dance. Number two. With an effort, she tuned out of her obsession with numbers and back into the conversation. “We’re doing it to ‘Santa Baby’, you know, the old Eartha Kitt classic. I’m going to be done up as a Christmas tree, I think. Should be interesting,” she added, sarcastically.

      Julia hooted. “You’ll be a picture! What will they think up next? Although, I have to claim a fondness for the Kylie version. Is Max doing one too?”

      “Yup.”

      “I can’t wait! Look, I must go, got that read through this afternoon.”

      “Good luck with it.” Julia was just about to embark on filming the third Davy Jones adventure. It was how they’d met. “I hear the writer is rather good.”

      “Oh God yes but they’re nothing but trouble, don’t want the writer around.” Julia teased her friend fondly. “But seriously, read throughs, they’re always traumatic. Best over and done with. Take care of those two gorgeous men then. See you!”

      “Bye, Julia.”

      Lucy clicked off her phone and tapped it thoughtfully against her lips. Had she really told Max all about her lonely childhood with her eccentric and elderly parents? Had she mentioned St Ursula’s, the Spartan girls’ school with its old-fashioned emphasis on Latin, Greek and etiquette and, luckily in the light of recent events, ballet? Had she told him about dropping out of Oxford, of being unable to cope with the impossible standards she set herself? Yes she had. Did she regret it, now she was sober? Not one bit, she realised, to her surprise and joy. She trusted Max. She may not know him well but she knew she trusted him completely. And if someone had asked her why, she simply wouldn’t be able to explain it.