Chapters (54)
- Cover
- WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS
- Dedication
- Part One
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Part Two
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Part Three
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
- Chapter Twenty-Three
- Chapter Twenty-Four
- Chapter Twenty-Five
- Chapter Twenty-Six
- Chapter Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Twenty-Eight
- Chapter Twenty-Nine
- Part Four
- Chapter Thirty
- Chapter Thirty-One
- Chapter Thirty-Two
- Chapter Thirty-Three
- Chapter Thirty-Four
- Chapter Thirty-Five
- Chapter Thirty-Six
- Chapter Thirty-Seven
- Chapter Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirty-Nine
- Chapter Forty
- Chapter Forty-One
- Chapter Forty-Two
- Acknowledgements
- Keep Reading …
- About the Author
- By the same author:
- About the Publisher
‘Yes, of course. Sorry,’ he says again, then he calls up to Izzy to say he’s off now, and he’ll see her tomorrow. She says bye and waves from the top of the stairs – I don’t insist that she comes down to hug him – and just as he’s leaving he adds, ‘If there’s anything I can do to help – with the show, I mean, or your car, anything – just let me know.’
‘I think I’m okay, thanks,’ I say firmly as I see him out. He nods and turns away, making his way to his car. ‘Unless you can source a Pippa poncho?’ I call after him.
He looks back, and his face brightens. For a moment, he looks like a child who’s been told he can ‘help’ to water the garden with the hose. ‘What’s a Pippa poncho?’ he asks.
‘Nothing,’ I say with a small smile. ‘At least, it’s nothing you can help with—’
‘Are you sure? Because, honestly, it seems like you have so much on your plate, and I only want to—’
‘It’s fine, Andy,’ I say firmly. ‘Thanks for your offer, I really appreciate your help and everything – but I’m fine, really. So goodnight.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
Saturday, November 16
Occasionally, at college, I’d be roped into ‘performing’ in a play – although I use the term loosely. I’d be the third cheerleader in Grease, a prostitute in A Streetcar Named Desire or simply ‘Girl’ in The Crucible, and only because I could move and speak, and was there, rather than due to any particular talent on the acting front. The truth is, an old kitchen cabinet dragged onto stage would have been more engaging to watch. And that’s what I’m reminded of now, as Nick sets up his camera in Spencer’s room. This is going to be terrible. I won’t know what to do with my hands or my face, and I’ll speak in a weird, posh voice – and now, inevitably, here it comes: a raging hot flush.
‘Are you okay?’ Nick asks, with a look of concern.
‘I’m just …’ I flap at my face with a Girl Friday sun visor (why didn’t Penny do fans?). ‘It’s a hot flush,’ I add. ‘It happens sometimes. It’s because of—’
‘Yes, I know what they are,’ he says, unflinchingly. ‘Can I help at all?’
‘Not really, unless you can do something about my hormonal fluctuations.’ I muster a smile.
‘That might be a bit beyond my capabilities.’ He pauses. ‘Look, I don’t want to put you under pressure,’ he adds. ‘Are you sure you’re okay to do this now?’