Page 5 of London, Can You Wait?

She shook her head. “They’re nothing like Dad, Mark. He’s supportive of the whole writing/acting thing—Mom isn’t.”

“It’ll be okay, really.” He kissed her temple. “It’s not the end of the world if she doesn’t like me, and anyway, those ten days will fly by. We’ll be in New York, snapping selfies by that massive Christmas tree before you know it. Just you and me, yeah?”

Her frown turned into a big smile. “Yeah! New York will be so romantic!” She snatched a strawberry. “Hard to believe, though. I haven’t been back to the States in over two years. You’ve been to five countries since January! Crazy!”

Mark took a deep breath. “That country count might creep up to six, Mouse…the PR guy at the BBC sent me a text this morning—four of the Lairds cast are going to the comic con in Toronto…”

“Yeah…?” She chewed, swallowing quickly.

“They kinda want me to join them. You could come too!”

“Ooh, yeah! I’ve never been to Canada…!” She picked up her phone from the blanket and opened her calendar app. “When is it?”

“Three days after Lairds wraps…we’d have to fly out on August 31st. The con runs Friday through Sunday. Truth be told, I could really use the cash. Mum’s house emptied my savings, and the con would be a quick payday.”

Alex squinted. “Shit, my attachment starts on the 30th…”

“Aw, really? Christ, you can’t bail on the National.” Mark bit his lip. “It’s just a con…I don’t have to go…”

“Don’t skip it because I can’t go. With all the Lairds gang, you’ll have a great time. I bet the organizers will do Q&A panels and group photo ops, and the fans will love it. Really, Mark, you should go.”

“Are you sure? It means I’ll only see you for, like, two days before I’m off again.”

“I know, but you’ll be back down the weekend before that—”

“What’s the weekend before that?” He pulled out his phone.

Alex glanced at her calendar. “That industry BBQ thingy in Greenwich.”

“Ah, right. Yeah, I totally forgot to put that in my schedule. God, I feel like a yo-yo…up and down between Aberdeen and London.”

Alex scrolled through a list of industry events in her phone, and one caught her eye. As much as she’d prefer to have Mark home with her, she didn’t want him to miss out. “You know, maybe you should stick around for your movie at the Toronto International Film Festival? It starts after the con.”

“I already told the director no, but…” He looked up from his screen. “I guess I could do TIFF. I’ve never done a film fest before…”

“That South Africa shoot was almost a year ago. It’ll be fun seeing your castmates again—”

“Yeah…yeah, it would.” Mark added the con and TIFF to his phone’s calendar.

“And you’d still be home for a few days before you leave for country number seven…”

“Austria? Yeah, that shoot’s gonna be a tough one.”

Alex left her phone on the blanket and twisted a grape from its bunch. “Hey, remember that clip? The one of Whishy at TIFF for Cloud Atlas? So many fans!”

“Yeah, it was fandemonium! I’ll have to stock up on Sharpies.”

She popped the grape in her mouth. “Aw, I really wish I could go, but…I’m excited about my attachment.”

He pulled her close into a hug. “As you should be, Mouse. They don’t just invite anyone.”

Alex sank into his chest. “That’s why I have to stay, give it my all.”

“Someone’s gonna be writing up a storm while I’m fighting off fangirls and schmoozing at TIFF! You’ll be too busy to miss me.”

“Yeah, won’t even notice you’re gone!” She sat up and returned to his Lairds script. “So, that ditch in Dunalastair? Start at the top?” Alex smiled longingly at Mark and snatched his half-eaten croissant.