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We turned into our street and our apartment came into view.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked.
I turned to look at her. ‘Yes, Surprisingly so. All through the film, I felt like I was looking at my high school crush, and I’m all grown up now.’
‘Really?’ she asked, surprised.
I looked at her. Who was I kidding? ‘No. But that’s what I’m telling myself.’
She started to laugh and I joined in.Oh, fuck it.
After that, my focus was on staying busy. I read through scripts and selected a few I wanted to audition for and let Jaz, my agent, know. I did publicity photos and interviews for the pending release of my romantic comedy film, and I was planning a wedding after all. I wish Mum and Dad were here – I missed Mum so much knowing what fun we would have had doing all the planning together. I felt a huge hole in my heart that no one could fill in her absence.
I ploughed on, and Edgar and I decided on an April wedding and to have an intimate gathering at Thrushcross Grange – well, about fifty people or so. We booked out all available guest rooms in the village for any guests who didn’t fit into Thrushcross Grange or Wuthering Heights that weekend. Edgar wanted to look after the catering and wine which was just fine by me, I’d focus on the hair, make-up, invitations, dress, and my bridesmaids – Nelly and my best friend from school, Cassie. I wondered if Heath would come to the wedding on Isabella’s arm. What a nightmare.
But I had something bigger to focus on, and Edgar was pretty distracted too … the BAFTA list—the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards—were announced today, and while Edgar was away for a few days doing some location scouting, Nelly and I were waiting for the announcement. It was a shame Edgar was away because members of the crew ofBetween Night and Dayhad organised reunion drinks at one of the studio bars and we were all there waiting. It was great to see everyone again.
I was on my second champagne; it was Nelly’s idea.
‘You need to have champagne before the announcement – it acknowledges that you are good enough to be considered and that’s worth celebrating no matter what happens,’ she said.
‘Thanks, Nelly. But if it doesn’t get announced soon, I’ll be under the table and will miss it.’
‘If I don’t get nominated, I’m going to be super pissed off,’ Nathaniel said, sidling up next to me.
‘More importantly, if I don’t get nominated, it’s a travesty of justice,’ Niall said.
Nelly and I looked from one to the other and burst out laughing. The guys were support actors who had about two lines each in the whole movie, but because they constantly hung around together and their names were Nathaniel and Niall, no one could tell them apart and they became the two-Ns. They were funny and irreverent and just what every film cast needed. They were on screen for so little time they had no chance of being nominated and they knew it … they were the perfect icebreakers.
Nathaniel nudged me. ‘You could lose that director and take me on your arm as your date,’ he suggested to me. ‘What’s he got that I haven’t?’
‘Fair point,’ I agreed and chuckled. ‘You’re surer than I am that I’m going to be on the list.’
The volume of the television went up to full bore as the hosts ofInsider E-Newscame on to share the news.
Everyone was so busy saying ‘Sshhh’ and ‘quiet’ that we couldn’t hear the television hosts. One of the girls hit a knife against a wine glass and everyone stopped talking at the familiar dinging sound.
Nelly grabbed my arm. ‘Here we go,’ she whispered. I think my blood froze because I sat there not able to breathe or move. I didn’t realise how much I wanted it for me, Edgar and yes, Heath, and how tense I had been with anticipation. The hosts were raving on about this year’s nominees, I suspect they did that every year.
‘It’s an amazing list this year, Joel, what do you think?’ co-host, the very blonde and glamourous Jennifer asked.
‘Couldn’t agree more, Jen. You’ve got veterans, newcomers, the unexpected and I’m pleased to say the deserving. Let’s begin,’ Joel said, and they went live to the BAFTA nomination announcement. As the categories were listed, I tuned in and out, waiting and hearing the nominees relevant toBetween Night and Dayand Heath’s film. Then it was one of our categories:
‘The nominees for the best film are:The Missing; Journey of the Soul; Between Night and Day; Cliffhanger;andThe Meaning of Nothing.’
All of our team was cheering. Thank God! Edgar’s film was listed in the best film category and so was the film Heath was in – a good sign. We had to quieten again for the next category, best leading actress. I was relieved that Holly wasn’t with us as she hadn’t scored a nomination. Neither did Heath’s leading lady … her name escaped me. The host announced the next category of the best lead actor and we all held our breath for Travis from our film. I held mine for Heath but I wasn’t going to tell anyone that.
‘Nominees for leading actor,’ the BAFTA announcer said, and read two names that were huge in the industry and then one I knew intimately. ‘Heath Earnshaw,The Meaning of Nothing.’ I felt every eye turn to me and Nelly and I cheered along with some of the other crew members who knew Heath from his stage work. The fourth name announced wasn’t Travis, but the fifth name was!
‘Travis Taylor,Between Night and Day.’ We all cheered and everyone was kissing Travis or patting him on the back including Nelly and me. I was so glad he came for drinks – he had so little ego and this was so exciting. We all gave Tamara—the film’s casting director—a huge cheer, she got it right. Two film nominations so far forBetween Night and Day. I grabbed my phone and glanced at it. I thought Edgar might have texted or called but not yet. He was probably waiting for my category. So was I, it was killing me. And then it came.
The host began, ‘the nominees for best supporting actress are: Rachel Sumina,Cliffhanger.’
Nelly squeezed my hand; I thought I’d be sick with the tension, the potential embarrassment and major disappointment threatening to erupt. I felt like all eyes were upon me.
‘Amee Andrews,Journey of the Soul…Julia Vazquez,You and Me…’
Fucking killing me. Two to go, two to go ...
