Midsummer Magic

Midsummer Magic by Julia Williams Page A

Book: Midsummer Magic by Julia Williams Read Free Book Online
Authors: Julia Williams
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance
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picture together, go on,’ said Snifter.
    Ever the professional, Tati duly obliged, but as she draped herself seductively on Bron’s shoulder, she whispered in his ear, ‘Got another child bride?’ and nodded at the young girl hovering awkwardly on the red carpet. Tati felt sorry for her; she was only the latest of a string of young starlets whose name Bron was being linked to. No doubt to replace the current Debbie McGee (who’d earned her spot on the show by the same means) as soon as her contract was up.
    ‘Over here, Tati!’ shouted a voice from the other side of the barrier, and Tati duly smiled as she leaned over in the other direction.
    ‘Really, Bron, you’re getting to be a bit of a joke, chasing after young women, when everyone can see that bald patch every week on TV.’
    That was a low blow. She knew how sensitive he was about his hair.
    ‘At least I have a love life.’ Tatiana’s last boyfriend’s parting gift had been to describe their sexploits to the
Sunday Sport
.
    ‘At least my hair’s all my own,’ snapped Tatiana, before smiling sweetly once more for the cameras and sweeping off inside the theatre.
    Please God let me win tonight, and not Bron, she thought. If there is any justice in this world, that’s how things should be. She felt nervous as hell. By rights, she should win for her portrayal of Sandy Kane, but she was up against stiff competition from her rival Candida Cordwell, whose portrayal of brave Merry Edwards coping with cancer in
Meet Me in Manhatta
n had also garnered huge praise.
    It was the first time Tati had been to an event like this and she was still star-struck by the comedy compere, whose TV show she’d watched since childhood, and terrified at the thought of having to speak to the Hollywood film actor who was giving out the prize for best actress, should she win. Susan Peasebottom was doing her best to hold Tati’s hand, throughout the course of a long evening, in which the prize for Best Light Entertainment Show, Best TV Duo, Best Production and Best Direction went to
Illusions
, but it wasn’t helping. Tati had taken two Valium before she came out but her nerves were still jangling all over the place, and despite her best intentions, she drank rather a lot of champagne. More, certainly, than she’d intended. She was just vainly looking around for another refill when Antony Hayward, the gorgeous Hollywood star of yesteryear, got up to announce the winner of the Best Actress category. Tati was so tense, she didn’t hear a word he’d said, and it was only when Susan prised the glass out of her hand and started steering her towards the stage that Tati realised what had happened.
    Everyone in the room seemed to be on their feet; she’d never heard so much applause. And it was all for her. Tati staggered towards the bright lights of the stage, feeling more than a little tipsy, and sick to the core. What the hell was she supposed to do now? Damn, they’d rehearsed this in case she won, but nerves combined with champagne made her forget what she was supposed to be doing.
    ‘Well, well, your little TV show made the grade,’ a voice said in her ear, and she realised Freddie Puck was raising his glass to her. Without thinking, she grabbed the glass from his hand, marched up to the stage, practically wrestled the award from Antony Hayward’s unsuspecting grasp, and said, ‘I’d like to thank everyone on the cast of
Sail for the Sun
, without whom I wouldn’t be here today, and my wonderful agent Susan Peasebottom, thank you from the bottom of my heart, I couldn’t have done it without you.’ She paused and looked around the room, lighting eventually on Bron and Freddie’s table. ‘There are some people here who never thought I could do this, and I did. Which just goes to show you should follow your dreams. Cheers, everybody,’ she raised her glass, before staggering unceremoniously offstage. As she walked past Bron and Freddie’s table, she quietly poured the

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