Page 32 of Christmas at the Movies

‘Noa needs it to be a hit, too,’ shared Mum. ‘His last movie didn’t do very well at the box office.’

‘I still don’t understand why he parted ways with his usual studio,’ remarked Pari. ‘There were some rumours that he’s difficult to work with.’

‘I find that hard to believe. He’s been absolutely lovely to me. Noa says he’s working with a streamer so he can finance a passion project,’ said Mum.

Noa says, Noa says … thought Nick. He didn’t like how this movie had taken over his mother’s life. It was like Noa Drakos had put her under a magic spell.

‘Sounds like you might be his next “passion project”.’ Pari chuckled.

Anxiety gnawed at Nick’s stomach. Was Mum having an affair with a famous film director? What if she left them, the way Julia’s mother had …

‘Oh, please, Pari.’ Mum scoffed. ‘The man has dated pop stars. As if he’s going to be interested in me. And in any case, my libido has been non-existent.’

What does that mean?

‘Ah, the joys of being a middle-aged woman,’ said Pari, sighing. ‘I’m not even interested in my rabbit any more.’

When did Pari get a pet? wondered Nick.

‘I went to see the doctor this week,’ said Mum. ‘They did some blood tests to check my hormone levels and wrote me a prescription for HRT. Hopefully it will improve the anxiety and brain fog.’

Nick felt a jolt of fear. Was Mum ill? Did she have a brain tumour? Was that why she had been acting so sad these past few months? A terrifying thought occurred to Nick – was Mum DYING?

‘I hope it helps,’ said Pari.

‘I’d better go,’ said Mum. ‘Noa wants to see a new draft of the second act by tomorrow morning.’

Nick darted out of the corridor and sprinted up to his bedroom as Mum ended her call. He had so many questions, but he couldn’t ask Mum – he was too scared of what she might say.

Nick sat down on his bed and wrapped his weighted blanket over his shoulders to try to calm himself down. Jonesy came crawling out from under the bed and jumped onto his lap. As Nick stroked the cat’s back, Jonesy purred and kneaded his lap.

‘Grown-ups are so confusing,’ he confided in the cat. He wasn’t sure if Mum was madly in love with a famous film director or seriously ill.

Either way, there was something worrying going on. And Nick didn’t know what to do.

Frowning, Sarah deleted the line she’d just written and wrote it again. ‘You have the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor,’ she said as she typed.

Yes, that was much better. She was working on the scene where the two main characters discovered that they had to share a bedroom in the inn because it was fully booked for Christmas.

Sitting at the kitchen table, Sarah was so engrossed in her work, she nearly jumped out of her skin when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and saw Holly, wearing the dress she’d bought in London and her Tiffany necklace.

‘You nearly gave me a heart attack,’ she said with a gasp.

Holly gave an impatient huff. ‘I’ve been standing here saying your name for like a minute.’

‘Sorry, I was completely caught up in the script.’ Sarah smiled at her daughter. Things between them had mercifully improved since Holly’s birthday. She was just giving Sarah a normal level of teenaged attitude, rather than full-blown hatred. ‘You look nice. Are you going out?’

Holly gave her a withering look. ‘Duh? It’s the first film of the festival? What time are we leaving for the cinema?’

‘Oh, crap!’ Sarah had completely lost track of time. If she didn’t get a move on, they’d be late.

Saving her work, she dashed into the bathroom to shower. After drying herself off, she rubbed oestrogen gel on her belly. The hormone replacement therapy had already improved her sleep. She hadn’t had a hot flash in days, either.

Her period was still as regular as clockwork, so it hadn’t occurred to her that she was in perimenopause.

But the GP had explained that her mood swings and anxiety were both classic symptoms of the change.

It was a relief to finally find out what was wrong with her.

As her brain fog lifted and her mood improved, she was beginning to feel like her old self again.

Sarah swung by Valley Vistas to pick up her mother. Geraldine was waiting for her outside. Nick jumped out of the back and helped his grandmother into the passenger seat.

‘It’s OK, I can manage,’ said Geraldine. ‘No need to fuss.’ But Sarah noticed how she clung to Nick’s arm as she lowered herself into the car. Age catches up with all of

us, thought Sarah. Even her mother, who had travelled the world on her own doing anthropological research.

She’d been doing so well until Long Covid had slowed her down, sapping her energy.

It just went to show that you had to live your life to the fullest while you could. Even HRT couldn’t turn the clock back.

‘Sorry I’m a bit late, Mum,’ Sarah said. ‘I was working on the screenplay.’

‘That’s quite all right,’ said Geraldine cheerfully. ‘I’m glad to see you using your brain again.’

Sarah bristled at her mother’s implied criticism. ‘Yeah, yeah, I know you think I’ve been wasting my life here in Plumdale,’ she said defensively. She knew she sounded as snippy as Holly. Did all grown women revert back into a stroppy teenager when talking to their mum?

‘I didn’t say that,’ Geraldine scolded her. ‘You’re putting words in my mouth. I’m just glad you’re writing again because I know it makes you happy. It always has – you loved writing stories as a little girl.’

Mollified, Sarah started to drive to the cinema. Geraldine took something out of her bag – some sort of poster.

‘What’s that?’ asked Sarah.

‘I’ve decided to organise a lecture and discussion series at Valley Vistas. I’m giving the first talk – it’s on the role of grandparents in different cultures. I was hoping I could hang the schedule up on the cinema noticeboard.’

‘Of course you can,’ said Sarah. ‘I think that’s wonderful.’

‘It was Roger from the cinema who suggested it,’ said Geraldine. ‘After the Golden Oldies screening, Pam insisted that I join them. They seem to have appointed her as my unofficial welcoming committee.’

Sarah was delighted that Roger and Pam had succeeded where she had failed. She had been suggesting for weeks that Geraldine engage with the local community. ‘I’m glad you’re making friends.’

‘Well, I wouldn’t go that far.’ Geraldine sniffed. ‘But I suppose it’s better than sitting around on my own doing crossword puzzles.’

Sarah rolled her eyes.

When they arrived at the cinema, the lobby was packed with people.

‘You made it!’ exclaimed James, sounding relieved. He kissed her on the cheek.

‘Of course,’ said Sarah. She’d never missed a Christmas film-festival screening.

James took his mother-in-law by the arm. ‘Let’s find you a seat, Geraldine.’

‘Sarah!’ called a woman in her mid-fifties, waving madly. She had long, wavy auburn hair streaked with grey and wore a vintage-style dress.

‘Hello, Nora,’ said Sarah, giving her old friend a hug.

‘I hear you’re working on the movie that our friend Mateo is starring in,’ said Nora.

‘Word travels fast,’ commented Sarah.

The American actor had worked in a pub in Stowford before he became famous. He and his wife, Sam, were good friends of the Waldens. They were how Pari had ended up representing him – they’d put in a good word when Mateo’s old agent retired.

‘Sam is delighted that he’s filming locally over the holidays,’ said Nora. ‘So he can spend more time with her and the little ones.’

‘Be sure to tell her about our Baby and Me screenings,’ said Sarah.

‘I will,’ promised Nora.

Simon came over holding two steaming cups of hot chocolate. He handed one to Nora. ‘I can’t believe the film festival is still going strong. How many years has it been?’

‘Fourteen,’ said Sarah. She pulled Nick, who was standing around awkwardly, over to her and tousled his hair. ‘It’s been around longer than this guy.’

Nora smiled warmly at Nick. ‘We’ve had to make the manga section even bigger, Nick. It’s so popular these days.’

Nora and Simon had added a manga section to their bookshop after Nick had told them how much he loved Japanese graphic novels. Now he visited the shop regularly to get his fix of manga and books about drawing.

‘I want a hot chocolate too,’ said Nick.

Sarah watched him go over to the concession stand, where Holly was helping Aaron serve festive refreshments. Aaron handed Holly a Santa hat, like the one he was wearing. Holly put it on, then giggled as Aaron adjusted it for her, tucking a stray lock of hair under the hat’s furry white band.

So that’s why she didn’t want to be late, thought Sarah. And why she’s wearing her new dress.

She went over to the table where her mum and James were sitting. Geraldine was watching Holly and Aaron too.

‘It’s so interesting how universal flirting is.’ Geraldine looked amused. ‘I’ve studied tribes all over the world and the behaviours are the same everywhere.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked James.

Sarah looked at her mother and they both shook their heads. How could someone so intelligent be so clueless?

Geraldine patted his arm. ‘Your daughter is clearly crazy about that boy. And he’s completely smitten with her.’

‘Really?’ James turned to Sarah for confirmation.

She nodded. ‘Really.’

Sarah watched as Holly took a sip of her hot chocolate. Some whipped cream got on her nose and Aaron wiped it off with his finger. Holly giggled and toyed with her necklace.

‘Well, well, well,’ said James. ‘I guess Holly really is growing up.’

‘You’re OK with this?’ asked Sarah.

James shrugged. ‘He’s a nice kid – polite, hard-working, bright. She could do a lot worse.’

‘She’s too young,’ said Sarah.

‘Oh, please. That didn’t stop you,’ said Geraldine. ‘I came home from work and caught you snogging Neil Butler on the sofa when you were only fourteen.’

‘Neil Butler, eh?’ teased James, raising his eyebrow.

‘Don’t worry. He had a mullet and rather unfortunate acne,’ said Geraldine.