Page 22 of The Girl with the Irish Secret

‘Yeah, but do I have to start smoking now?’ Vi asked miserably.

‘No, they always use prop cigarettes when filming now. It should be in your contract that you agreed to smoking on set, even if it’s only herbal cigarettes or vapes,’ Leo explained.

‘Oh, I see.’ Vi brightened. She normally paid so much attention to what she signed, but she’d been so excited when she’d eventually got the papers, desperate to get to Ireland. ‘I think I saw that when we went through the contract. To be honest, I was so delighted to do this part that I’d have signed anything. But now I feel better about that, so thanks.’

‘You’re welcome. I’m sure you can’t wait to get started.’

‘Of course.’ Vi nodded. ‘But I have to do a lot of work beforehand.’

‘Including having a drink with Jack Montgomery?’ Leo asked. ‘How did that go?’

‘Oh, it was great,’ Vi replied dreamily. ‘He was very charming and fun. We got on really well.’

‘Good, but don’t be too starstruck around him. He has quite a big head as it is.’

‘Of course he does,’ Vi exclaimed. ‘He’s a talented actor. Why wouldn’t he be proud of that?’

‘Yeah, I suppose he’s earned it.’

‘I’d say he has,’ Vi said. ‘But I feel there’s a nice man behind all the glamour. Right now he’s in his prime, I think.’

‘At his age, he should be.’

‘Thirty-six must be a good age for a man,’ Vi remarked. ‘It’s different for a woman. I’m already quite old for some parts.’

Leo looked surprised. ‘But you’re only in your twenties. I was just thinking about how I’m going to age you for the movie.’

‘I’m about to turn thirty,’ Vi said glumly.

‘Welcome to the club.’ Leo smiled at her. ‘I turned thirty last year. It doesn’t hurt at all.’

‘You’re a man and you’re not an actor,’ Vi retorted. ‘For me, the party’s over.’

‘Of course not,’ Leo protested. ‘The best is yet to come, you know. Life is not about age, it’s about your attitude to it.’

‘That makes me feel marginally better.’

‘That’s good to hear.’ Leo got up. ‘But now I have to get back or my cousin will call the Guards on me.’

Vi scrambled to her feet. ‘Okay. But it was great to see you.’

‘I’ll be back around Christmas,’ Leo said.

‘Give me a shout then and come over and meet my granny,’ Vi suggested.

‘If I can steal the bike again, I’ll come over,’ Leo promised.

‘Sure, there are buses and trains, too, you know,’ Vi retorted, smiling.

‘Of course. But the bike is more fun.’ Leo walked out to the hall and through the open front door. He zipped up his jacketand put on the helmet he had left hanging on the motorbike. ‘Good luck with the research,’ he said, his voice muffled by the visor of the helmet. ‘I’m sure next time we meet, you’ll be so like Kathleen we’ll think she’s back from the dead.’

‘Oh, go on out of that,’ Vi said, laughing. ‘I won’t go that far.’

‘Get some fake cigarettes and practise the smoking,’ Leo said before he kickstarted the bike. ‘Thanks for the coffee and chat,’ he shouted before he took off through the gates.

Vi shook her head and laughed as she watched the taillight disappear. What a fun guy Leo was. She knew she’d enjoy working with him. But while they chatted, she had felt a little shiver of fear at the pressure she was under. Everyone had such high expectations. If she failed to represent Kathleen accurately, she’d be out of a job. In the heat of their argument Rose had said Vi put her career before her family, and that one day she’d realise it wasn’t worth it. If she failed to play Kathleen to perfection, her sisters would be proven right.

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