Kathy Jay - Reach for the Stars - A feel good, uplifting romantic comedy

‘What does the production team say?’

‘I didn’t tell them. Because I wasn’t the casting director’s number one choice for the role in the first place. If the executive producers decide to make a sequel and word about my phobia gets around, they might rule me out, hire someone who’s more cut out for the role than me.’

‘That’s not going to happen. There’s no one better than you for the part. You’ll nail it. But not if you suffer in silence. Tell somebody.’

Nick admired his twin brother. He’d looked up to him since they were kids, but Nick had never been good at taking advice. ‘I can’t.’

‘So you’ll do what? Keep quiet and hope for the best? That’s not much of a plan.’

‘You’ll be the first to know if I think of a better one.’ He slugged his beer. ‘Alex?’ He clenched his teeth, uncertain whether to share the news in Fran’s email with his twin. He caught his brother’s eyes and knew by his look that he sensed something was wrong.

‘What? What’s up?’

‘Do you remember Francesca Matthews?’

Alex laughed. ‘Of course I remember. You were crazy about her for all of about five weeks. What about her?’

‘I’ve got a problem. Look.’ He tapped at his phone and handed it to Alex so that he could read the email for himself.

‘Is she for real? Why’s she only telling you about this now?’

‘I know, right?’

A muscle in Alex’s jaw twitched. ‘Have you opened the attachment?’

Nick shook his head, too deeply wounded to admit that he hadn’t had the guts to look at the photo.

‘Do you want me to?’

‘No. Give it here.’ He took back his phone and swiped the screen. ‘Okay here goes.’

The picture of a girl, pretty with fair hair and almond brown eyes opened on his phone. His heart froze and he passed the phone to his brother.

‘I’ve got to admit she’s the spitting image of you.’

‘What do you think I should do?’

‘If I were you I’d demand a DNA test. It might sound harsh, but it’s the best way forward. You’ve got to know for sure if she’s yours. Not just for your sake. For hers!’

‘What about what you just said? She looks like me.’

‘Looks can be deceptive. Take us!’

‘True.’ Nick had to agree. They were fraternal twins, and although they were a similar height and facially their bone structure resembled each other, Alex had dark hair and blue eyes whereas he was fair with brown eyes. ‘What I don’t get is why she kept this from me? Why didn’t she tell me eleven years ago?’

‘Exactly. Just because the girl looks like you doesn’t mean she didn’t get those looks from someone else. Arrange a paternity test. And you should hire a good lawyer to act as an intermediary, give you some legal advice.’

‘I don’t like the sound of that.’

Alex shrugged. ‘You might want to think it over before you do anything.’

Nick looked at the photo again. He had a feeling. He didn’t reckon a DNA test would change the fact that was staring him in the face. And Fran said she needed him to make contact urgently. There wasn’t time to go looking for a legal expert. He could do that later if necessary.

‘Listen. Can you keep this to yourself? Just until I’ve had a chance to find out what it’s all about? Don’t say anything to Mum. There’ll only be fallout and histrionics.’

Alex nodded solemnly. ‘You want me to keep it a secret from Maggie?’

‘I wouldn’t ask you to, normally. But it’s my secret, not yours, and as you pointed out I might not be the dad at all.’

‘Fair enough. There’s no sense in getting everyone excited about the idea of a new family member until you know if it’s true.’

‘Right.’

‘Let me see the photo again.’ Alex took the phone from his brother’s hand and studied it carefully. ‘I’ve got a feeling you’re a dad though.’

‘Same.’

‘Let me know as soon as you get the test result. You don’t need me to tell you to be careful how you handle this. The press getting hold of it could give you a lot of grief. I can think of one or two journalists who’d have a field day with a piece on Nick Wells abandoning a baby at birth and refusing to acknowledge that she’s his!’

‘That’s not how it is.’

‘It doesn’t matter. You know that.’

Nick had to physically hold back from face-palming. His reputation in the press was mud. He’d been making a real effort to change. He was tired of the love-rat image which had followed him around for the last ten years. He hadn’t minded when they were acting in hit TV show Mercy of the Vampires in LA. In fact he’d thrived on it – part of the hype that went with heading up the cast with his brother.

‘If it’s true it’s personal. Not for public consumption.’

‘You may not have a choice. You need to tread carefully. Fran didn’t want anything from you for eleven years? And suddenly now she does?’

Coming back into the apartment Maggie made a beeline for the gift basket. She untied the ribbon, and rustled the cellophane wrapping in a flurry of anticipation revealing soft toys and an array of cute presents. ‘This is gorgeous Nick. Thank you.’

‘I have a confession,’ he said, ‘I had a personal shopper pick stuff out. I don’t know the first thing about babies.’

‘Join the club. Funnily enough not many of us do until we have one of our own.’

Alex threw a look of love towards his wife. ‘In our case two.’

Injured by Fran’s email Nick bit back his emotions and buried his fear.

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