A Simple Mistake Read online

Mia ran a critical eye over it. ‘It might do. Try it on.’

  At first, Lainey had been very conscious of her cheap underwear but by now she didn’t care. She stripped off her jeans and top and waited for the assistant to help her into the dress.

  It was like stepping into a latte. The coffee-coloured satin felt smooth against her skin and the lace overlay had sparkly things all over it. It had the smallest of cap sleeves and the wide neck was modest. The underskirt came to just above her knees, and the lace floated on down another few centimetres, swirling a little when she moved.

  Lainey stood in front of the full length mirror and gasped, then felt like an idiot.

  Mia laughed. ‘That’s it. We have our dress. You’ll blow Nick’s socks off.’ She reached up to tug on Lainey’s ponytail. ‘Now, just let that all fall down, get some dangly earrings and you’ll be perfect.’

  They found shoes and a satin purse that matched and some crystal earrings she fell in love with. It seemed that if money was no object you could find whatever you wanted. It gave Lainey an inkling of what life could be like with Nick on a permanent basis but she squashed the thought. Not yet.

  Mia smiled as they drove home. ‘You’re one of the easiest people I’ve ever had to dress. Even the boys have their moments.’

  ‘I’ve never done anything like it before. I must’ve tried on at least twenty dresses.’

  ‘Yeah, and we found the perfect one. I love it when that happens. Mind you, with your figure you’d look great in anything.’ She grinned. ‘Nick said I’d enjoy dressing you. He reckons you’d make a sack look sexy.’

  Lainey blushed. He thinks I’d make a sack look sexy? She knew she’d be nervous on the night but at least she’d do it in style.

  * * *

  Lainey and Lara sat outside a café overlooking Coogee Beach and finished their breakfast. Lara and Adam’s engagement party was on tonight, and Lara had a busy day ahead.

  ‘This is just what I needed.’ Lara leaned across the table and patted Lainey’s hand. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’ After a second cup of coffee and a plate of pancakes with maple syrup and ice cream Lainey was beginning to feel more human. Getting up at six-thirty on a Saturday morning wasn’t her favourite thing to do.

  ‘You’re so sweet, doing this for me, and my laundry as well.’

  Lainey dabbed at her mouth with her serviette and smiled. ‘What are best friends for? Anyhow, you’re feeding me tonight. Fair exchange.’

  ‘I still can’t believe it’s happening. I’m engaged to the cutest man in the whole wide world and he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. Me, Lara, the chubby baby Bancroft.’ She splayed her fingers, admiring the twinkling diamonds in her ring.

  Lainey loved seeing Lara so happy. She had always told her that one day, some guy would fall for her and sweep her off her feet. And now he had. Dear old Adam.

  ‘You are going to be a beautiful bride,’ said Lainey. ‘With your dark hair and green eyes you’re going to look like Snow White.’

  ‘And I can’t wait to go dress shopping with you. Remember we used to talk about this when we were seventeen?’

  ‘Yep and we made those lists.’

  ‘And I actually got what I wanted.’ Lara laughed. ‘I can’t believe you picked yours from a department store catalogue. You were so devious.’

  ‘I had to fob you off somehow. I had my secrets.’ I still do.

  ‘So how’s it going with you and Nick? Really, I mean.’

  This is what Lainey had missed. They had been so busy. She knew she could use Lara as a sounding board and trust her to listen and give an honest and caring opinion.

  She took a deep breath and spoke in a rush. ‘I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing anymore.’ There, it was out.

  Lara waited. That was one of the things Lainey loved about her friend. She always listened.

  ‘It’s not that I don’t want to be with Nick, I do, but it’s this going public thing. I don’t have a problem with people knowing we’re an item but because he’s so well-known it’s giving me a problem from a Christian perspective. At least, I think that’s what it is.’ Lainey groaned. ‘Help me out here, would you?’

  Lara leaned forward and studied the laminate surface. ‘Do you love Nick?’

  ‘Yes.’ Lainey was emphatic. ‘It feels like I’ve been in love with him my whole life.’ So why does it bother me?

  ‘Do you know how he feels about you?’

  ‘He hasn’t actually come out and said he loves me but all the signs are there. I know it’s only been six weeks but, wow, look at what he did for Valentine’s Day! And the other night he told me the note he’d written all those years ago was still true.’ Lainey had shown Lara the note, the guardian angel reinstated on her dresser and the locket she was now wearing around her neck.

  ‘That’s when I barged in?’

  ‘Pretty much.’ And I didn’t get to tell him about Liam – again.

  ‘So the main issue isn’t how you feel about each other but the fact that he isn’t a born-again Christian.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And now, by going to the premiere, you’re about to show the world you’re a couple and you’re worried about what everyone is going to think from a Christian perspective.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Are you concerned people will think you’re compromising your values and morals?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Are you sleeping with him?’

  ‘Lara, no!’

  ‘I had to ask but I didn’t think you were.’

  ‘You should’ve been a lawyer, not an accountant. So what’s your verdict?’

  ‘I have a feeling,’ Lara said, sitting back, ‘you want to have a relationship with Nick that isn’t so public, but, because that isn’t an option, you’ve gone ahead regardless. Now you feel you can’t back out because he’s spent money on you for this event, and you don’t really want to back out anyway, but you know what it says in the Bible about being unequally yoked. And what you’re going through is part of the reason it’s there.’ She took a breath. ‘Please don’t ask me to say all that again.’

  Lainey took a few seconds to digest what had been fired at her. ‘You’re absolutely right. But what I don’t get is why would God have brought us back together in the first place? Meeting like that was definitely His doing.’

  ‘True.’ There was silence for a moment. ‘Lainey, don’t lose sight of the fact that God wants what’s best for you. We see such a small part of the bigger picture. Look how Adam and I got together. We never could have predicted that.’

  ‘No. And God even used Adam to get my nose fixed.’ That made them both smile. ‘So what am I going to do, counsellor?’

  ‘Well, I think if you feel you should back out before Wednesday, do it. No compromise, Lainey. That’s one of your strengths. But if you feel you should keep going, do so, but again, without compromising. You have no idea who you may be helping or if you’re being part of the seed-sowing process on someone’s journey to finding God.’ Lara leaned across and grasped both her hands. ‘I just don’t want you to get your heart broken. I couldn’t bear it if I’m happy and you’re not.’

  Lara’s words struck a chord way down deep. What if God needed her heart to get broken so Nick or maybe even someone else could come to know Him? Would she be prepared to do that? Jesus had laid down his life. Would she lay down her heart?

  Chapter Twelve

  Lainey made her way down the stairs behind Mia. She had spent the afternoon being primped, curled, buffed and polished, and hoped Nick had got his money’s worth. When she saw the look on his face she knew he had.

  ‘Don’t you dare kiss her!’ said Mia. ‘You’ll spoil her make-up.’

  ‘You’re stunning.’ Nick took her hand and kissed that, his eyes not leaving hers for a second.r />
  Lainey smiled, a little shy, not used to feeling glamorous but thinking she might be able to get used to it. ‘You look wonderful yourself.’

  His suit was charcoal this time, and the dark blue open-necked shirt emphasised his eyes. With his looks and easy grace, he was every inch the movie star.

  Lainey had prayed a lot about tonight, mainly about not making a fool of herself on the red carpet. She knew she didn’t have to say anything, just stand beside Nick, but even so, she was very apprehensive.

  Mia had tried to help. ‘You’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘They don’t want to talk to you, only Nick and maybe James, but they will want your photo. All you have to do is smile.’

  Despite Mia’s words, Lainey shook in her new shoes when she saw the crowd lining the barriers outside the State Theatre. Nick got out first and she heard the cheers as he waved before he turned back to give her his hand.

  ‘We’ve come a long way, Lanky Lainey. Let’s show them what we’re made of.’

  It was the best thing he could have said. Suddenly, she felt fabulous. Lainey drew herself to her full height and gave Nick a huge smile. ‘Bring it on, Cusack,’ she said.

  He laughed and ignoring Mia’s glare, kissed her on the tender spot beside her ear. ‘You never fail to amaze me, Miss Sullivan.’ He linked her fingers with his.

  Lainey was aware of a multitude of flashing lights, people calling out Nick’s name to look here, to look there. The noise was deafening, a cacophony of different sounds, but Lainey tuned it out as she did when there was a full school assembly and the kids were waiting for the principal to turn up. She giggled at the comparison and somehow Nick heard her.

  ‘You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?’ He winked at her and laughed when she winked back.

  Nick was interviewed by several TV networks and magazines. They all wanted to know who she was. Nick introduced her as his girlfriend. They all commented on their height and how perfect they looked together then went on to ask the same thing as the others, rather inane from Lainey’s point of view. She stood beside him, her hand in his, and admired how he dealt with everything. He used just the right amount of humour and honesty, laced with bucket loads of confidence.

  Once inside the spectacular foyer, they had a chance to regroup.

  ‘I had no idea I could do that,’ she said, breathless.

  He drew her close and kissed her hair. ‘I did. You’ve always risen to a challenge, no matter what it was.’

  There was a large crowd milling around them, actors and personalities from all over the place, most of them home-grown. It was exciting meeting people she’d never expected to see in the flesh and wished she could have had more time to savour the opulence of the venue. It was like nothing she’d seen before.

  The lights dimmed and they made their way to their seats. ‘I hope you remembered to bring a tissue,’ Nick said.

  ‘I did. And I insisted on waterproof mascara.’ Nick hadn’t told her the whole story but she knew parts of it were sad.

  ‘Good girl.’ He wiped his palms on his trousers. ‘I’m nervous.’

  ‘Really? Were you like this in L.A.?’

  ‘No. You’d better hold my hand.’ He leaned closer. ‘It’s because you’re here. It means a lot to me what you think.’ It was still light enough to read the vulnerability in his expression.

  ‘Oh Nick.’ Her heart went all mushy and her eyes filled. Then she thumped him. ‘Don’t do that to me. I’m going to run out of tissues and ruin my make-up.’ He laughed and tucked her hand in his just as the lights went out and the opening credits began.

  Lainey was mesmerised from start to finish. The film had a great storyline with beautiful scenery in stark contrast to the brutality of war. There was plenty of drama, action and even romance. Nick’s character, Emmett, fell in love with the daughter of the French family who was part of the resistance.

  Nick laughed softly as he removed her elbow from his ribs during a kissing scene. ‘Kissing her didn’t do anything to me like it does when I kiss you.’ His mouth on her ear made her shiver and she elbowed him again when he chuckled.

  Nothing prepared her for his character getting shot and killed.

  There were sniffles from everywhere in the audience. It was just as bad at the end when the four surviving soldiers all turned up together at Emmett’s house to give his family his dog tags and the crumpled photo of them he’d kept in his pocket.

  As the lights went up and the theatre filled with applause, Lainey was torn between blubbering all over Nick or hitting him for making her cry so much.

  ‘You were far too good,’ she said, dabbing at her face. ‘Don’t you dare let your mother see that without you being there. It was too real. I am so proud of you.’

  ‘Thanks, beautiful.’ His kiss was tender but brief, as everyone began to congratulate him.

  At the after party she was scrutinised far more by the women she met than the men. It thrilled her to realise Nick had chosen her to be with him tonight when he could have had any number of these beautiful, sophisticated beings to accompany him. She revelled in the feel of his arm around her waist when they stood and talked and the warmth of his hand in the small of her back as he guided her onto the next person.

  It was a long time later when Nick took her over to a table that had just been vacated. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘Fine, but my feet are aching. New shoes. What about you? It’s been non-stop.’

  ‘I’m used to it. Want a drink? Actually, I’ll have to get Malcolm to get it. I can see someone else I need to speak to. Will you be alright with him?’

  ‘I’ll be fine.’ Lainey was more than happy to sit.

  It was only a few minutes until Nick’s manager arrived with her Diet Coke. ‘You don’t drink, Lainey?’

  She saluted Malcolm with her glass then took a mouthful. ‘No.’

  ‘There’s not many around like you tonight.’ He grinned as he indicated the room. People had really began to party and Lainey was grateful Nick wasn’t one of them. He’d had only a minimal amount of alcohol.

  ‘What do you think of our boy?’ asked Malcolm. ‘He’s doing well, isn’t he?’

  ‘I’m very proud of him. We used to talk about this as kids. He’s living his dream, Malcolm. It’s wonderful.’

  ‘So how do you fit into his dream?’

  ‘Pardon me?’

  ‘Where do you see yourself in all of this? The concerts, the movies, the parties? Is this your kind of thing?’ He eyed her over the top of his glass. ‘I hear you’re a religious girl. I imagine you’re a bit out of your league tonight.’

  Where was this going? ‘You’re right, but I’m doing okay. What else do you need to know, Malcolm? I figure you’re just looking out for ‘your boy’ as you put it.’

  ‘Certainly am. You’re not his normal type, Lainey. Nick usually goes for the models, actresses, dancers. It’s good to see an intelligent woman around the place.’

  Oh puh-lease. How insulting could he be?

  ‘But are you intelligent enough to know when to let go and not hold Nick back?’

  Lord, help me to be gracious. Lainey had a whole lot of things she’d like to say but not one of them would be suitable. ‘Yes, I am.’

  Malcolm dropped his gaze first.

  ‘So now that we’ve got that out of the way, tell me about you.’ Lainey kept the smile pasted on. ‘Are you married? Do you have a family?’

  They traded information for the next few minutes then Malcolm got to his feet. ‘Thanks, Lainey. I hope I haven’t upset you.’

  ‘Not at all. You’re just doing your job.’

  He raised his glass and moved away.

  Well, that had been interesting. Not a conversation she was in a hurry to relay to Nick, though. Lainey stood up and headed for the ladies’ room. She was touching up her face, deep in thought, when two
young women came in.

  ‘Oh, hi!’ The one who greeted her swayed a little. ‘You’re with Nick Cusack, aren’t you? He’s the most gorgeous man! And isn’t this party fantastic? Oh, don’t mind her.’ She giggled at the sound of her friend throwing up. ‘Too much champagne, silly thing. She’ll be alright in a minute. Oh! Looks like someone was here before me!’

  She spoke in a singsong voice as she peered at some white powder on the granite bench top. When she pulled a straw from her bag, Lainey got out of there.

  Her table was still empty. She picked up her drink, only to have it snatched out of her hand.

  ‘Lainey, don’t!’ Nick looked at her in alarm. ‘Somebody could have put something in it while you were gone. I saw you come back from the ladies’ room.’

  ‘I can’t believe I did that. I do know better, Nick.’

  He put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. ‘You’re not used to having to worry about stuff like that. Did Malcolm look after you alright?’

  ‘Yes, thanks.’ She was still unsettled over what she’d seen and heard in the last twenty minutes and avoided his eyes by checking her watch. ‘I need to go, Nick. I’ve got work tomorrow.’

  They’d already arranged for her to be driven home. Nick made the call before taking her over to say goodbye to James and Mia, then walked her out to the hotel entrance.

  He put his arms around her. ‘I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Thank you for doing this. It was huge, and you were a star.’

  ‘No, you were the star. You’re a very talented man, Nick.’

  ‘And I was proud to have you with me.’ He kissed her then helped her into the car. Leaning in, he kissed her again before waving her off.

  As she was driven home, Lainey stared out of the window, not really seeing anything. Her mind was on what she’d experienced tonight.

  Maybe the question from Malcolm was more sensible than she thought. Would she hold Nick back from his career? At the moment, she didn’t think so, but what if things became very serious? Was she prepared to follow him all over the world, go to parties like this one on a regular basis? Was this what God wanted for her?