Bernie missed rehearsing. She had really enjoyed inhabiting a character and trying on a different skin. Maybe the next time they staged a play, she could actually audition? The thought terrified and excited her.
'What are you thinking?'
She gave a start at being dragged into real life with Serena's question hanging in the air. She'd been watching Bea with the children and ready to jump in with a prompt, something she'd been promoted to. Liberty accepted the decision with bad grace. She prided herself on knowing her lines. Silly bitch was at the dentist today.
'I wouldn't want to be a real actor. That would be exhausting. But I really have enjoyed doing this. Being on stage and pretending to be someone else.'
'Don't we all? We'd love it if you auditioned for whatever the next play is. If you want to.'
Bernie smiled and considered her options.
'What else are you thinking?'
Serena wouldn't normally be this annoying but she had Bernie all to herself, a thought that made her tingle with anticipation.
'That I've never had a best friend before' Bernie dared to say, risking a glance at her companion. They spoke in low tones, practically inaudible, reading each others lips almost.
'Who's your best friend?' Serena asked curiously.
'You.'
The look of delighted surprise on Serena's face gave Bernie hope. Dylan had been relentless in nudging Bernie towards her unrequited yearning and as much as it annoyed her to admit it, it had made a difference. They weren't just bumping into each other at the supermarket anymore, they were WhatsApping each other with silly little things during their day. They drove into the next village of Midsomer to watch their production of Calamity Jane, stupid as it was and Bernie enjoyed the evening immensely, walking arm in arm on a different street where they could be anonymous at the Italian restaurant. Over dessert they both agreed that Jane and Katie should have run off with each other instead of those macho cowboys they ended up with. Bernie looked across at those mischievous eyes and thought she could drown in them forever, resisting every urge to lean over and kiss her. She'd never shared dessert with anyone before, it was the most intimate thing she'd done in a long time. After that she'd longed for the day she would have another opportunity but it hadn't happened yet. She'd started bringing in pain au chocolat to the travel agents, a morning ritual she refused to stop because it meant she could see Serena before work. Taking every opportunity for a mid-morning break, Serena welcomed the interruption to go and chat over second breakfast before Bernie opened the salon. Noel the baker soon figured out the reason for this new habit but said nothing, noting the direction Bernie took everyday and it wasn't to the salon.
