Page 98 of The Silent Appeal

3:21 p.m. Fran wrote:

I hope you learned from it and can now manage your obsessive behavior. If not, then I will take out a new RO.

3:24 p.m. Issy wrote:

Aw, Fran! Please don’t worry! I’m totally different now and in a very happy place! I did have some dark times, boo, but ophthalmology saved me. I have very happy memories of the counseling group and don’t bear you any ill will whatsoever. I just wondered where you went in the middle of set-building, that’s all.

[Undelivered]

To: Nicky-Rose Dearing

From: Isabel Beck

Date: February 16, 2025

Subject: Hello!

Hiya Nicky-Rose,

You’re onstage at the moment, with Kevin, Joel, Nick, Barry, Mark, and Lucas helping you move the flats around, so I don’t want to disturb you, but just want to say how excited everyone is for the changes you’re making. I overheard Joyce and Denise talking while they washed up. Joyce said, “Look at them all, hanging on her every word,” and Joyce is not someone who throws praise around. Denise replied, “Hmm, yes, I noticed that.”

Have you spoken to Georgia and Amelia? I haven’t spoken to either yet and get their names mixed up. Do you find it’s like that when you meet two people together? They become inseparable in your mind. Georgia is Lucas’s cousin and she’s staying with them. They rent one of the studio apartments on the new estate. I’d love to live there, but had a snoop on Rightmove and a studio would be too small even for me, let alone three people. No wonder they don’t seem very happy. Amelia sits reading the script, then every so often she looks up and glares at Lucas. Georgia is scrolling on her phone all the time. I can’t complain though. If it wasn’t for Georgia giving up the part of Gerda, I wouldn’t be here.

You were speaking to Beth just now. She’s Celia and Joel’s daughter. According to Joyce she dropped out of uni and now works in admin for Mendham Council.

Have you spoken to Fran yet? I know her VERY well. Our paths crossed a few years ago and for a while we were really close friends. But she’s one of those people who lose interest and then rewrite your entire friendship. She’s been spreading lies about me. It’s understandable, because she needs a reason to tell people why we aren’t besties anymore, it’s just irritating. She’s been gliding about, scraping off wallpaper, and disappearing every so often. I can’t help wondering where she goes, because there are times when she completely disappears.

The set is looking better already! You’re so right about the patio doors. I’d love to learn stage craft from you and hear all about what it’s like to dance on a cruise ship. It must be such a glamorous life. Those enormous ships on TV adverts, with pools and trees and free drinks and food, like a floating paradise. Do you fancy coffee tomorrow? I’m off because I worked yesterday and swapped with another girl. Love Issy xxx

To: Kevin MacDonald

From: Celia Halliday

Date: February 16, 2025

Subject: A few things

Joel is not displeased with how set-building went. He said Nicky-Rose had some interesting ideas and that the French windows are perfectly acceptable center stage. She seems to know about lighting, too, and we wonder if she should be in the lighting box on the nights.

We’d ask her ourselves, only she’s YOUR sister-in-law and this is YOUR play. We also wonder if she’ll be sticking around for the next play because—heads-up—we’d like to do Noises Off by Michael Frayn. It’s a rite of passage for amateur drama groups, and Fairways won’t ever be listed among the greats unless we’ve staged it. However, that set is not for the faint of heart and we’ll need someone with professional experience.

Beth was chatting to Nicky-Rose over tea and approves of her ideas for costumes.

I’ve opened up a box office spreadsheet. You can tell Sarah-Jane I’ll send her a link to it this afternoon.

Celia and Joel Halliday OBE

Message exchange between Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald on February 16, 2025:

6:33 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Didn’t set-building finish an hour ago?

6:34 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Still here. Pulling props cupboard apart in hunt for cigarette holder and hip flask. For the play, not personal use. Sammy settled?

6:35 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote: