CHAPTER 19

 

“Are you sure about this?” Cate asked Ruby. She was in one of the stalls of the ladies’ toilets at the gym; it was the only place she could think of where the all-male camera crew wouldn’t follow her. It was after ten pm but because she’d missed training on Monday, she was going to be at the studio until at least the early hours of the morning to catch up.

Declan had given her a fifteen-minute break while he worked through a tricky piece of choreography so she’d taken the opportunity to phone Ruby and make sure she was a hundred percent OK with what they’d decided. Tomorrow morning, their lawyers were going to put out a statement confirming that the couple in the sex tape definitely wasn’t Cate and Kian. It should have been obvious to whoever was trying to sell the tape; Kian had tattoos on his side and pectoral muscle whereas the man on the tape (Nico) didn’t. As a professional footballer, he’d been photographed countless times with his top off.

“I’m certain,” Ruby said firmly. “Hopefully, once whoever’s got the tape realises that it isn’t you and Kian, it will go away.”

“Hopefully,” Cate crossed her fingers. “Have you found out anything more about how they even got the footage of you and Nico?”

“The lawyers think that my computer might have been hacked,” Ruby said. “They put me in touch with one of their online security guys here in London. I’ve given Zach my laptop and his team of techies are going to see what they can find.”

“I just hope they catch the...” Cate stopped herself from swearing.

“I just want to know why?” Ruby said wearily. “Nico and I, we’re nobodies.”

When Cate went back into the studio, Declan asked if everything was OK. “Mm,” Cate said. Ruby was trying so hard to be strong but Cate could tell that her sister was hurting. It made her so angry. “It’s just family stuff.”

After another run through of the routine, Declan said, “it’s looking good. Let’s call it a night.”

“Are you sure?” Cate was already fantasising about her warm, comfy bed.

It was late and the area around the gym was deserted. “I’ll walk you to your car,” Declan offered.

As they walked across the concrete parking lot, she noticed that Declan was quieter than usual. “Is everything OK?”

“It’s just a tough time of year,” Declan shrugged. “It’s the anniversary of Jason’s death on Sunday.”

“I’m so sorry,” Cate put her hand on his shoulder. “How’s Hadley?”

Declan shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at the ground, “not good.”

“It must be hard being so far from home.”

“It’s my job, Cate.”

“Still…” Cate wished that there was something she could do.

Cate was still thinking about Declan and Hadley when she got home. Kian had waited up for her and was dozing on the sofa. “Let’s go to bed,” Cate said softly, switching off the lamp.

“How was training?” Kian yawned, stretching his arms above his head.

“Declan thinks it’s looking good,” Cate shrugged. She thought about Kian’s aunt who lived in the same seaport town as Hadley. She told Kian about how worried Declan was about his wife. “Hadley can’t get a visa to come to America and Declan can’t go home because he’s contracted to Stepping Out. I was just trying to think if there’s anything we can do to help. Do you think Sadie would mind looking in on Hadley? I know she’s probably got her family around her but they’ll have their own grief to contend with.”

Kian remembered how lonely he’d felt when his dad had died. At least he’d had Cate.

“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.” If anybody understood grief, it was Sadie. Her fiancé had been killed many years ago in the troubles in Ireland and she’d never truly gotten over him.

Kian dropped his phone on the bedside table and climbed into bed. Cate was about to do the same and then stopped. The whole mess with the sex tape had likely been caused by some pervert hacking in to Ruby’s computer and secretly filming her. She picked Kian’s phone up from the bedside table. “What are you doing?”

Cate opened up the top drawer of their dresser and dropped both phones on top of Kian’s boxer shorts. She made sure the drawer was fully closed and then she could relax.

“I’m not taking any chances,” Cate said, fully aware that she sounded paranoid.

She explained to Kian that the lawyers thought that Ruby’s computer had been hacked.

“OK,” Kian tugged her backwards so her back was pressed against his chest.

“You’re not going to tell me I’m paranoid?” Cate chuckled, kissing the warm bicep she was using as a pillow.

Kian linked their fingers, “I’m too tired to argue with you, angel. If it makes you feel better, it’s fine with me.”

 

The next morning, when she was driving to the gym, she called Sadie on the hands-free. “Cate? It’s lovely to hear from you, sweetheart. Is everything OK?”

“Everything’s good,” Cate quickly reassured Sadie. “Sierra absolutely loves that fluffy dolphin you gave her.”

“I’m glad about that.”

Cate suddenly felt awkward. Was it really her place to interfere? “Kian said that you know Declan, my um, dance partner and his wife, Hadley?”

“I do. I’ve been watching the two of you online,” Sadie said. “I’m so proud of you both.”

Cate explained that Declan was worried about Hadley. “It’s the anniversary of…”

“I know,” Sadie said quietly. “When they were little, Hadley absolutely idolised her brother. He used to call her his “little shadow” because wherever he went, she wouldn’t be that far behind.”

Cate couldn’t even begin to imagine how she’d feel if anything were to happen to her sisters or brother.

“I was wondering...” Cate said, “if you could look in on her? Declan feels so guilty that he can’t be there in person.”

“Of course I will,” Sadie said kindly. “I’ll make up an excuse that I need to talk to her about this week’s Sunday school. She’s so good with the little ones, so very patient. The sooner that boy comes home and gives her some babies of her own to fuss over, the better.”

“Thank you so much, Sadie.”

“It’s no problem, no problem at all,” Sadie replied. “You just keep dancing your little socks off; I do enjoy watching you and Declan on a Saturday night.”

When Cate walked into the studio, she was still smiling. Talking to Sadie was like the purest form of Prozac. She would always remember that first Christmas as Kian’s wife, when she was pregnant with Lola, and Sadie had welcomed her so warmly into the family. The quilt she’d made for them both, stitching together squares which were more than just pieces of fabric, they were precious memories – it had a piece of Kian’s dad, Eamon’s pink shirt and the red and white chequered clothes Cate’s sister, Remy had dressed her up in as a little baby.

“You look happy,” Declan remarked.

“I’ve just been talking to Sadie, she always makes me smile.”

“How is Miss Sadie?” Declan grinned.

“As soon as the show’s over, she wants you to get on the first plane home and give your wife some babies to fuss over.”

Declan looked wistful, “I think she might be right.”

Cate got into position, ready to go through the routine again. “You and Hadley would make such beautiful babies.”

“Hey,” Declan said. “Don’t get all broody on me. We’ve got a jive to get through first.”

Cate shook her head, “I’m not broody. I’m not allowed to be. I’ve had my babies, remember?”

“Less talking, more jiving.”

Cate couldn’t help singing along, “I never miss a beat. I’m lightning on my feet.”

Declan looked up at the ceiling, “we can only hope.”

“Hey,” Cate swatted him.