CHAPTER 35

 

“Do you want to say hello to your Grandpa, sweetie?” Cate giggled, imagining Dexter Rathburn’s horrified expression on the other end of the line. She wouldn’t have inflicted him on either Lola or Mateo but fortunately Sierra was much too young to remember that she’d ever had any contact with her only living biological grandfather.

She’d been just about to leave for Sierra’s first birthday party at the Taco Shack when the house phone had rung.

“I hate to interrupt since I’m sure you were expressing your deepest, most heartfelt apologies that you couldn’t be here tonight to attend your granddaughter’s first birthday party,” her voice was dripping with sarcasm, “but what do you want, Dexter?”

“I want you to convince Ruby to come home. I understand that she’s finally broken up with that godforsaken peddler of filth…”

“He owns an erotic bakery,” Cate interjected, feeling the need to defend poor Nico. It was bad enough that he’d been cheated on; he didn’t need his reputation being besmirched as well. “He’s not exactly a sleazy porn baron.”

“Regardless,” Dexter grunted. “Ruby isn’t like you lot, she’s a good girl.”

“Ha,” Cate spluttered, “Ruby’s a good girl, yeah right!” A good girl who just happens to enjoy breaking up other people’s marriages.

“She was brought up properly,” Dexter continued, oblivious. “Your mother might be a moderately successful businesswoman but she was obviously a very neglectful parent, letting you and your brother and sisters run wild. My Ruby would never have gotten pregnant at just eighteen.”

Cate rolled her eyes so much she was in danger of dislocating them. She didn’t remind Dexter that she might have got pregnant at eighteen but she was still married to her children’s father. “Even if we had been left to run wild as the poor, latchkey children of a single parent, which we definitely weren’t, I wonder whose fault it might have been?”

“That’s not the point, Catherine.”

Cate laughed, “wow, you don’t even know my name, do you?”

“Cate is often short for Catherine. It’s not an unrealistic assumption.”

“It is if you’re talking about your biological child and you don’t even know what’s printed on her birth certificate.”

“Ruby doesn’t belong over there in Seattle. She should be here in Calder Harbour with her real family, her mother and I.”

“Is it a game with you?” Cate asked, “trying to get as many insults as you can into each sentence? I don’t know why you’re talking as if you, Pamela and Ruby are still one big happy family. You and Pamela have been divorced for several months now and as far as I know, she’s one hundred percent supportive of Ruby taking a break and coming here to Seattle.”

“I haven’t got time for this nonsense. Are you going to convince Ruby to come home or not?”

“That would be a negative, Dexter. Goodbye.” She didn’t need to tell him that she wasn’t currently speaking to Ruby so she couldn’t convince her of anything.

 

There was a sign on the front door of the Taco Shack announcing that it was closed that night for a private event. “That’s for you, baby girl,” Cate shifted Sierra further up on her hip.

It was Sierra’s first birthday and despite Declan and Ruby’s affair, Cate was determined that they were all going to have a really great night. She’d spent the last couple of days in the gym with Declan rehearsing their two dances for the semi-final: American Smooth and Salsa. He’d taught her the choreography and corrected her technique but apart from that, they’d spent their sessions in total silence.

Kian, Lola and Mateo had gone on ahead to make sure that everything was set up for the party so it was just Cate and Sierra. There was an icy cold wind blowing across the Sound so Cate snuggled her youngest daughter even further into her long, black winter coat. “At least there isn’t a superstorm tonight like there was a year ago.”

Sierra looked adorable in the new purple party dress her Granny Reen had sent for her birthday. Cate, who didn’t usually like too much fuss, had even acquiesced and fitted the matching purple bow to her daughter’s silky black hair. She was a little sad that neither her mum nor Kian’s mum, Jean, could be here for their grandchild’s first birthday party but they’d Skyped earlier and they were both flying to Seattle for the Christmas holidays.

“Happy birthday,” everyone cried as Cate pushed open the front door and stepped into the bright lights of the Taco Shack. Sierra looked up at her mum, a little frown appearing, as she checked whether all the noise and fuss was OK.

“Happy birthday,” Cate grinned, kissing the top of her head. “I love you to the moon and back.”

Sierra giggled and gave Cate’s braid a good, hard tug.

“She’s such a cutie-pie,” Abby cooed, already reaching out her arms, “please can I have a hold?”

Cate handed Sierra to Abby and went to hang up her wool coat. It was lovely and warm inside the Taco Shack. “Do you like it?” Heidi asked, handing Cate a virgin Margarita.

“It’s amazing,” Cate took a sip, tasting the salt crystals on the rim of the glass. She looked around at her family and friends, who all seemed to be enjoying themselves. It reminded her of why she wanted to stay here in Seattle once Kian retired from playing professional football. “Thank you so much.”

“Hey,” Heidi nudged, “no crying, OK?”

Cate quickly wiped under her eyes, “they’re happy tears, I promise.”

Sierra was so popular that halfway through the party, as Heidi was about to bring out the cake, Cate said to Kian, “I’ve lost the birthday girl.”

“She’s over there,” Kian laughed. Lola was struggling to balance Sierra on her hip. She and Mats were marvelling at their sister’s impressive haul of birthday gifts, which were stacked high on the table at the back.

Cate took Sierra from Lola and said the magic words, “it’s time for cake.”

“I love cake,” Mateo rubbed his little tummy. “Is it chocolate? That’s my favourite.” He frowned as if something had suddenly occurred to him, “I don’t like fruit cake though.”

“Of course it’s chocolate,” Lola rolled her eyes, “nobody puts fruit in a birthday cake, Mats.”

Cate sat in one of the booths with Sierra on her lap while Heidi brought out the cake that Liv had made. The decoration was gorgeous, if slightly unconventional. It was meant to be Cate and Kian’s neighbourhood and the houses were so realistic, Liv had captured everything, even the tiniest details. Except that it looked like a storm had rampaged through the neighbourhood – the houses were missing roof tiles and the dark green shutters on Eric and Allison’s house were wonky; there were fallen trees and damaged electricity lines. Sat serenely in the middle of all the chaos and debris was a tiny little girl – Sierra.

Cate found Nate and Eric in amongst the guests. They’d both been with her, exactly a year ago today, when she’d gone into labour at home, in the midst of the ferocious superstorm that would share her little girl’s name.

On the journey back from L.A. to Seattle, she’d been absolutely determined to fire Nate for letting Ruby into their home when she and Kian weren’t there but the next morning, after she’d tossed and turned all night, she’d realised that she couldn’t do that – the children adored him.

Jax got out his guitar and they sang “Happy Birthday” to Sierra. She giggled and clapped her hands, enjoying being the centre of everybody’s attention.

Cate felt her heart drop to her stomach as she detected a voice that was slightly huskier than the others. Her eyes darted around and she saw Ruby trying to hide at the back of the group.

Sierra couldn’t blow out the candles by herself so Cate, Kian, Lola and Mats all joined in.

As they dished out slices of cake, Mateo punched his fist, “yes, it’s chocolate. I love chocolate.”

“I told you,” Lola said knowingly.

Cate took Liv to one side, “Ruby’s here. You need to get rid of her.”

Liv shook her head, “I can’t do that. She’s our sister.”

Cate was shocked, “I seriously can’t believe you think that what she and Declan did was OK. What if it was Jax she’d slept with?”

Liv covered Sofia’s ears, “I would absolutely kill them both but…”

“No,” Cate shook her head, “no buts. Declan is married, Ruby knew that and she still slept with him.”

Cate handed Sierra back to Kian and took Ruby’s arm. “You need to leave right now.”

She led them outside on to the front deck of the Taco Shack. “I’m sorry,” Ruby said, “I really didn’t come here tonight to cause trouble. I just wanted to wish my niece a happy birthday.”

Cate pursed her lips, “I told you to stay away from my family.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so angry with me?” Ruby’s voice cracked. She looked through the window at all the other guests enjoying themselves inside the Shack. “I know I made a big mistake sleeping with Declan that night and it’s put you in a really awkward position because he’s your dance partner but…”

“Surely even you can’t be that dense,” Cate snapped. Did Ruby really not equate what she so callously called her “mistake” with Declan – as if it was something as mundane as entering the wrong PIN at the cash machine – with the betrayal that had caused Cate so much pain and heartache and had almost destroyed her marriage. “Have you got your phone with you?”

Ruby nodded. “Good. Why don’t you try googling Jenna Kirk and how she became “famous” – that should give you the answer?”

Ruby looked horrified, “I didn’t know…”

“Did he take off his wedding ring?”

“I…” Ruby stuttered. “I can’t remember. I was so drunk.”

“But you knew he was married?” Cate demanded. Ruby nodded. “You knew he was married and yet you still slept with him. I don’t care how much you’d had to drink that night. That makes you just as bad as the conniving bitch who tried to destroy my marriage. If she’d succeeded, we wouldn’t be here right now celebrating Sierra’s first birthday. We wouldn’t have Mats either.”

Kian stepped out on to the deck, “is everything OK?”

“I didn’t betray you, Cate,” Ruby pleaded. “How can you forgive him but you can’t forgive me?”

“That’s enough, Ruby,” Kian warned. “This is supposed to be our daughter’s birthday party.”

Cate turned to Ruby, “I didn’t just click my fingers and forgive Kian straight away. When she gleefully told me what they’d done, I left him. We were separated for nearly six months.” Cate held up her hand, showing Ruby the simple wedding band which adorned her finger. “This isn’t just a piece of jewellery; it’s supposed to mean something.”

Kian guided Cate back inside the Taco Shack, the door closing firmly behind them, leaving Ruby alone outside.

“I think somebody’s tired,” Lena said, handing Sierra back to Cate.

“I know,” Cate said gently, settling Sierra with her head on her shoulder. “Let’s get you home.”

Kian stayed behind at the Taco Shack with the last remaining guests so he could settle the bill with Heidi and load Sierra’s impressive haul of birthday presents into the Tank. Cate walked back to the house with the children, Eric and Luke, Nate, Abby and Layla.

“You seem quiet,” Nate said, falling into step with Cate; he was carrying a very sleepy Mateo.

“I’m just tired,” Cate said. “I’ll be so glad when Stepping Out is over and I can go back to being a full-time mum again.”

Abby joined them, “I’m really looking forward to our meeting with Rosa Fuentes on Sunday.” To make sure that they made the best possible use of the extra funds they would be getting from Cate’s continued participation in Stepping Out, Abby had set up a brunch on Sunday with a group in L.A. who were also trying to raise awareness of prenatal depression. It would be good to explore how the two charities could work together.