18. Christmas With The Russo Clan
18
CHRISTMAS WITH THE RUSSO CLAN
THIS JUST IN: Rumours are rife on social media, with footage of Kaan acting strangely causing a frenzy of speculation. Is our rock god teetering on the edge of the wagon?
But the plot thickens! Kaan’s wife, the fabulous Miz Meg Martin, has just flown out of Manila and straight to Istanbul.
I think there’s a little more to this story than meets the eye?
I'm Pippa Ellis, and this is Fame and No-Sense—where we sip the tea and spill it too!
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And meet Valentina Werrington I did. She is the absolute, complete opposite of Ginny and her father, although her sister Sadie definitely has more than a few of her traits. Valentina exudes an air of sophistication, with her immaculate appearance and refined manners. It’s like she stepped out of a high-society magazine. Then there’s Saffy, the half-sister Ginny knew nothing about! Saffy is like a golden retriever, full of boundless energy and enthusiasm, bouncing from one topic to another.
“Meg? As in Meg Martin? As in Sophie Stewart is Single. And Sophie Stewart is Married. And O.M.G. you are married to Kaan!” Saffy’s eyes widen with astonishment as she connects the dots.
“That’s me.” I force myself to smile, trying to keep up with her whirlwind of excitement. “Amazing to meet you, Saffy.”
“Me? I’m a nobody! You’re married to Kaan!” Saffy continues, her words tumbling out with youthful exuberance. “KAAN!”
I smile but say nothing, I’m never sure how to respond to a fan’s idolisation of my husband.
“I went to the concert at Wembley last June. It was unforgettable.” Saffy grins, reminiscing about the experience. “I wept when he sang ‘Shattered Pieces.’ I totally relate to that song.”
‘Shattered Pieces’ was written by Kaan after we had split up. It’s a raw, emotional outpouring of his pain and feelings, capturing what he went through while drinking and trying to survive.
I remember sitting alone in my bedsit in Pimlico, the song on repeat, tears streaming down my face as the reality of our separation hit me. It wasn’t just a breakup song; it was a chronicle of our shared pain, a testament to the love we once had and the scars it left behind. It was as if Kaan had poured his soul into that song, and in doing so, he had bared mine as well.
Even now, hearing ‘Shattered Pieces’ brings back a flood of memories and emotions. The raw, unfiltered pain in Kaan’s voice, the haunting melody, and the poignant lyrics transport me back to those turbulent times. Despite the heartache, that song still holds a special place in my heart. It’s also a testament to the strength we discovered in ourselves. We survived the storm once, finding a way to rebuild our lives from the rubble.
But things are different now. The resilience we once found seems to be slipping away, especially with Kaan falling off the wagon. The song now serves as a bittersweet reminder of the fragility of recovery and the constant battle we face. It’s a stark contrast to the hope we once had, making me wonder if we can ever find that strength again.
I raise my eyebrows at her. “Really?”
“I’ve experienced heartbreak.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I reply somewhat sincerely.
But before I can inquire further, Saffy shifts gears once again. “Is Kaan coming?”
“He had a concert in Manila last night.”
A concert in Manila, and then enough alcohol for him to pass out in a pool of his own vomit. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Not now, when we should both be on top of the world. My career has been going from strength to strength, and with his concert tour winding down, we had so much to look forward to. A baby for starters, but also our life together.
Being married to a rock star on the road hasn’t been easy, but we were supposed to be heading back to London to prepare for our baby. Instead, I’m here in Istanbul, wondering what the hell I’m going to do next.
The tour was meant to be a final hurrah before settling down, a chance for Kaan to connect with his fans one last time before embracing the quiet domesticity of family life. Every time we talked about the future, it was with a mixture of excitement and relief. No more late nights wondering if he would come back in one piece, no more lonely weeks waiting for a call that might never come. Just us, our baby, and the promise of a new beginning.
But how can we move forward when the past keeps dragging us back? How can I trust that he’ll be there for our child when he can’t even be there for himself? Each day brings new doubts, new worries about the future we’re trying to build.
“Boo,” she pouts, disappointed that she won’t get to meet her idol.
“He really wanted to be here.”
“Do you think he’ll be coming later?” Saffy probes further, hopeful for a chance to meet him in the future.
“I’m… not sure.”
Ginny and Nate exchange a glance before intervening. “Enough for now, Saffy. Let Meg relax for a bit. She’s had a long flight.”
Saffy shrugs and races across the room to Sadie with a grin on her face giving me a moment to catch up with my two best friends by the fireplace.
“My sister has a lot of energy,” Ginny remarks with a chuckle.
“Oh, to be 21 again!”
“No thank you. My 20’s sucked.”
Refika’s arrival with a plate of food and a knowing look that does not go unnoticed. She’s always had an uncanny ability to sense when something is amiss. I start eating immediately, hoping to distract myself from the thoughts swirling in my mind.
“You going to chew?” Nate jokes, observing my ravenous eating.
“I’m hungry.”
“Be hungry, but you’re eating like you’ve never had a meal before!”
“So, I’m starving! What of it?” I quickly change the subject not wanting to ruin everyone’s Christmas with my news. “And air plane food sucks.”
“Shut up Nate.” Ginny glares at him. “Are you going to stay here, or will you be going over to Büyükada?”
Kaan has a home in Büyükada on the Princes’ Islands. His sister, Roxe, is currently living there, but the idea of arriving unannounced on her doorstep is not appealing. I love her but she will ask too many questions, most of which I won’t have an answer to. “I might stay here if you don’t mind?”
“Of course. My mother booked at the Four Seasons—” Ginny rolls her eyes at the extravagance. “—so there’s heaps of room!”
Nate slaps his hands on his knees and stands, ready to take charge. “I think we need drinks.”
Ginny laughs, knowing what's to come. “You need to pace yourself, Nate.”
“Tomorrow is for hangovers. Today is for raki!”
“Not for me.”
“And why not? Are you preggers or something?” Nate asks, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Ginny’s expression changes ever so slightly, realising that Nate may have stumbled onto something that I haven’t told any of my friends yet and quickly covers for me. “She’s allergic. She ended up in the hospital when she was here for my wedding!”
Nate looks surprised by this new piece of information. “How did I not know that?”
“We were all too hung up on the love affair going on between Meg and the rockstar to even think about Meg’s allergy to aniseed!”
“Wine then?”
I make a face, still feeling queasy from the horrible flight. “Can I just get a sparkling water, please?”
Nate crosses over to the bar where Aydin is already pouring more raki for the others. Ginny seizes the opportunity to confront me about what’s really going on.
“Tell me what’s going on right now, Margaret Martin!”
“I can’t,” I choke back a tear, trying to find the right words. “Not yet. But I will tell you everything… I just need to keep it together a little bit longer.”