26. Katie
Katie was finishing at the salon when she got a message from Jamie reminding her about the client dinner. He was taking out an Italian publisher they were hoping would sign a big rights deal for Sloane’s book and he wanted to push for deals for some of their other authors too.
She stared at the message and sighed. She’d forgotten all about it.
Bring ur A game babe, these guys r really important.
Katie felt tired. She’d got up for an early-morning swim and she’d been looking forward to a few glasses of wine on the couch and an early night.
She texted her usual babysitter, but they couldn’t do it.
Neither could her back-up babysitter. She was half tempted to tell Jamie she couldn’t go because she had no sitter, but she knew he wanted her there, that it was an important work dinner, and she didn’t want to let him down.
She had been trying to be the perfect wife since the incident with Nancy.
Could she ask the twins? Would Melanie let them babysit?
Maybe Theo was a better option. Then again, Lucy and Toby didn’t really know him.
He was so much older than them and hadn’t made much of an effort since moving back to Ireland.
But it might be a good opportunity to talk to him again about what had happened at the playground.
She texted Amanda to ask if Theo would babysit and she texted straight back – Yes! It will do him good to look after others. Just leave him very clear instructions.
Lucy was not happy. She glared at Theo and then at her mother. ‘But you said we’d make cupcakes after dinner.’
‘I know, sweetie, but I completely forgot that I have to go to this work dinner with Daddy. It’s important to him.’
Her daughter crossed her arms. ‘Well, my cupcakes are important to me. You promised to make chocolate-chip ones with me tonight.’
Katie was treading carefully with Lucy, trying to get back into her good books. ‘I know, Lucy, but look, I’ve left instructions for Theo and he’s going to bake them with you.’
‘I don’t know Theo. He’s like a stranger.’
‘Stranger danger!’ Toby shouted, pointing to Theo.
Theo stood in the middle of the kitchen, looking mortified.
‘Kids, come on now. Theo is your lovely cousin from England and he’s being so nice babysitting you when I’m sure he’d rather be out with his friends.’
‘You said he doesn’t have any friends,’ Toby reminded Katie.
‘He’s not from England, he’s from Ireland, just lived in England for ages and ages.’ Lucy was all about the details.
‘He has a funny accent, though, la de la de la ,’ Toby said.
Katie turned to Theo. ‘I’m so sorry. The kids are not normally this unwelcoming. They’ll settle down once I’ve left. Now, I do need you to bake cupcakes with Lucy. I’ve left everything ready and the recipe is very simple, I printed it out for you.’
‘Can you cook?’ Lucy eyeballed her cousin.
‘Well, my mum does the cooking in our house, but I’m sure we can figure this out.’
‘Your mum is a fabulous cook,’ Katie enthused. Katie knew Amanda prided herself on her cooking. When she was in London, she used to post her recipes on her Instagram page. Katie would look at them, admire them, then order take-out.
‘Granny doesn’t think so,’ Theo said.
‘Granny is a bitch.’ Toby giggled.
‘Toby! I told you never to use that word.’ Katie was mortified and ashamed that her seven-year-old even knew that word. She regretted the outburst every day.
‘Well, he heard it from you,’ Lucy said. ‘And Granny is not that word, Toby. Granny is the best and kindest person.’
‘All she does is give everyone boring books,’ Toby complained.
I hear you, buddy.
‘Okay, let’s move on.’ Katie was embarrassed that her kids were acting up so much in front of Theo. She didn’t want him going back to Ross and Amanda, telling them that her kids were wild and rude.
Desperate to change the subject, Katie asked Theo how he was getting on in school, if things had got any better.
He shrugged. ‘Not really. It’s hard to fit in, to be honest. The other boys have formed their friendship groups and aren’t that welcoming.’
‘My new class was like that this year. They mixed up the classes and all my friends were in the other class. It took me a while to make new ones.’ Lucy went over to her cousin. She patted his arm. ‘It’ll be better when they get to know you.’
Katie wanted to hug her daughter for being so sweet.
‘Maybe they don’t understand you because of your weird accent,’ Toby suggested. ‘Try talking like us. You can practise tonight.’
Katie laughed. ‘People would pay money to have Theo’s beautiful accent. He shouldn’t change a thing.’
‘I’ll be your friend,’ Toby told him. ‘You can play with me anytime.’
Theo’s serious face broke into a smile. ‘Thanks, Toby. I appreciate the offer.’
‘I just need to give Theo some instructions.’ Katie finished her wine, pulled Theo into the TV room and closed the door. ‘I have to talk to you about the cocaine. What’s going on? I presume you don’t have any with you now?’
Theo looked appalled. ‘Of course not. I would never bring it into your home. I just do it sometimes when I’m feeling … well, when things get a bit full-on.’
‘Like when you feel overwhelmed or stressed?’
He nodded. ‘Exactly.’
Katie had to admit that at his age – and younger – she’d used alcohol as a crutch. But drugs were so much worse. ‘You have to stop, Theo. It’s so dangerous. Have a few beers, but stay away from the heavy stuff.’
‘Alcohol is a drug too,’ Theo said.
‘I’d hardly call a glass of wine or a beer a drug.’
Theo shrugged. ‘They’re all drugs.’
Katie didn’t have time for this, and she thought it was a bit rich of him to be banging on about alcohol when cocaine was actually a proper illegal drug.
‘Promise me you’ll stop. It’s a road to Loser Land and it would break your mother’s heart.
You’ve put her through enough. Come on, you’re a lovely young man.
Just park the drugs and make your mum proud. Your dad too,’ she added.
Theo rolled his eyes. ‘My dad’s the one breaking my mum’s heart.’
‘What do you –’
The door burst open. ‘MUMMY!’ Toby bellowed. ‘Lucy said I’m stupid.’
‘Lucy!’ Katie glared at her daughter.
‘He is, Mum. He keeps reading “dog” as “bog”.’
Katie felt herself being triggered. ‘Lucy!’ she snapped. ‘Do not ever, ever call your brother stupid again. He is only just seven.’
‘I could read books at seven.’
‘Yes, but you’re different. Toby will learn to read at his own pace. Do not criticize him, it’s really nasty.’
‘No need to be so narky about it.’ Lucy flounced out of the room.
‘Am I stupid, Mummy?’ Toby’s big brown eyes looked up at her.
She leant down and hugged him tightly. ‘No, you are the cleverest, sweetest boy in the world.’
Katie’s phone buzzed. The taxi was outside.
‘Sorry, I have to go. Theo, the instructions are all written out for you. Any problems, call me. Bedtime is seven thirty for Toby and eight for Lucy.’
‘Come on, Toby, let’s quickly make the cakes and then we’ll build a fort,’ Theo suggested.
‘ Cooool! ’ Toby’s eyes lit up.
Leaving her kids with their cousin, Katie rushed out of the door.
Jamie waved her over. Katie could tell by his flushed face that he’d had a few glasses of wine already. ‘Everyone, this is my wife, Katie,’ he announced to the group of two men and one woman.
Introductions were made. Katie smiled and shook hands.
‘Hello.’ The older guy, Nico, lifted her hand and kissed it.
Bit over the top, but okay.
‘We’d like to see some Irish good times tonight,’ Lucia said, as she threw back her drink.
It looked like neat whiskey. This Italian woman was hard-core.
‘Very nice to meet you,’ the younger guy, Enzo, said in perfect English. ‘We are happy to be talking with the Fitzroy Agency on working together. You have read Sloane’s beautiful book, no?’
‘Uhm, not yet, but Jamie said it’s incredible,’ Katie said. He must be the big cheese, Katie thought. I need to charm him for Jamie. God, she hoped he wasn’t going to ask her about books all night.
Jamie filled her wine glass and Katie knocked it back. She needed to settle her nerves. Hopefully she could have dinner, chat about things apart from books, then let them go off and find their own ‘good times’. She really didn’t want a late night given it was Theo’s first time babysitting.
As the night went on, they all got merrier and the conversation moved away from books.
Katie felt herself relax and she stopped looking at her watch and texting Theo to make sure everything was okay – which he assured her repeatedly it was.
He’d even sent photos of Toby and Lucy tucked up in bed asleep.
Katie smiled and joined in the chat, not minding when Nico spat droplets of alcohol into her face as he told a very long and boring story about his gifted football-playing son. She kept drinking her wine, followed by some sambuca shots and a few espresso martinis. The night got a lot better.
Katie told the Italians one of her hairdressing stories and they all roared laughing – well, the two fun ones did. Enzo only kind of laughed.
‘I like you, Katie, you are so funny. We want to go to a club, which one is the most fun?’ Nico asked.
Jamie put his hand on Katie’s arm. ‘Actually, I’m so sorry but we really have to get home to our kids. But we can tell you where to go.’
‘I am tired. I will go to the hotel now,’ Enzo, the boring big cheese, said.
‘No! Come with us, we will drink and dance,’ Lucia begged Katie and Jamie.
‘Hell, yes!’ Katie high-fived Lucia and knocked back her martini. She was feeling very buzzed and up for dancing.
‘Babe, it’s time to go,’ Jamie said.
‘Don’t be so boring, Jamie. Let’s go out and show these guys a good time.’
‘Katie, it’s one in the morning,’ he said quietly.
Katie waved a hand in his face. ‘Who cares? I’m going dancing with Lucia and Nico.’
The two Italians whooped and clapped.
As Katie got up to go to the bathroom, she tripped on the leg of Enzo’s chair and fell splat on the floor.
‘Oops!’ She giggled.
Jamie jumped up and helped her stand. He led her towards the bathroom.
She pinched his bum. ‘Oooh, Jamie, are you looking for some bathroom sex?’
‘No, I am not. Katie, you’re smashed. We need to get back and let Theo go home.’
‘You go home. I’ll stay out and entertain your important clients.’
Jamie put his hands on her shoulders. ‘Katie, you’re drunk. I’m not leaving you with two strangers to go clubbing.’
‘Oh, my God, Jamie, I’m thirty-five, not ten. Why are you being such a square? Let’s go out and have fun.’
‘We’ve had fun and it’s time to go home. You have work tomorrow.’
‘Who cares? Don’t be such an old fart. Let’s party!’ She threw her hands into the air.
Why was Jamie being such a party pooper? She wanted to go dancing and have more shots and more fun.
‘Katie, I’m taking you home.’
‘Go away, Jamie. I’m going out, your Italians love me. Nico thinks I’m the best craic.’
‘Nico’s as drunk as you are, but Enzo, the managing director, is pretty sober and he’s not so impressed.’
‘He’s no craic, the big boring head on him.’
‘Keep your voice down,’ Jamie hissed.
‘Oh, my God, you’re turning into your mother,’ Katie said. Turning back towards their table she shouted, ‘Nico, Lucia, save me from my controlling husband.’
Jamie cursed under his breath.
Lucia and Nico rushed over. ‘Let her go, Jamie, we’ll look after her.’ They playfully pulled at Katie’s arm.
‘See?’ Katie slurred.
‘ Basta .’ Enzo’s voice cut across them. ‘Jamie would like to take his wife home and I think it’s a good idea for us all to go home now.’
‘ Boooo! ’ Katie said. ‘You’re no fun.’
Jamie gripped her arm tightly as she continued to try to wriggle free.
‘Goodnight, everyone, see you in the office tomorrow morning. Nancy and Melanie are looking forward to meeting you to discuss moving forward with the deal,’ Jamie said.
He half dragged Katie out of the restaurant. As they stepped outside the door and onto the path, she shouted, ‘Save me! I’m being kidnapped by the party police!’
‘Shut up!’ Jamie hissed. ‘You’re making a show of yourself.’
Katie was about to shout back at him, but she tripped and fell onto the road. That was when she blacked out.