Chapter 17
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
GEORGIA
“We stepped out of the restaurant into absolute pandemonium,” Len explains once everyone’s set up.
“We were used to it by then, but it usually happened when we were expecting it: while on tour, making personal appearances, outside television or recording studios. By that stage, though, the boys always had security with them. This night, it was just us, and we were totally unprepared.”
My heart races as I recall the fear and anger I felt that night.
“That was G’s introduction to how her life was gonna go,” Marley explains.
Daniel’s eyes slide to mine.
“I’d had a little taste when me and Jim flew out to Spain, but this was a whole other level.
The aggression from the photographers was unbelievable, and the things they said…
” I draw in a breath, my lips rattling together on the exhale.
“I was looking behind me when we walked out, so I didn’t see it coming.
The first I knew that photographers were waiting was when I was literally pushed out of the way so they could get to Sean and Marley.
Flashes were going off all around me, then someone asked my name right before I got cracked on the head with a camera lens. ”
“Georgia punched a photographer.” Marley laughs. “Only you, G. Only you.”
“I couldn’t see. Camera flashes were going off everywhere. I got hit right on the temple and just lashed out and happened to connect.”
“There were all these big ol’ paps surrounding us, and G punches one right on the jaw.
He was from The Sun, I think, and he goes, ‘Watch it,’ and G goes, ‘You fucking watch it,’ ready to fight the fucker.
Then he tells her to smile, and he’ll give her her five minutes of fame.
Meanwhile, Maca’s losing his shit, and Len’s trying to pick Jim up off the floor. ” Marley continues to laugh.
“Glad you found it funny. One of those paps trod on my fingers while I was on the floor. I wanted to throw punches when Len managed to get me up,” Jim says.
“It was terrifying,” I add. “Marley literally had to run with me under his arm to Sean’s car, which he’d fortunately been able to unlock, then I locked myself in while Marls ran back to help everyone else.
I just sat there, shaking, watching the chaos going on outside.
Then a camera cracked against the car window, scaring the life out of me.
I think I actually screamed. I remember having a moment, staring out the window, thinking, Is this how I want my life to be?
Is this what’s going to happen every time we go for dinner, or lunch, or shop, or just leave the house? ”
“We actually found a few images from that night,” Daniel says as the screen, once again, lights up.
And there we are, the five of us, young and laughing as we head towards the door.
Sean and I are stepping out of the restaurant, still laughing.
In the next image, I have my head turned back.
I think I was saying something to Marley or Len.
The next few are of Marley and me as he puts his arm around my shoulders to take me to Sean’s car.
Then there’s Sean, looking unusually angry, pointing his finger at someone.
“That’s when Mac couldn’t get in the car,” Len says. “G had locked the door, and he couldn’t get his keys out quick enough.”
“I think I was catatonic by that stage, in complete shock. I sat there, absolutely useless as Sean tried to find his keys. Then, when he finally got the door open and got in, they shoved a camera inside. They were asking my name again while Sean was fighting with them to get the door closed.”
“Then,” Len takes over the story, “Maca pushes the door open and knocks the pap on his arse, jumps out the car, kicks the camera, and puts his boot right over the bloke’s throat. I had to spend most of the next day dealing with police reports and our legal team.”
“Poor you,” I add sarcastically. “Anyway, after that, we left. Marley jumped in with Len and Jimmie and went back to theirs. I had my own little flat above our Brentwood shop by then, so we went back there.”
Images appear on the screen confirming everything we’ve just said: a photographer on the floor, Sean climbing out of the white Land Rover he drove when we first got back together, then Sean standing with his boot on the photographer’s chest.
Then come the headlines from the tabloids the next day.
Fresh Meat for a Marley and Maca Sandwich!
Who’s The Latest Filling for Marley and Maca?
And the most tabloid of tabloid headlines:
Another Deli-icious Filling Goes Home for a Roll with Marley and Maca!
“Jesus,” I hear one of my boys say.
“Did they not know you were Marley’s sister, Sean’s ex?” Talullah asks.
“They hadn’t figured it out at that stage,” I reply.
“So, this all happened the night before my birthday party, right?” Ash asks.
My face burns.
“The night we met, babe,” Marley says.
“And the night I got dumped,” Cam adds. I thought he’d left but should’ve known he wouldn’t go too far.
I close my eyes. It’s not just my face burning now. Both my insides and every inch of skin feel like they’re on fire. I really wish I could disappear.
“Oh, shit, yeah. Sorry, big man.” Marley adds a long, slow whistle for emphasis.
“Oh, don’t worry. Things didn’t go great for me that night, either,” Ashley adds. “Just ask Marls.”
“Tell us about that,” Daniel requests.
I panic. My belly bubbles, and I’m suddenly unsure if I want to vomit or literally shit myself.
“One minute you were one of rock’s biggest bad boys, dating supermodels, actresses, and even royalty. The next, you were settling down with a girl the world knew nothing about.”
He’s talking to Marley. I thought he was asking Cam about being dumped!
My heart rate slows, my head stops spinning, and I’m instantly grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for the deflection.
“One look,” Marley says. “It really was that old cliché of it happening the moment our eyes met. I think I told her she was beautiful.”
“I didn’t believe him; not for a second. Obviously, I’d heard all about his reputation, so I just assumed all he wanted was to get in my knickers,” Ashley adds.
“I did,” Marley confirms. “The last thing I was expecting was that by the end of the night—after not getting into your knickers, I might add—was that I’d also want to get into your heart and build a house—a home there.”
Collectively, me, Ash, Len, and Jim stare at my brother. After a few moments, I shift my gaze to Ash, whose eyes are shining with tears.
“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” she whispers to my brother.
“It’s the truth,” he replies, equally as quiet, making me feel like an intruder. Like we should all fuck off and leave them to have their moment.
“Even after I puked everywhere?” Ash asks him.
“I actually think that’s what swung it for me. What’s more intimate than holding back the hair of the girl you just met as she vomits in your toilet? I can tell you right now, there’s no other woman I’ve ever done that for.”
Ashley’s face lights up before her attention shifts to Dan.
“It was my twenty-first; I drank far too much. Marley took me home with him,” she starts.
“Only because she was drunk and I wanted to make sure she got home safely. No one knew her actual address. She wasn’t making any sense, so I just took her to mine,” Marley clarifies.
“And I repaid him by throwing up in his car.” Ash closes her eyes and shakes her head, the mortification I remember her feeling back then still apparent all these years later.
“When I got her back to mine, she was covered in spew, so I had to get her out of her dress.”
“Of course, you did,” George calls out.
“Oi! I was the consummate gentleman, possibly for the very first time in my life. I got her dress off, one of my T-shirts on her, then laid her down with her head on a towel in my bathroom. I had puke all over me, so I had to get out of my clothes, shower, get dressed, then throw everything in the washing machine while she laid there, passed out.”
Despite how traumatic Marley’s retelling is, he can’t wipe the smile off his face while he speaks. Ashley, meanwhile, still has one hand covering her eyes.
“Problem was, by the time I got back to my bathroom—”
“Okay, I don’t think we need to go into any more detail about my vomit fest, do we?” Ash finally says, looking up.
“Can I just add,” Jimmie interjects, “that the saddest part about that night was the panicked four a.m. phone call Marley made to me and Len.”
All eyes are now on my sister-in-law. “He was alone at his place, with a girl he barely knew. All he was trying to do was look after her, but the trauma of everything the boys went through after the accusations made against them four years earlier were still very fresh in his mind. If it had been Maca in that situation, it probably would’ve been the same.
But it was Marley who had the girl in his room, passed out drunk, covered in her own vomit.
It was Marley who was freaked out and having a meltdown of Georgia proportions in case she woke up and wondered what was going on, and made accusations against him.
It was Marley who made me stay on the phone while he stripped her off and got her and himself showered and washed her hair.
I calmed him down and stayed talking to him while he towelled her dry, dressed her in clean clothes of his, then put her to bed, making sure she had a bottle of water and a bucket by her side. ”
“I didn’t know this—didn’t know he called you,” Ash says.
“The only reason he did,” Jim continues, “and the only reason I know what happened that night is because of what that pair of vultures did to him and Maca in Paris. This is what lies and false accusations do. This is how they can change a person or the trajectory of their life.”
Jim’s eyes meet mine. “We all know how it impacted Maca, how it changed his and your life, but, Marls… you know what he’s like, always the joker, never letting anyone in.
Outside of us, most people only know him on a surface level, but back then, I don’t think any of us realised how much it had impacted him.
Until I heard the panic in his voice four whole years after it had happened, neither did I. ”
All of us on and around the sofa remain silent, our gazes switching from one to the other.
“I don’t think until that night I’d realised it, either,” Marley agrees.
“Did you ever get help? Counselling?” Daniel asks.
“Not for that,” Marley says with a headshake. “We all—me, Ash, and the kids—went for family bereavement counselling after we lost Maca and Beau, but I’ve never spoken to anyone about that. About Paris. I think perhaps after this, I will.”
“It’s definitely left him with issues,” Ashley states.
“He was a nightmare when the kids got to an age where they started going to pubs and clubs because of it. Always on at Joe to never leave himself open to accusations, and to all three of them about not accepting drinks from anyone or leaving them unattended.”
“Mum’s the same,” Kiki calls out. “Dad, too, but Mum especially.”
“Drink spiking is prevalent all around the world. Running venues and events internationally, I’ve witnessed it first-hand, and although there are some measures we can take, at the end of the day, it’s up to the individual to keep themselves safe.
So, I’m with Marley. Educate your kids on the dangers.
Educate both your sons and daughters,” Cam states.
“Off the back of what we’ve heard about Paris, and with Mum and Dad’s help, we’re actually going to be launching an awareness campaign in the next few months. We were wondering if you’d be the face for it?” Harry says, directing his question towards my brother.
“Me?” Marley points at himself. “Don’t you want to use Paige or Joe, or Ziggy?”
“We were gonna ask all of you. The whole family can get involved if they want,” Tallulah explains. “It can affect people of all ages, all demographics.”
“Then, I’m in. Happy to do whatever I can to help,” Marley tells her.
“When was all of this decided?” Jim asks beside me.
“The kids came to us this morning with the idea,” I tell her.
“I think it’s a great idea. Let us know what you need. We’ll donate to the funding or for anything else.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. “And thanks for having my brother’s back that night.”
“Always. I love you, and I’m so fucking proud of you for doing this, for putting yourself out there and being prepared to publicly discuss what I know are some of the worst moments of your life, all to raise money for the foundation.
” My best friend squeezes my hand, and it’s a squeeze that also reaches my heart.
“It was time. With that other book being written—all of the books that’ve been written, in fact—and all of the misinformation and speculation out there, I’d just had enough and felt the time was right to set the truth free and raise some funds for the foundation at the same time,” I say before letting out a long exhale.
“Did you ever think…?” Jimmie shakes her head as she smiles across at me.
“Do you still have those moments where you can’t believe this is our lives?
From our two-hour phone calls to discuss our outfits before we met up, learning the lyrics to Blondie songs from Smash Hits while we practised our Madonna dance moves in the summerhouse in your mum and dad’s back garden, to watching the boys playing arenas, dinners at Buckingham Palace, walking the red carpet. ”
I smile as every memory appears vividly in my mind, the warmth they evoke filling my insides.
“What a life we’ve lived, George. Sometimes I wonder how we’re all still…” She trails off and closes her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “I know what you mean. With some of the shit we’ve pulled, the drinking and the drugs at such a young age, it is a wonder we’re all still alive.
I know that obviously doesn’t apply to Sean, but none of that or the things we got up to back then are the reason he’s not here now.
His death had nothing to do with that. His death was an awful, tragic accident.
We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. ”
She gives my hand another squeeze as we both realise the room has fallen silent around us, but there’s more I have to say to her.
“And I meant every word I said earlier: you truly are my ride or die. I couldn’t have wished for a better friend to have shared all of those moments with. Each and every one of them, at whatever stage of our life, were all made better because I got to do them with you.”
We both turn to face Daniel and the camera.