Chapter 19
Sive wasn’t needed for rehearsals on Monday, so she had a long weekend to rest and stew over telling Sam she was pregnant.
‘Feeling better?’ Andrea asked her when she arrived in the green room on Tuesday morning. Andrea was there alone, drinking coffee and flicking through a newspaper, which she abandoned when Sive walked in.
‘Yes, thanks.’ She was feeling better. She was still tired, but she hoped the morning sickness was abating. She made herself a green tea and joined Andrea on the sofa.
‘So, you missed all the gossip,’ Andrea said gleefully, turning to her.
‘Really? Sive took a sip of her tea, cupping both hands around the mug. ‘What happened?’
‘Sam and Ciara! That’s what happened.’
Sive felt her jaw drop and she was powerless to stop it. ‘You mean …’
Andrea nodded vigorously. ‘They’re a thing.
I know!’ she said, watching Sive’s reaction with satisfaction.
‘That’s how I felt too. I’d never have put those two together.
I mean, isn’t she a bit old for him for one thing?
And I must admit, for a while I thought maybe you and Sam … ’ She trailed off, shaking her head.
‘Sam and I are just friends,’ Sive said faintly, her voice hollow.
She was dazed, trying to take in this information.
‘But what happened exactly? I mean … how do you know they’re a thing?
’ Maybe Andrea had got the wrong end of the stick.
After all, she reminded herself, Andrea had imagined a non-existent romance between herself and Rocco when they were in Private Lives together.
‘Oh, it was pretty obvious. They were very cosy in the pub on Friday, off in the corner at a little table by themselves, while Mitch entertained Jack. And apparently Sam was over at Ciara’s house on Sunday – Jack said something about it this morning.
And Ciara gave him back a charger he’d left there. ’
Sive was hardly listening as Andrea prattled on.
So Ciara was the ‘mate’ who’d invited Sam to dinner on Sunday.
The odd, secretive way he’d said that came back to her.
He obviously didn’t want to admit to her that it was Ciara.
But then why had he asked her to go to a wedding with him practically in the next breath?
Maybe he’d just got tired of her stringing him along. She had no one but herself to blame if he had. She’d told him not to wait, she’d even tried nudging him to date other people, so it was irrational to be put out if he’d taken her up on it. But she couldn’t help it.
As she made her way to the stage for rehearsal, she spotted Sam and Ciara huddled together in the wings near the prompt box.
She stopped in her tracks, hesitating to intrude on what looked like a private scene.
They were almost hidden from view and there was something furtive about their body language.
Their heads were bent close together and they spoke in hushed voices, having what appeared to be an intense conversation, Ciara intermittently casting wary glances towards the stage where Jack was playing with Mitch.
Sive’s heart sank – it looked like Andrea had got it right this time.
As she watched, Ciara threw her arms around Sam and pulled him into a quick hug, then headed for the stage, Sam following a moment later.
Sive’s heart was in her boots as rehearsal began, regret gnawing at her insides.
The irony that she’d held back because of her pregnancy and now Sam was taking up with a single mum made it all the more bitter.
Damn it! Why hadn’t she gone for it with Sam when she had the chance?
Instead, she’d hesitated and prevaricated until it was too late.
At the first break, she headed for the fire escape, feeling in need of some fresh air. She stopped in her tracks and almost turned back when she saw that Ciara was already there ahead of her. But that was cowardly. She decided she might as well face this situation head-on and get it over with.
Ciara was leaning on the railing overlooking the small rear yard and she turned to Sive with a smile as she pushed through the door.
‘Good weekend?’ Ciara asked as Sive joined her at the railing.
‘Yeah, it was nice. You?’
‘Yeah, lovely.’ She smiled. ‘Quite surprising, actually. I sort of … met someone.’
‘Oh?’ Sive struggled to keep her tone neutral while her stomach plummeted.
‘Yeah. Well, not exactly met someone because I’ve known him for a while, but we sort of had a date.’
‘Wow! Good for you.’ Ciara looked really excited about it and Sive tried to be as pleased for her as she should be – as she would be if it was anyone but Sam.
‘I mean, it’s early days, so who knows? I’m not saying anything to the kids yet because I don’t want them to get invested with this guy if it turns out to be nothing.
Jack already knows him and likes him, so he’d probably be thrilled, and I don’t want to get his hopes up.
And Joe, my eldest … I don’t know how he’ll react.
He’s been having some problems lately and it’s not a great time to bring someone new into the mix. ’
‘I’m sure he’ll be fine once he gets to know him. I mean, who wouldn’t take to Sam?’
‘Sam?’ Ciara asked sharply, frowning.
‘Sorry!’ Sive gasped. She’d genuinely forgotten she wasn’t supposed to know that Ciara was talking about Sam. ‘Actors are such gossips. I’d heard that you two had … got together at the weekend.’
Ciara screwed up her face, appearing genuinely puzzled. ‘People are saying that Sam and I are … involved?’
Sive nodded. ‘Sorry if I wasn’t supposed to know. But I’m sure no one’s said anything to Jack.’
‘But … where on earth did they get the idea that Sam and I are together?’ Ciara stuttered. ‘Who told you this?’
‘Um … Andrea? She probably didn’t know it was meant to be a secret.’ She didn’t know why she was defending Andrea. ‘And apparently Jack said Sam was at your house on Sunday.’
‘Well, it’s not true. I mean, yes, he came over on Sunday, but just for dinner, not to spend the night.’ She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Though I have to say I’m kind of flattered people would think that.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘Sam’s younger than me. He’s also quite hot, isn’t he?’
Sive smiled, relief seeping through her. ‘Yeah, I may have noticed that.’
‘But I don’t think of him in that way. And even if I did, I’d be on a hiding to nothing because he’s completely crazy about you.’
‘You think so?’
‘It’s not as if he makes any secret of it.’
Sive couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face.
‘You’re very lucky. Sam’s a real gem.’ Ciara sighed. ‘I asked him if he’d come over on Sunday and have a word with Joe.’
‘Your son?’
Ciara nodded. ‘I discovered recently that he’s been gambling.’
‘Oh no!’
‘Stupidly I’d given him my credit card details one time when he wanted to buy a game and next thing I know he’s racked up a load of debt on it gambling online.’
‘How old is Joe?’
‘Fifteen. Luckily, I discovered it pretty early. Though my credit score will be shot to hell – not to mention family relations. Turns out my brother also gave him his credit card details at some stage and he’s used that too – which is mortifying.
Andy – my brother – is being good about it, but his wife is another story.
She’ll never let me forget it – just more proof of what a crap mother I am as far as she’s concerned. ’
‘Oh god, I’m so sorry. But you’re a fantastic mother!’
‘Thanks. Anyway, I got talking with Sam in the pub the other day and I asked him if he could have a chat with Joe. I’m getting him professional help, of course, but I thought it’d be good for him to talk with someone closer to his own age who’d had the same problem.
’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I thought it might be more effective coming from a young, cool guy like Sam rather than his mum or a counsellor or whatever. ’
‘Do you think it helped?’
‘Yeah, I do. I think there’s a part of him that’s actually relieved he was found out. He’d had a bit of a scare recently. He got caught using fake ID and he was terrified the Guards were going to turn up at the door any minute and arrest him.’
‘The poor thing!’
‘I know. I must admit, I felt really sorry for him – about as much as I wanted to strangle him! Anyway, Sam was brilliant with him and they got on really well. Sam’s so open about his problem, and I think that really helped. He’s a great guy and he’s been a very good friend – but that’s all.’
Sive smiled wryly. ‘Something tells me I haven’t made a secret of my feelings for him either, have I?’
Ciara shook her head. ‘No offence, but you’re not that good of an actress.’
‘So tell me about this date,’ Sive said, genuinely excited for Ciara now. ‘Who’s the guy?’
‘He’s a coach at a football club Jack goes to – or used to,’ she amended, rolling her eyes in exasperation, ‘before he was struck down with rickets or whatever he’s supposed to have.’
‘A severe case of Method actor syndrome.’
‘For which there’s no known cure, unfortunately.’
‘You know, I may have an idea about that. It’s a bit mean, but … cruel to be kind maybe? Kind to you, at any rate.’
‘I’m all ears.’
‘I need to have a word with Chloe. But leave it with me.’
Sive returned to rehearsals feeling as if a ton weight had been lifted off her. Now there was nothing standing in the way of her and Sam. Well, just one very big thing …
‘You seem to be feeling better?’ Sam said to her as rehearsal finished and everyone was packing up.
‘I am – loads better, thanks.’
‘Are you coming to the pub, then?’
‘Actually … would you mind hanging back for a bit? There’s something I want to talk to you about.’
‘Sure.’ Sam smiled. ‘I’m all yours.’