Chapter 33
Kitty and Alice had been talking for so long, the sky had turned from pink to navy.
‘I can’t believe you’ve had all this to deal with,’ said Alice.
‘I wish I hadn’t had to.’ She ran her hand across the sand, relieved to have got the story off her chest.
‘And no one in Saffron Bay knows anything about this?’
‘Actually, my boss Suzanne knows.’ Kitty shifted her stiff knees. ‘I had to tell her because I’m using a different name from the one on all my certificates and official documents.’
‘A different name?’ asked Alice. ‘So what’s your real name?’
Kitty smiled. ‘Catherine McDonaugh.’
‘Catherine McDonaugh?’ said Alice, her voice thoughtful. ‘I get where the “Kitty” came from, but how about “Brown”?’
‘In Gaelic, Donn means brown, or dark-haired. The name means son of the dark-haired warrior, or as good as. I chose the brown bit.’
‘Oh, that’s clever. And ironic, given your colouring.’
Kitty ran a hand through her red hair and laughed.
A moment later, she was serious again. ‘So now you understand why I can’t do anything that might put me in the spotlight.
If James found out where I was, I… I…’ Tears threatened again, but Kitty felt wrung out.
She took a deep breath and swallowed, forcing them away.
‘Yeah, I get it,’ said Alice. She scooped up sand, letting it drift through her fingers. ‘Now I know what’s going on, I could, we could protect you.’
‘Really? These days, everyone has camera phones. All it would take is one person posting a photo on Facebook and… and I hate to think what might happen.’
‘True.’ Alice chewed her lip. ‘It helps that you’re using a different name. Presumably, you’ll be dressed up in the play.’ She turned to Kitty, eyes bright. ‘What if we got you a wig? You could be a blonde for the night.’
Kitty chuckled. ‘I’ve always wondered what I’d look like as a blonde.’
‘Kitty, this is a village production. It’s not like we’re putting on something at the Royal Shakespeare Company. There’s not going to be any press. The worst you might get is someone doing a write-up in the village newsletter.’
‘You think I’m overreacting?’
Alice was quiet, as though carefully forming her words. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘And I completely understand why you would.’
‘Yet you think I should do the play?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Alice’s quiet thoughtfulness had turned to confidence. ‘You’ll be perfect. And, added bonus, you’d be sticking two fingers up to James.’ She grinned. ‘You said he’s stolen everything from you. Isn’t this a chance to get part of yourself back?’
Was it? Or was it a chance which could ruin her escape? Kitty stared at the waves lapping gently in the dusk. ‘I hadn’t thought of it like that,’ she said. ‘Maybe you’re right.’ She hoped with all her heart that Alice was right.
‘I usually am,’ said Alice, and they both laughed.
The air was growing colder, the crashing of waves louder as the tide came in. Kitty squinted in the half-light, mulling over the events of the evening. ‘I’m kind of embarrassed though,’ Kitty admitted. ‘I’ve made a right fool of myself.’
‘Ah, what do people expect from an actor? You’re all divas, aren’t you?’
Kitty laughed again. ‘We’re certainly meant to be.’
‘Listen,’ said Alice, squeezing Kitty’s hand. ‘We’ll put it down to stage fright.’ She grinned, mischief shining in her eyes. ‘Everyone will be happy to believe that. No one’s going to question your running out, for fear it’ll put them back in the frame for the role of Juliet.’
‘Yes, I suppose you’re right. But, Alice, we will keep this between the two of us, right?’
‘Of course,’ said Alice. ‘I understand why you need to be secretive. I’d be exactly the same in your position.
’ She put an arm around Kitty’s shoulders.
‘What you need to understand, my friend, is that in Saffron Bay we look after our own. You’ve seen that already in how Suzanne Arnold has been looking out for you.
Nothing bad is going to happen to you here. It’s not that kind of place.’
‘I hope you’re right.’ Alice’s words and embrace helped to reassure Kitty. She was glad she’d drawn her new friend into her confidence. And now there was another confidence she needed to share. ‘There’s something else, though,’ she said.
‘Oh no. Please tell me there’s not,’ groaned Alice, releasing Kitty to throw her hands in the air. ‘How many more skeletons can one woman have in her closet?’
Kitty gave her a playful punch on the arm. ‘Oi, you shouldn’t be joking about this.’
‘Sorry,’ said Alice, looking sheepish.
‘No, it’s probably for the best,’ said Kitty. ‘I’ve spent so many years being serious, and actually… I’ve had enough.’ She threw out her hands. ‘No, I want to talk to you about Nick.’
‘Nick?’ asked Alice. ‘What’s he got to do with any of this?’
‘I’m worried,’ said Kitty. ‘He might think I didn’t want to be in the play because of him.’
‘Oh.’ Alice nodded slowly. ‘To be honest, you might be right. Nick can come across as an arrogant tosser, but actually, he’s got no self-esteem and can sometimes be a little paranoid.
’ She turned to Kitty. ‘Why don’t you go talk to him, if only to reassure him you weren’t repulsed by the thought of playing Juliet to his Romeo. ’ She giggled.
‘Talk to him now?’ said Kitty. ‘Don’t you think it’s a bit late?’
‘Nah, he’ll be up for hours yet. Probably on the PlayStation right now, snacking on a big bag of crisps and sinking a few cans of beer.’
Kitty found herself bristling in Nick’s defence. ‘I don’t think so. He’s really stepping up into his new fatherhood role.’
‘Yes, I guess he has,’ said Alice. ‘It’s such a turn-up for the books, I can’t get used to the new improved Nick Andrews.
’ She glanced at her watch. ‘It’s not that late.
Go on, just go. All you have to do is tell him you’ll do the play, and leave it at that.
It’ll put his mind at rest, and it’ll stop you worrying you might have offended him. ’
‘Alright.’ It was the least she could do after her awful behaviour. ‘And, Alice,’ Kitty said as Alice stood and brushed sand off her jeans, ‘thank you for being a friend. I hadn’t realised how much I needed one.’
Alice crouched down and wrapped her arms around Kitty, pulling her into a tight hug.
‘We all need friends,’ she said. ‘I had to learn that lesson the hard way. If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.’