Chapter 20
20
Once Olivia had gone, Judd stepped further into the room. ‘I just wanted to check you’re okay,’ he said. ‘Are you? Okay I mean?’
Esme stood and walked over to him. ‘I am, thanks to you.’ She reached up and hugged him and at that point tears spilled over and down her cheeks as she sobbed. It was beginning to sink in that the Rhys she had once adored had just attacked her. She hadn’t known Judd that long, but it felt like she had; he felt like her safe place. And even though she leaned towards feminism, on this occasion she saw him as her hero. ‘I honestly don’t know what would’ve happened if you and Zach hadn’t shown up.’
He hugged her too. ‘Hey, it’s okay, you don’t have to think about that. You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you again. Anyway, they’ve taken him to the police station.’
‘They have?’
He nodded. ‘Aye. He tried to punch several other folks, and was quite mouthy so they called the coppers on him. He needs to sleep it off.’
‘It’s just all so out of character for him. Well, for the Rhys I knew, anyway. I don’t understand why he acted that way. There must be some reason for it. Maybe I did?—’
Judd released her from his embrace and stepped back, holding her at arm’s length. ‘Stop. You did nothing wrong, and I don’t want to hear you blaming yourself for this. It’s all on him.’ He shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘Actually, someone from the Gadigal sound team told Selina that Rhys has been drinking heavily for a while back in Aus, he’s been turning up to work intoxicated and behaving erratically. He’s been disciplined and threatened with the sack, and was on his last warning. They said that he asked if he could come on the UK trip for the shoot, but he was told no. They were apparently concerned about him flying, but he came anyway on his fiancée’s money. What an idiot thinking he could manipulate you like that. I’m just glad you see through him and weren’t sucked in.’
Esme placed a hand over her racing heart. ‘I don’t get why he did any of that. He was the one who ended things with me, and he was adamant we wouldn’t work out. The strange thing is, he had moved on enough to propose to someone so he must have been happy at some point. And it’s been so long since we spoke. I had no clue he still felt this way.’
Judd smiled. ‘Well, obviously you’re a hard woman to get over. Come on, I’ll walk you home. I know a furry, four-legged little lady who’ll cheer you up.’
As they walked across the grounds of the castle, the sun had disappeared and clouds had replaced the bright glow. The weather now seemed to match her sullen mood. The windows of the castle glowed amber where lamps had been switched on inside and the place looked magical, in spite of the downturn in temperature.
Esme linked her arm through Judd’s. ‘I was so worried you’d fallen out with me when you didn’t come home last night. I felt so bad about dragging you into everything and I’m truly sorry about that. It was a horrible thing to do.’
He winced. ‘Aye, sorry about disappearing on you. Sometimes I just…’ He shook his head. ‘Sometimes I can’t communicate what I’m feeling. I sort of shut down. It’s not that I don’t want to talk, it’s more that I… I can’t. I’m sorry I made you feel bad. It wasn’t intentional. And I need to say…’
He fell silent so Esme wanted to encourage him. ‘And you need to say what? You can be honest with me, Judd. If I’ve hurt you or upset you then just tell me.’
He stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. His eye contact was a little hit and miss but he was clearly trying. ‘I’m so sorry I kissed you without your permission. I should’ve warned you somehow, told you that next time I saw you with him I’d do something to help you. But… the thing is I had no clue I was even going to do it until it happened. I’m no better than Rhys, really, am I? Forcing myself on you like that.’ He visibly shivered with disgust at his actions and his chin trembled. He cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on her as if he felt that was the best way to prove his sincerity. ‘Just please know that I would never hurt you deliberately, ever . I saw him bothering you and it felt almost like a call to action, Judd the fake boyfriend to the rescue. The trouble is I have no clue how to even be a boyfriend, so it probably looked totally fake anyway. It was stupid and I’m so sorry, Esme.’
Esme placed a hand on either side of his face. ‘Hey, it’s fine. You were trying to help me just like I’d asked. It was my fault for putting you in that position, Judd, so you have nothing to apologise for. And you are nothing like Rhys. Nothing at all, okay? Come on, let’s go home and have a cuppa and pretend today never happened.’
* * *
Zach came to the final dress rehearsal that night and morale was once again boosted by his words and more simply by his presence. Although Esme had been wondering who they would even be performing for. With such a short amount of notice, had any tickets even sold? She knew her colleagues had said they were coming but would they actually turn up? Sylvia hadn’t mentioned ticket sales and clearly no one else had dared to broach the matter with her.
At the end of the evening, Zach approached her. ‘You blow my mind, Esme Cassidy. I had tears in my eyes tonight.’
She laughed. ‘Because of how awful I was probably.’
‘Hey, don’t do that. You’re such a talented woman. Take a compliment. The others are excited to see the play and I can’t wait for them to come tomorrow.’
Esme’s heart tripped over itself. ‘I’m sorry, what?’
‘The crew have all got tickets. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s sold out.’
Esme’s shoulders slumped. ‘Oh, great, a pity audience. Or worse still a piss-taking one.’
Zach lifted her chin with his forefinger. ‘That’s not it at all. I’ve been raving about the show to everyone. Especially about you. You’re amazing, Esme.’
‘Thank you, but I’m dreading it when I should be excited. It feels like my stage debut will also be my final curtain call.’
‘You should have more confidence in your abilities. You really make this role your own. Take it from someone who knows talent when they see it.’
‘Hmm,’ was all she could muster.
‘Anyway, how are you doing after today? I hear your ex was arrested. Rightly so too.’
She shrugged. ‘I’m okay, just a little perturbed by his behaviour.’
Zach reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘You’re clearly a hard woman to let go of.’
She laughed. ‘So people keep telling me. I had no clue.’
‘By people do you mean Judd, by any chance?’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘I do, why?’
Zach shrugged and smiled. ‘No reason. Come on, let’s get back to the castle. Max and I will give you and Parker a ride home.’
When they stepped outside the theatre, Esme was shocked and horrified to find a huge crowd had gathered. Cameras flashed and girls screamed. This was the first time she had experienced this because his team had been so good at keeping his trips to Eden Court a secret.
‘Oh, my! Is this what it’s like to be famous?’ Parker asked, his eyes gleaming. ‘I love it!’ He posed a few times and the gathered crowd cheered in between shouting Zach’s name.
‘What do we do?’ Esme asked as fear sent a shiver up her spine. She had seen this kind of situation on TV but didn’t think it would ever be something she experienced in real time.
Thankfully the police had been tipped off early and were already there. A female officer approached them. ‘Evening, sir. PC Mel Sherburn. Are you okay, Mr Marchand?’ the woman asked in a Yorkshire accent. Esme recognised her from her visits to the castle.
‘I am, we all are, thank you for coming. We weren’t expecting this but it’s fine. Occupational hazard,’ he said with a smile.
Screams of, ‘Zach! Can I have a selfie?’ and ‘Zach, please sign my t-shirt!’ rang out into the chilly evening air as the crowd pushed into the police officers in their high-vis jackets who had formed a barrier in front of the theatre. ‘Marry me, Zach!’ was followed by ‘I want your babies, Zach!’ It was cringeworthy really.
‘How would you like to handle things, Mr Marchand?’ PC Sherburn asked.
‘We’ll say a quick hello, sign a few autographs and then be on our way,’ Zach replied.
‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ Max, his security guard, asked. ‘There’s no pressure, you know. We can just get you out of here.’
Zach shook his head. ‘No, it’s fine. It’s what I signed up for.’ He shrugged.
Zach proceeded to pose with fans for selfies, scribble on a variety of items that were thrust in his direction and chat briefly to as many fans as he could, all under the watchful eyes of Max, PC Sherburn and her colleagues. Esme admired him for taking it all in his stride. Once he was finished, he waved to the gathered crowd and was rewarded with a loud cheer and whistles. As they rounded the corner they were greeted with camera flashes and shouts from paparazzi that had gathered to get the money shot of the famous actor.
‘Are you on a date with your new lady, Mr Marchand?’ one of them shouted out. ‘Are you dating a nobody now?’
Zach stopped in his tracks and glared at the journalist who had asked this question as cameras flashed away, capturing everything. ‘You should never refer to someone as a nobody. It’s the worst possible insult. Every person is somebody ,’ was all he said before lowering his head and marching to the car, shielded by Max.
They made it to the car with a large crowd following and the police officers formed a barrier in order that they could climb into the back of the black car with its blacked-out windows.
‘Bloody hell, that was exhausting,’ Esme said as she slumped into the rear of the car.
‘You get used to it,’ Zach said. ‘That was pretty tame to be honest though.’
‘Do you think we’ll be in the national papers tomorrow?’ Parker asked, checking his reflection in a small compact mirror he had pulled from his satchel. ‘I think I looked tired. I hope they touch up the photos to get rid of my dark circles.’
Zach laughed. ‘Unfortunately, the press rather like it when celebrities look like crap. I suppose it shows they’re only human and can’t be airbrushed 24/7.’
‘I honestly don’t think I could cope with that every time I left the house,’ Esme said with a shiver.
‘Nah, you’d soon get used to it.’
* * *
Along with a rather conspicuous police escort, they dropped Parker off at his parents’ house and then set off for Drumblair Castle.
‘Are you okay? You went a little pale back there and I know this has already been a difficult day for you,’ Zach said as he reached across and squeezed Esme’s hand briefly.
She smiled. ‘Yes, I’m fine. It was just a bit full on.’
‘Welcome to my world,’ he replied and there was a tinge of sadness to his tone.
‘Do you ever get really tired of the fame?’
He huffed air through puffed cheeks. ‘Sometimes. But then I remind myself that this is the life I wanted. This is what I strived for. And so yes, I can’t walk down the street to call for a pint of milk, and okay, I can’t go clothes shopping whenever I feel like it but… it’s what I signed up for.’
‘It’s hard to believe that it was once what I wanted too. But seeing that crowd tonight made me wonder if I’m actually better off just as I am.’
Zach turned a little in his seat. ‘It’s not for everyone, admittedly. But you’re a tough cookie, Esme. And I really do think you should pursue your acting career again. Maybe the time is right.’
She laughed lightly. ‘I doubt that I’m going to get snapped up from an am dram performance of Romeo and Juliet . I know that kind of thing happens in movies but this is real life and I’m just Esme Cassidy.’
‘You sell yourself short. I have contacts I can make available to you. All you have to do is say the word.’
The car pulled into the long driveway of Drumblair Castle which was lit with solar-powered mini torchieres. In the distance the castle was aglow, lit up with amber spotlights. It never failed to take her breath away.
‘It’s stunning, isn’t it?’ Zach said. ‘But I can’t imagine how Olivia felt knowing she had inherited it as a dying duck. She’s worked miracles, hasn’t she?’
Esme nodded. ‘She really has. It’s an amazing achievement.’
The car stopped along the lane outside Garden Cottage and just before she opened the door to climb out, Zach reached for her hand. ‘Maybe now is the time for you to achieve your own dream instead of aiding others to achieve theirs.’
‘I’ll give it some thought,’ she replied. ‘Goodnight, Zach. Thanks for the ride home.’