Chapter 40
GENIE
Now
Gray gets back from the office late and he seems vexed. Gone is my nice, relaxed husband from our holiday. He seems like a distant memory.
‘You ok Gray? You seem grumpy.’ I say, wanting him to know that his foul mood has been noted.
‘Yeah. Sorry. Just work stuff.’ He replies curtly as he unpacks his laptop from his work bag and sets it up on the kitchen island as he perches on one of the bar stools and starts looking at the screen intently.
It’s not until I go past him to get something out of the fridge, I notice that he’s actually watching TikTok!
‘What the..’ I start, as he slams his laptop shut. ‘You’re on TikTok!’
He knows he’s been caught out and there is absolutely no point in trying to lie.
‘I can explain..’ He says, his usual confident voice, faltering slightly.
‘Ok. I’m waiting.’ I reply, my cheeks feeling flushed as I put my hands on my hips, hoping that I look more confident that I feel.
‘I just wanted to see what the general consensus is about you on TikTok. I want to know exactly what people are saying about my wife! I want to be prepared for the next media storm, so I’m reading absolutely everything that people are saying.
I just want to be armed with all the relevant information so that I can protect you.
That’s all.’ Gray finally reveals defensively, crossing his arms in front of his chest as if to further distance himself from his earlier betrayal.
‘I know you always have my best interests at heart, but has it really come to this?’ I say, shaking my head in disbelief.
‘I’m sorry Genie but you know what I’m like, I always like to be forearmed with information, especially if it’s something to do with you.’ He replies, looking suitably remorseful.
‘Well, I have some more information for you to digest.’ I boldly state.
‘Oh yes?’ Gray replies looking suitably interested.
‘You know I was in touch with Emma?’ I start, as Gray nods. ‘Well, she’s responded, and she wants to talk to me in private as she’s got some news, so I’ve invited her to stay!’ I blurt out as quickly as possible, so Gray can’t get a word in with his normal barrage of questions.
‘Is that wise do you think? You haven’t seen this woman for over thirty years.
She might be trying to sell a story on you by promising you some information to gain more content for a story by staying here.
’ Gray poses a question that had briefly crossed my mind, but I’m convinced that Emma, who had only known me as a very pregnant teenager for such a short amount of time, would never betray me in that way.
She only ever offered me comfort and friendship when I really needed it.
‘I know Emma. She would never do anything to hurt me.’ I snap back at Gray.
‘Ok but I just want to protect you and if by inviting Emma into our home helps you, then so be it. I will welcome her with open arms.’ Gray replies being as reasonable as ever, despite my snappy response.
I wrap my arms around his neck and place an apologetic kiss on his lips and he kisses me back, all our cross words immediately forgotten.
‘I know I’ve been a nightmare recently with all this Ed stuff going on, but now you all know about Milly, I feel stronger with all your support.’ I confess to Gray as he rubs my back.
‘I’m just glad that we as a family know about Milly.
I’m not so keen on the recent revelations on social media and I can’t believe I’m even going to say this – but I really do think it’s probably about time that you contacted Ed Nash.
Even though he’s exploited your past relationship for his own good, I really do think he deserves to know the circumstances about why you left and of course the fact that you both share a daughter who is out there somewhere. ’ Gray says somewhat magnanimously.
‘You’re right. As per usual. Ed’s been on my mind recently and he does deserve to hear the truth from me.
I’ve just got to work out how to contact him discreetly and indeed what exactly to say.
’ I reveal truthfully, hoping that my words don’t hurt him, although I’m beginning to think that man has a Teflon coated heart with everything that I have put him through.
‘Whatever you decide to do, just know that I’ll always be here for you.’ Gray says with such love and conviction, I can feel my eyes smarting.
‘What would I ever do without you?’ I say in almost a whisper.
‘Let’s not think about things like that.’ Gray replies, brushing any negative thoughts away. ‘Do you need any help in getting things ready for Emma?’
I shake my head.
‘I take it that the guest room is immaculate!’ Gray says, a huge smile spreading across his handsome face. He knows me so well. Sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself.
‘I’m surprised you even need to ask!’ I reply with a smile, all previous tensions between us now resolved. That’s the beauty of a long lasting and happy marriage; compromise and not holding a grudge for too long.
‘Well, it looks like you have everything under control Mrs McNamara! How about a celebratory bottle of wine with our dinner?’ Gray suggests with a wink.
‘Yes. Definitely. I think we both deserve it!’ I reply as I start serving us dinner. ‘Can you call the children? It’s lasagna, with home-made garlic bread.’
The children were clearly hungry as they both appear at the table just minutes later.
It’s satisfying for us all to eat together as a family as this happens quite infrequently as the children grow older.
They’re getting to that age when they start to pull away from us, forge their own lives but as long as they know that we are always here for them, should they need us, well that’s the real skill of parenthood; getting the right balance of nurturing but letting them fly… ….
We explain to the children about Emma coming to stay and again swear them to secrecy about her visit. Being Gen Z children they are fully aware of the pitfalls of social media, having never known a life without it. They still marvel how our generation managed without the internet or mobile phones!
With dinner finished, the children clear the table unprompted and even stack the dishwasher and uncharacteristically they join us in the living room as Gray pours us both another glass of wine as Cassie is furiously scrolling on her phone.
‘You’d better have a look at this Mum!’ she says, thrusting her phone into my hands.
My finger hovers over play on a TikTok post and there’s a series of unflattering photos and a video of Ed stumbling out of a west end night club, looking quite worse for wear, accompanied by an attractive dark-haired woman who was desperately trying to hide their faces from the camera.
Is the search for Evie Del Rio aka #thegirlinthesong finally taking its toll on indie rocker Ed ‘Nasher’ Nash? the headline screams on TikTok and indeed every other media outlet. I listen to the post that Cassie has seen and then switch to a tabloid website to read what they have to say.
Ed ‘Nasher’ Nash is spotted leaving the West End nightclub Blaze, accompanied by an unknown brunette beauty, the article starts.
Earlier in the day, Ed Nash had attended his fellow band member Mark Fordham’s daughter’s christening, and we believe, even stepping up for godfather duties.
He was then spotted later that evening with fellow Mountaineer Jez Carter and two stunning unnamed brunettes.
It appears that Jez Carter, 49, left Blaze about an hour and a half later than Ed Nash.
Jez Carter is no stranger to heartbreak himself, becoming a widower on his honeymoon back in the early 90s when his childhood sweetheart Poppy Burrows drowned under mysterious circumstances in Thailand.
Jez Carter has been plagued by rumours of their heavy drug use ever since, although it is understood that Carter spent some time at a Buddhist retreat and is now drug free.
I study the crystal-clear photo of Ed coming out of the club with his mystery brunette trying to hold him up while at the same time shielding their faces.
He looks extremely drunk, and his normal chiselled good looks are nowhere to be seen in this opportunist photo.
And because of all the furore about #thegirlinthesong, poor Jez has had the death of his wife dragged up all over again.
It wasn’t fair, but if you play with fire, you are bound to get burned at some stage.
I pass Cassie’s phone to Gray, and he has a cursory glance at the latest gossip, rubbing at the stubble coming through on his chin, deep in thought.
‘Nothing for us to worry about. I think Ed’s just had a big night out, had too much to drink and because of all the recent publicity, the paps are all over him.’ Gray replies, handing Cassie’s phone back to her.
‘Is it ok if I stay at Mel’s tonight?’ Cassie casually asks.
‘I don’t see why not but just be wary of talking about Ed.’ I reply, finishing off my glass of wine.
‘Yes. Your mum is right. The less people that know about mum’s side of things, the better.’ Gray adds, before topping up my glass.
‘Thanks. You’re the best and honestly, I promise not to utter a word about you and Ed Nash.
Mel knows me well enough to know that that subject is out of bounds.
’ Cassie replies earnestly, but knowing what her and Mel are like, I already wonder if Mel knows more than what Cassie is letting on.
I guess I’ll just have to trust her on this one.
‘If Cassie’s allowed to see Mel, is it ok if I go to Tommy’s?’ Will asks, realising that there is certainly room for negotiation here.
‘Yeah. Go on. But the same applies to you with regards to responding to any gossip.’ Gray warns him.
Within seconds each of our children are back on the phones; Cassie taps back a message back, which I assume is to Mel and Will leaves an almost inaudible voice note for Tommy.
“I can give you both a lift if you like? I’ve only had one glass of wine, so I’m fit to drive.’ Gray offers jovially.
‘Are you sure you don’t mind, Dad?’ Cassie says in her most persuasive voice.
‘Course not. Hurry up before I change my mind.’ Gray replies, knowing that Cassie will take ages getting everything ready for her overnight stay.
‘You’ll be ok here on your own for a bit, won’t you?’ He checks with me.
‘Yeah. I’ve got wine so I’ll be more than ok.’ I reply with a grin, looking forward to the prospect of an evening to ourselves.
Ten minutes later, the house is silent, and I find myself pouring a third glass of wine, enjoying the feeling of relaxation that it gives me, and my mind returns to thoughts of Ed.
I know that Gray is right that I do owe Ed some sort of explanation and that he needs to know first; away from the media, away from the cameras and TikTok. He deserves that much at least.