by Ruth Jones
‘Are you staying over?’ Belinda asked. The answer would most certainly be yes.
Cory, as usual, ribbed her for having a boyfriend, Ben as usual told Cory to shut up and flicked a pea at him, Belinda laughed and told them off for food fighting, and all the time in the background, unnoticed by any of them, the TV showed coverage of the BAFTA red-carpet arrivals.
83
He couldn’t stop fiddling with his hair. Kate had insisted the make-up artist put some gel in it – ‘Just to neaten things up a bit’ – and now, like a dog with a new collar, he couldn’t leave it alone. He looked great. As Kate hadn’t tired of telling him.
‘So easy for men with these things. Tux and dicky bow, job done.’ And she straightened his tie for the umpteenth time. ‘You’re sure this looks alright?’ she asked him, also for the umpteenth time, about her dress.
‘Kate, you look absolutely stunning, and when we get home tonight I’m gonna shag you senseless, OK?’
He knew that’s what she wanted to hear and he was right. She beamed. She loved it when he paid her compliments. It didn’t happen very often – not because he didn’t fancy her, she knew that, but just because he was a man and flattery was not the default of most men, let alone a shy fifty-six-year-old schoolteacher from Edinburgh.
The limousine turned the corner and Callum found the sight before them overwhelming. ‘Jesus, they’re like a bucket-load of ants!’ A hundred metres of red carpet lined the centre of the closed-off road that led to the grand entrance of the Drury Lane Theatre. Barriers on either side held back fans and the banks of journalists, paparazzi and news crews from all over the world. On the red carpet itself were scores of famous actors and actresses, stopping for photos and interviews, as well as headset-wearing security guards and event producers busy checking that everything was running smoothly.
The limousine drew slowly to a halt and Kate turned to him. ‘Right. Ready?’
‘No,’ he replied, seriously regretting having agreed to this.
She touched his face and softly said, ‘Don’t panic. Just smile and stay close to me. And don’t utter a word.’
‘No danger of that.’
‘You get out first, then come round to my side and open the door for me.’
He was a bit thrown by this. ‘What, like I’m your bloody manservant?’
‘Callum, just do it.’ She sighed with a hint of irritation.
He did as he was told. And as soon as Kate stepped out, there was a barrage of camera flashes and shouts from the crowd as well as the photographers.
‘Kate! Kate! Miss Andrews! Over here! Nice to see you out with your new man. Callum, over here, over here!’ They sounded like a barn full of geese at feeding time.
‘I hate that they know my name,’ he whispered to her.
‘They know everything,’ she whispered back through her fixed and well-practised smile. She grabbed his arm firmly, whilst trying to look as feminine as possible, and led him up the red carpet, stopping every few steps to have her photo taken or to sign an autograph for a fan. Eventually they made it to the entrance and she stopped, and through her still fixed smile quietly instructed him further: ‘OK, now turn around and kiss me. And then wave.’
‘Jesus, I’m like a performing fucking seal!’
He tried to do what she’d asked, but in the awkwardness and anxiety of the moment, their noses banged and they looked a bit ridiculous. Ever the professional, Kate laughed it off, though inside she was mortified. She’d wanted to look so good for the cameras.
A short way off, one of the paparazzi turned to his mate and said, ‘Hasn’t trained him very well yet, has she?’ and they laughed, both chuffed that they’d captured the nose bump. It’d make a great pic.
Inside the foyer, Kate was greeted by Nikki, one of the event organizers. ‘Kate! You look fantastic!’
‘Thank you. This is my partner, Callum MacGregor.’
Callum smiled, but didn’t say a word. As instructed.
Embarrassed, Kate made a joke, covering up for him. ‘He’s a bit shy tonight, I’m afraid. Right, what’s the plan?’
‘OK.’ Nikki was looking at her clipboard. ‘As you’re a nominee, we have you sitting fairly near the front – I’ll take you there now – but first of all, Sky News would like to do a quick interview?’
‘Sure. Lead the way.’ As they walked, Kate could tell people were staring at her – ‘Kate Andrews, look!’ – and she knew she looked out of this world.
The Sky News journalist couldn’t hide her admiration, mouthing ‘Love the dress!’ before launching into the interview proper.
‘So, Kate Andrews! You’re up for best actress tonight – how do you think you’ll do?’
Kate had perfected the art of sounding demure and modest, avoiding arrogance and always acknowledging the people with whom she’d worked. This was like water off a duck’s back and she answered elegantly, aware of the camera lens, never looking at it and always, always smiling.
Callum, on the other hand, couldn’t help but look down the barrel the entire time Kate was talking.
‘Well, who knows what the night will bring? I’m just really honoured to have been nominated and to share that honour with actresses such as Gabriela Heinmann and Holly Grove. It’s all really exciting.’
An hour later, Kate was holding Callum’s hand tightly as the MC introduced veteran Hollywood star Nicholas Reynolds to the stage to present the award for best actress. A cameraman was poised two feet away from Kate, with another near Holly Grove and another near Gabriela Heinmann. Kate had already drilled it into Callum not to look at the camera and he tried hard not to, but didn’t always succeed. It was like a magnet for the eyes; he didn’t know how Kate managed it.
‘And the BAFTA goes to …’
Callum could feel the sweat seeping out of Kate’s palms. She was shaking, and he, too, felt full of nerves, dreading her not winning and how she would react.
‘KATE ANDREWS!’
Thank God, he thought.
Kate leapt into action, looking first shocked, then humbled, then tearful. She immediately turned to Callum and kissed him long and hard, whispering, ‘I love you.’
It was all too public for him and he felt he was on display. So all he could manage was an underwhelming ‘Well done!’ as he watched her get up and head to the stage to collect her award.
84
Hetty had surprised them both. They’d been down to the river and Gunnersbury Park that afternoon, and now Tallulah was exhausted, curled up on the sofa, nestled into Matt as he read her the story of the Grumpy Gorilla. He’d said they could have pizza as a treat, so when the doorbell went he presumed it’d be the chirpy delivery chap from Pete’s Pizza Parlour.
But it was Hetty.
‘Surprise!’ she shouted. ‘Is it a bad time?’
‘It’s a perfect time.’ And he gave her a hug. ‘I’ve missed you, mate! I’ll have to have a word with that Ivor, stealing my best friend off me,’ he joked.
Hetty giggled and squealed when she saw Tallulah, and all three of them flopped down onto the sofa in one big cuddle.
‘Where is he then? Please don’t tell me you’ve split up?’
‘No. Quite the opposite.’ She’d been bursting to tell him for over a week now. ‘Oh Matty. We’re gonna have a baby!’
It was true, he’d really missed her. Since Ivor and Hetty had got together, they’d rarely spent a night apart, and although the babysitting had continued so that Matt could carry on with his Italian and his running club, Hetty and Ivor were now firmly a duo, and Matt couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent an hour in Hetty’s company alone. He didn’t mind. Not really. After all, she’d had years of ‘Matt and Kate’ – it was just his turn to play gooseberry now. And he couldn’t be happier for her. Little Hetty Strong was having a baby! She’d be the best mother in the world.
They caught up on gossip, including, once Tallulah had gone to bed, the only exciting thing to have happened to Matt this year: Chloe.
‘Oh my God! You did not!’ Hetty was exhilarated, shocked and delighted all at once.
‘Yeah. But it was just a one-off.’
‘Really?’ Hetty didn’t quite believe him and she screwed up her eyes suspiciously.
‘Oh God, yes, seriously. It did me the power of good, but that was it.’
‘She’s got pink hair!’ Hetty announced, as if telling Matt something he didn’t already know.
‘And a boyfriend,’ added Matt. ‘No, it was nice, Het, but she’s not the one for me.’
Hetty took his hand. ‘Talking of which, how’s Kate?’
‘Oh bollocks. I’m meant to record the BAFTAs!’
He reached for the remote control and flicked through the channels till he arrived at the right one. Miraculously, the Best Actress category was about to be announced. Hetty and Matt stared at the TV screen.
‘KATE ANDREWS!’
And weirdly, despite all the pain she’d caused, all the upheaval and heartache, Matt and Hetty were happy for her and jumped up and down on the spot to show their appreciation.
‘Aw, well done, Kate!’ said Matt.
They watched as she kissed Callum in a close-up shot and Matt sighed, but it didn’t tear him apart – nowhere near, in fact. And they watched as Nicholas Reynolds handed her the BAFTA and hugged her like he’d known her for years.
‘She’s never met him before in her life, y’know!’ Matt laughed – he was well out of all that fakery now and the world of fraudulent showbiz friendships.
Kate took the microphone, centring herself, catching her breath, before winning the audience over with an opening jest, pretending to drop it: ‘Christ, this is heavy!’ Then she gathered her thoughts and began to talk, low level but loud enough to be heard. ‘This … is amazing,’ she began, admiring the heft of the big brass mask that bore her name at the bottom. ‘I cannot begin to tell you how humbled I am to have been nominated alongside such great actresses as Gabi Heinmann and Holly Grove,’ – at which point she nodded in both their directions and shook her head admiringly. ‘They continue to inspire us all with their outstanding work, and for that, we are all grateful.’ A ripple of appreciation from the audience.
‘I’d like to thank the cast and crew of Second Sight – what an incredible show that was to work on. And especially the director and genius that is Denholm Merrigan.’ Again, more applause.
‘I’d also like to thank my darling daughter, Tallulah.’ Her voice breaking with well-timed emotion. ‘She is my angel and my shiny bright star and she makes me smile every time she walks in the room. She’s stayed up late tonight, especially to watch,’ – at which point, Kate looked directly at the camera and said, ‘I love you, Lules!’
Back in Chiswick, Matt turned to Hetty and feigned fear.
‘I won’t tell if you won’t,’ Hetty whispered quickly without taking her eyes off the screen. ‘You’ve recorded it, she can watch it in the morning!’
‘And finally, to my partner, Callum MacGregor.’ The cameras swooped straight into a close-up of Callum, who looked for all the world like he wanted his brushed-velvet theatre seat to swallow him up for its tea. ‘Callum, you’ve been my rock these past few months, and I wouldn’t be here without you.’
‘Well, that’s not even technically true,’ Hetty said.
‘Babe, you complete me,’ Kate said in Callum’s direction, as if it was just the two of them in the theatre, finishing her speech by blowing him a kiss and shouting, ‘Thank you, BAFTA!’ over the applause as she left the stage.
‘Oh my God, that was so cringe,’ Hetty said, and she grabbed a piece of cold pizza from the box. ‘You complete me? Dear Lord! And did you see Callum’s face? Talk about fish out of water – he stared right at the camera like a trout!’
‘I know.’ But Matt wasn’t laughing. ‘Oh poor Kate, I hope she’s not … y’know, going off the rails a bit.’
Hetty looked at him, disbelieving. ‘You are incredible, Matty. How can you feel sorry for her?’
‘I dunno. I’ve just got a bad feeling, that’s all.’
85
The party was in full swing, the air electric with congratulation and flattery. Waiting staff were passing round cute cordon bleu nibbles like mini fish and chips and mini mash and banger. Callum took a couple whenever they went by, failing to see the attraction of these minuscule portions. He’d spent most of the post-awards bash on his own, realizing that if you weren’t ‘somebody’, the chances were you’d get ignored. He didn’t mind. He was quite happy to people-watch and wait for Kate, who was currently talking to some big-shot producer from the States. Occasionally she’d look over to him and mouth a concerned ‘You OK?’ to which he’d nod back enthusiastically, and she’d return to the conversation in hand. Her BAFTA never left her grasp. And he noticed she hadn’t eaten a thing all night.
A lot of people were very pissed by now or high on coke. Earlier he’d had to disengage himself from a very boring conversation with an actor called Lloyd something or other, who was gurning at a hundred miles an hour and claiming he’d once worked with Kate.
‘So where d’you hail from then … erm …’
‘Callum. Yeah, like I just said, Edinburgh.’
‘Och aye the noo!’
Jesus save me, thought Callum.
‘I did a play up there once.’
‘Yeah, you said.’
Kate was standing next to them at the time, embroiled in conversation with a tough-talking director who everybody wanted to work with, apparently.
‘But she’s just fantastic, isn’t she? … Kate is. Isn’t she?’
‘Yep.’ Callum wished he was drunk.
‘I mean a real … y’know, lady. Everyone loves her.’
‘Right.’
‘And just so …’ At which point, Lloyd lost his train of thought, gurning manically as he tried to find it. ‘So, where do you hail from then, Callum?’
‘Istanbul.’ Callum pulled away. ‘I think I’ll get a bit of air.’
And he headed towards the veranda.
Outside, people were smoking and chatting in twos and threes. Callum made his way to the balcony and looked out over the city skyline. Behind him the party continued, this alien party in this alien world, and he suddenly felt very lonely. He took out his mobile and went into his contacts, flicking through his numbers till he found Belinda’s. His thumb hovered over her name. He so wanted to talk to her.
‘Bit mental in there, isn’t it?’ A grey-haired man in a designer suit had joined him.
‘You could say that, yeah.’
‘You’re Kate’s partner, aren’t you?’
‘Er … yes.’
‘You don’t sound too sure!’
‘Sorry … it’s just taking a bit of getting used to, that’s all. Callum MacGregor.’ And he held out his hand.
‘Tony Matthews – producer of the Maggie Lane Show – I’m a good mate of Kate’s. Honest!’ And Callum laughed. ‘You know we’d love to have you both on as guests tomorrow.’
‘Don’t be daft!’
‘No, seriously. I mean, having BAFTA-award-winner Kate Andrews on the show is one thing and that’s brilliant. But having her new partner on with her. That’d be a proper coup.’
Callum was about to protest further when Kate came out and joined them, linking arms with him and snuggling up. ‘Has Tony persuaded you yet?’
The producer smiled. ‘I’m trying my best, aren’t I, Callum?’
‘Come on, babe. The publicity would do us both the world of good – let the people hear our side of the story …’ And she looked at him with big, needy eyes. ‘Please?’
86
The car was picking them up at seven thirty a.m. They were due on air at nine. Callum had hardly slept. He’d tried persuading Kate to let him pull out, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She was trying to keep him happy, humouring him, doing whatever she could to keep the mood light, even making them Bucks Fizz and smoked salmon for breakfast.
He came
into the kitchen looking for his phone and was thrown by the prettily laid table. ‘Bloody hell – bit excessive, isn’t it?’
‘Darling, I won a BAFTA last night! And we’re celebrating our first TV interview together.’ She poured him a glass and handed it to him.
‘I can’t. I don’t … it’s just all too much …’
‘But you’re not working today!’
‘I know, but all this excess and booze and partying and … I’m a teacher, Kate. Not even a full-time one at the moment.’ She looked like a kicked puppy. ‘Look, I’ll do this chat-show thing today, but no more, OK? It’s not me.’
‘Oh baby, is that it? You’re nervous!’
‘Well yeah, I am actually. But why shouldn’t I be? I’m not a bloody celebrity, am I? It’s ludicrous.’
And suddenly she turned on him. With a sourness and anger he’d not seen before. Actually, no, he had seen it before – nearly eighteen years ago, when she’d lost it with him at his house, the night Belinda walked in on them.
‘Yeah, well I have to live with it all the FUCKING TIME! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT’S LIKE!’
He was confused, more than anything, couldn’t understand why she was behaving like this. And then it dawned on him. ‘Are you drunk?’
‘Don’t be stupid.’
But he didn’t have the energy for a row. He needed to phone Ailsa – she had her English exam that morning. ‘I’m going outside to make a call.’
‘Why can’t you do it here?’
‘Well, because …’
‘You’re phoning Belinda, aren’t you? Why can’t I hear what you’ve got to say, Callum? Are you seeing her behind my back?’
Callum was disturbed by the outburst, shocked at this ugly change in her, like Kate had transformed into somebody else. ‘Sweetheart, what is wrong with you?’ he said gently. ‘I just wanna call Ails – to wish her luck, that’s all.’
And then she dropped the bombshell. ‘I know you’ve been emailing Belinda.’
He stared at her. Not knowing how to react. If he denied it, he’d be lying. But then the indignation he felt at being spied on rose up in him. He was incredulous. ‘What? Jesus, have you been reading my emails?’