‘It’slies!If I wasn’t doing this thing with Tadhg I’d just be freelance!’I say.‘Plus I’ve got a job lined up!And I’m living here and paying you rent!’
‘You are,’ says Katie.
‘And Kev!FuckingKev!What does he know about me and Tadhg?He didn’t even know him!The band was like two years before we met Aisling!’
‘I know,’ says Katie.
‘And saying I’ll be able to play Tadhg’s guitars.Like I don’t have one of my own.I’ve got a guitar, thanks very much!I’ve got agreatguitar!I’ve got two!’
‘You do,’ says Katie.‘Why don’t we go downstairs—’
‘And Ruairí!Ruairí!What’s he doing popping up here?Ihaven’t seen him for ages.Calling me an “ordinary nice girl”, like I was, I don’t know, a plate of mashed potato!’
‘But he says you were really good,’ says Katie.‘And everyone fancied you.’
‘Well, we know that’s a lie,’ I say.‘Becausesomepeople definitely didn’t.Oh my God, look at the photo.’I zoom in on the picture, which must have been taken on a day when it was raining.The hood is up on my parka, but I’m facing the camera and looking up to the heavens like I’m checking the drizzle.It is both very recognisably me, and also not like me at all.
‘I look like a teenager!’I say.‘A very haggard teenager who’s had an incredibly hard life!’
‘That’s it.’Katie grabs the phone out of my hand and puts it in her dressing-gown pocket.‘Come on.Downstairs.’
Shock and anger mean I’m still in such a stunned state that it’s not until I’ve followed Katie down the stairs and into the kitchen that the obvious question hits me.
‘How did the journalist know about me working with Tadhg?’I say.‘She talked to Kev.And Aoife.And Ruairí.But I don’t think any of them would have made the first move and contacted the press.And none of them knew about Tadhg and me working together again – I mean, Aisling might have told Kev, but I really don’t think he’d have, like, approached a journalist about it.So how did the journalist know?’
Then an awful possibility hits me.And I feel physically sick.I sit down very quickly at the kitchen table.
‘Oh my God,’ I say.‘What if Tadhg and his team leaked it?’
‘No!’says Katie.‘Absolutely no way.He wouldn’t do that.’
But I’m remembering what he said when he first mentioned Hugo.
I think I’ve got Hugo off my back about working with those other producers, anyway.So don’t worry, he’s not going to make a fuss about us working together anymore.
I tell Katie about Hugo’s plan.
‘Maybe this was how he got Hugo off his back,’ I say.‘Maybe he said there was another way to get loads of positive publicity and it was to leak a feel-good story about Saint Tadhg plucking some sad sack from obscurity and letting her write songs with him.’
‘Surely not,’ says Katie.‘I know it’s been complicated but I’m a hundred per cent sure that man cares about you.He wouldn’t throw you to the wolves like that.’
I take a deep breath.She’s right.Of course she’s right.
‘Sorry, I’m being ridiculous,’ I say.‘I know he wouldn’t.’
Then a sleepy-eyed Jeanne comes into the kitchen, holding up my phone.‘Morning,’ she says, putting it on the table.‘Your phone kept buzzing, Laura – I thought I should bring it down in case it’s urgent.’She looks at my and Katie’s faces.‘What has happened?Is everything okay?’
I check my phone.There are many, many messages.And several missed calls from one number.
Tadhg’s.
I look at the earliest messages, the ones from the unknown numbers.They’re all long.
Hi Laura, long time no see!This is Caroline White, though you might remember me as Caroline Moriarty.I got your number from a group mail for Brian’s 30th.Anyway, I see you’re working with our old friend Tadhg – how amazing!If you’re doing any events with him, I’d love to talk to you about lending you a few pieces – I own a clothing and lifestyle brand called Moon.Anyway, give me a call!Xxx
Hi Laura, my name’s Jenny Toolan and I’m a producer on the Chris Walsh show on RTÉ Radio 1.Might you be available on Monday to talk to Chris about your work with Tadhg Hennessy?I think our listeners would be really interested in your story.Please give me a call on this number.Thanks so much!
Laura this is Ruairí Flynn.I just saw the story, I’m SO sorry.I had no idea this woman was a journalist.She saw a photo of one of those college gigs on my Instagram and messaged me.She said Tim was doing some sort of official retrospective thing.I’m really sorry and I hope you’re not offended by what I said.If there’s anything I can do to help/make up for this, let me know.
