Page 35 of The Summer That Changed Us

‘Heaven only knows,’ Katie shrugged. ‘But whoever has the photos knows where I am and wants me to pay up to make it all go away. It must be either Howard or Jay.’

‘It’s blackmail,’ Robyn said grimly. ‘And after all you went through at the time. It’s not fair. You poor girl.’

‘And for what it’s worth, if someone had offered me the chance to be a model when I was your age, I’d have done the same as you,’ said Grace. ‘So sad that it had such repercussions for your studies. But good on you for making a go of it in Merle Bay. Running a business at your age is no mean feat, I think you should be proud of yourself.’

‘Thanks.’ Katie smiled but her heart wasn’t in it. ‘But I don’t feel proud, I feel scared that they’ll go to the Gazette. I’ve met the new editor, he’s really nice. What if he prints the pictures and everyone in Merle Bay sees me naked? I’ll be a laughing stock.’

‘We’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen,’ Robyn said fiercely.

Grace leaned forward to squeeze Katie’s hand. ‘But if it did, no one would laugh. Everyone can see the fear on your face in those images, people will be on your side. And as for your body … ’ She whistled. ‘What a figure.’

Katie resisted the urge to cover her ears. She didn’t want her body to be the subject of public opinion, good or bad. ‘That’s not how I want people to see me,’ she said. ‘I’m not the expert my aunt was yet, but I’ve worked hard to be professional in my career. I like to think that when women leave Auntie Small’s they take some body confidence with them and feel a bit more able to face what life throws at them. My clients confide in me about everything, from breast cancer to the baby blues. I’m worried that once they’ve seen these pictures, they’ll never be able to trust me again and my reputation as a businesswoman will be ruined.’

‘It may have the opposite effect,’ said Robyn. ‘Maybe once they know the truth, they’ll be inspired by how you made a success of your life?’

Katie shook her head slowly. ‘The shop is doing well, but my private life is hardly a success story. I thought I’d make a name for myself in the British legal system. Instead, I’ve hidden myself away and kept a low profile. I’m so paranoid about my privacy that I don’t use social media and when Auntie Jean suggested that after she passed away I might like to change the name of the shop, I couldn’t even bring myself to do that. And then there’s relationships. I look at my parents, happily married all these years, and you two both talk about your husbands with such love. I want that too, but don’t seem able to trust anyone enough.’

‘You trusted us enough to tell us that story,’ said Grace. ‘Give yourself some credit for that. It must have been hard.’

‘I agree,’ Robyn said earnestly. ‘Whoever is behind this is malicious, and blackmail is a crime.’

Katie shuddered, then she felt arms around her holding her tight and Grace’s hand rubbing her back.

‘Group hug,’ said Grace, pulling Robyn into the circle.

Relief washed over Katie. Maybe she wasn’t so alone after all. Maybe sharing the problem would help to solve it.

‘Thank you,’ Katie mumbled into Grace’s shoulder. ‘Thank you for listening.’

‘Any idea what you’re going to do about it?’ asked Robyn, the first to edge out of the hug.

‘I know what I’d like to do,’ said Grace, punching a fist into her other hand.

‘Feel free,’ Katie grinned. ‘I’m glad you’re on my side.’

‘I know it says not to go to the police,’ said Robyn, raising her eyebrows. ‘But I think I would.’

Katie nodded. ‘Every brain cell is screaming at me that that is precisely what I should do; it’s just the risk of them finding out and sending the pictures to the press. Perhaps I should wait one more day and see what the post brings tomorrow.’

The suspense was awful; Katie half wished the sender would hurry up and get to the point. At least then she’d know what she was dealing with.

‘If you get another envelope, how about waiting until you’re with us to open it?’ Robyn suggested. ‘Then you wouldn’t have to face it on your own.’

‘That would be great.’ Katie felt a surge of emotion and her eyes pricked with tears. ‘I’d like that. I can’t tell you how much better I feel just for saying the words out loud.’

It was true, she realised. Simply knowing that there were two others she could confide in eased the pressure in her head ever so slightly.

‘I approve of that idea,’ said Grace. ‘Because it gives us an excuse to get together again. I was getting a bit lonely in that big house by myself.’

She circled her ankle round to get it moving again before brushing the crumbs from her lap and gingerly getting to her feet. Robyn began packing her things back into her rucksack. Katie shook the shingle from the rug and folded it up.

‘Wait,’ said Katie, ‘We can’t go yet. We haven’t heard what’s bothering Robyn.’

Robyn went pink and shook her head. ‘It can wait. Honestly. And anyway, mine feels trivial compared to what you two are going through.’

‘Nice try,’ said Grace, picking up her bucket of sea glass. ‘You can walk me back to the steps and talk on the way.’

Robyn said nothing but Katie didn’t miss the nervous look on her face.