Page 56 of The Summer That Changed Us

Katie wrapped her arms around herself protectively. ‘What would you do now, if this was you?’

Grace blew out a long breath. She thought back to before she and Myles had sold the company. To when she’d been a director of Byron Homes and staff looked up to her. She imagined the shock or the smirks on their faces, the laughing behind her back. However confident she was about her body, people would feel differently about her and she knew she wouldn’t like it. As Robyn had said, it was the threat to her reputation which would hurt her the most.

‘I’d hate it,’ she said strongly. ‘And I’d move heaven and earth to make sure the pictures never saw the light of day.’

‘That’s how I feel.’ Katie’s eyes filled with tears and Grace took her hand; she was so glad that Katie had reached out to them and agreed to share her troubles. It seemed a shame that such a lovely girl had no one in her life she felt she could turn to. She understood not wanting to upset her parents, but where were her old friends?

‘Whatever you do,’ Grace promised, ‘you’ve got us on your side. Right, Robyn?’

‘Absolutely,’ Robyn agreed, her dark eyes full of concern for her friend. ‘If I’d been in your shoes at eighteen, I’d have gone to London and done the shoot too, so I’m totally with you there. I was an “act first, think it through later” sort of girl at that age. You were a young woman who was misled. You have nothing to be ashamed of. And what would I do now if this was happening to me?’ Robyn’s jaw was set firmly. ‘I’d fight back. Tooth and bloody nail. So much of our lives is outside of our control. But our bodies are an intrinsic part of what makes us us. Your body is yours and yours alone; it should be your decision who gets to see it. Not some photographer cretin in it for the cheap thrills.’

‘Hear, hear.’ Grace raised her glass. ‘So. Action plan. The way I see it, there are three options. We pay up, we go to the police, or we ignore it and call their bluff.’

‘And like Grace says, it’s definitely a “we”,’ said Robyn.

‘Thanks, girls,’ Katie smiled weakly. ‘I’m really grateful. But there’s something else to factor into the equation: the regional business awards.’

‘Oh yes!’ said Robyn. She chinked her glass against Katie’s. ‘We should definitely toast that.’

‘And, looking on the bright side, you’ll have something nice to look forward to: a fancy night out. I love getting dressed up.’ Grace swallowed the lump in her throat remembering the last such event she and Myles had been to. Byron Homes had been nominated for the ‘Sustainability’ category at the National Housebuilder Awards. They’d taken all the managers and their partners, booked three tables and bought champagne for everyone, no expense spared. It had been such a celebration. They didn’t win but Myles had toasted Grace and told her that he didn’t care about an engraved lump of crystal because he was going home with the ultimate prize – her.

‘Yes, but the timing couldn’t be any worse,’ Katie pointed out. ‘The event is on Thursday, just over two weeks from now, the day after I’m supposed to be dropping five grand at Jubilee Park. The list of nominees is going to be printed in the paper this week. Don’t you think this is going to provoke the blackmailer even more? It might even put the price up if they think I’ve got more to lose by having these pictures exposed. And look at who’s organising it – the Gazette. The very place my pictures are going to end up if I don’t play ball! On top of that I’ve agreed that Barney can interview me.’

‘Barney?’ Robyn and Grace asked together.

‘Barney Larkin, the editor.’ Katie blushed prettily. ‘He came into buy his daughter’s first bra. That’s how we met.’

‘What is your heart telling you to do?’ Grace asked her.

Katie sighed. ‘Pay up, ask them to delete the pictures and hope it all goes away?’

‘But if you pay up once, what’s to stop them asking again?’ said Grace.

‘And you’ll never know if they actually did delete them. They could do this forever,’ Robyn pointed out.

They batted the options backwards and forwards between them and came to the conclusion that they weren’t going to do anything hasty. Katie was going to keep trying to find the whereabouts of Howard the photographer and his ‘assistant’, Jay. Grace offered to speak to her solicitor to see if he had any advice, and Robyn was going to research similar cases of blackmail to work out what the most successful course of action might be.

A sharp gust of wind made it over the glass balustrade and swirled around them, liberating the discarded pistachio shells from their bowl. Robyn pulled her jumper more tightly around her while Grace scooped up the shells.

‘It’s gone chilly. I know what we need.’ Grace jumped to her feet. ‘A dip in the hot tub. I’ve been waiting for an excuse to use it.’

‘I haven’t brought a swimsuit,’ Robyn protested.

‘Nor me,’ Katie said. ‘Nice idea, but maybe next time.’

‘Just leave your undies on,’ said Grace with a grin. ‘You’re amongst friends. And just think how nice and warm it will be in the water. I’ll fetch us some towels.’

‘It’s a lovely thought.’ Katie crossed her arms over chest. ‘But I’d rather not.’

Grace noted the set of Katie’s jaw and cursed the photographer who was behind Katie’s lack of confidence; if she ever got her hands on him, he’d be sorry. ‘You’re a beautiful woman,’ she said softly. ‘Don’t be afraid to show off your assets.’

‘Assets? As in boobs?’ Robyn’s reaction was so violent that Grace was taken aback. ‘And if you haven’t got your boobs anymore, does that make you asset-less? Without value? Not a beautiful woman?’

‘Of course not!’ Grace gave a bewildered laugh but fell silent when she saw Robyn’s hurt expression. ‘That wasn’t what I meant. Sorry love, I don’t understand.’

Robyn blinked rapidly. ‘Nobody does. Unless you’ve walked in my shoes, you couldn’t possibly.’

‘What’s wrong?’ Katie asked. ‘Talk to us.’