‘Yeah, lovely.’ She smiled. ‘Quite surprising, actually. I sort of … met someone.’
‘Oh?’ Sive struggled to keep her tone neutral while her stomach plummeted.
‘Yeah. Well, not exactlymetsomeone because I’ve known him for a while, but we sort of had a date.’
‘Wow! Good for you.’ Ciara looked really excited about it and Sive tried to be as pleased for her as she should be – as shewouldbe if it was anyone but Sam.
‘I mean, it’s early days, so who knows? I’m not saying anything to the kids yet because I don’t want them to getinvested with this guy if it turns out to be nothing. Jack already knows him and likes him, so he’d probably be thrilled, and I don’t want to get his hopes up. And Joe, my eldest … I don’t know how he’ll react. He’s been having some problems lately and it’s not a great time to bring someone new into the mix.’
‘I’m sure he’ll be fine once he gets to know him. I mean, who wouldn’t take to Sam?’
‘Sam?’ Ciara asked sharply, frowning.
‘Sorry!’ Sive gasped. She’d genuinely forgotten she wasn’t supposed to know that Ciara was talking about Sam. ‘Actors are such gossips. I’d heard that you two had … got together at the weekend.’
Ciara screwed up her face, appearing genuinely puzzled. ‘People are saying thatSamand I are … involved?’
Sive nodded. ‘Sorry if I wasn’t supposed to know. But I’m sure no one’s said anything to Jack.’
‘But … where on earth did they get the idea that Sam and I are together?’ Ciara stuttered. ‘Who told you this?’
‘Um … Andrea? She probably didn’t know it was meant to be a secret.’ She didn’t know why she was defending Andrea. ‘And apparently Jack said Sam was at your house on Sunday.’
‘Well, it’s not true. I mean, yes, he came over on Sunday, but just for dinner, not to spend the night.’ She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Though I have to say I’m kind of flattered people would think that.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘Sam’s younger than me. He’s also quite hot, isn’t he?’
Sive smiled, relief seeping through her. ‘Yeah, I may have noticed that.’
‘But I don’t think of him in that way. And even if I did, I’d be on a hiding to nothing because he’s completely crazy about you.’
‘You think so?’
‘It’s not as if he makes any secret of it.’
Sive couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face.
‘You’re very lucky. Sam’s a real gem.’ Ciara sighed. ‘I asked him if he’d come over on Sunday and have a word with Joe.’
‘Your son?’
Ciara nodded. ‘I discovered recently that he’s been gambling.’
‘Oh no!’
‘Stupidly I’d given him my credit card details one time when he wanted to buy a game and next thing I know he’s racked up a load of debt on it gambling online.’
‘How old is Joe?’
‘Fifteen. Luckily, I discovered it pretty early. Though my credit score will be shot to hell – not to mention family relations. Turns out my brother also gave him his credit card details at some stage and he’s used that too – which is mortifying. Andy – my brother – is being good about it, but his wife is another story. She’ll never let me forget it – just more proof of what a crap mother I am as far as she’s concerned.’
‘Oh god, I’m so sorry. But you’re a fantastic mother!’
‘Thanks. Anyway, I got talking with Sam in the pub the other day and I asked him if he could have a chat with Joe. I’m getting him professional help, of course, but I thought it’d be good for him to talk with someone closer to his own age who’d had the same problem.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I thought it might be more effective coming from a young, cool guy like Sam rather than his mum or a counsellor or whatever.’
‘Do you think it helped?’
‘Yeah, I do. I think there’s a part of him that’s actually relieved he was found out. He’d had a bit of a scare recently. He got caught using fake ID and he was terrified the Guards were going to turn up at the door any minute and arrest him.’
‘The poor thing!’
