Backup Girl [Tom Hiddleston] {EBT book 2/4}

Wrap it up

Tom left early for his last day on set, leaving Kate still sleeping. He couldn't bear to wake her, and they were celebrating tonight so it would be late when they got home. They had a day free tomorrow before flying to London on Sunday. He left a note on his pillow to call him when she woke up and left quietly.
"Kate coming in today?" Susie asked. Susie had been doing his hair and makeup every day, sometimes multiple times, and they had got to know one another quite well.
"I don't know. She was still sleeping when I left, so she might just stay at home. She'll come out with us tonight though."
"Oh good. She's lovely,"
Tom grinned. "I think so."
Susie stopped for a moment. "Tell me if I'm out of line here, but I've read a bit about what's happening with her ex, and the hearing coming up. Can I give you some advice?"
"If it's run for the hills it's way too late for that." Tom said seriously.
"No of course not. Just, she will tell you the whole story, but it will take a while. I think our brain pushes it all so deep and buries it so well that some things just take a long time to dig out. There's just so many little incidents, little things that on their own don't mean anything, until you put the whole puzzle together and step back. It will be a while before she gets it all out, and there might still be pieces missing."
"Wow. Can I ask if this is from personal experience?"
"Yes, it is. You need to be prepared for the hearing, and keep reminding yourself that this happened years ago. That she is a different person now. Don't see her as weak and damaged, see the strength it takes to get in front of your abuser and tell the story. The strength it will take to tell it in front of you. She will feel weak and she will feel like an idiot for putting up with it, but at the time you get so beat down that you just run out of fight. Don't treat her like that woman, treat her like the one she is now, the one who has the spirit to see this through. Don't pity her, just help her up when she falls down, and be there when she needs you. Because she will, she just might not know it."
"Thank you Susie," Tom said sincerely. "I've been struggling with how to help her. At the moment she's just getting by with distraction and denial and she's going to worry about it when we get there. I worry that she'll set foot in Australia and turn catatonic."
"She might. She might not. You won't know until it's done. Just be prepared for anything. Does she have a counsellor?"
"No, but I'm pretty sure the prosecutor has organised one and she will be at all of their meetings, and the hearing, and provide a debrief afterwards."
"Good. You should talk to her as well, she can help you out with what to expect." She paused for a moment and looked at him in the mirror.
"We are done for the last time, Mr Hiddleston."
"Thank you again, Susie. Really. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'll see you when you're finished."

Kate reached over, searching with her arms for Tom. When she couldn't find him she opened her eyes slowly and realised the sun was higher than she expected. It was already 9:30. She found Tom's note on the pillow and rolled back over, wondering what to do with her day. Before she had decided, her phone rang. She knew it was from Australia but didn't recognise the number.
"Hello?"
"Kate? It's Naomi."
"Oh, um, hello."
"Look, I know this is weird. But we were friends before. And I think we need to stand together on this. Dean, I mean." She paused but continued before Kate could say anything. "Kate, I know you must hate me and probably think I deserved it. But-"
"You did not deserve it Naomi. Neither of us did. Don't ever think that you deserved to be hurt. You didn't. And as angry as I was with you I would never, ever wish that upon anyone."
"I was only there that night because he said he loved me. He said he was going to end it with you and he didn't want to do it on the phone. He got in to my head, and I knew no one else would want me. But he wanted me right then and he didn't want to wait until he broke it off with you. God I am so stupid..." Kate could hear her voice shaking.
"Naomi, it's not your fault. And I don't hate you. Yes you did the wrong thing when we were friends and you slept with my boyfriend. But I forgave that long ago, I've let it go."
"Would you be doing this if I hadn't asked you to?"
"No. I wanted to put it behind me. I had put it behind me. But I never considered he would do the same to you, I feel responsible. So I'm doing it because I want him to be accountable for it, not us."
"It would have been easier to say nothing, wouldn't it." It wasn't so much a question as a statement.
"Yes, it probably would have. But easy isn't always the best answer." She paused. "I'll be there in a few days, why don't you come over and we'll talk. You're not the enemy to me Naomi, and you're right, we need to stand together if we're going to fight back."
"OK, you're staying with your parents? To be honest I'm not sure they'd let me in the door."
Kate laughed. "Actually we're renting a house just up the beach from them. And you're completely welcome there."
"Wait, did you say we? You're sharing?"
"Um no. Tom is coming with me. And I beg you please keep that to yourself."
"Wow. Yeah I will. There was a rumour you'd split up."
"Yeah well I'm in Toronto with him now, so..."
"Why don't you give me a call when you're settled then, and I'll come and see you."
"OK. I'll talk to you soon hon."
"Kate?" She said as she was about to hang up. "I miss you. I miss our friendship. And I'm so sorry I ruined it."
"I know."

Tom called at lunch time and Kate was relieved to hear his voice. "You sound a bit flat baby. Is everything OK?"
"Yes, I talked to Naomi this morning and it's rattled me a bit. I'm ok."
"I'll be home in a couple of hours, do you still want to go to the party?"
"Hell yes, just try and stop me." He heard her voice brighten.
"I'll see you soon then."
Kate decided to walk to clear her head. When walking wasn't enough she started to jog slowly and before she knew it she was running. Lachlan had told her to keep up just walking until she was back in London and he saw her again, but it felt so good. The cold air in her face, her ponytail slapping down on the back of her neck, her feet coming down on the concrete. Oh, she had missed running. Half an hour in she made herself slow down a little and turned around. It took much longer to get back to the apartment, and by the time she did everything was burning. She decided it was good burning and kept going, only walking the last 10 minutes. She went straight to the back verandah to stretch, sweat pouring in to her shirt and trickling down her back. She peeled off her jacket and her skin glistened underneath, goosebumps appearing in the cold afternoon chill. Sitting on the tiles, she stretched her legs as far as they could go, finally feeling like her body belonged to her again. She twisted around to stretch out her sides and bent forward, stretching out her back and reaching her hands in front, almost level with her pointed toes. As she started to walk her hands around to the right side, deepening the stretch in her back and side, pain seared through her back and side. Kate yelped loudly and tried to push herself slowly back up, but she felt like someone was stabbing at her ribcage. Instead she rolled on to her side and lay for a few moments, breathing as deeply as she could. Just as the pain began to subside she heard Tom's key in the door, and before she could get up she was standing in the doorway in front of her.
"Should I ask?" He said, grinning.
"Probably not. I just need a minute. I think I overstretched."
She forced herself to sit upright, gritting her teeth. When Tom reached out to help her stand she yelped and pulled her hand back, slowly getting to her knees while he eyed her warily.
"Are you OK?"
"I'm fine, I just overstretched a little."
"Why are you wet? You don't sweat that much from walking."
"I walked very fast," she lied, walking gingerly toward the shower.
"Kate. Stop. Did you go running?" She shook her head.
"Yes. A little bit. Maybe an hour."
Tom took hold of her shoulders. "If you've done damage..."
"Oh calm down. I haven't. The running didn't hurt, I just stretched too far on that side. I'm fine!"
"Really?" He walked toward her and she took a step back.
"Tom, stop." He didn't. She was backed up against the wall now, and he put his arms around her and squeezed, hard. Kate grit her teeth, only a strangled sound escaping. She put her hand on his chest and pushed him away.
"OK! I hurt my ribs. It's fine, they're just stiff. I'm going to have a shower." She stormed toward the bathroom.