The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (114 page)

‘Come on, Faye, open your eyes,
girl.’

She opened them, stared glassily
at him and began to wretch. He bent her over the bucket as she threw up. Sammy
and Harley appeared at the door as he was wiping Faye’s mouth with a tissue.

‘Get her a black coffee, Harley
and send Nathan up here,’ he said.

Sammy rinsed a flannel with cold
water. ‘Hold her head up.’ She gently sponged Faye’s green tinged face, tutting
at the love bite on her neck. ‘No prizes for guessing who’s given her that. No
doubt he’s given her alcohol too; probably vodka, because she doesn’t smell of
drink.’

Nathan slid silently into the
room. ‘Is she okay?’

‘No thanks to you,’ Roy
replied. ‘Where did you get the booze from? Ours has been under guard all
night.’

‘Home.’ Nathan hung his head.

‘Look at the state of her, Nathan.
She’s absolutely legless and her father will be coming to collect her soon,’
Sammy said. ‘How much did you give her?’

‘Three glasses of half coke-half
vodka,’ he said.

‘Bloody hell! That’s about a dozen
pub measures,’ Sammy exclaimed. ‘Jesus, even
I
can’t manage that much. And where have you been? Your Mum was
looking for you earlier.’

‘Nowhere. Faye needed fresh air.
We walked down the drive.’

‘I don’t think so,’ Jess said,
coming into the room. Harley followed, carefully carrying a steaming mug, Jack
on her heels. ‘I looked everywhere for you. Were you up here in Harley’s room?’

‘No,’ Nathan said.
   

‘So
where
were you Nathan?’ Jess grabbed his arms and shook him. ‘And
why is Faye in this state?
 
I’m sick and
tired of you. Jack, go downstairs and ask your father to call a taxi. I’m
taking you both home.’

‘That’s not fair, Mum.
I
haven’t done anything wrong,’ Jack protested.

‘Can’t Jack stay?’ Harley pleaded.
‘Please, Jess. It’s not
his
fault.’
 

‘Okay,’ Jess relented, ‘Jack can
stay, but
you’re
going home and
you’re grounded for a week.’ She glared at Nathan. ‘Now apologise to Roy and
Sammy for your behaviour
and
to
Harley for spoiling her party.’

‘Sorry, Uncle Roy, Aunt Sammy,’
Nathan mumbled. ‘Sorry, Harls.’

‘S’okay, Nathan,’ Harley said.

Nathan stared at Faye who was
sipping the coffee. ‘I’ll call you.’ He left the room with no apology to
her.

‘Nathan told me he loved me
earlier,’ she wailed to Sammy.

‘Nathan only loves himself, Faye,’
Jess said. ‘I’ll see you all soon and I’m really sorry,’ she apologised to Roy
and Sammy as she left the room.

Sammy turned to Roy.
‘I’ll call Mr Blackwell; see if Faye can stay tonight. I’ll tell him the girls
are having a sleep-over.’

‘Good idea,’ Roy
nodded.

‘I haven’t any clothes or
toiletries with me,’ Faye mumbled.
 

‘You can borrow mine,’ Harley
said.

‘I’ll get her sorted and settled
in the guest room,’ Sammy said. ‘You and Jack go downstairs and have a dance.
Enjoy what’s left of the night.’

***

Jack took Harley’s hand as Roy
and Sammy left the room, Faye wobbling between them.
  

‘I’m sorry I wasn’t supportive to
you about that rumour,’ Jack began and stroked her cheek. ‘I promise never to
let you down again.’
 

‘It’s okay, Jack. I’m sorry I was
off with you. At least you don’t get me legless. You won’t believe this either.
They did it in Aunt Kate’s car right outside this house.’

‘Bloody Hell. Mum would kill him
if she knew. We’d better go and say goodnight to her hadn’t we?’

Jess’s taxi arrived as they went
downstairs. Nathan handed Kate’s car keys to Jon.
 

‘Bye, Mum, Nathan,’ Jack called.

‘Bye, Jack and
you
just behave yourself or you’ll have
your father to answer to,’ Jess said as Nathan grunted a goodbye.

‘I will.’ Jack led Harley back
into the lounge where the rest of the teenagers had paired off and were draped
over the sofas with the lights turned low.

‘I suppose it’s probably a good
job Mum and Dad are in,’ Harley said as Jack pulled her close. ‘Otherwise, this
lot would be in our beds.’

He smiled and planted a kiss on
her lips. ‘Are we okay now?’ He held her tight. She looked tired and pale
tonight. Jack felt very worried about her. All he wanted to do was love her and
look after her. Not for the first time he wished he was a few years older and
they could be married.
   

‘Of course we are, and thanks
again for my lovely present.’ She fingered the fine gold chain, with a teddy
bear sitting on a heart, which Jack had fastened around her neck earlier.
 

‘You’re welcome,’ Jack said. ‘I’ve
got something else for you. But I want to give it to you privately. The adults
are all in the dining room, boozing, this lot are in here, so can we sneak back
to your room? Your mum and dad have come down now, so it should be safe.’

Harley nodded and led the way.

Jack pulled her down onto the bed
and kissed her long and hard. He reached in his jeans pocket, pulled out a ring
box and opened it. ‘It’s just to be going on with,’ he said as she gasped, ‘I
got it from Argos. It’s real gold,
but the diamond’s pretend. When I leave school and get a job, I’ll buy you the
biggest diamond in the world.’ He slipped the ring on to her finger and kissed
her again. ‘We’re secretly engaged now. But I expect you’ll have to wear it on
that chain around your neck unless we’re alone.’

‘It’s gorgeous, Jack,’ she said
and her eyes filled with tears. ‘Mum and Dad were secretly engaged while she
was still at school. I love you and I’ll never leave you.’

‘I love you, too,’ he said. ‘Next
week, when you’re feeling better, we’ll go to Pizza Hut and celebrate.’

She nodded. ‘Jack, I’ve got
another secret. I’m not allowed to say anything at the moment, not even to you.
But it’s really big and you just won’t believe it when I tell you.’

***

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘Close your
mouth, Liam, there’s a tram coming,’ Jon said as the young boy’s jaw dropped.
   
 

  
‘But that’s, err, she’s, umm…’
Liam stuttered as Jon swept Livvy into his arms and kissed her.

  
‘I thought I’d surprise you,’ she said, hugging Jon back tightly. ‘Sheena,
this is Jon Mellor. I told you about him. This is Sheena, my old school friend
from Glasgow.’

  
‘Pleased to meet you, Sheena.’ Jon shook her hand.

  
‘Likewise, I’ve heard a lot about you,’ Sheena said, a twinkle in her
eye.
   

  
‘Then it’s a wonder you aren’t running a mile,’ he said.
  

  
‘She only told me nice things, well - for the most part anyway,’ Sheena
said, flirting with him.

  
‘Where’s Sean?’ Livvy asked, looking around the record department for
signs of her old boss.

  
‘Nipped to the hole in the wall,’ Liam chipped in. ‘Can I have your
autograph please and will you do one for my mate, Charlie? He thinks your top.’

  
‘Of course, err, Liam, is it?’ Livvy said. ‘What’s the hole in the wall?
A new pub?’

  
‘Cash machine. ATM to you,’ Jon said. ‘Sean won’t be long. Go hide in
the staffroom. I’ll make sure he comes in
there as soon as he arrives back.’

  
‘Good idea.’ Livvy led Sheena towards the door.

***

‘Take a pew,’ Livvy said. ‘We used
to have lunch-breaks in here in my other life.’

 
 
Sheena flopped down on the old
armchair, now threadbare from years of wear and tear. ‘Oh wow, you never told
me how good looking Jon Mellor is,’ she said, eyes wide. ‘I’ve got goose
pimples just looking at him.’

  
‘I thought you only had eyes for Gerry?’ Livvy raised an amused eyebrow.
‘Anyway, forget it. Jon’s married to Jess and I think he’s probably very
happy.’

  
‘I wouldn’t dream of making a pass at him. I just think he’s drop-dead
gorgeous. Why didn’t you invite me down here years ago, before Jess got her
claws in him, and I married Gerry?’

  
‘I’d planned on doing just that,’ Livvy replied. ‘Then I got involved
with Roy.’

  
‘Trust you,’ Sheena tutted. ‘Putting yourself first and denying your
very best friend a date with a hunk like Jon.’

  
‘Sorry. Anyway, Jon’s a handful. You’d have been dropping your knickers
on the first date. Count yourself lucky.’

  
‘What makes you think I’d have objected?’ Sheena said as Jon popped his
head around the door.

  
‘He’s on his way up,’ he said. ‘I’ll switch off the lights. You don’t
mind the dark, do you?’ He grinned in Sheena’s direction.

  
‘Course not,’ she said as the windowless room was plunged into darkness.
‘And I wouldn’t say no to being alone with
you
in the dark,’ she added as the door closed.

  
Livvy stifled a giggle and dug her in the ribs. ‘Sheena, behave. What’s
got into you?’

  
‘He has. I could rip his clothes off and I’ve only just clapped eyes on
him.’

  
‘Well Jess would scratch them out if she heard you, I can guarantee
that.’

  
The door opened slowly as Sean came in. ‘Who the fuck’s turned the
lights out?’ he muttered as he stumbled against a chair and banged his legs. He
snapped the switch down and jumped out of his skin as Livvy flung her arms
around him.

  
‘Surprise!’

  
‘BeJesus, Livvy! You scared the shit out of me.’ He swung her round and
round, holding her tightly. ‘Oh, my little darlin’ it’s so good to see you
again, so it is.’ He kissed her on both cheeks and set her down. Jon and Liam
crowded into the small room, laughing.

  
‘You look exactly the same, Sean.’ Livvy smiled delightedly up at him.
Her old boss had always dressed snappily and his brown eyes twinkled with their
usual good humour.

  
‘He’s greyer though, don’t you think?’ Jon said.
      

  
‘He looks quite distinguished with his Rod Stewart spikes. Oh, it’s
great to see you both again, it really is. I can’t believe I’m here.’

  
‘Can I phone Charlie, tell him to come down the shop?’ Liam looked
pleadingly at Livvy who shook her head in alarm.

  
‘Would you mind awfully if I said no, Liam? My visit to Manchester
is private and very low key. I’ve some business to attend to, you see. I’ll
make sure you get photographs before I go back to Scotland,
and next year, if
Juice
plays
Manchester Arena, I’ll sort out tickets and a backstage pass for the pair of
you. How does that sound?’ Livvy said, hoping to appeal to Liam’s better
nature.

  
‘Wow, yes, that would be brilliant. Thank you,’ he said, smiling. ‘Can I
tell him you were here when you’ve gone back then?’

  
‘Of course. It’s just that everyone involved in this visit has been
sworn to secrecy, and I’m rather hoping to keep it that way.’

  
‘Tell you what, Liam,’ Sean spoke up. ‘Make us all a coffee. While the
kettle’s boiling you can nip out to Greggs for chocolate éclairs to celebrate
with. I presume you still like them, Liv?’

  
‘Oh, yes,’ she said as Liam shot off down the stairs.

  
‘Do
you,
Sheena?’ Jon winked at her and she blushed slightly.

  
‘I do,’ she replied, looking him straight in the eye.
   

  
‘Come through into the shop,’ Sean said, leading the way. ‘It’s quiet
today and you can sit with your back to the counter, Livvy.’

  
‘I’ll put my shades and baseball cap on if it gets busy,’ she said,
fishing them out of her handbag. ‘I always carry them, just in case.’

  
‘You’re staying at The Midland I believe?’ Jon asked.

  
‘We are,’ Sheena nodded. ‘It’s incredibly posh. We’ve got mini bars and
Jacuzzi baths.’

  
Livvy laughed at Sheena’s excitement. ‘She’s planning on drinking hers
dry, the bar that is. Would Tina and Jess have any objections to you having
dinner with us tonight?’

  
‘No, they wouldn’t,’ Sean replied. ‘We Okayed things with them after you
first called. But it’s on the condition you make time to visit me and Tina at
home.’
 

  
‘I intend doing just that,’ Livvy said. ‘How are your mum and dad?’ she
asked Jon.

  
‘They’re great,’ Jon replied. ‘Mum never changes. She still looks good.
Dad’s a bit greyer these days. They’re still dotty about one another.’

  
‘And Jess and the twins? They’ll soon be sixteen.’

  
‘Jess is okay. The boys are sixteen in June. Nathan’s a bit of a
handful, but Jack’s a good lad.’

  
‘And Katie and Dominic?’ she asked, referring to Jon’s younger siblings.

  
‘Katie’s Kate these days and she’s engaged to Phil Jackson’s son, Zak.
Dom’s working in Uganda
at a school he helped set up.’
 

  
‘They’re all grown up then. I used to baby-sit Jon’s little brother and
sister,’ she told Sheena. Livvy chewed her lower lip and looked closely at Jon
before asking her next question.
 

 
 
‘And Roy?’
She took a deep breath and swallowed hard as Jon smiled.

  
‘Still rocking of course. No changes there.’

  
‘And he’s still happy with Sammy?’

  
Jon nodded. ‘Very happy.’

  
‘And my daughter?’ Livvy’s eyes filled with tears as she choked on her
question.

  
Sean put his arm around her shoulders and led her into the staffroom,
shooing out a puzzled Liam, who had returned from Greggs and was artistically
arranging the éclairs on a plate.

  
‘What’s goin’ on,’ he demanded as he joined Sheena and Jon in the shop.
‘Why’s she crying?’

  
‘Don’t be nosy, Liam,’ Jon said. ‘In fact, you can go downstairs to
instruments for a while and help Shelly behind the counter. And, Liam, keep it
buttoned that Livvy’s up here, or else.’

***

With Liam out of earshot Jon
turned to Sheena. ‘I presume you know what happened with Roy and Livvy?’

  
‘I do,’ Sheena replied. ‘But she only told me last week. Even her
husband Danny doesn’t know who Harley’s father is.’

  
‘Really?’

  
‘Mm,’ Sheena nodded. ‘She’s had quite an eventful last few days. Livvy
won’t mind me telling you this, but one of the reasons for her trip to Britain
was to meet her real father and his family. I helped her trace them. She met
them last week for the first time. She needs to see her daughter, Jon. She’ll
crack up if she doesn’t do that soon.’

  
‘I’m sure. Roy and Sammy have told Harley everything. She wants to meet
Livvy.’ Jon kept it to himself that Harley wasn’t well. It wasn’t his place to
say anything.

  
Sheena breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank God for that.’ She blinked away
a tear and blushed slightly as Jon looked into her eyes for a long moment.

  
‘What do you do for a living, Sheena?’ he asked, breaking the silence.
‘Are you
a singer, too?’
  

  
‘I used to sing duets with Livvy years ago,’ she replied. ‘I’m an
Interior Designer by trade. Run a business with my better half. He designs and
builds kitchens and fitted bedrooms while I do the colour schemes
and the soft furnishing side.’
       

  
‘Interesting. Me and Jess are hopeless at that sort of thing. Sammy does
all our colour schemes. She studied art and
design before she married Roy.’

  
‘What’s Sammy like?’ Sheena asked.
   

  
‘She’s wonderful,’ Jon replied. ‘She’s a good wife to Roy
and a great mum to Harley and Jason. They adore her, we all do. Have you any
idea what Livvy’s plans are, for Harley I mean?’

  
‘She just wants to see her. To assure herself that she’s okay and that
Roy and Sammy are doing the best they can for her.’

  
‘So she’s no intentions of removing her from their care?’

  
‘None at all. Harley’s old enough to make up her own mind about things,’
Sheena replied as the staffroom door opened and Livvy carried through a tray of
coffee, Sean following with the éclairs.

  
‘You okay, Liv?’ Sheena asked, looking at her pale face.

  
‘Oh, to be sure she is.’ Sean ruffled Livvy’s curls affectionately. ‘And
it wouldn’t be the first time she’s wet my shirt with her tears now, would it,
Olivia?’

  
‘True. I’ve wept buckets on the pair of you in the past!’ She picked up
an éclair and bit into it. ‘Oh – yum.’ She closed her eyes as the choux pastry
melted in her mouth.

  
Jon and Sean looked at one another and burst out laughing.

  
‘What’s the joke?’ Sheena asked.
 

  
Livvy blushed and joined in with their laughter.
 

 
 
Jon spoke first. ‘We always used
to say that no one could eat an éclair as suggestively as Livvy.’

  
‘Oh, I see.’ It was Sheena’s turn to blush.

  
‘They were a dreadful pair to work with,’ Livvy said. ‘Full of
innuendoes. I had to be so careful what I said or did, because they would
always find something smutty in even the simplest things.’

  
‘So you can imagine the field day we had when Roy
accidentally banged a bun in her oven!’ Sean said. ‘I’m only teasing.’ He
looked fondly at Livvy. ‘It wasn’t the best of times
was it, sweetheart? Giving birth in the back of a Cherokee Jeep in the arms of
Mr Macho Cantello couldn’t have been easy.’
  

  
‘It was certainly a birth with a difference,’ Livvy said, and changed
the subject. ‘Sheena and I are going shopping this morning. I want to look
around some of the new stores. It’s certainly changed around here with all the
re-building that’s gone on since the bombing incident.’

  
‘We were very lucky indeed,’ Sean said. ‘All our shop windows blew of
course, but none of the staff were injured. The Shambles has gone and the old
Marks and Spencer’s, but they’re re-building that. We’ve got Metro Link trams
now and there’s a new out-of-town shopping complex called The Trafford Centre.
You’ll have to take a cab and have a wander round if you have the time.’

  
‘Maybe we will,’ Livvy said. ‘I don’t have a current phone number for Roy.
Can one of you call him and ask him to contact me at The Midland later. I’m
checked in as Mrs Marie McVey.’

  
‘Sure,’ Sean said. ‘But why Marie?’

  
‘It’s the name given to me by my real parents, and it’s still my middle
name,’ she replied, smiling.
   

  
‘You kept that one quiet,’ Jon said.

  
‘I only started using it when I made a name for myself. Mrs Marie McVey,
housewife and mother. Sounds boring and respectable.’
  

  
‘Livvy, my darlin’, there’s never been anything boring about
you,
’ Sean said, laughing. ‘Now take
yourselves off shopping and we’ll see you this evening. What time should we
arrive?’