The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (134 page)

  
He stood up without a word and picked up his car keys. He turned to
Livvy and said,’ She’s hurting. It’ll take time. Now that the girls know, when
I’ve dropped Courtney at school I’ll call on Sammy and tell her the news.’ He
followed Courtney out to the car as Livvy nodded.

  
Harley patted Livvy’s hand across the table. ‘Dad’s right, Courtney has
a lot to deal with at the moment.’

  
‘I know she has, honey. But so have you. We
all
have.’

  
Harley smiled. ‘I tell you what, Mom. Do you mind if I call you that
now?’

  
Livvy’s eyes filled with tears. ‘If you want to. It would make me very
happy.’

  
‘Good. I’ll still call Sammy Mum of course, because she is. But I’ll
call
you
Mom, like Courtney does, then there’s no confusion. What I was
going to suggest was that we go out shopping and buy some things for Roy Jnr.
You can wear one of your wigs and sunglasses while we get past the pressmen on
the lane and then no one will recognise you.’

  
‘I think shopping’s a wonderful idea. It’ll get us both out of the
house. We can’t stay hidden away forever. We can have lunch out too. I haven’t
bought a single thing for this baby yet. My Mom’s knitted lots of outfits, but
I’ve asked her to keep them until after he’s born.’

  
‘What are we waiting for then? Leave Dad a note on the table. He’ll
probably go and see Uncle Ed after visiting Mum anyway. Tell him we’ll pick up
Courtney from school on our way home.’
 

***

‘What’s bugging
you
,
Courtney?’ Roy asked as he headed
towards Manor Banks after running the gamut of pressmen and snap-happy
photographers on the lane.

  
‘Nothing,’ she muttered and stared out of the window. Her phone bleeped
with a message. She looked at the screen, a smile crossing her face.

  
‘Jamie?’ Roy asked.

  
‘Yep,’ she nodded. ‘He’s waiting for me by the gates. Is it okay to tell
him about the baby?’

  
‘Err, I’m not sure that’s a good idea at the moment. Leave it a week or
two. Your Mom’s thinking about doing an interview for Hello to put the record
straight, before the gutter press put their own spin on the whole affair.’

  
‘So, she’ll tell them about Roy Jnr too?’

  
‘Yes, everything. My divorce will be through soon and maybe we’ll marry
before the baby arrives.’

  
‘Why don’t you wait until afterwards?’
   

  
‘It would be much nicer to have him born into wedlock, don’t you think?’

  
‘Sounds a bit old fashioned,’ Courtney smirked.

  
‘Well maybe it does, but at least it’s put a smile on
your
face.
Are you worried that you’re not going to feel a part of the family when I marry
your mother?’

  
She nodded. ‘I’ll be the odd one out, the outsider, because
you’re
not my dad,’ she replied quietly, her eyes filling with sudden tears.

  
Roy swallowed the lump in
his throat. He pulled the car over to the side of the road. ‘Courtney,
sweetheart, I’m so sorry.’ He held her tightly while she cried. When her sobs
subsided he tilted up her chin and looked at her. ‘Would you like me to take
you home?’

  
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I want to see Jamie. I’ve really missed him
and he said he’s missed me too. I’ll be okay, Roy,
honestly.’

  
‘If you’re sure,’ he sighed. ‘Courtney, you’re not an outsider, you
never will be. You’re Livvy’s child just as much as Harley and Roy Jnr are. If
anything, I’m the bloody outsider here.’

  
Courtney smiled and wiped her eyes. ‘I feel better for crying. I’m
calmer inside now.’

  
‘You needed that, sweetheart. You’ve been bottling it up for ages. Now
let’s get you to school and you can see Jamie. But don’t forget what your
mother and I have told you. Make sure you’re never alone with him, because he’s
a handful and you’re not quite ready to cope with all that just yet.’

  
‘I can take care of myself,’ Courtney retorted as Roy
pulled up at the school gates. She leant across and pecked him on the cheek
then clambered out of the car.

  
Roy watched as she ran
across to Jamie, who grabbed her hand and kissed her on the lips. He shook his
head and returned her wave as she smiled defiantly at him from the confines of
Jamie’s arms.

  
‘She’s a little Madam, and that one’s so bloody cock sure of himself,’ Roy
muttered as he drove away. ‘Oh well, what will be, will be, and all that crap.
If he makes her happy, and God knows she needs it, then so be it.’

***

CHAPTER
TWENTY

Sammy stepped from the en-suite shower and heard someone calling her
name, then footsteps on the stairs.
Roy
. She grabbed a
towel, wrapped it around herself and went through to the bedroom.

  
He was standing in front of the wardrobe with at least a day’s growth on
his chin, his face pale and gaunt, hair untidy and an expression of immense
sadness in his eyes that she hadn’t seen there since Nick’s death.

  
‘Roy, what on earth are you
doing here? You look dreadful. Is something wrong?’
    

  
‘I’ve just dropped Courtney at school. I need to talk to you, Sam. If
it’s convenient, that is?’

  
‘Of course. Sit down,’ She gestured to the bed then wondered if she
should have told him to sit on the chair instead. Too late, he’d flopped down
with a huge sigh. ‘I’m so sorry to hear about Courtney’s father,’ she said.
‘Jane told me what’s happened. I’m surprised you didn’t call me yourself.’

  
‘I’ve been looking after Livvy and Courtney, not to mention Harley,’ he
said. ‘I haven’t had a minute.’

  
‘How’s Livvy taken it, given that she and Danny were in the throes of
divorcing?’
 

  
‘How would
you
feel if it were me?’

  
She stared at him for a long moment. ‘Devastated.’

  
‘There’s your answer. She’s in bits, won’t go out of the cottage because
the flaming press are on our tail. She’s worried to death about Courtney, who’s
insisted on going back to school today. Then there’s Danny’s business empire
and even her bloody horses at the ranch. It’s a nightmare, and there’s no
closure. She can’t lay him to rest because there’s no body.

  
‘I’m worried sick about her, Sam. She appears to be coping on the
outside, but it’s her mind and the…’ he stopped and stared at her, then averted
his gaze.

  
‘And the what, Roy?’ She reached for his hand and squeezed it. He laced
his fingers through hers.

  
‘She’s pregnant,’ he admitted.

  
She nodded thoughtfully. ‘I know.’

  
‘Did Jane tell you?’

  
‘Of course not. When I took Harley to the cottage a few weeks ago I had
my suspicions then. Livvy just had that look about her, and when she turned I
could tell by her profile. How far gone is she?’

  
‘Just over six months.’

  
Sammy pursed her lips and frowned.

  
‘I’m sorry, Sam.’
 

  
She shrugged. ‘How does Harley feel, and Courtney too, of course?’

  
He told her what had happened at breakfast that morning.

  
‘I felt like a teenager whose mother’s giving him earache for getting
his girlfriend in the club,’ he said. ‘Harley’s so outspoken at times.’

  
‘I wonder where she gets that from.’

  
‘How’s Jason, by the way?’ Roy
changed the subject. ‘I’ve been so caught up in the aftermath of 9/11 that I
haven’t called him for a couple of weeks.’

  
‘He’s fine. Daisy’s due next week. He and Jules are so excited. Promise
me you’ll make time to go and see them after the birth.’

  
‘Of course I will. She’s my first grandchild. I’m looking forward to her
arrival.’
        

  
‘So am I. I can’t wait. Do you know what sex yours is yet?’ Sammy held
her breath. How could she possibly be having this conversation with Roy?
Like it was a normal thing to do.
 

  
‘It’s a boy,’ he announced proudly. ‘We saw him on the scan.’

  
Sammy looked down at their hands, still entwined. She blinked away the
sudden rush of tears and smiled. ‘That will be nice for you and a first boy for
Livvy after two girls.’

  
‘You’re thinking about Nick, aren’t you?’ he said softly, lifting his
hand to stroke her cheek.

  
She nodded again, tears running freely now. ‘
Our
first boy. We were so happy then.’

  
‘Don’t, Sam, please.’ He choked on a sob. ‘I can’t bear to see you
crying like this. I shouldn’t have come, I’m so sorry.’

  
She looked at him. ‘I love you, Roy. I always will, but you belong to
Livvy now. You’d better go before I make a bigger fool of myself and beg you to
stay.’

  
He stood up and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. ‘I wish I
could have two wives and then I wouldn’t have to choose,’ he whispered into her
hair.

  
She pulled away and punched him gently on the chest. ‘Now you’re just
being bloody greedy, Cantello! You’d better get back to Livvy before we do
something we’ll regret.’

  
‘I’m going. Holding you like this with just a towel wrapped around you
is asking for trouble.’

  
‘I know. I can feel it!’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘In spite of everything
I still turn you on.’

  
‘That was never in doubt. Have you made any decisions about the house
yet?’ he asked, following her down the stairs.

  
‘I’ve had three valuations. I’m putting it on the market with
Fraser-Hampton’s for £1.5 million.’

  
‘Fucking hell!’ he exclaimed. ‘I paid twenty grand for it in 1966 and that
was a King’s ransom, when you consider the average property was around a
thousand.’

  
‘
I
was gobsmacked myself. I thought about £1.2 maybe, but never
that much.’

  
‘Ah well, it’s the Cheshire
stockbroker belt,’ Roy nodded.
‘It’s all yours, too. What will you do?’

  
‘I’ve found a lovely detached cottage in Abbott’s Edge near Jason and
Jules. The vendors have accepted my offer and I’ve also paid a deposit on a
villa in Portugal
on the same road as John and Margaret Grey’s place. Stuart Green’s got an
apartment in the same complex. So we’ll all be neighbours abroad,’ she
concluded with a smile.

  
‘I see,’ Roy frowned. ‘So,
you’re seeing Stuart?’

  
‘We’re just good friends, nothing more, yet. He’s divorced now and taken
early retirement like me. We plan on spending quite a lot of time in Portugal.
Stop frowning like that, Roy. I’m
moving on and this time it’s easier. I wasn’t ready to let you go when Livvy
was expecting Harley and we lost Nick.

  
‘I needed you then; we needed each other. But I’m stronger now and I
know I can do this and build myself a new life. I’ll always love you, that
won’t go away. But I
can
live without
you now.’
        

  
Roy nodded. ‘I just hope
that Livvy and I can move on. I think she cared more for Danny than she
realised.’

  
‘But she was determined to win
you
back, and this time she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way.’ Sammy
folded her arms and looked at the ceiling for a minute before continuing.
‘Right or wrong, this is my theory. I believe Livvy came to the UK
with an agenda. She wanted another child with you, and you of course fell right
into her trap.’

  
‘What a crazy thing to say, Sammy. Livvy didn’t have a plan, she isn’t
that devious.’

  
‘Isn’t she? Just you wait until the baby arrives. I bet you anything
it’s born before its due date. She planned that pregnancy from day one, knowing
your aversion to contraception, and how easy it would be to tempt you into bed.
I bet she told you the first time was safe, didn’t she?’

  
Roy’s face fell and Sammy
knew she was right. ‘She did, didn’t she?’ she repeated.

‘For a man of your age, you’re so
gullible, Roy. Hasn’t it dawned on
you that it’s pay-back time for her giving Harley to you?’

  
‘I don’t have to listen to this crap. I’m going. Give me some credit
where it’s due.’ He stormed out of the house, leaving Sammy staring
thoughtfully after him, guessing that her theory was probably right.

***

Sammy made a mug of coffee, laced
it with brandy and went to sit at the table in front of the patio doors. She
didn’t usually drink this early in the day, but she needed it. She’d known
Livvy was pregnant, but to hear Roy
confirming it had affected her more than she’d anticipated. It would have been
so easy to coax him into bed and she’d been tempted,
very
tempted. She was pretty sure he wouldn’t have refused. But
what purpose would it serve, other than to upset herself and confuse him even
more than he seemed to be already?
  

  
She hadn’t been entirely truthful with him about Stuart either. She’d
seen a lot of her old friend since her trip to Portugal,
where Stuart had helped her choose a property, and they’d got on so well. He’d
also spent a few nights with her at Jasmine House, but Roy
didn’t need to know that.
 

***

As Roy
drove away from Jasmine House his thoughts returned to a conversation he’d had
with Eddie, following the first time he’d slept with Livvy. “Never trust a
woman who tells you it’s safe!” Eddie had said but Roy
had laughed it off. Then this morning Livvy had told Harley that she wanted
another child with him.
Had
she deliberately planned from day one to get
pregnant then? Surely not? But Sammy had planted the doubts firmly in his mind
now.
 

  
Back at Charlecote Cottage he found the scribbled note on the table from
Harley and Livvy. He smiled. At least those two were bonding well and that made
him happy. He decided a visit to Eddie’s place was long overdue and set off for
Hanover’s Lodge.

***

Eddie was in the music room when Roy
arrived. Jane told him to go straight up.

  
‘Morning, Ed,’ he called out as he ran upstairs.

  
‘Morning, mate. God, you look rough. Take a pew. Do you fancy a coffee?’

  
‘Actually, Ed, I could use a smoke.’ Roy
ran his hands over his bristly chin. ‘Not to mention a shave. I haven’t had a
joint for weeks and Lord knows I’ve needed one.’

  
Eddie reached for the tin of supplies he kept on the shelf above the
mixing desk. ‘Help yourself. You roll up or you’ll be losing the knack. How’s
things?’

  
‘Oh you know, so, so,’ Roy
replied, rolling a fat joint and lighting up. He took a long toke and sighed blissfully.
‘I haven’t had a chance to get any stuff from Mac since, well, since 9/11.’

  
‘I don’t know how you’ve managed then. You should have called me and I
could have got some for you.’

  
‘Livvy doesn’t approve of drugs in the house, so Christ knows how I’m
going to cope. I’ve almost given up the fags, too. We’re keeping the house a
smoke free zone for Harley and the baby. I have to go up to Phil’s place or for
a stroll down the lane, but the press are still hanging around at the moment,
so that’s out.’

  
‘How are the girls?’ Eddie asked as Roy
handed the joint over.

  
‘Courtney’s gone back to school today. She’s a bit wobbly, but she’s a
tough little cookie, so I think she’ll cope. Harley has her final chemo next
week, so fingers crossed that she goes into remission. They confronted us about
Livvy’s pregnancy this morning. Said they’d known for ages and Harley’s
comments made me and Liv look like complete idiots.’

  
‘I can just imagine,’ Eddie chuckled. ‘I bet she gave you some stick.
Well at least now you can relax and Livvy can stop trying to hide her bump.’

  
‘Yeah!’ Roy said. ‘I’ve just
been to see Sammy. Told her about the baby. She said she already knew. She’d
sussed it when she saw Livvy the other week because she had a look about her.
She also said something strange that’s got me thinking, Ed.’

  
‘What’s that?’ Eddie took a long toke and passed the joint back to Roy
who told him of Sammy’s suspicions about Livvy.

  
‘Does it matter? At the end of the day you were always going to get back
together, baby or no baby.’

  
Roy shrugged. ‘Maybe. But I
feel a bit cheated if she did dupe me.’

  
‘Are you going to say anything?’

  
‘I don’t think so. She’s enough going on in her head at the moment. I’ll
wait and see what date Roy Jnr arrives and I’ll work it back from there.’

  
‘Wisest thing. Anyway, it’s only a matter of two or three weeks when
all’s said and done.’

***

Livvy cursed under her breath as
she negotiated the rain filled potholes and the handful of pressmen on the
lane. She and Harley were on their way back to the cottage, the car laden with
packages. Harley’s phone bleeped with a message.

  
‘Who’s that from?’ Livvy asked as Harley studied the screen.
  

‘Courtney. She’s having dinner at
Jamie’s. Can someone collect her about nine-thirty?’

  
Livvy pulled up outside the cottage. ‘Do you have Jamie’s address?’

  
‘Of course. I’ll text her back then, shall I? Tell her it’s okay.’

  
‘I suppose so. I would have liked her home straight after school today
to see how she’s coped.’

  
‘You know something, Mom? Courtney needs a bit of space and time away
from us and all the discussions you and Dad keep having about what’s happening
with Danny’s businesses and if they’ll ever find any of his remains. It’s
really screwing her up. I couldn’t bear it if it was
my
Dad. He’s always
been there for me. I couldn’t stand to lose him. Just because Courtney’s not
weeping and wailing all over the house doesn’t mean that she’s okay. I think
she’s being very brave. Jamie takes her mind off all the problems.’