The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (139 page)

  
Peter sighed. ‘When her daughters see their baby brother and
she
sees how delighted they are with
him, maybe it will get through to her. Her mother and I are staying at the
family home, so we’ll all muck in to help. I know he’s not going to be a
lifesaver for Harley, but surely we can love the wee laddie for his own worth?’

  
‘Would you like to see the baby? Then I’ll take you to Livvy.’

  
‘Aye, hen, I would that,’ Peter said and followed her to the nursery.

  
Sister Munro scooped up the squirming child and placed him in Peter’s
arms.

  
His eyes filled with tears as he looked down at his new grandson. ‘This
is a very special moment for me. I only got to know my wee girl recently. It’s
the first time I’ve held one of her children as a baby.’

  
Sister Munro nodded, looking tearful herself. ‘Bring baby with you to
Livvy’s room,’ she suggested.

  
‘Is that wise?’

  
‘Let’s just see.’

  
The doctor was leaving Livvy’s room as they approached and he smiled at
Peter.

  
Sister Munro introduced them.

  
‘How is my wee lassie?’ Peter asked, adjusting the baby in his arms.

  
‘Very confused,’ the doctor replied. ‘She’s convinced the baby isn’t
hers. She’s asking for the father. Where is he?’

  
‘The one she thought was the father is keeping a low profile. The actual
father passed away in September. He died in the 9/11 attacks,’ Peter replied.
‘This wee boy is his living image. There’s no doubt he’s Danny’s child.’

  
‘I see,’ the doctor frowned. ‘No wonder she’s in such a state. I’ve
given her a very mild sedative to help calm her down but it won’t make her
sleepy. I don’t want to prescribe anything too strong in case she accepts her
son and wants to breast feed.’
    

  
Sister Munro nodded. ‘We’ll keep a very close eye on her and we’ll bottle
feed baby for now.’

  
‘I’ll pop in tomorrow morning. We should have the stem cell results back
then, but I don’t expect that will be an issue now.’ The doctor took his leave
and Sister Munro turned to Peter, her hand on the door handle to Livvy’s room.

  
‘Are you ready?’

  
Peter nodded and followed her in.

  
‘I’ll leave you alone for a while. Press the buzzer if you need me.’

***

‘Hello, hen,’ Peter said as Livvy
stared bemusedly at him. ‘How are you?’

  
‘Dad!’ She sat up and he bent to kiss her. ‘Where on earth did
you
spring from?’

  
‘Sister Munro called the house in search of Roy.
I suggested I come and pay you a visit. We were leaving it until tomorrow, but
it seems you need the company now.’ Peter sat down on the bed and turned the
baby to face her. ‘You know something, hen? This wee laddie has a look of you
as a baby.’

  
Livvy turned her face away. ‘He looks like Danny. I can’t believe this
has happened, Dad. How on earth have I managed to give birth to Danny’s child?’

  
Peter shrugged. ‘You must have got caught before you left LA.’
 

  
‘What are the chances of that happening?’ Livvy cried. ‘For years I
refused to have another baby with Dan. Now he’s gone and he’ll never know that
he has the son he always wanted. And Roy, Dad, how on earth must
he
be
feeling? He was so looking forward to this baby. No wonder he doesn’t want to
see me. I’ve lost him. He’s gone back to Sammy, I just know it. And another
thing, the baby
won’t
save Harley’s
life.’

  
Peter nodded thoughtfully. ‘No matter, this is a grand wee laddie and we
should all love him for himself. What with
you
and Harley, don’t you think we’ve had enough of babies being pushed from pillar
to post in
our
family? Won’t
you even look at him, hen?’ Peter cajoled. ‘Here, take him.’

  
Livvy’s eyes filled with tears at her father’s words and she held out
her arms. The baby snuggled into her and she traced a finger along his cheek
and around the dimple in his chin, so like Daniel’s. She smiled as he wrinkled
his brow and his eyes shot open to stare accusingly at her for waking him. Her
tears dripped onto his face and he pouted. ‘I’m so sorry, Baby,’ she sobbed,
holding him tightly. ‘It’s not
your
fault. It’s
really
not your
fault.’

  
Peter hardly dared breathe as Livvy cried heartbrokenly. He moved to sit
beside her and held her in his arms, rocking mother and child. ‘See, hen,’ he
whispered into her hair. ‘It’s not so difficult, is it? At the end of the day
it doesn’t matter who fathered him. He’s yours, he’s absolutely perfect and
that’s all that counts.’
 

  
‘Thank you, Dad, for being here with me. It means such a lot.’ She
smiled through her tears as the baby grunted and aimed his fist into his mouth.
‘He’s hungry again. This one is going to take some filling. I probably won’t be
able to keep up with him.’

  
‘Well there are two willing mother hens back at the house to help you,
three if you count your mother,’ Peter laughed.

  
‘How on earth am I going to explain to Harley that Roy
isn’t his father?’ she groaned. ‘I’ve let her down so badly.’

  
Neither heard the door open until Roy’s
deep voice disturbed them.

  
‘You’ve let no one down, and don’t you worry about Harley.
I’ll
be explaining things to her.’

  
‘Roy!’ Livvy stared open
mouthed as he strode purposefully across the room and sat down on the bed
opposite Peter. ‘Oh, Roy, I’m so
sorry. I had no idea...’ she tailed off, sobbing.

  
‘Stop beating yourself up, Liv. I know you didn’t.’ Roy
took the baby from her. He smiled as he looked at the child who was sucking on
his fingers. ‘Hungry, are you, little fella? Is your mother starving you? Well,
are you going to feed him, or what? I can’t do it. I don’t have the equipment!’

  
Livvy smiled through her tears as her father coughed and stood up. ‘I’ll
just nip out and find Sister Munro while you give Baby his supper.’

***

As Livvy settled back to feed her
son for the first time, she looked closely at Roy.
His eyes were red-rimmed and she knew he’d been crying. He had a defeated air
about him and in spite of her anger and sorrow at last night’s betrayal; her
heart went out to him. He must be feeling so disappointed. ‘Why are you here?’

  
‘Why do you think?’ he said as the baby latched onto her breast and
sucked noisily. ‘Blimey! He knows what to do and
no
messing.’ He ran his
thumbs down her tear-stained cheeks and kissed the tip of her nose. ‘I’m here
because I love you. Simple as that.’
 

  
‘But he’s not yours, and after last night I thought you wanted to be
with Sammy.’

  
‘So did I,’ he said softly. ‘But it really was a one off. As for the
baby not being mine - well - he is in a way. I’ve watched him grow while you’ve
carried him. I’ve sung to him through your tummy and talked to him about what
we’ll do when he arrives. I saw him on the scans and I’ve been with you every
step of the way. I’m sorry I fainted at his birth. I’m crap at that sort of
thing. I want us to be together, Liv, if
you
still want
me
, that is, and if you
can forgive me for last night.’

  
‘Oh, Roy. Can
you
forgive
me
for having Danny’s child? I feel like
I’ve
cheated on you.’

  
‘You haven’t.’

  
She smiled. ‘We’ll be okay, Roy.
We’ll make it work.’

  
‘We’ll try,’ he said huskily. ‘Do you still want to marry me?’

  
‘Yes. The sooner the better, and then you’re mine.’

  
He nodded. ‘I’ve been having a think on the way here in the taxi. Once
you’ve recovered from
this
birth, we can try right away for Roy Jnr –
for Harley.’

 
She grimaced and punched him on the arm. ‘You’d never want sex again if
you’d
just given birth to
him
this afternoon!’

  
He held out his right hand, showing her the wheals left by her nails
earlier. ‘I’ve got my own war wounds from the delivery.’ The baby stopped
sucking and let go of her nipple with a contented sigh. ‘He’s had enough. I’ll
put him in the crib and then I can hold you properly before your dad comes
back. By the way, we can’t keep calling him Baby, and Roy Jnr doesn’t seem
appropriate somehow.’

  
Livvy nodded. ‘We’ll save that for
our
son. We should call him
Daniel after his dad and Peter after
my
Dad.’
   

  
‘Sounds okay to me,’ Roy agreed.
‘I’ll bring the girls in the morning. I have to go to London
for recording later in the afternoon, but I’ll be back at the weekend.’

  
‘Okay,’ Livvy said as her father and Sister Munro came into the room.

  
‘Well
he
seems a happy little
chap,’ Sister said as she gazed down at the sleeping baby.

  
Livvy nodded. ‘He fed very well. This is Roy, my husband to be,’ she
introduced him to Sister Munro. ‘We’ve named our son,’ she announced proudly.

  
‘Daniel Peter,’ Roy told
them.
 

  
Peter nodded delightedly. ‘That’s a grand name! Gina will be thrilled to
bits when I go home and tell her. Talking of home, I suppose I’d better be
making tracks. What about you, Roy? Where will you be spending the night?’

  
‘At Charlecote Cottage,’ he replied. ‘That
is
my home. Will you
follow me, Peter? I’ll drop Sammy’s car off and come back with you. When you
and Daniel are ready we’ll go house hunting,’ he said to Livvy. ‘We’re bursting
at the seams now and when Roy Jnr
does
finally grace us with his
presence, well…’
 

  
Livvy grinned as her father and Sister Munro looked on with puzzled
amusement.
  

  
‘Don’t push your luck, Cantello. Now go home and leave Daniel and me in
peace. We both need some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

***

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

FEBRUARY 2002

Livvy looked out of the kitchen
French doors, over the gardens and to the hills beyond. There was nothing
getting in the way of
this
particular
view. Not like the last place they’d looked at, a spacious old farmhouse, where
the kind, elderly vendor had given them tea and home-made cakes, but the busy
A34 running right behind the back garden had put them off.
This
fabulous house was set well back from the road. It had
electric gates and a long driveway. Livvy ran her hand over the black marble worktop.
It felt cool to the touch. The glossy white units and appliances were top of
the range. She could picture herself cooking their first Sunday lunch here. The
house was neutrally decorated but still retained original features, and it was
ready to move into. They’d soon put their own stamp on the place. She turned as
Harley and Courtney came into the kitchen, all smiles.

  
‘Well, what do you think, girls?’

  
‘We love it,’ Harley enthused. ‘We can have an en-suite bedroom each.
There’s a great room upstairs, like a man’s playroom with a snooker table and a
bar, but we thought it would make a fabulous sitting room for us and our
friends.’

  
Livvy laughed. ‘You’ll have to wait and see what Roy
says. He might have that one earmarked for his music room if the outside
building isn’t right.’ She looked out of the window again and waved at Roy, who
was standing on the patio, talking to the estate agent, with eight-week-old
Daniel strapped to his front in a harness. The man pointed to a two-storey
red-brick out-building further down the garden. In the brochure it had been
described as an artist’s studio, but Roy
was hoping it would be big enough to convert to a recording studio and
rehearsal room. He came back indoors, the eager agent on his heels.

  
‘Everybody happy with what they’ve seen so far?’ Roy
asked.

  
‘Yeah,’ the girls chorused.

  
‘Liv?’ He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. ‘Do
you think this is the one?’

  
She nodded. ‘Let’s go home and talk about it. We’ll give our decision
tomorrow.’
  

  
They said goodbye to the agent and Roy
promised to call him the next day with an answer. They piled into the BMW and
Livvy looked back at Ashlea Grange as they swept down the drive. It was
perfect. With its Tudor frontage, lofty gables and tall chimneys, it was the
sort of grand old house she’d always dreamed of living in. The seven bedrooms
would soon be filled; four immediately, another when Roy Jnr put in an
appearance, and a couple of spares for visitors. She could picture them living
in it already, and hugged herself with excitement. The house was only a ten
minute drive from the girls’ school and not too far from Jane and Eddie’s
place, which would please Roy.

  
Courtney and Harley were talking animatedly in the back, with Daniel in
his car seat, between them - her perfect little family. Never in her wildest
dreams had she thought this would ever be possible. She looked at Roy’s
profile, as he negotiated a right turn onto

  
‘Shall we eat out, early doors?’ he said, smiling at her.

  
‘I need to feed Daniel,’ she said. ‘Drop me at the cottage and take the
girls for a pizza or something.’

  
‘We want to go straight home, Dad,’ Harley told him. ‘Jack and Jamie are
coming over later. We’ve got important stuff to talk about.’

  
‘Okay, just a thought,’ Roy
said. ‘I’ll send out for pizzas when the lads come round.’

  
‘You and I need to talk on our own, too,’ Livvy said. ‘There’s a lot to
discuss.’

***

Livvy looked up as Roy
placed a mug of tea on the bedside table. Daniel had just finished feeding. Roy
picked him up, tucked him into the swinging cradle and joined her on the
bed.
 

  
‘Give me a cuddle,’ he said, snuggling up to her.

  
‘I smell all milky and mumsy,’ she laughed and kissed him.

  
‘You don’t, you smell wonderful, like you always do.’ He leant up onto
one elbow and looked into her eyes. ‘So - Ashlea Grange. Is it a yes - or what?
The girls have been mithering me to death in the kitchen. They’ve mentally
moved in already. They want the games room for their own sitting room, if I can
get that studio sorted for
my
playroom.’

  
She nodded. ‘It’s a yes from me. It’s the most perfect house. My dream
home, in fact. But it’s enormous. It’ll take some filling.’

  
‘I’ll call the agent tomorrow, put in an offer of £1.4 and we’ll start
choosing furniture,’ Roy said.
‘We’re lucky the builders have done a good job. It couldn’t have been better if
we’d designed it ourselves. We can probably be in within the month if the agent
and solicitors get their finger out. Not like we need a mortgage, is it?’

  
‘I don’t suppose they get many cash sales on properties over a million,’
Livvy laughed. ‘That agent was practically on his knees. He’ll move heaven and
earth if we ask him.’
 

  
‘Once we’re in and sorted we’ll get married before
The Raiders
go on tour,’ Roy
said, twiddling her curls around his fingers. He looked across at the crib and
smiled. ‘And then…’

  
She grinned. ‘We’ll definitely start Roy Jnr.’ She patted her stomach.
‘If we haven’t already!’ She looked closely at Roy.
‘Are you happy? I mean truly happy. It’s been a horrible last twelve months for
us all. I hope we’ve turned a corner at last. Do you have any regrets?’
   

  
He shrugged. ‘A few, but now that I’ve finally got my head together, I’m
happy enough, sweetheart. The icing on the cake for me will be Harley in
remission.’

  
‘What about Sammy?’ she asked, knowing they needed to talk about Sammy’s
recent announcement that she and Stuart were tying the knot in Portugal
at the end of the month. Roy had
been a bit withdrawn and reluctant to talk about it since Jason had called him
with the news.

  
He was quiet for a long moment before replying. ‘Well, if I’m honest, I
think she’s rushing it a bit, but it’s not really my business, and as long as
she’s happy, that’s all that matters. Jane, Ed, Pat, Tim and the Greys are
going to the wedding and Jason, Jules and Daisy of course. We’re not invited.’

  
‘Well that’s hardly surprising. Surely you weren’t expecting an invite?’

  
‘I thought she might have asked Harley.’

  
‘She did. Harley wasn’t sure she’d feel up to flying. She didn’t tell
you because she thought it might upset you.’

  
‘Oh - well that makes me feel better actually. I felt as though Sam was
rejecting Harley, and after bringing her up all these years – well - I guess
the least she can do is invite her to the wedding.’
       

  
Livvy stretched her arms above her head and smiled. ‘I’m gonna jump in
the shower while Daniel’s sleeping. Why don’t you go and see the girls and get
the pizzas ordered.’
 

***

Roy and Livvy were curled up on
the sofa watching TV, with Daniel asleep in his Moses basket on the coffee
table, when Harley and Jack popped their heads around the lounge door.

  
‘Hi, you two,’ Roy said.
‘What’s up? You look a bit anxious.’
 

  
‘Can we talk to you for a minute?’ Harley said as they slid into the
room, hand in hand.

  
Roy swung his legs down and
sat up. ‘Sure. What’s on your mind, Princess?’

  
‘Well,’ Harley began, ‘as you know, in five weeks I’ll be seventeen.’

  
‘Bloody hell, that year’s gone quick!’ Roy
exclaimed, picking up his glass and taking a swig of single malt. ‘And?’

  
‘Well, you know me and Jack have been engaged for a year now and with me
being ill, and everything - and - well, we don’t know if I’m ever going to be
really right again, do we? I mean, my next blood tests might not be good ones
and we haven’t got a donor yet, until you two…’

  
‘What Harley’s trying to say,’ Jack interrupted, his cheeks flushing
bright red, 'is that we want to get married.’

  
‘What?’ Roy spluttered on
his drink. Livvy took the glass from him and slapped him between the shoulder
blades. ‘Married?’ he continued. ‘For fuck’s sake, you’re far too young.’

  
‘We love one another,’ Harley said. ‘I don’t know how long I’ve got
left, Dad. If I don’t go into remission or get a transplant, I might not be
here this time next year. You’ll regret not saying yes then.’

  
‘Harley, don’t blackmail me. This is serious stuff. Jess and Jon will never
agree to it.’

  
‘I’ve already talked it over with Mum,’ Jack said. ‘She says I’ve to ask
Dad later, depending on what you and Livvy say. Pops and Grandma think it’s a
nice idea too.’

  
‘Oh, they do, do they?’ Roy
raised his eyebrows. ‘So we’re the last to know - apart from Jon?’

  
‘Roy,’ Livvy grabbed his
hand to stop him gesticulating wildly. ‘Take it easy. Harley and Jack have gone
through a lot for such a young couple. Listen to what they have to say before
you go off on one.’
  

  
‘Thanks, Mom,’ Harley said. ‘Dad, if we get a couple of years of
marriage it’s better than nothing and it would mean everything to us.’ She went
to sit on Roy’s knee and wound her
arms around his neck. ‘Don’t you want me to be happy, Dad? Please, you said
you’d do anything for me.’

  
Roy looked at Livvy whose
eyes were filling. He took a deep breath. ‘Jack’s not even seventeen until
June,’ he said, grasping at straws and feeling outnumbered. ‘I can’t believe
that Jess thinks this is okay. I’m damn sure Jon won’t. Have you thought about
where you’ll live and what you’ll do for money? You’re still at school until
July then you were supposed to be going to college.’ He narrowed his eyes and
looked closely at Harley. ‘I hope you’re not pregnant, young lady. Is that what
this is all about?’

  
‘Of course not,’ Harley said indignantly. ‘We haven’t even done anything
since the condom split last year. I’ve been too ill. Anyway, I might never be
able to have babies after all the chemo.’

  
Livvy put her arms around Harley and hugged her. ‘You will one day,
darling. At least they saved some of your eggs, and in time, you and Jack can
have IVF, if necessary.’
       

  
Roy swallowed hard and
looked at his daughter’s face. There were still dark circles under her eyes.
Her hair was growing back thick and dark, but her new urchin cut made her look
vulnerable, like a little girl. The thought that he might lose her in a year or
two filled him with dread. He just hoped and prayed that Livvy would soon
announce she was in the club. Oh, what the hell. Who was he to stand in the way
of Jack and Harley’s happiness, for however long it lasted? ‘Okay,’ he said,
nodding slowly. ‘You have my permission, on two conditions. That you live with
us in the new place until you’re older, and you both finish your education.’

  
Harley and Jack whooped and hugged each other.

  
‘Thank you, Dad,’ Harley cried, tears running down her cheeks. Jack
nodded, his lips trembling.
     

  
‘So - that’s two weddings to organise,’ Livvy said, smiling. ‘Three if
you count my parents who want to get married this year.’

  
‘Oh wow! We could all get married at the same time,’ Harley said. ‘One
big family wedding. Three generations. That would be a great spread for Hello,
Mom.’

  
‘What a wonderful idea,’ Livvy said, her face animated. ‘Not so much the
Hello spread, but the family wedding. I’ll speak to Mum and Dad tomorrow.’ She
looked across as the door opened again and Courtney and Jamie walked in.

  
‘Well?’ Courtney said to Harley.

  
‘They said yes,’ Harley yelled, sticking her thumbs up.

  
‘I can be your bridesmaid,’ Courtney yelled back, jumping up and down
with excitement and waking Daniel who screamed loudly.

  
‘Now see what you’ve done,’ Roy
said above the racket. He picked up Daniel who stared at everyone, blue eyes
wide. ‘I’m not surprised you look shocked, son. We’re surrounded by mad women.
And don’t you even think about it,’ he directed at Courtney.

  
‘Not yet,’ Courtney laughed. ‘Jamie and I have plans to travel the world
when we’ve finished school. We want to try and visit nearly every country.’

  
‘Well thank God for that,’ Roy
said. ‘Three weddings at once are more than enough. Four would put me in an
early grave.’

  
‘Four weddings and a funeral,’ Harley quipped. ‘Sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t
even joke about such things,’ she said as Roy
frowned at her.
   

  
‘All we’ve got to do now is convince
my
dad,’ Jack said, changing the subject. ‘That’s not going to be easy.’