The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (26 page)

‘Are you serious?’ Jane said.
‘Have you told Roy how you feel?’

‘No, but I’m going to.’

‘Talk to him tonight while we’re
out,’ Eddie suggested. ‘Make him a nice meal, pour some wine down his throat
then drop it on his toes.’

‘We’ll make sure the kids are
settled before we go out,’ Jane said. ‘Jessie will wolf her milk down when she
wakes, but she’ll go straight back to sleep.’

‘Thanks for the encouragement. I
never expected to want kids for ages. I hope Roy
feels the same. He goes all gooey when he holds Jessie, but he might not want
one of his own.’

‘You can but try,’ Eddie said.

Sammy nodded. ‘By the way, Jane,
I saw Cathy the other day. I forgot to tell you. She’s back in Pickford. The London
thing didn’t work out. Why don’t you invite her to the christening? I bet she’d
be pleased to see Jonny again. She said she’d been to the Westlow flat but the
new people don’t have our forwarding address.’

‘Is she back with her parents?’

‘She is.'

‘I’ll call her later. It’ll be
really nice to see her again. Jonny will be thrilled to bits. He loves Aunty
Cathy.’

‘Would you like to visit your
Mum, Jane?’ Eddie asked.

‘Yeah, that would be nice. Might
as well go out while you’re home to chauffer me around.’

***

‘What a lovely surprise!’ Enid
exclaimed, letting in her daughter and Eddie. ‘Go and sit in the lounge while I
pour a drink.’

Jonny dragged out a basket of
toys that Grandma kept for him under the stairs. He chose a ball and took it
into the garden.

‘That’s him sorted,’ Enid
said. ‘How are you doing with the christening plans?’ She handed them mugs of
tea and took Jessica in her arms.

‘Okay, thanks, Mum. I need to buy
Jess a robe and that’s it. Trouble is, when we go shopping, Ed gets recognised
and people always want to talk to him about the group.’

‘The price of fame, eh?’ he said,
grinning. ‘It won’t last forever. We’re flavour of the month. Next year it’ll
be someone else’s turn.’

‘You both look very nice. Trendy
do they call it?’ Enid said,
looking at them with pride. Jane, was, as always, stunningly attired. Her
hounds-tooth check dress and long white boots were the height of fashion and
her glossy hair cascaded down her back like a dark velvet cloak.

Eddie’s black leather trousers
and white shirt, with a ruffle down the front, made him look every inch the
rising young star. No wonder the pair was centre of attention wherever they
went, she thought.

‘Thanks, Mum,’ Jane smiled. ‘This
is one of Sammy’s creations. It’s the first time I’ve worn it.’

‘It’s lovely. Bit short, but you
can carry it off with your nice figure and long legs. This baby’s making me
feel very broody.’ She tickled her tiny granddaughter under the chin and
Jessica chuckled. ‘I’ll give Molly a call; let her know you’re here.’ She
handed Jessica to Eddie and left the room.

***

Eddie leant across to kiss Jane.
‘It’s so nice to visit my in-laws as a normal family, instead of being treated
like an outcast.’

Jane nodded. ‘I’m sure it is.’

Enid
finished her call and brought in another mug of tea as the doorbell rang.
‘That’ll be Molly. She must have run here.’ She went to open the door and let
in her excited and breathless friend.

Eddie smiled as Molly cooed over
his daughter. ‘Oh, she’s such a darling. Let me have a cuddle, sweetheart.’

‘Come on then, Molly,’ he teased.
‘Jane can spare me for five minutes!’

‘I meant the baby, you silly
devil,’ Molly laughed, giving him a playful push. ‘You’re as bad as Roy
for leg pulling. How’s Sammy? I haven’t heard from her for a few days.’

‘Feeling broody,’ Eddie quipped,
handing Jessica over.

‘Eddie! That’s top secret,’ Jane
said. ‘She’s fine, Molly and busy working on her new collection.’

‘She’s always been streets ahead
when it comes to fashion,’ Molly said, beaming
proudly. ‘She’ll be the next Mary Quant. But why did Eddie say she was feeling
broody? Sammy told me she doesn’t want kids for years.’

‘Everyone feels broody when they
see Jessie,’ Jane said, glaring at Eddie who was grinning innocently. ‘Go and
call Jonny in ready to go,’ she ordered.

‘I love it when you’re angry with
me, Mrs Mellor. It drives me wild!’ He dashed out of the room, leaving Jane
blushing furiously.

***

‘What’s he like?’ Jane rolled her
eyes heavenward. ‘Sorry, Mum.’

‘Don’t worry, love; he’s a man,’ Enid
said, laughing. ‘They’ve all got this notion they’re God’s gift! Oh, while I
think on, I saw Mark in Pickford the other day.’

Jane looked up from fastening
Jessica’s matinee jacket. ‘And?’

‘He asked how you were. I told
him you’d had a little girl and moved house. We talked a bit about
The Raiders
and how well they’re doing.’

‘I see.’ Jane nodded. ‘Don’t
mention this to Ed.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because mentioning Mark would be
like waving a red rag at a bull.’

‘Surely Eddie’s not jealous of
Mark? Because if he is, he’s being very…’ Enid
stopped mid flow. ‘Don’t look so anxious, Jane, I won’t say a word. But Mark
wished you all the best, and then he was joined by a young woman who’d been in
one of the shops.’

‘Vicky?’

‘That’s right. He introduced her
as his girlfriend. Funnily enough, she had a look of you about her, but with
blue eyes. She seemed very nice. Mark doesn’t look too well. He’s lost a lot of
weight.’

‘He’s been ill,’ Jane said. ‘Mum,
you didn’t tell him where we're living, did you?’

‘Err, you know, I can’t remember.
I might have done,’ Enid said,
faltering as Eddie walked into the room with Jonny riding on his shoulders.

‘Ready when you are,’ he said.

‘We’ll see you soon, Mum.’ Jane
smiled reassuringly. ‘I’ll call you later, okay.’

‘Okay, love. Drive carefully,
Ed.’

***

‘What did you make of that?’ Enid
said to Molly, closing the front door.

‘Put the kettle on and I’ll tell
you.’

‘Well, I never!’ Enid
exclaimed as Molly relayed what had happened to Mark. ‘Why didn’t you tell me
about this?’

‘I don’t like gossiping about the
lad’s misfortune. Our Sammy got the tale from Jane, who got it from Mario’s
daughter. Vicky’s quite friendly with Rosa and told her
everything. Mark’s been bottling things up for months and it all ended with a
major breakdown. It’s quite a harrowing story.’

Enid
pursed her lips as she poured water into the teapot.

‘Fancy Maude Fisher lying about
being Mark’s mother. You don’t know what skeletons folk have in their closets.
And
she
always thought she was a cut
above everyone else. It just goes to show.’

Molly nodded. ‘All those traumas
coming at once are enough to tip anyone over the edge.’

Enid
passed a mug to Molly and sat down at the table. ‘What worries
me
though, is why our Jane doesn’t want Eddie to know I’ve spoken to Mark.’

Molly shrugged, spooning sugar
into her tea. ‘I can’t help you there. But she obviously has her reasons.
Did
you tell Mark where they’d moved to?’

Enid
shook her head slowly and took a sip of tea. ‘Do you know, Molly, I’m damned if
I can remember.’

***

The aromatic scent of garlic and
red wine mingled with the homely smell of wood-smoke as Eddie and Jane walked
into the kitchen.

‘Smells good,’ Jane said and
glanced at the cookery book propped up on the table. It was open at the recipe
for Beef Bourguignon, Roy’s
favourite.

Sammy looked up and pushed her
hair off her flushed face.

‘I’m knackered. This housewife
malarkey’s not as simple as designing clothes. Do you want to eat with us? I’ve
made plenty.’

‘No thanks, we’ll eat out and
leave you two in peace,’ Jane replied. ‘Ed’s blabbed to your mum that you’re
feeling broody.’

‘Big gob!’ Sammy said. ‘I’ve got
to convince Roy first.’

‘The way to a man’s heart is
through his stomach,’ Eddie said. ‘If
this
man’s opinion counts for anything, I reckon you’re halfway there.’ He helped
himself to an apple from the dish on the table. ‘Wasn’t it Eve seduced Adam
with an apple?’

‘So they say,’ Sammy replied.
‘And look at the bloody legacy she left us with! If you ask me, Eve’s got a lot
to answer for. Right, I’m going to jump in the bath and make myself
irresistible.
I
won’t need Cox’s Pippins tonight.’

Jane turned to Eddie as Sammy
left the room. ‘Don’t you dare say anything to Roy
when he comes in, or I’ll not be responsible
for my actions.’

‘Come here, woman. You drive me
crazy when you shout at me.’ He pulled her onto his knee and kissed her. ‘Come
to bed,’ he whispered, running his hand up her legs.

‘What about the kids?’

‘Jessie’s still asleep and
Jonny’s playing in the lounge. Come on, Jane, I need you.’

‘We can’t leave Jonny unattended
down here. The ovens on, he might burn himself. You’ll have to wait ’til later.
You’ve been horny all afternoon. Take a cold shower when Sammy’s finished
running her bath.’

‘You’re a hard woman,’ he said,
tickling her ribs.

‘And
you're
a bloody sex maniac.’ She squirmed away from him as Roy
strolled into the kitchen.

‘
Who’s
a sex maniac?’

‘
He
is,’ Jane said, jumping up from Eddie’s knee.

‘He always was!’

‘Ah, pot and kettle,’ Eddie
quipped. ‘Where’ve you been?’

‘To see a man about a dog,’ Roy
replied, picking up the kettle. ‘Anyone for coffee?’

‘No thanks,’ Jane said. ‘Where’s
Tim, I thought he went out with you?’

‘He did. He’s gone to collect Pat
from work. They’re going for something to eat and then to The Roulette Club. Me
and Sam are meeting up with them. Why don’t you get a sitter and come with us?’

‘Actually, mate
you’re
going nowhere,’ Eddie said. ‘You’re baby-sitting for us. Sammy cooked you
something special. She’s pampering herself in the bath at the moment. She wants
you to stay home and have a nice evening.’

‘Right!’ Roy
gave a lewd chuckle. ‘Sounds like I’m on to a promise! You two can make our
apologies to Tim and Pat then.’

‘Did you get anything for
me
today?’ Eddie asked.

‘Certainly did.’ Roy
patted his jacket pocket. ‘Found a new dealer, very reasonable.’

‘So, what’s happened to Mac?’
Eddie asked. ‘Why has he disappeared off the surface of the earth?’

‘Banged up in Strangeways,’ Roy
replied. ‘Two years for dealing and possession.’

‘Fucking hell!’ Eddie exclaimed.

‘I like Mac, but he’s always been
trouble,’ Jane said. ‘Make sure no one sees
you
buying gear, Roy. We don’t want the
police here.’

Roy
laughed, swaying slightly, his eyes glazed. He ruffled Jane’s hair. ‘Don’t
worry. Come upstairs to the music room, Ed. I’ll show you what I bought and
work out what you owe me.’

Jane stared after them, shaking
her head. Roy was getting more into
drugs and it worried her. He’d driven the groups’ van home from Manchester
after drinking God knew how much and had no doubt smoked at least one joint.
And for all Eddie insisted cannabis was harmless, she wasn’t totally convinced.

Eddie had told her Roy
was taking speed before a show followed by pills to slow him down. One day he
would have an accident and kill himself, or someone else; then the bubble would
burst. She sighed, mixing a feed for Jessica whilst going over the conversation
she’d had earlier with her mother about Mark. There was always something to
bloody worry about.

Before feeding the baby she
quickly phoned Cathy and invited her to the christening. Cathy was pleased to
hear from Jane and congratulated her on Jessica’s birth and said how thrilled
she was about the groups’ chart successes.

‘
People in
London
wouldn’t believe I know
The Raiders
personally,’
she said
. ‘Even when I told them I was Eddie’s son’s
godmother.’

Jane smiled into the receiver.
‘Come over and eat with us tomorrow night. Then you can see Jonny and Jessie.’

‘Jane, I’d love to.’

‘Ignore the fans at the gate.
I’ll send Eddie down at
seven thirty
to open up. If you get out of the car to do it yourself you might get jostled.
He can sign an autograph or two while he’s waiting.’

‘Sounds exciting
.’

‘It’s not really; it’s a bit of a
pain. Still, it won’t go on forever. See you tomorrow, then. By the way, we
live at Hanover’s Lodge. It’s a
short drive up from Norman’s Woods
and it’s sign posted. You can’t miss it.’

‘
I know the place. See you tomorrow then. Bye.’

***

‘Evening, you two.’ Jane tapped
Pat on the shoulder.

‘Hi.’ Pat moved her chair to make
room. ‘Where's Roy and Sammy?’

‘Having a night in baby-sitting
for us. They send their apologies,’ Jane said.

‘Is Sammy okay?’ Pat asked as
Jane sat down beside her. ‘When I phoned her this afternoon she seemed a bit
pre-occupied.’

‘She is.
Come to the
cloakroom and I’ll tell you,’ Jane whispered. ‘Get the drinks in, Ed. Won’t be
a minute.’

‘Don’t you hate the way they
stare at you?’ Pat said, as they made their way through a crowd of gyrating
girls.

‘I’m getting sick of it,’ Jane
agreed. ‘There were loads of girls chasing after our taxi.’

‘How’s Jessie?’ Pat took her
lipstick from her handbag, pouting to touch up.

‘Lovely. She’s growing so fast. I
just hope she behaves herself tonight.’

‘So, tell me what’s going on with
Sammy.’

‘She wants a baby. She’s asking Roy
how
he
feels about the idea.’

Pat’s jaw dropped. ‘Sammy wants a
baby? But she doesn’t even like kids that much does she?’