The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (41 page)

  
‘
She’s doing good thanks. Needs
more chemo and then she’s having a re-construction. She’s optimistic about a
full recovery, well, we both are. To be honest, she’s more upset about losing
her hair than her breast
.’
   

  
Eddie remembered that Pat’s long, blonde hair had been her pride and
joy. Losing it would be such a blow to her moral. ‘Is she able to come to the
phone?’ he asked.

  
‘
I’ll go get her. Talk to you
later, Ed
.’

  
Tim went off to get Pat while Eddie relayed to the others what he’d just
learned. Sammy and Jane nodded and held on to one another.

  
‘Hi, Pat.’ Eddie smiled into the receiver. ‘How are you?
 
- Good, I’m so glad to hear that. Yes, we’re
all here at our place. We’re sitting on our bed.
 
- No, it’s not an orgy, well not at the
moment anyway.’ He grinned broadly at the others. ‘But as
you
well know, we’re always open to suggestions. I’m glad to hear
that you haven’t lost your sense of humour, girl. I’ll hand you over to Jane
and Sammy. Take care, darling. We love you and we’re all rooting for you.’
      

  
Jane and Sammy pressed as close to the receiver as they could, both
talking at once.
        

  
Roy rolled his eyes. ‘Just
like old times,’ he said, smiling as the pair
ooh-ed and aah-ed over whatever Pat was telling them. ‘So, what do you reckon,
Ed, will she get better?’

  
‘Tim said she needs further chemo then she’s having a reconstruction. It
sounds as though she’s got the spirit to fight it all the way.’

  
Roy nodded and smiled at
Jane and Sammy, both with tears running down their cheeks, as they said their
goodbyes.
            

  
‘Well,’ Sammy said. ‘She sounded really cheerful. Told us two to stop
crying and not to worry. She also said she and Tim have decided to sell up and
come home. The ranch is already up for sale. They realise how vulnerable they
are out there without family support. Pat’s feeling positive, but if anything
goes wrong, Tim would be left to bring the children up alone.’

  
Eddie and Roy stared at one another over the girls’ heads.
  

  
‘You’re thinking my thoughts,’ Roy
said, grinning at Eddie’s animated face.

  
‘Am I? You mean, re-formed Raiders? We were only talking about it over
dinner.’

  
‘The very same!’ Roy said.
‘Did Pat say when they’d be home, girls?’

  
‘Hopefully in the autumn,' Jane replied. 'Pat said they’d leave the
ranch in the care of some friends if it hasn’t sold and come home then anyway.
They could stay here with us until they find somewhere to live. When Jess moves
out there’ll be a spare room. Kim and Abby could share with Katie. It would be
lovely to have them here’

  
‘Where’s Jess going?’ Sammy asked.

  
‘You mean Nick hasn’t told you?’ Eddie said. ‘Oh fuck, talk about
putting your foot in it.’

  
‘Well
you’d
better tell us,’ Roy
suggested. ‘Forewarned is forearmed.’

  
Eddie outlined Nick and Jess’s plans to move in together. He told Roy
and Sammy that he and Jane had given Jess permission. They presumed Nick had
asked if it was okay on the way home from Brighton.

  
Sammy smiled. ‘The dozy sod fell asleep after we met up at the services.
We’ve had all this upset since I opened Pat’s letter, so I don’t suppose he
thought it was the right time to say anything. Anyway,
I’ve
no objections. Roy?’

  
‘Nor do I,’ Roy said.
‘They’ll soon realise it’s not a bed of roses. Nothing like a bit of practical
experience for learning about life.’

  
‘I’ll go and tell them,’ Eddie said, springing up off the bed. ‘Where
are they?’
  

  
‘Jess’s room,’ Jane said. ‘Don’t go barging in, Ed. Knock first and wait
’til she tells you to come in.’ She turned to Sammy and Roy. ‘Don’t know about
you two, but I’m drained. Let’s go down and get a drink.’

***

  
‘Are you decent?’ Eddie teased as he knocked on Jess’s door.
  

  
‘Course we are,’ Jess called. ‘Come in, Dad.’

  
‘Why the glum faces?’
 

  
‘We’re worried about Pat,’ Nick said, slipping his arm around Jess’s
shoulders. ‘We were thinking how it could just as easily have been Mum or
Jane.’

  
‘That thought had crossed
my
mind,’ Eddie said. ‘Anyway, at the moment I’m the bearer of good news. You can
go ahead and look for a flat whenever you’re ready. If it’s what you both want,
then we’re all agreed it’s okay.’

  
Jess stared at him. ‘But, Dad, Nick hasn’t had a chance to ask Roy and
Sammy yet.’

  
‘Oh well, your Mum put her foot in it by saying that Pat and Tim could
use your room when you move out. You can probably guess the rest.’

  
‘So, Mum and Dad don’t mind? Are Pat and Tim coming home? When? Will you
reform
The Raiders
?’ Nick’s questions
tumbled excitedly over one another.

 
‘They
are
coming home just as soon as Pat feels fit enough to
travel. It’ll be a good few months yet, but they’re getting sorted out over
there. And yes, we may re-form
The
Raiders
. Right, I’ll leave you two to make some plans.’

  
‘Dad, can Nick stay over tonight? I don’t want to be on my own,’ Jess
pleaded.

  
‘Of course he can.’
 

  
‘Thanks, Dad, goodnight.’

  
As Eddie strolled down the landing, Jon rushed past looking flustered.

  
‘How come you’re still here?' Eddie said as they ran downstairs
together.

  
‘I ended up reading two stories because the awkward little sods couldn’t
agree. Then I had to have a shower and my shirt needed ironing. I didn’t like
to pester Mum when she’s so upset, so I did it myself. Does it look alright?’

  
‘It’s fine,’ Eddie replied as Roy
strolled into the hall. ‘Now go on, get going or it won’t be worth bothering.’

  
‘Before you dash off, Jon,’ Roy
began. ‘Tell Livvy to come here Tuesday next for a rehearsal.’

  
‘What about Jess? She hate’s Livvy coming here.’

  
‘Err, I dunno, but you’ll think of something to pacify her,’ Roy
said, going into the downstairs cloakroom.

  
‘We’d both like Livvy in
The Zoo,'
Eddie said
.
'She’s got a bloody
good voice and the band needs it. Now don’t be too late home. You’re back in
work tomorrow. Sean won’t be very happy if you don’t turn up on time. Enjoy
yourself. See you later.’

***

CHAPTER
SEVEN

‘Well fuck
you
then!’ Sean
Grogan slammed down the phone. He turned as his sales assistant, Livvy Grant,
ran upstairs to the record department.

  
‘Problems, Sean?’ She stared at her boss who had a stubbly chin and a
slightly dishevelled appearance. ‘Night on the tiles?’
 

  
‘I wish,’ he grunted, lighting a cigarette. He tossed the packet and
lighter in her direction. ‘Help yourself then leave them on the counter for
Jon. Ah, if it’s not the divil himself,’ he finished as Jon puffed up the
stairs.

  
‘Less of the divil if you don’t mind,’ Jon quipped, mocking Sean’s Dublin
accent. He helped himself to a cigarette and took a lengthy drag. ‘Ah, that’s
better.’
  

  
‘Well now, it’s grand to see you, Jon,’ Sean said. ‘We’ve been really
busy the last few days. Livvy and I have been run off our pegs.’

  
‘You look a bit rough around the edges.’ Jon laughed. His dark-haired,
good-looking boss was usually a stylish dresser and never less than
immaculately turned out.

  
‘I was about to tell Livvy that I didn’t go home last night. It was Ian
from instruments birthday. We had a few bevies in Tommy Ducks and a takeaway
curry. I fell asleep at his place so I’m in the doghouse with Tina. She’s just
given me an ear bashing for not letting her know I was staying out.

  
‘How the fuck was I supposed to let her know, when I didn’t even realise
I was doing it? Bloody women, they won’t listen, even when your excuse is
genuine. -
 
Kettle’s boiled. - Go and
brew up, Liv. I could murder a coffee. How was Brighton?’
he asked Jon as Livvy disappeared into the staffroom.

  
‘Good,’ Jon replied. ‘Met a bird from Pickford down there. Saw her last
night and took her clubbing.’
 

  
‘Did you now?’ Sean said, grinning broadly. ‘You’ve had more birds than
Disney has Dalmatians. So, come on, tell all. What’s this one called and what’s
she like?’

  
‘What’s
who
like?’ Livvy said,
strolling back into the shop. She placed a tray on the counter. ‘Help
yourselves. There’s a packet of biscuits, too, my treat.’ Sean and Jon took a
mug each and Livvy plonked herself on a stool behind the counter and nibbled
the corner off a custard cream.
   

  
‘Jon met a bird in Brighton,’ Sean said.

  
‘Another for your harem?’ She rolled her eyes.
   

  
‘Her name’s Helen,’ Jon began. ‘She’s tall, blonde, blue-eyed and sexy.’

  
‘Bit like me then,’ Livvy quipped, twisting a curl around her finger.

  
‘Not quite, titch. Her hair’s straight and she’s at least six inches
taller.’

  
‘How old is she?’ she asked.

  
‘Erm, sixteen - next month,’ he added, waiting for the ribald comments
that were certain to follow.
     

  
‘Holy BeJesus, Jon, she’s jail bait!’ Sean exclaimed.

  
‘Yep, that’s what Roy said.
But she looks and acts a lot older.’

  
‘Well she’s not. So don’t you go hiding the sausage just yet.’

  
‘You sound like Dad.’ Jon drained his mug and finished his cigarette.
‘By the way,
The Raiders
might be
reforming. Pat and Tim are coming home soon.’ He related the story of Pat’s
cancer and the family’s plans to return to the UK.

  
‘Let’s hope she makes a full recovery,’ Sean said. ‘But all clouds have
a silver lining and it’d be great if the group
were
to reform.’

  
‘It’s pretty much on the cards. Dad and Roy are really keen. They miss
the buzz.’
  

  
‘Did you rehearse any of the new songs while you were away?’ Livvy
asked.

  
‘We did and they’re brilliant. Roy
wants you at our place next Tuesday night to have a run through.’

  
‘What about Jess? I don’t want to cause trouble.’

  
‘Roy’s adamant he wants you
there. On the way to work I’ve been racking my brains, thinking of a way to
avoid upsetting Jess. We’ll drop your car at your place after work. Then you
come home with me and eat with us. When we go to the music room later we’ll say
we’d planned to go somewhere after dinner, maybe something to do with work,
then I’d remembered about the rehearsal on the way home. We’ll already be at
the house, so hopefully Jess won’t kick off. We can rehearse for a while then
I’ll run you back to your flat later.’

  
‘It sounds a wee bit longwinded,’ Livvy said, frowning.

  
‘Well it also sounds feasible and saves falling out with Jess. It just
makes life a bit easier, Liv.’

  
‘Okay then, if you’re sure. I’ll look forward to that.’ She smiled and
took the empty mugs back into the staffroom.

  
Sean stared after her. ‘She’s done nothing but rabbit on about those new
songs all the time you’ve been away. It’s been Roy
this and Roy that. She’s driven me
crackers, so she has. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she has a crush on
him.’

  
‘He always makes a big fuss of her and says she’s a fantastic singer. He
really wants her in
The Zoo
, and we
could use the extra voice. But Jess has got a bee in her bonnet that she
fancies Nick and won’t agree. It’s a shame really, because Livvy’s very good.’

  
‘Ah well,’ Sean mused, ‘if she’s
that
good, maybe she should try
for a solo career.’
 

  
‘I reckon so,’ Jon nodded. ‘Perhaps Roy
could manage her.’

  
‘No doubt your Dad will be in touch with Phil and Carl about the group
re-forming.’
         

  
‘I’m sure he will,’ Jon said.
    

  
‘I must give Carl a ring sometime. We always got on well once he forgave
me for enticing Tina away.’

  
‘Ah well, Carl’s happily married to my Aunt Cathy now,’ Jon said. ‘So
all’s well that ends well.’

  
‘Indeed.’

***

 
The shelves in the upstairs music room at Hanover’s
Lodge bulged with Eddie’s record collection. Under the window he’d installed a
portable recording studio and on Tuesday night,
The Zoo
and Livvy went straight into rehearsal of the new song.

  
I Need Your Love,
the raunchy rocker, written with Livvy in mind,
was so much better with the extra voice than Eddie had dared hope. Her vocal
range was amazing and tonight she belted out the lyrics like a young Janis
Joplin. Fired with enthusiasm, the group ran through
The Zoo’s
complete repertoire.

  
‘Bloody marvellous, Liv,’ Roy
said, beaming at Livvy, who smiled shyly back. ‘One more time with the new one.
Give it all you’ve got.’

  
Eddie mixed and recorded
I Need Your Love.
‘I think that’s
cracked it,’ he said as he re-wound the tape. He played it back to them as Jess
left to use the bathroom.

  
When she returned, Livvy, reclining on a bean bag near the mixing desk,
was talking animatedly with Nick who knelt beside her, their heads close
together.

  
Jess stiffened as she walked towards the pair and they sprang guiltily
apart. Nick jumped to his feet. Jess had the knack of reducing Livvy to shreds
and tonight was no exception.

  
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ she demanded.

  
‘Nothing, we were just talking,’ Nick said, frowning. He slipped his arm
around her shoulders.

  
‘Oh, it looks like it.’ She shrugged him off. ‘Did you need to have your
faces so close together?’

  
‘It was difficult to hear what Livvy was saying over the music,’ Nick
replied. ‘Cool it, Jess. Why do you always have to have a go at her?’

  
‘I wasn’t having a go. But it’s so bloody obvious that you fancy her.’
She flounced out of the room, as only Jess could flounce, and slammed the door
behind her.

  
Eddie switched off the tape deck and shook his head.

  
Nick looked apologetically at Livvy. ‘Sorry, Liv, she’s a bit touchy
today. Probably PMT. I’ll go after her.’

  
‘Oh dear.’ Roy raised an eyebrow.
He and Jason were lounging on the sofa bed opposite and they smiled at Livvy
who was close to tears. ‘Don’t take any notice of Jess, love,’ Roy
continued. ‘She’s always on her high horse where Nick’s concerned.’

  
Livvy nodded as Jane popped her head in the room. ‘Stop slamming doors,
you’ll wake the kids. And can you call Helen, Jon? She rang earlier but I told
her you were recording. Use the phone in our room.’

  
‘That was Jess slamming doors, not us,’ Jon said. ‘Those kids sleep
through anything. We’ve been making a noise in here and they haven’t
stirred.’
   

  
‘They’re used to music,’ Jane said, ‘but that bloody door sounded like a
bomb going off. What’s she slamming doors for anyway?’

  
‘She’s had a falling out with Livvy,’ Roy
chipped in. ‘A misunderstanding over Nick.’

  
‘I see.’ Jane turned to Livvy who was still sitting on the beanbag,
wiping her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, love. Would you like to come downstairs and have a
cup of tea?’

  
Livvy smiled through her tears. 'No thanks, Jane, I need to go home in a
minute.’

  
‘I’ll speak to Helen and then I’ll take you home,’ Jon said.

  
‘Well, if you’re sure you’re okay, I’m going back downstairs,’ Jane
said. ‘They’re just re-showing Torvill and Dean doing their Bolero routine on
telly.’ She left the room as Roy
stood up, stretching his arms above his head.

  
‘Don’t rush your call, Jon,
I’ll
take Livvy. Perhaps you can take
Jason home for me later then I can stop off and have a pint. Come on,
sweetheart,’ he said to Livvy. ‘I’ll drop you off first. Do you fancy meeting
me in the Royal Oak, Ed?’

  
‘No thanks, mate. I’ll stay home and relax with Jane. See you tomorrow
about
noon
. Sorry, Livvy, Jess isn’t
usually that bad. Put it down to hormones like Nick suggested. But for God’s
sake don’t tell her we said that,’ he finished with a grin.

  
Livvy’s smile was grateful. ‘I won’t. But, Roy,
are you quite sure you don’t mind giving me a lift?’

  
‘Not at all. Let’s go.’ Roy
led the way downstairs, calling goodbye to Jane.

***

Livvy sank back into the
comfortable leather seat as Roy
drove slowly down the private lane and out onto

  
‘Fine thanks. This is a lovely car.’ She admired the sleek BMW saloon.
‘It feels enormous after my wee Mini.’

  
‘Yeah, it’s not bad. Don’t use it very often, usually when I’ve got more
than one passenger.’

  
‘What do you drive when you’re not using this?’

  
He looked at her, his face lighting up as he spoke. ‘A bright red
Lamborghini Jalpa. I love it. It’s the most wonderful car to drive.’

  
‘You sound like a wee boy at Christmas,’ she said, laughing.

  
‘Feel like a wee boy at Christmas when I’m driving it,’ he said,
imitating her Glaswegian accent. ‘Now, where’s your flat?’
  

  
‘The other side of Pickford. Near Jackson’s
Heath.’

  
‘Oh, that’s close to where Ed and I grew up. Have you home in no time.
Let’s stick some music on.’ He leant across her and rooted in the glove
compartment. ‘
Dire Straits
okay?’ She
nodded and he pushed
Alchemy
into the
tape slot. ‘Needs rewinding, but it’ll do.’ He sang along to
Romeo and Juliet
, Livvy joining in with
him.
   

  
‘It’s two roads down on the right,’ she directed as they approached Jackson’s
Heath. She pointed to a three-story apartment block. ‘That’s my Mini Cooper,’
she said proudly as Roy swung onto
the car park alongside the little red car. He stopped the engine and looked at
her as she undid the seatbelt.

  
‘Thank you, Roy. It was kind
of you to give me a lift.’
  

  
‘You’re very welcome.’ For the rest of his days Roy
could never fathom why he said what he said next, but say it he did, changing
the course of his life forever. ‘Aren’t you going to ask me in for coffee?’

  
Livvy looked at him with startled eyes. ‘Oh, erm, well, erm yes, if
you’d like one. But I only have instant.’ She got out of the car.

  
‘Instant will do just fine,’ he said, clambering out.
  

  
Livvy fumbled in her handbag for her key and opened the entrance door. Roy
followed her inside, through the spotlessly clean hallway, with its troughs of
exotic plants, and framed local landmark prints, and up the equally clean
stairs to the red door of flat number seven.

  
‘Nicely kept place, Livvy. Not like some of the blocks of flats you
see.’ He followed her down the hall and into the lounge. ‘Mind if I have a
fag?’