The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (78 page)

  
‘Not very happy,
I
can tell you.’

  
‘I bet you’re not. Is
that why
Roy
’s moved out?’

  
‘He moved out before we
knew about the baby. We needed a break while we sort our heads out. He’s hoping
I’ll allow him home eventually, and I will, because I love him very much. I
don’t want to lose him to her.’

  
‘I understand. You’ve
been together since you were kids. It’s a lifetime. But you’re a very forgiving
woman. Most would have killed for a lesser crime.’

  
‘Don’t think I haven’t
been tempted!’ Sammy said and related to Stuart what she’d done to
Roy
's clothes and car earlier in the
year.

  
Stuart grinned and pulled
onto the restaurant car park. He helped Sammy out and took her arm as they
walked inside. She glanced at his profile as they waited to be seated. He was
still good looking. Tall and slim with light brown hair, he’d always had nice
twinkly green eyes and an attractive dimple in his chin.

  
Benito recognised Sammy
at once and came over, looking behind her for
Roy
.

  
‘He’s not with me
tonight,’ she told the puzzled waiter.

  
‘Okay,’ he nodded.
‘Follow me.’ He seated them in a private alcove, where the table was set for
two, and lit the candle decoration.

  
‘I take it this is your
usual restaurant?’ Stuart said.
 

  
‘It is, but we haven’t
eaten here since I found out about
Roy
’s affair. Then Nick and Jess had
their accident at the end of that week. So all in all we haven’t been out
anywhere for ages, other than to Ed and Jane’s place.’

 
 
‘It must have been a very difficult
time.’
    

  
Benito brought over a
carafe of wine and the menus. ‘Is red okay, Miss Sammy?’

  
‘Perfect, thank you,
Benito.’ She smiled at the little man.

  
‘Mr Roy, he is not ill, I
hope?’

  
‘No, no he’s fine, really,’
she assured him. ‘This is my friend and business colleague, Stuart Green.’

  
Benito nodded, happy with
her explanation, and left them alone to study the menus.

  
‘What you were saying
just then, Stu, about it being a difficult time, it was, it still is. Our
family life, as we knew it, is over forever. I can’t quite believe it someti
mes
. I wake up in the middle of the
night and
Roy
isn’t next to me. Then I worry about Nick and Jess and hope that
they’re okay in their little flat, and then it hits me, Nick’s dead. Then
there’s Jason’s little problem.’ She lowered her eyes as her voice trailed
off.
   

  
Stuart frowned and looked
at her. ‘What about Jason? He seemed fine when he let me in earlier.’
 

  
Sammy looked around to
make sure no one could overhear her. ‘He thinks he’s gay,’ she whispered.

  
‘No!’

  
‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘He’s
got this friend, Jules, he met at college. Yesterday
Roy
found them together in a bit of a
compromising situation and thumped Jules.’

  
‘Jesus Christ, Sam! How
on earth have you kept your sanity with all this going on? You look so cool and
collected.’ Stuart shook his head and took a swig of wine.

  
‘I’m not cool inside,’
Sammy admitted. ‘I only found out about Livvy’s pregnancy yesterday morning. I
told
Roy
last night. He was so shocked he
fainted clean away. I tell you, Stuart it was like a scene from a Brian Rix
farce! And to top it all, Pat and Tim will arrive home on Saturday right in the
middle of this
mes
s.’

  
Stuart smiled at Sammy’s
description of her problems.

  
‘And how are Jane and Ed
these days? Any more shocks in store for me?’

  
‘Oh,
everything’s rosy in their court,’ she said,
smiling. ‘
Still as love struck as they’ve always been.’

  
After Benito re-filled
their glasses and took their order, Stuart told her he’d spent yesterday
evening in the company of John and Margaret Grey who’d suggested having a
welcome home party for Pat and Tim sometime in the next week or two.

  
‘That would be wonderful.
I haven’t seen anyone socially for months now, not since Nick’s eighteenth
birthday party. They were all at his memorial service of course, but I wasn’t
really in a fit state to talk to anyone.’

  
‘Well, John said he would
call you over the weekend and arrange a time,’ Stuart said.

   
The food arrived and in-between
courses, Stuart asked Sammy if she would like to accompany him to a textile
exhibition at

  
‘The companies I
represent from the States and
Italy
will be having stands to launch
their new designs and I’m sure you’ll enjoy mixing with like minded people.’

  
Sammy nodded. ‘I’d love
to; I haven’t been to a textile show this year.’

  
‘I’ll book the
accommodation then. The exhibition starts mid-week until the weekend. If I book
for Thursday and Friday nights, will you be able to organise the time off?’

  
‘Yeah, no problem. Jane
will look after the place. I’m afraid I’ve let things slide a bit since the
accident. Fortunately, I’ve good, loyal staff in both the shops and the
factory. The business runs quite smoothly. All I really need to do is the
designing and choosing the right fabrics. Mum does virtually all the accounts
and Jane and Jess run the mail order side of things.’

  
‘I didn’t realise Jess
worked for you, too. It’s a real family affair then.’
 

  
‘Jess works part time,
although she hasn’t been in for weeks. I suppose you noticed the plaster cast
on her ankle, and she’s only just had the one on her wrist removed.’

  
‘Jess reminds me of Jane.
It’s the long dark hair, but those blue eyes and dimples are pure Ed.’

 
 
‘You should see Katie, their youngest
daughter, she’s the spit of Jane and so is Dom.’
   

  
‘How old are their
younger two? I’ve lost count.’

  
‘Katie’s eight – going on
eighteen. Dom’s seven. They keep Ed very busy. He and Jane swapped roles. Ed’s
a house-husband and Jane works.’

  
‘He and Roy are still
writing songs though, aren’t they?’

  
‘Yes, of course. There’s
a new single out on Monday by a band called
Perry’s
Dream
. Jason tells me it’s tipped for the top. There’s a plan afoot to
re-form
The Raiders
as soon as Tim
arrives. Sammy took a sip of wine and Stuart topped up their glasses. ‘We’ve
hardly discussed business, Stu. I’ve waffled on all night about my problems,
you should have stopped me.’

  
‘I think you needed a
fresh shoulder to cry on. And it’s been nice to catch up on what everyone is up
to. We can discuss business anytime.’

  
‘How come you never
married, Stu? Didn’t you meet the right girl?’

  
He smiled and took her
hand. ‘I met her all right, but by the time I realised it she’d fallen in love
with my friend, Roy.’

  
‘Stuart,’ Sammy faltered.
‘You never said a word.’

  
‘Well before I had a
chance to say anything,
Roy
already had the hots for you. The day I told Ed that Jane fancied
him,
Roy
asked me about you. I told him you
liked him and I promised to introduce you at the coffee bar that Saturday
night. He went on and on about your legs all the time, drooling like a lovesick
puppy. I hadn’t the heart to tell him that
I
fancied you as well.
Anyway, once you set eyes on
Roy
that was it. You were glued to one
another’s lips for most of that night and no one else stood a chance. What
Roy
wanted, he got, end of story!’
Stuart finished with a grin.

  
Sammy smiled, remembering
back to the night Stuart was referring to. ‘That was January 1959, so long ago,
yet I can remember it as though it were yesterday.’

  
‘So can I, you had long
hair almost down to your bottom, legs to die for and you could jive superbly.’

  
Sammy grinned. ‘I bet I
couldn’t do that today if I tried. You
also
used to jive well, if I
remember rightly.’

  
‘When we go to
London
, I’ll take you to a club. We’ll
have a few dances for old time’s sake, pretend we’re kids again.’

  
‘Yeah, why not?’ Sammy
yawned and put her hand over her mouth.

  
‘Oh I’m sorry, Stuart, I
feel so drained.’

  
‘You’re whacked; I’ll get
the bill. It’s been quite a week for you.’
  

  
‘It’s certainly not one
I’d like to repeat in a hurry,’ she admitted.

  
Stuart settled the bill
and they left the restaurant. ‘Thank you for a lovely evening and your
delightful company,’ he said as he pulled up outside Jasmine House.
 

  
‘Would you like a
night-cap?’ Sammy asked her stomach fluttering slightly as he gazed into her
eyes.
    

  
He touched her cheek
gently. ‘No thank you, you’re shattered. Another time, maybe? I’ll call you
over the weekend; make sure Tim and Pat are back safe and sound. Maybe we could
go out for a meal with them one night next week?’

  
‘That would be lovely,
Stuart and thank you for listening to my problems.’

  
He leant over and kissed
her lightly on the lips. ‘It was my pleasure. Goodnight, Sammy.’

  
As she stood on the steps
watching Stuart drive away, the door opened behind her and Jason popped his
head out.

  
‘I heard the car. Had a
nice time, Mum?’

  
‘Very nice thank you,
Jason, very nice indeed. Have Jon and Jess gone home?’ She followed him
indoors.

  
‘Yeah, they dropped me
off a while ago. We went for a drink and had a good talk. When Jess gets some
strength back in her wrist and can play her bass again, we’re gonna do a bit of
jamming. Jules sings quite well, not so good as Nick did, but there’s always
room for improvement and Jon and Jess are okay about him joining us. If it
works out we might have ourselves a new band.’

  
‘Oh, Jason, that would do
you all the world of good, give you a new lease of life.’

  
‘Mum, you’re all flushed.
Is that the wine or is it down to Stuart’s company?’ Jason teased.

  
‘The wine, cheeky!
Stuart’s just a friend. Anyway, I’m going up to bed. I promised your dad I’d
call him as soon as I got home.’

  
‘Why? Doesn’t he trust
you?’

  
‘He's terrified of losing
me, Jason, that’s why,’ she replied, willing him to understand how insecure
Roy
was feeling.

  
‘He should have thought
about that before he jumped into bed with Livvy.’

  
‘He knows that and he
regrets it.’ Sammy stuck up for
Roy
, knowing she probably shouldn’t.

  
‘He’s an idiot,’ Jason
declared. ‘Anyway, I’m off to bed, see you tomorrow, Mum.’

  
‘Goodnight, love.’ Sammy
kissed his cheek and he sauntered off up the stairs.

***

Sammy was put through to
Roy
’s room. He answered immediately,
as though he had been sitting on top of the phone.
 

  
‘
Sammy?
’

  
‘Well who else are you
expecting at this time of night,’ she teased.

  
She heard a sigh of
relief. ‘
Oh good, you’re home then
?’

  
‘I am.’

  
‘
Did you have a nice time
?’