Three Letters (41 page)

Now it was Alice’s turn to laugh. ‘Honestly, Steve, she had
me worn out today. But it was good to see her so interested in everything. She loved every minute of it, while, by the end, all I wanted to do was get back and soak my aching feet in cold water.’

She had to admit, ‘I did enjoy the day, though. I never dreamed that Corporation Park was so magnificent, with pretty, meandering walkways and lots of majestic old trees at every turn. Standing proud
right at the very top of the park are a pair of old cannons from the Boer War. Susie and I sat astride the cannons, and we were so high up, we could see right across the rooftops of Blackburn and far into the distance towards the countryside. It’s the most amazing sight!’

‘Sound like somewhere I should see.’

‘It is, and you must.’

Steve reflected on what Alice had said earlier. ‘This boy she
saw through the shop window – he was playing the guitar, you say?’

‘That’s right, and it took all my powers of persuasion to drag Susie away.’

‘Was the boy good … at the guitar?’

‘Yes, according to Susie. I didn’t hear too much, but what I did hear was impressive, I have to admit. But as you’re fond of telling me, I don’t have any musical inclinations. Added to which, I was too busy trying
to shift Susie, so I could get back and soak my poor feet.’

‘Mmm.’ Steve’s thoughts were on the boy.

Alice, however, was thinking ahead. ‘When’s your meeting with the planners?’

‘First thing tomorrow. And look, Alice, I’m sorry about all this. You and Susie really should have gone back last week. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you stayed, but I didn’t want you to put your own plans on hold.’

‘I couldn’t desert you, especially when Susie got herself all upset. She didn’t want to leave without you, what with her daddy away and everything.’

‘Yes, I know, and you must be home for Mike’s return very soon. The good news is, I’ve already secured the site and providing I can accommodate the Planning Department’s requirement, I should be home and dry. I’m told the architect is working late
into the night in order to deliver the amended drawings first thing.’

Leaning back into his chair, he drew a deep sigh of relief. ‘If luck is on my side, by the time the meeting starts, the planning committee should have studied the new plans, and made a decision.’

‘I hope for your sake, it all goes well,’ Alice told him.

‘Well, all we can do now is to keep our fingers crossed. Hopefully, once
this meeting is over, I’ll have the green light and can go home, though I’ll need to travel back and forth for some time yet, which I don’t mind in the least. In fact, if needs be, I’d travel to the moon and back if it would get me what I want.’

‘You know Mike and I are behind you all the way, don’t you?’ Alice reassured him.

‘I do know that,’ Steve answered, ‘and I’m very grateful. I only wish
Connie would show a bit more interest in what I’m doing, but she doesn’t, and probably never will.’

‘I can’t understand it, Steve. She should be encouraging you all the way; especially as it’s to her benefit as well.’

Steve’s face darkened. ‘I wish I could fire her interest in it, but I can’t. Whenever I talk about having the studio up and running, she just nods her head, and makes pleasant
noises, but there’s no real interest. No passion. No excitement.’ He shrugged. ‘Maybe I’m asking too much of her. Connie’s interested in other things. I guess I’ll have to accept that.’

‘She’s a lucky woman to have the love of a man like you.’

When Steve made no comment, Alice grew curious. ‘You do love her, don’t you, Steve?’ The moment she’d spoken, Alice could have bitten off her tongue.

Steve laughed it off without giving a direct answer. ‘I married her, didn’t I? So I must love her.’

Feeling uncomfortable, he changed the subject. ‘I expect you’ll be glad to get back, won’t you, Alice?’

‘Well, yes, I can’t deny I’m ready for home. Also, your wandering brother will be back shortly, so I expect we’ll all be where we should be.’ She smiled graciously. ‘Mind you, Susie and I have
really enjoyed tagging along with you. So, thanks for having us, and I hope we haven’t got in the way … even if you were roped in to read her bedtime stories.’

Steve made a face. ‘That’s my punishment for not tying up the business quicker, though in the time we’ve had, I reckon the team and I have done wonders.’

Alice agreed. ‘By the way the woman in the café today told us there’s a market on
in Blackburn tomorrow, under the lovely old clock. When she mentioned that there were all manner of toy stalls, Susie wouldn’t let it drop. She’s been wanting to get a present for her daddy, and so far she hasn’t seen anything that excites her.’

‘Hmm! That’s because she’s a right little fusspot, and far too picky for her own good. But it might not be a bad idea to let her have a little walkabout,
and who knows, she might find something.’

‘That’s what she said. So, I promised I’d take her over there.’

Steve felt anxious about the meeting. ‘After wanting it for so long, I actually think that it might all be coming together. It’s been a hard business, but at long last I can almost see my vision actually edging towards reality.’

‘I hope so, Steve, but if it does happen, it’ll be your own
determination and hard work that’s carried you through.’

She felt no guilt in reminding him, ‘I know Connie hasn’t got the same appetite for the studios as you have. But you still pushed on regardless, and all credit to you for that.’

She was only too aware of how long and hard he’d pursued this business venture; in fact she’d been greatly impressed by the speed in which he’d secured the site
outside Blackpool.

Unlike Steve, with his talent and passion for music, Steve’s brother, Mike, was a hard-and-fast practical man. Never a musician, his talent was buying and selling property, which he had done very well with.

Like Steve, Mike was a kind and generous man, but where business was concerned, he was hard-headed, with no time for dreams.

When Steve turned to see if the drinks were
on their way, Alice quietly regarded him for a moment. She saw a fine man with a fine dream. A kind man. A man who had quietly tolerated his wife’s selfish ways, while providing her with the best of everything; even though Connie showed little interest in what he was doing.

She was a selfish woman with a high opinion of herself and a low opinion of everyone else. From the day they were married,
she had learned how to manipulate her new husband, until over the years she had managed to elevate herself to where she was today. She lived a pampered life, with a cleaner and a gardener, and money to spare. She demanded the best of everything, and got it, and the more she got, the more she wanted.

Alice and the family first had their doubts about Connie when she came home with Steve from one
of his long tours. Steve called her his ‘rough diamond’, and at the time she seemed devoted to him. She accompanied him on every tour, and rarely let him out of her sight.

Then, on returning from another tour, Steve announced that they were married. At the time, family and friends thought he had made a mistake and as the years rolled on, their fears were proved right.

Locked in a marriage without
love, Steve confided to his brother that his marriage had brought him little joy. Connie increasingly treated him more as a trophy than a husband. There were also rumours about her seeing other men. And though he respected Connie’s decision not to have children, it was a deep wound to him, because he would dearly have loved to complete their marriage with children.

While touring, Steve had many
chances to stray with other women, but he remained loyal to his marriage vows.

‘Alice?’ Steve shattered Alice’s thoughts.

‘Oh, I’m sorry, Steve.’ Alice had been caught off guard. ‘I was miles away there for a minute.’

‘Yes, I could see that.’ He felt guilty. ‘Thinking about Mike, were you?’

‘Sort of, yes.’ She spoke quietly. ‘I miss him.’

‘I know you do, but soon you’ll be home and when he
returns you’ll both be waiting there for him.’

He turned his thoughts to Connie, wondering if she’d be glad to see him. She always made a show of affection when he returned from a trip, but he could never tell if her feelings were genuine or not.

‘What will you do when the studios are up and running?’ Alice asked.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, I mean, will you stay with the group, or will you
disband altogether? You can’t possibly manage to rehearse and perform and at the same time hope to manage the recording studios as well. It’s not possible.’

‘You’re right,’ Steve admitted. ‘To tell the truth, I’ve been thinking about that a lot. But don’t forget, since Lennie left, we’ve hardly played. Jim and Pete are more interested in their growing management businesses, scouting for new talent
and such, and I’m developing the recording studios, partly financed by Jim. So it looks like we have disbanded and gone our separate ways already. Mind you, one way or another, we’ll all be in the music business,’ he crossed his fingers, ‘so if and when it happens, I’m sure they’ll be taking advantage of the new studio, which means we’ll still be working together at different times. It’s like
I said to Mike, since Lennie went it was never the same as it used to be.’

Alice could hear the regret in his voice. ‘You miss it, don’t you … the way it was?’

‘Yeah, I do miss it, but we all need to move on.’ Steve shrugged. ‘Besides, let’s face it. We’re not the bright young things we were, and it’s only the die-hard fans that follow us now.’

Alice nodded. ‘Well, at least you’ve got some
fantastic memories to keep you warm in your old age.’

‘Hey!’ Steve wagged a finger. ‘Not so much of the old, if you don’t mind.’ He grinned cheekily. ‘I’ve still got all my own teeth.’ He grew serious. ‘More importantly, I’m on the verge of realising my big dream.’

There was a moment of quiet, while each reflected on his or her achivements in life.

‘Steve?’ Alice looked up. ‘Can I ask you something?’

‘Of course.’

‘Don’t be angry, will you, only I’ve always wondered …’

‘Come on, then! Out with it.’

‘Well, to be honest, I could never see why you married Connie. You’re so different in many ways. You’re a grafter, and she’s … she’s …’ She struggled to find a word that would not offend.

Steve smiled. ‘She’s lazy and selfish. That’s what you’re trying to say, isn’t it? And you’d be right.’

Alice was embarrassed. ‘No, I didn’t mean … but, well, to be honest, I would never have put you two together in a million years. Oh, look, Steve, I’m sorry. I should never have said that.’ Taking up her glass, she drained it to its last drop. ‘One of these days I’ll learn to keep my mouth shut and mind my own business.’

‘Look, it’s already forgotten. Tell you what, I reckon we’ve got time for
another drink. What d’you say?’

Alice gave a sheepish grin. ‘I think I might have had enough wine for tonight.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes … no!’ She groaned, ‘oh, go on then I’ll have the same again. A small white wine, please.’

‘Coming up.’ Steve went away to collect the drinks.

A few minutes later, taking a long sip of his beer, Steve admitted, ‘I’d best make this the last one, especially as
I’ve got a big day ahead of me tomorrow.’

Alice detected a slight slur in his voice. ‘Quite right, too. You don’t need a hangover when you meet up with the planners.’

She had never known Steve to drink over his limit. Mike said Steve was always the sensible one, even when they were younger.

Curious, she now dared to ask him something that she and Mike had often wondered about. ‘You never did
say what actually drew you to Connie? How did you latch onto her?’

Steve took a moment to answer, and when he did it was with a sense of surprise. ‘To tell you the truth, I’m not altogether sure. In fact, come to think of it, you could say it was Connie who latched onto me!’

‘How come?’

‘We’d just finished the last gig in the Northern tour. It had been a long, hard tour. Me and the boys were
shattered; looking forward to a break. These two girls appeared next day, full of fun and wanting to chat. One of them was outspoken and a bit brash. That turned out to be Connie. And the other …’

He fell silent before going on in a softer voice, ‘She was a lovely little thing. In the end, I left Connie talking to Jim while I went to chat with her friend.’ He could see Ruth in his mind. ‘She
had the deepest eyes, and such pretty hair. We had a wonderful day together.’

‘Sounds to me as though you took to her, more than you took to Connie.’

‘You’re right, I did. In the evening there was a party on the beach. So, while Jim took off with Connie, I invited the prettier one to go for a walk along the beach. After a time we found ourselves alone, under the pier. There was no sign of the
others.’

He paused; the memories were clearer now. ‘As I recall, we were soon lying on the sand, in each other’s arms, listening to the waves lapping against the pier struts … and thinking how wonderful it all was.’

‘What was her name?’

‘Ruth. She was called Ruth.’ Embarrassed, he shrugged. ‘It was such a beautiful evening, what with the stars above and the sand and sea and all that, it was
kinda romantic. I was weary from the tour. I was young and bold back then and … things happened.’ He gave a secret little smile. ‘She was very special. Over the years, I’ve often thought about her.’

Alice was shaken by the tenderness in his voice as he spoke of this girl. ‘By the sound of it, you took advantage of her, but it’s what you men do, isn’t it? Meet a nice girl, “get it together” and
she’s another little tick on your calendar.’

Steve gave a wry little smile. ‘To tell you the truth, it wasn’t like that. I would have liked to really get to know her, only Connie came and hurried her away … she said they had to get back, or there would be Hell to pay.’

‘You say you’ve often thought about her over the years?’

‘I have, and that’s the truth.’

‘So, you regret letting her get away,
do you?’ Alice took another sip of wine.