The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (113 page)

***

‘So, who told you that?’ Roy
heard Harley saying as he walked into the lounge. She was talking to two girls
who were wearing serious expressions.

One of the girls shrugged. ‘No one
in particular. But it’s all round school.’

‘Oh, great!’ Harley turned to Roy
with a look of utter despair.

‘What is it?’ he asked, putting an
arm around her shoulders.

‘There’s a rumour going round that
I’m pregnant.’ Her dark eyes filled with tears. ‘Tell them I’m not, Dad.’

The girls fidgeted nervously under
Roy’s stern glare. ‘Harley is most
definitely
not
pregnant. Whoever started the rumour will be in serious
trouble when I get my hands on them.’
   

‘It wasn’t us, Mr Cantello,
honestly,’ one of them said.

‘I’ll feel like a freak show
tonight,’ Harley wailed. ‘Everyone will be talking about me.’

‘They won’t,’ the girl said.
‘We’ll tell the others that it’s a lie.’

‘Thanks ’Tasha,’ Harley said.

‘You see that you do.’ Roy
looked at ’Tasha and shook his head. Bloody women, they were born gossiping.
‘Get your guests a drink while I answer the door.’ He patted Harley’s arm
reassuringly, and went to greet Jason and Jules, who had arrived at the same
time as Jane and Eddie. Sammy was taking coats and Roy
pulled her to one side and told her what had been said.

‘It’ll all blow over once she gets
back to school next week,’ she said. ‘I’ll get rid of these coats and fix
everyone a drink.’

‘Okay.’ The doorbell rang again
and Roy let in Phil Jackson,
The Raiders
rhythm guitarist. ‘Hi, Phil,
nice to see you, matey. Where’s the lovely Laura?’
  

‘Not feeling well,’ Phil replied.
‘I’ve come with Kate, Zak and the twins. They’re unloading parcels for Harley
from the boot. How is she by the way?’

‘We’re waiting for blood test
results. Should know something next week. So, what’s wrong with Laura?’ Roy
led Phil to the drinks cabinet in the corner of the lounge where Sammy was
mixing G&T’s for herself and Jane. She passed glasses of single malt to
Eddie, Jules and Jason and poured one for Phil.
  

‘Thanks, Sam,’ Phil said.

‘You’re welcome, Phil. Nice to see
you. Help yourself to ice.’

‘Laura’s on the change,’ Phil told
Roy. ‘Bad heads, hot flushes and
all that crap. It’s doing my bloody head in. She won’t do anything about it.
I’m climbing the walls with frustration.’

Roy
smiled. ‘Sam’s having a few problems. Laura should see the doc. Make sure she
gets the right sort of HRT though, or you’ll be worse off than ever. Some
brands lower the sex drive.’

‘Fucking hell, if Laura’s gets any
lower it’ll drop out!’ Phil said. ‘It’s less stressful to have a fling than
persuade
her
into bed at the moment.
The band needs another tour and quick, preferably Germany
where the Frauleins are generous with their favours.’

‘I’ll see what I can do for you,
Phil,’ Roy said, as Kate and Zak
came in.
 

Nathan strutted in behind them.
With his black leather jacket, low-slung baggy jeans and his dark curly hair
extended with dreadlocks, he looked like a young rap star. His bright blue eyes
scanned the room, eyeing up the girls. Jack, dressed similar, but with his curls
in their usual untidy tangle, like he’d just climbed out of bed, slid in behind
him, his arms laden with gaily wrapped parcels.

‘Jack!’ Harley flung her arms
around him and dislodged the stacked parcels as he staggered backwards.

‘Steady, Harley.’ Zak put out a
hand. ‘You’re knocking him off his feet.’ He grinned, looking exactly the
blue-eyed, blonde-haired, younger version of his father, Phil.

Jack smiled at Harley. ‘These are
all for you. Shall I put them on the coffee table?’

‘Please, then we can have a
dance.’

She led him away as Roy’s
eagle eyes followed. He felt his stomach tighten. In spite of her dark
colouring, his daughter was so much like Livvy. The way she walked, the way she
held her head slightly to one side as she listened to people talking. The black
dress she was wearing, although shorter, was similar to one Livvy had worn
while she was pregnant. It had stretched defiantly over her bump as if
challenging anyone to dare say a word against her decision not to have an
abortion. Roy swallowed the lump in
his throat and tried to block out the memory. He turned to greet Sean and Tina
Grogan who had just arrived.

***

Nathan spotted girlfriend Faye at
the back of the lounge, standing with a group from school. Holding court was
Jamie Donahue, who appeared to be doing his utmost to chat her up. Jealousy
reared its head and Nathan homed in, grabbed Faye by the arm and pulled her
round to face him. ‘I’m here,’ he announced, glaring at Jamie who shrugged and
turned his attention to ’Tasha.
  

‘Hi, Nathan.’ Faye kissed him
lightly on the lips. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’

‘Yeah, it looks like it.’ He
glared at Jamie’s back ‘What you doing talking to
him
?’

‘
He
was talking to
me
,’
she said. ‘I like your hair. Who did it for you?’

‘Mum’s hairdresser,’ he replied.
‘You know he only wants to get into your knickers.’
  

‘Who does?’ she giggled. ‘Your
mum’s hairdresser?’

‘Don’t be stupid. Let’s get a
drink.’

‘Mrs Cantello told us soft drinks
are in the kitchen.’

He rolled his eyes and pulled her
by the hand. In the kitchen he poured two half glasses of coke and, looking
over his shoulder to check no adults were around, fished in his jacket pocket
and pulled out a bottle of clear liquid. He topped up the glasses and handed
her one.

‘What is it?’

‘Vodka,’ he whispered, slipping
the bottle back into his pocket. ‘Nicked from home.’
 

Faye grinned. ‘Cheers, Nathan.’

They clinked glasses. Nathan took
a set of car keys from his jeans pocket. ‘I locked Aunt Kate’s car earlier.
Thought we could use it later. It’s parked behind the garages. It’s dark round
there because the security light’s broken.’

‘You’re on,’ she said. ‘Better
sneak out separately and then it won’t be too obvious.’

‘Let’s have a dance first,’ he
said and led her back to the lounge where Harley and Jack were sitting on one
of the sofas while Jamie Donahue and two more boys were dancing with ’Tasha and
her friends.

***

Harley watched Jamie and ’Tasha
swaying together. She turned to Jack and whispered,
  
‘’Tasha says there’s a rumour going round
school that I’m pregnant.’

‘Yeah, there is,’ he whispered
back.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Didn’t want to upset you with you
being ill.’

‘Did you deny it?’

‘No. Told them to mind their own
effing business.’

‘Jack, honestly, now they’ll all
think I thought I was; which is almost as bad as actually being. Don’t you see?
You should have said something.’

‘Sorry.’ He took her hand. ‘Don’t
mean to keep letting you down.’

She tutted and looked across at
Nathan and Faye, who were snogging the faces of each other. Why hadn’t she gone
out with Nathan when he’d asked her? She was sure she loved Jack, but Nathan
was such good fun.
He’d
stick up for
her and squash any rumours. Faye always seemed to have a good time with him.
She pulled Jack to his feet and propelled him across the lounge towards Nathan
and Faye.

‘Enjoying your party, Harls?’
Nathan asked, tearing himself away from Faye’s lips.
 

‘S’pose so. Would have been better
if the parents had gone out and left us to it. Still, after last Saturday,
there’s no chance of that.’

‘Not really.’ Nathan looked
pointedly at Jack. ‘Have a dance with
me
later,
Harley.’

‘Love to.’ Ignoring the jealous
expression in Jack’s eyes, she looked up and saw Jon hovering by the door.
‘Here’s your Dad.’ Jack turned and waved at his father. ‘Bet he’s been sent to
spy on us.’
   

‘Happy Birthday, Harley.’ Jon
crossed the room in two easy strides and kissed her. Harley saw him glower at
Jamie Donahue who was squeezing ’Tasha’s backside and pulling her closer.

***

‘Were the kids okay?’ Jess asked
as Jon re-appeared by her side.

‘Jack and Harley are the least of
our worries,’ he said. ‘They seem a bit strained tonight. Keep your eye on
Nathan and Faye, they’re looking very into one another and that Jamie Donahue
was all but screwing the girl he was dancing with. It was only her clothes
stopping him.’

‘Randy little beggar. Nathan can’t
get up to much with a houseful of people.’

‘Let’s hope not. Here’s Tina.’ Jon
smiled as Sean’s wife wove into view, clutching a large brandy balloon.

‘I only wanted a small one,’ she
said. ‘But you know how generous Roy
is. At this rate I’ll be flat on my back before the night’s out.’

‘Sean won’t mind that,’ Jon
quipped.

‘What won’t Sean mind?’ Sean
appeared by Tina’s side.

‘Tina flat on her back.’

Sean raised an eyebrow at his
pretty, red-headed wife’s blushing face. ‘Oh, to be sure. Is that a promise I
can hold you to, Tina, my love?’
     

‘Might be,’ she said. ‘If you
behave yourself.’

‘Oh I will. Scouts honour.’

‘Have you two heard anymore from
Livvy?’ Jess lowered her voice.

‘No,’ Sean replied. ‘She’ll be in
touch mid-week.’

‘Roy and Sammy have prepared
Harley,’ Jess said. ‘They told her yesterday.’

‘How did she take it?’ Tina
whispered.
 

‘She was very upset at first. But
she’s curious enough to want to meet Livvy.’

‘It’s not going to be easy for
Sammy,’ Tina said. ‘But it was inevitable that she’d come back at some point.
Who could blame her?’ Tina turned to find a grinning Jason behind her.

‘Long time no see, Tina.’ He
kissed her lightly on both cheeks.

‘And how are the daddies to be?’
Tina smiled as Jules joined them and handed Jason a large single malt.
‘Congratulations, boys.’

‘Thanks, Tina,’ they chorused.
Jason knocked back his drink in one go. ‘Dutch courage,’ he said. ‘In case Dad
starts making comments later, as he is wont to do after a few drinks.’

‘I don’t suppose he means any
harm,’ Tina said.

‘Don’t suppose he does, but he
can’t seem to stop himself. I’m sure I still disappoint him, even after all
these years.’ Jason smiled as Jules put a comforting hand on his arm.

‘Listen, he’ll be pleased as punch
when that baby arrives, you mark my words,’ Tina reassured them.
   

‘I hope so,’ Jason said.

‘Foods ready,’ Sammy called from
the dining room, where a cold buffet was laid out on the large table.

***

Faye stumbled from the car, pulled
her short skirt straight and ran her hands through her tangled, blonde hair.
She lurched drunkenly across the lawn, negotiated the steps up to the front
door, made her way to the cloakroom, dashed inside and locked the door. She
leant against the sink, feeling sick and dizzy. All she wanted to do was flop
to the floor, curl up and go to sleep. She stared at her refection in the
mirror.
  

Her cheeks were flushed and her
eyes red rimmed. She splashed her face with cold water and wiped away the
mascara smudges. Her skimpy top didn’t cover the huge love bite Nathan had
given her. Damn, her dad would go mad. She’d have to ask Harley for concealer.
Hand over her neck; Faye left the cloakroom as Nathan slipped indoors.

‘You okay?’

She nodded. ‘Except for this.’ She
moved her hand.

‘Sorry. Ask Harley for something
to cover it.’

‘I will, see you later.’ She found
Harley dancing with Jamie Donahue while Jack, looking jealous, was sitting
alone on the sofa. Faye beckoned her over. Harley slipped out of Jamie’s arms.

‘What?’

‘Have you any concealer?’

‘Why do you want it?’

Faye moved her hand.

‘Who gave you that?’

‘Nathan. We’ve been in his Aunt
Kate’s car.’

‘You’ve just done it with Nathan
outside our house?’ Harley exclaimed.

‘Shhh!’ Faye hiccupped.

‘God, Faye, you’re such a
slapper.’

‘Oh, and you’re not?’
  

‘You
know
I’m not.’

‘Well it wasn’t
me
who thought I was pregnant.’

‘And neither did I. I bet it was
you who started that rumour at school.’

‘It wasn’t,’ Faye protested.
  

‘What’s going on here?’ Roy
intervened, as he strolled into the room.
   

‘Nothing, Dad, don’t worry,’
Harley said. ‘Come upstairs, Faye.’

In her bedroom she handed Faye a
concealer stick. ‘That won’t make much difference; it’s a whopper. Your Dad
won’t be too pleased. I hate love bites you can see, they look so common.’

‘I didn’t realise Nathan had done
it,’ Faye muttered, checking her neck in the dressing table mirror.

‘You shouldn’t get into situations
where you don’t know what’s happening.’
  

‘We had vodka in our coke. I feel
very pissed actually,’ Faye said. She flopped down on Harley’s bed and closed
her eyes. ‘The room’s spinning round and round, Harls - ooh - I feel sick.’

‘Don’t be sick on my duvet cover,
it’s new. I’ll get you a bucket.’
 

***

Roy
spotted Harley running through the hall and followed her upstairs.
 

‘What’s going on? Why the bucket?’

‘Faye feels sick.’
  

Faye had passed out on the bed and
Roy pulled her into an upright
position.

‘Get your Mum,’ he said to Harley.
He held Faye’s hair back from her face and gently tapped her cheeks.