The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (116 page)

  
‘Mmm.’ Sheena’s eyes lit up. ‘Chicken curry for me please.’
     

  
Jon went to order the food and Sheena composed herself and took off her
jacket.

  
‘What’s Roy like?’ she asked
when he came back. ‘As a person I mean.’

  
‘He’s a real nice guy. He and my dad have been friends since their
schooldays. They’re as close, if not closer, than brothers.’

  
‘Livvy’s nervous about meeting up with him again.’

  
‘I’m not surprised. I tell you, that was some wild affair. It knocked
everyone for six.’
 

  
‘Livvy told me that Roy
loved her.’

  
‘Oh, he did. It wasn’t just a casual shag if that’s what you’re
thinking. He was really into her. I mean, he must have been, to be unfaithful
to Sammy. Their marriage was supposedly pretty solid.’

  
Sheena nodded thoughtfully. ‘But that’s what we all like to think, isn’t
it?’

  
‘Well, isn’t yours?’ Jon frowned.

  
She nodded slowly. ‘It wasn’t mine I had in mind actually.’

  
‘Well whose then?’ Jon asked. ‘Surely you don’t mean mine?’

  
‘I don’t know anything about the state of your marriage, Jon. I presume
you and Jess are very happy?’

  
‘Most of the time we are, yes,’ he nodded, lighting a cigarette. He offered
her one.
    

  
‘No thanks. It’s Livvy’s marriage I’m thinking about,’ she continued.
‘She called Danny last night. He was in a hotel room with another woman. She
was so shocked and upset. She’d always assumed she had a very faithful
husband.’

  
‘So what’s going to happen there then?’

  
‘I don’t honestly know. She has such a lot of emotional stuff going on
at the moment. What with Roy and
Harley and finding her real family. She hardly needs this mess
with Danny.’

  
Jon shook his head as the waitress arrived with the food. ‘Poor Liv.
Let’s just hope things go okay this afternoon when she meets up with Roy and
Harley.’

***

The heavens opened as Jon and
Sheena left the pub. ‘Shit.’ Jon turned up the collar of his jacket.

  
‘I’ve a wee folding brolly in my bag,’ Sheena said. She took the brolly
out and shook it.

  
‘Now if I get under there with you I’ll be on my knees,’ Jon said. He
took the brolly and she moved closer to him as he held it down on her side and
put his free arm around her shoulders. ‘Shall we make a dash for it, or do you
want to saunter slowly in the rain with me?’

  
Sheena stared at him for a long moment. ‘Saunter slowly in the rain with
you. I always liked that old Ronettes song.’

  
‘
Walking in the Rain
,’ he
said. ‘I was brought up on a diet of Phil Spector songs. Mum’s a big fan. Well,
here we are.’ He stopped in front of the shop. ‘Back to work for me. How are
you going to spend the rest of your day?’

  
‘I may have a lie down or a long soak in the bath,’ she said. ‘The
world’s my oyster, so to speak.’

  
‘Oysters are aphrodisiacs,’ Jon said softly, looking into her eyes.

  
‘I’ve never had the need of aphrodisiacs.’

  
‘I bet you haven’t.’ He bent to kiss her lips lightly, then pulled her
closer and kissed her passionately. ‘Oh, Sheena,’ he whispered into her hair.
‘I’ve been dying to do that since I first set eyes on you.’

  
She pushed him away. ‘I’d better go.’ She grabbed her brolly and shot
off down the street without a backward glance.

  
Jon, his head reeling, stared after her for a long moment then turned
and walked into the shop.

  
‘How was lunch with the lovely Sheena?’ Sean said.

  
Liam’s eyes lit up, almost as though he was expecting to hear a bit of
scandal.

  
‘Liam, go downstairs and help Shelley,’ Sean ordered. ‘Tell her Jon will
be five minutes, and then she can go for lunch.’

  
‘S’not fair,’ Liam said as he reluctantly sloped off. ‘I miss out on all
the gossip. How the heck can I keep Shelley up to date if I only hear the tail
end of everything?’

  
‘Lunch was fine,’ Jon replied, rolling his eyes at Liam’s departing
back.

  
‘So what was wrong with your face when you came upstairs?’

  
‘I kissed her and she ran away,’ he confessed.

  
‘What, you mean, kissed her properly, or gave her a goodbye peck?’

  
‘I kissed her properly. Real full on.’

  
‘Fucking hell!’

  
‘It seemed like a good idea at the time and I thought it was what she
wanted, too. I’ve got to apologise before she flies home.’ Tonight was late
night opening and he didn’t feel like he could face it. ‘If it’s okay with you
I’ll finish at four-thirty today, go to the hotel and try and see her.’

  
‘That’s fine,’ Sean said. ‘Ian’s in until eight-thirty. He and Shelley
can manage downstairs and Liam can help me up here. Shelley’s always glad of a
couple of extra hours pay, keeps her in Ecstasy for the weekend.
 
Do you think it’s wise to see Sheena alone?’

  
‘I don’t want her to think badly of me and if I wait until Livvy’s there
it might be embarrassing. Sheena may not want to tell her what happened.’

  
‘Fair enough, mate. I can see you’re quite smitten, but be careful.
Don’t get too out of your depth.’

***

CHAPTER NINE

Harley breathed a sigh of relief
as she left the consulting room. Doctor Carey had asked her to wait in reception
while he had a word with Mum and Dad. He’d looked down her throat, into her
eyes, checked her gums and nails, studied her bruises, weighed her and
generally prodded her about. He’d remained silent throughout, but didn’t look
too concerned, she thought. He probably wanted to discuss Mum’s hot flushes in
private. She picked up a copy of Hello and flopped down on the window seat.

***

Roy
felt his face draining as the doctor told them he needed to admit Harley to
hospital, as a matter of urgency, for further tests. The first blood samples
had revealed that she was anaemic and had an abnormal increase of white
corpuscles in her blood.

  
‘I’ll arrange admission for Friday. You’ll have a couple of days to
prepare her.’

  
‘What sort of tests are you on about?’ Roy
asked. He could feel sweat on his forehead and his mouth felt dry.

  
‘I’m requesting a bone-marrow sample test.’

  
Sammy sucked in her breath, her face ashen. ‘You think she has leukaemia
- don’t you?’

  
‘No!’ Roy said, his stomach
lurching.

  
‘I can’t say anything for certain at this stage. When the results are in
front of me, I can make a proper diagnosis.’

  
‘This test,’ Roy said, ‘will
it be painful?’

  
‘It’s done under a local anaesthetic. They insert a fine needle into the
bone at the back of the pelvis. It’s not a particularly painful procedure, but
she’ll be uncomfortable and aware of poking and prodding.’

  
Roy nodded. ‘And then what?
Will she be allowed home?’

  
‘You can take her home the same night. We’ll be in touch as soon as we have
the results; probably Monday or Tuesday next week. She’ll be a bit sore, so
they’ll prescribe painkillers and she’ll need to rest over the weekend.’

  
‘And if it
is
leukaemia?’ Roy
held his breath.

  
‘Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it. In almost all cases it’s
treatable
and
curable. Now I’m quite
sure you’re going to, but
do
try not to worry too much, Mr and Mrs
Cantello.’

  
‘Easier said than done,’ Roy
replied. ‘We need to think about how we’ll tell Harley the news without
frightening her.’

  
‘You know her better than anyone else, so I’ll leave that to you.’
Doctor Carey stood up to shake their hands. ‘My secretary will be in touch
tomorrow with the admission details.’

  
‘Thank you,’ Roy said. He
grabbed Sammy’s hand as they left the consulting room.

***

‘Go and lie down for an hour,
Harley,’ Roy ordered as the family
arrived back at Jasmine House. ‘I’ll come and wake you at half-two and we’ll go
and meet Livvy.’

  
‘Okay, Dad. Are you going over to Aunt Jane’s, Mum?’

  
‘In a while. I’m collecting Pat and the three of us are going to have a
good old gossip.’

  
‘Mum, if you see Jack, remind him that I’ll be out when he gets home
from school. Ask him to ring me later, please,’ Harley called as she went
upstairs.

  
‘Will do,’ Sammy called back. ‘Enjoy your visit with Livvy.’

  
‘Would you like a coffee before you go out? Then we can talk,’ Roy
said, lighting a cigarette. On the way home they’d told Harley that the tests
had shown she was anaemic and needed to rest. She hadn’t questioned it.

  
‘Please. Instant will do,’ Sammy said as Roy
made the drinks. ‘I think we should leave telling Harley about the bone-marrow
tests until tomorrow. Meeting her mother will be enough to cope with for one
day. You’ll have to tell Livvy. Though God knows how with Harley around. If she
goes to the loo, tell Livvy as briefly as you can and that you’ll ring her
tonight after Harley’s gone to bed. You can explain things properly then.’

  
Roy sighed. ‘What bloody
awful news to drop on Livvy’s toes after all this time. I hope it’s not
leukaemia. People die from that, don’t they?’

  
‘Not everyone. Doctor Carey said there’s a good chance of a cure.’
  

  
Roy joined her at the table
and handed her a mug. ‘But it’s cancer, Sam. Why the hell would a young girl
have cancer?’

  
‘I’ve no idea.’ She patted his hand. ‘These things happen.’

  
‘I was a really heavy smoker when she was conceived. And what about the
drugs I used to take? Is this my fault?’

  
‘Roy, stop beating yourself
up. You were a smoker and took drugs when Nick and Jason were conceived. They
were just fine. It’s not because of anything you did.’

  
‘I suppose so,’ he sighed. ‘I mean, Jason being gay is hardly
my
fault, is it?’

  
‘Stop right now,’ Sammy said. ‘You always have to have a pop at Jason, it’s
not fair.’

  
‘Well life’s
not
fair, Sam. I
lost Nick, my perfect son. Jason’s gay and now my precious girl may have
cancer. How fucking fair is that?’ He got up and stood with his back to her,
staring out of the patio doors, shoulders shaking.

***

Sammy sat silently, hands wrapped
around her mug. She should comfort him, put her own feelings to one side, but
she
too
had lost a precious child and
gay or not, Jason meant the world to her. Every time Roy
had a dig at his sexuality it tore at her heart. Harley meant as much to her as
her own flesh and blood did, but this time, Livvy would also know the agony of
having a child possibly at death’s door, just as Sammy had suffered when Nick
had been taken from her.

  
She finished her coffee and went to stand behind him. ‘Roy.’
She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him. ‘Come on; let’s try
positive thinking instead of arguing. I love you and we’ll get through this as
a team, like we’ve got through everything else life’s chucked our way.’
 

  
He turned and kissed the top of her head. She held her face up for more
and his lips met hers. She unzipped him and slid her hand down the front of his
boxers. He moaned softly as she cupped him.

  
‘Thought you were going to Jane’s when you finished your coffee?’
 

  
‘It can wait a while,’ she whispered. ‘Some things are more
important.’
 

 
‘What if Harley comes down?’

  
‘She’s probably gone to sleep. Come with me.’ She led him from the
kitchen, into the utility room at the back of the house, ordered him out of his
jeans and pushed him back against the work-top. She kissed him and stroked his
growing erection. He caressed her breasts through her T-shirt but she pushed
his hands away. ‘No, Roy, this is
for you.’ She dropped to her knees and took him in her mouth, running her
tongue slowly up and down his length, caressing his balls, teasing. She heard
his breathing quicken, sensed his urgency. She slid her hands behind, clutched
his buttocks and dug her nails in hard.
    

  
‘Oh, Sam,’ he groaned, running his fingers through her hair and moving
with her rhythm.

  
She felt his body stiffen, his hands gripping her head firmly then he
cried out that he loved her as he came. She held him close for a moment, loving
the scent of him, then got to her feet and smiled. ‘Feel better now?’

  
He looked into her eyes. ‘You
always
know how to make me feel good.’

  
‘Well - I’ve had years of practice!’ She picked up his shorts and jeans.
‘You’d better go get ready. Wear something smart. The Midland
is quite posh.’

  
‘I’d rather stay here and go to bed for the afternoon with you.’

  
She
wished he could as well.
She needed him, but at least now his mind would be focussed on
her
rather than Livvy. ‘You can’t
disappoint our girl.
 
Anyway, I’ll be
here for you when you come home.’
     

  
‘I love you, Sam.’

  
‘I love you, too, Roy. I always will.’

  
She waited while he pulled on his jeans and followed her back to the
kitchen. She picked up her car keys and touched his cheek. ‘Good luck, love.
I’ll see you later.’
     

***

‘Do I look okay?’ Livvy asked as
she twirled around in front of Sheena. ‘I don’t want to look too flash or too
mumsy, just somewhere in-between.’

  
‘You look lovely,’ Sheena assured her. ‘The suit’s a good choice and
that shade of pale green is perfect for your colouring.’

  
‘What about my hair? Does it look okay loose?’ Livvy fluffed out her
blonde curls for the umpteenth time.

  
‘Yes. It looks all soft and feminine.’

  
‘Am I showing too much leg?’

  
‘Of course not. Anyway, those silky stockings look sexy. Roy
won’t be able to take his eyes off you.’

  
‘Oh don’t. I feel nervous, like a wee girl going on her first date. What
if Harley hates me on sight?’

  
‘Stop it, Liv. You’ll work yourself into a right tizzy. Why would she
hate you, for heaven’s sake?’

  
‘Because I gave her away, maybe!’

  
‘But you gave her to her father, not to strangers.’

  
‘Yes, but I still regret it. I can never forgive myself for that.’

  
‘I know.’ Sheena nodded. ‘But what’s done is done. All you can do is
meet her and see how it goes. You forgave your dad on the spot last week and I
have no doubt you will feel the same when you meet
your
mum.’

  
‘But those were very different circumstances,’ Livvy said. ‘They were
forced into handing me over. I willingly gave Harley away and accepted all that
money when I signed the agreement.’

  
‘Well presumably Harley has no knowledge of the deal. You and Roy would
be wise in keeping that to yourselves.’

  
Livvy nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed, smoothing her linen
skirt over her knees. ‘How did your lunch with Jon go?’
 

  
Sheena blushed and smiled sheepishly. ‘I made a complete fool of
myself.’

  
‘Why? What did you do?’

  
‘First of all I choked on my drink and he had to slap me on the back.
After that – well, we got on really well. We talked about allsorts, our kids
and stuff. Then outside the store he kissed me and I
mean
, kissed me. I
scuttled away like a frightened teenager.’

  
‘Sheena! Now what?’

  
‘I don’t know. I mean, do I call him, or just let it go?’

  
‘Hell,
I
don’t know,’ Livvy said. ‘We’ll talk about it later. I
must go now. Will you be okay on your own for a couple of hours?’

  
‘I’ll be fine. I’ll jump in the bath and then sleep. Good luck, Liv.
Enjoy yourself.’

***

Livvy chose a seating arrangement
of two brown leather chairs and a sofa. She placed her handbag on the oak
coffee table in-between and sank into the comfort of one of the chairs. She
busied herself by studying the afternoon tea menu, glancing nervously at the
entrance doors every few seconds.

 
 
At exactly three-thirty the doors
flew open and she caught her breath as Roy,
holding the hand of a khaki-clad teenage girl, sauntered through. He raised his
hand in a friendly wave as the pair strolled across the room towards her.

  
For the rest of her life Livvy would always remember those precious
seconds as his eyes held hers and he broke into an easy smile. He let go of the
girl’s hand and held out his arms. Livvy melted into them. He enveloped her and
whispered, ‘I’ve missed you so much.’

  
She stepped back and looked up at him, searching his eyes for something
she knew with certainty would still be there - and it was. Her stomach turned
over and her legs felt like jelly. ‘You look well, Roy.
You’ve hardly changed at all,’ she faltered as he squeezed her tightly again.

***

Harley stood watching her parents
greeting each other, a shy smile playing on her face. Her mother was beautiful,
much nicer than those posed photographs she’d seen in Hello. She looked so
young too, almost like a teenager herself. As though remembering the purpose of
the visit, her dad composed himself. ‘Harley, I’d like you to meet your
mother.’ He pulled Harley close. ‘Livvy, meet your daughter.’ Harley shyly
stuck out her hand and then as Livvy held out her arms she walked into them and
was hugged tightly, Livvy’s tears mingling with her own.

  
‘It’s so wonderful to see you, Harley, please sit down.’ Livvy gestured
to the sofa.

  
Harley took a seat as Roy
hesitated momentarily. ‘Sit with me, Dad, please,’ Harley said. He sat down and
took her hand in his.

***

Livvy saw how comfortable and at
ease Roy and Harley were together and was assured that her daughter was adored
by her father.

  
They began to talk, all three at once. Livvy asked Harley about school,
her friends, her favourite music. At one point she grinned and pointed to the
outfit Harley was wearing. ‘You won’t believe this,’ she said.
 
‘I bought exactly the same outfit from Gap
this morning for my daughter Courtney.’