The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (121 page)

  
‘Yeah, that was her plan. Maybe she’ll call after that.’ He smoothed her
hair from her face and gently caressed her cheek. ‘Don’t forget to take your
painkillers before you fall asleep.’

  
‘I won’t. I’ll watch a bit of telly then have an early night.’

  
‘Ah, the phone’s ringing.’ He stood up. ‘Might be Jason actually, he’s
not called yet. I’ll see you later, sweetheart.’

  
‘Bye, Dad.’ She blew him a kiss as he left the room.

***

Courtney lay on the bed, staring
at her mother, and then back at the red scrapbook she’d been given. Mom had
just told her the most amazing tale about a baby she’d given away. ‘A sister?
I’ve honestly and truly got a sister?’

  
‘You have,’ Mom said, smiling. ‘Harley’s a year older than you.’

  
‘Wow, I’m collecting a lot of family on this trip, but a sister, that’s
wonderful, Mom.’ She flung her arms around Livvy. ‘I don’t want to go back to
the States. Get Dad to stay in Britain
and then Harley can come and live with us and we can be a proper family.’

  
‘I think Harley rather likes living with her father, and she’s already
got a mum. Roy’s wife Sammy has
brought her up.’

  
‘Yes, but she was
your
baby,
Mom. Can’t you get her back?’

  
‘It doesn’t work that way, sweetie. But Harley wants to meet you, and on
Monday we’re flying to Manchester
and I’ll introduce you to each other.’

  
‘What about Dad? He’s supposed to be coming to Glasgow.’

  
‘I’ll call him later. Now try to get some sleep and I’ll see you in the
morning.’

  
‘I’m going to have another look at Harley’s album first. Anyway, I’m too
excited to sleep.’

***

Livvy’s conversation with Daniel was
stilted. He told her they needed to have a serious talk about things.

  
‘Why can’t it wait until we get home?’ she asked. ‘After the other
night, I personally have nothing to say to you, Danny.’

  
‘
That’s why I need to talk to you,
to explain. Don’t forget, we have a daughter to think about.’
 

  
‘What’s to explain? You obviously didn’t give Courtney a thought when
you were screwing your secretary, or whoever the hell she was.’

  
‘I’m not getting into that on the
phone. We’ll discuss things next week. When I return to the States I’m bringing
Courtney back with me.’

  
‘Not a chance,’ Livvy shouted. ‘She’s staying with me. We’re flying to Manchester
on Monday, so we won’t be here when you arrive.’
  

  
‘
Why are you going to
Manchester
again
?’
 

   
‘You know why. Because Harley’s had the bone-marrow tests done today. I
want to be around when the results come back.’
 

  
Daniel was quiet for a moment. ‘
Of
course, I‘m sorry, I forgot.’

 
 
‘Well you would, wouldn’t you? Courtney’s
looking forward to meeting her sister.’

  
‘
So you’ve already told Courtney
about her?’

  
‘Of course, I’ve told her everything.’

  
‘
Everything
?’ Daniel’s voice
raised an octave.
‘Including the name of
Harley’s father?’

  
‘Yes, even that. Harley’s father is the rock musician Roy Cantello.
Harley lives with Roy and his wife.’ - Daniel was silent again. ‘Are you still
there, Danny?’

  
‘
Yes. Why have you never told me
this before? For God’s sake, Livvy, Roy Cantello is old enough to be your
father, never mind your daughter’s
.
What
on earth were you thinking?’

  
‘I was in love with Roy,’
she said softly. ‘The age gap meant nothing to us.’

  
‘
I think you’ve got a hell of a
lot of explaining to do.
’
 

  
‘And so have you,’ she yelled. ‘Now fuck off, Danny. I’ve nothing more
to say to you.’ She slammed the phone down.

  
Sheena walked into the lounge and handed her a G&T. ‘Get that down
you.’ She sat on the sofa next to Livvy and took a sip of her own drink.

  
‘Thanks,’ Livvy said. ‘Where’s Gerry.’

  
‘Taking a shower. I’m dreading going to bed. Do you think he’ll be able
to tell?’

  
‘Of course he won’t. Not unless you give off odd vibes. Try and be as
normal as possible.’

  
‘Easier said than done. He’s bound to want sex after going without for a
few days. I can’t even tell him I’ve got my period, because he’ll remember that
I had one last week.’ Sheena stared gloomily into the fire and sighed. ‘Oh
well, might as well get it over and done with, then it’s out of the way for a
while. God, listen to me, I sound like my mother. She can’t abide Dad in the
same room, never mind the same bed!’
 

  
Livvy smiled at Sheena’s troubled face. ‘Get another G&T down you,
but for goodness sake, whatever you do, don’t call him Jon.’

  
They both giggled as the phone rang out. Sheena answered, her face
breaking into a wide smile. ‘She’s here, just hold on, Roy.’
She handed the phone to Livvy. ‘I’ll leave you to talk and get us a fresh
drink.’

  
Livvy chatted with Roy who told her Harley was home and that the
hospital would be in touch with the test results early next week.

  
‘Give Harley my love,’ she said. ‘Tell her that her sister is dying to
meet her. I spoke to my dad earlier and we’re having lunch with the family on
Sunday. They’ve got some news of my mother. Can you believe it that after all
this time I’ve actually got roots?
 
-
I’ll speak to you Monday evening then. Yes, The Midland, same as before. See
you soon, Roy. Bye.’

  
Livvy sat back on the sofa, hugging her knees to her chest, wondering
how on earth she was going to find the strength to cope with the next couple of
months.

***

CHAPTER
TWELVE

‘Phone’s ringing,’ Livvy said,
passing the gravy boat to Courtney.

  
‘I’ll get it.’ Leanne jumped up and Livvy saw her exchange a look with
their dad as she hurried from the room. Livvy stared at Dad as his eyes lit up
and a slow smile spread across his face. She cut into a crispy roast potato and
wondered what the pair were up to.

  
‘Dad.’ Leanne walked back into the room. ‘Gina - for you.’

  
Livvy dropped her knife on her plate and almost choked on the mouthful
of food. ‘Gina? My mother?’ she said as Dad stood up and gave her a pat on the
back.

  
‘Pour her a glass of water, Leanne. I’ll be back in a minute.’

  
Leanne sat down and poured Livvy a drink.

  
She sipped it slowly then said, ‘They’re in touch?’

  
‘Yes. He wanted to surprise you. Have another sip and compose yourself.
They’ve spoken each day since her sister gave her our number. I think they’re
besotted. He goes all silly when he talks to her. She wants to come home so
they can start again. She can’t believe Livvy Grant is her wee girl. She told
Dad that she actually saw
Juice
play Maple
Leaf Gardens
in Toronto last year.’
 

  
‘Oh my God!’ Livvy exclaimed. ‘We did two shows there last April. I was
so close to my mother and I had no idea.’

  
‘She also told Dad that she’s never stopped loving him,’ Leanne
continued, touching Livvy’s hand. ‘And he’s said the same to her.’
 

  
‘Aw, bless them.’ Livvy’s eyes filled with tears and she smiled at
Courtney. ‘I’ve got to bring your Grandma home as soon as possible.’

  
Courtney stood up and put her arms around Livvy. ‘Mom, I’m so pleased
for you. You’ll feel complete now.’

  
Livvy smiled. Complete. What a lovely word. And she was, almost. She’d
found her family, made contact with her long-lost daughter and now her mother
would be coming home. A jigsaw puzzle with almost all the pieces fitting neatly
together. All - except one. She didn’t want to go back to the States, to that
big empty ranch. It had never felt like home with just her and Courtney
rattling around with only the housekeeper for company when Danny was away. And
there
was the crux. She didn’t want to
go back to Danny either.

  
If she made a home in Cheshire,
Harley could visit whenever she liked. The girls could really get to know one
another. Seeing Courtney’s excitement at being told about her sister, she’d
mulled the idea over last night and the more she thought about it, the better
she liked it. She could put her career on hold for a while, concentrate on being
a mum, properly. Dad, calling for her, broke her thoughts and she got to her
feet. Leanne and Courtney wished her luck as she left the room.
 

  
‘Your mother would like to speak to you,’ Dad said, and handed her the
receiver. He patted her shoulder and left her to talk.

  
Livvy’s hands were trembling and her voice came out an octave higher
than normal. ‘Hello, Gina, err, Mum - oh - Mummy,’ she sobbed and she heard
Gina crying and calling her Marie, my baby. ‘Oh, Mum, it’s wonderful to talk to
you. Leanne said you want to come home. - When would you like me to book your
flight?’ She was quiet as Gina spoke for a while and then – ‘Leave it with me.
Dad will call you with the details. We’ll meet you at Manchester
Airport. I’m flying down myself
tomorrow afternoon. I’ll book Dad a flight to coincide with your arrival and
then we’ll be waiting for you. Dad told me we look like twins.’ She laughed as
her mother said she believed they did. Gina went on to tell her a bit about her
life and how she couldn’t wait to be reunited with her and Peter. How everyday
she woke up full of hope that something would happen and how she couldn’t
believe it when her sister had called with the news that Livvy had made contact
with Peter.
 

  
‘I’ve so much to tell you, Mum,’ Livvy said. ‘You’ve two lovely
grand-daughters to get to know. I could talk to you all day, but I know it’s
costing you a lot of money to phone here and I’m sure you want to talk to Dad
again before you hang up.’ She heard her mother give a girly giggle and her heart
soared. Her parents were one couple who were surely meant to be together and
she had it in her power to make that happen. ‘Okay - I’ll look forward to it,
too. I can’t wait. I’ll get Dad for you. - Bye, Mum.’
 
She handed the phone to Dad who was hovering
by the door, eyes sparkling and cheeks pink with excitement.

  
Back in the dining room she smiled at Courtney and her cousins, who were
still tucking into their Sunday roast. They looked up with undisguised
curiosity. Leanne said, ‘Lets take the wine into the lounge, then we can talk
properly.’ She turned to the teenagers. ‘I’ll bring an apple pie and jug of
custard through and maybe Courtney will serve up.’

  
‘I’ll join you in a while, hen,’ Leanne’s husband said. ‘Give you a
chance to talk. I’ll bring a pot of coffee through later.’

  
‘Thanks, Jamie.’ Leanne led the way into the cosy lounge. She threw a
shovel of coal on the fire and plumped up the sofa cushions. The sunlight
streamed in through the large bay window. Shielding her eyes, Leanne drew one
of the curtains across. ‘Can’t see a blooming thing in here. It looks a nice
day, but it’s still a bit cold. Make yourself comfortable while I get their
pudding,’ she said as Livvy flopped down on the sofa.

  
Leanne was back in seconds and sat in the chair beside the fireplace.
‘So, how do you feel now?’ She poured two large glasses of red and handed one
to Livvy.

  
‘Wonderful, like I’m in a dream. I’ll book Gina – err – Mum a flight in
the morning before I fly off myself. I’ll book Dad’s flight, too. Then I’m
going to treat them to a few nights in The Midland Hotel, so they can get
reacquainted.’

  
‘Oh, that’s good of you,’ Leanne said, wiping a tear on her sweater
sleeve. ‘He’s so made up, you know. He’s had a new lease of life since she
first called. He deserves to find some happiness. After all, he’s only
fifty-three and he shouldn’t be on his own. He and my mum never really got on;
they were always at one another’s throats. I tell you, when they were splitting
up and me and Pete were given the choice of who to live with, we didn’t even
have to think. If I see my mother twice a year it’s twice too much. I can’t
wait to meet
yours.
She sounds such a
sweetie. And if they marry - well, she’ll be my mum, too.’

  
‘One step at a time,’ Livvy said. ‘But I have a good feeling about
them.’ She took a sip of wine and stared into the fire, a smile playing on her
lips.

  
‘What’s happening with Danny? You said he was flying in on Wednesday.’

  
‘He is. But I won’t be here. He’ll have to sort himself out. Actually,
I’ve a few things to tell you all, so shall we give Dad and Jamie a shout and
ask them to join us?’

  
‘Of course.’ Leanne stood up. ‘
I’ll
make the coffee and tell them to come through when they’re ready. I doubt
Dad will finish his meal, he’s too excited.’

  
Left alone, Livvy allowed herself to think again about happy families.
She’d ask Daniel for a divorce, find a property in Ashlea
Village, register Courtney at the
same school as Harley – and – see how things developed with Roy.
If Harley had leukaemia, she could help Roy
take care of her by having her stay over. If her condition was much less
serious, maybe she’d actually want to live with them. Her new family could
visit whenever they wanted.

  
The holiday she’d promised them in LA would have to be postponed for a
while, but she didn’t think they’d mind
too
much. Sheena might visit occasionally when she wasn’t busy with work. If by any
chance things moved forward for her and Roy and he left Sammy, they could be a
proper family with their daughters. Have another child together, one whose
upbringing they could share.

  
And then an unbidden thought crept into her head and made her smile. She
could
still
have another child with Roy,
even if he stayed with Sammy. Coming face to face in that hotel lounge, the
chemistry was still there, even after all these years apart, and she knew with
certainty that they’d make love at the first opportunity. She could take back
what she’d given him all those years ago. And this time she’d be better
equipped to cope. She finished her wine and put the glass down on the coffee
table as the door opened and Leanne, Jamie and Dad walked in.
  

  
‘I’ve a few things I need to discuss with you,’ Livvy began as Leanne
poured the coffee.
 

  
‘Fire away.’ Leanne passed a mug to Livvy.

  
‘Thanks. First of all, my daughter Harley is unwell.’ She explained the
situation and outlined her plans to stay in England.

  
Dad, visibly shocked, took her hand. ‘We’ll give you all the support you
need, hen. But what about Courtney’s education, your career and your marriage?’

  
‘I’ve thought everything through,’ Livvy said, stirring her coffee.
‘Courtney can go to Manor Banks, same as Harley. It’s a private school, so I
shouldn’t have a problem getting her a temporary place, especially if I tell
them it may be permanent. I’ll rent a house for now, my career can go on hold
and as for my marriage, well, that’s pretty much on the rocks. Danny’s having
an affair. To be honest, I don’t love him anymore; I don’t believe I ever did.
He just made me feel safe when I was at my lowest. That’s not reason enough to
stay married to him. And we’ve a long-standing problem that won’t go away.’

  
‘Anything I can help you with? Not that I mean to pry…’ Leanne faltered.

  
‘I know you don’t, Leanne. It concerns Harley’s father. He was a married
man - still is. He’s a lot older than me, older than Dad, in fact. We had a
brief affair and Harley was the result. Her father and his wife are the people
who raised her. You may as well know his identity, because if the truth ever comes
out the press will have a field day.’

  
‘He’s not a politician, is he, hen?’ Dad looked worried.

  
Livvy stifled a giggle as she caught Leanne’s raised eyebrows. ‘Oh no,
Dad, he’s nothing quite so boring. He’s in the same business as me. He’s one of
the best rock guitarists in the world.’

  
‘Clapton?’ Jamie offered.

  
‘No, Jamie, not Eric. Harley’s father is Roy Cantello.’

  
‘Really?’ Leanne’s face lit up. ‘Oh my God - he’s so good looking. Fancy
getting to jump into bed with him. Livvy, you lucky girl!’ She blushed and
looked at Jamie, clapping her hand across her mouth.

  
Jamie rolled his eyes. ‘Remind me to get my old guitar down from the
loft next time you claim to have a headache,’ he teased as they all laughed.

  
‘Roy Cantello,’ Dad said, nodding his head slowly. ‘Fancy that. I’ve
always been a Raiders fan. I saw them play Glasgow
a couple of years ago and they’re still as good as ever. Well – you’re
certainly going to have plenty to tell your mother when she arrives. I won’t be
able to get a word in with all you girlies. I hope young Harley will soon be
well, hen. What a dreadful shock for you.’

  
‘I feel devastated inside. She’s so lovely, Dad. The image of Roy
with her dark colouring and brown eyes, but petite, like me. She’s a lively
character, in spite of being so ill. I can’t lose her now, not after all this
time.’ Tears tumbled down her cheeks as Dad’s arms enfolded her.

  
‘You won’t lose her, hen. If she’s anything like her mother and
grandmother, she’s a survivor. Whatever the diagnosis, I’m sure she’ll be
fine.’

***

Jon frowned as he saw Jess slide
something under a table mat. She picked up her glass and took a sip of wine.
They were dining with Mum and Dad.
 

  
‘What’s that?’ he asked, putting down the bottle of Merlot he’d just
brought up from Dad’s wine cellar. He sat down and stared at Jess as Dad
uncorked the bottle and muttered something about leaving it to breathe for a
few minutes. Something was going on. Jess and Mum had been whispering a lot
while they'd been preparing the meal.

  
‘What’s what?’ Jess pushed her glass over for a re-fill.

  
‘That thing you’ve just shoved out of sight.’ Her cheeks were turning
pink, she was definitely hiding something. A trickle of perspiration ran down
his spine. Could she have got some evidence of his fling with Sheena? Maybe
she’d hired a private detective to follow him and had photos of him leaving
Sheena’s hotel room. He took a long swig of wine and told himself to get a
grip. That wasn’t even a possibility, as he himself hadn’t known he was going
to Sheena’s room until the last minute. ‘Well, come on, what is it?’ Guilt made
him snappy and he saw Mum frown.

  
‘Tell him, Jess,’ she urged. ‘Just like your father, he’ll give you no
peace until you do.’
 

  
Jess handed the envelope over. Jon pulled out a brochure. A Social
Services’ headed letter was paper-clipped to it. He looked at Jess and handed
the brochure back. ‘Fostering! Is this some kind of joke?’

  
‘Of course not. I asked you last year if we could foster and you said
you’d think about it. Every time I bring the subject up, you change it. I just
thought I’d make a few enquiries. See what’s involved.’