The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (19 page)

The nurse shook her head. ‘There
are some questions I have no answers to. Are you ready to do the identification
now?’

He nodded and followed her down
the corridor into a small side room that felt cold and clinical and smelt
strongly of disinfectant. Angie’s body, covered with a white sheet, lay on a
trolley. The nurse turned back the sheet. Eddie took a deep breath. Tears ran
unchecked down his cheeks as he gazed at Angie’s cut and bruised face. Dried
blood matted her curly hair. Only her cute freckled nose remained unscathed. He
nodded at the nurse; there was no need for words.

‘Would you like a minute on your
own?’
 

He nodded. He grasped Angie’s
lifeless hands and sniffed back tears.

‘I’m sorry for everything,’ he
choked. ‘For the mess I landed us in. For not
loving you as you wanted me to. Jonny was the best thing we did together. I
promise I’ll always look after him. Goodbye, Angie.’ He bent to kiss her
bruised forehead and walked out.

Back in the waiting room
everyone’s eyes were on him. His legs buckled and Roy
helped him onto a chair. He looked at their expectant faces.

‘She’s gone!’ His voice was
expressionless.

Cathy collapsed into Roy’s
arms, crying hysterically. Sally’s heart-rending scream echoed around the
silent waiting room.

Jane stared at Eddie, shaking her
head in disbelief.

***

Roy
took Cathy to her parents’ home and Jane and Eddie back to the flat. Tim poured
them a brandy and they sat on the sofa, hugging their glasses.

‘Angie was pregnant,’ Eddie told
them. ‘Five months they said. She lost the baby and bled to death.’

‘How awful,’ Jane said as Roy
and Tim shook their heads.

‘You’d better phone your mum,
Ed,’ Tim said. ‘She called twice to see if there was any news. Jane’s mum
phoned to ask if anyone had picked Jonny up. I explained about the accident.
She said she’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Thanks, Tim,' Jane said. 'Would
you like
me
to call your mum, tell her what’s happened?’

Eddie nodded, not trusting
himself to speak.

‘Don’t tell her Angie was
pregnant,’ Roy advised. ‘She
obviously had her own reasons for keeping it to herself.’

***

Lillian told Jane she'd keep
Jonny for the next few days until Eddie sorted himself out and she would call
them in the morning. Jane persuaded Eddie to go to bed. She cradled him until
he fell into a troubled sleep. She’d need to let John Grey know what had
happened. They certainly wouldn’t be going into work for a few days. And there
was Jonny. How on earth would Eddie hold down two jobs and care for a small
child on his own? She made a snap decision. No matter what barriers her parents
might put up, she was moving in with him immediately.

On Monday morning, leaving Eddie
sleeping fitfully, Jane hurried downstairs to open the shop, shocking Carl with
her hollow-eyed appearance. She briefly explained the situation and rang John
Grey at home. He told her to take as much time off as they needed and he would
call and see them later that day.

Richard and Angie’s funerals were
organised for the Friday.

‘I don’t think I can do this.’
Eddie looked at Jane as she brushed his dark suit. ‘The people Angie worked
with know I hit her that time. They probably blame me for our marriage breaking
down. She’d still be alive now if she hadn’t left me.’

‘Angie’s affair with Richard was
her choice. She was pregnant with his baby before you left her for good. Stop
blaming yourself. It was six of one and half a dozen of the other.’

Roy
spoke up. ‘Jane’s right, mate. You’ve got to attend the funeral. Tim and I will
be alongside you and Jonny to show our last respects. And your folks will be
there. We’ll all protect you from the wrath of Old Mother Turner.’

‘Fuck, the old witch hasn’t even
spoken to me yet. All the information about the funeral and stuff has come
half-heartedly from Sally. That family hates me. I bet they’ll give me a hard
time over Jonny’s custody, too.’

‘We’ll face that when we come to
it,’ Jane said. ‘Put your suit on while I get Jonny ready.’

‘I wish you were coming with me,
Jane. I need you by my side.’

‘I’m the last person that should
be there. I’ll be here when you come home.’

***

In Eddie’s absence Jane busied
herself cleaning the flat, her mind going over the last week when they'd
gratefully accepted all the help and support that came their way. Roy
had cancelled the groups’ next few gigs rather than engage a stand-in drummer.

When she went home to collect a
change of clothes, her mother had looked at her as though she suddenly realised
Jane was now a woman with a life of her own.

‘This is it; I’m not coming home,
Mum. I’m staying with Eddie at the flat. We have responsibilities to one
another and to Jonny.’

Her mum nodded. ‘I respect the
adult way that you’re dealing with the situation, Jane. But I feel like my
carefree teenager’s disappeared overnight. You know where we are. If you need
anything at all, let me know, and I do mean
anything.
’

‘I will, Mum. Thanks for being so
understanding.’ Jane threw her arms around her mum and gave her a big hug.

‘It’s not the start in life I
wanted for you,' her mum said. 'But sometimes
fate has a way of stepping in and you just have to get on with it. As long as
you and Eddie feel that you can make it work and be happy for that little lad’s
sake, you’ll have my blessing. Go on now, beat it before I change my mind and
beg you not to go. I’ve a lump in my throat the size of a big cob of coal and
it’s threatening to choke me.’

After expecting a huge row and
not getting one disagreeable word, Jane gave her mum a final hug and left her
childhood home with tears tumbling down her cheeks.

***

A week after the funeral, Angie’s
mother paid a brief visit to the Westlow flat. The formidable figure of Lydia
Turner perched on the edge of the sofa opposite Eddie and Jane, her cold green
eyes raking the neat and tidy sitting room.

‘Right, whatever you’ve come to
say, get it off your chest,’ Eddie prompted, reaching for Jane’s hand as Lydia
pursed her lips.

‘I presume you’ve given plenty of
thought to Jonny’s future?’ she began, looking down her pert little nose at
him.

‘Of course I have. I'm his
father, he stays with me. Mum’s helping out, and Jane and I live together.
There’s no need to worry about him.’

‘You’re living with Jane? Why
doesn’t that surprise me?’ Lydia
said. ‘You’ve no morals. Your wife’s been dead a week and you’ve got another
woman to take her role.’

‘Now hang on a fucking minute!’
Eddie exclaimed. ‘In case you’ve forgotten,
your
daughter
moved in with lover boy.
It was
his
kid she was carrying when
she died, not mine.’

‘You gave her no choice but to
leave you,’ Lydia
said. ‘You treated her appallingly.’ She looked at Jane who was sitting silently
chewing her lip. ‘Did you know he was capable of beating up a woman?’

‘It was a slap, once, that was
all,’ Eddie said. ‘And
she
was handy with her bloody punches when it
suited her.’ He jumped up, clenching his fists, furious that this woman could
come into his new home and still cause him hassle. ‘Angie and I didn’t get on,
the marriage was a sham. If
you
hadn’t been so fucking bothered about your narrow minded neighbours and
listened to what
we
wanted instead of pushing us to marry she'd still be
alive. I blame
you
for everything!’

Lydia
gasped, hand flying to her mouth. The tears started and she looked in her
handbag for a hanky.

‘That’s right, turn on the
fucking crocodile tears! They’re your answer to everything. Well they won’t
wash with me this time. I’ve had enough of you interfering in my life. Get out
of my home and don’t come back.’

‘Ed, that’s enough,’ Jane said as
Lydia cried
hysterically. ‘Would you like a cup of tea, Mrs Turner?’

‘Please, dear,’ she sobbed.

‘Go and get some milk from the
dairy.’ Jane leapt to her feet, pushing him towards the door.

‘Don’t let her fool you with
those tears,’ he began.’ She can turn ’em on like a tap when it suits her.’

‘Just go! Leave us for a while.
The woman’s grieving. Give her a break. I’ve enough milk for tea; that was a
ruse to get you out of the way. Don’t come back for an hour while I talk to her
and reassure her that Jonny will be okay with us.’

She lowered her voice slightly.
‘Go and find Mac. Get some dope for later. It’ll help you calm down. But for
God’s sake, don’t come back stoned in case she’s still here.’

He put his arms around her and
held her tightly. ‘What would I do without you, Jane?’

‘God only knows.’ She sighed and
pushed him out of the door.

***

Jane busied herself in the
kitchen, rooting out their one and only china cup and saucer, a Coronation
design donated by Eddie’s Aunty Minnie. She popped her head around the sitting
room door. ‘Do you take sugar, Mrs Turner?’

‘No thank you, dear. Just a drop
of milk.’

Jane carried the tray through and
placed it on the coffee table. ‘Help yourself to a biscuit. They’re the last of
Roy’s chocolate digestives.’

‘Oh dear, will he mind?’

‘Of course not. It’s in a good
cause anyway.’

‘I don’t think Roy Cantello would
see me eating his last chocolate biscuit as a good cause.’ Lydia
smiled and Jane thought she saw a twinkle in the red-rimmed eyes.

‘Don’t worry about it.’ She
patted Lydia’s
hand. ‘Are you feeling better now? I’m sorry Eddie went off at the deep end.
He’s tired and on a short fuse. Jonny’s been up every night crying for his
mummy. Ed’s mum and dad have taken him to Belle Vue Zoo today to give us a bit
of a break.’

‘How on earth will you cope,
Jane? You’re not used to children.’

‘We’ll be okay, really. Jonny and
I get along fine, and Ed’s a wonderful father. He thinks the world of Jonny. I
know you don’t have a very high opinion of him, Mrs Turner, but he’s a lovely
man. He and Angie weren’t compatible.’

‘They were compatible enough for
him to get my daughter pregnant,’ Lydia
snorted.

‘It was an accident. They were
young and careless,’ Jane said.

‘I had absolutely no idea that
Angie was expecting another baby until I spoke to the hospital. She must have
been too frightened to tell me.’

‘Probably,’ Jane agreed.

Lydia
finished her tea and placed her cup and saucer back on the tray. She dabbed her
eyes with her hanky and fiddled with the clasp on her handbag.

‘I must say, this flat is lovely
compared to where Angie and Eddie used to live. You’ve got it very nice. Who
actually lives here besides you two and Jonny?’

‘Roy and Tim share the second
bedroom to help out with the rent and bills. Jonny is in with Ed and me. It’s
not ideal, but it will do for now until we can afford to move to somewhere
bigger.’

‘There are plenty of hands on
deck to help out?’

‘Oh yes, and Roy and Tim’s
fiancées are often here too. There are lots of people around to give Jonny a
cuddle and read him a bedtime story.’

Lydia
stood up and opened her handbag. She took out an envelope and handed it to
Jane.

‘There’s a hundred pounds in
there. It will help you out when Jonny needs new shoes and clothes. I’ll keep
in touch and send something each month until you get on your feet. Now I’d
better be making tracks.

‘Will you tell Eddie that Angie’s
father and I have plans to retire to the East Sussex
coast later this year? I wish him every success in rearing Jonny. I can see by
your ring you’re engaged. I expect you’ll marry Eddie one day soon, now he
doesn’t have to wait years for his divorce.’

‘Maybe,’ Jane said, seeing Lydia
out. She hugged her and closed the door, then leant against it, her mind
reeling. She was in the kitchen washing the cups when Eddie bounced into the
flat, a lot more cheerful, but slightly worse for wear.

‘Has she gone? Thank Christ for
that! I had a few pints with Mac and I’ve got some supplies for later to share
with Roy and Tim. Did you manage to pacify her?’

Jane nodded and told him what Lydia
had said, including her assumption that they would marry sooner rather than
later.

He smiled, head on one side. ‘And
do you?’ He slipped his arms around her waist. ‘Want to marry me sooner, I
mean? Be my little wife and look after mine and Jonny’s every need.’

‘If I must,’ she teased. ‘But you
know how much I love my job. I don’t want to give it up just yet.’

‘You don’t have to. Anyway, we
need both our wages. Mum said she’d look after Jonny while we’re working. We
can get married later this year.’ He looked closely at her and raised an
enquiring eyebrow. ‘You’re having second thoughts about marrying me now, aren’t
you? Is that because Old Mother Turner called me a wife beater?’

‘Of course I’m not having second
thoughts. I want to marry you, you know I do. But it would be disrespectful to
do it too soon after the funeral. We’ll talk about it again.’

‘What about just before Christmas,
or around your twentieth birthday in November?’ he suggested. ‘That’s a few
months away and it gives us time to adjust to being a family.’

She stood on tiptoes in the
circle of his arms and kissed him. He pulled her closer, kissed her back and
looked at her smiling face. ‘I take it that’s a yes then?’

***

CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN

OCTOBER 1964

Jane felt exhausted as she
climbed the stairs to the flat, knowing she looked like a zombie. But then, so
did Eddie. He was also worn out, working in the shop, drumming three or four
nights a week, then driving miles home in the early hours.

While she was grateful for Roy
and Tim’s offer to stay on at the flat as lodgers to help with the rent and
bills, sharing their bedroom with Jonny gave her and Eddie no privacy. They’d
had endless sleepless nights, with Eddie cuddling Jonny who cried for his
mummy, leaving her with a feeling of helplessness. When he eventually dozed
off, Jonny was a light sleeper and woke several times
at the least little sound.

Eddie had asked Sammy and Roy to
baby-sit tonight while they went out for a meal. It was the last thing she felt
like doing. She walked into the flat, kicked off her shoes and just wanted to
crawl into bed and sleep for a month.

***

‘I enjoyed that.’ Eddie pushed
his empty plate away. They were seated in a candle-lit booth in Rozzillo’s,
Westlow’s plush new Italian restaurant. In the gleaming mirrored walls, that
made the dining area look bigger than it actually was, their reflections seemed
to go on forever. ‘This place is really nice. Bit pricey, but great for a
special occasion.’ He poured the last of the house wine into their glasses and
raised his in a toast.

‘What special occasion?’ Jane
raised her glass to his.

‘Well, apart from the fact we’re
actually out together,’ he began, ‘it’s your birthday next month and we still
haven’t made any wedding plans. If you’re absolutely sure you still want to
marry me, then we need to do something about it.’

‘Of course I want to marry you.
There hasn’t been the time to think about it. Shall we arrange the wedding?’

‘Yeah!' He took her hand. 'I’ll
meet you in Pickford at lunchtime tomorrow and we’ll book it together. It’ll
have to be a small affair. We can’t afford a big do.’

Jane smiled. ‘All I want is to be
married to you; the time, place, size of wedding doesn’t matter. Anyway, I’m
too exhausted to be bothered with anything fancy.’

‘Good, ’cos that suits me fine.
What about just our parents, Roy, Sammy, Pat, Tim and Phil at the ceremony.
Then celebrate later with all our friends at The Roulette Club?’

‘Sounds perfect.’

‘Let’s go. See if we can manage a
bit of passion while we’ve some energy.’ He winked at her, looking more like
his old self.

‘I hope Jonny stays asleep then.’
Knocking back the last of her wine Jane stood up.

‘Sorry, Jane. Every time I come
anywhere near you he wakes up.’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘No need
for contraception when you share a room with Jonny Mellor!’

***

Sammy and Roy were curled up on
the sofa watching the election results.

‘We’ve set a date for the
wedding,’ Jane called excitedly, running into the sitting room.

‘I’ll put the kettle on.’ Sammy
jumped to her feet and turned off the television. ‘Roy’s
finished the cider. There’s nothing left to celebrate with. We’ll have a nice
cup of tea instead.’

‘You sound like my mother. She
always has the kettle on, just in case,’ Eddie said, pulling his future wife to
his side. ‘Who won the election, by the way?’

‘Harold Wilson,’ Roy
replied. ‘Don't suppose it'll make much difference to us, but a labour
government might make some changes for the better. Now then, are you sure about
this wedding business? It’s a hell of a big step.’

‘Of course we’re sure,’ Eddie
said, frowning at Roy’s solemn
expression. ‘Why are you saying that?’

‘Just checking.’ Roy
threw back his head and laughed. ‘We had a bet tonight that you’d come home
with some news.’

‘So, who won the bet?’ Eddie
said. ‘Who’s Doubting Thomas?’

‘Neither of us,’ Sammy said. ‘We both
knew you would. What we bet on is the date. I say Jane’s birthday, Roy
says Christmas.’

‘You're right, Sam. Jane’s
birthday’s on a Saturday this year, so we’ve decided to marry on the twenty
first,’ Eddie said, laughing as Sammy threw a cushion at Roy.
‘Has Jonny been okay?’ He nodded towards the bedroom door.

‘Not heard a peep from him,' Roy
said. 'Sammy peeped in earlier and he was flat out.’

‘Great, he never sleeps that
soundly for us. You wait, Jane, we’ll climb into bed, get fired up and he’ll
wake up.’

‘No doubt,’ Jane groaned.

‘Do I get the impression Jonny's
cramping your style?’ Roy raised an
amused eyebrow.

‘Every single time lately!’ Eddie
sighed.

‘Have my room tonight then.
Sheets are clean. I’m taking Sammy home first. I’ll either kip on the sofa or
share your room with Jonny. Tim called to say he and Pat are staying at his
mum’s place, so they won’t be back to disturb you.’

‘Roy,
you’re a pal. Was even toying with the idea of asking for the van keys,’ Eddie
said.

‘Well you’d be on your own,’ Jane
said. ‘I’m used to comfort these days.’

‘Aren't we all?’ Sammy yawned
loudly. ‘God, I’m knackered! Come on, Roy,
take me home. Leave these two in peace.’

As the door closed quietly behind
their friends Eddie looked at Jane with longing. It felt like ages since they’d
even been alone together, never mind anything else.

‘Come here, babe.’ She moved into
his arms. ‘I’m gonna love you ’til the cows come home, and that’s a promise.’

***

Jane hurried along Pickford High
Street and spotted Mark’s friend Vicky coming out of Boots the Chemist. ‘Vicky,
hang on a minute,’ she hollered.

Vicky turned and smiled, waiting
while she caught up. ‘Hi, Jane, how are you? I popped in the shop to see you
after we met at The Roulette Club. The young Irish lad told me that Eddie’s ex
had died. I thought you’d have enough on your plate without me mithering.'

They were outside Redman’s café.
Jane glanced at her watch. ‘Have you time for a coffee? I’ve some lunch hour
left and I could do with a drink.’

Vicky’s face lit up. ‘That would
be lovely.’

Jane led the way. ‘Grab the table
by the window while I join the queue.' She shuffled along behind two grey
haired ladies, carrying bulging string bags of groceries, placed her order with
a grumpy-faced woman, picked up the tray and made her way over to Vicky. ‘That
woman wouldn’t recognise a smile if it smacked her around the head. I got us a
chocolate éclair as a treat. So, how are things with you and Mark?’

Vicky made a face as Jane sat
down opposite. ‘Not great. Don’t know where I’m up to. He blows hot and cold. I
was glad to see the back of him last night when he went to Chester.’

Jane took a sip of coffee. ‘He
was very possessive with me. But my mother thought the sun shone out of his
backside.’

‘Even Tony says he doesn’t know
what makes him tick these days,' Vicky said. 'And he knows him better than
anyone, except maybe you. Do you have any ideas on how to handle him?’

Jane shrugged. ‘I’m probably the
wrong person to ask. His mother ran his life for him. She always belittled him
in front of me. It used to annoy me that he never stood up for himself.
Whenever she thought I was out of earshot she used to go on about my makeup and
clothes. He got really angry with her over that, but wouldn’t defend
himself
. I hated going to his house.’

‘Maude no longer lives with
Mark,’ Vicky said, spooning sugar into her coffee. ‘She’s moved into a flat and
Mark shares the house with Tony now.’

‘How come?’

‘It’s a long story. It also
sounds so far-fetched that you won’t believe it. But Mark has letters that
prove it’s true.’

When Vicky finished her tale,
Jane shook her head. ‘Bloody hell. That must have been an awful shock. I can’t
believe Maude Fisher could live such a lie. So, he hardly sees her at all now?’

‘He can’t stand the sight of her.
I’m beginning to think he feels the same about me.’

‘Surely not? You’ve been seeing
him for ages.’

‘Make’s no difference. He won’t
commit to anything. I found your engagement ring in his drawer. Thought he’d
bought it for me. It was the May Bank Holiday weekend. On the Monday he booked
a table for lunch. I was getting ready for that when I found the ring and everything
went wrong. We had a real bust up. He had his hands round my throat. I thought
he was going to strangle me. Then he told me he’d got a girl in Chester
pregnant.’

‘What!’

‘It’s true,’ Vicky said. ‘Not
only that, he told me he’s still in love with you. His bedroom’s like a shrine.
Your engagement photo's on his dressing table and all the gifts and cards you
gave him.'

‘Oh, that gives me the creeps,’
Jane said, shuddering. ‘What happened to the pregnant girl?’

‘The next week he told me it was
a false alarm and he’d packed her in. Turns up on Saturday morning with a
bloody big bunch of roses and asked me to give him another chance. More fool
me, I took him back. He was very weird that night. First he introduces me to
you, and then he wouldn’t come near me, although we slept in the same bed. He
tossed and turned, must have had a nightmare. He was shouting stuff in his
sleep, things like - “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” When he woke up he denied
saying anything and was very distant. He’s been acting odd since he discovered
the truth about his parents and it’s getting worse.’

‘Hmm.’ Jane nodded. ‘That would
be enough to screw anybody’s head. Give him time to come to terms with things.
I don’t think you should tell him we’ve spoken like this.’

‘I won’t. He’d go mad. But like I
say, he’s still got a huge crush on you, so just watch out.’

Jane recalled Mark’s words the
last time she’d spoken to him at the club, about them being far from over. She
checked her watch. ‘I’ll have five more minutes. I’ve been to the Registry
Office with Eddie to book our wedding.’

‘Oh, Jane!’ Vicky’s face lit up.
‘Congratulations. When?’

‘November twenty-first, my
birthday. I've only got five weeks to plan it. We’re not having a big do, just
family and close friends. What with looking after Jonny and Eddie, and my job,
we don’t have the time or spare money to organise anything posh.'

‘Are you living with Eddie now?’

‘I moved in with him the day
Angie died. We’re bringing up Jonny together.’

‘So, you’ve a nice little family
already.’

‘I’m very lucky,’ Jane said. ‘I’m
marrying the man I adore and I’ve got a lovely little boy, too. Anyway, come
on; shove that éclair down your neck or we’ll be getting fired for bad time
keeping.’

Vicky waved goodbye, after
promising to keep in touch and Jane hurried back to work deep in thought. Mark
must be cracking up. He could do a lot worse than Vicky, who clearly thought
the world of him. Why couldn’t
he
see
that?

***

Jane put all problems to the back
of her mind and threw herself into her wedding plans. Mario offered to do the
evening buffet at The Roulette Club. Her parents said they’d pay for the
flowers and a car to transport her and Eddie to and from the Registry Office.
She ticked the items off her list and was soon down to her own outfit and something
for Jonny to wear.

***

Eddie’s parents had offered to
look after Jonny for the whole of the wedding weekend. Unbeknown to Jane, he’d
booked a short honeymoon at a hotel in the Cheshire
countryside. Everyone had been sworn to secrecy.

‘Shall me and Pat pack a case for
Jane?’ Sammy suggested.

‘Please,’ Eddie replied. ‘She
won’t need many clothes if it’s anything to do with me. But you know how bloody
fussy she is about her shampoo and makeup. I’m bound to get it wrong.’

‘Leave it with us,’ Sammy said,
glad that Eddie was taking Jane on honeymoon. It would take her mind off Mark’s
alleged shrine of a bedroom. When Jane had confided in them, both she and Pat
had urged her to tell Eddie of Mark’s peculiar obsession.

‘No,’ Jane said. ‘He'll go crazy.
It’s too close to the wedding to be fighting with Mark. I don’t want a groom
with two black eyes. And whatever you do, don’t tell Roy and Tim.’

But Sammy knew that her friend
was very concerned. ‘Let’s treat Jane to something special to wear on
honeymoon,’ she suggested to Pat. ‘We’ll club together with Roy and Tim, and
then we can afford to splash out a bit.’

Between them they picked out a
pretty baby-doll nightdress and negligee in pale pink silk, trimmed with the
finest cream lace, and a bottle of Jane’s favourite perfume.

‘Wow, classy as well as sexy,’ Roy
said, picking up the bottle of Chanel No.5. ‘This lot’ll knock Eddie dead!
Wasn’t it Marilyn Monroe who wore only the perfume in bed? Cor, imagine that!’
He grinned at Tim who grinned back as though imagining exactly that.

‘Behave, you two, dirty minds,’
Sammy said, carefully wrapping the garments in tissue paper. She placed them in
the gift box. ‘Ed and Jane deserve the best after everything they’ve been
through.’

‘Jane’s certainly put up with a
lot,’ Pat said. ‘There were times in the past
when I didn’t think we’d ever see them together again.’

‘The one thing that’s got them
through all the shit is love,’ Sammy said. ‘You can see it in every look and
touch. I know they’ll be very happy. Raise your mugs to Eddie and Jane.’ Four
coffee mugs clinked in unison to outbursts of laughter.

***