The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (7 page)

She smiled at Carl as he emptied
the dustpan into the bin. ‘Lock the front door and turn off the main lights
when you take the brush back upstairs.’

Someone hammered loudly on the
door as Carl sauntered back to the record department. He peered up the stairs
and tutted. ‘It’s a man. Shall I tell him we’re closed?’

‘Please,’ Jane said
absent-mindedly. She filled in the bank slip and popped the cash into the
leather pouch. ‘Tell him to come back tomorrow.’

‘Jane, he won’t go away. Says he
wants to speak to
you.
’

She frowned and looked up at the
young man who was smiling and waving at her through the glass door. Her stomach
lurched.

‘It’s Eddie. Let him in please.’

Carl unlocked the door and Eddie
stepped into the darkened shop.

‘Hello,’ he greeted Carl who was
eyeing him curiously.

‘Hi. Jane’s downstairs.’

‘Thanks, mate.’ Eddie squeezed
past Carl and ran down the stairs.

Sensing that Eddie wanted to be
alone with her, Jane told Carl to go home.

‘I’ll finish off here. Go and
find Sammy. Tell her to go home without me. She’ll be at my bus stop in

‘Will you be okay?’ Carl asked.

‘I’ll be fine. Off you go and
I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She handed him his jacket and pushed him up the stairs.
She turned to Eddie who smiled and held out his hands. Aware of enough
electricity in the air to light up Blackpool
illuminations, Jane shivered.

‘Hi, you,’ he said, melting her
with his blue-eyed gaze.

‘Hi, yourself.’ She moved towards
him.

They fell on one another, kissing
slowly and passionately, Eddie’s wandering hands moving over her body.

‘Jane, I love you.’ He pushed her
back against the counter and slid his hands under her sweater, kissing her
again.

‘I love
you,'
she said. He cupped her breasts and she felt strange
sensations in her tummy. ‘Ed, I’ve missed you so much,’ she whispered as
feelings overwhelmed her and tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.

‘Don’t cry.’ He kissed her again
and wiped her eyes with his fingertips. ‘I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever
know. Roy and Sammy told me about the weekend. I’m so sorry; it’s my fault. I
ruined it for you and Mark.’

‘You didn’t ruin anything. I
couldn’t give him what he wanted. It wasn’t fair to make him wait any longer.
He deserves better than that.’

‘You deserve better than me,
Jane.’ He ran his hands through her long, silky hair and kissed the top of her
head. ‘I’m married, got a kid, no job, no money. Nothing at all to offer you
except my love.’

‘Your love'll do just fine,’ she
said, looking into his eyes.

‘Good!’ He crushed her to him.
'Can’t keep my hands off you. If we stay here much longer I won’t be
responsible for my actions! Will you meet me tonight so we can talk properly?’

She nodded. ‘Where would we go?’

‘My parents’ place. They’ll be at
the pictures. If we leave now you can still catch the
six o’clock
bus. I’ll meet you in

‘Perfect. I’ve got to drop the
takings off at the bank first. Are you on the bike tonight?’

‘Yeah, it’s parked down the road.
I’ll walk you to the bus stop and collect it later. Shame I can’t give you a
lift home, but I don’t think your mother would be too happy to see me.'

‘She’d have a hairy fit. Hey, by
the way, Sammy told me you’re re-joining the group. I’m so happy for you.’

‘Yeah, so am I,’ he said.

He grabbed her hand as they
slipped and slithered down the icy street and up the steps to the bank on
Broadgate. Jane dropped the pouch into the night safe. Eddie pulled her close
and kissed her again, holding her like he’d never let her go. They drew
breathlessly apart, and, with their arms around one another, walked towards

So absorbed in their delight at
being together, neither saw the shadowy figure standing in Estelle Modes dress
shop doorway.

Sammy watched in amusement as
Eddie swept Jane into his arms and gave her another lingering kiss, this time
in full view of the bus queue.

‘See you later,’ he called as he
walked away.

‘Well!’ Sammy raised an eyebrow.
‘That didn’t take long!’

‘We're meeting later. Going to
his mum’s place to talk. His parents are going out.'

‘Last time you were on your own
at Eddie’s mum’s house, Angie copped the pair of you in bed!’ Sammy reminded.

‘We’re only going there to talk,’
Jane said, blushing at the memory. ‘And hopefully Angie won’t turn up this
time.’

‘It
is
the same Eddie
Mellor we all know and love that you’re meeting?’

‘Of course, but he’s changed,’
Jane replied lamely, remembering Eddie’s hands had just been all over her and
no doubt would be later.

As they sat on the bus going
home, Sammy squeezed her arm.

‘Joking aside, you look happier
than I’ve seen you look for ages. But in view of Eddie’s track record, just
remember two little words when you’re alone with him.’

‘What?’

‘Take precautions!’ she teased.

 
Jane blushed furiously, sure that the whole
bus had heard.

***

Mark struggled to accept what
he'd just witnessed. Eddie Mellor kissing Jane.
His
Jane. And she’d been laughing as he’d put his arms around her.
Mark stood for a while longer in the shop doorway as jealousy raged through
him. How dare they make him feel a fool? His hands shook as he lit another
cigarette.

He wished now that he’d taken up
Tony’s offer of a pint. He certainly didn’t feel like going home. His mother
would only bend his ear about his broken engagement, yet again. Unable to admit
the truth about the weekend, he’d lied that Jane had had a change of heart
about getting married.

His mother's unsympathetic reply
had been that it was for the best as Jane was a flighty piece, what with her
short skirts and makeup. Mark clenched his fists as he remembered she'd
followed it with, “Never mind, Marky, she was only after your savings. Now you
can stay here with me instead of buying your own house. You and I were happy
together until you took up with that girl."

‘No, Mother, we weren’t,’ he
muttered. ‘Because y
ou’re
never happy unless you’re getting your own
bloody way.’ He finished his cigarette and made his way to the Black Lion. He
ordered a pint of cider, a double whisky; chose a secluded table tucked in a
corner at the back of the crowded room, knocked back the whisky and downed the
cider in record time. He ordered another pint and this time drank it at a more
leisurely pace. The alcohol blurred the edges of his pain. For the first time
in three days he felt able to relax. He lit another cigarette, picked up a copy
of the Manchester Evening Chronicle that someone had left on the table and
turned to the back sports page.

‘So, you decided to venture out
after all?’

Mark looked up into Tony’s
smiling face. He was with his girlfriend Sarah who sat down opposite.

‘I’m really sorry, Mark, about
you and Jane I mean,’ she began, patting his hand.

‘S’okay, Sarah,’ he slurred.
‘It’s over and I couldn’t give a flying fuck about her.'

Tony frowned. ‘Didn’t you get to
see her after work then?'

‘Saw her all right. She was with
Mellor. They passed right by me and didn’t even know it. They were all over one
another. He’s probably got her in bed by now, screwing the arse off her!’

‘Mark!’ Sarah exclaimed.

‘That’s a bit strong, Mark,’ Tony
said.

‘Is it? I couldn’t give a shit to
be honest. I was right to call her a slut, because that’s exactly what she is.
Do you know what really pisses me off though? I ordered roses to be delivered
to her house. More fool me. She’ll probably chuck ‘em in the bin. Anyway, I
don’t wanna talk about her anymore. Let’s have another drink.’

‘Are you sure you should, mate?’
Tony said. ‘What about having something to eat first?’

‘I’m not hungry, and I’m dead
sure.’

***

CHAPTER
SIX

As Eddie entered his flat the
silence overwhelmed him. Before he’d left for work that morning the
conversation between him and Angie had been stilted. He’d been both horrified
and ashamed to see the bruising on her cheek.

Cathy had avoided even looking at
him. She’d dressed Jonny and announced that she would drop him off at Angie’s
mother’s house.

‘So, what do you want to do?’
Eddie asked when he and Angie were left alone. He lit a cigarette and drew
deeply.

‘I’m going to stay with my mum
for a few nights,’ she said, shaking cornflakes into a bowl.

‘What about Jonny?’

‘He’ll be with me of course.’

‘I won’t see him for a while
then.’ He flicked ash onto a saucer. ‘I’m not coming to your bloody mother’s
house.’

‘Tough! You should have thought
about that before you insulted Cathy and slapped me.’

'You hit me first.’ He held up
his hands as she opened her mouth to retaliate. ‘Okay, before you start giving
me earache, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you back and I apologise for
insulting Cathy.’

Angie stared at him for a long
moment then lowered her gaze. ‘Did you mean it when you asked for a divorce?’

‘I never said that.’ He frowned
and shook his fringe from his eyes.

‘You were so drunk you probably
won’t remember half of what you
did
say. It’s probably as well seeing as you were ranting on about our lack of a
sex life!’

‘Did I?’ He groaned and put his
head in his hands.

‘You did and you definitely said
you want a divorce.’

‘We need some time apart,’ he
said. ‘A bit of breathing space. Instead of you going to your mother’s, I’ll
stay at
my
mum’s and you can stay
here. Then we don’t have to mess Jonny’s
routine up. I’ll collect my stuff later and disappear.’

‘Okay, Ed,’ she agreed. ‘The less
my mother knows about our problems the better. I’ll bring Jonny home about
eight and then he won’t cry after you.’ She pushed her uneaten breakfast away.
‘So, you’re definitely going ahead and re-joining
The Raiders
?’

He nodded and stood up. ‘I am. I
miss performing. We need the money, so it’s not up for negotiation. Right, I’m
off to look for work. I need something to keep us afloat until the gig money
starts coming in. I’ll see you in a few days.’ He patted her shoulder and left
the flat.

Only the thought of contacting
Jane had kept him going all day on his fruitless search for a job and then joy
of joys, she’d agreed to meet him tonight.

He sat in the quiet kitchen and
ate the fish and chips he’d brought home then washed, changed and threw a few
clothes and toiletries into a holdall.

It was too early to meet Jane so
he decided to drop the bag at his parents’ home first. Make sure they were
definitely going out.

***

Enid
dropped the last peeled potato into a pan of water as her daughter shot past
her like a four minute miler.

‘For heaven’s sake, Jane, what’s
the rush?’ She lifted the pan onto the stove, wiped her hands on her floral
apron and anchored a straying blonde curl behind her ear. ‘There’s a fresh brew
in the pot.’

‘I’ll have a quick one.’ Jane
plonked herself down at the kitchen table. ‘I’m in a hurry tonight. Gotta get
ready to go out.’

‘Anywhere nice?’ Enid
passed a mug of tea over.

‘Err, John Grey’s house. He’s
invited me and Carl over for a drink. His dad’s opening a new store in Westlow.
We’ve been asked to help with promotional ideas.’

‘I see.’ Enid
smiled proudly. ‘Well, it’s very nice of them to get you both so involved. It
might lead to something good for the future.’

‘Mum, I already manage the
Pickford branch. I think I’m doing quite well for a nineteen-year-old.’

‘You are. But Westlow’s such a
nice area. You never know who you might meet. By the way,’ she continued as
Jane rolled her eyes. ‘Did you see the red roses in that bucket in the porch as
you came in? They’re from Mark. Well it looks like his writing on the envelope.’

She frowned as Jane got up from
her chair and stomped into the porch. She came back carrying the roses and
tossed them onto the draining board.

‘What’s wrong? They’re beautiful.
It’ll be Mark’s way of saying he’s sorry for falling out with you. He’s
probably ready to make up.’

‘Mum, we’re finished. There’s
nothing
to
make up. I don’t love him.
I told you that on Saturday.'

‘All couples have tiffs. The
trouble with you, young lady is that you don’t know when you’re well off! You’d
never want for a thing married to Mark. Not like that Mellor boy you went out
with, always in bother.’

Hands on hips, Jane faced her
mother. ‘Here we go again. You won’t let it drop about Eddie, will you? You
were never even prepared to give him a chance.’

‘He was nothing but trouble.’ Enid
folded her arms. ‘All that black leather and no proper job. Just be thankful it
wasn’t you that he got into a mess. He’s a bad
lot and he’ll never have two ha'pennies to rub together.’

‘Oh, and what would
you
know?' Jane retorted. ‘At least he
wasn’t a jealous creep. Anyway, I’m not making up with Mark and that’s that.’

Enid
watched closely as Jane removed the envelope from the bouquet, glanced at the
card and pushed it into her skirt pocket.

‘See, you’re blushing. I bet he’s
written something nice. At least give him a call and thank him.’

‘No! And I’m not blushing.
You
have the roses if you’re that
bothered about them. Stick ’em in the dustbin for all I care.’

‘Well, you callous little Madam!
That lad’s probably heartbroken and you want to put his peace offering in the
bin.’

‘How many more times?
 
I don't want them. I’m going to my room to
get ready. I don’t want any tea either. I’ll get something at John’s.'

Enid
sighed and picked up the bouquet. ‘I’ll find a vase for these then.’

‘You do that, Mum,’ Jane said as
she left the kitchen.

***

Upstairs on the landing Jane
pulled the little card from her pocket and re-read it.

Dearest Jane, I love you more than life itself. I’m prepared to forgive
you for sleeping with Eddie Mellor if you’ll have me back. I promise it will
never be mentioned again. Yours forever, Mark.

‘Oh yeah,’ she muttered, shoving
the card back into her pocket. ‘Never, except every time we have a
disagreement, which would probably be most days.’

She popped her head around her
brother’s bedroom door. He was standing in front of the dressing table mirror,
brushing his hair. His eyes lit up when he spotted her.

‘Hiya!’

‘Hi, Pete. Look at the state of
this room. Do you ever pick anything up?’

She trod gingerly across a carpet
strewn with Dandy and Beano comics, records and cast off clothes. Propped in
the corner was the old stand-up bass her father had bought for Pete off
The
Raiders
bass player, Tim Davis. Not that her brother had learnt to play and it was
currently doing duty as a hanger for his school blazer.

‘I’m only thinking of mum when I
make a mess,’ he said. ‘She’s home all day.
Picking up after me gives her something to do.’

Jane laughed at his reasoning.
‘Are you trying to do your hair in a Beatles style?’

‘Yeah!’ He turned back to the
mirror. ‘But it’s a bit too short. Mum made me have it cut after school today.’

‘Never mind, it’ll soon grow.
Brush it into a full fringe like Paul McCartney’s. With your big brown eyes
you’ll be a dead ringer. All the girls at the youth club fancy you,’ she
teased.

‘Which girls?’

‘Oh come on. Don’t pretend you
don’t know. Sammy’s sister Susan and her friend Anna are both crazy for you.’

‘Huh, they’re only kids.’ Peter
smiled at his mirrored reflection. He picked up a hairbrush, held it like a
microphone, and sang the chorus of
Please,
Please
Me.
He turned around with a swagger. ‘I
like my women older!’

‘Well Susan’s only two months
younger than you.’

‘Yeah, but I’m fifteen now. Give
her a bit of time to mature.’

'See, you are interested, little
brother.’ Jane laughed as he strutted around the room, strumming an imaginary
guitar.

‘Stop calling me little brother.
I’m taller than you.’

‘True, but you’re nearly four
years younger. Anyway, I’m off to get ready to go out. See you later.’

‘See you, Jane. By the way, did
you like the flowers lover boy sent?’

‘They were very nice, but I gave
them to Mum.’

‘Why?’

‘Because Mark sent them to try and win me
back.’

‘And you don’t want that?’

‘No, I don’t.’ She fished in her skirt pocket
and handed him the card. ‘Read that.’

Peter’s eyes widened as he glanced at the
neatly written card. ‘Jesus, Jane, Mum’ll go spare if she sees this.’

‘Don’t you dare say a word.’ Jane shut the
bedroom door and lowered her voice. ‘I’ll chuck the card away when I go out.
I’m seeing Ed tonight, but I told Mum I’m going to John Grey’s.’

‘But Eddie’s married now. He’s got a kid.
She’ll go bloody nuts.’ Peter’s voice shot up an octave as Jane put a warning
finger to her lips.

‘He’s not happy in his marriage. We still love
one another.’

Peter sucked in his breath. ‘
I
won’t say anything, but you’re taking
a hell of a risk. Make sure you’re not seen together by anyone who might snitch
on you to Mum.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Have a good time at
the youth club. Is Harry from next-door going with you?’

‘Yeah, his sister’s trying to flatten his hair
with water and lacquer. But it sticks out all over the show 'cos it's curly.’

‘You pair of posers,’ Jane said as she left his
room.

***

Over black lacy underwear, Jane donned a denim
skirt and a red angora sweater. She did her makeup, pulled on long black boots,
brushed her hair and checked her appearance in the mirror. The hot bath had
brought a flush to her cheeks and her eyes sparkled. A quick spray of In Love
perfume and she was ready.

As she collected her handbag and jacket from
the kitchen her mother pursed her lips. ‘That skirt's far too short for this
time of year. I can nearly see your knickers when you bend over!’

‘God!’ Jane tugged ineffectively at her
hemline. ‘Can’t stop to argue. I’m running late as it is.' She dashed out of
the kitchen before her mother could read her mind and try to stop her.

Her stomach looped and her legs felt so wobbly
she could hardly run to the bus stop. The thought of being alone with Eddie was
overwhelming. She'd never had such wonderful feelings of anticipation prior to
dates with Mark.

***

‘Only me,’ Eddie called as he let himself into
his parents’ house.

His mum greeted him with a welcoming smile as
he plonked his bag on the hall floor. ‘Is that more dirty washing, love?’

‘Err, no, it’s clean stuff. I’m home for a few
nights. Angie and I need to put a bit of space between us.’

‘Have you had another falling out, lad?’ His
dad offered him a cigarette and lit one for himself.

‘I'm afraid so. It was bad this time. She
provoked me to the point where I slapped her last night.’

‘Oh, Eddie, no!’ His mum's hand flew to her
mouth and she sank down on the sofa.

‘Angie hit me first,’ he told them. ‘I know
that’s no excuse but it was a natural reaction. Before I knew it I’d lashed out
and caught her a blinder on the cheek. Her face was a right mess this morning.
God knows what her mother will say. More ammunition against me, I suppose.’

‘The whole situation's a bloody
mes
s.’ His dad shook his head. ‘What
are you going to do? You’ve that little lad to think about. No matter what you
and her ladyship decide, Jonny must come first.’

‘I know that and he does. But I can’t get along
with Angie, no matter how hard I try.’

‘You’re welcome to stay here as long as you
like,’ his mum said. ‘Your bedroom’s always ready. We’re off to the pictures
now. Will you be alright on your own for a while or do you want to come with
us?’

‘I’m going to
Roy
’s actually,’ Eddie fibbed. ‘He and
Tim have asked me to re-join
The
Raiders
. Singing for now, then drumming
again when I can afford a new kit.’

‘I thought all that bloody group nonsense was
over and done with!’ His dad shouted. ‘You’ve got a proper job now.’

‘It’s not nonsense, Dad. And I got sacked
yesterday. I hated the job anyway. I enjoy singing. I know it’s something I’m
really good at. I need a bit of freedom and pleasure in my life. For fuck’s
sake, I feel like I’m continuously being punished for having a bit of the other
with Angie!’

‘If you hadn’t filled her belly with arms and
legs you’d have had your freedom and all that goes with it. You’ve only got
yourself to blame, Ed. And don’t use that language in front of your mother.
Show her some respect.’

‘Don’t you two start arguing again,’ Mum
bellowed above their raised voices. ‘I had enough of that when Eddie lived with
us. I’ll chuck the pair of you on the street in a minute. Give the lad a break,
Fred. He’s only doing a bit of singing with his mates. Where’s the harm in
that?’

‘You’ve always been too bloody soft with him,
woman. He brought the trouble on himself, mucking about with that young lass.’