The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (86 page)

  
She was looking forward to being officially seen in public on his arm.
No more sneaking around. He’d told his mum and dad about the baby and they wanted
to meet her tomorrow. She wasn’t looking forward to it, but it would be
interesting, to say the least, she thought as she turned on her side, closed
her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

***

Stuart drove into Manchester,
a broad smile splitting his face. He was really looking forward to being in
Sammy’s company later. He’d worshipped her from afar since his teens and
although he’d had many partners over the years, no one had ever quite measured
up to Sammy, so he’d made a choice to stay single.

  
He parked his car on

  
‘Give us a hand, Stu,’ Jon called. We’ve been rushed off our feet and we
haven’t had a brew for hours. I’ll make the coffees if you’ll help Sean.’

  
‘Sounds like a good deal to me,’ Stuart replied, taking his place behind
the counter.

  
Five minutes later they took a breather and drank the welcome mugs of
coffee.

  
‘I don’t know why they all come in at once,’ Jon grumbled.

  
‘There’s nowt as funny as customers, as John Grey was always fond of
saying,’ Stuart grinned. ‘Where’s your young girl today?’

  
Sean raised an eyebrow. ‘You might well ask. But we know where she was
last night
and
this morning. She
called earlier, told me she couldn’t leave Roy
on his own. He was in too much of a state.’

  
‘What’s she doing with Roy?’
Stuart’s eyes widened. ‘I know she’s expecting his baby, but I thought the
relationship was over. Sammy said she and Roy were getting back together. So,
what’s happened since Thursday night when I last saw Sammy?’

  
Jon told him what had gone on that morning.

  
‘Wow! It’s a wonder he’s still around to tell the tale. Sammy called me
a short time ago and invited me over tonight. She was with Pat and Jane at
Jasmine House. So - I guess Roy
won’t be there?’

  
‘Not unless Sammy’s serving him up balls first on a skewer,’ Jon
laughed. ‘I’ll call home; see what the latest news is.’

  
‘Go ahead,’ Sean said. ‘I love every minute of this ongoing saga.’

  
Jess answered Jon’s call. ‘Hi, Jess. What’s happening? Give us an
update. You sound a bit giggly and what’s all that noise?’

  
‘
It’s Dad, Tim and Roy having fun.
They’re stoned and they’re jamming old
Rock ’n’ Roll stuff.
Roy
’s
singing
Summertime Blues
at
the moment.’

  
‘Sounds good. Wish I was there,’ Jon said enviously. ‘So, Roy’s
still in one piece? How’s Tim?’

  
‘
Roy
’s still intact at the mo and Tim’s just
great. Hair down to his shoulders, really cool and laid back. They’re having a
rare old time. God knows how Dad’s
going
to drive Tim back to Sammy’s place later to pick up Mum. I think I’ll insist Tim
takes a taxi. I don’t want Dad to drive until his head clears. He might have an
accident and that thought scares the life out of me.’

 
 
‘Good
idea. You haven’t by any chance been smoking, have you?’

  
‘
Just a couple of small tokes
,’
she giggled. ‘
I haven’t to tell Mum that
Roy
’s here, so Dad and I did a deal, my silence
for a share of their joint.’

  
‘Well, you sound a lot more cheerful anyway,’ Jon said. ‘I’ll see you
later. I presume you know we’re babysitting tonight.’
   

  
‘
Yeah, Mum mentioned it. I’m
looking forward to that,’
she whispered
.
‘See you later. I love you.’
 

  
‘Yeah, me too,’ Jon whispered back and hung up. He turned to Sean and
Stuart who’d just finished serving customers. ‘They’re having a wild old time
back there. Jamming all their old stuff and smoking spliffs!’

  
‘Good for them,’ Sean laughed. ‘They must be over the moon to be
together again.’
    

  
‘A lot of water’s gone under the bridge since they last played,’ Stuart
said. ‘So, what’s on the cards then? For
The
Raiders
I mean.’

  
‘A reunion, definitely,’ Jon replied. ‘They’re going to reform and go
out on tour.’

  
‘And Roy and Sammy, what do you think will happen there?’

  
‘She’s divorcing him,’ Jon replied. ‘That’s what she said earlier. Can’t
see her changing her mind again. So if
you
fancy Sammy, the coast is clear,’ he added with a knowing grin.
  

  
Stuart smiled. ‘How do you know I fancy Sammy?’

 
 
‘The
way you looked at her on Thursday night was a good giveaway,’ Jon said.

  
‘He’s always had a soft spot for Sam, haven’t you, mate?’ Sean said.

  
‘Yeah, but I never stood a chance with Roy
hanging around. Sammy was besotted with him from the word go.’

  
‘Well, she’s no longer besotted, Stu, so you’re in with a chance,’ Jon
said.

  
Stuart nodded. ‘I’m off now. Thought I might see if my old mate Mac
still hangs around Tommy Ducks. I want to get Tim a little welcome home gift
for tonight.’

  
‘Mac’s always in Tommy Ducks,’ Jon said. ‘Dad and Roy still see
him.’
    

  
‘Great, see you both soon then,’ Stuart called as he left the shop.

***

Stuart stopped to buy three
bouquets of pink roses from a street flower vendor, then made his way to Tommy
Ducks and spotted Mac immediately.

  
‘Bloody hell, Mac, you don’t change one little bit,’ he said to his old
college chum who thumped him on the back and bought him a pint.

  
‘Neither do you,’ Mac replied, dark gypsy eyes twinkling under his
thatch of black curls. ‘Still single?’

  
‘For the moment,’ Stuart said, leading the way to a small table. ‘Are
you still with the lovely Jackie?’

  
‘Yep, we’ve got four kids now. I don’t know how Jackie puts up with me,
but she does.’

  
‘You’ve been together a long time - like Roy and Sammy,’ he said as an
afterthought.

  
‘Built to last, you see.’

  
‘Not Roy and Sammy, I’m afraid. They’ve split up. I’m surprised you
don’t know.’

  
‘I thought something was going on,’ Mac said. ‘I’ve seen Roy
in here with a little blonde piece. Brings her in for lunch occasionally. She’s
very young, half his age.’

  
‘She’s also very pregnant,’ Stuart replied offering Mac a cigarette.

  
‘Get away! Bloody hell, Sammy won’t stand for that. Christ,
I’ve
had flings but if I brought that
kind of trouble to the door, Jackie would sling me out, no messing.’

  
‘Sammy has done - slung Roy
out, I mean.’

  
Mac nodded and looked closely at Stuart. ‘So, now its time for
you
to make your move.’

  
‘And how do you know I want to make a move?’ Stuart took a long drag on
his cigarette and blew a smoke ring above his head.

  
‘Because you’ve always wanted Sammy. You missed your chance in the
sixties. Don’t miss out again, mate. Those roses are a good start.’

  
Stuart smiled. ‘They’re for Pat and Jane, too, and I need a little gift
for Tim. He and Pat arrived home from Nashville
today. Got any?’

  
‘Do bears shit in the woods?’ Mac grinned and slid a small package
across the table. ‘On the house, to welcome Tim home. Tell them to reform
The Raiders.
They’ve no excuse now he’s
back.’

  
‘They’re doing just that. Thanks, mate.’ Stuart smiled, and dropped the
package in his jacket pocket. He finished his pint, shook Mac by the hand and
left the pub, his thoughts tumbling over one another.

  
Sammy was free; an opportunity like this came once in a lifetime. He
made up his mind that he’d take a chance on getting hurt if she decided to take
Roy back. He’d already booked the
hotel for the trip to London and
planned to tell her later, if the opportunity arose. He made his way back to
his car, a happy man, his mind firmly made up.

***

Roy
let himself in with the key Livvy had given him. He called her name, but there
was no reply. He checked the lounge and then pushed open the bedroom door.

  
She was on the bed, her cheeks flushed from sleep and her blonde curls
haloed across the pillow. Roy felt
his heart contract with love for her. She looked like a vulnerable Goldilocks
and must have been so tired to sleep all afternoon. He lay beside her and
placed his hand protectively over her stomach, gently caressing.

  
He
felt tired too; it had been a draining day. The good and noisy
time he’d just had with Tim and Ed added to his tiredness. He closed his eyes
and snuggled closer. She wriggled and put her arms around him.

  
‘Hello, handsome,’ she muttered.

  
‘Hello, beautiful lady,’ he replied, kissing the tip of her nose.

  
She leant up on one elbow and looked at him. ‘Have you been drinking?
Your eyes look strange. You shouldn’t have driven if you’ve been drinking, Roy,
it’s dangerous.’

  
‘I haven’t touched a drop,’ he replied truthfully. ‘I shared a couple of
joints with Ed and Tim, that’s all.’

  
‘I see.’ She pursed her lips.

  
‘Do you have a problem with it?’ he asked, surprised by the look on her
face.

 
 
‘Well, I don’t know. I’ve never
considered drugs to be honest.’

  
‘I’ve smoked dope almost all my life. It relaxes me. It’s the only stuff
I do these days. Don’t worry about it.’

  
‘Okay.’ She frowned as he kissed her again.

  
‘I’m sorry I wasn’t around to take you shopping, but we’ve got all the
time in the world. I’ll take you on Wednesday. You can help me move into my
flat Tuesday. I need to buy bedding and towels and stuff like that. Tell you
what, why don’t I fly us to Paris?
We can buy my stuff, get you some decent clothes and stay over a couple of
nights while the dust settles here. The shops out there will knock your socks
off.’

  
‘I’ll be working next week,’ she replied.

  
‘Bollocks! Call Sean on Monday and tell him you’re not coming in again.’

  
‘Roy, I can’t do that. I
need my job. I can’t afford not to work.’

  
He sat up and stared at her. ‘Livvy, are you for real? I’m a fucking
millionaire. You don’t need the job.
I’ll
be looking after you from now
on. You call Sean, Monday and tell him you’re leaving. I want no arguments. You
need to get some rest before the baby arrives.’

  
She lay back on the pillows, staring up at the ceiling, a mutinous
expression on her face.

  
‘What is it, what’s wrong with you?’ Roy
asked her.

  
‘What if you go back to Sammy and I’ve burnt all my boats?’

  
‘She wouldn’t have me back,’ he replied. ‘There’s no question of it.’

  
‘And that’s the only reason you want me? Because Sammy won’t have you
back.’

  
‘No, I want you because I love you. I want to look after you properly,
and you’re expecting my kid.’

  
‘I was expecting your kid before all this happened today and
you
wanted to stay married to Sammy. I’ve always been independent, Roy,
running my own life since I was sixteen. I’ve got my flat, my car and my job
and I hadn’t planned on giving any of it up.’

  
‘So what exactly are you saying, Olivia? That you don’t want me and I’ve
fucked up my marriage for nothing?’ Roy
looked at her, a stricken expression on his face.

  
‘No, Roy, I
do
want
you. But we should take it one day at a time. I’m not quite as impulsive as you
are, except maybe last night when I needed to see you. I’m not giving up my
flat or my job just yet. I’ll stay with you at night, that way I know where you
are. If it works out between us then we can move in together after the baby
arrives. Once you start to play and tour with the lads again, I’ll need to get
used to being alone and I’d rather be under my own roof.’

  
He shook his head. She was a stubborn little madam, but she obviously
knew her own mind. ‘Okay, if it’s what you want then that’s fine. But it seems
a bit daft, keeping two flats going. When you decide you’re ready to move in
with me, I’ll buy us a new house. You can choose where you want to live,
somewhere spacious for our little family.’ He patted her bump.

  
‘There’s only one in there. We won’t need anywhere
too
big.’

  
‘There can be another one on the way as soon as that one arrives. One a
year if you like.’ He grinned and pulled her close. ‘Smoking dope makes me
randy.’

  
‘You don’t need dope to make
you
randy,
mister,’ she giggled, rolling into his arms