The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (92 page)

  
Pat sighed. ‘Maybe, but we’ll have to wait and see. No doubt someone
will get hurt along the way, but I have a feeling that it won’t be Sammy this
time.’

  
Tim nodded in agreement. ‘I’ll call the estate agents later. See if the
vendor’s accepted our offer. If they haven’t, I’ll go up a couple of grand, no
more for now.’

  
‘Well I’m off for a shower so I’ll leave you to it,’ Pat said.

***

‘Morning, Jane.’ Sammy smiled
wanly as Jane placed a mug of strong coffee and a chocolate donut in front of
her.
 

  
‘So, come on, don’t keep me in suspense. Why are you late? Why so tired
and what did Stuart cook for you?’

  
‘You’re a nosy cow, Jane Mellor,’ Sammy said as her mum’s head popped
around the door.

  
‘Morning, girls, everything okay? You look tired, Sam, didn’t you sleep
well?’

  
‘Like a log,’ Sammy replied. ‘But I was late going to sleep and early
waking up.’

  
‘I see, well I’m going to get stuck into that pile of invoices on my
desk. See you later.’
 

  
‘You stayed over at Stuart’s, didn’t you?’ Jane whispered as Molly
closed the door.
    

  
Sammy nodded. ‘I did, and to answer your question, he made a stunning
Chilli.’

  
‘Well, you obviously had a good time. How was he - you know?’

  
Sammy smiled. ‘Great,
bloody
great in fact!’

  
‘Really? So - you weren’t disappointed, I mean, after Roy?’

  
‘Not at all. I thought Roy
knew every trick in the book, but Stuart had a few surprises up
his
sleeve.
He was so polite, too. Actually
asked
if he could make love to me again this morning. Didn’t just assume it was his
right because I was in his bed.’

  
‘He’s such a nice guy. How do you feel about him?’

  
‘I really like him, obviously. I wouldn’t have slept with him otherwise.
But I don’t feel love for him.’ Sammy bit into her donut as Jane frowned.

  
‘Well, I
think he loves
you
, the way he looks at you and
everything.’

  
‘Jane, I love Roy, and in spite of the fact that he’s hurt me, I’d take
him back today if Livvy could be guaranteed to be out of his life for ever.
When I was driving home from Stuart’s this morning I felt more on an even
footing with Roy. I hope that
doesn’t sound like I’m using Stuart for sex. I wanted to sleep with him because
it felt right and I needed to know that it wasn’t
me
being crap in bed that pushed Roy
into Livvy’s arms. After last night I know it wasn’t.’

  
‘You shouldn’t have felt like that anyway. Roy
still wanted you. He asked Ed if you’d slept with Stuart and Ed asked me. You
hadn’t then, so I said no. He told Ed he couldn’t bear the thought of you
sleeping with Stuart or anyone else.’

  
Sammy took a sip of coffee. ‘Really?’

  
‘Really. Sam, don’t divorce him. It’s such a waste. Live apart like you
are doing, but don’t divorce him.’

  
Sammy shrugged. ‘We have to be legally separated for two years before we
can be divorced anyway.’

  
‘I’d think twice about the whole thing. If
you
still love him and
he
still loves you, it doesn’t make sense to me. He’ll be away with the group for
weeks on end next year and she’s not going to like it one bit. She won’t be
able to go with him in
her
condition
and then with a new baby to look after. He’s going to spend a lot of nights on
his own.’

  
Sammy nodded, feeling a rush of guilt. If she hadn’t forced Roy
to move out, Livvy wouldn’t have been able to spend any more nights with him and
the relationship might have fizzled out. But then, Sammy thought, why should
she
feel guilty, she’d only done what Roy
had done. Maybe if she hadn’t drunk so much wine, or accepted that final
brandy, common sense would have told her to go home. But she’d really wanted to
stay with Stuart. So why were doubts crowding her head?

  
She took a deep breath and reached for the phone. She dialled a number
that she’d never dialled before, but one that was firmly etched in her mind.

  
‘Hi, it’s me. Did I wake you? I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have called. No,
no, I’d better go, I’m sorry.’ She hung up quickly.

  
Jane stared at her. ‘Did you just call Stuart?’

  
Before Sammy could reply the phone shrilled out. She stared at it as
though it would bite her.

  
‘Answer it,’ Jane ordered, but Sammy shook her head. Jane sprang across
the office and snatched up the receiver. ‘Hello, Cantello Designs! Oh hi, Roy.
No, she’s here, just a minute.’ Jane held out the phone but Sammy shook her
head.

  
‘I can’t,’ she mouthed. ‘I think she’s with him.’

  
Jane spoke into the receiver again. ‘Roy,
are you alone? Okay, hang on. He’s on his own. You woke him up.’

  
Sammy chewed her lip and took the phone while Jane tactfully left the
office.

  
‘Hi, Roy. I just wondered
how you were doing.’

  
‘
I’m fine, Sam, but I’m missing
you very much. How’s Jason and how are things with you and Stuart?’

  
‘Jason’s okay and me and Stuart are just good friends,’ she replied,
swallowing hard. ‘Well, um, it was nice to talk to you. I just wanted to say
good luck with the rehearsal this afternoon. I know getting the band back
together means so much to you all.’

  
‘
Thanks. Sammy
?’

  
‘Yeah.’

  
‘
I’m so sorry for everything. I
still love you, darling.’

  
‘Oh, Roy, don’t, please.’
She wished she hadn’t called him now. Hearing him saying that was so painful.

  
‘
But I do love you, you
know
I do.
’

  
‘It’s too late for all that.’

  
‘
It’s not too late. I’ve never
stopped loving you. And why would you bother calling me if you didn’t care.
Come over and see me, Sam, please.’

  
She hesitated. Roy must have
sensed her hesitation and tried again. ‘
Come
to the flat for lunch. You haven’t seen it yet, I’d really value your opinion.’

  
‘I’m not sure, Roy. I don’t
know that I want to be alone with you.’

  
‘
For God’s sake, Sam, it’s me,
your husband. Speaking to you has made me realise just how much I’m missing
you. Sammy, I beg you, please come.’

  
‘What time do you have to leave for your rehearsal?’ she asked quietly.

  
‘I have to be at the studio for
two. If I leave here around one-thirty it should give me plenty of time.’

  
‘I’ll see you about twelve then. Bye.’ She hung up and leant back in her
chair. What the hell was she doing and why? She could hear Jane out in the
corridor talking to Ruby. ‘Jane,’ she called. ‘Come in here, quick.’

  
Jane popped her head around the door. ‘What’s up?’

  
‘Close the door,’ Sammy mouthed. ‘I’m going to see Roy’s
new flat at lunchtime. For God’s sake
don’t
tell my mother. She’ll be really angry with me. If Stuart calls tell him I’ve
gone to the bank. I’ll ring him back later.’

  
Jane nodded. ‘I’m sure you and Roy can work things out if you really
want to. I know he’s been a bastard but you can find it in your heart to
forgive him. As far as
I’m
concerned,
Livvy, the baby and even Stuart, don’t come into the equation.’

***

Sammy’s finger hovered over the
bell as the door flew open, startling her. She felt her stomach looping as Roy
stood there smiling.

  
‘Hi,’ she said, smiling back.
  

  
‘I spotted your car from the window. Come on in. You look very nice,’ he
said, admiring her black suit and cream sweater. ‘But then, you always do.’ He
bent to kiss her cheek.

  
‘Thanks,’ she replied, following him up the stairs and into the flat. ‘I
could say the same for you. That shirt’s lovely. Is it new?’

  
Roy glanced down at his
brown, needle-cord shirt and nodded. ‘I bought it this week.’

  
‘It suits you, matches your eyes. Did Livvy choose it?’

  
‘No, I went shopping alone. Take a seat.’ He gestured towards the sofa.

  
‘I will, in a minute.’ She slipped off her jacket and threw it over a
chair. ‘Show me round the flat first. This lounge is beautiful, and the
fireplace is stunning, although I’m not too sure about the cushions and that
rug. Plain cream or gold would have been classier.’

  
‘Ah, well,
those
are Livvy’s choice, I’m afraid.’
  

  
‘Why am I not surprised,’ she said, following him into the kitchen.
‘Very well equipped.’

  
He led her down the corridor to the bathroom. She smiled at the towels
on the floor. He picked them up and threw them over the towel rail. ‘Sorry, I
forgot about those.’

  
She picked up a bottle of aftershave, minus its top. The evocative aroma
made her smile. ‘That scent brings back a million memories,’ she told him as
she screwed the top back on.

  
‘Good memories or bad?’ He stared into her eyes.

  
She shivered. ‘Mainly good.’

  
‘Would you like to see the bedroom?’ He raised a teasing eyebrow and
smiled.

  
‘Might as well,’ she said.
   

  
The brass bed had been hastily re-made, the duvet lying not quite
straight, and Roy’s cast off
clothes were in an untidy heap in one corner of the room. She was heartened to
see nothing of Livvy’s in evidence.

  
‘It’s a lovely room, Roy,’ she said. ‘Don’t you have a laundry basket?’

  
‘No point,’ he replied. ‘I never used ours at home, did I?’

  
‘True. But you actually have to lift up the lid. The clothes don’t jump
in by themselves.’

  
‘I know,’ he laughed. ‘But that’s work for women!’

  
Sammy tutted. ‘Your mother has a lot to answer for, the way she ran
around after you and your dad.’

  
He smiled lazily, his dark eyes holding hers. ‘Fancy some lunch?’

  
‘I’d love a sandwich. Have you any juice?’

  
‘I’ll see what I can find. Take a seat. Will cheese and ham be okay?’

  
‘Lovely,’ she replied, sitting down on the sofa.

  
Livvy’s touches were everywhere. Sammy shook her head and smiled. The
girl was obviously enjoying playing house, but funnily enough it didn’t hurt
like she’d expected it to. It was almost as though making love with Stuart had
had a cathartic effect.

  
Roy re-appeared, carrying a
tray laden with sandwiches and two glasses of orange juice.

  
‘Very domesticated,’ she said as he
placed it on the coffee table. ‘Have you been taking lessons from Ed?’

  
‘Don’t be sarky,’ he said, flopping down beside her. ‘I can do things
when I have to.’

  
‘The flat’s lovely, Roy. I can see you’re quite comfortable. Err, Livvy
not moved in with you?’

  
He shook his head. ‘Not yet. She stays over, but says there’s no point
in us getting used to living together just yet when I’m gonna be away with the
band.’
  

  
‘Hmm,’ Sammy nodded, glad to hear that. ‘Are you looking forward to
being on the road again?’

  
‘I am actually,’ he replied, biting into a sandwich. ‘In bed the other
night I was thinking back to our first tour. When we were bottom of the bill
and me and Ed wrote
My Special Girl.’

  
‘Then soon you were top of the bill and the song went into the charts,’
Sammy said with a catch in her voice as the memories of that exciting time came
flooding back.
 

  
‘I wish we could go back to those early days,’ Roy
said wistfully.

  
‘Do you?’ She looked at him.

  
He nodded. ‘They were wonderful times,
full of discovery and simple pleasures.’

  
‘Jane and I often say that we wish we could go back, too, but knowing
what we know now.’

  
‘Would you change anything?’

  
‘Nothing - except for the last few months.’
  

  
‘Same here,’ he said quietly.

  
Sammy sighed. ‘Oh, Roy, what
went wrong? We were so happy together.’

  
He put down his sandwich and took her hands. ‘Me, that’s what went
wrong, it was never you, Sam. You put up with a lot from me over the years;
drugs, boozing, my being away all the time. Bringing up the boys on your own,
working hard at your business and me expecting you to drop everything and give
me your full attention the minute I walked through the door, as though no one
else mattered. I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through. This bloody mess
I’ve got into now is just about the most disastrous thing I could have done to
us and at the worst possible time.’