by Pam Howes
***
Jane looked up from her paperwork and grinned as Sammy flung her car keys and handbag onto the desk and collapsed in the nearest chair. ‘Good time then?’
‘Wonderful, apart from the bloody phone ringing every half-hour. Each time I answered, the caller hung up. Roy said it was probably kids who’d managed to get our number. Anyway,’ she continued, ‘I told him I’m going to organise my time better and not neglect him so much. It was just like old times. Why don’t you take a lunch break, Jane? I’ll get on with things here.’
‘I will. I need to go to the bank and collect my dress from the dry cleaners.’
‘Oh, in that case, would you mind dropping Roy’s cream jacket in for me? It’s in the car. Here’s the key. Just check the pockets, make sure they’re empty.’
***
Jane smiled as she made her way to the bakery on the main road. It was a warm and pleasant day and her thoughts turned to Brittany. It would be lovely to spend time at the farmhouse again. It would do the four of them good to get away for a couple of weeks. There was no need to worry about leaving Katie and Dom behind. With her parents’ help and Jon and Jess, there were enough hands on deck to look after them.
She bought a chicken sandwich for lunch and a box of strawberry tarts for afternoon tea break. She reached the dry cleaners, collected her dress and handed in Roy’s jacket, pointing out the red wine stains.
‘Have you checked the pockets?’ the assistant asked.
‘I’ll do it now,’ she said, feeling in the outer pockets, which were empty except for a couple of coins. She reached into the inside pocket and pulled out a postcard. She smiled to see it was from John and Margaret Grey. Roy must have picked it up and forgotten about it. She’d give it to Sammy later. ‘There you go.’ She handed the jacket to the assistant who gave her a collection ticket, and left the shop.
On the way back to the factory she popped into the bank, bumped into her mother’s ex-next door neighbour and had a chat. By the time she arrived back at work she’d forgotten all about the postcard.
***
After Sammy left for work Roy called Livvy. She answered immediately.
‘Liv, I’m so sorry,’ he began. ‘Sammy took the morning off. Didn’t Ed tell you last night?’
‘I didn’t speak to Ed. He went straight upstairs to see to Katie. Jane saw me out to the car. I’ve tried calling you all morning, but Sammy kept answering the phone.’
‘I know and I’m sorry, Liv, really I am.’
‘So am I, Roy, I took the day off sick. Can’t you come over now?’
Roy sighed, Sammy had worn him out; he couldn’t face it. ‘I can’t. Sammy asked me to do a few jobs for her then I’m working with Ed. I’m sorry about your wasted day. I’ll try and see you later in the week, maybe before we go to London.’
‘Okay, I love you,’ she replied tearfully.
‘I love you, too. Don’t get upset, please, it makes me feel awful.’ He hung up, lay back on his pillow and sighed. What a hectic last couple of days. He couldn’t go on like this. He should finish with Livvy before he got in too deep and really hurt her, and more importantly, before Sammy found out.
His thoughts turned to last night and Ed’s well-timed diversion with the spilt wine. It was only a small thing, but could easily have been a disaster. He reminded himself to throw that postcard away, before Sammy took his jacket to the cleaners. ‘In fact, I’ll do it now,’ he muttered.
As he leapt out of bed the phone rang. It was Eddie, calling to apologise for forgetting to tell Livvy about Sammy’s morning off.
‘It’s okay, Ed; don’t worry. She rang about four times. Sammy got there before me. Livvy kept hanging up and Sam wondered what the hell was going on. I told her it was probably kids messing about. I think she bought it. I’ve just spoken to Liv. I’m gonna finish it. I can’t cope with all the worry. She’s lovely, but so is Sam. I don’t want to jeopardise our marriage anymore. We’re getting back on track. I want it to stay that way. I’d still like to help Liv get her singing career off the ground and I’ll try to encourage her to meet someone her own age.’
‘That’s the best idea all round, Roy. Finish it before it blows up in your face. Can you do me a favour? Will you collect Katie and Dom from school? I’m mixing down the Perry’s Dream tracks and I want to get them finished. Then I can relax tonight with Jane.’
‘No problem, consider it done.’
‘Thanks, mate, I’ll see you later.’
Roy looked at his watch. If he got a move on he could be ready in ten minutes. He’d pop over to Livvy’s, tell her the affair had to end and then collect Ed’s kids. He took a quick shower, pulled on jeans and a T-shirt and reached into the wardrobe for his leather jacket. His eyes searched the rail of clothes. His cream jacket wasn’t there. Fuck! Sammy must have taken it when she left for work. Now what? She’d be sure to check the pockets. Roy sat down on the bed, his mind working overtime.
Where the hell could he say he’d been on Sunday night? Obviously she’d realise he’d lied about being at the Greys. He felt sick. There was absolutely nowhere he could think of that would excuse him for being out ’til the early hours on his own. He’d have to enlist Ed’s help.
Livvy’s Mini wasn’t on the car park. Bloody Hell! She must have decided to go into work for the afternoon, Roy thought. He hadn’t the time now to drive into Manchester and then get back for Ed’s kids and anyway, he couldn’t say anything to her at work in front of Jon and Sean. It would have to wait until he could see her alone.
He drove slowly around Pickford town centre to kill some time then down Broadgate, where The Roulette Club used to be. Roy stopped the car and looked up at the old Victorian buildings. They were now offices. As he sat quietly for a while, a host of happy memories came flooding back. The club had been the first place where The Raiders had played in public, over twenty-five years ago. It had just been a small coffee bar called Mario’s then. He’d been a cocky sixteen, Tim and Ed both fifteen. But they thought they knew it all, that the world owed them a living. Happy days. He grinned and drove out of town towards Manor Banks School.
***
Roy parked the car and sat down on a garden wall opposite the school gates. He stretched his long legs out in front of him, lit a cigarette and relaxed for the first time that day.
A woman, wearing a white cotton coat, walked briskly down the road and smiled as she passed him. She crossed over and disappeared through the school gates. She emerged two minutes later, carrying a lollipop crossing stick. Roy stood up and put out his cigarette. He crossed the road and lounged against the school wall, observing the woman through half closed eyes as she put on a black peaked cap.
He’d always had a thing about women in uniform. He would hazard a guess that the lollipop lady was about forty. She had nice legs, was slim and didn’t appear to be wearing anything other than underwear beneath her coat. She turned round and caught him staring. He smiled.
‘Aren’t you Roy Cantello?’ she asked, smiling back.
‘For my sins,’ he replied.
‘I thought I recognised you when I saw you sitting on that wall. I was a Raiders fan in the sixties. Have you come to collect Eddie’s children?’
‘Yeah. Now how did you guess that?’
‘Well, he and I usually have a little chat. He told me you still work together. He’s not here and they certainly don’t go home on their own. I just put two and two together.’
‘Smart as well as pretty,’ Roy teased and she blushed slightly. ‘Eddie’s working so he volunteered me for collecting Katie and Dom.’
‘Here’s Katie now.’ She nodded towards the little girl, who was struggling down the steps with her navy-blue blazer half on. Her lunch box and school bag in her hands. ‘Dom’s nearly always last out. It was nice to meet you, Roy. Now I’d better get on with my job. Give Eddie my love, won’t you?’
Roy nodded as Katie launched herself at his legs, holding out her Victoria Plum lunch box. ‘Uncle Ro
y, why are you here? Where’s my Daddy?’
‘He’s at home, Katie,’ he said, taking hold of the lunch box. ‘He’s mixing some music. I’ve come to collect you instead.’
‘No Eddie today?’ a voice asked in his ear. He turned to see a pleasant faced young woman standing behind him, holding a small boy by the hand.
‘Err no, he’s busy,’ he replied, smiling at the woman.
‘Well, tell him Katrina said hi,’ she said with a smile.
‘Oh, I will,’ Roy replied, grinning.
‘I’ve got a mastiff bone to pick with Daddy when I get home,’ Katie told Roy with a serious face.
‘Why, what’s he done?’ Roy could hardly contain his amusement as the miniature version of Jane placed her bag on the floor and her hands on her hips, hat cocked at a rakish angle.
‘He’s told me big lies about twinkles!’ She screwed up her nose and sniffed.
Roy scratched his head in bewilderment. ‘Twinkles?’
‘Where’s Eddie today?’ another woman asked him.
Thankfully, Dominic arrived at that moment, creating a diversion. ‘Where’s Dad?’ he demanded, looking round.
‘He’s at home. Come on, let’s go and get in the car.
‘But we always go for sweets to the paper shop after school,’ Dominic said.
‘Well okay, we’ll go for sweets then,’ Roy said. ‘Lead the way.’
‘You have to carry our bags.’ Katie thrust her Barbie school bag at him. ‘I’m full of arms.’
‘Full of arms?’ Roy scratched his head again.
‘She means her arms are full,’ Dominic said as Roy grinned. ‘I’ll carry mine for you, Roy. Then you only have to carry hers.’
Roy followed the pair down the road, carrying Katie’s bright pink lunch box and bag. The diversion took his mind off his immediate problems of the postcard and how to end it with Livvy.
The small shop was crowded with kids and mums, but Katie and Dominic quickly made their choices and took the sweets to the counter. Roy dug in his pocket and handed a fiver to the young female assistant.
‘Where’s Eddie today?’ she asked, handing him his change.
‘Working,’ he replied.
‘Oh, that’s a shame, he always makes my day.’
‘Does he really?’ Roy said dryly. ‘Yours and a dozen others it would seem. Come on, you two, let’s go.’
***
Eddie put the kettle on and sent Katie and Dominic to their bedrooms to change out of their uniforms.
‘You were missed down at the school gates and in the sweet shop,’ Roy said with a lewd chuckle. ‘No wonder you don’t object to this bloody househusband malarkey. Your harem wondered where you were. Katrina says hi, and the lollipop lady sends her love. Oh, and Katie’s got a mastiff bone to pick with you.’ He pulled a chair out from under the table and sat down.
‘What have I done now?’ Eddie groaned, spooning coffee granules into two mugs. ‘Do you mind instant? Save me brewing a pot.’
‘No, that’s fine. Err, do twinkles ring any bells?’ Roy raised an amused eyebrow. ‘Here she comes,’ he added.
Katie bounced into the kitchen and faced her father with her arms folded, a stern expression on her face. ‘Daddy, you told me mastiff lies,’ she began.
Eddie held up his hands in a gesture of protestation. ‘I’m not with you, Katie. I never tell you lies.’
‘Well you did this time,’ she retorted. ‘Babies do not come out of twinkly eyes they come from men’s naughty bits and ladies bottoms!’
Stifling a grin, Roy stood up and walked over to the sink, turning his back on father and daughter.
‘Katie, who told you that?’ her dad exclaimed.
‘Lucy did, she said daddies plant seeds in mummies tummies and that they do it with their naughty bits. I know babies grow in ladies tummies, ’cos Mummy told me. You said they get there from twinkly eyes but you’re wrong, Daddy. Perhaps that’s why I wasn’t borned when Jess was. I told you that you did it all wrong.’
Roy’s shoulders shook helplessly as Eddie looked at Katie’s serious face. ‘Get out of that one, mate!’ he directed at Eddie.
‘Well now, it looks like I did,’ Eddie spluttered as Katie pursed her lips. ‘But you know what? You’re here now and that’s all that matters. And, Katie, remember what I told you this morning, about you being my very special girl?’
Katie’s features softened slightly. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t tell Mummy or Jess our secret. We don’t want to make them jealous, do we?’
‘Of course we don’t. Now why don’t you go and see Grandma Enid? Take Dom with you. I believe she’s made some chocolate crispy cakes. Go on, I need to talk with Uncle Roy privately. Katie, don’t mention twinkles or men’s naughty bits to Grandma, she might not understand.’
Nodding, Katie called Dominic and the pair hurried off.
‘See, we each have our cross to bear,’ Eddie said with a grin. ‘My eight-year-old just informed me that I don’t do it properly.’
‘Obviously not.’ Roy wiped the tears from his eyes and sat down at the table. ‘That’s the best laugh I’ve had in a long time.’
‘Jane needs to explain things a bit more clearly to Katie,’ Eddie said. ‘That’s her department.’
Roy shook his head, still grinning. ‘Thank God mine are boys.’
‘They can be just as bad. Although having said that, Jon knew what was what when I attempted to explain the birds and bees. They learn it all at school now. Not like us, having to pick it up as we went along.’
‘Yeah, but it was fun finding out,’ Roy reminded him. ‘We were mean, moody and magnificent, not to mention randy.’
‘Some people never change.’ Eddie looked at Roy over the rim of his coffee mug.
The laughter left Roy’s eyes as he handed Eddie a cigarette and lit up himself. ‘I’ve got another problem, Ed.’ He inhaled deeply and coughed out a cloud of smoke.
‘Now what?’
‘That bloody postcard. Sam’s taken my jacket to the cleaners. Guess what was in the pocket?’
‘Oh, fuck! Well that ought to do it.’
‘Help me, Ed. Where can I say I was on Sunday night that would cause me to lie to Sammy about my whereabouts?’
Eddie screwed up his face. ‘I’m damned if I know. Can you think of anyone she wouldn’t approve of you going to see?’
‘I’ve racked my brains ’til my head hurts and still come up with nothing.’
They sipped their coffees, minds working overtime. Eddie spoke first.
‘I’ve got it. The one person Sammy isn’t too keen on is Mac.’
Roy’s eyes lit up. ‘Brilliant, Ed! Bloody brilliant, in fact. Why didn’t I think of Mac?’ He scratched his head for a few minutes, deep in thought. ‘How does this sound? I was out of dope, nipped into town, bumped into Mac in Tommy Duck’s, got talking, went back to his place and lost track of time.’ Roy took another drag on his cigarette and continued. ‘I didn’t wanna tell Sam I was at Mac’s. I made up the tale of being at John and Margaret’s, not realising they were away until the postcard came. I panicked and hid it to avoid a row. Does that sound feasible?’
‘Perfectly feasible. It’s a far safer bet than telling Sammy you were in bed with Livvy. If necessary, Mac would cover for you. He’s cheated on Jackie often enough to know the score. Anyway, come up and listen to the tracks, they’re pretty good. We’re off to Abbey Road on Thursday. I spoke to Spencer Phillips today and he needs the tapes for Perry’s Dream pronto. I’m taking The Zoo tape, too, see what he thinks. We’ll go in my car, stay over a couple of nights and then you can drive us home so I can get plastered the night before.’
‘Sounds fair enough.’ Feeling positively light-headed at the solution to his problem, Roy followed Eddie up the stairs to the music room.
***
‘Mum, are we coming for dinner tonight?’ Jess asked as she put on her jacket. Her culinary skills were showing no sign of improvement and she and Nick looked forward t
o dining with their respective families.
‘Of course. Your dad’s promised Spaghetti Bolognese,’ Jane replied.
‘Again?’ Jess frowned.
‘Well it’s your own fault. You and Nick always tell him how much you enjoy his Spag Bol and he thinks it’s your favourite. He’s only making it because you two are coming.’
‘Jess, anything’s better than coffee and toast three times a day,’ Nick, who had come to collect her from work, teased.
‘Cheeky thing. You had beans yesterday and bacon the day before. Anyway, you’re no better; you burnt our boiled eggs last week,’ Jess retorted.
‘I won’t ask how you managed that, son, the mind boggles.’ Sammy shook her head at the pair. ‘See you tomorrow, kids.’
‘Yes, Sam, see you tomorrow. See you later, Mum,’ Jess called over her shoulder.
***
Sammy strolled through the factory, checking the machines were off and the irons unplugged. Jane locked Molly’s office and collected her handbag and dry cleaning. The pair made their way out and Sammy locked the doors, dropping the keys into her handbag. She rummaged around in the bottom of the bag, frowning.
‘Where the bloody hell is my car key?’
‘Oh - I’ve still got it.’ Jane opened her bag and took out both her own and Sammy’s keys. ‘And this was in Roy’s pocket.’ She fished out the postcard. ‘I forgot to give it to you earlier. That’s what I was about to ask you before Ed dropped the wine last night. Did you get a card from John and Margaret? We got one, too. They’re at their new villa in Portugal for a few weeks. Margaret suggested we all join them. But it’s not convenient to go away at the moment.’
Sammy took the postcard and turned it over to read it. ‘Trust Margaret and John to post the cards on the last minute. No point in inviting us over when they’re already home.’
‘They’re not home until weekend.’ Jane stared at Sammy as her face drained. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘They are home. Roy was with them until the early hours on Sunday.’ Sammy turned the card over and stared at the picture of a fisherman mending his nets.
‘You must be mistaken. Are you sure he said he was with John and Margaret? Not Sean and Tina maybe?’