by Pam Howes
‘Well I expect you’ll be hearing something soon and so will Livvy. You were a bloody fool the other night. You should have told Livvy it was over and then taken yourself off home. That couple of hours of lust has cost you the lot. I just hope it was worth it.’
Roy’s shoulders sagged and he let out a huge sigh. ‘So, what do I do now? Sammy will probably kick me out.’
‘No doubt she will. You’ll have to rent somewhere until everything’s sorted. You can stay with us for a week or two, but don’t expect too much sympathy from Jane and Jess.’
‘Thanks, Ed. For standing by me I mean.’
‘You were always there for me during my marriage to Angie and I’ll never forget that. But I love Sammy, too and I’ll support her as much as she needs. Shall we stop for breakfast? Services are coming up.’
***
As they stood in the queue at Watford Gap, Roy took out his wallet to pay for the breakfasts. He pulled out a credit card to find it had been cut in half. Horrified, he pulled out the next one and the next. All were cut neatly in two.
Eddie, spotting Roy’s stricken expression, quickly took charge and handed the assistant his own card while Roy carried the tray over to a vacant table and sat down.
‘She’s certainly been busy,’ Eddie said, taking a seat.
Roy checked his wallet again. He pulled out several folded bank notes. They too had been neatly cut in half, re-folded to look whole and then replaced back in the wallet. ‘Can you believe it?’
‘I can. Jane would no doubt do something similar. I think Sammy’s trying to show you that she means business with the scissors. It’s a symbolic gesture. I’d keep my wits about me if I were you. Make sure you lock the bathroom door when you’re taking a shower.’
‘She must have gone downstairs and wreaked havoc while I was sleeping. My wallet was in my jacket pocket. It’s the only jacket she hasn’t ruined, apart from the cream one at the dry cleaners.’
‘You’re very lucky to still have it then,’ Eddie said, tucking hungrily into his eggs and bacon.
‘It was my last birthday present from her. She designed it and had it specially made. It cost a small fortune,’ Roy said sadly as he looked at the black, soft leather, thigh-length jacket, with its equally soft, red leather lining. ‘Oh, Ed, how on earth can I make amends? Livvy told me to go back to Sammy the other night you know.
‘When I got home I apologised. We talked; Sam was on the verge of forgiveness, until I made the big mistake of kissing her. She pushed me away, said she could smell Livvy on me and ran off before I could stop her. She threw up, and that was it. She’s hardly spoken to me since. Now she’s wrecked my clothes, my car and my cards. And you tell me she’s already filed for divorce.’ Roy’s eyes were bright with unshed tears.
‘Roy, come on; pull yourself together, man. Eat your breakfast. It’s not very hot to start with.’
Eddie was conscious of the stares of a group of middle-aged women who were sitting at a table a few feet away. He heard one of them mutter, “It is them! I’d know them anywhere.”
‘Maybe she’ll change her mind. Who knows what the next few days will bring. At least you’re away from both of them for a while. Here, have a fag and let’s try and concentrate on the job in hand. We’ll stop at Brent’s Cross and get you a change of clothes. I’ll put them on the company credit card and you can pay the business back for your personal spending later.’
‘Thanks, Ed, you’re a real pal,’ Roy said and tried to eat the congealing fried breakfast.
***
Jess was packing and addressing the winter mail order catalogues on Friday afternoon when the office phone rang. ‘It might be Nick for me,’ she said as Sammy answered and passed the receiver over.
‘It is Nick, for you. Let me speak to him before you hang up, love.’
Jess, ‘yes-ed’, ‘no-ed’ and then, ‘Oh that’s a great idea, Nick, see you later. Love you, too.’ She handed the phone back to Sammy.
Sammy spoke to Nick and replaced the receiver. ‘Now that’s a lovely thought.’
‘What is?’ Jane glanced up from her invoices.
‘The party Jess and Nick were going to tonight’s been cancelled. So they’re taking us out for a meal instead.’
‘Oh lovely,’ Jane said. ‘Who’s paying?’ She looked at Jess, one eyebrow raised.
‘We are of course, Mother. What do you take us for?’ Jess was indignant.
‘Just going off your track record, darling,’ Jane teased.
‘I’ll go home a bit earlier, get ready and drive over to your place,’ Sammy said. ‘We can relax over a couple of G&T’s and then Nick and Jess can pick us both up from there.’
‘Stay over tonight then. You can have your old room. Ed and Roy are not coming back until tomorrow. Ed phoned last night and confirmed it. Did Roy call?’
‘Roy who?’ Sammy said dismissively.
Jane rolled her eyes. ‘You have to talk to him next week. This situation is crazy. You still love him and he loves you. Ed said he’s in bits; can’t concentrate on anything. He sat in the hotel bar on his own last night and got legless. He wouldn’t even go out for a meal with Ed and the lads from Perry’s Dream. That’s not like Roy. He loves to be involved as a rule.’
‘He was probably sulking about his car, or hoping to pick up another blonde bimbo,’ Sammy replied. ‘Talking of bimbo’s, I wonder if she’s had her solicitor’s letter yet. Roy’s came this morning. It’s waiting for him at home.’
‘We can ask Jon later,’ Jane said. ‘She’s bound to have confided in him now that it’s out in the open. I’d better call him, make sure he’s going to be home tonight and ask him to mind the kids.’
‘Can’t your mum and dad do it?’ Sammy asked.
‘They’ve gone to Gloucester for the weekend to see our Pete and his wife,’ Jane replied, dialling Flanagan and Grey’s number. ‘I dropped them off at Westlow station this morning.’ She pulled a face as the phone was answered. ‘It’s her,’ she mouthed at Sammy. ‘Can I speak to Jon please? It’s his Mum.’ Putting her hand over the mouthpiece she said, ‘She sounds really miserable.’
‘Good,’ Sammy said. ‘Serves her bloody well right.’
‘Hi, Mum,’ Jon said.
‘Hi, Jon. Are you free to baby-sit tonight while Nick and Jess take me and Sam for a meal?’
‘Yes, no problem. Can Helen stay over then? I’d arranged to take her out.’
‘Of course she can – if you’re sure her mother won’t object. I’ll treat you to a take-away and you can help yourself to a bottle from your dad’s wine cellar. Oh - have you?’ Jane raised her eyebrows and looked across at Sammy. ‘How on earth did she know where you were working? - I see. Oh well, we’ll discuss it over the weekend when your Dad gets home. See you later. Bye, love.’
‘What’s up?’ Sammy asked.
‘Jon’s had a phone call from his Aunt Sally, Angie’s sister. Angie’s dad’s popped his clogs and the family want Jon to go to the funeral next Monday. One of Sally’s sons found out that Jon’s working in Flanagan and Grey’s and told his mother. Sally took a chance and called him. I don’t expect she wanted to contact him through Ed.’
‘Will it pose a problem?’ Sammy frowned.
‘God knows. Ed hates him having any contact with them for obvious reasons. But at the end of the day they are Jon’s family and they always remember him on his birthday and at Christmas.’
‘Bloody Hell, there’s always something to worry about,’ Sammy sighed.
***
Jane drove home as quickly as she could in the Friday rush hour traffic; stopping on the way to collect Katie and Dominic from Lucy’s house. With her mum and dad away as well as Eddie, it meant she had to do all the organising and the morning school run. Thankfully, Lucy’s mum had offered to care for the children after school today.
Back home, Jane fed the hungry pair and settled them in front of the television while she took a quick bath and washed her hair. Jon arrived with Helen
and Jane met them on the landing as Jon was ushering Helen into his room.
‘This is okay, isn’t it, Mum? Helen sharing my room, I mean?’
‘Yes, as long as you’re careful,’ Jane replied absent-mindedly, then clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Oh, Jon, what am I saying? I’m sorry, love. You’re an adult and I still treat you like a little boy.’ She grinned as her strapping stepson gave her a bear hug.
Helen smiled at the pair. ‘Going somewhere nice, Jane?’
‘Jess and Nick are taking me and Sam out for a meal. When your dad rings later, Jon, tell him to call me back about midnight, please.’
‘Will do.’ Jon carried on into his room with Helen.
Jane rushed back into her bedroom to dry her hair and paint her fingernails. She carefully applied her makeup, fastened her gold chain and locket around her neck and slipped into her red silk Chinese dress. The Mandarin neckline hid her locket, but as long as she could feel it next to her skin she was comforted. Eddie had given it to her on their wedding day and she treasured it. She was missing him, hated him being away. Still, the only alternative was to live closer to the recording studios in London and that was something she’d always refused to do.
When Sammy arrived, Jane poured their favourite tipple and they waited in the lounge for the arrival of their offspring. Jess had called earlier confirming that she and Nick would be there for seven-thirty. The table at Rossillo’s was booked for eight.
Jon and Helen sauntered into the lounge, holding hands. They smiled as they greeted Sammy.
‘How are you, Sam?’ Jon asked, bending to kiss her cheek.
‘Fighting fit,’ she replied with a wry grin.
‘So I believe. Mum told me what you did to his car and clothes. That was very brave. I bet he was absolutely livid?’
‘If your dad hadn’t taken him away on Thursday morning we’d have ended up killing each other,’ Sammy replied. ‘By the way, has Livvy said anything to you?’
Jon shook his head. ‘Not really. She’s been very withdrawn the last few days, even before all this blew up. She seems to be a bit off colour.’
‘Not off colour enough to stop her sleeping with Roy,’ Sammy said. ‘Your mum tells me Aunt Sally’s been in touch.’
Jon nodded. ‘My Grandfather passed away and the family want me to go to the funeral. I’m not sure that I want to go really, but I suppose I should.’
Jane patted his arm. ‘It’s up to you, love; I don’t think your dad will be too pleased. But at the end of the day it’s your decision.’
‘I’ve got all weekend to think about it. I’ll go and collect our take-away. I presume you’ll be gone by the time I get back, so enjoy yourselves and I’ll see you later. Say hi to Nick and Jess. Tell them if I don’t see them tonight, I’ll see them on Tuesday at the college gig.’
‘You’ll see them later, won’t you? They’ll come back here with us,’ Jane said.
‘Err, depends what time you get back. Helen and I were planning an early night,’ Jon replied as Helen blushed.
‘Okay, Jon, enough said, you’re embarrassing Helen. Go and get your meal,’ Jane said.
‘Would you read us a story, Helen?’ Dominic held out a book, a hopeful expression on his young face.
‘Of course I will, Dom.’ She ruffled his hair affectionately.
Katie, looking puzzled, planted herself in front of her mother, hands resting on her hips. She’d been watching TV with one ear tuned to the earlier conversation. ‘I thought Grandpa had gone to see Uncle Peter with Grandma,’ she began.
‘He has, Katie, they went this morning,’ Jane replied.
‘Well then, why did you say he was dead?’ she demanded.
Jane gasped. Katie had obviously taken in every word she’d overheard. Jane looked across at Sammy for inspiration, but Sammy shook her head and shrugged. Jane took a deep breath. ‘Jon has another grandpa and grandma, Katie. Well, he did have, but the grandpa died this week.’
Katie looked even more puzzled. ‘Are they my grandpa and grandma, too?’
‘No, they’re not,’ Jane replied.
‘I bet they’re Jess’s then.’
‘No, they’re only Jon’s.’
‘Why?’
Jane sighed. ‘Because Jon had a different mummy to you.’
Katie’s eyes opened wide and she grinned at the joke. ‘Don’t be silly, you’re Jon’s mummy.’
‘No, darling, I’m not his real mummy,’ Jane replied patiently, thinking that Ed was never around when things like this needed explaining properly.
‘Well is Daddy Jon’s real daddy?’
Sammy gasped and looked away.
Jane hoped Helen hadn’t heard the gasp. Out of the mouths of babes, she thought. She swallowed hard and lied. ‘Yes, darling, daddy is Jon’s real daddy.’
‘So, if you’re not his mummy, who is his mummy?’ Katie persisted.
‘Her name was Angie. She died when Jon was a little boy.’
Katie raised her eyebrows, and Jane could see the cogs whirring.
‘So - does that mean Daddy had a different wife before you?’
‘Yes, Katie, it does. Now stop asking questions, please. Go and watch out of the window for Nick and Jess, they’ll be here soon. Actually, they’re leaving it a bit late, aren’t they?’ Jane turned to Sammy, desperately trying to change the subject.
But Katie wasn’t satisfied. ‘So, who is Jess’s mummy?’
‘Me, darling,’ Jane replied patiently.
Narrowing her eyes, Katie nodded knowingly. She folded her arms across her chest. ‘So - that means Daddy twinkled his naughty bits at Angie to get Jon and then twinkled his naughty bits at you to get Jess. That’s really rude! Doesn’t he know that you’re only supposed to do it with one lady?’
Jane tried hard to hide her amusement. ‘Katie, that’s quite enough. I promise that Daddy will explain properly about Jon’s mummy to you another time.’
Sammy and Helen were struggling to keep their faces straight at this mother and daughter exchange. Car tyres crunching on the gravel created a diversion. Katie ran to the window and Jane breathed a sigh of relief.
‘It’s Jon,’ Katie announced. ‘He’s got the take-away, Helen.’
‘I wonder where they are.’ Jane looked at her watch, it was ten to eight and there was still no sign of Nick and Jess.
‘Jon, you’ve got a different mummy, but she’s dead!’ Katie greeted him as he walked into the room.
Jon raised an enquiring eyebrow in Jane’s direction.
‘She heard us talking about your grandfather and thought we meant my dad. You can guess the rest, can’t you? Be prepared for a barrage of questions,’ Jane warned. ‘Get her to bed as soon as you can or you’ll find yourselves talking about twinkles and men’s naughty bits all night.’
‘Is she still on about that?’ Jon laughed and swung Katie up into his arms. ‘Bed for you, young lady, you too, Dom, come on.’
‘I want to wait up for Nick and Jess,’ Katie protested.
‘Bed - now,’ Jane said. ‘As soon as Nick and Jess arrive we’ll be leaving. We’re already very late for our reservation as it is.’
‘I thought you’d be gone by now,’ Jon agreed.
At eight Jane called Nick and Jess’s flat to make sure they hadn’t been delayed, but there was no reply.
‘If they were going to be late, surely they would have called,’ Sammy said, frowning.
‘I wonder if the car’s broken down somewhere,’ Jane mused, replacing the receiver.
‘Surely not, it’s brand new. Anyway, they would have called from a phone box to let us know.’
Jon came back downstairs after settling Katie and Dominic. ‘Do you mind if me and Helen go through to the kitchen to eat?’ he asked.
‘Go ahead, don’t let us spoil your meal,’ Jane replied. ‘Would you like another G&T, Sam?’
‘Please, just a small one.’
The phone rang just before nine and Jane sprang up to answer it. It was Ed
die. She told him that she and Sammy were waiting for Nick and Jess to pick them up but that the pair was very late. She also told him about Jon’s grandfather’s death and the coming funeral. She held the phone away from her ear as Eddie exploded, and grinned at Sammy.
‘What did I tell you?’ she mouthed. ‘Have you quite finished, darling? He’s not really that keen on going. He feels he should because they expect it of him. Okay, well you can discuss it with him over the weekend. I think Nick and Jess are here; I can hear crunching gravel. I love you too, Ed. Call me about midnight. How’s your other half, by the way? Oh dear, is he? Well, I’ll talk to you later.’ She hung up and looked at Sammy who was staring out of the window, her face white as a sheet in spite of her carefully applied make-up.
‘Sam, what is it?’ She hurried across the room to stand beside her.
Sammy silently pointed to the car that had pulled up on the drive.
‘Police!’ Jane felt the hairs on her neck prickling. ‘Oh my God! Something must have happened to Nick and Jess.’ She flew to the front door before the two officers had a chance to ring the bell. ‘What is it, what’s happened?’
‘Mrs Mellor? Can we come inside please?’ The taller of the two spoke.
‘Yes. Yes, of course.’ Jane’s legs felt all wobbly as she led the officers into the lounge.
‘Mrs Cantello?’ The other officer spoke to Sammy who nodded.
‘Sit down, ladies, please.’ He spoke kindly to them as they dropped side by side on the sofa.
Jon appeared in the doorway followed by Helen. ‘Mum, what’s happened?’ He laid a hand on Jane’s shoulder. ‘What is it, officer?’
‘I’m afraid we’ve some bad news. Nicholas and Jessica have been involved in a road traffic accident. They’ve been taken to Pickford General. We’ll take you both there right away.’
‘Are they okay?’ Jane asked, feeling her cheeks draining.
‘It’s hard to say at this stage, Mrs Mellor. Jessica was talking to us; she was able to give us her name and address and told us we’d find Nicholas’s mum here as well. I’m afraid he was unconscious at the time.’
Sammy gasped in horror. ‘No! Oh no, please tell me he’s okay.’