by Pam Howes
Eddie drained his glass and stood up. ‘The sooner we get the band organised the better. Get you out in front of a screaming audience again. That’ll take your mind off your problems.’
‘I can’t bloody wait.’
***
Jane drove home from work, her mind going over the previous night’s conversation with Pat and Sammy. They’d both urged her to speak to Ed about her worries over Jon and Jess. She felt sick at the thought. If she was mistaken and Ed tackled the pair, it could destroy the family closeness. But on the other hand, if she chose to stay quiet and the pair were in a relationship, then what? The family closeness would still be destroyed. Ed would have to come clean about Jon’s parentage and then Jon may lose all the trust he has in the family.
Whichever path she chose would be a nightmare. And then there was tomorrow night when she and Ed would be out again and Jon and Jess would be alone once more.
Maybe she could feign illness halfway through the meal and have Ed drive her home. She shook her head and mumbled, ‘Not a very good idea, Jane. What if we caught them at it? All hell would break loose and I couldn’t handle that.’ She glanced across to the stationary driver beside her at the lights. The woman turned her head and smiled as she caught Jane’s eye. Jane smiled back. ‘I bet she’s going home to a perfectly normal family,’ she muttered, envious of the unflustered looking woman with the friendly smile. The lights changed and Jane roared away, leaving the little car and the woman with the normal life behind.
As she turned into the private lane she pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind and switched on her glad-to-be-home smile. She walked indoors where Eddie and Jess were seated at the kitchen table, passing a cigarette to and froe. Jane frowned at Jess’s welcoming smile. ‘Jess, you know I don’t like you smoking. I thought you’d given up? Ed, you shouldn’t encourage her.’
Jess rolled her eyes. ‘Mum, I’m stressed out. I just fancied a quick drag.’
‘Well you were okay over the weekend. You didn’t appear to be stressed out then,’ Jane said, aware that she was being unreasonable, but unable to stop.
‘Jane, that’s not a very nice thing to say after everything she’s been through. What’s the matter with you?’ Eddie frowned as Jess’s face crumpled and she fought to blink back tears.
Jane sighed and shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, Jess, just ignore me. It’s been a funny day all round.’
‘We know all about funny days, don’t we Jess? We’ve had one ourselves,’ Eddie said.
‘Oh, why’s that?’ Jane helped herself to a glass of red wine and sat down beside him, kicking off her shoes.
Roy threw a wobbler about Sammy seeing Stuart,’ Jess replied.
Jane listened as Eddie told her the events of the afternoon.
‘I could bang Roy and Sammy’s bloody heads together,’ she snapped. ‘Today Sammy was concerned that he wouldn’t have a clue what type of linen to buy etcetera, and she’s worrying how he’ll manage on his own.’
‘Livvy’s been shopping with him and sorted him out on that score,’ Eddie replied.
‘It’s not taken her long to get her feet under his table. So, is he all right, Ed?’
‘No, he’s not. He’s depressed and hitting the bottle again. I just don’t see what more I can do to help, other than get him concentrating on The Raiders.’
Jane nodded and sniffed the air appreciatively. ‘Lasagne?’
‘And garlic bread,’ Jess said.
‘Oh, wonderful, I’m starving.’
Eddie went to the oven and checked his lasagne. ‘Done to perfection. Jon shouldn’t be long now then we can eat.’
Jess wobbled to her feet. ‘I’m going to the loo.’
‘Sammy’s going away to London with Stu next month,’ Jane said as Jess left the kitchen. ‘He’s arranged to take her to a textile exhibition at Earl’s Court.’
‘Oh shit! Is she? That’ll upset Roy. When you say, going away with him, you mean staying together in a hotel?’ he asked, running his hands agitatedly through his hair, leaving it standing on end.
Jane reached up and smoothed his locks down with her fingers. ‘Well, he’s booked separate rooms, but you only have to observe the way he looks at Sammy to know that he wants to take things further.’
‘I obviously don’t notice these things, being a mere male,’ he grinned. ‘Pour me a glass of wine, Jane will you, while I set the table.’
The phone rang out as Jane picked up the bottle and she grabbed the receiver.
‘Oh, hello, Mrs Turner.’ She raised her eyebrows at Eddie who turned and frowned. ‘Jon isn’t home from work yet. He shouldn’t be too long. – Okay, well I’ll get him to call you. Goodbye.’ Eddie stared at her as she hung up. ‘She wants to speak to Jonathon.’
‘I wonder what the old battleaxe wants. Call your Mum and ask her to send the kids home. Jon’s here now, I can hear his car on the drive.’
It was a noisy family dinner, during which Jane tried to observe Jon and Jess’s reactions to one another. But she couldn’t pinpoint anything untoward.
‘So, did Grandma say anything other than that she wanted to speak to me?’ Jon asked, helping himself to a chunk of garlic bread.
‘No, just that,’ Jane replied.
‘I’ll call her later then, when the kitchen’s quiet.’
‘If you want some peace, use the phone in our room,’ Eddie suggested.
‘Okay, thanks. But make sure you save me some seconds, don’t let greedy Katie finish all the garlic bread.’ Jon stood up and teasingly pulled on Katie’s pigtails.
‘I’m not as greedy as you and Dad,’ she said, glaring at Jon.
‘Yes you are,’ he laughed, ducking out of the way as she hurled her Barbie doll at him. It hit the dresser with a thud, knocking one of Jane’s antique plates on the floor where it shattered into small pieces.
‘Katie, Jon, behave yourselves,’ Jane yelled. ‘Now look what you’ve done. That was one of my favourite plates.’ She knelt to retrieve the pieces and Jon knelt beside her to help.
‘Sorry, Mum,’ he apologised. ‘I’ll buy you another, I promise.’
She smiled at his worried expression. ‘You’ll have a job. That was a one off, hand painted that I found in a French flea market years ago. It doesn’t matter, go and call your Grandma before I box your ears.’
Jon’s eyes sparkled. ‘You haven’t done that for years.’
‘Only because I can’t reach! But you’re the right height while you’re down on your knees, so you watch your step, my lad!’
He leapt up, grinning. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
Jane placed the broken pieces of china in the kitchen bin and yawned loudly.
‘One more glass of wine and then I’ll bath these two and take a shower. I need an early night. We’ll be out late tomorrow and you woke me up last night when you came in drunk, stumbling all over the place.’ She glared accusingly at Eddie.
‘I couldn’t get my jeans off,’ he said. ‘They were stuck on my feet.’
‘That’s because you didn’t take your boots off first, you idiot!’
‘I realised that this morning when I fell flat on my face as I tried to stand up. How come you didn’t help me take them off?’
‘You fell asleep as soon as you landed backwards on the bed. I just threw the duvet over you. I was too tired to help you.’
‘See how she neglects me sometimes,’ Eddie said to Jess as Jon strolled back into the kitchen, frowning. ‘What’s up, son, problems?’
‘Not really. Grandma has to go into hospital for a hip replacement at the end of November. She’d like Jess and me to visit next week, a bit earlier than planned. I’ll ask Sean for time off. Will you be okay, Jess? I mean, you only get your ankle plaster off tomorrow and you’ll miss your physiotherapy.’
‘What time are you planning on going? My physio’s at ten on Tuesday. We could go straight after, spend some time with your Gran then go to Brighton for a couple of days like Dad suggested.’
>
‘Okay, that sounds fine,’ Jon nodded. ‘Sort out the papers and keys for Celia’s house, Dad and we’ll attend to that while we’re down there.’
‘I’ve decided to take it off the market for the time being,’ Eddie said. ‘I’ll give you a letter of authority to hand to the agent so that you can sign any paperwork.’
‘All right! Top of the Pops is due to start. Shall we go through to the lounge?’ Jon swept Jess up into his arms as she shrieked with laughter. ‘She wants to ogle James Perry, don’t you?’
‘Leave bathing the kids for now, Jane. Come and see this new band. Tell me what you think of them,’ Eddie suggested.
‘Can we have some more ice cream then?’ Dominic asked hopefully.
Jane smiled. ‘Don’t you two want to watch the band sing Daddy and Roy’s new song?’
Katie shook her head, wrinkling her pert little nose. ‘They’re always singing Daddy’s songs on the TV. I’d rather have more ice cream please.’
***
Eddie strolled into the lounge and joined Jon and Jess on one of the sofas. ‘Katie’s not the least bit impressed by my fame. She prefers ice cream.’
‘Does Roy know they’re on tonight?’ Jon asked.
‘I forgot to mention it. I’ll ring him now. Shout me if they come on.’ He dashed back to the kitchen.
Livvy answered his call. ‘He’s in the shower, Ed. Would you like him to call you back later?’
‘No, it’s okay. Just tell him Perry’s Dream’s on Top of the Pops tonight.’
‘He knows. I told him earlier. I’m just cooking him something special for supper to cheer him up a bit.’
‘Have you made up then?’
He heard her suppress a giggle. ‘We have. Well you know Roy. There’s only one way he knows to make up a disagreement!’
‘Yes I do know Roy, only too well.’ Eddie said goodbye and hung up as Jane raised an enquiring eyebrow. ‘Don’t ask. Come on; let’s watch Top of the Pops before we miss it.’
Back in the lounge, Simon Bates was introducing Perry’s Dream. Jess gazed lustfully at the tall, blonde, good-looking James Perry. ‘God, he looks so sexy in that cream suit.’
Jon dug her playfully in the ribs. ‘He’s all right, I suppose. Bit of a poofter if you ask me.’
‘Jon, that’s enough. Comments like that are forbidden in this house. Think how Jason would feel if he heard you,’ Jane scolded.
‘Sorry, Mum, wasn’t thinking, as usual.’
As the song came to an end, Eddie turned to his family. ‘Well?’
‘Brilliant, Ed, as always.’ Jane hugged him tightly. ‘You’re so clever.’
‘And Roy,’ he reminded her.
‘Yeah, and Roy. What was all that about on the phone earlier? You looked a bit angry.’
‘I’m not angry, what’s the point? Livvy answered the phone. Said they’d made up and she was cooking him supper. He was in the shower.’
‘It didn’t take him long to get over his upset about Sammy. Mind you, if Livvy went round offering it on a plate he’s not going to refuse.’ Jane stood up and stretched her arms above her head. ‘Come and help me bath the kids, Ed. I’m really tired tonight.’
‘He stood up and put his arms around her. ‘Come on then, I’ll load the dishwasher while you run the bath and then I’ll join you.’
***
Alone at last, Jon turned to Jess, eyes shining. ‘Two whole nights together in a hotel, I can’t wait.’
‘Shhh, they’ll here you. It’ll be wonderful. The only problem is I’m due on, on Monday, but it’s sometimes a day or two late. Why don’t we go to Brighton first, spend Tuesday and Wednesday night there. Go and see your Grandma Thursday and Friday then come home on Saturday?’
‘I was hoping we could spend some of the weekend in Brighton, too,’ Jon said. ‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter just this once and let’s face it, we should be welcoming it with open arms, rather than complaining about the inconvenience.’
Jess nodded. ‘Once we know for sure I’ll start taking the pill again, no more worrying.’
***
‘What’s on your mind, sweetheart?’ Eddie asked as Jane lay stiffly beside him. ‘You’ve been prickly on and off all night.’
‘Oh it’s nothing.’ She turned to face him. ‘I suppose I’m worrying about Sammy and what’s going to happen there. She and Roy shouldn’t be apart, it’s ridiculous.’
‘I know it is, but what can we do? Sam’s adamant she doesn’t want him back and you told me she likes Stuart a lot. By the way, and don’t bite my head off for asking this, has she slept with him?’
‘That’s Roy wanting to know, not you, isn’t it?’
‘Of course it is,’ he replied.
‘No, she hasn’t. But I think she may do soon. They had a steamy-windows session in the car on Monday night.’
‘Did they now?’
‘Well, you can’t blame her, can you?’
‘Not at all. But I know how Roy feels. I used to feel sick at the thought of you with Mark Fisher.’
She smiled at him. ‘And I felt exactly the same when you were with Angie, and Sammy feels like that about Livvy. It’s a horrible feeling.’
‘It is, but apart from worrying about Roy and Sammy, is everything else okay? Are you concerned about me being away when we go on tour next year?’
‘I haven’t even given it a thought to be honest,’ she replied. ‘I won’t be able to tour with you like I’ve done before.’
‘You will, occasionally. You can join me for the odd night, surely?’
Jane sighed. ‘We’ll see; it’s not as easy as it used to be, when we packed Jon off with your parents and took baby Jess with us. Katie and Dom are too much for Mum and Dad for any length of time and Jon and Jess will be working. Well I hope she’ll be back at work by then.’
‘She will be, she seems fine most of the time and going away next week with Jon will do them both good.’
‘Hmm, maybe,’ Jane said quietly.
He frowned and tilted her chin. ‘What?’
‘Nothing,’ she replied, looking away.
He sat up and pulled her with him. ‘Out with it, come on! Something’s been bothering you all night.’
‘I don’t know how to tell you,’ she replied, lips trembling.
‘Try the beginning.’
‘I’m probably making a mountain out of a molehill and you’ll be really annoyed with me.’
‘Jane, for heaven’s sake, what is it?’
‘It’s Jon and Jess.’
‘What about them?’
‘Well, don’t you think they’re a bit too close for brother and sister?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, they’re together all the time, like they’re very close, if you know what I mean?’
He shook his head. ‘You think Jon fancies Jess? Jane, what bloody planet are you on? She’s his sister.’
Her eyes filled with tears. ‘It’s not a joke, Ed. And Jess is not Jon’s sister, in case you’ve forgotten. Haven’t you noticed how lovey-dovey they are with each other?’
He could see she was serious by the set of her mouth. ‘I’m sorry, Jane, I’m not joking, and no, I haven’t noticed anything untoward between them. But then again, I haven’t been looking either. It’s perfectly natural for brothers and sisters to be close, isn’t it? You should know about closeness between siblings, you’ve got Peter, I’m an only child. Jess was telling Jon that she loved him only the other day. She told me it’s what brothers and sisters say. Am I being naïve here, Jane believing that to be true?’
Jane shook her head. ‘No, you’re not. I love our Peter, of course I do.’
‘Then don’t you think you might be overreacting where Jon and Jess are concerned? He’s given her the strength to carry on after Nick’s death. You saw the state she was in last Friday. She still loves Nick; Jon’s a big support to her. She needs him. It would set her back weeks if she thought for one minute that you were having doubts about her
relationship with him.’
Jane nodded. ‘There’s something else. I found condom wrappers in Jess’s bin the other day.’
‘She’s probably been clearing out her handbag. They’ll be from when she was with Nick, before she went on the pill. Stop worrying about everyone else and worry about me instead. I feel neglected!’
She smiled. ‘You want to make love?’
‘Don’t you?’ He pulled her down beside him and caressed her through the silk of her nightdress.
‘Oh, Ed,’ she sighed. ‘I missed your cuddles last night, you drunken lump!’
‘Sorry. It was a good lads’ night out, but I can’t drink like that anymore. I’m getting too bloody old.’ He rolled on top and kissed her. ‘I just hope I never get too old for this.’
***
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Eddie lit a cigarette and called Lennon to heel.
‘Walkies, fella,’ he said as they entered the lane. He’d just waved Jess and Jon off on their trip to Brighton. Since last week’s conversation with Jane he’d secretly observed the pair, but had seen nothing untoward. They were comfortable together, but then they’d always been that way. He shook his head and smiled. Jane’s imagination was more than fertile at times.
Back indoors he slapped ham and tomato between two slices of bread and made a pot of coffee. He checked his watch. Roy would be arriving soon to work on songs for the proposed stage set. If all went according to plan, the first gig of the tour would be scheduled for next March.
The meeting with Frank James yesterday had gone well. The Raiders had been the most successful band on Frank’s books and he’d told them he was looking forward to working with the group again. He’d suggested they play the main theatres and auditoriums in the UK followed by a European tour.
Roy said he was keen to tour the States, Tim and Phil fancied Oz. Frank had sprung into action immediately and booked a new studio in an old Pickford factory. Tomorrow afternoon they were having their first full-blown rehearsal since the mid-seventies.
Roy arrived, finished Eddie’s sandwich and helped himself to a mug of coffee.