'Til I Kissed You

by Pam Howes

  Katie chatted excitedly on the way to Sammy’s house. She was still trying to work out how Aunt Sammy had managed to have a baby without getting fat. She’d asked several times lately why Livvy didn’t baby-sit anymore.

  She’d spotted Livvy at The Raiders concert and between her, Kim and Abby, had decided that she was pregnant. Then Livvy had suddenly disappeared with Uncle Roy, Aunt Sammy and Mum, never to be seen again.

  Nothing had been said in front of Katie and Dominic about Harley’s arrival. But Kim and Abby had overheard snatches of conversation between their mum and Sammy and the young detectives had decided that Uncle Roy and Aunt Sammy were looking after Livvy’s baby because Livvy was ill.

  What they couldn’t quite fathom, but didn’t dare ask, was why Harley looked so much like Uncle Roy. Abby suggested that maybe Uncle Roy was Harley’s dad, but Katie said that Uncle Roy had told her Sammy was His Special Girl and she was quite sure he wouldn’t have done any of that twinkling stuff with Livvy. So where Harley had actually come from, remained, for the time being at least, a mystery.

  ‘Who’s gonna be Harley’s Godparents, Mum?’ Katie asked for the umpteenth time, hoping to extract another clue.

  ‘Me, Tina, Sean and your dad,’ Mum answered, stopping at the traffic lights. ‘And before you ask, Tim, Phil and Pat are Jack’s, and Sean, Carl and Cathy are Nathan’s.’

  ‘Yeah, I know all that,’ Katie replied impatiently, twisting a strand of hair around her fingers. Mum was giving nothing away, as usual.

  ‘What time are Lucy and Toby coming over?’

  ‘Five o’clock, I think,’ Katie replied, feeling her cheeks warming at the mention of Toby.

  ‘I see you’re wearing lipstick and my perfume again,’ Mum teased. ‘Is that for Toby’s benefit?’

  Katie rolled her eyes and stared out of the window while Mum sniggered at her own silly comment.

  ***

  Enid was standing with Molly in the hallway, sherry glass in hand. Ben and Eddie were accepting generous measures of whisky from Roy. Sammy handed Jane a glass of chilled Chardonnay and smiled broadly.

  ‘Everything alright, Jane? You look a bit frazzled.’

  ‘I’m fine, just had the third degree from Madam.’ Jane nodded her head towards Katie who was running towards Abby and Kim.

  ‘About Harley?’ Sammy asked. ‘When they’re a bit older, we’ll explain.’

  ‘If they don’t suss it out for themselves,’ Jane said. ‘The caterers arrived to set up just before we left. So it should be easy going when we get back. Where is Harley, by the way?’

  ‘Upstairs with Jason and Jules, listening to music,’ Sammy replied. ‘Honestly, they talk to her as though she understands every single word. But then, she probably does. She’s four months going on fourteen years! She looks at us as though she’s been here before. I wonder sometimes if she’s not a reincarnation of Nick.’

  ‘Right, are we ready?’ Eddie called from the front door. ‘Grab the babies and let’s go.’

  ***

  The guests were waiting in the churchyard and Jon spotted Aunt Sally, Martin and Grandma Turner talking to Cathy and Carl. He waved and walked over, carrying Nathan. He kissed his aunt, grandma and Cathy and shook Martin and Carl by the hand.

  ‘Well, who have we here?’ Lydia Turner smiled at the tiny boy in her grandson’s arms.

  ‘This is Nathan, and,’ he turned as Jess appeared by his side, ‘this is Jack,’ he finished proudly.

  ‘Jess, my dear. Congratulations! You look so well, considering.’

  ‘Considering what?’ Jess frowned.

  ‘Well, considering the position you’re in. Two babies and no ring on your finger!’

  Jess gasped at her directness. ‘It doesn’t matter in the least. Jon and I love one another.’

  Jon nodded. ‘What’s a ring and a bit of paper got to do with anything?’ he said. ‘Jess and the babies are my world. We’ll marry when we’re ready.’

  ***

  Eddie caught the tale end of the conversation between his children and Angie’s mother. He placed himself between them and slung protective arms around their shoulders. ‘Problems?’ he asked.

  ‘No, Dad,’ Jon replied. ‘It’s okay. Err, you remember my grandmother, don’t you?’

  ‘How could I ever forget?’ Eddie smiled politely at the woman who used to scare him witless, and held out his hand.

  She shook it firmly. ‘It’s good to see you again, Eddie. You’re looking very well. Congratulations on becoming a grandfather. Now isn’t it ironic that Angie’s child and your child should produce these two beautiful boys?’

  ‘Oh, very ironic!’ he agreed with a hint of sarcasm. ‘But you’re forgetting that Angie’s child is very much my child, too. I brought him up.’

  ‘And a wonderful job you did, Eddie. I’m Sally; remember me? This is Martin.’

  Eddie turned as Sally stepped in to diffuse the situation. ‘Hi, Sally, Martin.’ He shook their hands warmly. ‘Good to see you both again, and under much pleasanter circumstances this time.’ Eddie hadn’t been in the company of Sally, Martin or Lydia Turner since the week following Angie’s funeral. But now that Jon wished to keep in touch with them, he had to put his anger and bitterness to one side and try and get along. ‘So, what do you think of our beautiful boys?’ he said proudly.

  ‘They’re gorgeous! You’re a very lucky man,’ Sally replied, ‘and you deserve it. In fact,’ she whispered, glancing at her mother who was fussing over her great-grandsons, ‘you deserve a bloody medal!’

  Eddie grinned and called out to Jane. ‘You’ve met my wife, haven’t you?’ He put an arm around her shoulders. ‘Jane, you remember Mrs Turner, Angie’s mother - and Sally and Martin.’

  ‘Of course,’ Jane shook hands with them all.

  ***

  Roy called out to Eddie and Jane from the porch where he’d been in conversation with the Vicar. ‘Come on. We’re going in now. Ah, Mrs Turner, Sally and Martin, how are you all?’

  ‘Roy Cantello, well, well, well! What a smart man you’ve turned out to be. A nice change from the leather-jacketed tearaway who used to come to my house.’ Lydia greeted the handsome man standing in front of her.

  ‘Congratulations on your new daughter, Roy,’ Sally said, shaking him by the hand.

  ‘Thanks, wait until you see her, she’s a real beauty,’ he replied proudly.

  ‘If she’s anything like her mother, she’ll be lovely.’ Lydia nodded in the direction of Sammy who was taking Harley from Jason.

  ‘Err, actually, she’s nothing like her mother,’ Roy replied. ‘Sam, bring Harley over here, love. You remember Angie’s mother, don’t you? She wonders if Harley resembles her mum!’ He prodded Sammy meaningfully in the back as she turned the baby to face Lydia.

  ‘Oh, my goodness! She’s the image of you, Roy. Oh, look, Sally, isn’t she?’

  Sally nodded and smiled at the lovely dark-eyed baby who beamed back.

  ‘Yes,’ Sammy said. ‘All our kids have been the image of Roy. You would think I’d had nothing to do with them!’

  ‘Right, come on before the Vicar has kittens,’ Roy said. ‘He came out looking for us ages ago. Everyone else has gone into church except us and the babies and without them, there’s no christening.’

  ***

  Nathan and Jack behaved impeccably at the font. Harley didn’t like the water on her head and wailed miserably throughout the short service.

  ‘I think she may be teething,’ Sammy whispered to Roy. ‘She’s been a bit grumpy for the last couple of days.’

  ‘Typical female,’ Roy whispered back as his daughter grizzled against Tina’s shoulder. ‘Probably getting some early practice in for PMT!’

  ‘Roy, stop it, you fool, be serious.’ Sammy suppressed a giggle. ‘Baby girls are not as laid back as boys. You ask Jane.’

  ‘I don’t need to. I’ve already sussed that for myself. She only has to look at me and I’m putty in her hands. But woe betide when she’s not in th
e mood, she certainly lets me know.’

  Sammy nodded. Roy was enjoying every minute with his daughter. Thank God for Livvy’s selfless decision. She offered a silent prayer for the young woman, who must surely wonder, every minute of every day, what her baby was doing.

  As the service ended, the christening party filed outside for a photo session.

  Roy’s mother stood beside he and Sammy, head on one side. ‘That old woman over there, who is she?’ Her large blue hat jerked in Lydia Turner’s direction.

  ‘It’s Mrs Turner, Ed’s ex ma-in-law, and she’s no older than you!’ Roy replied.

  She ignored his barbed comment and pursed her lips. ‘So - she’s Angie’s mother, Jon’s grandma?’

  ‘That’s right,’ Sammy replied.

  ‘Hmm, well I wonder what she makes of this Jon and Jess affair.’

  ‘Mum, stop gossiping,’ Roy tutted. ‘She knows Ed’s not Jon’s father. Jess and Jon have every right to be together. I explained it all to you ages ago.’

  ‘There’s no need to talk to me as though I’m senile. All I’m saying is that it’s as well they’re not related, considering what’s happened. And don’t you go getting on your high horse with me, Roy Cantello, not after what you’ve been up to!’

  ‘I’m not, Mum, and hey, listen, don’t you dare say a thing about Livvy to anyone. Those who need to know already know and those that don’t, don’t matter. As far as Mrs Turner’s concerned, Sammy is Harley’s mother. You know how your tongue loosens after a couple of drinks.’

  ‘Credit me with some sense, Roy. Talk about tangled webs. It gets worse with you lot as you get older.’

  ***

  ‘Katie, Dom, I’d like you to meet Jon’s grandma.’ Eddie introduced his children to Lydia Turner. ‘These are my youngest,’ he told her.

  Katie studied the old lady for a moment or two before saying bluntly, ‘Are you Angie’s mum, then?’

  Lydia gasped and smiled. ‘Yes, my dear, I am.’ She looked at Eddie. ‘So, you’ve told them about Angela?’

  He nodded. ‘Of course! They know Jon had a different mum to them.’ He arched an ironical eyebrow and continued. ‘They also know he had a different dad, too and that is the only reason it’s okay for him to live with Jess and have babies with her.’

  Lydia nodded slowly. ‘That must have taken some explaining.’

  ‘You can say that again!’ he said.

  ‘I owe you a big apology.’ Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him.

  ‘You two go and find Mum and I’ll be with you in a minute,’ he urged Katie and Dominic. Katie didn’t need to hear what he suspected Lydia was about to say. ‘No, you don’t. What’s done is done. We can’t turn the clock back. Jon could have been mine. As it happened, he wasn’t, but I couldn’t love him more. I did wrong by keeping the truth to myself when I found out about Richard. But I didn’t want to lose Jon, not to anyone.

  ‘It was my one big dread that you’d take him away from me. When Jane and I married, as well as being very much in love, it was to give him a stable home, never guessing that Jess was already on the way. But look at the pair of them now. Have you ever seen a happier looking couple? Whatever lies Angie told me have long been cancelled out by the wonderful family I have today. You’re very welcome to be part of it.’

  He handed Lydia a handkerchief and she wiped her eyes and smiled at him. ‘When Jess came to visit me she told me she was very proud to be your daughter. I can see why she said that. You’re a remarkable young man, Eddie Mellor.’

  ‘Not so young these days,’ he said.

  ‘Oh - I don’t know. When you were on Top of the Pops the other week I had my friends over and we watched you. I told them you used to be my son-in-law and you’re Jon’s father and I was very proud of that fact. They were green with envy. They’ve got strait-laced families with son-in-laws in boring jobs,’ she finished, grinning impishly.

  ‘How’ve you explained the situation between Jon and Jess to them?’ he asked.

  ‘I haven’t, not yet. They can work it out for themselves. It’ll get the grey matter working overtime when I go home armed with the christening photos and they see them together with the babies, won’t it?’

  Eddie threw back his head and laughed. ‘You’re not so bad, Mrs T!’ He bent and kissed her lined cheek.

  ‘That’s the first time you’ve ever kissed me. I hope it won’t be the last.’ She smiled and touched his hand.

  ‘I’m sure it won’t. Take my arm. I’ll escort you to Sally and Martin and they’ll bring you to our house for the party.’

  Jane, who was chatting to Sally, stared in astonishment when Eddie appeared by her side, with Lydia on his arm.

  ‘Alright, love?’ she asked, looking at his smiling face.

  ‘I’m fine, darling. I’ve just been laying a ghost or two with Angie’s mum,’ he replied.

  ‘And do you feel better for it?’

  ‘I do,’ he said and bent to kiss Jane lightly on the lips.

  ***

  Phil laughed as he overheard Abby and Katie, who were standing by the entrance to the marquee, discussing who was the better looking of his twin sons. His twelve-year-olds were similar, one being slightly taller. Both blonde and blue eyed with dimples and a lop-sided grin.

  ‘I think Matt’s nicer,’ Abby said, head on one side.

  Katie screwed up her face. ‘No, definitely Zak!’

  ‘Let’s see if they’d like a glass of coke,’ Abby suggested.

  ‘Hello, Abby, Katie,’ Phil greeted the pair.

  ‘Hello, Uncle Phil.’ Katie smiled sweetly. ‘Would your boys like a glass of coke?’

  Phil turned to his sons. ‘Do you wanna go with the girls, get yourselves a drink?’ They nodded shyly. ‘Well, go on then.’ He gave them a gentle push and turned to smile at Laura who was looking amused.

  ‘They start young these days,’ Phil whispered. ‘Our girls are a different kettle of fish.’ He looked at his daughters, who were the image of Laura, with auburn hair and green eyes.

  ‘That’s because they came along after your initial bout of fame,’ Laura replied. ‘They haven’t been exposed to it like Ed and Tim’s children. It goes over the tops of their heads. When they saw you at The Apollo they couldn’t believe it was Daddy on stage and seeing you on Top of the Pops finished them off. They need time to get used to it, like we both do.’

  ‘I know, but time is something we have plenty of now,’ he replied, taking her hand. Having Laura back by his side was Phil’s dream come true.

  ‘We’ve all the time in the world, Phil. I want us to get it right this time. Here comes Jess with one of the twins.’ Laura greeted the young mum with a sympathetic grin. ‘Are you okay, Jess? You look a bit tired.’

  Jess suppressed a yawn. ‘I’m fine thanks, Laura. They’re getting a bit more settled as the days go by.’

  ‘It’s a long haul, but you get there. If you need any help during the day, call me. My lot are at school. Believe me, I know all there is to know about raising unexpected twins. Isn’t that right, Phil?’

  ‘She certainly does,’ Phil said proudly.

  ‘I just might take you up on the offer,’ Jess said. ‘With Dad away, Mum working and Jon back to work next week, I don’t know how I’m going to cope.’

  ‘Well now you do, and I really mean it, Jess. I’d love to help you.’

  ‘Thanks. I’m just off to feed Jack and settle him down in Mum and Dad’s bedroom and then I’ll come back for Nathan. Jon’s Grandma has taken charge of him for now.’

  ‘How did your Dad get on with her earlier?’ Phil asked curiously. ‘I saw him chatting to her and I remember there was no love lost between them.’

  ‘Actually, they’ve made peace. I’m glad, because it puts an end to all that bitterness. All we need now is to sort out a way for me and Jon to get married. Mum’s made enquiries and been told Jon’s birth certificate can have an amendment inserted to state that he was a child of the marriage, rather than that h
e’s Dad’s son. As soon as it’s all sorted we’ll plan our wedding.’ Jess excused herself and took Jack indoors.

  Laura smiled at Phil. ‘When’s your divorce through?’

  ‘Soon, I hope, why?’

  ‘Oh nothing, I was just wondering.’

  ‘Would you consider re-marrying me, Laura?’ He looked into her eyes.

  ‘I might. If we get along okay for the next few months, I just might. You’d better behave yourself though. Cheat on me just once and it’s all off, I mean that.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dare,’ he said. ‘Anyway, who wants five old geezers like us when the likes of Paul Young and Simon le Bon are available?’

  ‘Who’s an old geezer? Speak for yourself, Jackson!’ Roy walked up behind him, carrying Harley. ‘Here’s living proof that I’m not past it.’

  ‘Didn’t Charlie Chaplin father a child in his seventies?’ Laura teased.

  ‘Probably,’ Roy agreed wryly. ‘Are you enjoying yourselves?’

  ‘Very much,’ Phil replied. ‘Katie and Abby have made off with our sons. Do you think they’ll be okay?’

  Roy laughed. ‘Ask me that in a couple of years and the answer will be a definite no, but for now I don’t think you need have any worries. Although I must say Katie’s quite a forward little hussy, much like her mother here.’ He nodded at Jane who had appeared by his side.

  ‘Hey you!’ Jane took Harley from him. ‘Watch your step. I was never a hussy.’

  ‘Not at first, Jane,’ he teased, ‘but you soon caught up.’

  ‘Sammy wants to give Harley her tea and your mother’s looking for you, Roy.’

  ‘Oh God! What have I done now?’ He smiled and waved at the blue-hatted figure striding purposefully across the lawn.

  ‘Roy, isn’t anyone going to make a speech?’ she greeted him, bumping into Phil with her hat brim and knocking his drink flying from his hand.

  ‘No, why? It’s not a wedding. You don’t make speeches at christenings. Do you?’ He turned to Phil who was picking up his empty glass.

  ‘Search me. I didn’t when ours were christened.’

  ‘See, Mum, its not really necessary,’ Roy replied. ‘I never made a speech at Nick and Jason’s christenings.’

  ‘Yes you did.’ The hat bobbed indignantly.