A FEW DAYS AFTER rescuing the woman from her attackers, Steve was still in Blackpool. All was not going to plan with his site purchase, and he was having to stay longer in the North to see it through. Luckily it was the school holidays and so Alice and Susie were able to stay on too, with the little girl enjoying the seaside.
After reluctantly agreeing to read her a story at the end of a long day, Steve tucked Susie into bed. ‘Now then, Little Miss Know-all, you’d best remind me which page we were on, because I’ve forgotten.’
‘It’s all right, Uncle Steve, I remember.’ Collecting the book from under her pillow, she handed it to him. ‘We got to page fifteen.’
‘Oh, yes, I remember now. Wasn’t it where Mandy fell out with her best friend, and now she’s unhappy?’ Since reading to Susie, he should have discovered a great deal about female relationships, but all he’d learned was to keep his nose out wherever possible.
‘I want them to make up and be good friends again, don’t you, Uncle Steve?’
Steve assured her in a solemn voice, ‘There is nothing I want more,’ thinking the sooner the characters made up with each other, the sooner he would be let off the hook. ‘Why didn’t you let Mummy read it to you? Then you’d be fast asleep by now.’
‘Mummy doesn’t read it like you do,’ Susie told him. ‘You make the characters seem alive, and you change your voice, and it’s really funny.’
Flattered but weary, he took a deep breath and commenced, ‘Mandy did not know what to do. Her friend Jenny had really upset her, because she had told lies, and that was a bad thing …’
‘Was it?’ Susie interrupted.
Steve glanced up. ‘Absolutely! Always remember, lies will get you nowhere.’
‘I know that.’
‘So why did you ask?’
‘Stop talking, Uncle Steve. I want to know what Mandy does.’
He read on, ‘At school on Tuesday, Mandy saw her friend Jenny talking to the other girls, and they were all staring at her. It made her feel very uncomfortable …’
‘That’s awful! Jenny shouldn’t do that, should she, Uncle Steve?’
Exasperated with the interruptions, Steve asked, ‘Susie, do you want us to talk, or do you want me to read?’
‘I want you to answer my question, please. After that, I want you to read.’
‘Well, I’m reading now … and please don’t interrupt, because it puts me right off my stride. You can ask your questions when I stop. All right?’
‘You said I put you “off your stride”. What does that mean?’
‘Well, I’m just getting into the characters and then you blurt out a question, and then I don’t know where I am.’
‘Are you angry with me?’
‘Not yet, but I’m getting there.’
‘OK, I’ll stop interrupting.’
‘Good!’ Fixing his gaze on the page, he searched for the line. ‘See that! I’ve lost my place now.’
‘Well, you should concentrate. Don’t you know anything?’
Beaten as always, Steve had to agree. ‘You’re right, but I’m very tired and I’ve had a setback with the property, and your mummy and I haven’t had time to speak with each other today.’
‘Please, Uncle Steve, read the story.’
‘I will, if you stop chattering.’
Susie crossed her chest. ‘I won’t chatter. Hand on heart, promise.’
Steve took a deep breath, and resumed the story.
For the next few minutes it flowed beautifully, though he twice looked up from the reading, eager to assure himself that she was paying attention.
The first time he glanced up, Susie was so tired she was struggling to keep her eyes open; then a few moments later, he was relieved to find that she’d slithered down between the sheets and was fast asleep.
Gently, so as not to wake her, he drew the bedcover up to her shoulders, then he placed the book inside the drawer and crept out on tiptoe, softly closing the door behind him.
Once outside, he gave a sigh of relief. I thought tonight we might actually get to the end of the story, he told himself as he ran down the main stairs two at a time.
A moment later, he was relieved to find Alice in the bar, perched on a stool and looking pretty as always.
‘I thought you might have gone up already,’ he remarked. ‘The reading took longer than I expected, what with Miss Chatterbox interrupting every other word.’
‘Huh! If you think her interrupting the story is hard, you wouldn’t have wanted to be with us today.’ Alice rolled her eyes in frustration. ‘Susie marched me all over the place as if she intended seeing and doing everything before we have to go home.’
‘That’s our Susie for you. When her mind is set, she won’t take no for an answer.’ Steve gestured to a small table by the window. ‘How about we sit over there?’
‘Fine by me,’ Alice smiled. ‘So, you managed to get her off to sleep, did you?’
‘Eventually, after a little banter or two, and always when I’m in the flow of the story.’
‘She does that to me, then it takes a while to find the place where I left off.’
‘Really?’ Steve laughed out loud. ‘Well, it’s time you learned to concentrate. Don’t you know anything?’
‘Cheek!’ She gave him a playful slap on the arm. ‘That sounded like something Susie might have said.’
They both laughed, recognising Susie and her old-fashioned ways.
Steve gave the bartender the order, and signed for the drinks. ‘It’s quiet in here tonight.’ He was surprised to see just one other couple in the bar.
‘It’s a quiet time of year,’ the bartender answered. ‘It’s been mostly businessmen this week, and they’ve moved on.’
‘Which is what I had planned to do.’ Steve had been disappointed in the need to stay another week, to discuss his plans in greater detail. ‘I should have known it was too ambitious a plan.’
Making the drinks, the bartender was thinking he had his own problems. ‘Shall I bring your drinks over, sir?’
Thanking him, Steve joined Alice at the other end of the room. ‘You look tired,’ he told her kindly. ‘So, our Susie’s been giving you the run-around, has she?’
‘You could say that. We went to Blackburn today and we must have been in every shop in the town centre. Then she wanted to walk along King Street, and she heard some boy playing the guitar in one of the shops. She wouldn’t even budge until he’d finished.’
Alice, too, had been amazed by the boy’s talent. ‘I’m telling you, Steve, she had her nose pressed tight to the window for ages. Then all the way back to the bus stop, she kept talking about him, saying how the boy had been on the bus the other day, and he was really nice, and she wanted to go inside the shop to listen, but she was too shy.’
‘Shy? Our Susie? I don’t think so.’ Steve recalled the boy on the bus. ‘More like she was too embarrassed to go inside, in case he recognised her. The boy on the bus didn’t know where to put himself when she kept smiling at him. So, if he was the same lad, he wouldn’t have thanked her for going into the shop to watch him play the guitar.’
Alice made a serious face. ‘It’s no good,’ she said mournfully, ‘my daughter is out of control. If she doesn’t pull herself together, I’ll have no choice but to put her in a nunnery.’
Steve laughed out loud. ‘Have a heart for the nuns. Our Susie would run rings round them. I reckon you should get her a job on a building site. That’ll teach ’em.’
Now it was Alice’s turn to laugh. ‘Honestly, Steve, she had me worn out today. But it was good to see her so interested in everything. She loved every minute of it, while, by the end, all I wanted to do was get back and soak my aching feet in cold water.’
She had to admit, ‘I did enjoy the day, though. I never dreamed that Corporation Park was so magnificent, with pretty, meandering walkways and lots of majestic old trees at every turn. Standing proud right at the very top of the park are a pair of old cannons from the Boer War. Susie and I sat astride the cannons, and we were so high up, we could see right across the rooftops of Blackburn and far into the distance towards the countryside. It’s the most amazing sight!’
‘Sound like somewhere I should see.’
‘It is, and you must.’
Steve reflected on what Alice had said earlier. ‘This boy she saw through the shop window – he was playing the guitar, you say?’
‘That’s right, and it took all my powers of persuasion to drag Susie away.’
‘Was the boy good … at the guitar?’
‘Yes, according to Susie. I didn’t hear too much, but what I did hear was impressive, I have to admit. But as you’re fond of telling me, I don’t have any musical inclinations. Added to which, I was too busy trying to shift Susie, so I could get back and soak my poor feet.’
‘Mmm.’ Steve’s thoughts were on the boy.
Alice, however, was thinking ahead. ‘When’s your meeting with the planners?’
‘First thing tomorrow. And look, Alice, I’m sorry about all this. You and Susie really should have gone back last week. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you stayed, but I didn’t want you to put your own plans on hold.’
‘I couldn’t desert you, especially when Susie got herself all upset. She didn’t want to leave without you, what with her daddy away and everything.’
‘Yes, I know, and you must be home for Mike’s return very soon. The good news is, I’ve already secured the site and providing I can accommodate the Planning Department’s requirements, I should be home and dry. I’m told the architect is working late into the night in order to deliver the amended drawings first thing.’
Leaning back into his chair, he drew a deep sigh of relief. ‘If luck is on my side, by the time the meeting starts, the planning committee should have studied the new plans, and made a decision.’
‘I hope for your sake, it all goes well,’ Alice told him.
‘Well, all we can do now is to keep our fingers crossed. Hopefully, once this meeting is over, I’ll have the green light and can go home, though I’ll need to travel back and forth for some time yet, which I don’t mind in the least. In fact, if needs be, I’d travel to the moon and back if it would get me what I want.’
‘You know Mike and I are behind you all the way, don’t you?’ Alice reassured him.
‘I do know that,’ Steve answered, ‘and I’m very grateful. I only wish Connie would show a bit more interest in what I’m doing, but she doesn’t, and probably never will.’
‘I can’t understand it, Steve. She should be encouraging you all the way; especially as it’s to her benefit as well.’
Steve’s face darkened. ‘I wish I could fire her interest in it, but I can’t. Whenever I talk about having the studio up and running, she just nods her head, and makes pleasant noises, but there’s no real interest. No passion. No excitement.’ He shrugged. ‘Maybe I’m asking too much of her. Connie’s interested in other things. I guess I’ll have to accept that.’
‘She’s a lucky woman to have the love of a man like you.’
When Steve made no comment, Alice grew curious. ‘You do love her, don’t you, Steve?’ The moment she’d spoken, Alice could have bitten off her tongue.
Steve laughed it off without giving a direct answer. ‘I married her, didn’t I? So I must love her.’
Feeling uncomfortable, he changed the subject. ‘I expect you’ll be glad to get back, won’t you, Alice?’
‘Well, yes, I can’t deny I’m ready for home. Also, your wandering brother will be back shortly, so I expect we’ll all be where we should be.’ She smiled graciously. ‘Mind you, Susie and I have really enjoyed tagging along with you. So, thanks for having us, and I hope we haven’t got in the way … even if you were roped in to read her bedtime stories.’
Steve made a face. ‘That’s my punishment for not tying up the business quicker, though in the time we’ve had, I reckon the team and I have done wonders.’
Alice agreed. ‘By the way, the woman in the café today told us there’s a market on in Blackburn tomorrow, under the lovely old clock. When she mentioned that there were all manner of toy stalls, Susie wouldn’t let it drop. She’s been wanting to get a present for her daddy, and so far she hasn’t seen anything that excites her.’
‘Hmm! That’s because she’s a right little fusspot, and far too picky for her own good. But it might not be a bad idea to let her have a little walkabout, and who knows, she might find something.’
‘That’s what she said. So, I promised I’d take her over there.’
Steve felt anxious about the meeting. ‘After wanting it for so long, I actually think that it might all be coming together. It’s been a hard business, but at long last I can almost see my vision actually edging towards reality.’
‘I hope so, Steve, but if it does happen, it’ll be your own determination and hard work that’s carried you through.’
She felt no guilt in reminding him, ‘I know Connie hasn’t got the same appetite for the studios as you have. But you still pushed on regardless, and all credit to you for that.’
She was only too aware of how long and hard he’d pursued this business venture; in fact she’d been greatly impressed by the speed in which he’d secured the site outside Blackpool.
Unlike Steve, with his talent and passion for music, Steve’s brother, Mike, was a hard-and-fast practical man. Never a musician, his talent was buying and selling property, which he had done very well with.
Like Steve, Mike was a kind and generous man, but where business was concerned, he was hard-headed, with no time for dreams.
When Steve turned to see if the drinks were on their way, Alice quietly regarded him for a moment. She saw a fine man with a fine dream. A kind man. A man who had quietly tolerated his wife’s selfish ways, while providing her with the best of everything; even though Connie showed little interest in what he was doing.
She was a selfish woman with a high opinion of herself and a low opinion of everyone else. From the day they were married, she had learned how to manipulate her new husband, until over the years she had managed to elevate herself to where she was today. She lived a pampered life, with a cleaner and a gardener, and money to spare. She demanded the best of everything, and got it, and the more she got, the more she wanted.
Alice and the family first had their doubts about Connie when she came home with Steve from one of his long tours. Steve called her his ‘rough diamond’, and at the time she seemed devoted to him. She accompanied him on every tour, and rarely let him out of her sight.
Then, on returning from another tour, Steve announced that they were married. At the time, family and friends thought he had made a mistake and as the years rolled on, their fears were proved right.
Locked in a marriage without love, Steve confided to his brother that his marriage had brought him little joy. Connie increasingly treated him more as a trophy than a husband. There were also rumours about her seeing other men. And though he respected Connie’s decision not to have children, it was a deep wound to him, because he would dearly have loved to complete their marriage with children.
While touring, Steve had many chances to stray with other women, but he remained loyal to his marriage vows.
‘Alice?’ Steve shattered Alice’s thoughts.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, Steve.’ Alice had been caught off guard. ‘I was miles away there for a minute.’
‘Yes, I could see that.’ He felt guilty. ‘Thinking about Mike, were you?’
‘Sort of, yes.’ She spoke quietly. ‘I miss him.’
‘I know you do, but soon you’ll be home and when he returns you’ll both be waiting there for him.’
He turned his thoughts to Connie, wondering if she’d be glad to see him. She always made a show of affection when he returned from a trip, but he could never tell if her feelings were genuine or not.
‘What will you do when the studios are up and running?’ Alice asked.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, I mean, will you stay with the group, or will you disband altogether? You can’t possibly manage to rehearse and perform and at the same time hope to manage the recording studios as well. It’s not possible.’
‘You’re right,’ Steve admitted. ‘To tell the truth, I’ve been thinking about that a lot. But don’t forget, since Lennie left, we’ve hardly played. Jim and Pete are more interested in their growing management businesses, scouting for new talent and such, and I’m developing the recording studios, partly financed by Jim. So it looks like we have disbanded and gone our separate ways already. Mind you, one way or another, we’ll all be in the music business,’ he crossed his fingers, ‘so if and when it happens, I’m sure they’ll be taking advantage of the new studio, which means we’ll still be working together at different times. It’s like I said to Mike, since Lennie went it was never the same as it used to be.’
Alice could hear the regret in his voice. ‘You miss it, don’t you … the way it was?’
‘Yeah, I do miss it, but we all need to move on.’ Steve shrugged. ‘Besides, let’s face it. We’re not the bright young things we were, and it’s only the die-hard fans that follow us now.’
Alice nodded. ‘Well, at least you’ve got some fantastic memories to keep you warm in your old age.’
‘Hey!’ Steve wagged a finger. ‘Not so much of the old, if you don’t mind.’ He grinned cheekily. ‘I’ve still got all my own teeth.’ He grew serious. ‘More importantly, I’m on the verge of realising my big dream.’
There was a moment of quiet, while each reflected on his or her achivements in life.
‘Steve?’ Alice looked up. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Of course.’
‘Don’t be angry, will you, only I’ve always wondered …’
‘Come on, then! Out with it.’
‘Well, to be honest, I could never see why you married Connie. You’re so different in many ways. You’re a grafter, and she’s … she’s …’ She struggled to find a word that would not offend.
Steve smiled. ‘She’s lazy and selfish. That’s what you’re trying to say, isn’t it? And you’d be right.’
Alice was embarrassed. ‘No, I didn’t mean … but, well, to be honest, I would never have put you two together in a million years. Oh, look, Steve, I’m sorry. I should never have said that.’ Taking up her glass, she drained it to its last drop. ‘One of these days I’ll learn to keep my mouth shut and mind my own business.’
‘Look, it’s already forgotten. Tell you what, I reckon we’ve got time for another drink. What d’you say?’
Alice gave a sheepish grin. ‘I think I might have had enough wine for tonight.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes … no!’ She groaned. ‘Oh, go on then, I’ll have the same again. A small white wine, please.’
‘Coming up.’ Steve went away to collect the drinks.
A few minutes later, taking a long sip of his beer, Steve admitted, ‘I’d best make this the last one, especially as I’ve got a big day ahead of me tomorrow.’
Alice detected a slight slur in his voice. ‘Quite right, too. You don’t need a hangover when you meet up with the planners.’
She had never known Steve to drink over his limit. Mike said Steve was always the sensible one, even when they were younger.
Curious, she now dared to ask him something that she and Mike had often wondered about. ‘You never did say what actually drew you to Connie? How did you latch onto her?’
Steve took a moment to answer, and when he did it was with a sense of surprise. ‘To tell you the truth, I’m not altogether sure. In fact, come to think of it, you could say it was Connie who latched onto me!’
‘How come?’
‘We’d just finished the last gig in the Northern tour. It had been a long, hard tour. Me and the boys were shattered; looking forward to a break. These two girls appeared next day, full of fun and wanting to chat. One of them was outspoken and a bit brash. That turned out to be Connie. And the other …’
He fell silent before going on in a softer voice, ‘She was a lovely little thing. In the end, I left Connie talking to Jim while I went to chat with her friend.’ He could see Ruth in his mind. ‘She had the deepest eyes, and such pretty hair. We had a wonderful day together.’
‘Sounds to me as though you took to her more than you took to Connie.’
‘You’re right, I did. In the evening there was a party on the beach. So, while Jim took off with Connie, I invited the prettier one to go for a walk along the beach. After a time we found ourselves alone, under the pier. There was no sign of the others.’
He paused; the memories were clearer now. ‘As I recall, we were soon lying on the sand, in each other’s arms, listening to the waves lapping against the pier struts … and thinking how wonderful it all was.’
‘What was her name?’
‘Ruth. She was called Ruth.’ Embarrassed, he shrugged. ‘It was such a beautiful evening, what with the stars above and the sand and sea and all that, it was kinda romantic. I was weary from the tour. I was young and bold back then and … things happened.’ He gave a secret little smile. ‘She was very special. Over the years, I’ve often thought about her.’
Alice was shaken by the tenderness in his voice as he spoke of this girl. ‘By the sound of it, you took advantage of her, but it’s what you men do, isn’t it? Meet a nice girl, “get it together” and she’s another little tick on your calendar.’
Steve gave a wry little smile. ‘To tell you the truth, it wasn’t like that. I would have liked to really get to know her, only Connie came and hurried her away … she said they had to get back, or there would be Hell to pay.’
‘You say you’ve often thought about her over the years?’
‘I have, and that’s the truth.’
‘So, you regret letting her get away, do you?’ Alice took another sip of wine.
‘Mebbe. The thing is, there are times when Connie gets ratty and makes life difficult, and that’s when I think back to that night, and wonder how different it might have been.’
He looked up, and Alice detected much regret in his voice as he confided, ‘All right yes, I admit it, there are times when I wish it hadn’t been so fleeting; when I wish I’d taken Ruth’s address, but I didn’t, so that’s the end of that. So now, I’m married to Connie, and her friend is probably happily married to the old boyfriend she took up with, so that’s an end to it.’
Alice wondered, ‘If you didn’t know anything about her, how come you know about the boyfriend?’
‘Because Connie told me.’
Alice was confused. ‘When?’
Steve fell back in the chair, ‘God! You don’t leave any stone unturned, do you?’
‘You gave me the impression that you never saw or heard from her again, and now you say she took up with a boyfriend. So, when did you find all this out?’
‘When me and Connie got together. Connie turned up at the Birmingham concert hall where we were playing a gig.’
‘On her own, was she?’
‘Well, yes. At first, I thought she’d come to see Jim, but he wasn’t playing that night. So, she singled me out. We got talking, then we went back to the hotel for a drink, and that’s when she told me about her friend … that she’d got together with an old boyfriend, and that I hadn’t meant anything to her … that I was just “a bit of a laugh”.’ He frowned. ‘That surprised me, because I wouldn’t have called our time together “a bit of a laugh”. It was sensual, and beautiful, and I will never forget it.’
Alice was curious. ‘If you felt like that, why did you let her go so easily?’
‘We’d got a great new opportunity to extend the tour and suddenly we were moving on. It was a chance we couldn’t pass up and we had to leave immediately.’ He paused. ‘She was different, though … kind of … real. Maybe if things hadn’t turned out the way they did, I’d have found her again, one way or another. But, like I said, I chose my career, I didn’t know where she lived and I just left.’
‘So when Connie turned up shortly afterwards, you went to bed with her as a consolation prize!’
‘Course not! I took her for a drink, because I needed to know where Ruth was, and if there might be a chance that she and I could get together. But then, before I could even ask the question, she said she hadn’t seen her friend lately, because she was so wrapped up in her relationship with her old sweetheart. She said she felt really let down, that they’d been friends since school and now she’d been dropped just like that … no phone call, no word of any kind.’ His voice fell. ‘Believe it or not, Alice, I really would have liked to have seen her friend again.’
Alice gave a naughty smile. ‘God, you really took to her, didn’t you?’
Steve nodded. ‘More than I realised at the time, yes. But like I say, water under the bridge and all that.’
‘But it still doesn’t explain how you and Connie became an item.’
She waited for an answer, but Steve wasn’t listening. Instead he was back there, Connie telling him how her friend had reunited with her first love, and that she was incredibly happy.
He had not realised until then how deeply he’d been drawn to Ruth. Oh, yes, they’d made love and it was wonderful, but that was not unusual with the girls he met on tour, and when it was over that was it. And yet, there had been something about Ruth that had stayed with him.
‘Steve?’
Steve looked up. ‘I’m sorry … what did you say?’
‘I asked how you and Connie got together.’
‘To tell the truth, I’m not altogether sure. I mean, one minute we were talking about her friend finding happiness with her old love, then suddenly she was talking about herself, and her own love life. She’d been dumped, and she started sobbing … in a shocking state she was. I didn’t know how to deal with it. She said she was too upset to travel back home, so I booked her a room in the hotel, and she begged me to stay with her. I didn’t know what to do. The other blokes had gone off with their dates, and there she was, needing me, so I took her to her room and she wouldn’t stop crying, so I stayed and comforted her, and … well … you’re right. We ended up in bed together, and I’m not proud of that. In all honesty, that was the last thing I wanted.’
‘But you couldn’t resist the opportunity, could you?’
‘It wasn’t like that!’
‘Ah, well, you would say that, wouldn’t you?’
‘No! Really … she was in a bit of a state … sobbing, and vulnerable, and for some stupid reason I felt responsible, so one thing led to another, and before I had time to turn round, she was hanging around on the tour with us. Next thing, we were married.’ He shrugged. ‘The rest you already know.’
Before she could comment, he pushed back his chair and stood up. ‘I could do with a nightcap. How about you?’
‘No, I think I’ve had more than enough.’
He chuckled. ‘You haven’t got Connie’s constitution.’
‘Oh, you reckon, d’you?’ After draining her glass, she handed it to him. ‘I’ll have the same again, thank you.’
‘Right!’ Surprised, he went to collect another round of drinks.
While he was gone, Alice couldn’t help but wonder if he had ever really loved the cold and extravagant woman who, in her opinion, had bamboozled him into marriage. She suspected that Steve was more unhappy than he would ever admit, and that Connie was only along for the ride. But, as Mike had reminded her, there was nothing they could do unless they were asked. It was best to let married people sort out their own problems.
When Steve returned with the drinks, she took a great gulp of the wine, before asking nervously, ‘Can I ask you something, Steve?’
‘As long as it’s not too near the bone, yes.’
‘OK … a straightforward question requires a straightforward answer. Do you agree?’
‘Now you’re making me nervous. Just ask the question.’
‘OK. Do you love Connie?’
There was a long, tense moment while he recalled the early days. ‘I thought I loved her … at the time,’ He answered thoughtfully.
‘And now?’ Alice was not about to let it go.
‘I’m not really sure.’ He was torn in so many directions. Deep down, he knew how he felt towards Connie, but it was another thing to confess it to someone else; especially to Alice, who had a canny knack of cutting into his thoughts.
Carefully placing her glass on the table, Alice leaned forward. ‘You’re a lovely man, Steve, but … shall I tell you what I think?’
‘If I say no, I expect you’ll tell me anyway.’ Steve wasn’t concerned; except for the amount of wine she had downed, when usually she didn’t drink at all. None the less, he had always thought his brother was a very lucky man to have such an honest and loving woman in his life.
‘Right! Well, this is the way I see it, and stop me if you think I’m out of order.’
‘Huh! It sounds like I’m about to get a lecture.’ He didn’t mind, though. Alice’s honest and straightforward manner was a welcome change from Connie’s guarded and devious way. In fact, come to think of it, he and Connie hardly ever had an in-depth conversation these days.
‘Right then!’ Alice drained her glass before unleashing her thoughts. ‘First, you have a wife who never supports you in your work; she’s never seen to fuss over you … kiss you or hold your hand. She never laughs with you, never travels with you, or does anything that includes just the two of you. Instead, she flies off to sunny climates on her own, whenever the fancy takes her. She seems to care more about shopping and holidays than she ever cares about you. Moreover, she hasn’t done a day’s work since you put a ring on her finger. She’s selfish, lazy and demanding. She has a habit of looking down on you, and whenever we all go out to dinner, it’s plain to see she’s not comfortable with your friends and family, and she’s even been seen to flirt with the men at the table.’ She wagged a finger at him. ‘There! I’ve said it now.’
In the deafening silence that followed, Alice was horrified at her torrent of honesty. She slunk down into the chair. ‘Oh my God, Steve, I’m sorry. I wasn’t meant to get so angry. It came out all wrong.’
Steve was shocked to his roots. He had never known Alice to be so condemning of anyone, and he felt the need and duty to defend his wife. ‘Look, I know she’s got her faults, Alice, but you’re being too harsh on her. You’ve made her out to be a monster, and that’s not fair.’
And yet, in between the bitchy bits about the shopping and such, Steve recognised the truth about his wife’s character. He knew how difficult she could be at times, but to hear it being spelled out – especially by the normally placid Alice – was hard to take.
Mortified by what she had said, Alice apologised again. ‘I’m truly sorry, Steve. I shouldn’t have said those things.’ Even so, she felt the need to qualify her words. ‘The thing is … I’m not the only one who thinks she’s wrong for you.’
Steve had heard more than enough. ‘All right, Alice.’ Scraping his chair back, he went to her side and tucked his hand under her arm to help her up. ‘Let’s talk tomorrow, eh? Tonight you’ve had a bit too much of the wine. Come on now. Let’s get you to your room.’
Alice was devastated. ‘Oh, Steve, what will you think of me? I didn’t mean to say all those dreadful things. They just fell out before I could stop them.’ Though she had meant every word.
In the lift, she leaned heavily on him, apologising again. ‘Don’t be angry with me. It’s the wine. I’m not used to it. I need to see Susie … she shouldn’t be alone in the room without me.’
‘She’s not alone, Alice. We organised a hotel babysitter … that nice lady who’s got children and grandchildren of her own, remember?’
In fact, the hotel babyitter met them at the door. A kindly woman with a sunny smile, she quickly took charge of Alice.
‘Don’t you worry, sir. You can leave her to me now, sir. I’ll make sure everything’s all right before I leave.’
‘I’m her brother-in-law,’ he explained. ‘Is my niece in bed? I’d like to take a peek at her, if possible?’
‘Oh, yes, it’s Mr Bates, isn’t it?’ She now recognised him as being the occupant of number fourteen, a few strides down the hall. ‘The little darling is fast asleep. She’s been no trouble at all.’ She glanced at Alice, who was having trouble standing up straight, ‘I can see to her mammy if you want to get off. I’ll make sure everything is all right before I leave.’
Steve thanked her. ‘But if you could just keep an eye on my sister-in-law for one moment, I’d like to take a peek at my niece.’
‘Of course, sir.’
Taking a sleepy Alice across the room, Steve helped her onto the bed. He gently removed her jacket and shoes before placing them on the chair, beside her handbag. When he covered her with the eiderdown, she promptly closed her eyes and fell asleep.
‘She’s not used to the drink,’ Steve explained. ‘She had a couple of glasses of wine, which seem to have gone straight to her head.’
‘It does the very same to me, sir.’ She smiled over at Alice. ‘I’ll watch her while you take a look at the child, then I’d best be off … if there’s nothing else you need?’
She lingered, as though waiting for new instructions; or maybe a small gesture of gratitude.
Steve understood. ‘Thank you for keeping an eye on the child.’ Digging into his jacket pocket, he drew out some coins, which he handed to her.
‘Oh, thank you sir.’ She rammed the money into her apron pocket.
While Steve went into the adjoining bedroom to see the child, she went over to the bed and shifted Alice into a more comfortable position. Then she sat herself in the chair to wait for Steve’s return.
Susie was fast asleep. ‘Rest well, sweetheart,’ he murmured. ‘It sounds like you’ve a busy day ahead of you tomorrow, and then it’s home again.’
Stooping down, he placed a gossamer kiss on Susie’s forehead, tucked her arm under the clothes and drew the bedcover up to her neck. ‘Good night, God bless.’ He stood a moment watching her, thinking how dearly he would have loved to be a father. But since there was no changing Connie’s mind, he had abandoned the possibility of fatherhood.
Disillusioned, he returned to the other room, where Alice was flaked out. ‘Thank you.’ He could see the older woman was eager to be off. ‘I’m sure she’ll sleep right through till morning.’
‘I’m sure she will.’ From her curt statement and the expression on her face as she glanced at Alice’s now prostrate body, she did not approve of anyone drinking themselves into such a state. ‘I’ll be leaving now, but if you want anything at all, just dial zero.’
‘Thank you.’ He opened the door and saw her out, then, having checked again on Susie and Alice, he headed off to his own room.
Once there, he placed his shoes on top of his suitcase and flung his jacket over the sofa. A short time later, he fell into the welcome softness of his bed, where, bone-tired and weary, he was ready for a good night’s sleep, but sleep was elusive. He was haunted by his deep longing for children of his own. He could not understand why Connie had no wish to be a mother.
At 7.30 a.m., the ringing of the bedside telephone shocked him awake.
Bleary-eyed and disorientated, he took a minute to focus before inching across the bed to grab the receiver. ‘Yes, who is it?’
‘Steve? You’re a wicked man. You left me lying on top of the bed,’ Alice playfully chided him. ‘I woke up freezing in the early hours.’
‘Sorry, but I didn’t want to wake you. I covered you with the eiderdown, so you must have kicked it off in the night.’ He stifled a yawn.
‘Susie is dressed and ready to go down to breakfast, and I’m almost ready. Shall we meet down there?’
‘What? Yes, all right, give me fifteen minutes.’
‘You sound rough.’
‘I feel it.’
‘I don’t feel too great myself.’
‘Serves you right, knocking back the wine like an old soak.’
‘Hmm! You were the one who brought it to me.’
‘Ah, yes, but you asked for it. So don’t throw the responsibility on me. If you’re feeling thick-headed, you’ve only yourself to blame. Yes, you go ahead and grab a table, and I’ll see you down there.’
‘OK.’ Alice replaced the receiver.
‘Oh, jeez!’ Realising he had a busy day ahead, he quickly washed and shaved, before collecting a cream-coloured shirt and dark-grey suit from the wardrobe.
A short time later, looking smart and businesslike, he flicked a comb through his thick mop of hair before hurrying out to the lift.
Alice and Susie were in the dining room.
‘Where’ve you been, Uncle Steve?’ Susie greeted him, hands on hips and a look of disapproval on her face. ‘Naughty Uncle Steve. It’s rude to be late.’
Steve made a sorry face. ‘You’re absolutely right, so now I don’t get a hug, is that it?’
In an instance she was up and running round the table, and he swung her into his arms, asking sheepishly, ‘Am I forgiven then?’
Her face broke into a bright smile as she flung her arms round his neck. ‘All right then, but please don’t be late again.’
He made a smart salute. ‘Yes, ma’am, I’ll make sure I’m on time in future, but right now I’m starving hungry, so can we eat?’
Susie nodded. ‘Yes, and then while you’re at the meeting, me and Mummy are going to the market. Afterwards, you’re going to meet up with us … if the men will let you go in time.’
‘Huh! Let them try and stop me, and there’ll be big trouble.’ He gently squashed her nose with the end of his finger. ‘I’ll be there for you and Mummy, come rain or shine.’
‘Good!’
He reached out and gave Alice a peck on the cheek. ‘Oh, dear me,’ he feigned a look of horror, ‘shadows under the eyes; not good!’
‘Well, thank you.’ Smiling, she reminded him, ‘You’re not supposed to tell a woman that she’s got shadows under her eyes. Where’s your sense of chivalry?’
‘Only joking.’
‘It’s a good job I know you.’ She was used to his sense of humour.
As they walked to the breakfast room, she watched him with Susie. It hurt her to know that if Connie had her way, Steve would never know the joy of being a father.
Alice took Susie to choose her juices and cereals, while Steve ordered egg, bacon and sausages.
‘Would you like toast, sir?’ The waitress was a pretty, auburn-haired girl with a tendency to blink nervously whenever she asked a question, as she did now. ‘Brown bread or white, sir?’
‘Well, I’d like brown bread, but I’ve no idea what the others want so maybe we could have a selection?’
She wrote it all down. ‘Tea or coffee, sir?’
‘Again, a pot of each, and a jug of hot milk, please.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ Blinking furiously, she hurried off to collect the order.
Alice saw her leave. ‘Did you remember to order both tea and coffee?’ she asked Steve.
‘I did, yes. I also ordered a selection of toast, brown and white.’ He gave a cheeky wink. ‘See! I did remember.’
‘I like brown toast, too, Uncle Steve, so can I have one of yours?’ Susie asked politely.
‘No, you can’t.’
‘Why not?’ She stared at him with big, surprised eyes.
‘Because you don’t get anything, unless you use the magic word.’
Susie tightly closed her eyes to pretend to concentrate. ‘Oh, I remember!’ Opening her eyes, she laughed out loud. ‘Please, Uncle Steve, may I have some of your brown toast?’
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Aw!’ She noticed the naughty twinkle in his eye. ‘Uncle Steve, you’re teasing, aren’t you?’
‘I’m sorry. You can have as much brown toast as you like. How’s that?’
‘Thank you, but I only want two pieces. First, I have to eat my cereals.’ She began tucking into them straight away, leaving Alice and Steve to chat.
For a while it was Alice who did most of the talking, telling Steve how much she’d enjoyed the trip, and that she was almost certain the outcome of the meeting would be in his favour.
When Susie headed for the juice table again, Steve recalled the sordid events of when that poor woman was snatched from the streets.
‘I’m finding it difficult to put it all out of my mind,’ he told Alice now. ‘I hope she’s all right after her ordeal.’
Alice, too, had been shocked and horrified at the incident. ‘Well, from what you told me about the woman you believed to be her mother, it sounds to me she’s in safe hands now.’
Steve nodded. ‘I hope so, because she was in a poor state when I gave her up to the woman.’
Alice wanted to know, ‘Can you make time to go back and see if she’s OK?’
Steve had already considered the possibility. ‘I’m not sure. It all depends on what time there is to thrash it out; and don’t forget this is the one and only Saturday meeting ever. According to Edward Mull, the agent, they’ve called this one because of the huge backlog in applications. So, if it goes badly for me today, it could be months before I get another hearing.’
‘Don’t even think like that, Steve. Be positive.’
‘You know me, I’m always positive, but it’s out of my hands. Either way, I intend keeping my promise to Susie, so I’ll meet you at the market café. Keep your fingers crossed that I bring good news with me.’
‘We will.’
Steve nodded. ‘Anyway, we’ll have a bite to eat or something, then I’ll need to get you both back here to collect your luggage and catch your train home.’
Alice asked him, ‘Wouldn’t you rather we stayed here with you, until you’re finished with all the red tape and such, and then we could all go back in the car together?’
‘That’s a nice idea, Alice, but I can’t let you do that, especially not with Mike on his way home. He’s expecting you to be there, and besides, I can’t really be sure if I’ll be going back myself, just yet.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘Well, if the worst happens and the meeting falls through, I’ll need to consider the other sites on offer; arrange more viewings, talk to people I haven’t already talked to. And even if the meeting goes well, I still have to follow up, what with revisiting the site with the surveyor, and checking with the architect; then tying up all the loose ends.’
‘But, either way, you will be at the café today, won’t you? Susie would be so disappointed if you’re not.’
Susie was horrified, ‘Yes, Uncle Steve,’ she said. ‘I’m going home later, but first, we have to go to the market. That little boy is playing his guitar and Mummy said we can go and see him. You have to come too … say you will, please?’
Steve promised her, ‘As soon as the meeting is over, I’ll make my way to the café, like I’ve arranged with Mummy. After that, I promise I’ll go with you to see this boy, and I hope he’s worth the effort.’
A short time later, breakfast eaten, they returned to their respective rooms to prepare for the day ahead.
Susie was cleaning her teeth when Steve knocked on the door. When Alice called him inside, he popped his head round. ‘Is there anything you want before I go – money, or anything?’
Alice told him, ‘No, thanks all the same. I haven’t even spent the money you forced on us earlier.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘You’d best be on your way,’ she reminded him. ‘You have to see the agent before the meeting, don’t you?’
‘Yes, and then we’ll make our way to the council offices together.’ He paused, a sense of anxiety creeping over him. ‘To tell you the truth, Alice, I’ve never been so nervous in all my life.’
‘Ah, go on with you!’ Alice sought to reassure him. ‘You’ve thought about this for too long to let nerves get in the way at this late stage. You’ve done your homework, Steve. You’ve chased every loophole, and now it’s up to them. But it will be all right. I’ve got a good feeling about it, and even if it doesn’t go in your favour, you won’t give up, I know you too well for that.’
Coming into the room, he gave her a hug. ‘You’re the best sister-in-law in the world,’ he told her, and when Susie poked her head round the bathroom door, her mouth frothing with toothpaste, he gave a little scream. ‘Oh my God! A monster … HELP!’
Susie fell about laughing, until Alice reminded her, ‘Time’s flying by, sweetheart. Hurry up … that is, if you want to spend time wandering about the market.’ Susie quickly disappeared, calling back in muffled tones, ‘Good luck, Uncle Steve. We’ll wait at the café for you.’
Susie’s comment reminded Steve. ‘What with so much to think about, I’m not altogether sure exactly where this café is that you spoke about … Can you just run it by me again?’
‘It’s opposite the market. Betty’s Place, it’s called. Susie and I will be waiting there at twelve o’clock. Look, Steve, just ask anybody to direct you to the market clock. You can’t really miss it, because it stands head and shoulders above the stalls, oh, and it’s the most wonderful thing. I’m told that people have their photographs taken against it. Sweethearts meet under it, and the stallholders set their watches by it. You can see the café from there.’
Steve was impressed. ‘Well, even if I don’t see anything else, I must take a look at this clock.’
‘You won’t be sorry, I promise,’ Alice told him.
With the arrangements clarified, Steve was quickly on his way, leaving Alice and Susie to sort out their clothes and pack them into the suitcases.
They then took the suitcases down to the concierge desk, where Alice arranged for them to be picked up later.
After checking out at the desk, they walked the short distance to the bus stop and caught the bus to Blackburn.
‘I’m glad we’re going to see the boy again.’ Susie was excited as they climbed onto the bus.
After sitting Susie on the inside seat, Alice sat down next to her and lapsed into deep thought about Steve’s situation at home. It didn’t look too good, she thought sadly.
Beside her, Susie chattered on, with Alice only half aware of what she was saying until Susie’s anxious voice penetrated her thoughts: ‘Mummy, you’re not listening.’
‘Sorry, sweetheart?’ She was used to switching on and off as Susie chattered about this and that; all of which she had heard before. ‘What’s on your mind?’
‘Do you think the boy really is going to play his guitar, Mummy?’
‘Well, I don’t know for sure. It wasn’t me who overheard the conversation between the old man and the boy. I only know what you told me,’ she smiled, ‘before I managed to drag you away.’
‘I know, and I already told you,’ Susie rolled her eyes, ‘the man said he wanted the boy to come to his stall on the market and play his guitar. He said Saturday, and it’s Saturday now, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, well, it was when I got up this morning.’
‘So, that means the boy will play his guitar today, doesn’t it, Mummy?’ She needed reassurance.
‘Well, that’s right, but to be honest, sweetheart, I wouldn’t count on it. Sometimes, people say things and they don’t always mean them, or something happens and they can’t do what they said they would.’
‘But the boy was really excited.’
‘I’m sure he was.’ Reaching out, Alice stroked a stray hair from the child’s forehead. ‘Look, I know how much you want to hear the boy play his guitar, but I don’t want you to be disappointed, that’s all.’
‘I won’t be disappointed, Mummy.’ There was the slightest tremor in her voice. ‘Because he told the old man he would, and I know he will. I just know it!’
When Alice turned to look at her, she saw how Susie had turned her face to the window, gazing out with a solemn face.
Instead of talking to her again, she tenderly slid her fingers over the girl’s hand. Susie smiled up at her, and they continued their journey in silence, each occupied with her own thoughts.
Alice gave a satisfied little smile as she thought of Mike and how she would be seeing him very soon.
Mike was the love of her life. Every time he went away, she felt so incredibly lonely, which was why she and Susie had accompanied Steve on this trip.
As the bus bumbled along and Susie was lost in the sights and sounds, Alice turned her own thoughts to Steve’s impossible situation.
How much longer would he be able to put up with Connie’s extravagant and selfish ways? Also, if Connie was adamant about not having children, why hadn’t she told him before he put a ring on her finger?
To Alice’s mind, that would have been the right thing to do.
But, having learned a thing or two about Connie over the past few years, she could easily believe that Connie had her own personal agenda in marrying Steve.
After all, he was a good catch; with a successful career; money in the bank, and ambitions that, if realised, could bring him security for life.