Winners and Losers (16 page)

He wished his brother had never got in with that band, but that was being selfish. He couldn't expect Connor to go on working for a pittance all his life, but at the moment he could see no way out of this mess.

Sarah was surprised that her father seemed to take to Connor. She had expected that he might ask a lot of questions, but she'd thought he might be rude. Instead, he had listened with interest as Connor told him about the record deal. He seemed impressed and he'd agreed that the engagement could go ahead, though he said she was too young to marry until the following summer.

‘That suits me fine, sir. It will give me time to see where I'm going and to save something for the future. I want Sarah to have a nice house and all the things she is used to.'

After Connor had gone, Sarah went back to the kitchen. She sensed tension between her mother and father.

‘Is something wrong? You did like him, didn't you, Dad?'

‘He seems a sensible young man to me. His family used to be well off, but the war was difficult for a lot of people. The farm lost money and the bank foreclosed on them. That can happen to anyone. If Connor is willing to wait until next year – and he can afford to buy that house he promised – then I see no reason why we shouldn't have the wedding in June.'

‘Thanks, Dad.' Sarah threw him a smile of gratitude. June was nine months away, but it was better than waiting until she was twenty-one.

‘I think it is much too soon. But I suppose if you still want to marry him next year, I can't stop you . . .'

‘I
shall
want to marry him,' Sarah said confidently. ‘I love him.'

‘That is all very well,' her mother said. ‘But how are you going to be when he's away for weeks at a time? You won't know where he is or what he is doing.'

‘Connor says he will telephone me – and he'll get back as often as he can.'

‘Fine promises – as long as he keeps them.'

Sarah was thoughtful as she went upstairs to her room. She wished her mother hadn't put doubts in her mind. It was going to be awful knowing Connor was far away from her, singing to lots of screaming girls. She knew what went on at the gigs, because Janice had been to one of them and she'd delighted in telling her of the way he seemed to sing to one particular girl each time.

Sarah understood that her friends were jealous. She was the one with a good solid background, a better job and now a famous boyfriend – because she didn't doubt it would happen. She had seen how much people enjoyed Connor's singing at the club. She liked to listen to him too. She wished he didn't have to go away to do it, but she knew he was working for a better future for them.

All she could do was believe that he loved her and make the most of the time when he came home on a flying visit . . .

Emily sat with Alice's letter in her hand. The news about Connor was wonderful. It made Emily smile to think that her youngest brother might be on the road to fame and fortune. It was true that Connor had a good voice, but she had never expected to hear him singing on the radio or see his name up in lights. Apparently, he was going to be on the radio quite soon – and his first record was due for release this week.

 

He came home for a few hours at the weekend,
Alice had written.
But he wasn't in the house more than a few minutes. He brought presents for us all and then went off to Ely to see his fiancée. He is engaged to a lovely girl – at least I've been told she is, but, of course, we haven't met her as yet. I'm not sure how she feels about all this, but Connor seems very happy – and he has changed so much. He is so confident and he looks as if he owns the world.

I've had a letter from Frances asking us to stay at Christmas, but there is no possibility of our getting away. Dan is managing with that youth I told you of before and a man who comes in part-time to give him a hand with the milking. Thank goodness the potatoes are up. It cost more to get them up than usual, but Connor used to work so hard. We shall miss him terribly, but I think it is wonderful that he has this chance.

Emily read between the lines. She guessed that her sister-in-law was worried about Dan and the way things were going. She wished that they could come to her for Christmas, but she knew it was out of the question, and Frances had refused all her invitations to come and stay. Emily would have to make time to pop down there before Christmas. She would take a brace of pheasants from the estate and some gifts – and she would have to try to visit Alice and Dan too, even though she had guests coming for a few days after Boxing Day. If Alan came, they would be alone for Christmas Day itself. She had only received one postcard from France since he left and she had begun to wonder if he was feeling worse. Her hand hovered over the phone seconds before it rang.

‘Emily.'

‘Yes, Alan.' Emily laughed as she heard his voice. ‘I was just thinking of telephoning to see if you were coming for Christmas?'

‘I am ringing to confirm that I shall be there tomorrow – tea-time at the latest.'

‘Oh, that is lovely,' Emily said. ‘I am so glad. We can plan the tree and the Christmas Eve party together.'

‘I should enjoy that, my dear.'

‘Are you feeling any better?'

‘Yes, I am much better.' Alan replied. ‘I think the complete rest has done the trick, Emily. I dare say I shall live for a few years yet.'

‘I am so pleased.' Tears wet her cheeks. ‘I am longing to see you!'

‘You sound as if you mean that?'

‘I do. Of course I do.'

‘Good. Expect me tomorrow.'

Emily smiled as she replaced the receiver. Her trip to Frances would have to be postponed. She could visit Alice in the New Year, because she knew she was always welcome in their home. Frances might be put out if she didn't visit, but she had been invited to stay and it was her own fault if she chose to stay at the hotel.

Emily's heart was racing. She had thought about Alan so much in the months since he was last here and now she could hardly wait for him to arrive.

Six

C
onnor opened his eyes and glanced around the hotel bedroom. The floor was littered with his clothes; he'd dropped them as he took them off. The wonder was that he hadn't gone to bed fully dressed, he'd been so drunk. They'd been invited to a big party at a posh hotel. The man giving the party was by reputation a playboy millionaire and he had invited them to spend Christmas on his yacht, cruising the Mediterranean islands.

Most of the group had been disappointed that they couldn't go because they had several bookings at theatres all over the country. Connor had been able to refuse with an easy heart, because he wanted to go home on Christmas Eve and spend the next day with Sarah and her parents. He had been invited to spend the night and would have dinner with them on the day. After that, he might just have time to visit Alice and the children before heading back to Liverpool. They were booked into a popular venue for Boxing Night and then had two days to rehearse before it was back to the recording studio to start on their album.

Their lives were mayhem sometimes as they packed their things and moved from one booking to another. Connor thought he had never worked so hard in his life, but they were being paid at least five hundred pounds each time they did a live show, and he sometimes got double what the others were paid.

Connor still felt guilty about the difference and he had insisted that they were paid in equal shares from the sales of their records. Their first release, which had been a song written specially for them by an American composer, had gone to number eleven in the charts. Terry was disappointed that it hadn't reached the top, but the second had been released for Christmas and had a seasonal lyric. It was already at number three and they were hoping that it would go all the way this time, but they were up against some big names. Connor was amazed at how well they were doing, but he knew that Terry had his eye on the big time. A lot of young groups enjoyed a brief moment of fame and then disappeared. Terry wanted the Bad Boys to make it all the way to the top.

Dressing in his favourite black drainpipes, Connor found a girl's silk bra under a pile of his own clothing. He stared at it in bewilderment, because he was certain he'd been on his own when he came to bed. He knew that several girls had been hanging around him at the party, though he'd done his best to avoid getting into a clinch with them, because he wanted to keep his word to Sarah.

It was getting harder and harder to stop his name being linked with girls who sang on stage with them. The manager said it was good business to link female stars to them, because of the publicity. One girl called Tina had draped herself over him when they left a theatre in London, kissing his neck and rolling her eyes when she was asked if they were courting.

Connor had untangled her and walked away, refusing to answer questions, and the next day the papers were full of innuendo about a secret affair. Connor had phoned Sarah's home that night and told her it was a publicity stunt. He promised there was nothing in the story and Sarah had said it was all right, but she'd also sounded upset. He had bought her a diamond pendant for Christmas and he was praying that she would believe him when he told her that none of the girls he'd met on tour measured up to her.

He groaned as he rang down to room service for coffee. The time it took to get through was longer than it should be, even though this was one of the best hotels they had stayed in so far. His head was hammering. He must have been mad to drink so much, but there had been loads of booze and everyone kept giving him drinks. He knew that there had been drugs circulating at the party, but he wasn't interested in trying them.

Connor suspected that Sam and Ray might have snorted some kind of powder. He wasn't sure what it was but he had heard them mention heroin and cocaine. Terry stayed well clear, as did Jack and Connor – though even Terry had been pretty drunk when the taxi brought them back to the hotel.

Connor dumped the bra in the wastebasket. One of the girls at the party must have shoved it in his pocket. It wouldn't be the first time. There were some fans that followed the band from one town to another and most of them were girls.

‘Alan! It is so good to see you!' Emily cried as she hurried down the stairs to meet him. ‘Let me look at you – yes, you look so much better. You must have done just what the doctor ordered.'

‘Yes, I think I did,' Alan said. ‘I've been painting, sitting in the sun, reading and drinking good wine. I should have done it years ago, Emily. I worked all hours for God knows how many years, and it was hard to switch off at first, but I am so pleased I did.'

‘You make me slightly envious,' Emily said and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. Alan turned his head and their lips met. She was surprised, but she didn't pull away. The kiss was warm and sweet and it made her yearn for things she had forgotten. ‘That was nice . . . we should do it again later, Alan. Come into the parlour and have some tea. You must be frozen. It has turned very cold this past couple of days and you've just come from France.'

‘I wish you could have been there with me. It was perfect but for the fact that the English Channel lay between us.'

‘Oh, Alan . . .' Emily reached for his hand. ‘I have become so very fond of you, my dearest. I think I may have fallen in love with you.'

‘But do you love me enough to leave this house and come away with me?'

‘Please don't ask me that question yet. I want to enjoy having you here for Christmas, dearest Alan – and then we can talk about the future . . .'

Daniel saw Maura coming towards him as he walked from the cattle market into the adjoining street. He had hoped she would leave the area once she had the five hundred pounds, but it looked as if she had hung around. If she was hoping for more, she would be out of luck. He had given Alice money to buy presents for her and the children, and he had only a few pounds left from the money Frances had loaned him. Unless he could find time to finish one of the cars he was struggling to restore in the little time he had to spare from the land, he would be in trouble soon. At the moment he hadn't a hope in hell of paying his sister back.

He was tempted to get into his van and drive off, but he knew that Maura would come and find him in Stretton if he did that, and he would rather have this out here in Ely.

‘What do you want?' he asked brusquely. ‘I'm broke so there's no point in you asking for more.'

‘You might have bought a present for your son.'

‘Why? I don't know him. I've only your word that he is even mine.'

‘You've seen the photos. You know he's yours right enough.'

‘I thought you were leaving once you got your money.'

‘I never said that.' Maura scowled. ‘I've opened my own hairdressing shop in Market Street and I'm doing all right. I still want that other five hundred, but I'll wait a bit longer – providing you buy David a present and bring it round.'

Daniel put a hand in his pocket and brought out three pounds. ‘This is all I've got. You had better buy him something. I have no idea what he likes. I'm not coming there; it would be pointless to start something I have no intention of continuing.'

‘You would know what he likes if you'd visited,' Maura said. ‘He is only a lad and he needs a father.'

‘Well, find him one, then,' Daniel grated angrily. ‘But don't expect me to take an interest. I've got my own family.'

He walked past her, got into his van and started the engine. She jumped out of the way as he reversed. He knew that he was risking trouble by refusing her what she asked, but he wasn't going to give her more money. His problems were mounting all the time and at the moment he couldn't see a way out of them. Some of his potatoes had got the blight and he'd had to dump them. Coupled with the fact that one of the cows had an infected teat and couldn't be milked, that was enough to cut his income by nearly a hundred pounds. Unless things started to pick up he would end up going to the bank for more money, because he couldn't ask Frances for another loan.