Page 65 of Love Me Till Wednesday

He pressed a few more buttons. Pete’s deep voice came out of the speaker. ‘We’ll be back in the studio soon. Lisa and I have already written half the new album.’

‘Our listeners are looking forward to that, I’m sure. But what they’re all dying to know now is, was the hearse video a stunt?’

Nick sat on the sofa and listened. Ed waxed lyrical about the benefits of a hearse as a mode of transport while Pete tried to get the conversation back to their music. And then the host strayed into dangerous territory.

‘We get to watch you being interviewed on the Mr Friday Night show tonight alongside the great Nick Nixon. Our audience might remember that you and he dated back in the 90s, Lisa. What was it like sitting next to your ex on the sofa? Nick’s done pretty well since he left you.’

‘Are you saying I held his career back?’

Lisa’s tone was jokey, but Nick could sense the hesitation in her voice. She must be wondering where this was going. So was Nick.

‘It must’ve been difficult living in your shadow. Is that why he went to the States?’

‘You’ll have to ask him that. It was all a very long time ago.’

Good answer.

‘Does he see much of your son?’

Nick clenched his fists. Bastard. How was she going to reply to that?

‘Which one? I have two sons.’

Clever. Good to see she still had her wits about her.

‘The eldest. He looks remarkably like Nick.’

He heard Lisa’s distinctive laugh. ‘Nick can afford excellent lawyers, so I’d be careful where you’re going with this line of questioning.’

Not a bad reply considering they’d had no time to work with Suki on how to handle the Jim situation. Was Jed going to risk probing further? He might be tempted. A scoop like this could give him a boost in his listening figures.

‘Well, it’s been great meeting you guys. We’re going to finish with your biggest hit.’

Thank God he’d chickened out. Lisa had probably given him one of her ‘don’t mess with me’ glares.

Nick relaxed back into the sofa cushions as the first few notes of ‘Love Me Till Wednesday’ played. He grabbed his phone. Was texting Lisa now a good idea? If it popped up on her phone when someone at the studio was watching, it might add fuel to the Jim question. He put the phone down again. He’d contact her later.

He turned off the TV and checked his watch again. Brad was picking him up in half an hour to drive him to Jim’s. He better get his packing done. It would take his mind off worrying what Jim was going to say to him. They hadn’t got off to a good start last night but that was hardly surprising given they were both in shock. Lisa had said she was sure he’d come round.

Nick walked over to his suitcase, which was resting on a stand next to the wardrobe. The metal fastenings snapped open with a satisfying clunk. He ran his fingertips over the top of the smooth leather towards the reinforced corners andgently lifted the lid, releasing the familiar sweet smell of suede mixed with expensive cologne. After all these years, it still felt extravagant to own a piece of luggage that cost more than his first car.

This was usually his favourite part of his trips to the UK, the part that signalled he’d soon be back home in the warm LA sunshine. But this time, it felt different. He didn’t want to leave London, and not just because he wasn’t looking forward to confronting Adrienne about her infidelity. There was so much he still wanted to do here. Like getting to know Jim and his family. And spending more time with Lisa. Talking to her this morning had been so easy. The downside of fame was he rarely felt relaxed with anyone these days. They all wanted something from him. Everything from cash to introductions to people who could help their movie careers. He couldn’t blame them. After all, that’s how he’d got to the top. But it was still refreshing to be with someone who just enjoyed his company.

He picked up his handmade brogues from the floor, slipped them inside their protective cloth bag and fitted them down the side of the case.

He put on his thin chinos and a plain T-shirt, then pulled his favourite cashmere jumper over his head. The next two minutes passed quickly as he expertly folded the rest of his clothes and neatly filled the case.

Then he spotted the photo album. He’d intended to put it in the bottom of the case, where it would be less likely to crease his clothes. He picked it up and looked at Jim’s name on the front. It should read ‘James Nixon’.

‘You keep it. I’ve got a spare.’ Lisa had said when she handed it to him earlier. At the time, he’d wondered why anyone would have a spare copy of a family photo album. But now he realised she’d always intended it for him. He could risk looking at its contents now there was no one hereto watch his reaction. He sat on the sofa and tentatively opened the cover. A large picture of a beaming baby smiled back at him, looking just like so many other babies. The caption underneath said, “Born 4 July 1992, 8 lbs 2oz”.

Nick took a deep breath and turned the pages. He slowly took in the images, a mix of artistic photos and family snapshots, all featuring Jim at various ages.

Nick paused at a photo of Lisa holding Jim. The caption said it was taken on his first trip to the seaside at Weston-super-Mare, aged two. It reminded him of an almost identical photo taken in the same spot many years earlier, featuring a remarkably similar little boy and his mother. That photo usually stood on the sideboard at his mum’s house in Birmingham. He’d check if it was still there when he visited this afternoon.

That was another thing to worry about. How was he going to explain Jim’s existence to her? She was going to be horrified that she’d missed out on Jim’s childhood, too.Worry about that in the car on the way to Birmingham. Right now, you need to concentrate on Jim.

As he turned more pages the little boy grew taller, and his smile less angelic. Surly teen pics gave way to graduation photos, followed by all the milestones of growing up into a responsible adult: Jim leaning on a car throwing a set of L plates in the air; Jim holding door keys outside a run-down terrace, a formal work portrait; a posed shot with his fiance, Ally, probably at a wedding judging by their outfits; and finally Jim looking tired but elated holding his own newborn baby, Sophie. Nick’s granddaughter. He’d felt old in the makeup chair yesterday, but the reality of being a grandfather was making him feel even more ancient now.

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