Page 42 of Never Too Late
Repressing the wave of disappointment that swept over her, Steph shook her head. ‘I can find my own way from here. You go on home. I’ll be fine.’
‘No, I’d like to. Please.’
They walked back through the trees and down the path to the beach where Waldorf was dissuaded by his master from taking a bath, before they climbed up to the studio. Here Rob slowed and turned towards her, taking hold of both her hands in his.
‘It’s been a wonderful evening. Thank you so much.’
‘Thank you, Rob. I wish it didn’t have to end so soon… all of it.’ She knew what she meant even if he didn’t.
‘I know, it’s a real pity but there’s no other way, is there?’
‘I don’t know. Is there?’
He didn’t answer. He just kissed her once again, only a chaste peck on the forehead, and then turned away. ‘See you next week. And remember, don’t forget me, Steph.’ His voice sounded hoarse.
‘That’s something I could never do.’
Chapter 19
The next days passed in a flash. The weekend came and went and most of the time was spent in the studio, refining and improving the different songs until Ethan was able to record near final versions of each in readiness for the arrival of the record company boss at the end of the week. Every morning Steph checked her phone for a message from the hospital, but she waited in vain and with every day that passed, her apprehension grew.
Willow had taken her advice and left, followed on Saturday morning by Denver, who had flown off to the States in a huff. As a result, the atmosphere at table and in the lounge in the evenings had become far more relaxed. Denver’s departure had a beneficial effect on Ethan as well, who appeared to have taken on board Steph’s advice and was no longer looking the worse for wear. He was up early and in the studio on time every day, and in there he was back to his masterful self. What was interesting, however, was that even though he appeared to be transforming back into the Ethan she had fallen for in the past, she now felt no inclination to renew things with him. Somehow, getting to know Rob had shown her that she wanted more out of a relationship, even if it was clear that this wasn’t likely to happen with Rob.
On Saturday night her life changed.
Keith, Ben and Johnny, looking unusually serious, sat down with her in the lounge before dinner and announced formally that they wanted her to join the band as the replacement for Vince and that they would like her to perform alongside them from now on. It became clear that they weren’t just asking her to play with them, but actually to become a fully paid-up member of Royalty. She was quite overcome and came close to bursting into tears at the magnitude of this offer. She managed to keep a lid on it, but it was a close call. Keith gave her an encouraging pat on the arm.
‘You’re perfect, Steph. You play just like Vince and we four get on so well together.’
‘Yes… but… this means I’d be a woman in an all-male band. Isn’t that going to look weird?’
Ben was the first to respond. ‘We weren’t an all-male band by choice; that’s just the way it worked out. But who cares about that anyway? The fact is that you’re good and that’s why we want you. Besides, it’ll give the fans something else to look at apart from our wrinkles.’
‘Well, if you’re sure, I can’t think of anything I’d love more.’
Keith gave her a satisfied smile. ‘Excellent. Our old manager, Nick, disappeared years ago after the group split up, and our affairs have all been managed by the record company since then. I’ve already spoken to Hollywood and when Sol and his guys come over, they’ll be bringing details of the financial offer with them next week. I told them to make sure it was something you wouldn’t be able to refuse.’
Lottie, who had been sitting on the sofa watching approvingly, also offered some advice of a very practical nature. ‘And before you go out on stage with these guys, come and have a long talk to me and the girls about clothes, particularly underwear. You wouldn’t believe what the UV lights can show up.’ She walked over and gave Steph a motherly pat on the arm. ‘Between us, Faye and Tara and I will sort you out.’
As the days passed and Steph began to digest the magnitude of this amazing change to her life, she worked as hard as she could, memorising each of the numbers so that playing them became almost second nature. Ben, who was immensely supportive now that he had resumed his former place in the band, told her how vitally important this would become when the band went on tour. It was incredibly exciting and equally daunting, and Ben made sure she was aware of what awaited her.
‘Here we are now in the studio. It’s perfectly quiet apart from us, and there are no distractions. But imagine what it’s going to be like when you’re on stage, playing to a hundred thousand people in a football stadium at night. Apart from the pyrotechnics that we’ll have going on behind us with a big screen, strobes and lasers, there’ll be the spotlights that half blind you and then plunge you into darkness. There’ll be guys carrying TV cameras sneaking about the stage, pointing them at you at close range. Add in dry ice that makes it hard to see your feet and the audience taking flash photos, shouting, screaming and singing along, and you get the picture: it’s all too easy to freak out. Remember to keep your eyes and ears on the rest of us and on Johnny above all. He’ll keep the beat and if you follow him you’ll never go far wrong.’
The thought of playing to a hundred thousand people was seriously intimidating. Steph had been to her fair share of concerts and festivals but had never got anywhere near the action until the last couple of years, when working for Ethan had taken her backstage and brought her into close contact with performers. Apart from the ones who had quite clearly already been drunk or stoned, almost every single artist she had seen, from virtual unknowns to world-famous stars, had looked awed at the prospect of going out on stage; like gladiators about to walk into the arena. Even scarier had been to see them come back off stage drenched in sweat and looking haggard after the physical and emotional strain of pleasing the baying crowd. She hoped she would be up to it when the time came.
She went for a swim most mornings and into the studio most evenings where she played Chopin and let her mind return to the man with the violin. Despite having known him for such a short time, she felt an acute sense of separation. The only upside to Rob’s absence was that Waldorf was now a permanent resident at the villa and he often came swimming or for a walk with her and he even curled up happily beside the keyboard when she was playing. He must have sensed the conflicting emotions running through her as she alternated between euphoria at the thought of becoming a member of the band and the cold nagging fear in the pit of her stomach as to what the results from the hospital might bring. Somehow, Waldorf realised she needed his support and she found him at her side most of the time. At the table he stretched out across her feet to remind her he was there.
He really was a very good dog.
Things between her and Ethan had settled back into an uncomplicated working relationship and she found that she got on with him as well as ever, particularly now that he was behaving in a much more professional manner, just like he had been when she had first started working with him. Whether he realised that he had been eclipsed in her eyes by Rob was something they never discussed. If this occurred to him, he never commented, and he appeared quite happy dedicating himself to ensuring that he got the very best out of the band. She enjoyed working with him once more and she was happy for him.
The knowledge that she might only see Rob for another handful of days when he came back from his tour was hard to take. On Sunday evening Steph was with Faye and Keith in the lounge while the others were outside splashing about in the pool and they watched Rob on stage in Sanremo, performing to a packed house. Steph found herself humming along to the pieces, particularly the ones they had played together, although most of her attention was on the man himself. She also subjected his accompanist to close scrutiny. Apart from the fact that she played beautifully, Steph couldn’t miss the fact that she was also a very attractive woman with a mass of glossy black hair. Doing her best to banish what was unmistakably a little pang of jealousy, she concentrated on the music. The last piece he played, in response to repeated cries of ‘encore’, was Massenet’s exquisitely reflectiveMéditationthat she had last heard him playing high up on the cliff top, and there were tears in the corners of her eyes by the time he came to the end of it. Finally, Faye flicked off the TV, glanced across and smiled.
‘He does play very well, doesn’t he?’
Steph nodded as she reached into her pocket for a tissue. ‘He has such a sensitive touch.’ Her voice must have betrayed her, and she felt Faye’s eyes on her.
‘He’s going to miss you when you’ve gone.’
