Page 164 of The Last Love Song
‘Pay what you have to, okay?’
‘Okay, honey, will do. Be in touch.’
Lulu put the telephone down.
Her analyst would say she was mad to go back, but there was not a Jungian quote or a Freudian reference that could possibly stop her.
52
‘Todd, come in and make yourself comfortable.’
‘Thanks, Freddy.’ Todd sat down in a large armchair. Freddy had spared no expense for this get-together, hiring a comfortable suite at the Savoy. Todd surveyed the ageing Freddy, in his late fifties and now completely bald, but still a noise in the music business. He’d recently signed a young duo from the East End and secured them a deal with Todd’s new record label. He wasn’t particularly keen on the idea of the frothy music they played but saw the huge commercial potential, just as Freddy had promised.
‘Are the other two coming along?’ Todd checked his watch as Freddy opened a bottle of champagne.
‘Yes. Are you on or off the booze?’
‘One glass of the fizzy stuff shouldn’t hurt, but I’m going to have to make it snappy. I’ve a meeting at half past four.’
Freddy handed Todd a glass. ‘Sure. We should be done by then.’
The door opened and in walked Ian. ‘Hi, chaps, how are we all?’
‘Fine.’ Without asking, Freddy handed Ian a glass of mineral water as he sat down opposite Todd.
‘If we do play this gig, I hope we can find you something trendier than a cardigan and a pair of cords,’ chuckled Freddy, surveying Ian.
‘You want me back in my kaftan, do you?’ Ian smiled. ‘I don’t think I’ll have time to grow my hair.’
‘You’re the only one of us who the media are bound to comment looks better than he did seventeen years ago,’ replied Todd.
‘Well now, that’s what the love of a good woman, no meat and a system free from toxins can do for you, Todd.’
‘Spare me before I puke, Ian.’
They both looked up as Derek entered the room.
‘Hi, Derek.’
All three men resisted the temptation to stare at the glowing yellow halo on top of his head.
‘Champagne, Derek?’
‘Yeah, sure.’ He took the glass from Freddy and sat down in the last spare armchair.
‘Right, well, before we start discussing future plans, I’d just like to say what a pleasure it is to see you three together after all this time. I know you’ve kept in touch during the years but it’s nice to see, even after the collapse of the band, that there’s no animosity between us.’
‘There never was betweenusthree,’ murmured Todd.
‘No, I suppose not. Anyway, I presume from the chats I’ve had with you over the telephone that you’re all prepared to perform at the concert.’
‘Yep.’
‘Absolutely.’
‘It’s a wonderful cause.’
‘Fine. So your decision isn’t dependent on whether or not Mr Daly decides to respond to pleas for his return?’
