And without time to consider forgiveness she found herself swept into the bedroom. As Earl’s explosive energy transformed, Linda yielded to his dominance.
The third time had been physically less bad but no less scary. He’d grabbed her shoulders. Lifting her off her feet she’d been thrown backwards. Fortunately she’d landed unharmed on the settee.
Apparently that didn’t warrant an apology.
Linda had sat with hands pressed into the cushions as if to push up and run. Too terrified she watched Earl roaring; pacing rapid figure of eights before her. His passion upheld but again the mood switched; Linda wide-eyed with relief acquiesced to his hate-fuelled lust.
She indeed hated the pattern that had emerged including the sex that marked the end of each episode’s unpleasantness.
Lying alone in the hospital bed she shivered. This episode had ended differently though. Maybe that would make a difference. Maybe this time he’d be more careful with his anger and with her. Closing her eyes she wanted to laugh at the very unfunny realisation that she wouldn’t press charges against Earl.
* * *
Linda spent five weeks getting back to health. Only after a fortnight could she visit the office for more than a couple of hours at a time. Fiona did her best and between them the agency performed as well as could be expected.
Johnny, unsurprisingly, had expressed concern but Linda played down the event to the point where he stopped worrying.
Earl visited her in hospital and they talked through what had happened. He did not break down and repent as Linda thought he might, given the seriousness of her injuries but listened to her and promised he’d never be violent to her again.
Sunday 24th June 1984
Dane appeared in the dressing room. ‘Who’s coming for something to eat?’
‘Sure,’ Stu said standing and patting his back pocket for his wallet. ‘Guys?’
‘Yeah,’ Christine said as Mazz grabbed her handbag.
‘Actually,’ Johnny said, ‘me and Christine will catch you up.’
Mazz gave him a puzzled look but Dane mentioned they’d be at the diner across the road.
Johnny didn’t look at Christine but waited for the door to close. He didn’t like what he had to do. True to his word Dane had found a studio to run a batch of tape-to-tape copies of the demo; enough to last three nights he guessed. Every last one had sold. Earlier that day he’d gone back and asked for an even larger batch. Amongst the lights and electricity of Las Vegas, feelings ran high, or at least they had done until Johnny had clapped his hands together and mentioned Linda. Christine’s iridescent smile had faded as if struck by a power cut.
Johnny, determined to get to the heart of the matter now had her alone and cornered. When he turned she tensed.
‘You look angry. What have I done?’ she asked gently.
Hating being angry he had to stop himself being too nice. In newly frayed cut-offs and off-the-shoulder T-shirt she looked hot, alluring almost to the point of impossible to shout at.
He maintained his derision.
Christine stiffened and stood up defensively; her back to the counter in front of the mirrors.
‘Yesterday I asked you what your problem with Linda is,’ Johnny began.
‘So?’
‘So, you said nothing, but when I mentioned her just now you looked wild.’
He waited but she didn’t speak. Instead her face softened into a sadness he’d been glimpsing regularly lately; a sadness supporting his fears.
Exasperated, he looked away.
‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, her tone sympathetic.
Facing her again his shoulders slumped. ‘I thought I was asking the questions.’
‘So ask me what you really want to know.’
‘I feel like a moron.’
‘Just say what’s on your mind.’
He looked her in the eye. ‘Are you in love with me?’
Her face showed no surprise, no humour, just the same compassion. ‘Yeah.’
Too stunned words stuck in his throat. ‘I’m …’
Christine’s eyebrows rose.
He ploughed ahead. ‘… I mean, we’ve known each other years; been through so much. You’re as important to me as anyone I know, and for that reason I love you. But that’s not what I asked. I crazily asked you whether you’re in love with me?’
‘And I’m glad you did. Because …’
The mood flipped. She might have blinked back tears.
Johnny drew closer, his frustration gone. ‘Yes?’
‘I glad you asked because without you asking I’d never get to say, I love you – much more than friends or bandmates.’
‘Christine.’
His heart went out to her. This truth meant of course she’d detest him obsessing about Linda.
She let him touch her face.
His mind raced back to when he’d seen her as a Wayward Wench; how he’d crushed his attraction to her. For the first time in so long he looked at her with the emotional intelligence any red-blooded man would. Closing his eyes he put his face to hers and breathed the scent from her neck.
Her hand touched his face.
‘Don’t be so surprised – about all this,’ she whispered in his ear.
‘How long?’`
‘I’m not sure. I was so angry with you when we met, I thought I hated you. But even then I was attracted. I guess I started falling the more you sang; the more I heard your lyrics. Watching you perform fills me with proud pleasure every night.’
His arms enveloped her. She reciprocated.
‘You’ve never spoken like this before,’ he said, his lips close to her ear.
She shook her head. ‘I’d love you to ask me to marry you. I’d make love to you every day, forever until we had no strength left.’
The very idea of making love to Christine had been banished every time it threatened to arise. Now, though, his hands slid down the small of her back as the idea roused.
He backed her into the counter’s surface. ‘Christine.’
‘Shush.’
Her arms tightened around him. His hands slid lower. Before he knew it his fingers ducked under her frayed cut-offs gripping the curves that had determined her recruitment into the band years earlier. He lifted her, sitting her on the counter. Her legs wrapped round him squeezing him closer.
‘But …’ she said breathlessly.
‘What?’
‘Despite all I’ve just told you, I’ve no designs on you.’
Heartbreakingly, the mood shook. Johnny tried pulling away.
‘Don’t,’ she said; her arms ever ensnaring him. ‘Let me enjoy this moment.’
He stayed blissfully put. ‘What do you mean; designs?’
The breath of each word caressed his ear. ‘Any doubts I loved you died when I discovered your scars.’
‘I remember that night.’
‘Yeah? Before the show; you touched me and implied if we weren’t in the same band we’d be together. D’you remember?’
‘I do.’
‘And later, when I found you in your room, I told you the same.’
‘You were by the door, on your way out.’
‘I wanted you to stop me leaving so much I nearly flashed you.’
‘That would’ve done it,’ he said still gripping the backside he’d have so loved to have seen.
‘Well, that was the time for something to happen.’
‘But you didn’t – flash me.’
‘Exactly.’
‘And yet, here we are.’
‘And with everything you and Stu promised me and Mazz all along.’
‘And yet still in each other’s arms.’
‘And though it feels lovely we both know it’s not real. You’re not about to forget Linda are you?’
In that moment he couldn’t know.
He truthfully said, ‘You mean the world to me.’
‘I know.’
‘There’s someone out there for you babe.’
??
?I don’t want anyone. I’m happy being single. As much as I want you, I’m managing without you.’
‘Could you ever be happy seeing me with Linda?’
Christine took her arms away. The moment had passed.
‘You asked me what my problem with Linda is; I don’t have one, I think she’s wonderful. But, unfortunately, like you for me, I don’t believe she’s for you.’
Despondently, released from the embrace of her thighs Johnny asked, ‘Why?’
‘In London; we had a bit of time together. She’s blown away by you; not that she can qualify it logically.’ Christine smiled; then frowned. ‘But, she told me some stuff.’
‘What stuff?’
‘It’s not for me to say.’
‘Help me out babe,’ he urged.
She shook her head. ‘You wouldn’t understand. You’d think it sounded weird and dumb.’
‘Try me.’
Christine looked at him for the longest time. ‘In London, you spent an entire night with her and nothing happened.’
‘So?’ Johnny said feeling frustrated as he had minutes earlier. ‘She’d just been through hell. We discussed terrible things. I wasn’t going to try it on, right after she told me about Earl getting locked-up.’
‘Yeah alright,’ Christine snapped. ‘I don’t believe this. I tell you I love you and now I’m helping your aching heart?’
Straight away Johnny pulled her into his arms.
She pushed him away. ‘Don’t. I want to go to the diner.’
‘Babe, I’m sorry.’ He hated himself.
‘Come on, Johnny. You pay. That’ll do as an apology.’
* * *
They found the others chatting merrily. They’d know not to interfere; things always came out eventually. But by the time the burgers arrived the others had cracked into apple pie and ice-cream.
Halfway through their food Christine stopped chewing.
Johnny saw it. He pushed his plate aside and took her hand.
Dane looked on. ‘T minus ninety minutes. Will you two be alright for the show?’
‘Of course,’ Johnny said reassuringly.
Christine nodded.
Last to finish, Mazz scrapped her bowl clean.
‘Guess we’ll see you back there,’ she said getting up to leave.
Johnny watched her go; then looked at Christine. ‘You okay?’
Friday 24th February 1984
Throughout January and February Linda rested and recovered. Despite greeting her daily with kisses, Earl withdrew emotionally and Linda wondered whether he felt ashamed.
Thinking he might be repenting inwardly time passed before she suspected his usual bad temper might be bubbling under the surface. With little to say to him and concerned the lid might blow off his suppressed rage, Linda spent more time at the office, visiting her mom and exercising at the gym.
Towards the end of their first US tour The USed Wonz’ cruised towards California with Howie still at the helm. Having heard about the problems with Howie, Linda guessed they’d be anxious about their future.
GMD hadn’t discussed with them a second album and they wouldn’t know that Trudie, back in London after her Australian stint, had ideas for them.
To help them, Linda had planned an LA assault with Howie similar to the one they’d made on New York with Richard and Grace. And, whilst the band played gigs in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson, she became Trudie and GMD’s first contact.
* * *
Warming up LA, the band headed back north via Phoenix, hit I-10 going west and kept on, gigging at Indio and Palm Springs until finally they came to the great city via Long Beach. Christine who couldn’t stand sharing the same space as Howie had made her feelings so obvious that he fled to Chicago before the band set foot in the first of LA’s venues.
Linda who’d thankfully been remotely managing them booked them into a cheap hotel.
‘The woman’s our saviour,’ Christine said about Linda as they checked in.
‘Hmm,’ Johnny said. Though he agreed he didn’t want to argue with Christine for scaring Howie off.
Stu had said California’s winter never got colder than mild. A fact Johnny and the rest of the bandmates discovered as they headed for a meeting in Linda’s office.
Just as Stu had told him, Johnny had indeed met a world of American girls since he’d last seen Linda at Casper’s Customs two seasons earlier. He remembered thinking she could be the one; the idea seemed extraordinary now as he with the band exited a cab.
‘Having this meeting; it’s like Linda’s our manager,’ Christine said before adding, ‘now we’ve not got one.’
‘Yeah, thanks for that,’ Stu said.
‘Guys,’ Johnny snapped before Christine could respond. He suddenly felt nervous about seeing Linda again and pulled his Stetson low. Hurrying he reached the door and held it for everyone to enter before him.
Inside and from behind the others, he saw a girl behind a desk and suspected she must be Fiona. But ahead of him he saw Christine enjoying a welcoming hug with Linda.
Johnny stared.
Whilst touring he’d thought his memory of Linda must have been wrong. As one groupie followed another he’d convinced himself that Linda couldn’t have been so beautiful. But as Mazz and then Stu hugged her he realised Linda’s beauty exceeded any memory.
Never mind thinking she could be the one, Johnny figured if she didn’t want him, he didn’t want anyone. He found the thought depressing.
When the others moved aside he stood before her knowing if he hugged her he mightn’t let her go.
Linda stood in a long skirt and boots with fitted jacket
She smiled looked him up and down too and, glancing at his Stetson said, ‘Well, howdy cowboy.’
He couldn’t imagine her thoughts. Dithering, the moment to hug passed. Needing to do something, he removed his hat and placed it on the back of her head.
‘Howdy cowgirl,’ he said.
Soon all band members sat on Linda’s reception seating with drinks Fiona had fixed. Standing before them Linda called order.
A sheet of notes she’d taken from overseas calls had been marking her place in a Jeffrey Archer’s Prodigal Daughter, which Trudie had left her to read.
‘Firstly,’ she said straightening the notes, ‘I know how unsure you must feel regarding Vanquar and even GMD.’
The band’s mumbles confirmed as much.
‘Don’t worry. I know Howie’s vanished, but Vanquar and GMD are delighted with your performances based on the feedback I’ve received from every venue you’ve played. I take it you’ve enjoyed your first tour?’
The band’s mood brightened. Stu told her he hadn’t slept on the bus for fear he’d miss the scenery.
‘That’s great,’ Linda said, ‘because there’s no doubt that touring is selling records and that’s keeping everyone happy.’
‘What about a second album?’ Mazz asked.
‘Are you ready?’ Linda asked back.
The band’s gabbled noise congealed to a, not really.
’Well don’t worry,’ Linda said. ‘Cracking America isn’t easy. It’s much bigger than the UK and the feeling is that your first album hasn’t yet reached as many people as it could.’
Stu guffawed. ‘That’s Richard alright. He won’t splash out on another album till he’s rung as much out the first.’
Linda smiled. ‘Maybe, but I’ve prepared a second tour for you. Visas have been taken care of and Vanquar have a tour manager in mind; someone called Dane.’
‘Fine by us,’ Mazz said. ‘Johnny reckons we’re nomads anyway.’
Linda gave her a questioning look.
Looking bashful Johnny said, ‘We’re like travelling salesmen roaming in search not of wealth so much as emotional sustenance from souls eager to be entertained; people who pay not only with cash but cheering and applause.’
‘Okay,’ Linda said with a smile, ‘a romantic ideal that’ll surely stand you in good stead. But there’s more t
o this than touring. You’ll all remember Trudie. She’s been keeping an eye on you and can’t wait to see you again – in a few days.’
‘Wow, is she here?’ Mazz asked.
Linda shook her head. ‘London.’
‘London?’ Johnny said.
‘Yes, with Little Spirit.’
‘The band GMD were struggling with?’
‘Yup. Trudie wants them signed to Vanquar and to conquer England under GMD’s management.’
‘That must be a relief for Richard,’ Christine said.
‘It’s not a done deal yet. The Vanquar-UK boss has reservations about Little Spirit. But clever Trudie’s swung a really unusual deal where Little Spirit will get signed for a single and video—’
‘A video?’ Stu’s moaning interrupted.
‘Stay with it,’ Linda said. ‘Vanquar-UK are delighted you’ve been gigging so hard and have said they hope to distribute a second USed Wonz album.’
‘Hopefully we’ll use the second tour to cement the ideas into songs,’ Johnny said.
‘And where will we record?’ Christine asked.
Linda checked her notes. ‘GMD have you for another two albums and have already booked you into The Production Annex for July.’
‘Cool,’ Christine said but then looked concerned. ‘Has Richard paid Austin for our last album, do you know?’
‘I do,’ Linda said. ‘And yes, it has been paid. Plus Richard told me he’ll give you the next album’s advance when he sees you next week.’
‘What, why would he do that?’ Johnny said.
‘To show he trusts you. He’s grateful for the money you guys have made GMD and doesn’t want you thinking you’ve been forgotten. Just look after it is all.’
‘We won’t spend it if that’s what you mean.’
‘How much are we getting?’ Christine asked.
Linda checked her notes again. ‘Seven-thousand sterling.’
Mazz whistled.
‘That’s a lot of dollars,’ Linda said.
Stu shook his head. ‘But we knew we’d get a second album. I’m still peeved this Little Spirit lot get a video.’
‘It’s because of your good work, Little Spirit are getting a video at all. Trudie has convinced Vanquar-UK you deserve a promo-video by tying it into the unusual Little Spirit deal. As it goes, Britain shoots better videos than America; an opinion I’m loathed I agree with.’
‘Apparently Britain produces them at half the cost too,’ Christine said.
‘Exactly,’ Linda said. ‘So, Trudie’s convinced Vanquar she’ll save them thousands by flying you guys to London and shooting a video back-to-back with Little Spirit.’
‘Alright,’ Stu said. ‘That’s more like it.’