He stumbled as the booing and jeering turned angry and he put his hands together. “Please.”
“No,” Paige shouted. “Turn our power back on or we go home.” He backed away as Paige advanced towards him and the crowd's jeers turned to cheers.
A few moments later the power was restored and Paige's shouting towards a man at the front of the crowd was broadcast through her microphone. “… nipples can get a bit hard, but it's fine really.” She stopped as the stadium erupted into laughter and Paige took the microphone again. “Shall we start again,” Paige asked and looked towards Andre in the wings. “Now the concert organisers have said we can sing naked.” Andre shook his head but Paige smiled. “A song for our agent I think, Don't Hate Us.”
* * * * *
Jack pushed the newspapers towards her, but Paige was busy reading the tabloid newspaper to notice. “Are Jack and Paige the Bare Ne-kiss-ities?” Paige called out. “Oh my God. They think we are going out.” She glared at Lucinda who sank into her seat.
“Yeah I said I'm sorry. It just sort of came out.”
“Yeah well, that's got us on page four and five. I must say, Jack, I think they've done you a favour on the size of the star that covers your … ahem … little man. That star is unreasonably massive.” Jack glanced over and looked at the picture where everything from his bellybutton to his knees was covered with a yellow star. “The things over my assets are, unfortunately, a bit smaller.”
Jack laughed. “Well according to the story I am very fond of your assets,” he replied. Lucinda peered over the top of the story and giggled.
“Well it's all very well having love stories, but look what they've written about me. That slimy Peter Moran.” Paige took the cheap tabloid from their guitarist and scanned the page until she reached the bottom story on their nemesis's column. “Is Claire Baynes still anorexic?” Paige read. “What is that man smoking?”
“They've digitally altered the two photos,” Claire moaned. The first was taken from their first video and the second taken a couple of days ago in concert, and it was clear Claire had lost some weight, but the effect had been magnified by the newspaper's editing suite. “I was never that fat in the first video. And I am not on a lettuce diet at all, I hate the stuff.”
“Hey,” Lucinda simpered. “Don't worry about it. Nobody believes what they read in the papers anyway.”
“But it's not right. This is a lie and an invasion.”
“We could go and see them,” Jack offered. “Go in and give the editor a bollocking. I mean, Paige's had some experience with that.”
“Or Peter Moran. I did say I would come after him if he touched Claire again,” Paige replied. “This is just him trying to poke me.”
“They just want a reaction,” Lucinda told the three of them. “Don't rise to it. Get your agent to put out a statement that they will have to cover, or put a measured response on your website.”
Claire snorted and picked up two more papers. “I see Christian Outrage have said they have filed a complaint with the Police,” Jack announced. “Said that when we stripped at Flee's concert that we broke the law and that they will bring a private prosecution if the Police fail to prosecute.”
“Oh for Christ's sake,” Paige moaned. “Surely there is a way to stop these bastards. I mean, what is their problem?”
“You,” Claire muttered. “You antagonise them.”
“And why do all the pictures in the papers make us look like escaped criminals?”
“Oh look, we are in the Herald as well,” Jack muttered. “And that's a far lovelier picture, apart from the small one there … you look so angry in that one!”
Paige turned to have a look. “I'd just had a row with my Dad at the 'ospital,” she said with an aggressive lilt to her voice. “He had a bit of a go about something, and I, sort of, lost it.”
“You never told me what was said. You just said you'd had a bit of a row and wanted to move in for a few days.”
Paige sighed. “He hates your family, but I don't know why. Do you know why my Dad hates your family so much? Other than you being posh bastards.”
Jack laughed at her expression, but he looked up as Lucinda gave a nervous cough. “You’ll find out eventually,” she supposed and looked down at the floor.
“Find out what?”
“Your Dad, Paige, was my first husband,” she admitted. “The naturist, I told you about. And he didn't like my brother much.”
Chapter XXI
“What do you mean, your first husband?” Jack asked loudly, and Lucinda shrugged.
“Well I sort of hoped it wouldn't come out,” the woman muttered. “You know I said I had a husband who was a naturist. I did mention it.”
“Yeah, but not my dad!”
“OK,” she blustered. “OK, I'll be back in a minute,” she promised and walked out of the room, coming back with a photograph album as Jack and Paige looked at each other. “Look.” The pale blue album was tatty, and Lucinda passed it to her nephew. Jack looked up, and she shrugged. “I should have told you before, but I wasn't sure if you wanted to know.”
Paige gulped. “I didn't even know my dad was married before mum.”
Lucinda nodded. “It didn't end too well.” She pulled out a glass from the cupboard and filled it full of alcoholic spirit, before sitting down at the table.
“Isn't that a bit much?” Claire asked, but Lucinda shook her head.
“I need it,” she replied and watched as Paige opened the album of wedding pictures. Staring back at her was an extremely young Lucinda in a beautiful white dress standing next to her father. Young Robert Simmons had considerably more hair than Paige was used to seeing him with and he beamed at the camera.
“That's mum,” Paige told her, pointing at one of the bridesmaids. “Isn't it?”
“Yes, she was a family friend of your father's family. He had no sisters, and … ummm … well I got shunned by my friends and family, so it was natural really. Funny that his future wife attended his first marriage.” She gulped and watched as they turned page after page, gulping her fiery drink and squinting. The album contained many naturist photographs of the married couple, always beaming at the camera.
“So what happened?”
Lucinda gulped. “In truth, I was weak. He worked at the factory that Paul eventually took over from our dad. And I met him on the Christmas do. I was sixteen, and he was a couple of years older.” She took a few more swigs of her drink and wiped her eyes. “He was great. But Dad was against the marriage, and that meant Paul was. We got married, and Dad boycotted the wedding. Our friends shunned us, and … and,” she gulped and squeezed her hands together. “After a year, Dad withdrew his support. He told Robert that unless we divorce, he would lose his job, and I would lose my inheritance.”
Paige rubbed Lucinda's hand and the woman squeezed it. “That's … awful.”
“Yeah. And we had a few rows. I told him that I didn't care about my inheritance, but Robert said he couldn't do that to me, and within a few days Paul came to see us and Robert was gone. I mean, I cried for days. Weeks. Dad said he thought he knew best and set me up with some junior doctor.”
“And that lasted how long?”
“Not very, Dad died shortly afterwards. But by the time I found Robert again, he was with your mother, Paige. And that was that. I spoke to him and he just lost it, telling me that my family were evil and he never wanted to see me again.”
“That's terrible,” Jack told her, and Lucinda nodded.
“It was. I just wished we'd both been stronger, but we were too young.”
“So that's why Dad hates your family,” Paige told Jack. “Well I hope he realises that I am not going to be like him, and you aren't like your grandfather.”
“It was Paul as well. He turned into his father and as the supervisor he was always on Robert's case. He was itching to sack Robert. And after we got divorced, Robert was thrown out of the factory. He was a union leader as well, so they truly hated him.?
?? Paige took a deep breath and wiped her face.
“So I get it. But that was a long time ago.”
“They did their best to ruin him,” Lucinda said in a low voice. “You forget that the factory was the biggest employer in the area. If he was sacked from the factory, then he would struggle to get another job. Which is what happened and why you had to move away. He had to move a few miles away.”
Paige gulped. “But that's evil.”
“It was,” Lucinda admitted. “And I saw it happening and tried to say something, but no-one would listen. And I just gave up once he left our little house.”
Paige sighed and rubbed her eyes. “I guess I better go and see my Dad.”
* * * * *
“I'm sorry,” Claire's mother told her. “But it is just causing too many problems. And we don't want you to stop but …” Her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat. “It's Paul. He says that unless you and Jack stop I can't have my job back and …” She wiped her eyes. “I'm so sorry, but he's made an allegation that I stole some stuff from him.”
Claire gulped. “You can't be … why would he do that?”
“Because he's nasty,” Teri snapped, and tears flowed down her cheek. “He wants me to make you stop.”
“But it's Jack's choice. I can't make him stop.”
“He says that he wants you and Paige to throw him out the band. Replace him. And then he'll go back home. And he will withdraw the allegation's he’s made. But until then …” Claire's eyes fell on a letter Teri has holding.
“What's that?” Claire asked and saw the “FINAL DEMAND” written in bright red ink across the top of the paper. “What's happening?”
“Oh, it's nothing. And I know you and Jack are friends, and you like his company,” her mother started.
“I am not throwing him out the band. I am not doing that.”
“Claire. I've never asked you for anything before. So please, I'm begging you. Help me. I need you to do this one thing for me. I know you don't want to stop, and that Paige is a delightful girl, but …”
“But we are good,” Claire told her mother. She wavered, and Claire crossed her arms. “We are good. We get lots of radio airplay. People say we are just a novelty act but we are loved by the radio stations so it's not. You can't expect us to walk away from that.”
Teri wiped her eyes. “Claire. Think about George and …”
“Is it money?” Claire asked. “We got money for doing the gig at Wembley and sales on iTunes and all sorts. It's all in a bank account at the moment, but we can get at it. If it's the money …”
“It's not just the money,” Teri replied. “I am not a charity case. I just need you to stop antagonising my employer. Or I could go to prison.” Teri's face contorted. “If he makes a complaint to the Police, who are they going to believe? I'm proud of you, and I hate myself for asking, but please, please Claire, just think about it.”
Claire shook her head. “Sorry Mum,” she said slowly and closed her eyes waiting for the reaction. When nothing was said, she looked up to see her mother sobbing in the armchair. “But we will help financially,” she told her. “That's not a problem.”
“I’m not a charity case,” Teri shouted at her daughter. “I don’t want your money.” Claire said nothing and Teri threw the letter on the floor and took a few deep breaths. “Go on, go back to your band,” she yelled.
Claire didn't waste the opportunity and dialled Jack as she left. “Jack, is there any chance I could stay with your Lucinda? Just for a few days?”
* * * * *
Paige stopped outside her family flat and hesitated. She wasn't sure what sort of reaction she would get, but slowly put her key in the lock and opened the door. She could hear the television from the front room and gently walked up the stairs. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but the young singer was in dire need of additional clothes and had returned to take a few more of her belongings.
“Paige,” a voice shouted excitedly as she was about to go into her bedroom. “Oh my God, Paige, come here.” Paige scowled at her sister bounding down the hallway, to embrace the girl desperately trying to maintain a degree of stealth.
“Paige?” Her mother cried and appeared in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”
“Just getting a few belongings,” she admitted and Hazel threw herself into the arms of the eighteen year-old. “Bloody hell, Hazel. Careful!” Paige had been propelled against the wall and wiped her face as she pushed her sister from her. “I'm just short on a few things, that's all.”
“Like what?” Her mother asked, and the frowning face of Robert Simmons appeared behind his wife.
“That Rees-Montague family done the dirty on you yet?”
“No,” Paige spat and her eyes narrowed. “And I am staying with Jack's Aunt Lucinda. Ring any bells?”
Her father tensed, and he shook his head. “No.”
“Liar!” Paige cried and opened her arms as she walked towards him. “I know you were married to her, and I know what happened when you got divorced.”
“What?” Hazel asked.
“Dad was married before Mum,” she told her sister. “And it was to the woman I am staying with. And she was told that unless she divorced Dad she would lose her inheritance. So Dad ran away because he was scared to fight for what he wanted.”
“Stop this,” Paige's mother cried.
“No,” Paige yelled. “'Cause it needs saying. Your hatred of the family is what happened to you, twenty-odd years ago. And that has meant you hate Jack and Claire and me and its not fair.”
“We don't mess with them,” Robert told her. “They are nasty people. They will rip us apart like they've tried to do before.” He gulped and clenched his fists. “I don't want you to have anything more to do with that Rees-Montague lad. Singing naked with Claire is fine but not with that family.”
Paige snarled. “Oh, 'cause at the hospital, I was causing awkward questions for you at work. And Jeremy getting beat up. So that's all OK now, as long as I am not with Jack.” Paige glared at her father and gestured wildly at him. “This is all about you and your hatred of Lucinda, of Paul, of that family.” Robert shook his head at his daughter's accusations and Paige crossed her arms. “I'm eighteen now,” Paige reminded her parents. “And I know you don't like it, but I won't be giving in. I am not you, Jack is not Lucinda.” Robert took a step towards his daughter, and she backed away. “Twenty years ago you walked out on someone you loved because you were weak. I am not going to make the same mistake.” She gulped and rubbed her eye. “I am not that stupid. And you should be proud of me for that.”
“They'll destroy you.”
Paige's eyebrows rose slightly. “Really? They can try. I don't give up. Life's too short to let other people run it for you.” She watched the face of her father change. “Lucinda taught us that. She probably said the same thing to you, but you were too stubborn to listen to her.”
“That's enough,” Paige's mother cried at her daughter. “Don't talk to your father like that.”
“When he stops trying to wreck everything I won't have reason to talk to him like that. He's as bad as Paul and his father.” The angry Suzanne Simmons stepped forwards and slapped her daughter on the cheek, causing Paige to squeal.
“How dare you! Come back here and bring up what happened. You have no idea …”
Paige pushed her mother away. “I know enough,” Paige yelled and opened the door to the lounge, stopping in her room to grab some underwear. “Paige, you're not going again, are you?” Hazel begged, and Paige turned to hug her sister.
“I'll be back, soon,” Paige tearfully promised. “Real soon. But I can't stay here.”
“But Mum and Dad didn't mean it,” Hazel cried but Paige just shook her head.
“She did,” Paige told her. “And I meant what I said too. They are weak.”
* * * * *
Paul stood in the doorway of his sister's house, and she shook her head. “No, I am not letting you in,” she said
firmly. “Not until you embrace Jack's little project.”
“You're drunk,” he snapped at the woman with glazed eyes and a glass of wine in her hand. “You need help. Now I want to see my son.”
“Do one,” Lucinda cried and finished her drink.
“You always used to stay at my house whenever you needed to.”
“So,” Lucinda muttered. “I came into your house and caused no trouble. You are going to shout at your son and my guests, and I don't want it.”
“Well I want to talk to him,” Paul shouted. “I'm his father. It's my right.”
“You give him any ultimatum and you're in trouble,” Lucinda warned him. “Go around to the back, I'll send him out.”
“What? I am not …”
“Shut up Paul. You may have been able to bully me twenty years ago but not now. Paige and Jack are doing what I should have done.” Her eyes narrowed, and she pointed towards the back gate. She slammed the door angrily and walked to the lounge. “Your father is here and wants a word.” Jack groaned, and she shrugged. “Go talk to him. Maybe he might listen to you. I doubt it.”
“Yeah,” Jack muttered and got up from the couch.
“Hey, before you go out,” Lucinda called to her nephew and stopped him at the door. She took a tall glass from the sideboard, and filled it full of whiskey from the cabinet. “He'll need it,” she told him and unlocked the back door. “If you are honest, he will. I'm relying on you.”
The angry face of Paul was waiting for Jack on the little bench in the garden, and he called him over. “Lucinda said you would need this,” Jack muttered and offered his father the large glass of spirit. He snorted and took a sip.
“This has to stop,” Paul barked angrily. “And I know you think that it is all fine and dandy, but I ask you, how many bands are still going now and making money that were making money forty years ago. Practically none. This isn't a career, and it won't end well.”
“I am not stopping. I like being part of a band. We played to Wembley. We opened for Flee Wilson. We are doing so well. Don't you find that exciting?”
“No,” he shouted and took another gulp of the whisky. “It's no future. Do you think we paid fifteen thousand pounds a year to send you to one of the best schools in London for you to go prancing around naked on stage?”