Page 77 of Benidorm Again

‘Babes. Ignore him. Don’t give him the effing time of day,’ Tash says. ‘It’s the attention he’s after.’ She turns to give Liberty a sharp look. ‘Much like someone else we know.’

‘They always do that before a kill,’ says Big Mand, chewing a worried lip. ‘Stalking. First, they abduct cats, then they move on to humans.’

Oh my word.

‘I’ll note the day and time,’ says Cherry, our resident paralegal. ‘For the inquiry.’

There is no need for this level of escalation.

‘I’ll cover the rear if you can do surveillance on the stage area while she’s on,’ barks Big Sue to Big Mand, who has already snapped into swat team mode.

‘I’m sure he’s not here to stalk me. Or…’ I say, running out of reasons why Luke might be here.Is he stalking me?

‘For God’s sake, calm down everyone. It’s not The Bodyguard. He’s not even here for Connie,’ shouts Liberty.

‘What?’ says Big Mand stepping right up to her. ‘Explain yourself. And make it good because we specifically told you to back off. Sisters before misters.’

Liberty rises to her full height. ‘I haven’t broken the code.’

I am speechless at the audacity of her.

‘Well, that must mean Luke has come here for Connie,’ Big Mand reasons. ‘Because I doubt he’s here for the magic show, the warm wine or the frozen calamari.’

‘No, I invited him here. And he kindly said he’d come and watch me perform. From a professional point of view. He has connections.’

FFS.

‘You are bang out of order, Libs. Bang out of order.’ Tash stomps away from her.

‘Professional point of view, my fat hairy backside,’ snaps Big Mand. ‘What utter bollocks.’

‘This will all backfire,’ says Cherry, flicking her flaming red hair over her shoulder and following after them.

I can’t even look Liberty in the eye. I push past and make my way to the stage.How could she do this?Of all the selfish… stupid… idiotic…Gah!!

As soon as I walk out on stage, I’m on the backfoot. I have The Dollz squawking to Ged and Liam at the front. They are constantly turning around with gaping mouths and yelling things to me while I’m trying to introduce myself to the throng of people in the audience. The most distracting is Liberty, who is marching towards Luke. I can see her indicating to leave and Luke staying firmly where he is with his eyes trained on me. Liberty doesn’t appear to be taking it well and has plonked herself huffily down next to him.

I have no option but to get on with it. I sweep my gaze around the crowded two-thousand-seater venue. The lights dim, causing a hush to fall. A spotlight blinks and shines down. All eyes are on me. They are waiting for me to deliver the goods. As I put the microphone to my lips, a surge of excitement fills me.

This is what I do.

When I sing, I have the ability to whisk people off to places they haven’t been for decades. I unlock memories, feelings and passion. I inspire people to want to sing along, to dance, to move in time with me. There is no other buzz like it. It doesn’t matter what I’m singing or where, it’sall about connecting with my audience, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

‘Hello everyone. Are you having a good time?’ The crowd responds immediately. There’s an excited buzz in the air from The Dollz, making my job so much easier. ‘I’m gonna need you all on your feet dancing for this one. Feel free to sing along with me,’ I encourage, walking up and down the stage while I belt out the lyrics, making eye contact with groups of people who look desperate to take me up on my offer. Withins seconds, the whole place is up and joining in. I wave my arms in the air and they copy my moves as two thousand lively patrons become my personal backing singers. ‘Benidorm Palace, you are on fire tonight!’

‘Connie, that was electrifying,’ gushes Ged. ‘What a performance. Well done, babe.’

‘Thanks,’ I say. I’m still breathless. Nancy has already been on the phone to say the management have rebooked me and The Dollz for next season because they were so impressed. But The Dollz are in a state of flux over Liberty as we ready ourselves to leave.

‘I can’t believe she’s disappeared off with him,’ Cherry is saying to Tash.

‘I can. Liberty by name, liberty by nature. Don’t I always say that?’ she replies.

‘She’s always been a slave to that runaway libido of hers. Always. Remember Turkish Brad? And his brother Greek Alan?’ Big Mand says, shaking her head. ‘There’s no boundary she won’t cross.’

‘Well, she hasn’t got a set of keys to get in, so I hope she doesn’t come back too late. I’m going straight to bed,’ says Big Sue.

‘Me too,’ yawns Cherry. I contemplate the dark circles under her eyes. She’s doing well for being pregnant, but something is niggling at the back of my mind. ‘I still have the last-minute adjustments to do. Has everyone tried on their costumes? We’re travelling in them, so tomorrow is your last chance.’

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