Page 1 of Never Too Late
Prologue
‘What’s this, Ethan?’
‘What’s what?’ He didn’t bother to look up from what he was doing at the back of one of the amplifiers.
‘This little bag? What’s it doing stuffed in here under the console?’
In an instant Steph had his full attention, and she couldn’t miss the guilty look that passed across his face, immediately followed by that same petulant expression with which she had become increasingly familiar over the past months as he had started coming home late, often reeking of alcohol. Only this time it wasn’t alcohol. The anonymous little plastic bag contained a white powder and she had a horrible feeling she knew what it was. She held it up and tried again, her voice heavy with sarcasm.
‘Sugar maybe?’
‘If you must know, it’s talcum powder so my fingers don’t slip on the sliders.’ As usual he was trying to bluster his way out of it.
He dropped his eyes back to the recording console with its rows of lights, switches, knobs and sliders. He was deliberately avoiding looking at her but she knew how to be patient by now. She just stood there holding the little bag in the air until he finally raised his eyes again. After a year and a half of living together they both knew each other well enough for her to know he was lying and for him to realise that she knew. An expression of resignation appeared on his face.
‘Yeah, all right, it’s coke, but it’s not mine.’
‘There’s cocaine here and you knew about it?’ She raised her eyes in silent supplication towards the ceiling of the recording studio. ‘We could be arrested just for possessing it. What on earth were you thinking? And if it isn’t yours, whose is it?’ She could feel her anger rising. His increasingly frequent late nights and excessive drinking had been bad enough, but now drugs?
‘I can’t say, but it’s not mine.’ He made a brave attempt to catch and hold her eye but his resolve barely lasted a second or two before he looked away. ‘I’m telling you: it’s not mine, Steph, honest.’
He had never been a good actor and Stephanie gave a sceptical snort.
‘Just like the smell of booze coming off you last night was because Donny spilt his brandy on you?’ She took a deep breath and stood there, wondering what to do. Things had been getting worse between them lately and she had the feeling that everything was leading inexorably towards her ending the relationship unless she could get him to turn over a new leaf. The trouble was that she had loved him. She still did when he wasn’t playing at being a Jim Morrison or a Jimi Hendrix character, bent on self-destruction. However, if she were to dump him, this would also inevitably mean giving up the job she loved. After all, he owned the studio and at the end of the day she was his employee. Working for her ex, particularly after an acrimonious break-up, would be tough, if not impossible.
Music – of any kind – was in her blood and working here as a recording engineer was in so many ways her dream job. She was now on first name terms with many famous – and infamous – faces and had been actively involved in the production of a number of hit records. Giving that up would be hard, and she knew enough about the cut-throat world of the music industry to know that finding something similar wouldn’t be easy. As for classical music, her first love, the opportunities were even more limited and worse paid.
Coming to a decision, she handed him the little bag. ‘Here, take it. I’m tired of your lies, Ethan. Promise me you’ll get rid of it now, this very minute.Idon’t want a criminal record, even if you do.’
She read relief on his face as he reached over and took the bag. ‘Of course, Steph. I’ll go out now and give it back to the guy.’ Before she could question him any further he scuttled out of the door, leaving her sitting there questioning her life choices once more.
Chapter 1
The following week
‘What did the doctor say?’
Steph could see that her mum was doing her best to sound casual but the anxiety in her voice was all too obvious.
‘She told me it’s definitely a lump, but she says it could easily be a harmless cyst.’ Steph tried not to let her own fears spill out. Bursting into tears wouldn’t do either of them any good.
Her mum even managed to produce an encouraging smile. ‘So not dangerous. That’s really good news, isn’t it?’
Steph nodded dutifully. ‘Hopefully it isn’t anything sinister, but she’s arranging for me to have a mammogram later this week just to be sure.’ In fact the doctor hadn’t actually pronounced any kind of judgement on Steph’s lump, but there was no point in worrying her mum any more than necessary. ‘If it’s just a cyst, I expect they’ll probably just leave well alone.’
‘I’m sure it’ll turn out to be nothing.’ Her mum’s tone became more downbeat. ‘With your father they knew straightaway—’ Steph cut in fast to interrupt what might become a morbid flow.
‘It’ll be fine, Mum. Try not to worry.’
‘I’m not worried, darling. I’m sure it’ll be fine, but it’s always a good idea to get these things checked out.’
Steph could see how hard she was trying to sound optimistic and encouraging, and she loved her for it. She stood up, kissed her mum on the top of the head, and moved towards the kitchen. ‘I feel like a cup of tea. Want some?’ In fact, the way she had been feeling since coming out of the surgery, something a whole lot stronger held considerably more appeal, but she knew there was no booze at her mum’s house.
‘Yes, please, dear. But make mine weak or I won’t sleep tonight.’
Steph glanced at her watch as she filled the kettle and raised her eyebrows. It was barely six.
‘What did Ethan say when you told him?’ Her mum’s voice echoed in from the lounge.
