Page 46 of The Last Love Song
Save it, Derek.‘As a matter of fact, Freddy Martin has just signed us up,’ he said, as casually as possible.
Peggy did a double-take. ‘You mean,theFreddy Martin?’
Bingo. She was impressed. ‘Yes. It’s early days yet, but things are looking good.’
‘Here’s your order, miss.’
‘Thanks.’ Peggy took her parcel from the woman behind the counter and the two of them moved towards the door of the chippy.
‘What do you do with yourself these days then?’ Derek asked, knowing full well.
‘Oh, I’m at college in the West End, doing a boring business studies course. And I share the flat above this chippy with a friend of mine.’
‘Ah, right. You moved out of home, did you?’
‘Yes. Well, you know how overprotective my dad was. You still at home?’
Derek shuffled awkwardly. ‘Yeah. I couldn’t leave Mum. She depends on me.’
‘Of course. How is she?’
‘Oh, the arthritis is pretty bad now. She can’t get out unless she’s in a wheelchair. She can just about manage to make herself a cup of tea.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that, Derek. But it sounds as though you’re doing really well. Do you play many gigs? Oh, er, sorry.’ She realised there was a queue of people waiting to get out of the chip shop. ‘We seem to be forming a bottleneck.’
Derek pushed the door open and the two of them stepped out onto the pavement.
‘Oh yes, all over the place. But we’ll probably be in the studio for a while. Freddy wants us to do some demos.’
‘Gosh. It all sounds awfully exciting.’
Derek continued to play it as coolly as possible. ‘I guess it is, yeah.’
‘Look, Derek, I have to go or the chips will get cold.’ Peggy looked at him. Derek had always been very sweet to her. Something about his boyish appearance was so innocent, which she liked. Of course, he’d become intense and obsessed when she had made it clear that she saw him only as a friend...but that was a long time ago now. Peggy took a chance. ‘Let me know where you’re playing and maybe I can come and see you.’
Derek nodded. ‘Will do.’ He acted out a thought coming into his mind: ‘Actually, we’ll be playing tomorrow night at the Queen Victoria in Camden Town. It’s only fifteen minutes from here.’
‘Oh, well, I might make it. Nice to see you again.’
‘And you, Peggy.’
She appeared taken aback. ‘Goodness, no one’s called methatfor years. Not since school actually. Anyway, bye, Derek.’
She waved as she walked off. Derek suddenly felt faint. He went and perched on the edge of a graffiti-covered bench to try to stop his head from spinning.
That had gone better than he could have ever imagined.
She’d looked pretty impressed. No.Veryimpressed. She’d also looked extremely beautiful.
She might come along tomorrow night, to see him play.
Derek stood up, realising the chips he’d bought for him and his mum were now stone-cold. He threw them in the bin by the bench and went back inside the chippy to queue again for two fresh portions.
He’d been right all along. He and Peggy were meant to be together.
Sorcha’s counter had been particularly busy for the past month. She supposed it was because spring was in the air. Even though she was on her feet from first thing in the morning until the store closed at six in the evening, she enjoyed the work. The other girls who worked in the store were friendly and she enjoyed their lunchtime chats, full of gossip about who was seeing whom.
Even though Con had recently told her that he would soon be earning enough to keep the both of them, she doubted whether she’d want to give up the job. After all, what would she do with herself in their room in Hampstead all day? Sorcha knew how Con felt about her working. But this was 1965. Lots of girls earned a living, particularly here in London. There might be an argument, but she would stand her ground. Besides, any extra money helped at the moment.
