Where did your heart go? (The Heart Trilogy Book 1) (56 page)

“Thanks and if I need too I will”

“In the meantime I’ll keep my radio on as if the rest of the listeners are as entranced by this flirting
as I am you have a captive audience” Sarah giggled.

“I’d better go, I think the music has finished upstairs which means Charlie will be down for food shortly” I replied.

“Take care Steph and how about a coffee on Friday?

“I’ll let you know, depends how things are moving with the event if I have time”

“Ok, speak soon” she replied.

“Bye Sarah” I finished, hanging up the phone.

I could hear the shower running upstairs so I quickly checked the lasagne and threw some chips into a tray. As Charlie wandered in, I started to pull some plates out and sort some salad too.

“Hungry?”

“Starving Mum” she replied, as she poured us both a glass of orange juice and sat down, phone in hand.

“So how are things going with Mitchell” I asked.

“Great thanks
Mum; when he gets his exam results he’s going to open his own dance school. He even said I would make a good teacher” she replied.

“Well, I guess it’s something you can look at when you finish your current course” I said
.

“Definitely” she replied. Her phone beeped and she was momentarily distracted.

“So Mum, what about you and James” she asked.

“I am still thinking about it all” I replied. I smiled as I stood up and started to plate up our tea.

“So it’s not a definite no then” she pushed.

“No, it’s a definite maybe at the moment” I finished, as we tucked into the food.

Chapter 66

Wednesday morning dawned with a grey sky and drizzle but I was full of excitement as I was off to get the contractors started on the stage build. Hurrying downstairs I made a quick cup of coffee and scribbled a note for Charlie, in case she had forgotten where I was heading for this early. As it was easier to walk I pulled on my rain coat and headed out the door. I decided to cut through the car park for the swimming pool and as the sun started to poke through the dark clouds I let my mind wander back to 1988. How many times had I walked this route as an excited sixteen year old? All my hopes and fears jumbled up in a knot of emotions that rolled around my stomach. Remembering it all I started to feel the knot once more. Frayed at the edges but still moving inside of me.

I took a look at the now tired frontage of the Pool as I walked past it, apart from age and the new steps and ramp at the front it had largely remained unaltered by time. An extension on the side housed a gym and I knew that the diving board had long since been removed from the pool area. Such happy memoires as I continued through to the river meadow. Ahead I could already see the various vehicles and groups of guys hanging around and enjoying the respite from the earlier rain. The foreman recognised me from Saturday and headed over.

“Morning Mrs Eden” he said, reaching out to shake my hand.

“Call me Stephanie” I replied in response “Do you have the plans?”

“Yes” he replied, unfurling the various different sheets of paper. A gust of wind tried to remove them from his finger tips but his grip was sure and strong.

“Anything I can help with?” I asked, taking a final look at the plans in front of us.

“Just a quick clarification on the dance floor area would be good” John said.

“Sure” I replied. We located and pegged the edge of the stage and then walked a couple of metres away from it as I made the decision. Another peg went into the ground and John nodded.

“Here’s my card with my contact details on it, if you have any questions please just give me a call” I replied.

“That’s great, this should be a breeze” he finished, pocketing the card in his jeans.

“I’m working between ten and two and should be back in Ross from around three and I’ll pop back down then and see how things are progressing” I finished. John nodded and turned to the men as he started to put the plan into action.

Walking back home I called in at the bakery and bought some croissants for breakfast before I was home again. All was silent still as I turned the radio on and then called up the stairs

“Charlie, do you want some breakfast, I’ve got some fresh croissants”

“Yeah, thanks Mum, I’ll be down in a second” I heard my daughter’s muffled voice, sleep still tinged it. Pouring the coffee I listened to Paul and wondered when my no longer secret admirer would contact me today. I was soon in the car and on my way into work; my phone had been silent so all must be progressing well by the river. I sang along to the various tunes that Paul was playing and the journey went quickly.

Once I was on air a text to the studio came through from my mystery man. I smiled as I looked through the catalogue and found the track, as I tried to pick something to compliment it for my reply. The deep voice of Lionel Richie filled the studio as I dedicated “Destiny” to myself. I could see Paul and Ian in deep discussion in the office area, but they both looked over at me and started to mouth “Who is he?” at me. Today’s words really started to pull at my emotions as Lionel sang.

             
“From the first time that I saw you

             
I know it was forever

             
This mighty love between us

             
Will keep us together

             
You’re the girl God sent from heaven

             
I’m so glad I found you

             
Forever, Forever, Forever, Forever, Forever, Forever”

I closed my eyes briefly and squeezed back the tears of happiness that threatened to spill out. All I could see there was the image of James as I always remembered him at twenty one. Although it was only the middle of the week I couldn’t wait for the weekend. As I started to play my response I opened my eyes again and tried not to laugh as the guys in the office were making kissy faces at the window. Then as “Rain or Shine” by Five Star came on as my response they started to laugh. I knew they were looking forward to supposedly setting me up with my blind date, but I was going to have the last laugh.

James was on his way home from work as he requested today’s song for Stephanie. He knew it was a good one and he wished that he could see her face as she listened to the words he longed to say to her for the rest of their lives. Then as she sent him back her choice of song he felt puzzled at the choice. Turning up the radio he soon knew why.

             
“Rain or Shine

             
You’ll always be one in a million

             
My fantasy come true

             
Rain or Shire, it’s you and me

             
Cut my heart on a tree and say

             
It’s forever, not a year and a day”

Smiling he returned to the day when he had traced a heart onto her hand as they sat by the river. Then she had handed him a marker pen from her bag and he had drawn the same heart onto the wooden back of the bench where they sat. She was so much better at this game than he was. He wondered whether it was still there, or whether the weather had removed it or even worse the entire bench had been taken away from their spot beside the river. He was determined to search for it on Saturday and perhaps destiny would be kind to him.

Back in Ross I drove down to the river and was amazed by the sight that greeted me there. The dance floor was already down and surrounded by the hoardings ready for the advertising posters. They had started on the stage area, which seemed to look huge as I parked the car and headed onto the field. I weaved between the workers and located John.

“Hi John, wow it’s looking amazing already” I said.

“It sure is” he finished “I’m bringing the family along for the day as the line up of local bands looks brilliant” he said.

“That’s great news the more the merrier”

“Yes just have to hope the weather is ok” John finished, casting a glance at the grey sky above.

“That’s the only thing we can’t plan for
. I’ll have to check out the forecast for Saturday when I get home” I replied.

“Well, I’ll let you get finished for the day and I’ll be around tomorrow afternoon as I promised I would show my daughter the dance floor area as she is one of the acts performing” I finished.

“I’ll look forward to that then” he finished, as we shook hands again and I headed back to my car.

Thursday soon arrived and as ticket sales continued to exceed our expectations I nervously checked the weather forecast for Saturday. Well it wasn’t supposed to rain but considering it was August it wasn’t exactly going to be hot and sunny. Charlie was up early and offered to clean the house while I was out at work, I could tell she just needed something to do to pass the time before Mitchell arrived.

“When I finish work later I’ll come straight home and then pop down to the site at around 5, will Mitchell be here by then?” I asked.

“I think he’s planning to leave home around two so yes that will be fine, would you rather we met you down there?” Charlie replied, her eyes twinkling with the thought of seeing Mitch again.

“Ok, I’ll park in the pub car park and we can walk to the site together then, I’ll aim to get there for three thirty” I finished.

“Cool Mum, have a good day and I’ll see you later” she said. I watched her disappear back up the stairs with the vacuum cleaner.

On the way into work Paul had the honour of my secret admirer as he announced Thursday’s song for me.

“Hope you’re listening in the car on your way into work Steph as your admirer would like to seduce you with “I just can’t stop loving you” by Michael Jackson. Let me know what I can play him in return” Paul said. Once again I pulled over into the next lay-by and wracked my brain for a suitable song in return. Early Michael Jackson was a great choice as I listened to the words whilst I sent my text over to Paul in the studio.

             
“You know how I feel

             
This thing can’t go wrong

             
I’m so proud to say

             
I love you

             
Your love’s got me high

             
I long to get by

             
This time is forever

             
Love is the answer”

Pleased with my reply I pulled out of the lay-by and continued my journey as “Miss you like crazy” by Natalie Cole filled the car stereo with sound. I sang along to the words.

             
“Even though it’s been so long

             
My love for you keeps going strong

             
I remember the things that we used to do

             
A kiss in the rain ‘til the sun shines through

             
I try to deny it but I’m still in love with you”

I heard my phone beep in my bag as I pulled into the car park. It was from James

“Love the song today – I really hope you are”

“You’ll have to wait until Saturday” I replied, as I locked up the car and headed into work. I couldn’t hide the huge smile on my face as I entered the office and the hive of activity that work bought. The day passed quickly and after a quick chat with Paul and Ian as I showed them the pictures of the work happening in Ross on my phone, I headed home. In the car I plugged in my iPod and selected Wham to sing along to in the car, I really did feel so happy that I could burst.

Pulling into the car park outside the pub I grabbed my copy of the plans and headed along the pathway to the site and was hit with the sight of the stage looking spectacular. Sitting on one of the benches I spotted Charlie and Mitch as they noticed me and headed over.

“Mum this looks amazing” Charlie breathed.

“I couldn’t have put it better” I replied. John had spotted us and was walking in our direction. Closing the gap we met just on the far edge of the dance floor. It framed the stage and lighting well and the hoardings were now being coated with various posters. It was just the electricians and the stage equipment that were coming tomorrow and then finally it would be Saturday morning.

“So is it looking ok” John asked.

“More than ok, you’ve done a fantastic job” I replied, shaking his hand. As the two of us wandered around he pointed out the access points and places where the cables from tomorrow could be hidden. Charlie and Mitch walked through the gap and onto the dance floor. I watched them walk to the top end and stare up at the stage ahead of them, they were deep in conversation.

“Is that you daughter” John asked.

“Yes and her boyfriend Mitchell, they are both dancing and I promised they could come and check out the dance floor this afternoon”

“I am looking forward to the event on Saturday and at least if I’m around if there are any snags I can fix them immediately” he finished.

“That’s good to know” I replied.

After
looking at the rear of the stage area we walked back around to the front and discovered that checking the dance floor apparently required actual dancing. We both watched as they ran through what was obviously the dance from Dirty Dancing and then the famous lift. As Charlie slid back down to earth John and many of the other contractors who had stopped to watch started to clap and cheer. I could see the happiness on their faces, lighting up the cloudy day above. After taking a bow they reluctantly left the dance floor and met me.

“Come on you dance freaks, lets got home” I said “They’ll be plenty of time on Saturday” I finished.

“Any chance I can bring the group down tomorrow for a run through” Charlie asked.

I looked across at John but he only nodded.

“Ok as long as you don’t get in the way of the electricians and other contractors who are here to do a job” I replied.

The evening passed by with lots of happy chatter over the dining table before Charlie and Mitch headed upstairs and left me to my laptop as I fired it up and started to quietly panic about everything that needed to be done on the Saturday morning. I would be knackered before anything even started at noon. Then I opened my emails and began to type out a reply to James’ last one from the previous day. I hope he didn’t mind the delay too much.