The Sisters (40 page)

‘Oh mum, I’ve got something to show you. I wanted you to be the first person to see it. Just wait there,’ Lucinda said as she left the room and ran up the stairs to her bedroom. Felicia did what she was told; she could hear Richard and Owen talking in the next room. She laughed. Owen didn’t know what he’d let himself in for. As she waited she spotted an open box filled with framed photographs. She picked up one that she’d never seen before. Lucinda, Jessica, Beatrice and Emma had been captured. The love between them radiated from the picture that the waiter had helpfully taken of them that day Jessica had walked away from her old life.

‘Can I have this?’ Felicia asked when Lucinda walked into the room. Lucinda looked down at the photo in her mother’s hand.

‘Of course you can,’ Lucinda replied as she took the photo out of her hand and replaced it with a book.

‘Bon Jè,
‘ Felicia exclaimed as she looked down at the book in her hand. ‘A Seat in My Kitchen by Lucinda LeSoeur.’ She read out loud as she began to flick through the pages.

‘It’s just a proof copy but I wanted you to be the first to read it,’ Lucinda said as she kissed her mother.

‘I’m so proud of you,’ Felicia said as she hugged her daughter. ‘I really couldn’t be prouder.’

‘Mom, you need to relax. Do some yoga or something,’ Katelyn said as she watched her mother pace around her bedroom. ‘You’re doing my head in.’

‘Auntie Lou, do you want me to call my mum?’ Lena asked as she sat next to Katelyn on the bed.

‘No. Don’t be silly. I’m fine. I’m fine.’

‘You’ve been to the toilet like five times already.’

‘I could be making a big mistake. A really big mistake. What if I’m terrible?’

‘Please, that’s not going to happen. Mom, you’re not going to be terrible,’ Katelyn said. ‘Come on, there’s nothing to panic about. What is it you always say? “There’s nothing to panic about, as soon as it’s over it just becomes a memory.”’

‘Well what if no one turns up?’

‘Oh for the love of God,’ Lena said. ‘It’s sold out. You’ve been sold out for weeks. There’s no way that no one is not going to show up.’

‘I always hated being on stage without your mum and Auntie Bea,’ Lucinda said as she sat down on the bed between her niece and daughter. ‘No matter how I was feeling on the night, I always knew that when I turned to my left Jessica would be there and when I turned to my right, Bea would be there. This time it’s going to be just me.’

‘Mom, stop worrying. You’ve done it before and people would come and see you if you were just reading out the train announcements at Charing Cross Station.’

‘Ok, I’ll stop worrying,’ Lucinda said with a laugh. ‘Right, let’s do a last check that we’ve got everything and then we’ll just wait for cab.’

‘No way, are they here already?’ Lena said as they heard the front door bell.

‘I’ll get it,’ Reece shouted out from the bottom of the stairs. Lucinda busied herself with allocating her bags and outfits and makeup bags when she heard a familiar voice that made her want to smile from the inside.

‘Lou, where are you honey?’ Harrie’s voice boomed as she made her way up the stairs.

‘Harrie,’ Lou screamed as she ran towards the staircase.

‘Surprise,’ Harrie screamed as the two women ran into other’s arms. ‘Jesus Christ, I can’t breathe,’ Harrie said when they finally let go of each other.

‘What are you doing here? You said there was no way that you could come.’

‘Like anything was going to stop me. I wanted to surprise you. Did you really think that your best friend wasn’t going to be here for your big comeback?’

‘Oh Harrie. You have no idea how happy I am to see you and your bump,’ Lucinda said as she placed her hand on Harrie’s stomach and gently rubbed it.

‘Do you know that you’re the only person that I let do that? I’ve missed you so much,’ Harrie said. ‘So how are you feeling? Are you ready?’

‘No, she’s on the verge of a breakdown,’ Katelyn said as she went to get her own hug from Harrie.

‘Well, it’s a good thing that I’m here,’ Harrie said. ‘So, how’s my favourite goddaughter?’

‘I’m good. I’ve missed you,’ Katelyn said ‘Oh, this is my cousin, Lena.’

‘Wow, you look so much like your mother,’ Harrie said as she kissed Lena on the cheek. ‘Right, how long have we got to go?’

‘About forty minutes,’ Katelyn replied.

‘That’s enough time for me to jump in the shower and for your mother to get a shot of vodka down her throat,’ said Harrie.

‘I still can’t believe that she’s doing this.’ Beatrice said as she walked into the famous Ronnie Scotts jazz club. The place was already packed and there was a buzz of excitement and anticipation in the air. It had taken Beatrice and Jessica a while to reach the VIP area as they had stopped to take selfies and sign autographs for Euterpe fans.

‘Do you ever miss it?’ Beatrice asked.

‘Honestly?’ Jessica replied as she looked at the stage where Lucinda’s band was setting up. ‘I do. I miss it all the time. I miss the buzz of being up on the stage and singing and knowing that everyone out there is for you. There’s nothing like it.’

‘Oh my God, me too. I told Jake that I didn’t miss the travelling, and hotel rooms and mindless interviews or being in a recording studio singing the same line over and over but I do miss the stage. God, I think that I might even be jealous,’ Beatrice said as she sat down in the red velvet chair.

‘Thank God you’re here. You should have seen the queue outside,’ Felicia said as she arrived at the booth with Rachel, her sister-in-law.

‘Mum, you made it. Hi auntie Rachel,’ Jessica said. ‘You both look fantastic.’

‘Do you really think so? I didn’t think that your sister would forgive me if I didn’t make the effort.’

‘This takes me back,’ Rachel said as she hugged her nieces. ‘Your uncle proposed to me here. He was drunk as a skunk and he couldn’t remember anything the following morning but this is where he did it. Oh my God, look at you two,’ Rachel said when Lena and Katelyn appeared. They were both dressed up and looked so much older. ‘They look just like their mothers.’

‘I think I was Lena’s age when Lou came up for the name for the group.’ Beatrice said.

‘God we were so young,’ Jessica replied as she looked proudly at her daughter.

‘Euterpe! I thought it was the most ridiculous name ever.’

‘I had no idea what it meant and when I asked Lou she said, “I want us to be unique. I want us to be remembered.” I told her no one will know what it means, no one will remember us.’

‘It means Giver of Delight.’

Everyone turned their heads to the direction of the voice.

‘Hey, you made it,’ Katelyn said. ‘Wow, you actually own a suit and shoes.’

‘Of course I made it,’ Carter replied as he shoved Katelyn playfully. ‘Sorry, but I had a bit of an obsession with Greek mythology when I was younger. Euterpe was one of the muses. The muse of music. Hi. I’m Carter.’

‘So, you’re Carter. I’m Jessica,’ Jessica said as she shook his hand.

‘No wonder Lulu was spending so much time at the studio. He’s quite fit,’ Beatrice whispered into Jessica’s ear. ‘Hi, I’m Beatrice,’ she said, shaking his hand.

‘You wouldn’t believe the traffic out there,’ Emma said as she pushed through the crowd. ‘I can’t believe you lot got here before me. I need a drink.’

Carter turned around to face Emma and there was no mistaking the look that passed between them as if Eros had passed through at that exact moment.

‘Oh,’ Emma said, feeling for the first time in her life slightly lost for words as she felt a slight twinge of electricity pass through her as she shook Carter’s hand. ‘You must be Emma,’ he said.

‘I am, I’m Emma,’ she said.

‘Why don’t I go and organise some drinks for you ladies,’ Carter said, still holding onto Emma’s hand.

‘Looks like I arrived just in time then. Hi everyone,’ Sal said as he slapped Carter on the back. ‘Come on then, seeing that you’re buying.’ Sal said as he pushed Carter away.

‘That’s Carter?’ Emma said as she watched them walk away. Both Jessica and Beatrice nodded.

‘And he’s single,’ Katelyn added as she smiled at her aunt Emma. ‘I mean really, really single auntie Emma. Like no attachments - no women who just want to be friends. Nothing’

‘Alright, thank you very much young lady,’ Emma said as she turned her head and caught Carter looking back at her.

There was still another twenty minutes to go and the place was now full putting to rest any beliefs Lucinda had that no one would turn up. Owen had arrived not fully realising how it’d feel to be subjected to seven LeSoeur women at the same time. ‘Wow, there are a lot of you,’ he said as he stepped towards the table.

‘Don’t let them scare you,’ Emma said as she introduced him to everyone. It didn’t take long for Owen to find himself subjected to a full-scale interrogation by Jessica and Beatrice whilst Felicia and Rachel sat back bemused.

‘Our Lou always seems to land on her feet doesn’t she?’ Rachel said to Felicia. ‘If I was thirty years younger I’d have him myself.’

‘Jesus Christ,’ Felicia said as she took a glass of champagne from the waiter who had arrived at their table, feeling relieved that Owen would have the sanctuary of male company as Sal and Carter returned to the table.

‘Hey everybody,’ Harrie said, as she threw herself down onto a spare chair feeling slightly flustered after her own battle through the crowd. She began to fan herself frantically with a drinks menu. ‘Lou’s ready but she’s slightly nervous. I don’t know why, she could do this standing on her head.’

‘I should go and see her. She was fine when I spoke to her earlier,’ said Owen.

‘No disrespect but I was thinking it’d be a good idea if you guys went to see her,’ Harrie said as she turned towards Jessica, Beatrice and Emma.

‘You know what,’ Emma said to Jessica and Beatrice. ‘Maybe you two should go. It’s only right.’

‘Bloody hell, you’re not planning on dancing in those things,’ Beatrice said as she entered the small dressing room.

‘God no. I plan to walk on that stage, grab the mike and not move for an hour and a half,’ Lucinda said as she stood up. ‘How do I look? Because If I look anything like I’m feeling that’s not a good thing.’

‘You look fantastic. But let me just fix this,’ Beatrice said as she untwisted the strap on Lucinda’s dress. Jessica looked around the dressing room.

‘God this takes me back,’ Jessica said as she perched herself on the dressing table. ‘But it’s a lot better than that poor excuse for a dressing room that we had to get ready in when we performed at the Spectre Grand.’

‘There was nothing grand about that place.’ Beatrice shuddered at the memory of being forced to get dressed in a freezing cold toilet and having to apply their makeup in the corridor with a flickering light whilst Lucinda had sat with her back to the toilet door to stop people from going in.

‘I’m so glad that you’re here.’ Lucinda said.

‘Where else would we be?’ Jessica said as she grabbed each of her sister’s hands.

The club erupted as soon as Lucinda stepped out onto the stage. Felicia had never heard anything like it and had found herself standing up and screaming Lucinda’s name with everyone else. Lucinda looked out from the stage and blew a kiss to where her family were standing. She even managed to spot Henry, Brandon and Darren who enthusiastically waved back feeling quite honoured that not only had Lucinda remembered them but she’d also added them to the VIP guest list. She had to stop herself from laughing when she saw the look on Darren’s face when he realised that he was standing only 2 feet away from Jessica.

‘Good evening everyone. Before I start, I just want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your love and support and I definitely wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my family and I would never ever have stepped onto his stage if it wasn’t for my sisters, which is why I’m dedicating this first song to them.’

‘Grandad, it’s starting,’ Reece said as he turned up the volume on the TV. Even at the last minute, Felicia was reluctant to leave Richard alone in the house until Reece had offered to stay with his grandad and Jake had called to say that he would make it a boy’s night. Stephen had arrived just in time with boxes of pizza and beer. For those who couldn’t get a ticket, Sal had come up with the idea of streaming Lucinda’s comeback gig on her website, for a fee of course. So, once again, Reece had hooked up his laptop to the television and brought Ronnie Scott’s into Richard and Felicia’s living room. Richard leaned forward in his chair unable to stop the smile and the joy that he felt at seeing his daughter back on the stage where she belonged. Even Beatrice’s twins were transfixed as they sat with Jake on the sofa and watched their aunt perform. There was no mistaking the presence that Lucinda had on stage and that she was born for this.

‘I’ve got one request to make,’ Lucinda said to the crowd as she finished her encore performance of Stripped Back.

‘Oh no,’ Beatrice said as she instinctively knew what was going to happen next.

‘She wouldn’t dare,’ Jessica said. ‘I haven’t sung in years.’

‘The last thing that I sung was “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” to Sam this morning.’

‘I know how much you all loved Euterpe,’ Lucinda continued. ‘And I’m sure that you’d love it as much as I would if my sisters Jessica and Beatrice, joined me on stage.’ The crowd erupted into a frenzy as the spotlight found Jessica and Beatrice. Despite their initial hesitation, neither of them could resist the lure of the stage or their cheers of the crowd.

‘Don’t for one minute expect me to dance,’ Beatrice said as she took the microphone from one of the sound crew and took her place to Lucinda’s right.

‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Lucinda said with a smile. ‘Are you ready?’ she asked as she turned to Jessica who was on her left.

‘No, but what the hell,’ Jessica replied as she looked out into the crowd and heard the opening bars of their first number one ‘Electrify.’

‘It’s mummy,’ Issy shouted when Beatrice appeared on the stage waving at the crowd and begun to sing the opening line of Electrify.