Only One Woman

by Christina Jones

  Other afternoons we’d just sprawl on the grass, or on Scott’s bed, and listen to music and read and doze – at least Scott got to sleep in in the mornings and rarely woke before mid-day – I, thanks to Holly, wasn’t so lucky!

  And the nights. Well, the nights, (after I’d cooked for everyone – if Eva and Dan and Holly weren’t eating out – and so far they’d eaten everything I’d cooked and seemed to enjoy it – cannelloni was the current favourite! – and then had a bath and got all gussied up in a micro-mini frock and boots or the silver sandals and, of course, done my hair and eye make-up) were all about Lords of course.

  But after Lords, before going home, in those still and stifling early mornings, the band and I would all drift out into the lush, warm night and buy fish and chips and sit on the sea wall and watch the moon dance across the waves, while Narnia’s Children dissected the night’s performance and Joss and Zak decided which of the Dolly Rockers was the next on their hit-list.

  I loved those moments too. Just me and the band. Together again while the rest of the world slept. Like it had been at the start.

  And then, after Mo had dropped us off, we’d go to Scott’s room, drink tea using Eva’s dainty glass cups and saucers, and play music and just be together. And so far I’d woken up in time to get out of his bed and back to my room before Holly’s early morning alarm call.

  I was in paradise and I never wanted it to end.

  Stella’s Diary

  May 25th 1969 – Whitsunday

  Today Narnia’s Children were taking part in a live two hour Radio One Show being broadcast from St Helier.

  Having got all their equipment from Lords and set up really early that morning, they played live. I was really nervous for them but needn’t have worried – they were, as always, so professional and mind-blowing.

  And they were interviewed afterwards by the hugely famous Radio One DJ Stuart Henry. I could hardly hear what he was saying because the non-stop cheers and screams and applause for the band practically drowned him out.

  The place was a massive entertainment venue on the island, and it was absolutely packed. Hardly surprising as Radio One had shipped out a fair few very famous chart-topping musicians to be there, as well as Narnia’s Children (who are Jersey’s top pop group and superstars in their own right!). I’d wondered if I might be able to interview anyone – we’d been told The Move and The Kinks, among others, were going to be there – but it was far, far too crowded and hectic for anyone to get anywhere near them.

  The whole place was awash with cameras and lighting and recording equipment, and wires and cables snaked everywhere, and men and women wearing headphones and carrying sound equipment weaved in and out of the excited audience.

  This was a major coup for the band: huge coverage on Radio One who already had ‘Livin’ With You’ on their playlist and gave it a lot of air-time. I had half expected Stephan to be there too – but I guessed he must still be in London making millions with Doc Holliday. Such a shame he didn’t seem to recognise or appreciate the talent and brilliance – and potential money-making ability – of Narnia’s Children with the same enthusiasm.

  I spotted Carl Wayne, The Move’s vocalist, in the crowd beside the stage. I’d interviewed The Move several times for the teenage magazines and they were all really lovely blokes and friendly and down-to-earth, and their PR company had been delighted with my coverage – but again, it was impossible to fight my way through the hundreds – maybe thousands – of people in the hall.

  So I just hung around at the back, enjoying all the acts, loving the music and feeling ridiculously proud of Scott and the rest of the band – especially as he was not only wearing my pink boots (I don’t think they’ll ever fit me properly again!) but also my black skinny-rib sweater as his Lords stage one had been washed and not dried.

  There! The domestic secrets of a rock’n’roll superstar!

  Today, not for the first time, I had to pinch myself to make sure this wasn’t all a dream. That I was actually here, with Scott, with Narnia’s Children. Sometimes this year has seemed like one big amazing mind-blowing hippy trip! So many things have happened! My life has been turned upside down and inside out. From that night in St B’s – oh, so long ago now – to this… and Scott and I, still together, still happy, still in love.

  I stood there, watching the programme being made, and knew how very, very lucky I was.

  After the show and the interviews there were loads of reporters crowding on to the stage and flash-bulbs going off all over the place. I was so proud to be part of this. So proud of Scott and the rest of the band. So proud – that for now at any rate – he was my boyfriend and he loved me.

  Fingers crossed that somehow I’ll be able to get hold of a copy of the photo of Scott and Stuart Henry together.

  Another amazing day.

  Stella’s Diary

  June 4th 1969

  This morning, after Eva, Holly and I had been to the supermarket, Eva wanted to go clothes shopping. On the days that Scott went to Lords during daylight hours for band practice and to rehearse new songs with Narnia’s Children, Eva and I went out together.

  I liked going to the little supermarket in St Helier – straddling two parishes and almost in St Aubin, according to Eva – at the foot of Mont Felard, with its sea-views and lovely villagey feel. It was like being back home, everyone knew everyone else and there was lots of gossiping about everyone’s business and local scandals.

  They’d got used to me being with Eva. I was “one of Scott’s girlfriends over from the mainland”. At first, everyone had stared at my very short dresses and way-out eye-make up and wild hair – but I think they were getting used to it, and me, now.

  Today all the talk was about Narnia’s Children being “live on the wireless”. Eva said she was very proud.

  There had been a picture of Scott with Stuart Henry in the Jersey Evening Post. It was fab – and I’d cut it out and put it under my pillow. I didn’t tell him – he was big-headed enough as it was!

  Once everyone had finished congratulating Eva on her talented boy, we bought food, and an iced-lolly for Holly, and were packing it in the car when Eva said she needed a new top or dress for a function she and Dan were going to and she’d welcome my input.

  As Eva and I were poles apart in fashion and practically everything else, I was actually ridiculously flattered. We did get on well, though, so of course I said yes.

  The food shopping had been easy and Eva and I had worked out what we needed and were organised enough to have a list. I didn’t cook every night because now there was plenty of food in the house, Eva had become really clever at chucking together left-overs even though she said she still hated it – but as she hated waste more, she managed to come up with some really nice meals.

  ‘We’ll go to Red Houses,’ Eva said as we pulled recklessly out into the traffic. ‘There’s a fabulous shop there that sells the most divine things. You might find something you like, too.’

  I somehow doubted that they’d sell anything that would a) suit me or b) I could afford, but I just nodded and smiled as Holly dripped ice-lolly and trundled her newest lorry across the back of my head.

  Red Houses, it turned out, wasn’t a row of houses or anything like. It was a small L-shaped collection of shops in St Brelade, and as we parked haphazardly outside, it was clear which one Eva was heading for.

  It was the sort of expensive ladieswear shop that Vix and I always hurried past in Oxford and Reading because we knew we’d never be grown-up enough to wear those sort of clothes.

  However, it clearly suited Eva down to the ground. She was obviously a regular customer, and was soon surrounded by assistants offering advice and producing frock after frock. Eva disappeared into the fitting room and kept reappearing wearing yet another stunning creation. Honestly, she looked like a model – and far too young to be Scott’s mum. She looked amazing in all of them and I unhelpfully told her so.

  She seemed to agree with me, as the pile
of gorgeous dresses heaped on the chair by the counter was growing rapidly. I kept one eye on that and the other on Holly in case she drove her now-sticky mechanical fleet across something that cost a fortune!

  Having decided on three cocktail dresses and a shirt in shimmering turquoise silk that matched her eyes, Eva beamed at me as she paid for her purchases and they were being swathed in pale grey tissue paper.

  ‘Have you seen anything you like, Stella?’

  Well, yes actually – loads, surprisingly – but nothing that I’d ever wear in this lifetime or could afford.

  ‘No – not really… I mean, they’re all beautiful, but I don’t go to the sort of places to wear them, and I’ve already got lots of clothes and…’

  ‘All hand-made, though,’ Eva looked a bit disparaging. ‘Don’t you fancy something off-the-peg for once?’

  ‘Honestly… they’re all a bit grown-up for me… but I do love those black evening trousers…’

  Without another word, Eva had swept across the shop and returned brandishing a pair of fine black silk flared hipsters, so soft and tight-fitting to the knee and then falling in swirling folds to the floor.

  I’d made a very similar pair to go with my Julie Driscoll-style floppy top – but these were incredible.

  ‘Go on – try them… oh, and while you’re at it – try these, too. You never wear shorts – and this perfect weather looks set to stay – and these would fit you I’m sure, and you’re already really brown, and they’re really cute…’ Eva flourished a pair of very, very short white shorts.

  I took both, wincing at the price tickets, and vanished into the sumptuous fitting room.

  Yes, I bought them. Both of them. And for the first time in my life walked out of a posh frock shop with two expensive-looking boxy carrier bags.

  Eva was delighted. All the way home I hoped Scott would like them when he got back from rehearsals. Not that I dressed to please him, of course, I’d always had my own style – but I’d noticed night after night that the competition at Lords was very fierce and I didn’t want him to think I’d gone frumpy.

  He didn’t. He was amused that Eva had bought so many clothes and said she’d have already hidden them in her wardrobe to be brought out with the “What? This old thing? I’ve had it for ages!” line when Dan noticed.

  He was listening to Radio One – and I think probably writing to Renza – when we’d got home, but broke off to insist on me giving him a preview of my new clothes. To the background of Clodagh Rodgers singing “Come Back and Shake Me” and Vanity Fare’s “Early in the Morning” (both songs that will whisk me back to that exact moment no matter how old I get) I tried on the trousers then the shorts – and he wolf-whistled and said I looked fab.

  Maybe I should buy “proper clothes” more often!

  Stella’s Diary

  June 6th 1969

  I have to write about today. It was so funny. Well, not immediately – not for either of us – but looking back I know I’ll always laugh about it.

  It was really late when we got home from Lords last night. Even later than usual, and such a hot night – ridiculously humid – honestly, Jersey is like a tropical island! Anyway, because Zak had taken a fancy to one of the Dolly Rockers and had gone “outside to talk to her” during Narnia’s Children’s second break, no one could find him for ages. This meant their third set was very late starting so we – Scott and I – were equally very late being dropped off by an extremely hot, irritable and tired Mo.

  As soon as we’d got in, Scott had fetched two beers from the kitchen and we’d opened all the windows in his room as wide as possible and stripped off and just collapsed on to the bed.

  Which was where Eva found us when she burst into his room at around 8.30 this morning!

  ‘Scott – sorry to disturb you – but just to let you know – I’m taking Holly out to Bonne Nuit for the day. Dan’s already left for work – but he’s meeting us there later and we’re eating at the hotel. If you could just let Stella know we won’t be around and won’t need feeding and – oh!’

  Oh, indeed!

  I sat up and clutched the discarded sheet to my nakedness. Eva and I stared at each other. Scott, of course, slept blissfully on.

  Eva shook her head. ‘Knowing him, I really should have guessed. Mind you, you’ve been very clever at being back in your own room in time for Holly’s wake-up visit, I must say. Right, let’s get one thing clear – if this is how it is, then please make sure you’re back in your bedroom before the rest of the house is up, ok?’

  I nodded, very, very embarrassed. I’d abused her hospitality – ok, and she’d just found me in bed with her son!

  ‘Yes – sorry… we were late back last night and it was stifling and we just fell asleep – look…’ I indicated the two un-drunk bottles of beer beside the bed. ‘We didn’t even…’

  Eva held up her hand. ‘I don’t want details, thank you. There’s no need to explain. Believe me – none of this comes as a surprise. And I’d have no objection to him sleeping with his girlfriends – in fact, I’d be amazed if he didn’t. But – there is Renza…’

  ‘I know. But…’

  Eva shook her head. ‘It’s ok. I like you. You’re a nice girl. Of course it’s not going to last, but – oh, I just wish he’d stop getting engaged!’

  And she left the room.

  I blinked my wonky eyelashes, still embarrassed. What the heck did that mean? How many times had Scott been engaged for heaven’s sake?

  I prodded him sharply in the ribs.

  ‘Ouch! Don’t! I’m awake.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yep,’ he pushed his hair out of his eyes. ‘But there was no way I was going to get involved in that.’ He laughed. ‘You handled it really, well, Twinkle. I’m proud of you.’

  ‘Shut up! I could have died from embarrassment there! And what did she mean about you keep getting engaged? How many other fiancées do you have hidden away?’

  ‘None,’ he laughed again. ‘Seriously. Ok, yes, I was engaged to someone else before I met Renza – but I broke it off when I met her, and she – the girlfriend here – kicked up a bit of a fuss. Mum, being on the spot, got the worst of it I think, and…’

  ‘Dear God!’ I punched him. ‘You have a fiancée here, too? In Jersey?’

  ‘Ex-fiancée.’

  ‘Oh, that makes all the difference! You must have still been in junior school! Am I likely to run into her? Will she come running at me with sharpened talons because she thinks I’m Renza?’

  He grinned. ‘No, of course not. You’re so funny. I think I love you.’

  ‘You,’ I swung my legs out of bed, ‘are incorrigible!’

  ‘Twinkle! Come back to bed!’

  ‘Not a chance!’ I gathered up my discarded clothes. ‘Go and find a fiancée to take my place!’

  He laughed. ‘No idea where to find one at this time of the morning. You’ll just have to do.’

  I grinned at him. ‘Is that the best offer I’m going to get?’

  ‘Crikey – yes! What more could you want? I’m a sexy rock-god superstar and I’m inviting you into my bed. There are ladies who would kill for that opportunity!’

  ‘Go and find one, then,’ I retorted, giggling, hurling my sandals at him. ‘I’m going to make a cup of tea.’

  ‘Ah, tea! Better than sex! Two sugars in mine, Twinkle!’

  And we were both still laughing as I headed for the kitchen.

  Renza’s Diary

  June 12th 1969

  Today there was a letter from Jersey – they’ve been there over four weeks so far – 13 pages long! They’re booked every night at Lords where they’d had a huge celebration for the release of ‘Livin’ with You’ ‘ at the beginning of May. It seems they’ve been drunk a lot. Big deal!

  Scott said they’ve had a lot of coverage in the national press and on TV and radio and they’ve been on a programme called Scene and Heard on Radio One several times, and also on What’s New a lot, because the DJ lo
ves them so much.

  On Whitsunday they were on Radio One again, on a two hour long programme with Stuart Henry, who is a famous DJ even I’ve heard of, and he’d interviewed them live. Scott is going to send me a photo of the band with him being interviewed. I love Stuart Henry so I’m looking forward to it.

  Apparently there were thousands of people watching the show being recorded live. They were on the show with Ray and Dave Davies from The ‘The Kinks and Carl Wayne from The Move, Jess Conrad, Solomon King and Malcolm Roberts, plus lots of others. I’m more than a bit envious. I adore ‘The Kinks’ and ‘The Move,’ and I’ve got all their records which I play to death. I’ll never forget when Radio One first started, the very first record they played was ‘Flowers in the Rain’ by The Move and I’d just bought it, so I was really hip; it was so groovy and unreal.

  ‘“Get Back” by The Beatles is playing as I write this, have you heard it? I prefer the B side actually. I got “Time of the Season” when I was in Germany but it hasn’t been released here yet, have you heard it? I love both sides, it’s great. I love The Zombies. I long for you to come over here and be with me. I love and miss you so much it hurts.’

  I’d read his letter a dozen times, trying to read between the lines I suppose. I love The Zombies, I’ve got their record which I got from the Canadian NAAFI. I put it on as I read his letter again, bringing him closer somehow.

  Declaring his undying love for me, again, and how the memories of our first date and the weeks we spent together keep him going, he said. The whole band thought it was a magical time last year in the village, their favourite place to live so far.

  He wants me to ask my friends to send request cards into the radio stations and TV shows so they can get enough fans to help them get the exposure.

  I’ll ask my new German friends and I’ll write to a couple of former class-mates from school whose addresses I know, telling them all about Narnia’s children in the hope they’ll be interested, but I don’t have anyone else to ask. I’ll hint that they buy the record too, because Scott says that sales and radio airplay helps with getting into the Charts.