Chapter Eleven
The band spent four days making sure all was prepared and doing some practising, during which Annette played bass for a few pieces between her other duties, and promised to learn the other pieces when she had time.
The tour began well. A development they had not expected was that Leo had negotiated with the BBC to do a documentary on the world tour. They would join the band from time to time in various parts of the world. The filming and background sound track were recorded on the trip, with a few interviews if there was time, and the commentary and other interviews were to be inserted later.
The tour had its usual crop of problems – equipment which did not turn up, computerised lighting which took much coaxing to work at all, microphones that gave up half way through a performance. Annette took it all in her stride, and that delighted Ged.
The three original members of the band behaved much as they always did, bedding young women after the gigs, getting into trouble with irate boyfriends, arguing with each other, messing up hotel rooms and partying all night. Jon and Ged were relieved that the girls were all legal, but Ged did not join the rest of the band, and instead spent his evenings with Annette. They would inspect the equipment together, and then they would repair to a quiet bar and chat over a few drinks. Occasionally Jon and his wife joined them.
The effect on the press and the fans was predictable. The fans found Ged, the silent member of the band, intriguing, and he was pursued relentlessly by lust-driven girls and a few gay men, but he was aloof, which rather fuelled their enthusiasm for him than diminished it, especially after Joshua invited him to join him for singing some duets, knowing what a draw Ged was.
It is a well known fact that bass players and keyboard players are the most invisible members of any band, and Ged's reticence when it came to the press meant that he tended to escape their notice most of the time, in contrast to the fans' preoccupations. Annette also kept herself to herself, in any case she was usually too busy. Even the BBC crew largely failed to concentrate on the pair since the antics of the other three kept them busy, and Joshua and Amos were more than willing to talk about their music,and their excesses in the various bars and hotel bedrooms.
Ged emailed Cassie when he could, usually late at night after a long day. On Skype or the phone he chatted about the places they visited, the band and what they got up to, how successful or otherwise their gigs were – and some were pretty sparsely attended. She told him about her days, and how Cheryl's baby was getting on. She had tales about some of the more eccentric writers who were submitting novels.
As the tour progressed, Ged and Annette grew closer as friends. They were both 'spoken for' and would exchange news of their partners and talk of how they missed them.
Perforce they worked with each other repairing amplifiers, microphones and the other equipment, and when not upgrading the computer programmes for the sound and light presentations, were devising new ones for the future. They took to spending time in Ged's room where he had his laptop and portable keyboards.
It was towards the end of the Scandinavian tour, in Stockholm, that Ged noticed that Cassie was not emailing as often, and seemed distracted when they spoke together. When he saw her on Skype she looked worried but tried to hide it and told him it was because she missed him and somehow seeing him made it worse.
On him pushing her further, she told him of media reports which spoke of his romance with his Road Manager. He thought he had put her mind to rest but she did not look convinced on Skype. He even introduced Annette to her, who assured her that she was 'spoken for' as was Ged, and that they were simply good friends working together.
Towards the end of the Eastern European part of tour, near the end of November, Ged suddenly found he could not reach Cassie by Skype or on the phone. On Skype she was 'away' and the phone number he dialled was 'not recognised'. Then he received an email that frightened him. It was sarcastic and aggressive and he was at a loss to understand it.
You may be surprised to know that what you've been up to on your tour has made the papers. I told you that you and Annette had been mentioned, I can see why you told me not to believe what I read, and why you got her to back you up – it gave you the chance to cheat with her. I only have your word that she has a partner at home, and if she has, which i doubt, it seems it hasn't stopped the pair of you. I know what you've been doing, and that what the press have been writing was in this case true.
I hope you're happy with your new girlfriend, who I assume has an open relationship with her man or is cheating on him as you are on me. He probably doesn't exist. We talked enough about this for you to know how much this has hurt me, after all you said.
Since you've betrayed us, I consider myself free to date other people from now on. I knew this would happen, and that you would get corrupted. I could understand you getting together with her, but the other girls? Threesomes? You can forget our engagement, or any future for us.
By the way, don't try to tell me that the press have things wrong. I have very compelling evidence from other sources – some of it photographic – that backs up what they are saying. It is conclusive, so there's no point in trying to wriggle out of it.
You told me to talk to you before acting. Consider this the talk, in any case there is nothing you could say to change my mind.
I've already changed my phone number, and blocked you from Skype and I will not be writing to you again. Do not try to contact me, I will not read what you write, and I will not reply.
Cassie.
He looked at the email for a long time. It made no sense. There was no photographic evidence of anything. There were no girls, though perhaps his friendship with Annette could be misinterpreted. Surely Cassie knew Ged was infatuated with Cassie and no one else? Had she found someone else and was using this to finish with him? Would she be so devious? Then he panicked, and talked to Annette.
"Ged, you have to tell her about me. It was good of you to keep it quiet, but not important enough to destroy your relationship."
So he wrote a reply he hoped she would read.
Dearest Cassie,
I don't understand your email. I have not been unfaithful. There have been no girls, no matter what the press or your 'other sources' might be saying.
The Road Manager, Annette, and I work together on the equipment. Precisely because we don't want to get involved with the behaviour of the rest of the band, we spend a lot of time together and she has become a good friend. She has a partner at home just like I have in you, we often talk about you and about her partner. In any case, her partner is another woman: Annette gave me permission to tell you she is a lesbian, so your 'evidence' is untrue.
So please believe me, I have done nothing that I would not do if you were here with us.
I don't know about this 'other evidence' but it is false – a lie.
If you are trying to salve your conscience because of something you have done perhaps you had better confess it now. If you want to end it with me because you have found someone else, then have the courage and guts to tell me to my face.
If you think that your email constitutes us 'talking' you need to think again. We were to talk WITH each other, not you talking TO me one way only.
I love you more than my own life. Don't do this. You promised to wait until I got back. Where is your promise now?
