July 14^th 1965

 

George sat next to the table in the hall, waiting for the telephone to ring. He was wearing only what he slept in and it was cold. He pulled his knees up under his chin and put his arms around to hold his legs. It was nearly three in the morning. He had got out of bed for this but he didn’t dare be late.

 

This had become nightly practice. It had started a week into the European tour. Grace would ring him at all hours, at all venues. How she managed to get through was a mystery to him, but more and more frequently the words ‘telephone for George’ were making him cringe. People had started to notice. Grace was calling more than Pattie. Pattie had hardly rung at all. He had finally got Grace to agree, after he had returned to London, to call him at a set time, once a night, but it was a prison of his own making.

 

George would go to bed with Pattie then get up again just before three o’clock. Usually he managed to not wake her, or if he did he would say he was getting a drink of water, going to the bathroom, and she would go back to sleep. Soon, though, she would notice. He knew.

 

So this must be the last night, George resolved, just as he resolved every night. But no, this would be the one. The night he would break it off. He would tell her the truth, just the plain and simple truth. He wanted Pattie. He couldn’t keep this up with Grace. Grace would say she would tell Pattie. That threat had previously kept George quiet. Made him give in and agree to whatever she wanted. But this time it would be different. George had found the only solution he thought would free him. But he was loath to do it.

 

The phone rang and George picked it up immediately, letting it only make a ‘purp’ sound as if someone had knocked it. “Hello?” he whispered.

 

“George,” Grace said, “You must have been waiting for me.”

 

“Of course I was waiting for you.”

 

“Bless. Aren’t you sweet? I’m early.”

 

“I know.” She was doing it on purpose, trying to catch him out.

 

“Have you told her? I guess not as I’m still having to call you at this ridiculous hour.”

 

“No.”

 

“George, it’s been over a month. You promised you would break it off with her after the tour.”

 

“I know…”

 

“It’s been nearly a week.”

 

“I can’t.” What’s the matter with you? George scolded himself; you’re letting this girl walk all over you. Just tell her. Be a man, for Gods sakes. “Grace, I’m not going to.”

 

There was a silence, then Grace sighed, “Do we have to go through this rigmarole again?”

 

“I mean it this time,” George said, and screwed his eyes shut, readying himself.

 

“George, I’m too tired tonight to play this game.”

 

“It’s not a game. I’m sorry, Grace, I can’t keep seeing you like this.”

 

“Then leave her and move in with me.”

 

“That’s not what I meant. I’m not leaving her. I don’t want you, I want Pattie.”

 

“That’s not what you said the other night.”

 

George swallowed, “That was then…” he said slowly.

 

“And the time before? And before that? And how about the night you got back from Spain?”

 

George didn’t reply. He considered hanging up on her, but Grace would only ring back.

 

“Please, just listen to me,” he said, “This is the last time I’m going to speak to you. Stay away from me and Pattie.”

 

“If you don’t tell her, then I will.”

 

“I am going to tell her,” he said, his voice seemed to echo in the dark hall, “So you can do what you like.”

 

“She’ll leave you. Then you’ll have neither of us.”

 

“Perhaps.”

 

“She’s going to leave you soon anyway,” There was real venom in Grace’s tone.

 

“Perhaps,” George repeated.

 

“You do believe she’s having an affair?”

 

George’s mouth dried, “I don’t know, I’ll ask her, I suppose.” It was the truth.

 

“As if she’d tell you the truth.”

 

George said nothing. He put his feet flat on the floor. It was stone cold. Grace sighed again, “I didn’t want to tell you this, George. I knew it would upset you. I thought you should hear it from them.”

 

“Tell me what?”

 

“Pattie didn’t see her lover while you were away, George.”

 

“She didn’t?” he asked hopefully.

 

“No, but she did decide to tell me who he was,” she paused. George could hear her breathing.

 

“Who?” he asked in a small voice, unsure if he wanted the answer.

 

“Pattie didn’t see him because he was away as well. In fact, he was on tour with you, Georgie, standing next to you on those stages every night.”

 

George nearly dropped the phone.