Lyrics Of Love

It was the bane of Aurora’s life, to be called after such a well-known song . . .

THERE was a new guy working in Ro’s favourite coffee shop. “Name?” he asked after she’d ordered her usual latte.

Ro narrowed her eyes at him. That was pretty bold for a first meeting.

He laughed at her expression.

“New system,” he explained. “I write your name on your cup and call you when it’s ready. That way people don’t have to hang about at the counter.”

There did seem to be names on the cups. Ro had a choice – give him her name and face the usual reaction, or do without her coffee.

“Ro,” she said after just a moment’s hesitation. He raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess: short for Rhona?”

She said nothing. “Robyn? Roberta? Rosalita?”

She sighed. “Aurora.”

His grin widened. “Aurora? Seriously?” After twenty years Ro knew she should be used to the reaction by now.

“It was my mother’s choice. It means dawn.”

His eyes creased with laughter.

“Couldn’t she just have called you Dawn?”

“You’d think,” Ro muttered.

“Shame your middle name isn’t Mae.”

She looked at him. He laughed. “You’re kidding? Seriously? Your name is Aurora Mae?”

Then he did what everyone did when they heard Ro’s name. He sang a few words of the song.

“Aurora Mae, you’re OK . . .”

At least he didn’t do the stupid dance.

“I’ll be over there by the window,” Ro said coolly and walked away.

Words could not describe how much she hated that stupid, stupid song!

“Aurora Mae”. The irritating, catchy tune had hit number one the year Ro was born.

It was one of those songs that had gone beyond fame to pass into popular culture, like Slade’s “Merry Christmas, Everybody”.

The whole world knew it. Everyone could sing at least half the lyrics, and did exactly that when they heard Ro’s name.

The cute guy brought over her coffee a few minutes later.

“Sorry. I suppose you get that a lot.”

“No, you’re the first. No-one’s ever done that before.”

Grinning, he dropped into the seat opposite.

“Tea break,” he explained. He held out his hand. “I’m Tim. And I really do love that song. The Jack Laker original is by far the best version. I spent more time trying to master that guitar solo than I did studying for my exams.

“Probably goes a long way to explaining why I’m working in a coffee shop.”

He really was attractive. And he could hardly be held responsible for how Ro felt about the song. She decided to forgive him.

“A fan.” She rolled her eyes. “I should introduce you to my mother. She and Dad went to school with Jack Laker.”

That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, which developed into a beautiful romance and, several years later, to the planning of a hopefully beautiful wedding.

A month before the big date, Ro and Tim sat at her mum’s kitchen table, doing a final check.

“Flowers?” Tim read from a list.

“I phoned the florist today.” “Caterers?” “Check. Thanks, Mum,” Ro said as her mother put a plate of sandwiches on the table.

“I spoke to the DJ,” Tim told her. “He wants to know about the song for our first dance. I was wondering . . .”

Ro knew what he was going to say.

“No way. That song has been the bane of my life! I won’t allow it to ruin my wedding. Besides, a song about a break-up is hardly appropriate.”

Tim looked surprised. “A break-up? That’s not what I hear in the lyrics.”

He appealed to his soon-to-be mother-in-law for support.

Laura had her sandwich halfway to her mouth. She shrugged.

“So I walk away,” Ro sang, “because I’m not the one . . .”

“I gaze into your eyes and see the universe unfold,” Tim countered. “It’s a love song!”

Half an hour later, Ro showed Tim out. When she came back, her mother hadn’t moved from the table.

“Can you believe he’s pushing for that song?” Ro said, gathering up the dishes. “He knows how I feel about it.”

She noticed her mother’s expression.

“Mum? You OK?”

“Sit down, Aurora,” her mother said quietly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” she asked anxiously. “What’s wrong?”

Her mother wouldn’t meet her eye.

“I’m fine. I should have told you this

“Jack had a wild streak. It was what made him so much fun” Ro couldn’t forget he had chosen fame over his child

after your dad died. You know your dad and I went to school with Jack Laker?”

Relief flooded through Ro. “Yes, Mum, I do know. And you were so star-struck you named me after his first big hit. I forgive you, but I’m not having that song!”

“I didn’t name you after the song,” her mother said quietly.

“Of course you did. It was number one when I was born.”

Laura shook her head. “You were six months old when the song came out.”

“Six months? Are you telling me Jack Laker named a song after me?”

Her smile faded when she saw her mother’s expression. “Mum?”

“Jack, your dad and I all lived in the same street.”

“You were neighbours! I didn’t know that.”

“We were more than neighbours. The three of us were inseparable.”

“But –”

“Please, love. This is really hard. Let me tell it my own way.”

Ro waited impatiently. “Jack and I, well, for a while we were an item,” her mother continued.

“No! You and Jack Laker? But you and Dad got married when you just turned eighteen!”

Her mother swallowed. “Before that, Jack and I were together. He had a wild streak, Jack. It was what made him so much fun, but your grandparents didn’t approve of him. He was playing in local pubs and clubs, waiting for his big break.

“Philip and I used to go to all of his gigs. It was easy to let my parents believe I was dating Philip rather than Jack.”

Ro couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her mother and Jack Laker. Just wait till she told Tim!

“What has this got to do with me?”

Her mother licked her lips.

“I got pregnant. When I told Jack, he left for London the very next day.” Ro stilled. So did time. “You were pregnant? With me?”

Her mother nodded. “And he just left you?” Laura sighed.

“You have to understand. Jack lived for his music and he always had done. He wanted fame so badly. More than he wanted me.” “Or me!”

Laura reached for Ro’s hand.

“We were both young. I think my news terrified him.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t ask him to give up his music. And I didn’t want to raise a baby living on the road.”

“So you married Dad,” Ro said, her voice accusing. “Did he know you were pregnant?”

“Of course,” Laura said sharply. “Philip knew Jack better than anyone. He knew he wasn’t coming back and how hard it would be to raise a baby alone.

“He was my best friend – he proposed that same day. I didn’t say yes straightaway, but he was persistent. And I never regretted my decision.”

“Did you ever love him?” Ro asked angrily. “With all my heart.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Your dad – Philip – didn’t want you to know. He had lived his whole life in Jack’s shadow. He couldn’t bear to live like that in his own home, too.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Her mother looked at her. “OK,” Ro conceded. “Knowing I had another, rich, famous dad, I might have been a brat about it sometimes. So, how did Jack Laker come to write the song?”

“He turned up at the hospital just after you were born. His mum still lived down from your gran, remember. She must have told him I’d had a baby.

“Jack was charm personified. He wasn’t famous yet, but he talked his way into the maternity ward outside visiting hours. I was terrified he’d make a scene, but all he wanted was to hold you.

“When Philip arrived, Jack placed you in his arms. He told us we’d made the right choice. He asked your name, and asked if we would give you his mother’s name, Mae. Then he left.

“Six months later I was pushing your buggy round Mothercare when that song came on. I nearly fainted.”

Everything Ro believed about her life and her family had just been turned upside down.

“Why are you only telling me this now? Why not after Dad died?”

Laura sighed.

“I should have, I know. But by then I’d lived with the secret for so long! Tim’s right, though. You hate Jack’s song, but that’s not completely fair to him. His parents were divorced and they passed him back and forth like so much property.

“I like to think he wanted better for you, and he knew your dad and I could provide that.

“But you only need to listen to the lyrics of ‘Aurora Mae’ to know how he felt about you.” She reached for the CD player on the worktop and pressed Play.

The sound of Jack Laker’s voice filled the kitchen.

“Aurora, baby, I’ll always be yours. But while I’m only playing at life . . .”

Familiar words, but now with a very different meaning. Then the last line, fading softly.

“Aurora Mae. Baby, be OK . . .”

When it was over, Ro picked up the CD player and left the room without a word.

The only thing that could have made Ro happier on her big day was if her father could have been there to share it.

Philip, she corrected herself, though, of course, he would always be her father.

The sun shone. Her favourite uncle walked her down the aisle. Her mum cried.

After the photos and the meal and the speeches came her first dance with her new husband.

Ro had relented about the music. Now she knew the story of “Aurora Mae” she had agreed to have it at the wedding.

She was still upset with her parents for keeping her past from her, but she understood why they had done it.

Tim led her on to the dance floor. The lights dimmed. A single spotlight shone on the newlyweds as the first few notes of “Aurora Mae” began to play.

She heard a murmur of approval as the wedding guests recognised the tune. Tim gazed down at her. “You know Jack Laker could be here in person, serenading you right now?”

Possibly. Ro had contacted him via his mother, who still lived at her old address. Ro and Jack had exchanged a few tentative e-mails. Jack’s had been warm and hopeful; Ro’s more cautious.

She couldn’t forget he had chosen fame over his own child.

On the other hand, she’d had a wonderful childhood with two loving parents, so maybe he had been right to leave.

She gazed up at Tim as the chorus played.

“Aurora Mae, please be OK . . .”

And she was OK. Maybe she’d choose to meet Jack Laker one day, maybe not. But she was OK.

As the song from her past came to an end, Ro danced on into the future with the man she loved. n