In the Midday Sun by Guy Bellamy

Author:Guy Bellamy [Bellamy, Guy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2020-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

In an uncharacteristic mood of optimism, Mark had added Jay’s telephone number to his reply to Conrad Gambardella and informed him hopefully that he could be reached there after ten o’clock. There was no phone in Mark’s Spartan apartment, nor need for one.

One evening, working his way through a few Randy Edelman numbers, he received a message from Alvin that London was on the line. He had just moved smoothly from ‘The Uptown Up-tempo Woman’ to ‘Concrete and Clay’, and he indicated to Alvin that the caller should hold. Interruptions were always a disaster at Jay’s; it was much easier to keep a crowd going than pick them up after a break.

Eventually he left the piano and asked Alvin to take over.

‘You’ll like it,’ he told him. ‘A very beautiful girl has just come in and sat at the piano.’

‘I noticed her,’ said Alvin. ‘What a little cracker, man.’

He slipped on to the stool and launched himself on ‘If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words’, a song he appeared to be singing exclusively for the small, dark-haired beauty who faced him across the piano.

The telephone was on the wall in a small room at the back where customers sometimes sat when the main bar was crowded.

‘Mark Ward,’ said Mark.

‘Conrad Gambardella, Mr Ward,’ said a deep voice in his ear. ‘I couldn’t hear you singing “Cottage by the Sea”.’

‘I’m saving it,’ said Mark. ‘It’s nice to hear from you.’

‘I’m the bearer of glad tidings, Mr Ward, or may I call you Mark?’

‘Please do.’

‘Tom Jones loves your song, and says it’s what he’s been looking for for five years. He’s going to do it as his next single, and then on an album.’

Mark was listening to words that he didn’t believe.

‘That’s wonderful,’ he muttered.

‘That’s money, Mark. But it’s a terrific song.’

‘When will this happen?’

‘He’s doing it now. It’ll be out within three months and I think it’s going to be his first big hit for years.’

‘Tom Jones,’ said Mark. ‘Blimey.’

‘Are you ever in London?’ Conrad Gambardella asked now. ‘We should meet.’

‘Maybe in December. I have to work.’

‘Well, you’ll be able to give that up soon. I’m sending you a contract for this song, and another I’d like you to sign if you’re planning to turn out any more songs like “Cottage by the Sea”. Have a look at them, and if you have any questions I’ll fly down and see you. The royalty split with TPA is seventy-thirty in your favour, and then there’s the question of which publishing company handles the song. Tom Jones could insist that his does. I don’t know …’

It was getting too complicated for Mark. The first news item was so vast that his mind wasn’t ready to absorb the subsequent information.

‘Listen, are you sure?’ he said. ‘A Tom Jones single? There’s no doubt about it, is there?’

‘Don’t worry yourself, Mark. It’s all for definite.’

‘Well, thanks. I’m dazed.’

‘What about the contracts?’

‘Send them.’

He hung up and leaned against the wall. His wildest dream had just become a reality and there was no one to tell.

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