The Reunion

Chapter 4

THE PRESENT

'...So it was Tony who found me in bed with another man and not me finding him,' Gillian concluded.

The gasp from the audience was clearly audible but her response took a few moments for me to digest. This was not the answer I had been anticipating.

'So you lied?' I asked bluntly. Gillian nodded slowly. 'Why?'

'I panicked,' Gillian answered truthfully. 'I thought Tony would go to the press first. But hindsight is a wonderful thing because I know now, actually probably not long after the event, that Tony would not have stooped to the depths I did.'

'Would you have, Tony?' I asked.

'I probably wouldn't have gone running to the press. But if Gill hadn't done what she did, then who's to say that I would have sold my story?'

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'But you never refuted the claims. You've never given your side,' I argued.

'The person to my left knew the truth,' Tony replied. 'I always knew that one day she would tell it – I wish it hadn't taken this long – but she's come good.'

'So, let me get this straight. You were a couple at the time?' I clarified.

'Yes,' Gillian replied and Tony confirmed with a nod. 'We were boyfriend and girlfriend.'

'So why cheat on him?' I asked.

'I'm not condoning my actions,' said Gillian. 'I was young and, I guess, stupid.'

'Yes, you were!' an audience member shouted which brought laughter.

'What? Young? Or stupid?' Gillian smiled at the audience which made more laughter.

'How did you feel when you heard the news?' I asked Samantha and Graham.

'I knew that Ladies and Gentlemen were finished,' said Samantha. 'There was no coming back from that.'

'Initially I didn't believe it,' said Graham. 'But when I heard from Gillian and Tony, it gradually sank in.'

'Did you know the truth? That it was Gillian who had been caught sleeping with the other person?'

'We were told,' Samantha confirmed.

'And why didn't you come out and support Tony's side?' I quizzed.

'Because I told them not to,' said Tony. 'Only one person could right that wrong and she is bravely doing it tonight.'

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'But you have spent the last twenty-five years being branded a homosexual. You must resent that?'

'Those closest to me know that I'm not,' said Tony. 'I have nothing against homosexuals – and I have a few gay friends...'

'Like me,' Gillian interrupted and this brought the house down. Even I laughed out loud. 'It's ironic, isn't it?' she continued. 'I accused Tony of being gay, when he's as straight as they come, and I turned out to be.'

When the joviality quietened down I had one pressing question for Tony. 'What actually went through your mind when you saw those headlines?'

'I wanted to kill Gill,' he answered honestly. 'I couldn't believe what I read. My world basically came crashing down around me. I vowed never to speak to her again until she apologised.'

'And did you keep that vow?'

'Yes, I did. Quite easily,' Tony replied.

'I wish that I had kept my big mouth shut,' Gillian interjected. 'I would have loved for Tony to have been at my wedding to Sue... and, come to think of it, Brian's, Clint's and Robert's as well... Christ that sounded bad...' More laughter before she continued. 'But not only did I hurt Tony very much, I also hurt Graham and Samantha.'

'Would Ladies and Gentlemen have survived if this hadn't have happened?' I asked Graham and Samantha.

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After a lot of thought Graham responded. 'I don't think so. I think that I was looking for any excuse to leave. So even if this hadn't have happened, we probably may have gone on for another six months or, possibly, a year. But I would have left to pursue other things.'

'Graham and I split up – what? About six months prior?' Samantha queried with Graham who nodded. 'It was difficult for both of us. I could feel then, though, that the band was nearing its end.'

'Just talk me through those times,' I said.

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