But failure to achieve pop celebrity did not change Kerry’s life much. Her stepfather continued to buy her everything she announced she wanted. He was assiduous in going round virtually every day to her Brighton flat, ‘to see that she was all right’. And Sandra Hartson continued to worry about the precise nature of her husband’s relationship with her daughter.
Rick Hendry milked pop-wannabee television for everything it was worth, and shrewdly got out when he saw the bubble was about to burst. He retired to count his money and work out in what form he would reincarnate himself for his sixties. He almost completely lost touch with Suzy Longthorne.
Wendy Fullerton continued to work at the building society and to put on ever-heavier make-up. She continued looking for Mr Right, though with an increasing conviction that the man she had once lived with was probably as near as she would ever get.
Barry Stilwell, after his daring foray into the possibilities of extramarital sex, stayed at home more than ever under the thumb of Pomme. But he still got out now and then to vilify women at Rotary and Pillars of Sussex meetings.
Brenda Chew, greatly relieved no longer to have Donald around, threw herself ever more vigorously into charitable works, for which she was never as well appreciated as she should have been. Much of her effort was directed towards Pillars of Sussex events. Because, as its members never ceased to tell people, the primary purpose of their organization was charitable. The fact that members might make useful business contacts at Pillars of Sussex meetings was just a serendipitous by-product of their activities.
Jude’s friendship with Suzy survived the lies. And she still received regular SOS calls from Hopwicke Country House Hotel, when yet another of the waitresses had defected.
Carole Seddon got to know her son’s fiancée. Through Gaby, she began to get to know Stephen. And increasingly she dreaded the moment when she would have to meet David again. As for the wedding scheduled for the fourteenth of September, she viewed that prospect with trepidation, but also with a little excitement.