Dad’s eyes are narrowed on Cash’s face. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Come on, Dad,” Reed says. “Groveling, remember? We can help you.”
“You think showing up with all of you is going to help me?” he asks. “Jesus. She’ll take one look at this crew and run for the hills.”
“Hey,” Daltrey says, sounding offended. “We can be charming sometimes.” Daisy snorts and he pinches her arm.
“Well, it’s too late now,” I tell him, nodding out the window at the bar as we pull up. “We’re here. May as well go in.”
Dad looks between the four of us before sighing. “Fine. But I reserve the right to smack any one of you at any point tonight.”
“Wouldn’t be a night out with the Ransome boys if somebody didn’t get smacked,” Daisy points out, opening the door.
Dad leads us through the parking lot, avoiding the main door to walk around the side of the building. As we approach a bamboo fence, sounds of chatter and soft music playing drift out. Then he opens a gate into the patio and gestures us in, a resigned expression on his face.
“Wow,” Paige says, grabbing Reed’s elbow. “This looks so cool!”
He slips an arm around her, smiling down, and I know just what he’s thinking—it’s good to see her excited about something again.
A few people look up at us as we come in and I notice some double takes. We’re always most obvious to people when we’re all together, and there are clearly enough music fans here to recognize us. I scan the space, having no idea what Ruby looks like, until Daltrey nudges me, nodding towards Dad. He’s staring at the door into the bar, his face tight. In my peripheral vision I can see every person in our group turning to follow his gaze. A woman is coming out onto the patio, a tray filled with glasses and bottles resting on her shoulder. She laughs as she greets a table by the door, handing out the drinks.
Daltrey lets out a low whistle. “That’s her?”
Reed nods. Dad seems incapable of speech.
“This is so romantic,” I hear Paige whisper. Dad must have heard her too, because he straightens, visibly relaxing his expression.
“Why don’t we go say hello?” Reed suggests.
“What?” Dad asks, his voice a little high. “No. We shouldn’t do that. She’s busy. Let’s just—” But then Ruby’s eyes scan the patio, landing on us. The laughter dies on her face. “Shit,” Dad mutters.
“Just be cool,” Cash urges as Ruby starts to walk towards us. “You can do this, buddy.”
“Cash,” Dad grinds out. “Shut up.”
Then Ruby is standing in front of us, her eyes still wide. “Hey,” Reed says, stepping forward. “Ruby. It’s good to see you again.”
“You too,” she says, her eyes flicking from Dad’s face to Reed’s, and then around the group.
I step on Dad’s foot, and he jumps. “Hey,” he says, his voice strained. “Um. Hi. Sorry to just…yeah. So.”
I meet Daltrey’s wide eyes, sure my expression matches his. This is worse than we thought.
Of course Paige saves him. “Hi!” she says brightly, holding out her hand. “You must be Ruby! We’ve all heard so much about you. I’m Paige.”
That seems to snap Dad out of it and he straightens. “Everyone, this is Ruby. Ruby, this is my family.”
I didn’t think her eyes could get any bigger, but they do as Dad starts to gesture to each of us in turn. “My sons, Lennon and Daltrey. You know Cash and Reed. I think you met Levi as well.” He introduces the girls, Paige and Daisy both hugging her when he gets to them. From the look on her face, I can tell Ruby has absolutely no idea what to make of all of us.
“We haven’t had time to go out and hear music in ages,” Reed says. “So when we heard about this place we knew we had to come check it out.”
“That’s…wow,” Ruby stammers, her eyes darting around. “That’s really nice. Um. Find a seat! I think there are a couple tables in that corner.” She gestures behind her, back towards the bar. “I have to…I have tables. I should go.”
“Sure,” Reed says easily. “Hopefully you can come over to chat when you get a chance.”
Ruby seems to relax a little. “I will. Go grab those tables before they fill up.”
“She’s not kidding,” Dad says. “This place get’s packed.”
She shoots him one quick smile before turning to go, and he sighs in relief as she walks off.
“Well,” Cash says, clapping him on the shoulder. “That started a little rough, but you’ve got potential, kid.”
“Fuck off,” Dad says, and we all laugh, heading to the tables Ruby indicated.
“This is really cool,” Karen says, once we’re all seated. “Ruby owns this place?”
“She does,” Dad says, and I can hear the pride in his voice. A waiter comes over with a tray of Heinekens for us. “Compliments of the owner,” he says, passing them around. “Can I get anyone anything else?”
“I would love a whiskey,” Cash says. “Macallan?”
“You can have Jack Daniels,” Ruby says, passing behind us on her way to another table.
Dad laughs. “You heard her.”
We order food and sodas for Sam, Paige—who’s still on some medications—and Reed, who insists on keeping her company. Dad nods up at the musicians setting up on the small stage. “You see that guy there on guitar? That’s Chris Daniels. I used to see him play at the Landslide back in the day. He’s kind of a local legend. You’ll love him.”
He seems to relax as we sit there, drinking our beers while he tells us stories from his old days playing music in LA. Ruby stops by a few times to check on us before the music starts, drifting a little closer to Dad each time. Soon after our food is delivered, she climbs up on the stage to introduce the band.
“You joining us tonight, Ruby, love?” Chris Daniels asks and the crowd cheers. I look at my brothers to see they all seem as surprised as I feel. Ruby plays? She shouts back a negative and there’s a scattering of groans. She holds a middle finger aloft as she heads into the bar, and everyone laughs. Then Daniels starts to play, and the crowd hushes a bit to listen.
I know I look silly, grinning as I sit there eating my burger, listening to the music with my family. Every once in a while I catch someone’s eye—Daltrey, Levi, Dad, Daisy—and they’re smiling too, looking just as happy as I feel. Reed was right before, when he told Ruby it’s been a long time since we’ve done something like this. I just hadn’t realized how much we all missed it. I wish that Haylee could be here, too.
After a while, Ruby joins us. “You off work now?” Cash asks, sliding down to make room for her between him and Dad.
“Unless disaster strikes,” she says, knocking her fist against the wood of the table. “What do you guys think of the band?”
All of my brothers speak up at once, talking over each other, their faces lit up the way they always are when they’re excited about music. Daisy catches my eye, rolling hers a little as she grins.
Ruby checks her watch. “They’re just about done.” She looks around at us. “You know you have to play, right?”
“Ruby, I don’t think—” Dad starts, but she cuts him off with a laugh.
“No way. You don’t parade the most famous rock band in the country onto my patio and expect to get away unscathed.” She gestures around the still crowded space. “We’d usually be halfway cleared out by now. People recognized you and they’re obviously hoping you’ll get up there.”
“I’m up for it,” Daltrey says, cracking his knuckles.
“Me too,” Cash agrees.
“Surprise, surprise,” Sam mutters. “Cash wants to show off.”
“I’m game.” I meet Reed’s eyes. “On one condition.” Ruby looks at me and I grin. “Dad has to play too.”
He groans. “I don’t—”
“Nope,” Reed says, pulling him up to stand. “You’re playing, old man.”
Ruby’s watching him, eyebrows raised, smirking a little, and he laughs. “Fine. B
ut I’m on drums.”
“Deal,” Reed agrees. “I’ll play guitar with Cash, help fill out his sound a little bit.”
“My sound is fine without you, ass,” Cash says, punching his arm.
“Ignore them,” Daisy tells Ruby. “They’re always like this.”
Ruby’s eyes are dancing as she turns, heading up to the stage. “We have a special treat tonight,” she says to the crowd, and most of the heads are already swiveling in our direction. “These guys really need no introduction. Put your hands together for Will Ransome and his kids.”
Dad laughs at her introduction as we all make our way to the stage. I can hear Paige and Levi shouting Dad’s name over the applause of the rest of the crowd. It takes us little time to get set up, the previous band letting us use their instruments. I catch Cash’s eye and we both grin as Dad settles behind the drums—this isn’t something that happens that often.
““Hard to Handle?”” Dad calls out to us, picking a cover that we don’t play too often. Which means that we actually have to concentrate, and I can’t spend the whole time grinning around at my family like a giddy fool, even though that’s what I feel like. I always enjoy playing with my brothers, even when we’re tired or stressed out. But it’s been a long time since we’ve played just for the sheer fun of it and it feels pretty great.
After the song ends, Daltrey turns to us. “One of ours?”
“Let’s do “Heartache,”” Reed agrees, and Dalt steps back to the mic.
“Take your top off!” Daisy yells from the back corner and Daltrey flips her off before Dad starts to count us off.
We play for a solid half hour. Every time I glance back to see Dad at the drums, I find myself grinning again. More than once I make eye contact with one of my brothers and see them smiling, too. But none of us are smiling as big as Dad. I don’t think his grin leaves his face once.
After we’ve been playing for a while, Dad gestures to Daltrey. He says something over the drum kit that I can’t make out and Dalt smirks before stepping back to the microphone. “I have it on good authority that the proprietor of this establishment might be persuaded to join us for a song or two if you all encourage her a little.”
My eyes scan the crowd for Ruby. She’s standing near the door, her arms crossed. But she’s smiling.
“Come on, Ruby!” Paige yells and everyone starts to cheer for her, including my brothers. Finally she throws up her hands and walks towards the stage, her eyes on Dad as she shakes her head.
“I’m not sure I can keep up with you, boys,” she says, climbing up to join us, and Dad makes a loud scoffing noise.
“What do you feel like?” he asks. “A little Patti Smith?”
“Nah.” She cracks her knuckles. “How ’bout some Heart? You guys know “Barracuda?””
“Shit,” Cash says, laughing. “That’s a pretty serious guitar riff.”
“I think you can handle it.” She winks at him.
“Forget the guitar part,” Reed says, turning to Dad. “The drums in that song are killer. Want me to take over?”
Dad shoots him a cocky smirk. “Go find a tambourine or something, kid. I got this.”
Ruby laughs, sounding delighted. “Count us off then.”
Cash starts the famous opening lick, Dad coming in on drums, and then Ruby is singing. My fingers stumble on my strings for a second as I stare at the back of her head, shocked. The woman could give Ann Wilson herself a run for her money. I look over to see that Reed and Daltrey are gaping at her too. Cash just looks like he’s trying to keep up.
Towards the end of the song, Ruby looks over her shoulder at Dad. I watch as their eyes meet, both of them smiling, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen him look so happy in my entire life.
Reed
I’m serious,” Cash says, leaning across the table towards Ruby. “You should come sing at one of our shows.”
Ruby laughs. “You’re cut off, honey. That’s clearly the alcohol talking.”
“I don’t know,” Dad says, his fingers drifting up her neck to play with the edges of her hair. “Cash makes a good point. You look much better in a tank top than Daltrey does.”
“I beg to differ,” Daisy says, leaning her head on Daltrey’s shoulder.
I look down at Paige to see her grinning up at me in a sleepy sort of way. The rest of the bar patrons cleared out a while ago, but we’re still gathered around the tables at the back of the patio. With the exception of Sam, Paige, and me everyone else has long since passed over the line into lazy tipsiness. Including Dad, because Ruby is actually perched on his lap and he’s just sitting there smiling and playing with her hair like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
“You feeling okay?” I ask Paige.
“Same as I was last time you asked. Which was all of five minutes ago.”
I lean down to kiss the soft spot under her ear. “Just making sure.”
She stretches a little. “Actually, I need to pee.”
I immediately start to stand so I can walk her inside and she rolls her eyes at me. “You’re not coming to the ladies room, Reed.” She glances over at Karen, who’s leaning against Levi, her eyes closed, a little smile on her mouth. Paige sighs. “Everyone else is so happy and drunk.”
Sam laughs. “I feel your pain, sister. You need a hand?”
“Though I’m perfectly capable of peeing by myself,” Paige says, “I’m sure Reed would feel better if I wasn’t alone.”
“No problem.” Sam slips her arm through Paige’s, the action friendly and natural looking while also allowing Paige to lean into her a little as they walk. I appreciate it immensely.
“She’s doing a lot better, isn’t she?”
I look over to see Ruby leaning towards me.
“Much better.”
She smiles. “I’m so glad. Your dad told me how scary that was.”
He whispers something in her ear and she nods, patting his hand before sliding off his lap into Paige’s empty chair.
“You want another?” he asks me as he stands, pointing at my half-full glass of Coke.
I shake my head. “Will you grab Paige a water?”
“Sure.”
He lets his fingers trail across Ruby’s bare shoulder as he heads off into the bar. “What?” Ruby asks, her eyes on mine. I realize that my continued surprise is probably broadcast on my face and I laugh a little.
“You have no idea how strange this is,” I admit to her, nodding at my dad’s retreating back. “To see him with a woman like this.”
“He mentioned he didn’t date much while you were growing up.”
I snort. “You could say that.”
She turns to watch him walk inside, her face falling a little, making me realize that I probably shouldn’t have said that. “It’s nice though,” I say quickly. “Even though it’s strange. He seems really happy.”
She looks back to me, her eyes scanning my face. “You all seem to be doing better.”
I swallow, feeling uncomfortable, wondering how much he told her.
“We are. We’ve, you know, talked about a lot of things and…yeah.”
She bursts out laughing. “Oh, my God, you sound just like him. Are you all this awkward when you talk about scary things like emotions?”
I make a face. “Is it that obvious?”
She pats my hand. “It’s okay. It’s pretty cute the way you both stammer when you’re uncomfortable.”
I take a sip of my drink, eyes flicking back to the door. Dad’s still inside. “He is working on it,” I tell her, my voice more serious. “I know it’s hard for him, but he’s trying.”
Her face is softer now. “I can tell.” She looks around the table. “Was this his idea, coming here tonight?”
“Oh, God, no. We abducted him and dragged him here.”
She barks out another laugh. “You’re good boys.”
“We love him a lot,” I say quietly. I’m determined not to stammer through it this time, whether she thinks
it’s cute or not. I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen my dad as happy as he’s been tonight. I want him to be able to hang onto that and I’ll help him if I can—even if it means opening up to this near stranger. “We’re really lucky to have him.”
“You are,” she says, eyes steady on mine, and I get the feeling she sees exactly what I’m trying to do. “That was never the problem for us, though,” she says gently. “Him being a great dad.”
“What was the problem?” I ask, wincing even as I say it. “Sorry, that’s none of my—”
“No, it’s fine,” she says. Then she sighs. “It’s obvious he’s incredibly devoted to you all.”
I have a rush of understanding. “Maybe too devoted?” I ask and she smiles a little, though it looks sad.
“I don’t want to get into something if he doesn’t have room for me in his life.”
I fidget with the rim of my glass, thinking about that. “I feel like maybe he’s starting to realize that there are other ways to be there for us,” I say. “Besides for just career stuff. I think these last few weeks…” I close my eyes briefly, flashes of those days in the hospital flitting through my mind, my stomach dropping automatically at the memories. “These last few weeks I think we’ve all been a lot better about being a family. Not just a band.”
She nods, her eyes drifting back towards the door. Dad is coming back, two bottles of beer and Paige’s water in his hands.
“He really missed you boys,” she says softly.
I nod, watching him as he walks closer. “I’m glad he had you to keep him company.”
She turns back to me, grinning. “I’m glad too.”
Paige and Sam are right behind Dad, and Karen wakes up as they pass, pulling on Paige’s arm. “Sit with me,” she says, the words a little slurred. “Levi is boring.”
Since Levi is currently talking to Lennon about the sound system at the bar, I can’t really blame her, so I wave at Paige as she takes a seat on the other side of the table. Dad pulls Ruby back onto his lap and I turn away from them, not wanting to intrude. Daisy and Daltrey are on my other side, talking in lowered voices. I hear Daltrey say Paige’s name and I lean towards them. “What are you talking about?” I whisper loudly.
The Ransome Brothers_A Ransom Novel Page 34