Twenty minutes later, Randy followed Jameson into Catered Whims. It was rare these days that they came in here to do anything other than perform. He remembered the last time they were here, recreating the girls’ performance in the parking lot the night of Avery’s bachelorette party. It seemed like ages ago rather than a few weeks. He chuckled.
“Let me guess. You’re thinking about the night we crashed the party.” Jameson turned to him, a grin on his face.
Randy nodded. “Yep. First thought that popped in my head.” The place was full of people tonight. No live bands were playing. The music blared from a jukebox. There was an unused pool table right in front.
Jameson pulled some quarters out of his wallet. They headed for the empty table.
Randy knew he was getting a lot of weird looks. Everyone in Harmony’s Echo and the surrounding towns had to know. So far no one approached him or said anything. That was fine and dandy with him. He just wanted a night out with his friend without any damn trouble.
Still, he missed Blaine.
“You wanna go first?” Jameson asked, handing him a cue stick.
“Sure.” He set up the balls and prepared to shoot. Once his turn was over, he moved so Jameson could go. “Did you decide for sure if you were going with Melody?”
Jameson bent over the table, putting his focus on the game. Once he made his shot, he straightened and sighed. “I really want to go with her, but I feel bad for leaving Blaine with all this. She goes on a continuous cleaning frenzy even though the house is spotless. The videos thing sent her way over the edge. Not that I could blame her though.”
Yeah, Randy couldn’t blame her either. Good thing he went over the one night. Who knows what she would have done. “You know, I’ll check on Blaine if you want to go. I’ll make sure she’s okay. I’d do it anyway.”
Jameson went for his next shot. “I know you would, man. Avery and Lucas said the same thing. Mom said she’d stay around at night instead of spending time with Chet. I just … I’m torn. Melody told me to stay if that’s what I need to do, but she’s been agonizing over this for months.”
Randy clapped his friend on the back. “Go. Take care of Melody and get her through this. I’ll try to keep your sister sane.”
Jameson never got a chance to say anything. The manager of Catered Whims walked up to them. Randy wondered if he was going to ask them to leave because customers complained or something. He stiffened, watching the man carefully.
“Hey guys.”
Jameson nodded. “Hey.”
Randy just waited.
“I know this is going to be last minute, but how about y’all come play a show in a week from Wednesday? There was a music exec in here the other night and I happened to have mentioned this great band.” Mr. Shank broke out in a smile.
Randy’s heartbeat went back to normal. So he wasn’t going to get kicked out after all.
“Are you serious?” Jameson asked, excitement filling his voice.
“As a heart attack. I guess he’s visiting family and they were in here. He saw some of the band photos on the wall and asked about local talent. Of course, I had to give y’all a boost. If I had one of your demos lying around, I would’ve given him one.” He shot them both an apologetic look.
“It didn’t even cross my mind to leave some here.” Jameson snapped his fingers. “I’ll get on that. As for a week from Wednesday, it shouldn’t be a problem. Melody and I have to leave town for a few days, but we’ll be back before then as far as I know. I’ll check with Avery and the rest of the band. I’m sure we’ll all find a way to make it work.”
“Great! Let me know as soon as possible. I’d love for y’all to be discovered, let alone in my little place.” Mr. Shank pointed to the bar. “Free round on me tonight, too. Hey Randy? I don’t believe for a minute what they say about you. I hear the talk. Don’t let that get in the way of your success, okay?” As he walked away, Jameson and Randy exchanged a high five.
“I thought he was going to tell us we had to leave because people were talking,” Randy admitted.
“So did I for a second there. I would have said something about that, too.” Jameson stared back at the bar.
Maybe things weren’t going to be so bad.
Chapter Twenty
Monday night the band got together once more before Jameson, Melody and Chris took off the next morning. Randy was surprised either of them would want to be up right now, but he figured both of them needed music to keep calm. Music had that effect, he could understand that. He’d sit in front of the keyboard or piano and play some melodies when the stress was high.
He never got to see Blaine this morning. She’d worked, but his dad sent him out to talk to someone about an article and he missed her. Once again, Dad asked about getting an exclusive with Blaine.
Right now, she wasn’t anywhere in sight. He debated asking Jameson or Melody where she was.
“So he wanted to know if we could come out and perform next Wednesday,” Jameson said to everyone. Randy snapped out of it and focused on the subject at hand, the upcoming performance.
“This is awesome!” Avery squealed. “Are you going to be back in time?”
“We should be. I don’t want to stay for the whole trial if I don’t have to,” Melody said quietly. “I want to say what I need to and get out of there. I think Chris feels the same way. We might stay a day or so extra just to spend some time with Joelle, but other than that, I want to get back here quick.”
“Are you going, Jameson?”
Randy met Jameson’s eyes, remembering the conversation the other night.
“I’m going. Blaine insists. She doesn’t want me staying just because she’s OCD. Her words, not mine.”
“I tried to keep her relaxed while we were away, I promise!” Avery held up her hands with a smile before it faded. “She did seem a little better. Where is she, anyway?”
“I don’t know. She’s been coming and going without really saying much. My guess is she just needs to get away from reality when she can. As much as I want to follow her and make sure she’s okay, I have to step back and let her be.” Jameson sighed.
Randy had to remember as hard as this was for him, it had to be worse for Jameson. Blaine was his sister and despite the separation between them and how everyone thought she just didn’t care enough to come home, the Grants had deep family roots and they’d been trying to piece things back together and become a family again. When it came down to it, if this was happening to one of his own sisters, he’d be wanting to kick some ass too. He’d hover like a brother would, even though he wasn’t as close to any of his sisters as Jameson and Blaine were.
“We’ll all check on her while you’re gone, Jameson. Luke said whatever she needs, we’ll do for her,” Avery promised. Marty, who sat on the other side of Jameson, nodded in agreement. Even Sean said he would.
“Thank you guys, seriously. I do feel better knowing y’all have her back. Mom’s at a loss for words too, and they haven’t really gotten past their strained relationship yet.”
After a few minutes, the conversation changed from Blaine back to music as they debated on what songs to sing the night they’d perform in from of the music executive. Avery was writing down stuff when they all jumped at the sound of a shriek. A woman’s yell.
It sounded like Blaine. On high alert, Randy jumped to his feet along with Jameson, Melody and Avery. He came face to face with her in the hallway. She was wrapped up in a green terry cloth robe, her hair up in a towel. Her whole body trembled and she stared back at everyone as if she hadn’t known they were here.
“Blaine? What’s going on? Was that you who screamed?” Jameson asked, coming up behind Randy.
Blaine eyed everyone wearily. “I didn’t mean to scare anyone. I just got out of the shower, ran to my room to change and someone was outside my window watching me. There was a camera, or something. I don’t know.” Randy edged forward and pulled her into his arms. She clung to him. “I saw flashes. Then I h
eard rustling in the bushes.”
Jameson swore and bolted the other way. Randy guessed he was going to find out if the person was still there. Marty and Sean followed. The front door slammed.
Blaine sighed, sliding her arm around Randy. “I just wanted a decent night. I’ve been stared at and nitpicked over all damn day.”
“We didn’t even know you were home,” Melody said softly.
“That was kinda the point. I just wanted to relax and maybe go to bed early. No offense to anyone, I promise. It’s been another long day. Melody, don’t let my brother try and talk his way into staying here. He needs to be with you and if I know Jameson, he’s going to debate again.” Blaine finally raised her head from Randy’s shoulder. She wasn’t as shaky. “Again, I didn’t mean to scare you. I don’t know why they ran outside. The person is long gone I’m sure. I think I’m going to get dressed.”
“Hey, come out and sit with us for a while?” Avery pleaded. “We’ll play some music. Did Jameson tell you about the music producer who wants to hear us?”
Blaine’s face lit up and she moved away from Randy. “He did! I’m so excited for you guys!”
Randy couldn’t be too sure, but he detected a little sadness in her voice despite how she did seem genuinely happy for them.
“Let me get dressed, and I’ll join you for a bit. I don’t want to miss some great music.”
Avery and Melody headed back toward the garage. Randy hesitated. He stood there against the wall and reached for Blaine’s hand. She didn’t object when he pulled her closer to him. “Are you really doing okay? I missed you all day. Is my family giving you crap?” He sure as hell hoped not.
“I’m actually surprised they still gave me the job, to be honest,” Blaine said. “But they aren’t giving me crap. It’s almost everyone else in town. I can see them looking at me strange. I bet they’re wondering what else is going to come up about me. I dodge questions, some that are so personal I’m shocked that people ask. I avoid the news. I don’t want to look at newspapers or magazines. I keep awaiting news on Frederic. It scares the hell out of me how close we were to him and how he could be in such serious condition that he’s not responding.” She gestured to her room. “I’m going to get dressed now.” She stared at her window. Randy could tell she was still nervous. “Why is Jameson not back yet?”
Was that a rhetorical question?
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Hurry back.”
She stood in the doorway of her room now. “Randy?”
“Yeah?”
“I really did miss you last weekend,” she said softly, then closed herself in her room.
Blaine dressed as quick as she could, still feeling nervous and checking her window even though her blinds were completely closed. Dread crept into her gut and settled there. She ran a brush through her blonde tangles. When she set it down, she heard voices. Male voices. Good, Jameson and Marty must have come back. She yanked her door open and ran out, hoping for answers.
“Are you okay?” Jameson stood with the rest of the band in the dining room and and they all turned to her when she walked out.
“A little freaked out, but I’m fine.”
“Whoever it was is long gone, and we went pretty far to look. I didn’t hear a car and didn’t see anybody drive off. I did see bike tracks though. Are you sure you’re-”
“Jameson, you go tomorrow! I’ve handled much worse. You don’t need to worry so much about it,” she snapped, them immediately regretted it. Blaine softened her tone and hugged her brother. “I’m sorry. I appreciate everything, you know I do. Melody needs your love and support right now. I promise I can handle myself. I won’t even obsessively clean your room.”
Jameson laughed. “You want to clean my room? Fine. I won’t complain.” He put a hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah, because I like cleaning,” she quipped, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Come on, play some music and distract me. You’re still going tomorrow if I have to kick your butt.” She shrugged off the unease she felt and hoped Jameson would let it be. She could feel everyone else’s eyes on her and frankly she was tired of being the center of attention.
Everyone still hesitated. She hated the looks on their faces. Damn it, she loved them all, but she just wanted to be normal!
“You heard the lady! Let’s go play some music!” Randy jumped to her aide. He threw his hands up in the air with a smile. That did the trick. Everyone shuffled back to the garage. She wast the last to go, and reached out to take Randy’s hand.
“Thank you,” she said softly, meeting his warm eyes. Nothing else needed to be said. Randy nodded, then hand in hand they walked into the garage. His fingers over hers sent tingles all up and down her arm.
I’m falling for him.
The last thing she expected or wanted was to fall in love. As Avery said over the weekend, it just happens. There really was no right or wrong time. When it came down to it, everything still scared her. Randy’s dreams were just starting. She already felt bad that her drama was affecting him, but at least so far it didn’t have an effect on the band. She let go of his hand so he could go stand behind the keyboard. She followed his every move with her eyes, hating the broken physical connection. She sank into her normal spot in the chair that she always sat in when listening to Baby Stetson play. Then it dawned on her. “Where’s Lucas tonight, Avery?”
“Home with Emily. Mama’s getting over a cold and she didn’t want to pass it onto the baby.” Avery’s smile was infectious as she talked about her husband and daughter. She slid her guitar strap over her head and fiddled with the strings. Blaine hadn’t met Lucas when he first came to town. He’d arrived months before the last visit, but from the sounds of it, he used to be dark and very jaded. Now he was a father and a husband. The love of the right person had a way of changing someone’s life.
Thinking about Avery and her newfound family, seeing Jameson and Melody, and knowing her mother was starting a new relationship even as uneasy as that made her, Blaine felt a little out of place again. If she stopped putting her wall up and being so worried, she could have that too with Randy. Ever since she’d been back, he’d been the one to get her through. He helped her see she still had a bit of passion left in her.
Thinking of him warmed her heart. Looking past Avery, she met Randy’s stare. He’d been watching her again, his hands drifting over his keys. She noted the intense way he looked her over and wondered what he was thinking about. Butterflies danced in her belly, a feeling she’d never experienced before for any guy. It made her feel young again.
Jameson started jamming on his guitar, leading the band into an upbeat song. Blaine leaned back in the chair and relaxed, forgetting about the craziness. Baby Stetson had a way of getting her lost in the music. Avery strummed on her guitar and then started in on the chorus.
Everything was going smooth until Melody covered her face and shook her head, causing everyone to stop playing. Jameson set his guitar down fast and reached for her. “Mel? What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to miss everyone if I don’t get to come back!” Tears streamed down her face.
“Of course you’re coming back!” Blaine sat up, alert all of a sudden.
“Yeah, why would you say that?” Avery asked.
“I-” Melody tried to calm down. Jameson rubbed her shoulders. “I don’t know. I’m scared. I was scared when I went back to face Anthony last year and I’m scared about this stupid trial. I’m afraid he may say something that would make anyone there question me and why I ran, and have to face jail time or something. I mean … he committed murder and I ran!”
“Oh Melody,” Avery said quietly. “I know this has to be scary. I can’t imagine having to face a man you cared about twice after seeing what he did. But nothing will happen to you. Y’all will go, nail his ass and make sure he gets what he deserves, then come back home.”
“I’m sorry. I’m totally ruining practice.” Melody wiped her red, blotchy face.
“You
’re not ruining anything, baby.” Jameson wrapped his arms around her again.
“I think the music playing for tonight is about wrapped up.” Avery nodded. “But you didn’t mess up practice.”
Marty put his bass guitar in it’s case. “I know I don’t share a lot about my past and that I’m usually a smart ass, but I get your fear, Melody.” All eyes were on him now. “I floated around a lot of Texas trying to settle down after I had to testify against my own brother for a murder he committed. I looked up to him as a kid and thought he was the greatest thing. That day scared the hell out of me so bad. I didn’t run after I saw it, but I did try to hide it for a while.”
Blaine gaped at Marty. She never really knew him, other than the few times she’d been home since he didn’t grow up in Harmony’s Echo, but she never would have guessed he had something like that in his past.
“Marty-” Jameson started.
He held up a hand, looking around at everyone’s faces. “It’s not something I like talking about. It’s not easy. I freaked too, thinking I was going to get in trouble because I didn’t say anything right away. I didn’t have the support you have. I had to look my brother in the eye and tell the courtroom exactly what he did. Man, I thought I was going to be sick. But I got through it.”
The room filled with an intense, uncomfortable silence as they all must have been processing what Marty just said.
“Music was what helped.” Marty finally spoke again after a while. “I can’t thank you all enough for the opportunity to be in the band. It means more than any of you know.”
Randy nodded. “Music definitely has that effect.” He darted around the instruments and everyone as he made his way toward Blaine. He sank down on the chair beside her. Instinctively she reached for his hand, wanting that contact back again.
What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 9) Page 81