Impossible Depths (Silver Lake series Book 2)

by McCallum, Coral

  “Wren and Hayden,” she said proudly. “They’re almost five months old.”

  “Well, I’ll be……” laughed Jethro. “Who’d have thought I’d live to see the day!”

  “You can meet them tomorrow,” promised Maddy. “I’ll bring them along to lunch. Now I’d better run upstairs and check on them. Paul, are you coming up?”

  “Right behind you.”

  “Not much surprises me anymore,” admitted Jethro once Maddy and Paul were out of earshot. “But that sure as hell did. Twins? Maddison?”

  “Wait till you meet them,” said Jake with a laugh as he reached into his pocket for his phone. “They are cute and adorable.”

  “I’ll bet. Is the lovely Mz Hyde with you?” enquired the older man curiously. “I’ve not seen her for about four years.”

  “I’m just about to call her,” replied Jake, dialling his fiancée’s number. “She should be back upstairs by now.”

  Ten minutes later, as Lori entered the bar, Jethro was the first to notice her arrival. An afternoon of walking the boardwalk had taken its toll and she was leaning heavily on her cane. The older man watched as she limped towards them, concern written all over his lived in face.

  “Lori, darling,” he said, hugging her tightly. “As beautiful as I remember.”

  “Jethro!” giggled Lori, kissing him fondly on the cheek. “You haven’t changed a bit. Hair’s a bit longer.”

  “Just an inch or three,” he laughed, reaching for his long, snow white ponytail. “Looks like you have a tale to tell me, Mz Hyde.”

  “Another time,” said Lori softly. “Don’t look so worried. I’m fine. Honestly.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Taking a seat next to Jake, Lori said, “Just the legacy of an unfortunate accident. Plus, I’ve overdone it a bit today.”

  “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked, sensing that she wasn’t about to tell him anything further.

  “A dry, white wine would be lovely,” she replied with a warm smile, then, turning her attention to the others asked, “How was your afternoon?”

  “Long and repetitive,” groaned Rich, trying and failing to stifle a yawn. “Yours?”

  “Exhausting,” admitted Lori, subconsciously rubbing her aching thigh. “Grey’s mom walks way too fast for me!”

  “She’s a character, isn’t she?” said Jake, draping his arm casually around her shoulders. “Did you keep her out of the casino?”

  “Almost,” said Lori with a giggle. “Don’t tell Grey but we got back here before five. Becky and I have been watching TV while Annie headed down to the casino for a couple of hours.”

  “Did she win?” asked Rich, already sure of the answer.

  “A thousand dollars.”

  “She’s a piece of work,” Jake declared with a smile. “I’ll guarantee she’ll be back down there tonight. And, Lori, she always wins!”

  Their relaxed, good humour continued through dinner. Feeling more comfortable among them, Jethro relaxed a little and happily told tales of previous tours and of working with Maddy. As the waitress served dessert, he began to reminisce about meeting Lori, much to her embarrassment. She cringed and giggled helplessly as he recalled a rather drunken, rowdy after show party in Las Vegas.

  “We’re seeing a new side to you tonight, Mz Hyde,” teased Jake. “A dark side!”

  “That was the first incarnation of Mz Hyde,” protested Lori still laughing. “From what I remember that was a hell of a party. Didn’t Maddy and I dance on top of the limo that arrived to take us back to the hotel?”

  “I do believe you did,” concurred Jethro with a smile.

  “I’d forgotten about that night,” giggled Lori. “That must have been about six years ago.”

  “Nearer seven. That was the last tour I touched any alcohol on. I’ve been sober ever since,” stated Jethro with more than a hint of pride in his voice.

  “Kudos to you,” replied Rich, eyeing his own beer. “I couldn’t turn my back on the odd beer or two.”

  “It was stop drinking or die,” said the older man plainly. “And I’m way too young and good looking to die just yet!”

  “Isn’t everyone?” commented Jake quietly, a sombre cloud hovering over the table. Running his hand through his hair, he smiled over at Lori, then said “Jethro, tell me more about my fiancée’s exploits. I’m seeing a whole new side to Mz Hyde tonight!”

  “Well, there was one party,” began Jethro, winking over at Lori. “We were in Canada somewhere and it was near Christmas….”

  “Don’t you dare, Jethro Steele!” squealed Lori shrilly.

  “Go on,” encouraged Jake.

  “We were all staying in log cabins for a couple of nights between shows. There was this huge hot tub….”

  “Jethro!” Lori practically screamed. “No!”

  “I’ll save that one for another night, Jake,” said Jethro with a mischievous grin.

  “I’ll look forward to it, sir,” laughed Jake, taking great delight in watching Lori squirm with embarrassment.

  “It’s ok, Mz Hyde,” Jethro assured her softly. “I’ll not embarrass you any further in front of your young man, but I still have those black string bikini bottoms if you ever want them back.”

  Both Rich and Jake roared with laughter as Lori flushed scarlet between them.

  “What’s the hilarity?” asked Paul as he re-joined the table. “Am I missing something here?”

  “No,” snapped Lori, her cheeks still rosy. “Not a thing. Where’s Maddy?”

  “She’s staying up in the room. The twins are playing up,” explained the drummer, signalling to the waiter to come over. “What’s good to eat? I’m starving.”

  Conversation slowly settled to the schedule for the following day and then onto the set list for the show. Both Jake and Rich voiced their concerns about lasting the full two hours. They were all in agreement that it had been too long since they had had the opportunity to play a full set. Subconsciously, both musicians began to run their fingers over their freshly healed scars.

  “If it’s not too forward of me to suggest this,” commented the older man calmly. “Only you know the full set list. Agree beforehand what numbers you can afford to let go if it gets too much out there. As long as you still play for at least ninety minutes with an encore, every fan will go home happy. Add in an acoustic track if it buys you a bit of a breather.”

  “We’ve got two acoustic numbers in there already,” said Jake, running through the set list in his mind. “I guess we could tag on another if need be. Three’s one too many in my book. Plus, it doesn’t really give me a breather if I need one.”

  “Or buy a bit of time by playing with the audience,” suggested Lori. “Talk to them a bit more between songs, but not too much.”

  “We’ll be fine,” stated Rich, not sounding entirely convincing. “Once we get out there, adrenaline and the crowd will get us through it.”

  Thunderstorms were forecast for the New Jersey shore, according to the breakfast news programme as Jake and Lori got ready next morning. Maddy had instructed them all to be down for breakfast for nine o’clock. Jake was determined not to be late. Fastening the belt on his jeans, he asked Lori what her plans for the morning were.

  “Jason’s asked me to do an interview about the artwork I’ve completed since I resurrected Mz Hyde. It’s for an industry documentary that he’s got Scott working on,” she replied as she brushed her hair. “I’m dreading it.”

  “Is Scott filming it?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know who the interviewer is. No idea about the list of questions either,” revealed Lori anxiously. “Guess I’ll find out at ten.”

  Wrapping his arms around her, Jake said, “I wish I could be there for you, but we’re back to back with press stuff in the venue all day.”

  “I’ll be fine,” said Lori, sounding less than convinced. “Now, we’d better get down for breakfast before Maddy is yelling at you, rock star.”

  With a protective arm aroun
d his fiancée’s shoulder, Jake guided her through the large dining room towards the table where Maddy and Paul were seated. The twins were between them in two high chairs, contentedly chewing on pieces of toast. Little Wren let out a squeal of delight when she saw Jake much to his embarrassment.

  “Your daughter is eyeing up my man,” joked Lori as they took a seat at an adjacent table.

  “Takes after her mom,” commented Paul with his mouth full of cereal.

  “Lori,” began Jake, still smiling at the baby girl. “What can I get you for breakfast?”

  “OJ would be a start.”

  “You need to eat too.”

  “Bring me a croissant or something like that, please,” she answered. “I’m not really hungry yet.”

  By the time Jake came back over from the buffet, they had been joined by Rich and Grey. As the waitress served them all fresh coffee, Lori spotted two familiar faces entering the dining room. It was Alice and Tom. When they saw the Silver Lake group, they waved and headed towards them.

  “Morning,” greeted Alice a little shyly. “Can we join you?”

  “Of course,” agreed Jake warmly. “When did you guys arrive?”

  “We’ve been here all week,” answered Alice as she sat at the next table. “When did you guys get here?”

  “Yesterday lunchtime,” replied Lori. “How are you both?”

  “Better than last time we were over,” said Alice with a sad smile. “It was nice to fly over for a happy reason this time.”

  “Glad you both made it,” said Grey, looking genuinely pleased to see them both.

  “Tom,” said Jake. “You ok?”

  “Yes, thanks,” replied the teenager a little awkwardly.

  “Feel up to doing some work today?” Jake asked, winking over at Alice. “We could use an extra pair of hands.”

  “Sure,” agreed the teenager, looking to his sister for approval.

  “Great. Come with us after breakfast,” said Grey, stirring sugar into his coffee.

  “What about you, Alice?” asked Lori. “Do you have any plans?”

  “Not really. We’re to meet Jason in the lobby at three, but that’s all until the show,” replied the English woman.

  “You are more than welcome to tag along with me, if you want,” suggested Lori hopefully. “I’ve to do an interview and could use some moral support.”

  “Interview?” queried Maddy sharply, as she wrestled Hayden out of the high chair. “What interview?”

  “Blame Lord Jason,” muttered Lori sourly. “It’s for a documentary on rock art or something. Scott’s filming it, but I’ve no idea who’s asking the questions. There’s been no brief. Nothing.”

  “Be careful, honey,” cautioned Maddy, sounding a little concerned. “If you’re not comfortable with the line of questioning, stop the interview.”

  “Don’t worry, I will,” stated Lori bluntly. “So, Alice, do you want to tag along? We’ll be done in time to meet the boys for lunch.”

  “I’d love to!”

  The studio suite had been reserved for the interview. Scott was finalising the camera setup when Lori and Alice arrived. He suggested that they take a seat while they waited for the interviewer to arrive. The two women had only just settled themselves on a low settee when the door opened and a young woman burst in, carrying a large coffee cup.

  “So sorry I’m late,” she apologised. “Traffic’s horrendous out there today. Oh! I’m Jen, by the way.”

  “Lori Hyde,” said Lori, standing up and shaking the girl by the hand. “This is my friend, Alice York. Moral support.”

  “Pleased to meet you both.”

  “Can you fill me in on the plan for this morning?” asked Lori, trying to disguise her nerves. “Jason was a bit vague about the details.”

  “It’s nothing too formal, Mz Hyde. Just a résumé of your career,” replied Jen. “Both halves.”

  “Ok,” agreed Lori, sitting back down. “And I reserve the right to decline to answer anything too personal.”

  “Mz Hyde,” said Jen, sitting on one of the round backed chairs beside the couch. “It’s not my intention to make you feel uncomfortable.”

  “Ladies,” interrupted Scott brightly. “Can I do a few test shots before we start?”

  “Where should I sit?” asked Alice anxiously. “I don’t want to be in the way.”

  Indicating a seat over by the window, Scott suggested Alice observe from there.

  Half an hour later, with a pot of coffee on the table, Jen was ready to start the interview. Her casual chatter while they had finished setting up had helped to put Lori at her ease. Now, though, seated at one end of the curved couch, Lori could feel her nerves beginning to rattle. With a nod to Scott, Jen started the interview, “I’d like to introduce you to one of the most high profile album artwork designers in the music world over the last ten years. Hers is a story of two halves. Hopefully today we’ll get the whole story when we chat with the legendary Mz Hyde.”

  At being declared “legendary”, Lori struggled to stifle a nervous giggle.

  “If I’ve done my research correctly, you completed your first album cover while still in college. Is that correct?” began Jen, checking the sheaf of notes in her hand.

  “Yes,” nodded Lori, regaining her composure. “The class tutor set us a project in our final year to get a professional commission and to produce a finished piece before the end of the semester. My dad had a few contacts. People he’d leased property to. I submitted my portfolio to a few folks. I was lucky. Very lucky. I got two commissions that way and completed them both before the end of that semester.”

  “The first of those was for Weigh Station, I believe.”

  “Yes. The first of several,” replied Lori, beginning to relax a little.

  “That album was in the Billboard top ten, wasn’t it?”

  “Top five,” corrected Lori smiling. “Great record. I still play it.”

  They chatted about various projects Lori had worked on during the first incarnation of Mz Hyde; they debated their favourites from that period and agreed to disagree on a few.

  “Now, you retired Mz Hyde about three years ago. Why?” asked Jen, keen to learn the reason.

  “I needed a change. A new challenge,” explained Lori, fingering her engagement ring. “The rock memorabilia side of my business was taking off and taking more and more of my time. The art commissions I was being offered were repetitive. Nothing new in them to excite me. No challenges. It felt stale. I needed a break from it all so I retired Mz Hyde.”

  “And was the intention always to return at some point?”

  “I’m not sure,” admitted Lori honestly. “Looking back, I was burnt out. I never ruled out a resurrection, but I never gave it much thought either. At that time, I was passionate about what I was doing with the memorabilia. Enjoying the travelling. I get a kick out of sealing the deal and sourcing the piece.”

  “It’s been over a year since Mz Hyde returned and, from the volume of work you’ve produced in that short time, is it safe to say she’s back to stay?”

  “For now,” laughed Lori. “It’s been a very busy year or so, but I’ve loved every minute of it.”

  “So why did you step back into the ring?”

  Subtly worded, but it was still the question that Lori had been dreading. With a glance at Scott for some reassurance and conscious that Alice was hanging on her every word, Lori took a deep breath and began, “It felt like the right time and the right thing to do. I hadn’t drawn anything for a long time then I did a small design as a gift. I guess from there I rediscovered my passion for creating a piece of art.”

  “Was this around the time you relocated away from Manhattan?” pressed Jen gently.

  “Yes.”

  “Can you tell me a bit about that first piece by the second incarnation of Mz Hyde?”

  “It was never meant as a Mz Hyde piece. It was an intricate Celtic knot design with a dragon entwined in it. Originally it was given as a gift bu
t it has subsequently been re-used in several guises,” replied Lori, conscious that she was being evasive.

  “And you gifted it to Jake Power from the band Silver Lake?” Jen asked directly.

  “Yes,” said Lori, smiling at the memory of how thrilled Jake had been with the simple present. “The design belongs to him. Silver Lake used it as the cover of their first CD. It’s appeared on Paul’s drum head. Now it’s incorporated into the imp design on Out Of The Shadows. It’s the brooch that holds his cloak in place.”

  “Is there any truth to the rumour that the band all have it tattooed too?”

  “You’d need to ask them that,” laughed Lori. “I couldn’t possibly divulge that information.”

  “Now you mentioned the imp design. It’s been nominated for a few music industry awards, I believe. How did he come about?”

  Keeping it brief, Lori explained about the rush job for the single cover and how the imp had evolved from there.

  “Can we expect to see more of him?”

  “Most definitely. I can’t say too much but watch out for the band’s new record next month. He’s already on some of the merchandise for tonight’s show.”

  “And what does the future hold for Mz Hyde?” asked Jen, folding up her question sheet, indicating that Lori’s ordeal was coming to an end.

  “A slightly quieter few months. I’ve a couple of commissions in the pipeline. I also want to do another jewellery collection before Christmas. And, if the right opportunity presents itself, who knows!” answered Lori.

  “Thank you for your time today.”

  “Pleasure.”

  A “thumbs up” from Scott was the final signal that Lori needed to relax. With the filming complete, he took a few stills shots of Lori with Jen then declared that she was free to make good her escape. Politely, Lori and Alice said their goodbyes, promising to catch up with Scott later. Once out in the hallway, Lori let out a long sigh.

  “You didn’t enjoy that one bit, did you?” commented Alice bluntly.

  “Not really,” Lori confessed. “But it comes with the territory. I just didn’t feel ready to let it get too personal.”

  “I think you handled her beautifully,” praised Alice. “Now, how about a strong coffee to recover?”