“Thanks. I’ll see you both around one.”
Still curious to know what was going on, Jake left his phone on the table and headed downstairs in search of his fiancée. He could hear water running in the en suite. While he waited for her, Jake peeled off his shirt and waistcoat and put on the towelling robe that lay across the bed. He ran back upstairs to tidy away the empty bottles and dirty glasses from the night before, then called the concierge to arrange for lunch to be delivered for twelve thirty. Unsure what Dan would want, Jake opted for a mixed sushi platter from a nearby restaurant. When he returned to the bedroom, Lori was sitting at the dressing table, combing through her wet hair.
“Feeling any better?” asked Jake warmly.
“Ask me after I’ve had a coffee,” she muttered.
“There’s a fresh pot upstairs,” said Jake. “We’re also expecting company for lunch.”
“What? Who?”
Quickly, Jake explained about the voicemail and his brief conversation with Dan. Both of them agreed it all seemed a little odd and when Jake added that his fellow singer claimed to have stayed sober the night before, Lori looked anxious. She had never known Dan to pass up the chance to party.
Punctual as ever, the Englishman arrived at precisely one o’clock. After instructing the doorman to send him up, Jake went out into the hallway to greet their guest. He too had showered and his long hair still hung in damp strands around his shoulders. The marble floor felt icy cold under his bare feet as he stood waiting for the elevator door to open.
“Jake!” called out Dan cheerfully as he stepped out into the hallway. “Thanks for this.”
“Pleasure,” said Jake. “Come on through.”
He led Dan through the living room and out onto the roof terrace. It was a warm day and Lori had decided they should make the most of the fall sunshine and eat outdoors. As they passed through the forest of flowers, Dan joked, “Who died?”
“Just a little private celebration,” laughed Jake.
“Nothing less than Mz Hyde deserves,” commented Dan, looking round. “Where is the beautiful lady?”
“Right here, Dan.” said Lori from behind them.
She was carrying two platters of sushi and, having set them down on the small patio table, turned to hug her guest.
“Congratulations on your awards, princess,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Long overdue recognition.”
“Thanks, Dan. It was great to see you and the guys picking up your award too. Great set last night.”
“Saved by our mutual friend here,” added Dan, with a nod towards Jake. “That’s kind of why I’m here.”
Lori and Jake exchanged worried glances, then Jake said, “Grab a seat, Dan, then you can explain all.”
Nodding silently, the older man sat down at the table. Sitting beside him, Lori said softly, “What’s wrong?”
“Why should anything be wrong, Mz Hyde?” he asked, a lack of conviction in his tone.
“Call it a hunch,” replied Lori.
“Women’s intuition,” he laughed, prompting a spasm of uncontrollable coughing.
Quickly, Jake ran to fetch him a glass of water and, as Dan wiped his hand across his mouth, Lori noticed a smear of fresh blood on his skin.
“Sorry,” apologised the older man, sipping the water. “Guess I need to come clean.”
He set the glass down on the table and turned to Jake. “Are you free on the 31st of October?”
“I think so,” replied Jake, trying to recall what Maddy had lined up for the band. “Why?”
“I need you to come to London for a few days. We have our 25th anniversary show booked for 31st October at Wembley Arena. It’s been sold out for weeks. We’ve already announced that it will be our last gig for a while. Thing is, I don’t know if I can last the whole set,” explained Dan plainly. “I need you there to step in if needed.”
“I don’t get it,” said Jake, looking confused.
“Dan,” said Lori, realising what her old friend wasn’t saying. “How serious is this?”
“Bad,” he stated. “Very bad. I’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer.”
Both of them paled visibly at the news. It was Lori, who recovered her composure first.
Reaching out to hug Dan, she said, “I’m so sorry to hear that. So very sorry.”
“It’s ok, princess,” he said with a sad smile. “I’ve known about the cancer for a while.”
“Is it treatable?” asked Jake, stunned by the revelation.
“They’re trying,” answered Dan. “Treatment’s worse than the cancer. So, Jake, can you be there to save an old man’s hide?”
“Of course,” said Jake without hesitation. “Whatever you need me to do.”
“That’s what I hoped you’d say,” Dan said with a sigh of obvious relief. “Let’s eat, folks. All this cancer talk is killing my appetite.”
Over lunch, Dan explained that very few people knew he was ill and that he wanted to keep it that way. He definitely did not want the Weigh Station fans finding out. As they chatted, they tried to work out a cover story that would explain why Jake just happened to be there and able to step right into the role if need be.
“Why not publicise that he’s to be your special guest then your fans will at least expect him to be there?” suggested Lori. “Say he’s going to guest on the usual two songs by popular demand.”
“And then, on the night, if you need me to do extra, pass it off as food poisoning or something,” added Jake, helping himself to the last of the sushi.
“Maybe,” nodded Dan, deep in thought. “Worst case scenario is that you have to do the whole show. Think you can do that?”
“If I have to,” agreed Jake. “Send me the set list as soon as you have it.”
“Thank you.”
They chatted for another half an hour, then Dan rose to leave, claiming he had stolen enough of their day.
“Can I call you a cab?” offered Lori, getting up from the table.
“No thanks, princess. I’m going to take a walk in the park for a while, then I’m getting picked up at four thirty to head to the airport.”
“I’ll walk you out,” she said, signalling to Jake to stay where he was.
The two musicians said their farewells then Dan followed Lori through the apartment, out into the entrance hallway. While they waited for the elevator to arrive, Dan hugged Lori tight and thanked her again for her hospitality.
“Can I ask you something?” she said. “Just between you and me?”
“Of course, my dear.”
“How long have they given you?”
“Three to six months at best,” replied Dan quietly. “How did…?”
“I can see it in your eyes, Dan,” said Lori still holding him close. “I watched my mom and dad die that way. I know that look.”
“Not a word.”
“I promise,” she said as the elevator door opened behind them. “Take care of yourself.”
“A bit late for that,” he joked feebly as he stepped into the small lift.
When she returned to the terrace, Jake was clearing the lunch dishes away. Seeing the sad look in her eyes, he set the plates back down on the glass topped table and hugged her tight. Tears stinging in her eyes, Lori snuggled into his chest, allowing herself to be held.
“You seem to be taking this very hard,” whispered Jake, smoothing her hair gently.
“Perhaps,” she murmured quietly. “I’ve known Dan a long time, Jake.”
“I know, li’l lady.”
“And I watched cancer kill my mom and my dad.”
“Took my mom too,” whispered Jake, hugging her closer. “He’s a fighter. If anyone can beat this, Dan can.”
“I hope so,” sighed Lori, gazing up into her fiancé’s hazel eyes. “I really hope so.”
A cloud had been cast over their trip to the city and, after breakfast on Friday morning, Lori asked Jake if he would mind if they cut the trip short and head home. Keen to return to the bea
ch, he agreed on the spot. By lunchtime, they were packed and in the car heading down the Coastal Highway. They were on the outskirts of Dover when Lori’s phone rang.
“Hi, Maddy!” she called brightly.
“Hi, yourself. How’s Manhattan?”
“Behind us,” giggled Lori. “We decided to drive back early. We’re just outside Dover.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Maddy in surprise. “Why the change of plan?”
“Long story,” replied Lori with a furtive glance at Jake.
“Want to come over for dinner and tell me all about it?”
“I don’t know,” began Lori.
“Wren’s missing her Uncle Jake,” Maddy pleaded. “And I could use the company. Paul’s gone fishing for the weekend.”
“You’ve convinced me,” agreed Lori. “We’ll be there in a half hour, but we can’t stay late.”
“See you soon, honey.”
Both babies were screaming when Jake and Lori arrived. From the driveway, they could hear their frantic wailing. Deciding not to bother with the front door, they headed round to the rear of the farmhouse where they found a rather harassed Maddison pacing up and down the deck with a baby on each shoulder.
“Come here, princess,” soothed Jake as he took Wren from her mother. Confidently, he snuggled her into his shoulder, kissing her red hot cheek. “Teeth?”
Maddy nodded as Hayden let out another sharp scream. “Both of them are teething. Wren’s first tooth came through a week or two ago, but Hayden’s first is still to break through.”
“Let me take him,” offered Lori. “You look fried.”
“They were fine when you were on the phone but when they woke from their nap, they kicked off,” explained Maddy. “Give me rock stars to manage any day!”
“Yeah,” laughed Jake. “We’ve got all our teeth.”
“Very funny, Mr Power,” commented the band’s manager as she passed her son to Lori. “So tell me all about New York?
“It’s a big city with lots of tall buildings and a park in the middle,” quipped Jake, causing Lori to giggle uncontrollably.
Her laughter stopped Hayden mid-wail and he stared at her with his eyes wide.
“Too funny, Jake,” muttered Maddy. “Lori, come inside and you can tell me all about it,”
Following her friend, Lori said, “Not much to tell really.” Then, with a mischievous wink back at Jake, added, “It’s a big city with lots of tall buildings and a park in the middle.”
“I give up!” declared Maddy as she stormed indoors. “You two are crazy!”
Adjusting her one-handed grip on Hayden and leaning on her cane with the other, Lori followed her friend inside. “I’m sorry, Maddy.”
“I guess I asked for it,” laughed her friend with a weary smile. “Teething has killed my sense of humour.”
Noticing that Lori was struggling a bit with the wriggling baby, Maddy reached out and took him back into her arms, “So where are your awards?”
“In a plastic bag on the back seat of the car,” confessed Lori, taking a seat at the big kitchen table. “Pass me him back. I promise not to drop him.”
Handing the baby back to Lori, Maddy commented, “I thought you were staying up there until Sunday?”
“Change of plan,” replied Lori before adding, “We had a visitor yesterday.”
“Oh? Who?” enquired Maddy as she filled the water reservoir for the coffee machine.
“Dan, from Weigh Station, came over for lunch. He wants Jake to sing with them in London at the end of October.”
“And I take it that Weight Station’s number one fan said yes?”
“Well, I couldn’t say no,” replied Jake as he walked in. “Where do you keep your diapers? Your daughter needs some personal attention.”
“Through in the nursery,” said Maddy. “Do you want me to take her?”
“It’s ok. I’ve got this,” replied Jake as he headed out of the kitchen.
“He never ceases to amaze me,” sighed Maddy. “He’ll make a great dad someday.”
With the twins finally settled in their play yard in the family room, Jake and Lori helped Maddy to prepare dinner. As the band’s manager drained the pasta, she asked who had been presenting at the MMR award ceremony.
“I got off lightly,” laughed Jake as he laid the table. “Tori presented me with mine.”
“I guess I drew a short straw with one,” Lori admitted. “Nick from Black Ashes presented me with the first one.”
“Kola’s dad?” quizzed Maddy with more than a hint of surprise in her voice. “How is he?”
“Not great,” stated Lori. “He was definitely high on something. He wasn’t even clean. The odour was obnoxious”
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw him,” confessed Jake. “The guy’s a mess. Poor Kola. No wonder she moved east.”
“He was in a bad way the last time I saw him,” said Maddy, adding sauce to the pasta. “Such a waste of talent.”
While they were eating, conversation returned to the Weigh Station show.
“I’ve been running through the promo dates in my head,” began Maddy. “The Weigh Station show might just fit in nicely. I’m sure you and Rich are scheduled to be in London on October 24th and 25th.”
“That would tie in well,” agreed Jake. “I’m not sure how much rehearsal time I’ll need or will have time for.”
“How many numbers are you doing with them?” asked Maddy, curious to learn more about the plan.
“That depends,” said Jake, glancing over at Lori as if seeking approval.
“Depends on what?”
“Dan’s sick,” stated Lori sadly.
“How sick?”
“Maddison, he’s got lung cancer,” revealed Jake quietly. “But he doesn’t want that becoming public knowledge. Personally, I think he’s dying.”
“Dying!”
Lori nodded. “I recognised the look in his eyes. I saw it with my mom and with my dad.”
“Same here,” agreed Jake. “Saw that look in my mom’s eyes not long before we lost her.”
“So you could end up doing the whole set?”
“Potentially,” admitted Jake sadly. “I’ve no idea. Plan is to rehearse the full set and play it by ear on the night.”
“Shit,” muttered Maddy, shaking her head in complete disbelief at what she was hearing. “No pressure then, Mr Power?”
“I couldn’t refuse,” he replied. “Could I?”
“I guess not.”
Changing the subject, Jake asked what the promo schedule was for the coming week.
“You’re free all week until Saturday, maybe Sunday,” announced Maddy, rising to clear the table. “Then we fly out to LA for two days, two days in Seattle, a one-night stopover in Phoenix then back here on Saturday the 12th to get ready for the launch on the 14th. Launch party’s been moved to the record company offices in New York so we may need to drive up there on the Sunday.”
“Where to after that?” sighed Jake, his mind seeing an endless stream of airports and faceless hotel rooms.
“A couple of days off, then we head over to Europe for some promo,” she explained. “Mr Power, you really should read your emails more regularly.”
“Yes, boss,” laughed the musician, getting up to help her clear away the dinner dishes.
During the drive back to the beach house, Jake was noticeably quiet, his attention focussed on the road ahead. When they arrived, he took the luggage through to the bedroom while Lori fetched them both a drink. Having been shut up for a few days, the house felt stale and a little chilled. Carefully, she made her way down to the basement to amend the furnace to its winter settings. Jake had come down the stairs behind her with his guitar cases. Setting them down on the floor, he reached out to hug her.
“Are you ok, rock star?” Lori asked softly, resting her cheek on his chest.
“Yeah,” he sighed as he smoothed her hair and gently kissed the top of her head. “Hearing Maddison rhyme off the schedule br
ought it home just how quickly this all snowballs.”
“We’ll be in New York for the wedding before you know it.”
“Seems a long way off right now, li’l lady.”
“Twelve weeks.”
“Are you coming with us next week?”
Lori shook her head. “You’re not the only one with work to do.”
“But you’ll come to London at the end of October?”
“Of course,” promised Lori. “For a few days.”
“And what about the tour?” asked Jake hopefully, dreading the thought of being away from her for almost a month.
“Maddy has that all sorted,” she replied. “I’ll meet up with you in Glasgow for your birthday and stay until after the Paris show. I’ve a wedding to organise, remember.”
“What about the shows we play here before we go overseas?”
“I’ll come to New York, Philly and Baltimore.”
“Thanks, li’l lady,” he said, squeezing her tight. “Guess we’d best make the most of this week off together.”
♫
Rain battering off the windows wakened Lori next morning. Beside her the bed was empty, the sheets long cold. A glance at the clock informed her it was almost nine thirty; the aroma from the kitchen suggested Jake was making breakfast. Wearing only one of Jake’s Molton T-shirts, Lori wandered barefoot down the hall in search of her morning caffeine fix. As she limped in, she spotted that her fiancé was on the phone. His expression was serious, but, from his tone of voice, she couldn’t fathom out who he was talking to. Trying not to make too much noise, she poured herself a coffee, then took a seat at the table.
“Morning, sleepy,” he said a few minutes later as he slipped his phone into his jeans pocket. “Fancy a trip to Dover later?”
“Dover? Why?” asked Lori curiously.
“That was Pete on the phone, begging a favour,” began Jake, pouring himself a fresh coffee. “The band he had booked to play on the base tonight are stuck in Canada. Missed their flight and can’t get here on time. He was looking for some help. Wants me to bail him out.”
“Tonight?” exclaimed Lori. “That’s short notice, Jake!”
Impossible Depths (Silver Lake series Book 2) Page 35