“I just have one question,” Dawn said as she placed one sheet of cookies into the oven.
“What’s that?”
“Did you even think about taking me with you?”
Camden nodded. He had, in fact, thought about taking Dawn with him. But she had a good job, and she’d have to find work in Atlanta. She’d also have to find her own place. She had Amber as a roommate in Dallas, to split the bills, but she wouldn’t have that same assistance in Atlanta.
“Do you want to go?” Camden asked.
“Well, I don’t want to be away from my man for a year.”
“I’ll visit lots, and you will visit me too. It’s not like I’m moving overseas,” Camden said. “Plus, you’re going to be incredibly busy. I saw the shows Royce has you all scheduled for. That year is gonna fly by.”
“So that’s just it, huh? I get no input at all. I was hoping that at some point we’d start making decisions as a couple, but we’re not there yet. Do you want to … I don’t know … put this relationship on hold until you’re done pursuing your music career?”
“What do you mean by on hold?” Camden’s voice escalated a full octave. “You mean you want to see other people?”
“I mean I don’t want to get left behind. If you leave … when you leave … I’ll feel that way. Left behind.”
Camden ran his open hand over his face and sighed. First his father was giving him ultimatums. And now Dawn? Why couldn’t everyone just be happy about this? Why did he have to convince everyone that it was a good thing?
“You can do whatever you want, Dawn. Just know that it was your choice and not mine. Don’t blame it on me.”
She shook her head. “You’re supposed to fight for us.”
“You sound crazy,” Camden said with frustration punctuating every syllable. “There’s nothing to fight about. I’m taking a temporary job that can launch my career, and all you and everyone else can think of is how it impacts you. Well, what about me? What about what I want?”
“I thought you wanted me.”
“I do,” Camden said, bringing his tone back into the normal range.
“But not more than you want this opportunity with Royce.”
Camden shuddered, his frustration returning. “They are two unrelated desires. I love you, and I want a music career. You’re trying to make me choose. I shouldn’t have to.”
“Your mother said that you don’t have to move to Atlanta to do this. She says you can write music from here, and that you just want to go. She says you’re angry about Pastor choosing Blaine for the Oklahoma church and you’re running away.”
Those words rocked Camden to his core. The one person who always had his back, no matter what, his mother, was conspiring against him too?
“If you want to know why I’m doing something, you should ask me and not my mother,” Camden said. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“I think she does, and you just don’t want to admit it.”
Camden’s doorbell rang and he was happy for the reprieve. He tried to act as if he didn’t see Dawn’s tear-streaked face as he left the kitchen to open the door. Camden knew there had to be a tremendous move of God coming his way just because of the opposition from everyone he loved.
Camden opened the door to Amber and Akil. Amber was carrying a huge balloon bouquet full of balloons that said Congratulations! Camden grinned. Not everyone was against his decision.
“It smells like cookies in here!” Amber said. “Well, I brought cupcakes too. I got your faves, Camdeezy!”
Camden took the balloons and cupcakes from Amber and sat them down before scooping her up and hugging her.
“Thank you for being happy for me,” Camden said.
Amber slapped his arm when she sat him down. “We all are.”
“Not all,” Akil said. “But we got your back, man.”
“You don’t want me to leave?” Camden asked.
“No, I’m all for it. I’m talking about your parents, Blaine …”
“And me!” Dawn said from the kitchen as she took another tray of cookies out of the oven. “Say it.”
“I wasn’t talking about you,” Akil said.
Dawn took her apron off and stormed out of the kitchen and into Camden’s bedroom. Camden sighed as she slammed the door.
“I guess everybody is gonna just have to be mad,” Camden said.
Amber plopped down on Camden’s sofa and stretched her legs out in front of her, taking up most of the cushions. “They’ll get over it,” she said. “Especially when the record that you and Royce put together sells millions of copies.”
Camden moved Amber’s legs and sat down on the sofa too. “I know! That’s what I keep trying to say, and all my dad can think about is his church. He really doesn’t want to tell the congregation, ‘Oh, I fired Sarah and hired my son, but he’s about to be gone for a year.’ I didn’t tell him to fire her.”
“She was about to quit anyway,” Akil said. “I heard she and Delores got into it really bad about something.”
Camden frowned. “What beef could Sarah have had with Delores?”
Akil and Amber exchanged glances, and Camden just shook his head. The rumors about his father’s womanizing were mostly only whispered by those in the inner circle. No one in the congregation knew what was being said behind the scenes.
“I don’t want to know,” Camden said. “One of y’all should tell my mother, though.”
Amber put her lips into a tiny circle and blew out air in the sound of a whistle. “Puh-lease! I would never get in that there. Yo’ daddy is off the chain, though. I think that’s why Dawn is so worried. She sees the women all over you and Blainesky and she doesn’t feel secure.”
“The women are all over Blaine, not me,” Camden said.
“They’re all over you too,” Akil said. “I have the notes to prove it. They think I’m your middle man too, like I am for Blaine. They want you, bro. You just aren’t giving them any attention.”
“I keep telling Dawn I love her. I don’t know what else to do.”
Amber cleared her throat. “Well … you could … marry her and take her with you.”
Camden shook his head. “Not you too! As soon as we get married, she’s gonna be trying to pop out a baby. She told me the other day that she didn’t want to be in her thirties having her first child. She’s got baby fever.”
“I was just making a suggestion, Camden. No one said you had to follow it,” Amber said.
“Well, nobody asked you for your suggestions.”
“Kick rocks, then! With flip-flops!” Amber said as she threw multiple couch pillows at Camden.
“Look, can y’all stop talking about Camden’s love life for a second,” Akil said. “I’m trying to see if I can slide up in this crib when you leave.”
Camden raised his eyebrows. Akil’s employment was sporadic, so he lived in between his parents’ house and Blaine’s man pad.
“Are you gonna be able to pay the rent?” Camden asked. “Because I would be cool with someone staying over here while I’m gone.”
“Of course I can pay the rent. I am employed, you know. And it’s not like this is a penthouse or anything.”
It wasn’t a penthouse, but Camden was proud of his multilevel town house located in Irving, Texas. It was right in the heart of the city and the neighborhood was great. One day when he bought a house, he’d probably move to one of the more elite suburbs, but his Irving crib was the perfect bachelor pad.
“Well, as long as you pay the rent, you can stay. I’ll be in and out, though. I plan to visit at least once a month. Maybe twice.”
“Just leave a sock on the door when you are … you know …” Blaine said.
Camden frowned. “Dawn and I aren’t fornicating. Socks on the door won’t be necessary.”
“I don’t see how you can do that,” Akil said. “That’s why I’m not dating anybody. I couldn’t do that celibate thing.”
“You could if you asked
God to help you,” Camden said. “That’s the only way I can do it.”
“And a year’s supply of baby oil,” Amber said. “Don’t play, Camden. You are not a saint.”
Camden threw the couch pillow back at Amber. “I’m not. That’s why I need you to cover up your produce. You’re about to have a nip slip.”
Amber looked down at her heaving bosom and chuckled as she adjusted her peasant blouse to do a better job covering her assets.
“These babies are gonna get me a man someday,” Amber said. “They can’t do their job if they’re not displayed properly.”
Akil shook his head. “You need Jesus as your personal savior. When is this meeting supposed to start? Are we waiting on Blaine?”
Camden looked down at his watch. Blaine was forty-five minutes late. He took out his cell phone and called him.
Blaine answered on the first ring. “I know, I know. I just pulled up. I had to go get Regina, and you know she lives all the way in Fort Worth.”
“Why are you bringing her? It’s a group meeting about the promotional tour,” Camden said.
“She’s my manager and assistant for now. She’s going to be coordinating my speaking engagements so that they don’t clash with So G.I.F.T.E.D’s appearances.”
“Okay. I guess.”
Camden disconnected the call and gave Amber and Akil a puzzled expression. “Did y’all know he was bringing Regina?”
Amber rolled her eyes. “I can’t stand her. I don’t know what y’all daddy was thinking when he authorized and mandated that hookup. She makes me itch.”
The talk about Regina had to be put on pause, though, because the doorbell rang, signaling their arrival. Camden let them in, and Regina walked through the door first, nose in the air and aloof expression on her face.
“Sorry we’re late,” Regina said. “We’re in couples classes at the church, and it ran over.”
Camden, Akil, and Amber all struggled to hold in their laughter, mostly because of the look on Blaine’s face. He looked like someone who’d just stepped in a pile of dog poo and then discovered it on their foot. Just plain ole disgusted.
“I’ll go get Dawn so we can start the meeting,” Amber said.
Regina looked around. “Where should we sit?”
Blaine motioned toward the love seat. “You can sit here. I’ll stand.”
“Okay, whatever you want,” Regina said. She pulled out a notebook and pen and smiled up at Camden.
“Thank you for allowing me to join in your meeting, Camden. I apologize that you didn’t know in advance. I thought Blaine told you I was coming,” Regina said with a friendly tone.
“It’s not a problem. You guys are probably going to end up being one flesh soon, so it’s all good.”
Camden’s chest burned from containing his laughter. Akil had given up the fight. He let out a fit of giggles.
“Y’all got jokes,” Blaine said.
“I don’t see what’s funny. It’s true. They can mock God’s plan if they want to. But really, it’s the other way around. When we make plans, God laughs,” Regina said.
“You’re right, Regina. We’re just teasing Blaine,” Camden said. “We wish y’all the best.”
Dawn and Amber emerged from Camden’s bedroom. Dawn’s face was puffy and tear streaked, but she wore a smile.
“So, I’m glad everyone is here, because there are some exciting things going on with our group,” Camden said. “The most exciting being the record deal.”
“What kind of deal is it? Are we gonna be like those work-forhire acts, where they pay us to sing on the album and that’s it?” Amber asked. “Because if that’s the case, I will pass.”
Camden shook his head. “No. I took a look at the contract and you’ll get points off the album.”
“I want producer credit,” Blaine said. “I’m the lead singer and pretty much the front man.”
Camden nodded. “I’m sure that we can discuss that.”
“Well, I want producer credit too,” Amber said. “I’m doing all these vocal arrangements without compensation.”
Camden scratched his head and jumped back in when he could. “So, right now we’re not looking at doing a full-length record. We’ll release both singles, get some radio play and do the shows. There is a big church conference in Houston this summer called the Superfest, and Royce was able to get us a fifteen-minute set there. He’s also got us on the US Gospel Workshop schedule in Miami and the Ricky Johnson Gospel New Artist Showcase on the Gospel Entertainment Network.”
“What do these shows pay?” Regina asked.
“Nothing. They’re all about getting our name out there. All of the major players in gospel radio will be there, and they need to see us as the group to watch,” Camden explained. “The money starts later, after we start getting invitations.”
“Well, who’s paying for our travel to Houston, Miami, and—where is the Gospel Entertainment Network show recorded?” Akil asked.
“It’s going to be out of pocket. We can ask the record label to pay for it, but I don’t want to start out in the hole and owing them money. I suggest we try to cover it ourselves.”
“You’re a big baller, I guess,” Amber said. “I don’t know how much travel I can afford.”
“Do you think Pastor Wilson will pay for any of it?” Dawn asked.
Camden doubted very seriously that his father was going to foot the bill for anything related to the group now. But it didn’t hurt to ask. Or rather, it didn’t hurt to have Blaine ask.
“Blaine, I’ll leave that to you,” Camden said. “I’m not in Dad’s good graces right now.”
Blaine nodded. “I’ll ask him, but then you’ll owe me a favor. I’ll decide how you’ll pay me back.”
“Whatever, man! I got you a record deal, so we’re even,” Camden replied.
“So we’re going to be doing all these shows, and you’re gonna be in Atlanta writing music?” Amber asked. “That’s gonna be weird. Like … you’re more than the keyboard player, Cam.”
“You’re right. It is going to be strange. I will be at the filming for the Gospel Entertainment Network, but Royce has a pretty intense schedule for his group. He wants me at all the practices because sometimes they come up with music in a jam session and he might want to build on it.”
Camden ignored the skeptical looks that came from everyone except Amber. She was the only one who seemed to understand why he needed to leave.
“So, are we going to have a look?” Dawn asked. “We need to come up with a signature look for our group. I’m thinking a really updated look for Akil and Blaine. Some fitted suits, bow ties …”
“Not doing the whole bow tie thing,” Blaine said.
“Yeah, I’m too thick for fitted suits,” Akil said.
Amber laughed. “We need to get a stylist! Because I want people to look at us onstage and be like, ‘I want to be them.’”
“I can help with that,” Regina said. “I know a few stylists who have worked with some major gospel acts. They’ve reached out to style First Lady Wilson many times. I can hook that up.”
“With Camden being gone, someone is going to have to run rehearsals too,” Blaine said. “I want to step up and do that. I am making a commitment to be on time and at every rehearsal.”
Camden raised his eyebrows and everyone gave Blaine their own looks of surprise. He had never taken the lead with rehearsals or anything else. He always let Camden do the grunt work and he showed up and turned on when it was time to shine onstage.
“I’m going to make sure he does it,” Regina said. “This is all part of his training to be a pastor.”
“You’re training him?” Amber asked.
“I’m helping. Pastor Wilson trusts me to get him together.”
Regina laughed when she said this, but no one else joined in, not even Blaine. It wasn’t like she was unwelcome, but Camden didn’t know how he felt about Regina’s involvement. It was like having one of his father’s flunkies in the meeting.
“Well, I don’t know about all that,” Blaine said. “I’m just down for this group. We’ve been doing this too long to not make a real go at it. I don’t need Regina for that.”
“Let’s do this thing, then!” Dawn said. “I’m excited. Y’all excited?”
For the first time since he announced that he was going to Atlanta, Camden felt that everything would be okay with the group he was leaving behind. Dawn’s tears had dried up, Amber was planning costumes, and Blaine was on board. They’d hold it down until he returned. And that was all Camden needed to know—that everything would keep moving while he pursued his dream.
CHAPTER 18
Camden had never felt more nervous in his life. He was meeting with Royce’s group, Spirited, for the first time. He had a feeling they were going to rake him over the coals. He thought he was ready … hoped he was ready.
Since he got to Atlanta, everything had moved so quickly that he could barely keep up. Camden thought he’d have to find an apartment, but Royce told him that he would be living in his six-thousand-square-foot house.
And what a house it was! There was an indoor recording studio and a bowling alley, and the outside looked just like a Caribbean resort, with multiple swimming pools, a hot tub, a water slide, and tennis courts. Camden had grown up in the lap of luxury, but he was still impressed. He wanted to take pictures of it all and send it to his father so that he could see the kind of money a gospel artist had made.
The meeting was a pool party, and Royce had an entire catering staff on-site, including a bartender. Since Royce was so busy giving orders to his staff, Camden didn’t wait for instructions. He put on a pair of linen pants and a short-sleeved dress shirt— it was casual enough that he wouldn’t be overdressed if folk were casual and formal enough that he wouldn’t be underdressed if folk were formal. He was nervous all the same.
Camden went out on the back deck by the pool and sat down at one of the decorated tables. Before he was seated even an entire minute a waiter walked up with a tray of champagne.
“Would you like one?” he asked.
Camden shook his head. “No, thank you. I will have a lemonade or some sweet tea if y’all have it.”
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