Shattered Hearts

by Coral McCallum

  “Sounds good to me.”

  As the days slipped by, Jake and Melody split the daily music lessons into two sessions. By keeping them relatively short, Jake managed to hold her attention. For someone so young, Melody quickly demonstrated that she had a good attention span and also proved herself to be a perfectionist, just like both of her parents. Afternoons became family time for the Powers with the time being spent either down on the beach or out trail walking or at one of the many kiddie playparks around town. Conscious that he needed to spend time with Jesse too, Jake tried to find activities that they could enjoy together. The little boy was fascinated with his toy trains so at some point every day Jake found himself sitting on the sunroom floor laying out wooden track while trying desperately to remember the names of his son’s coloured trains.

  “Daddy,” scolded Jesse on more than one occasion. “Thomas is blue. This is Percy. He’s green.”

  “Is this Thomas?” Jake teased him holding up a red train.

  “No!” Jesse wailed. “That James!”

  Gradually, as he became immersed in family life, Jake felt himself begin to relax and “switch off” his rock star head. It felt good to just be Melody’s Daddy or Jesse’s Daddy and Lori’s husband. He couldn’t switch off his inner musician entirely and slipped down into the basement for a couple of hours each evening to play and occasionally write. At the end of their evening lesson, Melody would ask him to play one song for her. He allowed her to choose the song and was pleasantly surprised by some of her requests.

  “Will you play like a rock star at Aunt Maddy’s party?” asked Melody on Thursday night. “Mommy said there would be lots of music. Loud music.”

  “Maybe,” replied Jake with a grin. “Maddy asked me to bring a couple of guitars along. Do you want me to play?”

  “Yes!” shrieked Melody. “I want you to play and sing like you do on stage.”

  “I’m not so sure Maddy’s neighbours would like that,” laughed Jake. “Might be a bit loud.”

  “Live is loud!” declared Melody emphatically.

  Roaring with laughter, Jake said, “Oh truly you are my baby girl! Yes, Miss M, live music should be loud.”

  “So, will you play loud tomorrow at the BBQ?”

  “We’ll see, Miss M. I need to do as Maddy tells me. She’s the boss. The manager.”

  Bending close to her father, Melody whispered, “She’s scary. I’d do as she tells me too.”

  Trying not to laugh at his daughter’s serious expression, Jake said softly, “She scares me too. Only sometimes, but don’t tell her I said that. Now, it’s time for bed. Run upstairs and get ready. I’ll be up to say goodnight in a bit.”

  Without being asked twice, the little girl scampered up the steep steps and disappeared back into the house. As she closed the door over, he could hear Lori calling her. Smiling to himself, Jake turned his attention to his guitar collection. The message from Maddy had been clear, “Bring at least two electric guitars and one acoustic. Amp and cab too. Maddison’s All Stars have been booked to play on July 4th at the Edwards Addison Family BBQ.”

  Without knowing who he was playing with and what he would be playing, Jake chewed over the decision about which guitars to take. Choosing an acoustic was easy and he opted for the instrument he had been gifted on a TV show several years before. Over time, it had proved to be one of his “on stage go to” guitars.

  He had just zipped up the gig bag on his cherry red SG when his cell phone began to vibrate and ring in his pocket.

  “Hi,” he said cheerfully as he answered the call.

  “Jake?” came a vaguely familiar woman’s voice. “It’s Maria Santiago.”

  “Hi. Long time no speak. How’s Florida?”

  “Hot and humid,” replied Rich’s older sister.

  “Isn’t it always?” laughed Jake.

  “Not always,” said Maria before pausing. “Look, I’m sorry to disturb you but have you heard from my brother?”

  “Hasn’t he arrived yet?”

  “No. I had expected him yesterday. He called on Sunday to say he’d be here Tuesday or Wednesday but he’s not arrived and I’ve not heard from him.”

  “Have you tried calling?”

  “Of course. I’ve left at least a dozen messages but not a word from him.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine,” assured Jake calmly. “I’ll try calling him. I’ll check with Grey and Paul. See if they’ve heard from him. He’s probably just stopped somewhere for an extra night.”

  “Maybe,” sighed Maria, sounding doubtful. “If you hear from him, let me know.”

  “Will do,” promised Jake. “And if he gets there, get him to give me a call.”

  “I will. Thanks, Jake,” said Maria softly. “I’m sure he’ll be absolutely fine but I’m kind of worried at the same time.”

  “Phone signal’s maybe patchy on those back roads. Remember he was avoiding I-95.”

  “True,” acknowledged Maria. “I’d best go in case he’s trying to call me.”

  “I’ll message when I’ve spoken to the others,” promised Jake.

  “Thanks. Appreciate it.”

  As soon as he ended the call, Jake called his band mate’s phone. It went straight to voice mail.

  “Hey, Rich, give me a call when you pick this up. Your sister is keen to speak to you too. Call her first.”

  When he called Paul and Grey, neither of them had heard from him either. Despite Maria’s anxiety, Jake wasn’t as worried as she had sounded. He understood the need for solitude after a long tour and figured that his friend had found a quiet mountain town to hang out in for an extra day or two. Since he’d split from Linsey, Silver Lake’s guitarist had preferred a quieter pace of life off stage and had been becoming more and more reclusive. The break-up had hit him hard.

  Cars were lining the driveway of the farmhouse out on Wolfe Neck Road by the time the Power family pulled up. Spying a spot on the front lawn under a huge oak tree, Jake bumped up onto the grass between two familiar cars. He instantly recognised Garrett Court’s ancient sedan and also Kola’s black SUV. Like her motorbike, her SUV was in pristine condition, a far cry from Grey’s cars and trucks. Leaving his guitars in the back of the truck, Jake helped Melody out of her car seat then unbuckled Jesse from his. The two-year-old had fallen asleep within five minutes of leaving the house and whined as Jake hoisted him onto his shoulder.

  “You need a hand there, li’l lady?” called out Jake as he spotted Lori wrestling with a red cooler, her tote bag and her cane.

  “I’m fine. Just getting my balance,” she replied with a smile. “These aren’t heavy.”

  “As long as you’re sure,” said Jake, recognising the determined look in his wife’s eyes.

  “Sure,” echoed Lori as she set off across the grass with obvious care.

  Round the back of the farmhouse, the party was already in full swing. Part of the huge deck had been set aside as the stage for Maddy’s All Stars. Two large trestle tables had been set up under a massive gazebo to keep the sun off the food. Off to the side, Paul and Grey were already busy at the grills. With a grin, Jake noted that the drummer had finally got his wish and had a whole hog roasting on a spit over an open firepit.

  “Afternoon, folks!” called out Jake.

  “You’re late, Mr Power,” scolded Maddy bluntly.

  “And you almost sound surprised, Maddison,” countered Jake, flashing her one of his Power smiles.

  “Maddy, if Jake was actually on time, the shock would kill us all,” teased Lori as she set the cooler down on the deck.

  Without a backwards glance, Melody had bolted down the yard to join the other kids on the huge wooden jungle gym.

  Spying an anxious look cross Jake’s face, Maddy said, “She’ll be fine.”

  A sleepy Jesse was starting to stir on his daddy’s shoulder.

  “Want play,” he whined, rubbing his eyes.

  “You’re half asleep, buddy,” said Jake warmly. “Wait a few minutes till you w
ake up.”

  “Play now. Play Melly,” he stated, wriggling and kicking to be set down.

  “Ok,” relented Jake as he stood the small boy down. “Be careful. Don’t climb too high.”

  Stumbling along on sleep heavy feet, Jesse ran down the yard to join the other kids. Shaking her head at his determination, Lori stepped up onto the deck to take a seat beside Kola.

  “Hi,” she said warmly. “How you holding up in this heat?”

  “OK so far,” replied Kola, rubbing her round baby bump. “I feel huge this time.”

  “You look fabulous,” complimented Maddy, coming over to join them.

  “This is the last. Definitely the last…. well, maybe the last.”

  “Never say never,” laughed Lori with a wink.

  “Would you do it again?”

  “No!” replied Lori in the same instant Maddy exclaimed, “No fucking way!”

  The three mothers laughed, their giggles echoing down the yard after Jake.

  “Mr Power,” called out Garrett Court as Jake reached the area where the guys had gathered. “Long time no see.”

  “Garrett,” greeted Jake. “Great to see you. What brings you down here?”

  “Testing the waters with Dr Marrs on something,” replied the elder English musician. “Might have an opening for you if you can spare me a day or two.”

  “I’m on vacation,” joked Jake. “Ask me again in the fall.”

  “Drop by one afternoon next week,” suggested Dr Marrs from his seat in the shade below one of the many oak trees in the vast yard. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to tempt you to join us on this one.”

  “We’ll see,” relented Jake, accepting the beer that Grey handed him. “Anyone heard from Rich yet?”

  “Not a word,” said Grey.

  “Me neither,” added Paul as he put more hamburgers on the grill. “He’ll be holed up in a hotel in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.”

  “On the trail of a lonesome pine,” quipped Jethro with a wink.

  “I hope so,” sighed Jake before taking a chug on his beer. “Maria called again as we were leaving. She’s worried sick.”

  “He’ll turn up,” stated Grey. “Hopefully he’s found some female company and is shacked up in a motel somewhere. He’s been like a bear with sore balls since Linsey left him.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” agreed Paul.

  “I guess,” conceded Jake then, nodding back to the house asked, “Who are the All Stars today?”

  “The three of us, Garrett, Ellen and, oh what’s the kid’s name? Taylor?” revealed Grey. “Todd too, if he gets here. He was working in Baltimore last night.”

  “Who for?”

  “A new act Jason signed,” answered Jethro. “Kneebone, I think. They needed a guitar tech at short notice. Just for one show.”

  “Kid’s a workaholic,” muttered Jake, genuinely concerned that his protégé and guitar tech was taking on too much.

  “He’s young and keen,” countered Jethro calmly. “Besides, Maddison told him to go. He’s shit scared of her so didn’t dare say no.”

  The relaxed, cosy atmosphere lasted all afternoon. Shortly after four, Paul declared the food to be ready and there was a short period of organised chaos as the extended Silver Lake family settled themselves round the trestle tables, passing trays and bowls of food around.

  “Oh, I love parties like this!” sighed Maddy as Grey lifted the last remaining hamburger. “Good food. Good friends and paper plates!”

  “Amen,” said Jethro, who had assumed his usual patriarchal seat at the head of the table. “Now, how about an acoustic All Stars set while we digest that food?”

  “My gear’s still in the truck,” revealed Jake. “Give me a half-hour to get set up.”

  “A half-hour? You got ten minutes, Mr Power!” joked Maddy.

  “Yes, boss!”

  It took the musicians a few minutes to get themselves sorted out then, just as they thought they were ready, Todd arrived. He quickly set up his own guitar then announced he was hungry. While Paul headed off to grill another batch of hamburgers, Jake shouted to Garrett, Ellen and Taylor to join him.

  “Let’s keep these good people entertained,” he said as he settled himself on one of Maddy’s wooden bar stools.

  “What we playing?” asked Taylor.

  With a knowing nod to Garrett, Jake said, “Let’s get this song out of the way first. Li’l lady, listen up. This is for you before you ask for it.”

  “Simple Man?” asked Lori hopefully.

  “But of course.”

  “Every time,” sighed Garrett, faking exasperation. “So, predictable, Mrs Power.”

  “I just love that song,” confessed Lori, feeling her cheeks flush scarlet.

  Accompanied by Garrett and Taylor, Jake began the song. Gently, he fingerpicked the intro then began to sing, “Mama told me when I was young….”

  Recognising their daddy’s voice, both Jesse and Melody came running back down the yard to sit on the edge of the sun deck.

  Seeing his son watching and paying such close attention tugged at Jake’s heart. In his heart, he hoped the little boy was listening to the words but his head told him Jesse was way too young to understand.

  As the last notes floated off down the yard, Ellen whispered something to Tailz who nodded.

  “Ellen?” asked Jake, inclining his head towards her. “You got a plan?”

  “Humour me,” said After Life’s songbird with a wink.

  As Tailz played a delicate familiar melody, Ellen started to sing, “There is a castle on a cloud...”

  She kept her voice clear and child-like until she reached the line, “She says Cosette I love you very much” then changed her tone to a dark, menacing mood to sing the final verse.

  “Awesome!” shrieked Maddy, clapping her hands. “After Life do Les Mis!”

  “Just a bit of fun,” giggled Ellen, nudging Taylor. “You next.”

  Once the All Stars started to play, they kept playing. Taking it in turn, the various musicians chose the next song to be performed. On the odd occasion that they didn’t all know the song of choice, that person would sit it out and grab the opportunity to replenish their drink. The impromptu gig had no setlist and jumped from acoustic to electric; from country to hard rock; from male lead to female lead. Silver Lake songs and After Life favourites were played side by side with the occasional Weigh Station classic thrown in for good measure. Garrett surprised them all by singing some of his own solo stuff but politely declined to play anything from his Royal Court days.

  Gradually, the sun set and, as the lightning bugs began to flit about in the dusky shadows, the kids all made their way onto the deck, slowly sneaking closer and closer to their mothers. Both Grey and Kola’s little girls were curled up either side of their mommy, resting their sleepy heads on her growing baby bump. It didn’t surprise Jake to see Wren and Melody snuggled into Becky while Jesse had curled up in Lori’s lap and was sound asleep with his thumb tucked into his mouth.

  “We need to think about getting these little rock stars home to bed,” said Jake, laying aside his Gibson SG. “One more to round things off, ok?”

  “What’ll it be, son?” asked Jethro, who had Hayden cuddled in beside him on an old rocking chair.

  “Maddison, it’s your show,” began Jake. “Your choice, boss.”

  “Hmm,” mused Silver Lake’s tour manager a glint of mischief twinkling in her eyes. “I’m in the mood for a ballad…. a power ballad.” She paused, “Sister Christian.”

  “Jeez, I’ve not sung that one in more than ten years,” laughed Jake, instantly reaching into his memory banks for the lyrics. “Guys, do you know it?”

  The others nodded.

  “Ellen?”

  “I’ll help out on the chorus,” she said shyly.

  “Ok, let’s do this. It could fail epically!”

  As he prepared to play, Jake felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Ignoring the buzzing against hi
s upper thigh, he took a deep breath and counted the All Stars in. Keeping his eyes on Maddy, Jake began to sing, “Sister Christian, oh the time has come.”

  The harmonies that Ellen produced for the chorus gave him goosebumps. Every time he heard her sing, her voice just got better and better. Instead of executing the guitar solo himself, Jake gave Garrett the nod, allowing the older musician to shine for a couple of minutes before he and Ellen ended the song together. As he sang the outro, Ellen delivered a long whispery note and held it as he sang, “But you’re motoring. Yeah. Motoring.”

  “Perfect!” proclaimed Maddy with a smile. “Been meaning to ask you to sing that one for a long time.”

  “Well done on remembering the words,” added Grey as he unplugged his bass. “Don’t think we’ve played that since a wedding we played at on the outskirts of Salisbury.”

  “That was a long, long time ago,” laughed Jake, remembering the wedding vividly. “The bride’s father was so drunk he passed out. We nearly never got paid. The cash was in his pants pocket and no one wanted to waken him. He had a reputation as a nasty fighting drunk. Eventually, his wife paid us using the gift money the newlyweds had got in their cards. Felt bad about that one.”

  “Yeah and we got short-changed by a hundred and fifty bucks,” added Paul.

  “Precious memories,” agreed Grey. “Right, time to get my girls home.”

  Within minutes of leaving the farmhouse, both Jesse and Melody were sound asleep in their car seats. The roads were quiet and, as they drove back to the beach house, Jake and Lori kept their eyes peeled for fireworks. Both of them agreed it had been a perfect day and one of Maddy’s best parties.

  “She’s already planning for New Year’s,” revealed Lori with a smile. “They’re planning on being back up in New York and she wants us all there.”

  “Lord help us!” laughed Jake as he turned the truck onto E Lake Drive. “That girl takes this party planning seriously.”

  “She certainly does,” agreed Lori giggling. “And, like your tours, they’re always a success.”

  “True,” conceded Jake.