Visualising being surrounded by trees, Jake settled down to sleep, wishing he was home at the beach house cuddled round Lori with the soothing sounds of the ocean in the background. Four weeks away from the ocean was going to be tough. With a pang of homesickness, Jake felt as though he’d been forced into exile. As sleep wrapped itself around him, he prayed his exile would end on November 7th.
“Can we call Daddy tonight?” asked Melody as Lori helped to zip up her rain jacket. “I want to tell him about the song I learned. He’ll be real impressed.”
“Your daddy is always impressed,” replied Lori, avoiding answering her daughter.
“But can I call him tonight?”
“We’ll see, Miss M,” said Lori calmly. “No promises.”
As they headed out to the car, Melody said, “I miss my Daddy.”
Silently, Lori thought, “So do I.”
When she returned to the house after dropping the kids off, Lori followed her usual routine. She loaded the dishwasher, poured a coffee then headed to her workspace. Just as she sat down to log into her laptop, her phone rang.
“Good morning, Maddison.”
“Good morning. You checked your mail yet?”
“Give me time!” laughed Lori. “I’ve just sat down at my desk. Laptop’s logging on.”
“Great. Dr Marrs has sent you some samples. There’s a meeting at JJL this afternoon to talk about the artwork ideas,” gushed Maddy enthusiastically.
“I can’t do this afternoon,” replied Lori, checking her calendar. “I can do tomorrow though.”
“Why can’t you do today?” quizzed the band’s manager sharply.
“I’ve an antenatal appointment.”
Realising what she had let slip, Lori gasped.
“Antenatal?” echoed Maddy, sounding stunned.
“Not a word, Maddison,” cautioned Lori bluntly. “No one knows. Not even Jake. Especially not Jake!”
“You’re pregnant!”
“Yes,” sighed Lori, almost relieved to have her secret out in the open. “I’m about sixteen weeks.”
“Sixteen weeks and I’m only finding out now!” shrieked Maddy. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. There’s been so much going on. It wasn’t planned. I only found out myself a couple of weeks ago.”
“A couple of weeks ago,” echoed Maddy. “You’ve had two kids. How did you not know?”
“I don’t know. There were no symptoms. No morning sickness. Then one day I was sick….”
“Oh, Lori,” sighed Maddy, her tone softening. “You should have said.”
“Well, you were busy having a hissy fit about what happened out at JJL.”
“I was, wasn’t I?”
There was silence for a few moments then Maddy said, “If I push the meeting back, can you make it?”
“If I can get Annie to pick up the kids for me, I can be there for four,” compromised Lori.
“Annie’s picking up the meatballs,” began Maddy. “So, I’m sure she’ll take your two along for the ride.”
“I’ll call her,” said Lori. “But not a word to a soul about this baby.”
“Not a word,” promised Maddy.
“Promise?”
“I promise,” reassured her friend. “But if you’re sixteen weeks, surely you’ve got a bump?”
Rubbing her rounded belly, Lori giggled, “And I’ve plenty of loose sweaters.”
“Lori!”
“I’ll see you at four, Maddy.”
“I’ll see both of you at four.”
When she logged into her emails, Lori opened the mail from Dr Marrs first. He’d attached four full songs for her to listen to. Hearing the freshly mixed Silver Lake music and listening to both Jake’s vocals and Rich’s guitar tore at her heart. By the time she played the final music file, Shattered Hearts, tears were pouring down her cheeks. She ached to pick up her phone and call Jake. As she wiped away her tears, Lori felt the baby kicking furiously. Fresh tears fell as she realised that she couldn’t hide her pregnancy much longer; fresh tears fell as she realised that she had to make a decision about her future, about her family’s future.
“Must be a Power family trait,” observed Grey with a wink as Lori arrived twenty minutes late for the meeting at JJL.
“I came prepared,” she laughed as she waved a twenty-dollar bill in the air. “Sorry. I got held up.”
“You’re here now that’s what counts,” said Maddison warmly. “Did you listen to the samples?”
“Several times,” replied Lori, passing the twenty-dollar bill to Grey. “Loved them. Intense. So much emotion.”
“Too much emotion?” asked Grey, looking concerned.
“No,” said Lori, taking a seat beside him on the leather couch. “The diehard fans will get more, I suspect than any newer or more casual fans. Songs I heard are awesome. Loved Sting In The Tail and Shattered Hearts sounds incredible. So raw.”
“You’ve done a great job with those, Jim,” complimented Jethro from his seat beside Maddy. “Are you guys agreed on a title for this one?”
“We are,” replied Paul.
“And it is?” enquired Lori, glancing over at the band’s drummer expectantly.
With a drum roll on the table, Paul glanced at Grey before revealing, “Shattered Hearts.”
“Perfect,” nodded Lori, feeling tears pricking at her eyes. “Rich would’ve approved.”
“I hope so,” sighed Paul with a small smile. “The three of us decided early on that there really only was one choice for a title.”
“Shattered Hearts,” repeated Jethro, nodding. “Poignant. Media will love it.”
“Any ideas for a design to match that?” asked Grey, turning to face Lori.
“I might have something in mind,” she replied, smiling at him. “When do you need the artwork done by?”
“End of October. First week in November at the latest,” stated Maddy, checking her schedule on her cell. “First single is due out December 8th so we need that cover fast.”
“What’s the first single to be?”
“Longitude Latitude,” replied Jethro. “Still to be confirmed for definite.”
“Sting In The Tail still gets my vote,” challenged Grey.
“I thought you might have gone with a ballad,” observed Lori.
“Shattered Hearts is still under consideration,” added Maddy. “We’re meeting Jason on the 17th to decide.”
“That’s only two days away. Please tell me you don’t need anything by then!” exclaimed Lori, praying that the answer was “no”.
“It’s fine, Lori,” assured Jethro. “But if we could have the design by the end of the first week in November that would help.”
“By November 7th I assume?”
Maddy nodded, “5th ideally. There’s a full band meeting at the label’s offices on the 6th before we head to New York for Garrett’s launch.”
“Ok, I can do that,” agreed Lori, confident that she could pull something together in three weeks. “When do I get to hear the rest of the record? Might help to speed up the conceptualisation.”
“I can get you a copy,” offered Dr Marrs warmly. “Thought Lord Jason would’ve sent you the whole file.”
“I only got four tracks,” revealed Lori, conscious that the baby was kicking furiously. “But, I have half an idea for the design.”
“Well, let’s get you the rest so you can pull together a whole idea,” teased Grey, watching her closely.
“Thanks.”
Over the next hour or so, they debated what other designs they would potentially need to tie in with the album cover. By the time Maddy was bringing the meeting to a close, Lori had a lengthy list of supplementary items that would be required. Promising to cost the job out by the end of the week, she was the first to rise to leave. Leaning heavily on her cane, Lori promised to call Maddy after she’d got the kids into bed.
As she opened the door of her SUV, Lori heard footsteps behind her.
“Lori, wait up!” called Grey as he came across towards her.
“Everything ok?” she asked, noting the anxious look on his face,
“You tell me,” countered the bass player calmly.
“Pardon?”
“When are you going to tell him?” asked Grey simply. “I assume Jake doesn’t know. I spoke to him last night and he never said anything.”
“Oh,” said Lori softly, gazing down at her baby bump that she’d so carefully hidden under the long black sweater.
“Lori, I have four kids,” laughed Grey. “And an eye for a pretty, pregnant woman.”
“Stop it!” giggled Lori, her cheeks flushing scarlet.
“Well?”
“Jake doesn’t know yet,” she replied quietly.
“He deserves to know.”
“I know but things are still so messed up,” sighed Lori, her eyes filling with tears.
“Do you remember the blessing I read out at your wedding?” began Grey warmly.
With a tear gliding down her cheek, Lori looked up at him.
“Treat yourselves and each other with respect and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment the sun is still there.”
“Maybe Jake’s not the only one who forgot our vows,” said Lori softly. “Thanks, Grey.”
Reaching out to hug her, Grey whispered, “Just talk to each other.”
“Three Dead Mice?” muttered Garrett, reading the poster on the rock bar’s door. “Three Dead Mice? Jake, you sure about this?”
Grinning, Jake nodded, “Positive. Been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a gig in a dive like this.”
“I don’t ever recall enjoying a gig in a shit hole like this,” declared the older musician sourly as he followed Jake into the crowded bar.
At the far end of the small venue, the stage was already set up. Scanning the crowd, Jake gauged that Rob’s band had just about filled the venue. Guessing that the bar maybe held about a hundred and fifty, Jake was impressed to see it so full on a Thursday evening.
In the corner, the old-fashioned jukebox was blasting out a Weigh Station classic. Instantly, Jake felt at home.
“Beer?” he checked with Garrett, who was also scanning the room.
“For starters.”
“Relax,” said Jake, putting a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll watch the band, have a few beers then head home. It’s a school night after all.”
There was one local support band on the bill, Nu, and as Jake ordered their drinks at the bar, they hit the stage. Unable to quash his inner teacher, Jake found himself inwardly criticising the balance of their sound. The four young musicians on stage were delivering a solid, classic rock set, throwing in Black Sabbath and ACDC covers to make up for the lack of original material. He’d guided Garrett to a spot close to the front but still in the shadows to the side. The band’s merchandise table was set up just to their right. While Nu were playing their penultimate number, another fan-friendly cover, Jake wandered over to the girl at the merch table.
“Hi,” he said, flashing her a “Power” smile. “How much for a Dead Mice shirt?”
“Twenty bucks,” she replied without looking up from her cell.
“And a CD?”
“Ten,” she said, finally taking her eyes off the phone. “Shit! You’re him! Rob wasn’t joking!”
“Sh,” said Jake, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself. “I’ll take a shirt in an XL and a CD.”
“Sure. Thirty bucks,” she said, looking and sounding star struck.
Handing over the cash, Jake said, “Can you let Rob know Garrett and I are here? We’re standing over there.”
“He’ll be stoked that you came. He’s not stopped talking about you for the last two days.”
“Looking forward to their set,” said Jake with a smile. “Tell him I’ll buy him a beer later.”
“Sure,” said the girl, reaching for her phone.
Shortly after ten, Three Dead Mice stepped out onto the small stage to loud cheers and whistles from the crowd. With a smile, Jake noted that Rob was playing the black SG. He kept his eyes on the young musician, noting his playing style and vocal delivery. There was a surprising amount of talent in the youngster with a good balance of confidence without an ounce of arrogance.
“Kid’s got talent,” commented Garrett with a nod of approval. “I’m pleasantly surprised.”
“Kid’s got a lot of talent,” agreed Jake, before downing the remains of his beer.
While Garett headed back to the bar for more beers, Jake edged closer to the front of the venue. Three Dead Mice were playing the third song of their set and he soon found his head nodding in appreciation of their pounding hard rock.
“New York, how the hell are you tonight?” screamed Rob at the end of the song.
A loud cheer surged back at him.
“We’re living a fucking dream this week,” continued Rob, gazing straight towards where Jake was standing. “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to a great guy this week. He made one of my dreams come true. It’s an honour that he’s here tonight to see this second dream come true. We have sold this place out tonight! Our first ever sell-out show, folks!”
A thunderous roar rattled round the jam-packed venue.
“There is one more thing that would make this week absolutely fucking perfect,” began Rob, looking straight at Jake. “And that would be if the guy who helped me out with this guitar would step up here and join us.”
Returning at that moment with their beers, Garrett nudged Jake and said, “Well you heard the kid. Get up there. Make his week!”
With a grin, Jake made his way towards the stage. He had to squeeze his way through the Dead Mice fans in front of the stage but, when they realised who was in their midst, they moved aside for him. Eventually, he muscled his way to the front and hoisted himself up onto the small stage.
“Never let it be said that I stood in the way of someone’s dreams coming true,” joked Jake as he stood beside Rob.
“Wow! Just fucking wow!” gasped the younger musician, suddenly star-struck and lost for words.
“Folks, give it up for Three Dead Mice!” bellowed Jake. “Now, is this a rock show? What we playing up here, guys?”
The band’s only crew member handed Jake the spare guitar that the band had. He smiled as he slipped the strap of the beat-up Epiphone Les Paul over his shoulder.
“Who wants to hear a Silver Lake song?” asked Rob, regaining his composure.
Inclining his head towards him, Jake asked, “Any one in particular?”
“Engine Room?” suggested Rob with a nod to the band’s bass player and drummer.
Turning to the fans, Jake said, “Totally unrehearsed this is Engine Room!”
With a nod to the band around him, Jake began the pounding intro to the Silver Lake anthem. Either side of him, Rob and Three Dead Mice’s bass player kept up, following his lead. A glance and a nod from Rob were enough to communicate to Jake that he was to take the lead on the vocals. Conscious that he hadn’t warmed up, Jake initially held back a bit with his vocal but, by the end of the first verse, as he encouraged Rob to join in, he was in full flow.
Relishing being on stage with a musical icon, Three Dead Mice played their hearts out, nailing the complex Silver Lake song. Graciously, Jake stepped back and allowed Rob his time in the spotlight with the short but intricate mid-song solo. The two vocalists came together for the final verse and chorus, ending the song amid deafening cheers and whistles from the small but passionate crowd.
“Thank you,” said Jake with a grin. �
�Pleasure to be playing up here with these guys.”
“Who wants Jake to play one more?” roared Rob with a wink.
Judging by the crowd’s responding roar, the music fans wanted Jake to play on. Amid a frenzy of foot-stomping from the crowd, Jake said, “Ok. OK. One more.”
Turning to the members of Three Dead Mice, he said, “What’ll it be, boys?”
“Your choice,” replied the band’s bass player.
“You guys know Mysteries?” asked Jake hopefully.
Much to his relief, Rob nodded.
“OK, folks. Mysteries!” declared Jake to the audience then quietly as he turned towards Rob, “I’ll start, you take the next verse then trade verse about.”
“Got you,” nodded Rob as the band prepared to play.
Two more songs and twenty minutes later, Jake took off the borrowed guitar and calmly said to the audience, “You guys paid to hear Three Dead Mice so I’m going to jump off stage and grab a beer and enjoy the rest of the show. Give it up for Three Dead Mice, New York!”
With the cheers ringing round the room, the band resumed their planned set as Jake made his way back to where Garrett was waiting. The older musician handed him his beer, commenting, “I’m guessing you enjoyed that?”
“That was fun,” agreed Jake, before taking a long chug on his beer. “Those kids are good. Really tight.”
“Yeah, they’re great,” agreed Garrett, keeping his eyes on the stage. “I suspect they’ll go far, especially if Silver Lake take them out on the road next time out.”
“Now that’s not a bad idea.”
Staring down at the doodles all over the sheet of paper on her drawing board, Lori sighed. She’d spent two days playing around with ideas for the Silver Lake record. The page was littered with half-drawn themes but nothing seemed to fit. True to his word, Dr Marrs had sent her through the remaining files, with the caveat that they weren't much more than demos. Hearing the powerful and raw emotions in the tracks and hearing Rich’s distinctive playing style had torn at her own heart. What the band had accomplished gave her some insight into just how tough this record had been for them to complete.
Shattered Hearts Page 32