“That’ll be great!”
He hugged Willetta, then Deborah Anne. “You were terrific. Lavelle is going to love you.”
“Triage, thanks so much for tonight,” Deborah Anne began, but before she could finish, his bodyguard had pulled him away.
Willetta and Deborah Anne left the auditorium through a back door and went to their car. By the time they made it to the hotel room, the adrenaline was fading and yawns were taking its place.
But even after they’d undressed, they stayed up talking until the beginning of a new day’s light shone through the window. Only then did their eyes finally close.
CHAPTER 6
DEBORAH ANNE PUNCHED LAVELLE’S NAME INTO the computer and waited for his website to appear. She read through his biography and his group’s history. She was engrossed in the tour information and so was startled by the voice behind her.
“I didn’t even know you were here,” Virginia said.
“Hi, Mama. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I could tell.” Virginia chuckled. “Whatever you’re working on must be important.” She kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Where’s your car?”
“Willetta borrowed it when we got back from Atlanta this afternoon. Uncle Moses took hers to the shop.”
“So how was the concert?” Virginia asked as she smoothed her nurse’s uniform and sat on the bed.
Deborah Anne stood up from the desk. “Mama, it was fantastic. I’d never been that close to the stage before, and . . .” She paused, grinning as she remembered the moment. “Triage pulled me onto the stage to sing with him.”
Virginia smiled. “Really? I bet that was a thrill.”
Deborah Anne sat next to her mother and took her hands. “Mama, it was just like I’d imagined. I was a little scared in the beginning, but only for a minute. Then I felt like I belonged there.”
The front door slammed, and just seconds later, Elijah came into the room. “There’re my girls! I’m glad you made it back safely.” He smiled widely as Deborah Anne kissed him. “How was your little trip?”
“Eli, Deborah Anne was just telling me she sang onstage with Milton.”
Elijah’s smile seemed to narrow a bit. “Well, that must’ve been something.”
“It was, Daddy.” Deborah Anne noticed that her father’s smile wasn’t as bright as it had been, but at least it was still there. “I always knew that I wanted to do that, but I wasn’t sure how I’d feel onstage.”
“Baby, you’re onstage just about every Sunday at church.”
Deborah Anne scrunched her face, but then smiled when she noticed her father’s stare. “Daddy, this was a real stage, with thousands of people watching me.” Her eyes lit up with the excitement of the memory. “I know this is how I want to use what God gave me.”
His smile totally disappeared. “Well, let me get out of this suit. I went with Pastor Duncan to the city meeting, and I’m ready to relax.”
“Okay, honey,” said Virginia. “I’ll start dinner in a moment.”
Deborah Anne waited until she heard her father close the bedroom door at the far end of the hallway. Then she whispered, “Mama, what’s wrong with Daddy?”
Virginia shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Come on, Mama. You saw the way Daddy changed when he found out I sang with Triage. And neither you nor Daddy has said anything about me sending in the tape. We have to talk about it sometime.”
“All right.” Virginia sighed. She ran her hand over her silver ponytail. “You know your father is very proud of you. He just thought that you were going to use that beautiful voice of yours to serve God.”
“Oh, Mama. Daddy of all people should know that there are lots of ways to do that. I don’t think Christians have to always be doing something ‘Christian.’ The way you and Daddy raised me, helped make me who I am, I’ll be able to lift up God’s name. I can make a big difference by singing with Lavelle or someone like him. I can bring more people to God that way.”
“You sound so sure,” Virginia said matter-of-factly.
Deborah nodded. “I am sure. It doesn’t matter what I do; I’ll always find a way to serve God. You won’t have to worry about that, Mama. I promise, you and Daddy will be proud of me.”
Virginia placed her palm against her daughter’s cheek. “We’re already proud of you, sweetheart. Your father just wants good things for you.”
The shrill sound of the phone stopped Deborah Anne from responding.
“I’m going to get dinner ready.” Virginia stood up.
Deborah Anne sighed as she picked up her phone. She hoped her parents realized that she was going to go through with this. If Lavelle Roberts ever called . . .
“Hello.”
“May I speak with Deborah Peterson, please?”
She frowned, not recognizing the male voice. “This is Deborah speaking.”
“Ms. Peterson, my name is Charles Wilson. I’m calling on behalf of Lavelle Roberts.”
She dropped onto her bed. “Yes?” she said softly.
“We received your tape last week and would like you to come to Los Angeles for an audition.”
Inside, she screamed, Oh my God! but with all the composure she could muster, she replied, “I’m surprised it’s so soon.”
“Well, we’re speeding up the process. We’re starting a U.S. tour in a couple of months and have to get ready. That’s why we’re hoping that you’ll be able to come out by the end of next week. Do you want to check your calendar?”
For what? Deborah Anne thought. “Uh . . . no, next week will be fine.”
Deborah Anne jotted down the information that Charles gave her, then she gave him her fax number at work just in case.
“We’ll send your tickets and itinerary FedEx on Monday, so look for the package on Tuesday. I look forward to meeting you, Ms. Peterson.”
“Please, call me Deborah A—. . . call me Deborah.”
The moment they exchanged good-byes, Deborah Anne shrieked and ran into the kitchen.
“What is it, baby?” Virginia asked, as she tied an apron around her waist.
“Mama, you and Daddy cannot have any doubts, because everything’s happening so quickly. All of my prayers are being answered.”
“What are you talking about?”
Deborah Anne took a deep breath, trying to calm her shaking. “That phone call was from Lavelle Roberts. They want to fly me to Los Angeles for an audition.”
Virginia put her hand on her chest, then smiled. “Well, baby, that’s wonderful,” she said, hugging her daughter and hoping her husband was ready for this news.
“They’re making the arrangements and want me to fly out the end of next week.”
“Will you be able to get the time off from work?”
Deborah Anne waved her hand in the air. “I have tons of time coming to me, but if I didn’t have a day, it wouldn’t matter. I’m going to LA. This is so exciting.”
“What’s the hoopla about now?” Elijah asked as he came into the kitchen.
“Daddy, I got the call! I’m going to Los Angeles for the audition.”
Elijah looked at Deborah Anne for a long moment, then left the room.
“Oh, Mama.”
“Now don’t worry, baby. Your father will be just fine. Give him some time to digest this. You’ve got to admit it’s so sudden.”
Deborah Anne nodded.
“Let me finish dinner.”
“You want some help?” Deborah Anne asked.
“No, you just enjoy this moment. You probably want to call Willetta or something.”
Deborah Anne went back to her room and closed the door behind her. She jumped up and down, raising her hands in praise.
“Thank You, Father, thank You!” she said over and over again. It was all that she could say. Finally, she walked to the window and rested her head against the cool glass pane.
The late afternoon sun shone brilliantly on the backyard garden that Elijah worked on every weekend. There wasn’t much colo
r now, but as winter gradually gave way to spring, Deborah Anne could see the shifting of the seasons. The trees that had been bare just a few weeks ago were now stirring with new life. Colored shoots were pushing their way through the dirt—the signs of the roses, peonies, and coneflowers that Elijah had planted a few months ago. In just a few weeks, the yard would be alive with every hue of the rainbow.
Deborah Anne lay on her bed. Where would she be when the flowers finally bloomed? What would the Lord have in store for her?
She picked up her journal, wanting to record everything that she was feeling. Her hand moved quickly across the page.
Careful, creative, loving hands
You have, Lord—the greatest artist.
You made such lovely things,
Both Heaven and earth.
I only have to look around
To survey Your handiworks.
Careful, creative, loving hands
You have, Lord—the greatest artist.
With Your great and wondrous hands
You made man and woman.
I only have to look around
To see Your love revealed.
Careful, creative, loving hands
You have, Lord—the greatest artist.
There are no words that I can say
To Praise You, Lord of Love.
I only have to look around
To revel in Your Arms.
She pressed the pen against her lips as she thought, then smiled. “The Artist.” That’s what she’d call this.
Deborah Anne read the words once again, nodding in satisfaction. Closing her journal, she leaned back against the headboard. There was so much to think about, but one thing she was sure of—this was right. First, she’d met Triage in church, on the day Pastor Duncan was preaching about gifts and talents. Next, she’d sent the tape, and a few days later she found herself living her dream onstage with Triage. Now Lavelle’s people had called her in less than a week. This couldn’t be anything else but God. Of that she was sure. Now it was time to convince her parents.
CHAPTER 7
DEBORAH ANNE WAS WORKING HARD TO FINISH her paperwork. Even though she’d be in Los Angeles for only a day, she needed to take three days off from work. And with such short notice, she wanted all of her files to be in order.
Her phone rang, and Deborah Anne picked it up without looking away from the files in front of her. “Peterson,” she answered in her work voice.
“Hey, Deborah Anne. I heard that you’re coming my way.”
“Triage!” she exclaimed, then lowered her voice so she wouldn’t be heard over her cubicle wall. She knew he was in Los Angeles, having left the day after his Atlanta concert. “How did you find out?”
“I told you I was going to keep checking on you. I found out this morning.”
“They called me on Saturday, and I’m leaving tomorrow morning. The audition is on Thursday.”
“I know all the details.” He laughed. “I had to make sure they were treating my girl right. So are you excited?”
She leaned back in her chair. “You have no idea. I haven’t slept in days. Even Mama is excited, though Daddy is still moping a bit.”
“He’ll get over it once you start making the big bucks.”
Deborah Anne sighed. “It’s not about money for him. He just wants to make sure that I’m doing the right thing.”
“I can understand that, but you’re sure about this, right?”
“Oh, definitely,” she said.
“Good, because I’m sure too. When I heard you sing in church, Deborah Anne, I was blown away. You left a big impression on me, and I know it’ll be the same with Lavelle.”
“I hope so. Do you think we’ll get a chance to see you while we’re out there?”
“Yeah, I’ll pick you up at the airport. Who’s coming with you?”
“My cousin Bubba. Mama wanted to come, but Bubba begged. I think if it were a longer trip, Mama would have, but when Bubba promised to be in church every Sunday, my parents decided to let him take the trip.”
They laughed.
Deborah Anne gave Triage her flight information, then leaned back in her chair after she hung up the phone. In less than twenty-four hours, no matter what happened with this audition, her life would never be the same. She’d be leaving Georgia for the very first time, taking her first airplane trip, and, finally, meeting one of the biggest entertainers in the world. She forced these thoughts to the back of her mind, though, and returned to the files on her desk. There would be more than enough time to think once she was done.
Deborah Anne pressed against the back of the airline seat and gripped the armrests. She closed her eyes and muttered a prayer. She was still holding her breath when she felt the plane level off, and only then did she open her eyes.
“Are you all right, Deborah Anne?” Bubba asked.
She nodded. “It doesn’t even feel like we’re moving.”
Bubba laughed, and his full cheeks jiggled. He handed her a magazine, but she shook her head, instead pulling the opened FedEx envelope from her briefcase. Lavelle’s people had sent sheet music along with her tickets, and she’d been studying it for two days.
“Girl, you don’t need to look at that stuff no more. Aunt Virginia told my mama you were at the piano all night.” Bubba laughed.
“That’s not true, but I just want to be prepared.”
“Whatever.” He turned back to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
Deborah Anne continued reading over the music until lunch was served. Minutes later, the main cabin became dark, and Deborah Anne put on the headphones for the movie, glad to have the distraction of Taye Diggs and the rest of the ensemble in The Best Man. By the time the plane began its descent, Deborah Anne felt like a flying pro.
They were sitting in the fourth row of the main cabin, so they got off the plane quickly. The moment they walked through the gate, they saw a tall, slender Black man, dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and black bow tie, holding a sign: “Deborah Anne Peterson.”
“I’m Deborah A—. . . Deborah Peterson.”
The man smiled and took her carry-on bag, laying it on a cart.
“I’m Bubba,” her cousin said. “What’s your name?”
“Anthony,” the man replied, as he took Bubba’s bag. “There’s a car waiting for you outside.”
Bubba and Deborah Anne looked at each other in amazement, and then followed Anthony down the long Delta terminal.
“I thought you said Triage was going to meet us,” Bubba whispered, disappointment clearly in his voice.
“He probably had something to do. Don’t worry, he has the hotel’s number. He’ll probably call us there. You’ll get your chance to meet him.”
Outside, the LA sun made Deborah Anne take off the new denim jacket that matched her jeans, and both she and Bubba put on their sunglasses.
“Welcome to Cali!” Bubba laughed with excitement.
They stood behind Anthony as he signaled to a sleek black car just a few feet away. Slowly, the car moved toward them.
“Hey, I like how they do it here,” Bubba said. “Two chauffeurs.”
When the limousine stopped, the window slowly lowered. Deborah Anne peeked inside. “Triage!”
He smiled, but put a finger over his lips. “Sshh, girl. I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.” He jumped from the front seat and rushed to open the door for them as Anthony put their bags into the trunk.
“I’m so glad to see you.” Deborah smiled and scooted next to him in the backseat.
“What’s wrong? Getting the jitters?” He put his arm around her shoulders.
Deborah Anne nodded. “I was confident, but now—”
“Ah, girl, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
“That’s what I keep telling her.” Bubba grinned. “My cousin can sing something fierce.”
“Remember to tell me that on our way home, okay?” Deborah Anne laughed. “By the way, this is my cousin Bubba.” Deb
orah Anne motioned to her cousin, and the two men shook hands. Anthony got into the front seat and slowly moved the car away from the curb. Traffic was Wednesday-afternoon light, so Anthony was able to pick up speed as they exited onto Century Boulevard.
“You guys aren’t going to be here for too long, so I thought I’d take you to see some sights this afternoon. Are you up for it?” Both Deborah Anne and Bubba nodded as the limousine sped down LaCienega Boulevard.
Los Angeles, like Atlanta, was a blur of concrete to Deborah Anne. Somehow, she’d expected this city to be a little different. While they moved along, Triage pointed out everything from Magic Johnson’s Starbucks to the Hollywood sign that Triage told them was a treat to see. “There’s usually so much smog, we only get to see that sign five times a year.” He laughed.
They pulled into the Beverly Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard, and Anthony waited while they checked in. Once they had the keys to the suite, they left their bags with the concierge and returned to the car, anxious to continue the tour.
As they moved slowly down Melrose, Deborah Anne and Bubba pointed to shops with window mannequins covered in clothes she’d never imagine anyone wearing. Bubba laughed at the groups of teenagers with pink, blue, and green spiked hair and various forms of body piercing.
“There’s Spike Lee’s store,” Triage pointed out.
“Oh, man. Can we stop?” Bubba asked.
Triage nodded. “No problem, but I’m not getting out. I want to take it easy today.”
Bubba asked Deborah Anne, “Are you coming?”
She shook her head. When Bubba ran into the store, Deborah Anne said, “I guess it’s like this for you all the time. You can’t go anywhere.”
“Not without a bodyguard or a heavy disguise, though I have my secret place. But since I chose this life, I live with it.”
Deborah Anne was thoughtfully quiet.
“Girl, don’t let that bother you. There are more good parts to this business than bad.”
“Believe me, I don’t think it would bother me.”
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