Stronger Within (The Silver Lake Series Book 1)

by McCallum, Coral

  “You still working?” he asked, surprised to find her still bent over the drawing board.

  “Yes,” she replied, without looking up,

  “Want me to fix dinner?” offered Jake.

  “Please. There’s some chicken breasts in the refrigerator and some fresh pasta.”

  “Ok, I’ll see what I can come up with.”

  If nothing else, Jake’s stint at the pizza place had taught him basic cooking skills and, by the time Lori wandered through from the study, he had prepared chicken Parmesan and was boiling some pasta to go with it.

  “Smells great,” she complimented. “Are we eating in or out?”

  “Out. We’ve been indoors most of the day.”

  Lori had only just finished setting the table and fetching them both a juice when Jake carried their dinner out. It was still hot outside, despite the hour. The record breaking heat wave hadn’t broken yet but, at least, there was a gentle breeze wafting in off the ocean. The chicken was delicious. Lori hadn’t realised how hungry she was until she had sat down at the table.

  “This is fabulous,” she complimented, warmly. “You should cook more often, rock star.”

  “Thanks,” he replied, with a smile. “I don’t mind cooking. It beats starvation!”

  A few moments later, Lori spoke again, “Jake, there’s something I want to ask.”

  “What?” he asked, looking concerned.

  “How would you feel about moving in here?”

  The question caught him off guard and he stopped in his tracks, a forkful of dinner half way to his mouth, “Are you serious?”

  Lori nodded, “You spend more than half your time here anyway and I don’t like the times when you’re not here. It feels right.”

  “I’d like that,” he said softly. “I’ve been thinking the same thing, but didn’t want to say anything. I’m not sure I’m ready to give up the lease on my apartment yet though.”

  “I’m not asking you to,” said Lori. “Lord, I’ll pay your rental if need be but I’d like you to be here more.”

  “I’m not taking your money,” Jake said firmly. “But I’d love to live here with you.”

  “That’s settled then,” she said with a smile. “When do you want to move your stuff in?”

  “I guess half of its here already,” he acknowledged, sheepishly. “I’ll collect my clothes tomorrow or Wednesday.”

  “I’ve already cleared space in the closet for you,” she confessed, her cheeks flushing scarlet.

  “Confident, weren’t you?” teased Jake with a laugh.

  “Optimistic.”

  Raising his half empty juice glass, Jake said, “Here’s to us and happy days.”

  “Happy days.”

  When their meal was over, they both worked together to clear the table and tidy the kitchen. As she stacked the dishwasher Lori said, “I’ve been thinking about the basement.”

  “The basement?”

  “Yes. I had originally planned to convert it into my studio, but there’s not enough natural light. How would you feel if I converted it into a proper rehearsal space for you guys? Sound proof it a bit,” she suggested.

  “Hey, that’s too much, li’l lady,” he protested.

  “Not really. I had a chat with Maddy and the construction bit is cheap. You’ve already got all your own equipment. Maddy said some of your stage gear could be moved here too, if need be or she can arrange equipment hire as needed.”

  “You two have this all worked out, haven’t you?”

  “Yes,” said Lori, reaching to hug him. “Also, if you decide to teach guitar again, you could use it as a teaching space.”

  “There’s no point in saying no, is there?”

  “No,” said Lori, kissing him on the cheek. “It’s all lined up. I just need to tell Maddy when to start.”

  “Then I’m not going to say no,” said Jake hugging her tightly. “I’m going to say, I love you, Mz Hyde.”

  “Love you too,” she whispered, as he kissed her on the top of her head.

  Glancing at the time, Jake joked, “Don’t you have work to do? I need to head downstairs. The boys will be here any minute.”

  “I do, but I need to entertain Becky. I’ll do an hour later on. I made a breakthrough earlier.”

  “Will you be done by Wednesday?”

  “Only if you give me peace all day tomorrow,” she admitted. “If I get an early start, I should be done by late afternoon. Plenty of time to get the images through to Maddy and Jason.”

  “I hear you, li’l lady,” acknowledged Jake, as they both heard a truck pull up outside.

  ♪

  As August moved into September, life around the beach house took on a new routine. True to his word, Jake had moved the rest of his clothes and his belongings in. The work to finish out the basement as a proper rehearsal studio had been completed. Silver Lake had been kept busy with promotional radio station events, meaning that Jake was away every weekend and a couple of times during the week. The band had agreed that for the midweek events Jake and Rich would represent them and at the weekends all four of them would go. The new school term was fast approaching and a few of the dates had to be rescheduled as they clashed with school commitments. Once Dragon Song, their first single, was released there were press interviews to give too. While the band and Jake were fully occupied with all the promotional work, Lori threw herself into her own work by accepting two new commissions from two diverse musical groups.

  With the band’s album launch imminent, Maddy engaged Lori to help design the launch material. It had been decided to host a launch party in Rehoboth, at the hotel where Maddy was based. The date was set for the third Saturday in September. In the days leading up to the event, tensions were running high as the band’s manager went into organisation overdrive. Rich and Jake were delighted to have a full workload of classes all day Thursday and Friday which left Grey and Paul bearing the brunt of their manager’s full on “party planning.” After a bit of gentle persuasion, Lori had convinced Jake to invite his father and his sister to the launch. Much to his surprise, they had both accepted.

  The big day dawned clear and sunny, still mild for late September. It had been arranged that Silver Lake would meet at the hotel at eleven for a photo shoot with the record label and their management team. All the other invited guests were to be there for one, with the official “launch” set for two thirty. The band would then play a one hour set at five. At the rehearsal on Friday night, anything that could go wrong did - from broken strings to power outages. Jake had arrived home downbeat and anxious about the whole affair. When he drove into the hotel parking lot just before eleven, Lori could tell he was still nervous. There were press photographers gathered outside the front door and, spotting Jake and Lori arriving, they swarmed round the car.

  “Ready, rock star?” asked Lori, as she prepared to step out of the car.

  “As I’ll ever be, li’l lady,” he replied, forcing a nervous smile.

  Calmly, they both climbed out of the car, excused themselves past the photographers and, amid a flurry of flashes and camera whirs, they walked smartly across to the front door. Several of the photographers were shouting on Jake by name. As they reached the safety of the doorway, Jake turned and posed for photos with Lori for a few brief moments. When they entered the foyer, Maddy was the first person to greet them. Looking pale and decidedly off colour, she chastised Jake for posing for the press.

  “Relax, Maddison,” he cautioned, as he took off his sunglasses. “Is everyone else here?”

  “Yes. They’re through in the function suite. Get your ass in there,” she snapped. “I need a private word with Lori.”

  Grabbing Lori by the arm, she guided her friend towards the ladies room. Having checked all the cubicles were empty, she turned to face Lori and burst into tears. It was a sight Lori had never seen before.

  “Maddy,” said Lori softly, reaching out to hug her friend. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve been so stup
id,” sobbed Maddy. “I need your advice. I need to tell you something.”

  “What have you done?”

  Before Maddy could reply, she darted into one of the empty cubicles and was violently sick. When she came back out to face Lori, she was even paler, but she had the tears under control.

  “I’m pregnant,” she stated then began to sob again.

  “Oh, Maddy, is that all?” said Lori, relieved that it wasn’t anything more serious.

  “All? This is a disaster!”

  “Is it?” asked Lori calmly. “Have you told Paul?”

  Maddy nodded, “I had to. I’ve been so sick all week. He thinks its fabulous news. He’s so excited.”

  “And you’re not?”

  “I don’t know. I never saw myself having children. They don’t feature on my life map,” admitted Maddy, wiping her face with a tissue. “But now it’s happened, I’m not so sure. What should I do?”

  “How many weeks are you?”

  “About seven or eight I think. I’ve not been to the doctor yet,” answered her friend. “I’m more worried about how I’m going to get through today.”

  “Pass it off as stomach flu or food poisoning,” suggested Lori calmly. “I’ll cover for you as best as I can.”

  “Will folk believe that?”

  “No reason why they wouldn’t,” replied Lori with a smile. “But, if you hide in here all morning, folk will worry. Fix your make up and we’ll go back out there together.”

  “What if Paul says something?”

  “Talk to him,” said Lori. “Now come on, you’ve a launch party waiting for you.”

  The two women slipped out of the ladies room a few minutes later and casually mingled in with the other music industry guests. Dr Marrs had Jake cornered with a photographer while Rich and Paul were posing by the bar, with two beautiful record company employees. One of the management representatives had Grey backed into a corner near the window, trying to convince him to promote one line of bass guitars. No one appeared to have realised that Maddy and Lori had been absent. Eventually, Jake made his escape and came over to Lori with a broad grin on his face.

  “What’re you looking so pleased about?” she asked, as he slipped a protective arm around her waist.

  “Dr Marrs wants me to do guest vocals on an album he’s working on,” he said, with a wink. “Weigh Station are putting out a deluxe edition of their album in time for the UK tour and want me to sing on one of the additional tracks.”

  “Nothing less than you deserve, rock star,” congratulated Lori.

  “Me? Sing with Weigh Station?” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t believe it!”

  “Well, you better try to believe it,” stated Lori. “Look around you. This is all for you guys. The Silver Lake dream is real.”

  “Thanks to your intervention,” he said, kissing her gently. In the background someone was calling his name. “Better circulate, li’l lady. Can you keep an eye out for my dad and Lucy?”

  Lori nodded and watched as Jake confidently walked back towards Jason and the group of record company executives. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Maddy hovering near the door talking to Dr Marrs. As she headed back out towards the foyer, she felt someone touch her elbow.

  “Mz Hyde?”

  “Yes,” she responded, turning round and finding herself face to face with a young woman. There was something vaguely familiar about her, but Lori couldn’t place it.

  “Hi. I’m Lucy,” introduced the young woman with a smile so like Jake’s that she needed no introduction.

  “Jake’s sister?”

  “Yes,” she giggled. “For my sins.”

  “Nice to finally meet you. Jake’ll be so pleased you’re here,” said Lori warmly. “He’s busy just now, though. Can I get you a drink?”

  “That would be good,” agreed Lucy nervously. “I was to meet Dad here, but he called to say he’s running a little late. I was already here so he said I should come down and find you.”

  “I’m glad you did,” said Lori, lifting a glass from the tray of a passing waitress and handing it to Lucy. With practiced ease, she scooped up a second glass. “Let’s step out into the foyer.”

  There were two empty chairs beside a small table near the door and Lori directed a rather nervous Lucy towards them. As they sat down, Jake’s sister said, “I came down by myself and checked in early. I’ve left my husband home with the boys.”

  “How long are you staying?”

  “Just for tonight,” she replied. “Dad’s staying over too, when he finally gets here.”

  The two young women sat and chatted for a few minutes, gradually getting to know a little about each other. Lucy admitted that Jake had emailed her and told her a bit about Lori but not much.

  “What else do you want to know?” asked Lori, feeling at a disadvantage. “There’s not much to tell.”

  “I don’t know,” admitted Lucy with a girlish giggle. “You’re the first of his girlfriend’s I’ve ever met! Crazy isn’t it? How long have you been together?”

  “About five months,” replied Lori. “We met on the beach.”

  “Oh, he told me that part! He said you’d broken your leg or something like that,” gushed Lucy, then spying Lori’s cane resting against the chair, she flushed scarlet and muttered, “Oh, I’m so sorry. Foot in mouth again.”

  “Lucy, its ok,” assured Lori quietly. “I had an accident last Christmas. When I met your brother, I could barely walk a hundred yards on crutches. I still can’t stand or walk very far without a bit of support, hence the cane. If anyone had told me a year ago that a bad femur break would leave me like this, I would’ve sworn they were lying.”

  “I never realised,” replied Lucy, staring down into her glass, as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

  “Hey, don’t look so sorry. This is a party,” declared Lori. “I’ve more or less comes to terms with things. It took a while though, and Jake’s help.”

  “Dad told me you’re an artist,” commented Lucy, subtly changing the subject.

  “Your brother told me you’re a teacher,” countered Lori playfully.

  “Yes. I teach third or fourth grade most years,” replied Lucy. “I hear Jake’s teaching too at long last.”

  “Music,” added Lori, with a hint of pride. “At a local high school.”

  Before either of them could say anything else, Jake came striding out of the main function suite, a worried look on his face. As soon as he saw Lori, he smiled, obviously relieved to have found her then he realised who she was talking to. At the sight of his young sister, his whole face lit up. With tears in her eyes, Lucy got to her feet.

  “Hey, baby sister,” said Jake, sweeping her into his arms. “You made it. And you’ve met Lori.”

  “Long time no see, Jake,” greeted Lucy, tears gliding down her cheeks. “God, I’ve missed you.”

  “Don’t cry, Lucy,” he whispered, wiping her tears away.

  “My big brother, the rock star,” she sighed, as more tears flowed freely. “Mom would’ve been so proud. She always had faith in you.”

  “I wish she was here,” he confessed quietly, then, regaining his composure added, “Where’s the old man?”

  “Behind you,” came the reply, as Colonel Power arrived to join them.

  “Dad!” exclaimed Jake. “Glad you made it.”

  Father and son exchanged hugs then Jake apologised that he would have to get back to circulating, but promised he would catch up with them as soon as he could get free. He paused to give Lori a quick kiss and then he was gone. A few moments later, Maddy came over and asked Lori to come back through. Lori was relieved to see her friend looking a bit better and less nauseous. She insisted that Lucy and Colonel Power came through to join the official party. Both of them were a bit hesitant at first, until she reminded them that Jake wanted them there. The socialising and posing for photos continued for what felt like an eternity. Every time Lori tried to get a few moments with Jake, someone pulled
one or other of them aside. The official speeches to launch the band’s album were blessedly short. Once the formalities were over Jason gave a final vote of thanks and hoped that they would all stay to hear Silver Lake perform a selection of the new album’s tracks.

  Through in the dining room, the hotel had laid on a sumptuous buffet and Colonel Power insisted on fetching plates of food for both Lucy and Lori. He had only just returned with a plate for himself when Jake came wandering over.

  “You guys ok?” he asked, helping himself to a sandwich from Lori’s plate.

  “We’re fine, son,” assured Ben, between bites. “Do you have a minute to join us?”

  “Literally a minute,” laughed Jake, stealing a prawn bite from his sister’s plate. “I need to go and warm up shortly.”

  “What’s the plan for after the set?” asked Lori.

  “Good question, li’l lady,” said Jake. “Maddy’s not wanting to do a big band meal. Jason’s running off to catch a flight. Not much of a rock and roll party planned. Do you want to go and grab a meal somewhere? Rich and Grey might want to tag along.”

  “Works for me,” agreed Lori, glancing at Jake’s family. “Or we could go back to the house? You’d get more privacy there.”

  “True,” nodded Jake. “I’ll let you decide. I need to go and warm up. I just hope the room we’ve got back there is sound proofed! You don’t need to be hearing that!”

  “I know,” giggled Lori, remembering the vocal exercises he had been practising since getting his voice back.

  “Be good till I get back,” he said, kissing her gently. “Oh, can you check on Maddy? Paul said she’d gone upstairs.”

  “I’ll go up in a minute,” promised Lori, trying to disguise her concern for her friend.

  It was almost a relief to get away from the crowds on the ground floor, as Lori walked down the corridor towards Maddy’s room. She had sent her friend a message to let her know she was on her way up. Reaching the room, Lori knocked on the door. She could hear her friend moving about inside and, finally, she opened the door. From the streaks of mascara on her cheeks, it was clear she had been crying again.