Stronger Within (The Silver Lake Series Book 1)

by McCallum, Coral

  “Your room or mine?” asked Jake only half joking.

  “Whichever one is closer,” replied Lori yawning before adding, “Mine.”

  “OK,” agreed Jake.

  When they entered Lori’s room, he commented on the fact it was identical to his. While Lori got herself undressed, Jake slipped back to his own room to grab his belongings. It only took him a few minutes to grab what he needed and return to Lori’s room, but it was long enough for her to have crawled into bed and fallen sound asleep.

  ♪

  When Lori woke next day a watery winter sun was filtering through the curtains. The space in the bed where Jake had been was empty and long cold. On the pillow there was a note scrawled on the hotel stationary, “Didn’t want to wake you. Will be back by 11.30. Love you. J x”

  Rubbing the last remnants of sleep out of her eyes, Lori looked at the time. The bedside clock said 11.15. Every inch of her was aching and her stomach was rumbling. Sitting up slowly, Lori carefully swung her legs round and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment or two. With a yawn, she got to her feet and stumbled into the bathroom to shower, praying that the hot water would help ease off her aching limbs. She was still standing under the deliciously hot jet of water when she heard her name being called.

  “I’m in the shower,” she yelled back.

  She could hear the bathroom door opening, then saw Jake’s head appear round it through the steam of the shower screen.

  “Have you eaten yet, li’l lady?” he asked.

  “Not yet. I’m starving,” she confessed. “Can you order me some breakfast while I finish up in here?”

  “Will do. You ok?”

  “A bit sore but more awake than yesterday. Give me five minutes.”

  The hotel had just delivered a tray of coffee and croissants when Lori came out of the bathroom a few minutes later. While Jake poured her a coffee, she brushed the tangles out of her hair, then came to sit beside him on the bed, wearing one of the hotel’s fluffy white towelling robes.

  “How did the interview go?” she asked between bites of hot buttery croissant.

  “Fine,” replied Jake. “I was struggling with the guy’s accent. Plus, he was talking so fast.”

  “I noticed that at the airport,” commented Lori. “So what’s the plan for the afternoon?”

  “I’m easy,” said Jake with a smile. He was secretly thinking he could quite happily spend the rest of the day in bed making love to her.

  “We could do a bit of sightseeing and I need to buy you a birthday present,” replied Lori. “What are the others doing?”

  “Maddy and Paul are going to the art gallery. Rich and Grey went off with Gary. I’m not sure where to. We’ve all got orders to be back here no later than five thirty. I think the plan is to have dinner here, then sort ourselves out and get back on the bus.”

  “Let’s do the shopping first, then we can see where we end up,” suggested Lori, draining the last of her coffee. “I also need to get gifts for Lucy and her family.”

  “Why?” asked Jake, raising one eyebrow and looking at her curiously.

  “Oh!” exclaimed Lori looking sheepish. “I spoke to Lucy the other day. We are dropping in to visit her on the way home from the airport.”

  “We are?”

  “Is that ok with you?” she asked hopefully. “I just couldn’t face the thought of driving for over two hours after an eight hour flight.”

  “It's fine,” he assured her warmly. “I haven’t seen my nephews for a while. I take it we are spending the night with her?”

  Lori nodded.

  An hour later a taxi dropped them off in the city centre. During the journey from the hotel, Jake had quizzed the driver about the best places to shop and he’d given him directions to three malls, all more or less in the one area. He had assured Jake that they couldn’t get lost. The pedestrian precinct that he dropped them at was bustling with lunchtime shoppers; office workers making the most of their precious lunch hour.

  “Left or right?” asked Lori, looking up and down the busy street.

  “Left,” decided Jake, taking her hand. “You sure you’re up for this?”

  “Stop fussing. I’m fine.”

  Slowly they made their way down Buchanan Street marvelling at the beautiful architecture mixed in with the modern shop fronts. Most of the store names were familiar brands, typical of any city centre. Near the bottom of the gently sloping street, they found the city’s jewellery arcade, a short covered stretch of prestigious jewellers. They wandered leisurely through it with Lori admiring the gold and diamonds while Jake admired the watches.

  “Would you like a watch for your birthday?” she asked, as he paused in front of yet another display of timepieces.

  “I don’t know,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders. “The last person to buy me a watch was my mom. I think I was sixteen.”

  “Time you had a new one, then,” she teased.

  He pointed to several different ones that he liked, all of a similar style. Once she had a clear idea of what one she was going to buy, Lori suggested he look in the shop across on the opposite side for some Celtic jewellery for his sister. With Jake occupied, Lori entered the watch store to make her purchase. A few minutes later they met up again outside, both of them clutching small bags.

  “I got Lucy some earrings. The girl said Rennie Mackintosh was the popular choice. They just look like earrings to me,” said Jake, handing her the small gift bag. “And I got my brother-in-law a hip flask with a thistle engraved on it.”

  “Sounds fine to me,” declared Lori. “Let’s shop for the boys then we can grab a coffee.”

  “Let’s head up the street a bit first,” suggested Jake.

  For the next half an hour, they meandered back up Buchanan Street, browsing in various shops before finally entering the mall at the top of the hill. Both of them decided they were making this overly complicated and opted for T-shirts for the boys with “Glasgow” across the front and a Highland cow picture printed below it. Along the way, Lori had picked up a few bits and pieces for herself, mementos of her first trip to Scotland. With their shopping complete, they went for a late lunch at a coffee shop. Over a sandwich, they debated what do to do with their remaining few hours in the city. Lori commented that she would quite like to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, if time allowed.

  “Suits me,” agreed Jake, as he ate the last bite. “Paul mentioned there was a rock memorabilia exhibition open. Might be kind of fun to check it out.”

  When their taxi pulled up outside the ornate Victorian red sandstone building both Jake and Lori were stunned into silence at its splendour. While Lori paid the fare, Jake stepped back across the grass to take a photo of the building with his phone. Inside was as stunning as outside and, having picked up a map and realised they had less time than they had anticipated, they decided to visit the rock memorabilia exhibit in the basement first. The small hall was busy with students, but they took their time to browse the articles on display. Pointing to one of ACDC’s guitars that was displayed under a spotlight, Lori whispered to Jake, “I bet that’s on loan from a private collector in New York.”

  Sure enough, when he read the small label, it was and he looked quizzically at Lori, who just smiled and winked.

  “One of your acquisitions?” he asked quietly.

  “One of my private collection,” she replied. “I’d forgotten David had me authorise the loan of some pieces for this tour.”

  “You have a private collection?”

  “Call it an investment,” answered Lori with a smile.

  “Any more of yours here?”

  “I’m not sure. If I spot any I’ll tell you,” she promised.

  As they made their way out of the hall a few minutes later, a group of teenage boys wearing Weigh Station T-shirts came towards them.

  “Hey,” said one of them spotting Jake. “You’re him, aren’t you?”

  “Jake Power?” asked his friend.

  Taking a d
eep breath and forcing a smile, Jake nodded, “Yes, I’m him.”

  “You were pure brilliant last night.”

  “Thank you,” replied Jake blushing slightly. “Glad you enjoyed the show.”

  “Can we get an autograph and maybe a photo?”

  “Sure,” agreed Jake. “If you’re quick. We’re on a tight time schedule here.”

  The three boys started to debate who was taking the photo and who had a pen when Lori intervened.

  “Here’s the loan of a pen and I’ll take the photos,” she said, offering them a ballpoint pen she had found at the bottom of her bag.

  Once Jake had signed various scraps of paper that the three boys produced out of their pockets, he posed for photos with them. Lori took them as quickly as possible using each of the boys’ phones.

  “Thanks,” they all said.

  “Pleasure,” said Lori, putting her pen back in her bag.

  “Have a great day, guys,” said Jake as he led Lori towards the lift back to the upper level.

  Once in the lift, Lori complimented him on remaining calm and friendly.

  “I still struggle to put the public face on when I’m not on stage,” he admitted, as the doors opened to let them off on the first floor.

  “Just be yourself,” said Lori taking his hand. “Come on, the Salvador Dali painting I want to see should be down this way.”

  They spent the remainder of the afternoon browsing the museum’s art collections and its historical artefacts. There wasn’t enough time to see everything however, and by four thirty Lori confessed she was struggling. Taking this as their cue to leave, they headed back to the exit. Jake asked at the information desk if they could call them a taxi to take them back to the hotel. While they waited for the car to arrive, Lori searched in her wallet for some cash to slip into the donation box by the door. It didn’t take long for the taxi to arrive and within a few minutes they were back at the hotel. Silver Lake’s tour bus was now parked at the side of the building. When they walked through the foyer they found Gary pacing up and down, waiting for them.

  “Afternoon,” he said brightly. “We were beginning to wonder where you two were.”

  “Worried you’d lost me?” joked Jake.

  “A bit,” admitted the tour manager. “Where did you get to?”

  “City centre, then the art gallery,” Lori replied. “That place is stunning.”

  “It’s quite something. Maddy’s been raving about it since they got back.”

  “What’s the plan?” asked Jake. “I see the silver bullet awaits us.”

  “Dinner at six then out of here by eight and off down the M6 to London,” Gary answered.

  “How long will that take?” asked Lori.

  “About eight or nine hours. We might stop part way. I’ll leave that up to the drivers,” replied Gary before turning to Jake. “Rich brought two of your guitars onto the silver bullet earlier. Said he wanted to work on something with you.”

  “Yeah, he mentioned something about that this morning,” nodded Jake. “Right, we’re going upstairs. We’ll be down for six. When do you want the bags brought down?”

  “We’ll sort that after dinner.”

  Once back up in the privacy of their room, Lori slipped her shoes off and lay down on the bed. From the strained look on her face, Jake could tell she was in pain. Without asking he fetched her a glass of water, then asked where her pain meds were. She directed him to her toiletries bag and a bottle of Vicodin.

  “The strong stuff?” he asked, as he handed her the pills. “Are you sure you’re ok?”

  “It’s the damp, cold weather, I think,” she replied as she swallowed two of the pills. “The doctor warned me that I might suffer a bit more in winter. He wasn’t joking.”

  “You should’ve said earlier, li’l lady,” scolded Jake softly. “I don’t like to see you in pain.”

  “I’ll be fine once these kick in,” she assured him, forcing a smile. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of today.”

  “Same here,” agreed Jake. “Now you stay right where you are. I’m going back to my room to check I’ve not left anything behind. So many hotel rooms and venues. I’m getting paranoid about losing my gear.”

  “Trust me, I’m not going anywhere,” she declared as she failed to stifle a yawn. “Pass the TV remote though before you go.”

  Less than ten minutes later, Jake was back, carrying a T-shirt, a pair of shoes and a book. Shaking his head, he dumped the stuff into his open holdall.

  “There’s always something,” he muttered, as he rounded up the rest of his belongings from around the room.

  “Just don’t leave me behind,” joked Lori.

  “Never,” he said with a grin. “But I don’t think you’ll fit in the bag.”

  “Very funny, rock star!”

  As he stuffed some T-shirts into his bag, he commented, “You’re looking a bit better already, li’l lady.”

  “Thanks,” she sighed, rubbing her thigh. “I think the Vicodin’s kicking in.”

  “Is there anything you need me to pack for you?” asked Jake, fighting with the zip on his bag.

  “No. Thanks. I’ll sort it out after dinner. It’s just my toiletries to go in, I think,” she replied. “I don’t spread my stuff about the room as much as you do.”

  Jake looked at her with one eyebrow raised.

  “I’ve lost too many things in the past, like shirts, shoes and the odd book,” she confessed with a giggle. “I try to keep everything in my bag or at least beside it now.”

  “Very funny, li’l lady.”

  As she climbed carefully aboard the tour bus, Lori felt as though she truly had stepped into the rock star world. A horseshoe of sumptuous black leather couches and a large chrome-edged glass coffee table dominated the lower lounge area of the coach. Beside it was a galley kitchen and a toilet next to the stairs that led to the upper deck. Rich and Grey were already on board and she heard them chatting upstairs. Carefully she made her way up the narrow staircase coming out into another very similar lounge, where the two musicians were lying sprawled along the settees. Behind her Jake brought their bags up and headed through a narrow door to the sleeping quarters.

  “Let me show you to your coffin,” he teased.

  He led her through to a narrow corridor with curtained off sleeping bunks.

  “We’re the second set on the right,” he explained. “Maddy was quite insistent about which bunk I took when we picked the bus up in Wales. I guess she knew you were coming by then.”

  “She knew before you left home, Jake,” laughed Lori, pulling back the curtain. “Doesn’t look too bad.”

  “It’s not so bad once you’re in there,” he agreed. “You take the bottom one and I’ll be right up above. Maddy and Paul are opposite. Rich and Grey are the first two top bunks. Gary is the bottom one on the right.”

  “What about the film maker guy?” asked Lori, glancing round.

  “I’m not sure if he’s with us tonight,” Jake replied. “I think Scott said he was on the Weigh Station bus. I hope he is!”

  “He’s not so bad,” said Lori softly. “Just a bit keen.”

  “I guess,” acknowledged Jake, as he stowed their bags in the lockers under the bunk. “There’s another lounge area beyond that curtain and another toilet at the left.”

  “Ok, now what?” asked Lori.

  “Let’s head up the front for a while till we set off. Rich and Grey usually play the play station for a while in the rear lounge.”

  Soon they were settled on the longer of the two couches in the small front lounge. Jake had plugged his iPod into the docking station before he sat down. Casually he put his arm around Lori’s shoulder with a contented sigh. Taking advantage of their few minutes alone, Jake began to kiss her tenderly across the throat, then he lifted her up to sit on his lap. He gently bit her lower lip before kissing her hard and deeply. Lori responded to the bite by returning his kisses with as much passion. Running her fingers through his long tousl
ed blonde hair, she murmured between kisses that she loved him.

  “God, how I’ve missed you,” he sighed as he held her tight. “If only those bunks were a bit bigger….”

  “Not tonight, rock star,” she whispered, nibbling his earlobe. “Way too public!”

  Laughing at her prudishness, Jake kissed her again before agreeing with her.

  Deciding to take advantage of his relaxed, good mood, Lori reasoned that this was as good a time as any to tell him about Simon.

  “Jake,” she began. “I need to talk to you about tomorrow night.”

  “What about it?”

  “I’ve got a guest coming to the show to see you. I just haven’t been sure when was a good time to tell you,” Lori answered, her voice growing quieter and quieter.

  “Spit it out, li’l lady,” he suggested. “Who is it?”

  “Simon.”

  He stared at her in stunned silence. “My brother?”

  “Yes.”

  Quickly she explained about the rest of the phone call from Lucy then about her own brief phone conversation with his older brother.

  “I’m to call him tomorrow around four to arrange exactly where I’m to meet him,” she finished.

  “And this is all my little sister’s idea?”

  Lori nodded.

  “And she’s sure Simon isn’t coming to cause trouble?”

  Lori nodded again, “He told me he was looking forward to seeing you. I don’t know what happened between you two, but he said it had festered for too long.”

  “And you’re meeting him at four thirty?”

  “Yes,” she replied. “And you’re not mad at me, are you? I’ve been worrying that this is a bad idea. Worrying that you’d be angry.”

  “I’m not mad at you, li’l lady,” he said softly, kissing her gently. “I don’t think I could ever get mad at you.”

  “You’re sure?”