Stronger Within (The Silver Lake Series Book 1)

by McCallum, Coral

  “I’m not asleep,” he muttered. “Just a bit of a headache after the flight.”

  “There’s some Advil and a bottle of water in my bag,” offered Lori.

  “Don’t mind if I do,” sighed Jake, reaching round to lift her bag out of the back seat.

  It took them about half an hour to reach the outskirts of Media and, once they left the highway, Jake directed her along Baltimore Pike, past the local mall and the hospital before telling her to make a right at the Wawa building. Once off the main road, he directed her along a picturesque tree-lined road, then told her to turn left at the crossroads that lay up ahead.

  “It’s the third driveway on the left, Lori,” he directed. “Lucy’s house is at the far end on the right.”

  Slowly she navigated the Mercedes up the long, narrow tree-lined driveway before finally parking in front of a beautiful modern colonial style house. As soon as the car came to a halt, the front door of the house flew open and two small boys came hurtling out, yelling, “Uncle Jake! Uncle Jake!”

  “Guess they remember me,” observed Jake, as he opened the car door.

  Lori sat and watched as the two boys threw themselves at Jake, almost knocking him off his feet. As she opened the driver’s door to climb out, she saw Lucy coming out to greet them.

  “Boys!” she scolded sharply. “Be gentle.”

  “They’re fine,” said Jake, giving her a hug. “I can’t believe how big they’re getting.”

  “Tell me about it,” replied Lucy with a smile.

  While brother and sister had been greeting each other, Lori had manoeuvred herself out of the car and come over to join them.

  “Hi, Lucy,” she said, hugging the young woman warmly. “Thanks for having us over. I couldn’t have faced that drive home right now.”

  “Delighted to see you both,” replied Lucy. “Boys, help your Uncle Jake with the bags.”

  The two small boys scampered after their uncle as the two girls made their way into the house. Once inside, Lucy said to Lori to go straight through to the kitchen.

  “Coffee?” she asked, as Lori took a seat the large pine kitchen table.

  “Oh please,” sighed Lori wearily. “It might help to waken me up a bit.”

  “How was your flight?”

  “Flight was fine. It’s just been a busy few days. I’d only just got the jet lag sorted and then it was time to fly home.”

  “Too many late nights?” joked Lucy, passing her a Winnie the Pooh mug.

  “Or early mornings,” laughed Lori. “Depends on how you look at it.”

  “Simon called yesterday,” said Lucy, as she joined her at the table. “He was suffering a bit.”

  Lori burst out laughing, “I’m not surprised. He partied hard on Tuesday night.”

  “Who partied hard?” asked Jake, as he strolled into the kitchen.

  “Your brother.”

  “Whew! He sure did,” agreed Jake, remembering the state his older brother had been in as they had taken him back to the hotel. “I bet he was suffering yesterday.”

  “He was,” said Lucy, getting up to fetch him a coffee.

  “Lucy, where do you want me to put our bags?” Jake asked. “I’ve dumped them in your lounge room for now.”

  “Leave them there till you’ve had your coffee,” she replied. “Your room is at the top of the stairs and round to the right, next to the bathroom. I’ll show you later.”

  “Ok,” acknowledged Jake, gladly taking a seat beside Lori. “When’s Rob due home?”

  “He promised to be home by five thirty,” replied his sister. “I thought we’d eat around six if that’s ok with you guys.”

  “We’ll eat anytime,” grinned Jake. “Our schedule has gone right out the window for the last couple of weeks.”

  “Yeah, Simon said you went out for dinner at midnight the other night.”

  “Music business hours,” joked Jake, adding half ‘n’ half to his coffee. “We can’t eat a full meal before a show, but we’re starving after we’re done. It’s crazy.”

  “Add in jet lag” said Lori. “And you just eat when someone puts food in front of you.”

  “MOM!” screamed a voice from the family room. “Josh won’t change the channel.”

  “Excuse me,” said Lucy. “Time to referee the angels.”

  As Lucy marched across the kitchen and into the family room to straighten out her sons, Jake put a hand on Lori’s knee.

  “I’m glad you arranged this, li’l lady,” he said softly. “Lucy’s so like my mom was. Reminds me of home when I was a little kid.”

  “Her boys are cute,” said Lori, putting her hand on his. “The older one is very like her. What do you want to do about giving them their gifts?”

  “Let’s wait until Rob gets home. He’s quite strict with them. Best wait till he’s here,” suggested Jake, keeping his voice deliberately quiet.

  They sat in the kitchen in silence for a few minutes enjoying their coffee and the fact that they didn’t have to keep an eye on the time or be any place specific. The pace of their world was slowly returning to normal. From the family room, they could hear Lucy laying down the TV rules, followed by a shrill protest form Josh, her younger son. Once peace and harmony had been restored, she returned to the kitchen to join them.

  “Sorry about that,” she apologised. “They get an hour of TV before dinner and always fight about who gets to watch what. It’s the same every day. Oh, and they want Uncle Jake to play Lego with them.”

  “Once I’ve finished my coffee,” he agreed.

  “Lori,” began Lucy. “If Jake’s ok to wait with the boys, would you come to the food store with me?”

  “Sure. I could do with stretching my legs for a bit.”

  “How is your leg?” asked Lucy, her voice filled with motherly concern.

  “Pretty much the same,” admitted Lori, her hand subconsciously going to her thigh. “It’s not enjoyed the cold, damp weather or flying. Sitting for too long is worse than being on my feet for too long.”

  “You sure you’re up for a trip to the store?”

  “Yes,” replied Lori with a smile. “I need to move around to loosen it off a bit.”

  It was already getting dark when the two girls left the house. The boys had dragged Jake into the family room to play with them, despite his mock protests about being too tired to build Lego. Once Lucy had reversed her SUV out of the driveway, she explained to Lori that she had ordered a birthday cake for Jake but had forgotten to collect it. The food store was only a five minute drive from the house and looked to be quiet as they parked close to the front door.

  “I just need to grab a few bits and pieces while we’re here,” said Lucy, as she pulled out a small shopping cart. “What do you guys like for breakfast?”

  “Coffee and whatever’s going,” replied Lori. “Don’t go to any trouble for us. Please.”

  “Look, it’s not every day I have a famous artist and a rock star for a sleepover.”

  Giggling at her excitement, Lori suggested she buy some cinnamon raisin bread since she was so insistent on spoiling them and some maple cured streaky bacon for Jake.

  “Is there anything you need while we’re here?” asked Lucy. “If you see anything, just toss it in the cart.”

  “I’m fine,” assured Lori. “We’ll probably stop off at the Giant on the way home tomorrow.”

  Once Lucy had toured the shop and picked up her essentials plus the bread and the bacon, she led Lori back over to the bakery counter. The glass display cabinet was full of brightly coloured cakes coated with thick butter cream icing. Beside the cabinet was a smaller display of character themed cupcakes. While Lori gazed incredulously at the display, Lucy spoke to the assistant about collecting her pre-ordered cake. There was a bit of confusion while they searched for the order, but, after a few worrying moments, the assistant brought out a box with the correct cake inside. Lucy called Lori over to check it out before they sealed the box. It was a large square cake with a phot
o of Jake onstage in the centre and she had requested Royal icing instead of buttercream.

  “He’ll love it,” declared Lori with a smile, knowing he would be genuinely touched by the effort his sister had gone to.

  “Did the band get him a cake on his actual birthday?” asked Lucy, as she sat the box carefully on the lower level of the shopping cart.

  “Yes,” Lori replied. “They gave him one shaped like a guitar before the show. I’m not sure who ate it though. I never got a slice.”

  “Well, there’s plenty of this one to go round.”

  When they got back to the house, there was a black BMW in the driveway beside Lori’s car and, as they entered via the front door, all they could hear was the boys giggling and squealing. Having hidden the cake in the laundry room, Lucy led Lori through to the family room. There was Lego scattered all over the floor and both boys were clambering all over Jake, tickling him as he lay in the midst of the small coloured bricks.

  “Help,” he groaned with a boyish grin. “These gremlins are killing me.”

  “Where’s Rob?” asked Lucy, surveying the scene with a smile.

  “He’s gone upstairs to change and he said something about fetching some beers,” replied Jake, as he attempted to sit up.

  Lucy nodded, then turned to Lori, “Guess it’s wine o’clock then?”

  As the girls went back towards the kitchen, Lucy called back over her shoulder, “Uncle Jake used to be really tickly behind his knees, guys.”

  “Thanks, sis,” groaned Jake, amid fresh squeals from his two nephews.

  Laughing at his distress, the girls returned to the sanctuary of the kitchen where Lucy busied herself getting the wine glasses out of the cupboard.

  “Red or white, Lori?” she asked. “It’s a fillet of beef for dinner. Just in case that influences your choice.”

  “Red would be good,” replied Lori. “Do you need a hand with dinner?”

  “No, you’re fine,” assured Lucy warmly. “I set the table earlier and everything else is in the oven. Sit down and relax. You’re our guest.”

  Before Lori could reply, Lucy’s husband, Rob, came striding into the room. He wasn’t what she had expected. Rob was almost as tall as Jake with short dark hair going grey at the temples and had obviously played football in his earlier years from his solid frame that had gone to seed somewhat over time. He looked to be a few years older than his wife. When he saw Lori standing in the middle of the kitchen, he smiled and said, “You must be Lori. I’m Rob.”

  “Pleasure,” said Lori, shaking his large hand.

  “Nice to finally meet you. Lucy’s been so excited about you both coming to visit,” he continued. “I hear that Jake has the boys wound into a frenzy.”

  “They’re just having fun, honey,” said Lucy quietly. Lori noted that her entire tone of voice had changed in the presence of her husband.

  “Is the beer in the basement?” Rob asked, as he opened the drawer in search of a bottle opener.

  “I put some in the small refrigerator in the garage,” replied his wife. “If you want more then it’s downstairs.”

  While Rob was out in the garage, Jake managed to make good his escape from his nephews. He wandered into the kitchen, pulling his T-shirt down and fixing the belt on his jeans.

  “You losing your clothing again?” teased Lori, as she gave him a hug.

  “I’ve been beaten up by two gremlins,” he said with a relaxed smile. “Lucy, your kids need their nails trimmed. I’m scratched to bits.”

  “Sorry,” apologised his sister. “Rob’s gone to get you a beer. That’ll help to anaesthetise it.”

  At that, Rob re-appeared with four bottles of beer. He set two down on the counter and put the other two into the fridge. With two swift, well-practiced movements he had both bottles open and passed one to Jake. By now Lucy had poured two glasses of red wine and passed one to Lori.

  “What’ll we drink to?” asked Lucy.

  “Health, wealth and happiness,” suggested Rob.

  “A good night’s sleep,” countered Lori, raising her glass.

  “Happy days,” compromised Jake, raising his beer bottle towards his sister and brother –in-law.

  “Happy days,” echoed the others.

  “We’ve brought some gifts for you guys,” began Lori, setting her glass down on the table. “Is it ok to fetch them just now?”

  “Sure, but you didn’t need to bring anything,” said Rob.

  “Jake, the bags are on the top of the red holdall,” directed Lori. “Can you fetch them?”

  “I took your bags upstairs,” commented Rob. “I’ll show you where I put them.”

  The two men disappeared upstairs while Lucy suggested they go and take a seat in the family room. Both boys were sitting huddled over the Lego box, working together to build something. Setting their wine glasses down on the large square glass topped coffee table, the two girls sat side by side on one of the two-seater couches. Lori laid her cane down at her feet, laying it lengthways along the couch to prevent anyone tripping over it. Seeing his mum come to sit down, Josh clambered up onto her knee.

  “Can Uncle Jake stay with us for ever?” he asked, staring seriously at his mother with big round brown eyes.

  “No, honey. He’s only staying tonight, then he has to go home with Lori,” replied Lucy, cuddling her younger son.

  “But he’s good fun,” protested Josh. “I want him to stay.”

  “Well, he can’t stay,” stated his mother firmly. “Uncle Jake has got to go to work. He can’t stay and play all the time.”

  “Aw,” muttered Josh sourly.

  “Maybe you could visit us sometime,” suggested Lori, reaching over to rub his shoulder. “We stay at the shore. You could come for the weekend.”

  “The shore is only for vacation,” stated the small boy bluntly. “No one lives there all the time.”

  Trying not to laugh at the seriousness of his expression, Lori whispered, “We do, but don’t tell anyone else.”

  Before Josh could reply his father and uncle came into the room and sat down. Jake had three plastic bags in his hand as well as his beer. He opened the first bag and brought out two boxes, “Rob, Lucy, these are for you to say thanks for letting us stay tonight.”

  He passed the boxes over to his sister and her husband then brought out two Silver Lake tour T-shirts. “And there’s these if you would like them.”

  “Thanks!” squealed Lucy, holding up the large black T-shirt.

  “We didn’t know what to get for the boys so they’ve got a gift bag each,” explained Lori, as Jake handed his nephews a bag each. “It’s just some things we picked up in Glasgow and London.”

  “You shouldn’t have,” said Rob, as he opened the box containing his silver hip flask. “Wow! That’s awesome!”

  All of them watched as the two boys emptied their bags over the floor, then screamed in delight at the contents. Both of them had more or less the same range of gifts. Apart from the gifts Lori had picked up for the boys, Jake had added drumsticks from both Silver Lake and Weigh Station, autographed photos from both bands, T-shirts, baseball caps, guitar picks and backstage passes from London.

  “You’ve spoiled them,” said Lucy, hugging both Lori and Jake. “And I love my earrings. They’re stunning.”

  “Glad you like them,” said Jake. “I chose them.”

  “You did?” she asked, eyes wide in surprise.

  “He did,” confirmed Lori, sipping her wine. “I was in a different jewellers buying his birthday present.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot!” gasped Lucy, putting the box with the earrings down beside her glass. “We have a birthday gift for you, Jake.”

  She went over to the display cabinet, opened the cupboard and brought out a blue shiny gift bag. Instead of handing the bag to Jake, she gave it to Sam and Josh to present to their uncle. Suddenly acting all shy, the two boys passed the bag over then rushed to stand by their mother while he opened it. With a wink at the boys, Jake l
ooked into the bag. Slowly, teasing them, he pulled out a black zipped hoodie and two T-shirts, one white, one black with the store logo on the chest.

  “Just what I need!” he declared enthusiastically, “Thanks.”

  “It’s not much,” apologised Lucy, a hint of sadness in her voice. “But I had no idea what to get you.”

  Trying hard not to laugh, Lori said, “Jake needs all the T-shirts he can get.”

  “Why?” asked Rob, looking bemused.

  “Very funny, Mz Hyde,” said Jake with a smile. “The first night in London I had taken my shirt off after our set. I was standing with Lori and Simon watching Weigh Station and had my clean shirt in my hand. I got so engrossed in the set I forgot to put my shirt on, almost missed my cue and ended up out on stage stripped to the waist. The next night, Dan, the singer with Weigh Station gave me a rough time about having a shirt on. I had no choice but to strip it off and toss it into the audience.”

  Lucy threw back her head and laughed, “Oh, the ladies must have loved that!”

  “As long as someone did,” laughed Jake. “The girls that caught my stinky T-shirt seemed happy enough.”

  All of them laughed.

  “What’s it like stepping out in front of a big crowd?” asked Rob, draining the last of his beer.

  “It’s a buzz. It’s scary. It’s fantastic,” gushed Jake. “I love it. Don’t get me wrong, I get nervous before we go out there but, once you’re on that stage, it’s an awesome feeling.”

  “Was it big arenas you were playing in the UK?” asked Lucy, curious to hear about the tour.

  “Not really,” replied Jake. “It varied from about a thousand right up to about fourteen thousand in London.”

  “Where was the best place you played?” asked Rob, as Sam clambered up to sit on his knee.

  “Tough question,” sighed Jake, glancing over at Lori. “Glasgow was special because Lori was there. Dublin was amazing, probably because it was first. Having fourteen thousand folk sing “Happy Birthday” to me in London was quite something. I guess London wins.”

  “What’s next?” asked his sister.