Gibson's Melody: (A Last Score Novella) (Last Score (Gibson's Legacy and Trusting Gibson))

by K. L. Shandwick

  Piper nodded her head, a worried expression taking over as she turned to look to me for reassurance. I gave her an encouraging smile and continued to prepare breakfast. Gibson drew in a sharp breath and released it slowly, like what he had to say wasn’t going to be all that palatable.

  “Piper, one thing you’ll get to know about me as time goes on is I’m nothing like the guy you see on T.V. I don’t go around all day rocking out although there may be the occasional cussing outbreaks.” Piper giggled.

  “What I mean to say is I’m a man first and a rock star when I go to work, get me?” She nodded and stared nervously, her attention completely focused.

  “For the past few months we’ve gotten to know you pretty well but I guess for you it must feel like you’re stuck with a couple of strangers in this weird dream. You’ve been suppressed and emotionally neglected by your mom’s partner for a long time, and just when you saw a way out she died. Your so goddamned pissed at the world right now. Am I right?”

  “I am,” she said quietly and looked down at her hands.

  “Look at me, Piper. I need to see you and know you hear what I’m saying. I don’t want you crying and wailing while I do this because I need you to be strong and take in what I’m about to tell you.”

  Instantly Piper’s head snapped up her eyes darting to me then back in his direction. I finished placing the food on the plates, carried them to the table and set them down in front of them. Sliding into the seat beside Gibson I watched the innocence in Piper grab hold of his words in the same way I had once.

  “I don’t know if you know my background or not sweetheart but it’s not particularly palatable. However, I believe it made me the man I am today. I’m rough around the edges and often misunderstood, but I’m a fierce guy to have in your corner. No one is born to be famous…unless they have famous parents already, then that’s a burden. What I’m trying to say is we all start out as nothing. We are what we make of ourselves.”

  I sat silently and picked up my silverware slicing into my pancakes with my knife. Gibson glanced at me with a serious look on his face then gave Piper his focus again.

  “My life started out as unconventional. I’m not ashamed of who I was or who I am today. Did you know I was brought up in a whorehouse?”

  Watching Piper’s eyes widen it was clear she had no idea about Gibson’s past. Then again, she was only seventeen and Gibson had been my husband since she was ten. Most of his rags-to-riches story was water under the bridge since then.

  Gibson continued, “You see, Piper, my mom did what she did to provide for me. It didn’t mean she didn’t love me. I never wanted for anything growing up and if anything, I had so much female love from that house it made me understand there are more important things in the world than riches or fame. Survival was key. Everyone in that house was there for their survival or that of their kids.” Immediately my mind went to the families in Africa he helped to support through his charity.

  “What I’m trying to say, sweetheart is I’ve walked in your shoes to some extent. My mom died when I was close to your age as well. Like you I had no one looking out for me but those women in that house, until I met Lennox, the drummer in our band. That guy is my brother from another mother. We’d do anything for each other.”

  “Since we left home I have no friends. No one to talk to about all of this.”

  “Of course you do, Piper, that’s what I’m here for and the rest of the team,” I said before taking another forkful of pancake.

  Gibson picked up a piece of crispy bacon and folded it into his mouth. He chewed for a minute before washing it down with a glass of orange juice. Picking up his napkin he wiped it across his mouth and looked at Piper again.

  “Chloe and I want to take care of you. We don’t view this as a forced obligation. I could have set you up in a basement somewhere with a small allowance and walked away if that was my thoughts. Believe me, Chloe will tell you I can be an awkward and mean fucker if someone tries to make me do something I don’t want to.”

  A small smile curved her lips but I could see how hard she found it to believe she hadn’t just been dumped on us.

  “We’ll be your friends for life once you are an adult and have found your way, and by adult I don’t mean eighteen. I mean when you are mentally ready to take on the challenges of being out there in the big world but until then I won’t be your friend. It isn’t the time to be buddies right now. You need strong and nurturing parental hands to carry you through the shit of your grief, someone to keep you safe, and guide you through the choices you’re making to ensure they are sound. We want to help you achieve all you can be. Most of all you need someone to keep you straight when you’re being a pain in the ass.”

  “What he’s saying is we’re here for you in all the ways you need us to be, Piper and sometimes that’s not going to be pleasant. It would be easy to smother you with love and affection, to give into your whims because of your past, but that won’t make you a strong woman. It’ll leave you dependent on others and believe me, from experience, that’s not a place you ever want to be.”

  Staring back with no expression I waited as she absorbed the information. She picked up her flatware and began to eat her food and for a moment I thought what we’d said was too much too soon. Gibson glanced at me and shoved some pancake into his mouth. “These are amazing, darlin’, you’re definitely my Goddess in the kitchen and—”

  “Do you want to tell us what you think of how we see things?” I asked before Gibson had the chance to say the rest of that sentence which I presumed to be a whore in the bedroom. Gibson chuckled under his breath and continued to eat while I held Piper’s gaze.

  Her fork was suspended mid-air and her gaze was intense. She’d stopped chewing and swallowed the contents of her mouth before she spoke.

  “I th…I think…wow.” Tears filled her eyes to the brim and overflowed. Gibson dropped his fork to his plate and swiftly moved to sit in the chair next to her.

  “Fuck. Don’t cry, you’ll give me indigestion,” he teased as a way of lightening the moment. Piper giggled through her tears and nodded wiping her eyes with her napkin and blinking rapidly.

  “I’m just so confused by all that’s happened but I’m really grateful to you both. You’ve been so kind and I don’t even know you properly,” she sniffed and abandoned her napkin and wiped her face with her cotton sleeve. Gibson scooped her into his chest.

  “Sweetheart, I hope you know enough to know how much of a privilege it is to carry out your mom’s dying wish. We see you as a gift to our home and like it or not I’m gonna see you do right by your mom. I’m determined you’ll make her proud as she watches over you…as I’m sure she is right now, so eat your breakfast and let’s start making some plans about how you’re gonna do that, okay?”

  Piper flung her arms around Gibson’s neck and squeezed him tight then without speaking she dropped them and turned back to her food. Gibson glanced at me with sympathy in his eyes but winked and mouthed, “We got this, darlin’.”

  Gibson retook his seat next to me and began to discuss what to do next and the mood changed at the table. Gibson began to talk options and ideas and from how Piper responded it was clear she didn’t want to go to college. It was obvious from her responses she’d thought a lot about what she wanted from life, but when she told Gibson she wanted to sing for a living the poor guy almost choked.

  “Fuck no. It’s too hard a life, Piper. Do you know how difficult it is to make a living from singing? The percentages of successful singers are less than a fraction of a percent compared to those trying to make it.”

  “I’ll make it work. I figured I could be a wedding singer or something. As long as I make enough money to live on I’ll be happy,” she said and poured some maple syrup on her bacon.

  “Listen, teenagers have dreams like this all the time, sweetheart, but you thinking you can sing and someone else hearing what noise you make can be worlds apart. Most young girls think they can sing.”
/>
  “Most aren’t me. I can sing. My singing is what got me through this far. My mom taught me to sing.” I could see how sceptical Gibson was and if I’m honest I was too.

  “Singing at home is one thing, sweetheart it’s a whole other ballgame when you’re singing to a setlist, using backing tracks or music feeds.”

  “You don’t understand, Gibson. I can sing anything I want.”

  “Oh course you can, Piper. But I don’t think you know what I’m saying.”

  “You’re saying I’m not good enough to make a living at it.” Gibson stared her down expecting her to flinch but she didn’t.

  “Okay, pick a song,” she insisted. My husband bit back a grin as he turned to look at me. I didn’t miss how they shone with delight.

  “Am I to pick a pop song you know or something I like to listen to?” he asked.

  “Anything you want,” she challenged.

  Gibson sighed like he felt he was going to embarrass her by his choice, “Alright, Dream On,” he answered.

  “Aerosmith?”

  Gibson looked at her in surprise, I guessed by the look on his face he never expected her to know it.

  “Colin worked with them just after Aerosmith made the album that song’s on. It’s one of his favorites.” Gibson cringed, his eyes softening.

  “So… you’d rather not—”

  “No you chose that song, I’ll sing it,” she answered, defiance in her voice.

  Reaching over she grabbed her orange juice and drank it down, cleared her throat, then sat up straight tucking her hair behind her ears. Starting off softly she began to sing the words and it was immediately apparent she was doing it her way. Controlled and with the ease of a seasoned professional she began her version of the number with a confident smile.

  Less than a minute later both Gibson and I were totally enthralled by the tone of her voice. Piper had serious talent. Her octave ranged widely from high to low, the tune flawless, and by the end we were speechless. Singing the last note, she sat calmly in her chair while the silence grew between the three of us.

  Gibson slowly stood from his chair and walked behind her then suddenly reached down and lifted her chair with her in it and swung her around in a circle.

  “Get the fuck out of here. That was so fucking sick.” He shouted clearly moved and delighted by her performance. Piper smiled widely and looked as if his praise meant everything to her. Placing her chair down he slumped on the seat next to her and leaned his elbow on the table staring hypnotically at her face.

  “You know how hard that song is? Apart from Steve Tyler there’s maybe only a handful of people who can pull it off, but you…you were fucking effortless. The way you slid through those changes in octaves and held those long notes…damn you can sing. And that…changes everything.” Before he could say what he meant his cell rang.

  “Hey, Lennie,” he said, pointing at Piper to stay where she was before he walked out of the kitchen to take his call. He didn’t get far enough away though before I heard him say, “Yeah, I told her,” I didn’t need to be telepathic to know who he was talking about and my heart which had felt full just moments before, felt heavy again.

  Chapter Eight

  Trust

  Gibson

  Usually Lennox had my back no matter what but I could hear from the tone in his voice he was firmly in Chloe’s corner on this one. I couldn’t blame him, hell I was on Chloe’s side about this.

  “You really told her?”

  “Sure. Not like I’d hide something that monumental from her, is it?”

  “I didn’t mean that. I knew you’d tell her about the kid, how could you not. I just never figured you’d do it this quickly.”

  “We don’t have secrets, Len. My whole relationship with Chloe is based on trust. I was a dog before I got with her remember?”

  I was glad that Len didn’t laugh when I said that because I was reminding him of the truth and how hard it was for Chloe to place her trust in me. I’d never do anything to shatter the trusting relationship between us. I once told her I’d always be truthful even if it meant hurting her and that’s exactly what I’d done by telling her about Melody.

  “If she knows have you arranged a date to meet her again?” He was asking if I’d figured out when Melody and Chloe could meet. Len was there toward the end of my conversation with Melody when he had brought her back from the stage. Melody asked when she could see my house and Kiran had looked to me to answer. At the time I had no clue what to say because first I knew I had to speak to Chloe and secondly any meeting would depend on how hard Chloe took the news.

  “We’re just sorting through Piper’s shit then I’ll talk to Chloe more about that. Tell Simon and Mick we’ll grab dinner on Tuesday to talk through the schedule with Charlotte and feed back to Syd. I think I’m gonna need a week or two R & R while I figure my way through the latest shit storm I’ve created.

  “Thought she was a gift?” Lennox jibed sarcastically knowing full well I didn’t mean my daughter, rather the situation that came with her.

  “Too fucking funny, now go sit in a corner and tug yourself off you wanker. I’ll call you tomorrow when I’ve got a clearer picture of what’s going down.” Without waiting for him to answer I hung up and made my way back to the kitchen.

  Piper was telling Chloe how the fuckwad that lived with her and her mom used to treat them and as I listened it became clear that her music meant everything to her in the same way as mine had with me. Even though I was staring at the innocent face of a seventeen year old the message that came from her was how much she owed to her voice and being able to escape from much of the abuse in her home due to the talent she possessed.

  I felt ashamed for not believing her when she said she could sing. It wasn’t a case of not believing she could— it was more a cynical attitude as to what constituted a singer in the world I lived in. My business was cut throat and die and when I looked at the petite little girl with the angelic face in front of me I could name a hundred fuckers in the business that would take her for a ride in a heartbeat. Over my dead body.

  “Piper come here sweetheart,” I said beckoning her to follow me into the great room. Piper followed with Chloe in tow. “Take a seat,” I said gesturing toward the sofa. Slowly she sat, clasped her hands in her lap as her eyes searched my face for some kind of answer to what I was about to say.

  Chloe made to sit beside her. “No. Here,” I said sticking my hand out for Chloe to take. As soon as she did I pulled her down beside me. Even with what was going on Chloe’s needs were at the forefront of my mind.

  “I owe you a big apology. I was wrong. You can sing. In fact, I’m scared you may take my job.”

  Piper’s eyes lit up brightly and she flashed me a beaming smile. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah...and you know it. No bullshit you’re the bomb, I don’t think I’ve heard a range like yours since Christina Aguilera. We gotta do something with you, sweetheart.” My mind was immediately scanning my brain for the best person to mentor her.

  “No. She graduates high school first, Gibson. She made a promise to her mom,” Chloe said pulling us both back to reality.

  “Yeah…that.” I said cringing because I was getting carried away, “I agree with Chloe. Get the diploma then we can talk.”

  “That may take another year,” Piper protested, “I’ve taken so much time out…”

  “Then we better get you some tutors and let you get to it. I’m sure if you work hard it’ll work in your favour.” Nodding at Chloe to let her know we were united in that decision.

  “Well now that’s settled I don’t want any more talk about singing until the last exam has been taken, agreed?”

  I nodded my head but could see in Piper’s sad dull expression she was disappointed. My heart squeezed in pity because I knew how music made me feel when I was low and Piper had to be feeling like giving up most days without it. Parenting sucks hairy balls if this is the kinda gig they have to deal with on a daily basis.

/>   After a further twenty minutes of discussion it was agreed that Charlotte, my personal assistant would contact some tutoring services and Piper would remain at home during the last semester of the year.

  Chloe had already been in touch with the school Principal as she already had a great relationship with her due to the other children from the families who’d attended her school short term while they’d been at the refuge. The Principal suggested Piper be affiliated to the local highschool so that she could attend the various celebrations and the prom at the end of the school year.

  When Piper heard this she almost balked but Chloe said it was important that she have young people her age to relate to during her time in Colorado. After some persuasion Piper agreed and three girls were handpicked by the school Principal and arrangements were made for them to meet later that week.

  Most of the morning was gone by the time we’d firmed up a plan for Piper for the following three months and I’d already considered her when Jonny and I had parted to go home. I figured Chloe and I would need some time to ourselves so I’d asked him to take Piper and show her the town.

  It wasn’t a big place but since she’d been at the range she’d only ever left to visit the hospital, the undertakers, and one tiny florist store. When Jonny arrived and I had told her she was being taken out I swear I saw her breathe a sigh of relief.

  It must have felt good for her to find an escape after all the heavy talking we’d done that morning. I know I was and yet I knew Chloe and I weren’t even close to being set with the rest of the plans we had still to face.

  It wasn’t until Piper left I realized how easily one extra person could feel like a crowd in a room when there was something important enough to discuss that I didn’t want others to hear. With the opportunity for privacy I knew Chloe and I must use the valuable time to discuss the subject of Melody and when I should negotiate with Kiran to bring them to Colorado.