Kate waved at a couple of the men but didn’t leave Adrian’s side. At the buffet she took a plate and piled it full of food. She peeked over her shoulder at Libby. “Make sure Libby gets a plate, Kent.”
Kent turned and guided Libby in front of him, handing her a plate. “After you, ma’am.”
She had to learn to speak with her employer without blushing. “Thank you.” She took the plate and perused the offerings, choosing a few things that looked interesting. When she was finished, she looked for a place to sit.
Kate was chatting to a group of roadies who were finishing their lunch. She spotted Libby and then leaned closer to one of the men and said something. He grinned and elbowed the man next to him. They both stood.
“Libby, Kent, you can sit over here,” Kate called.
Libby saw Kent was as bemused as she was, but they both walked over to Kate. One of the roadies who’d stood directed Libby to sit. “Take my seat, ma’am.”
Kate was still standing, balancing her plate with some difficulty as she tried to eat from it.
“Kate, why don’t you have a seat?” Libby offered.
“No, no. I’m fine,” Kate said in a hurry. She made sideways gestures with her head to one of the other men.
“Have my seat, Kate,” he said and got to his feet.
Kate sat, leaving the two empty spaces next to each other for Kent and Libby.
Libby sat, not looking at Kent. Kent stayed standing.
“You should sit, boss. You’ve been on your feet all day.” The roadie who had stood for Libby motioned for Kent to sit and winked at Kate.
“Yeah, Kent. You need to rest your legs for tonight,” Kate added.
What was she up to?
Kent gave his niece a look that asked the same thing and sat next to Libby, the space so small his leg brushed against hers.
Her leg trembled and she shifted slightly but couldn’t get further away from him. She concentrated on her food.
“What have you been up to this morning, Kate?” Kent asked, leaning out to look across Libby to where Kate sat.
“You tell him, Libby,” Kate said and stuffed her mouth full of potato salad, making a big fuss about not being able to talk.
It was odd. Only a few days ago Kate had been worried Libby was there because she fancied Adrian and now she was pushing them together.
The penny clanked in Libby’s head as it dropped.
Kate was trying to get them together. Why the sudden change? Had she spoken with Adrian and found out something?
Adrian was waiting for her to comment. “We’ve been to the science museum and did some experiments.”
“Sounds like fun. You didn’t blow anything up, did you?”
Kate shoved some pasta in her mouth and indicated Libby should respond.
Libby couldn’t help but chuckle. “Nothing we weren’t supposed to.”
“And what are your plans for this afternoon?” he asked Libby, obviously giving up on getting an answer from Kate.
“Kate wants to do some more writing.” He was too close but she couldn’t move away. His shoulder brushed hers and she struggled to focus on what she was saying. “We’re going to find somewhere overlooking the harbor to write if the weather stays nice.”
“Sounds like fun.” His tone said he meant it. How many other people would think spending a day writing would be fun? Not many who weren’t writers themselves.
“How’s the rehearsal going?” Libby asked. God, their conversation was so mundane.
“Really good. The venue is well organized and the acoustics are good.”
Libby finished her food and rested the plate on her knees.
“Let me take that,” Kate said, jumping up and taking the plate from Libby.
“Thanks.”
“Do you want some dessert? Chocolate cake?” She took Kent’s plate as well.
“That’d be great. I’ll help you,” Libby said.
“No, no. You both stay there and I’ll get it. Frank will help me.” The roadie next to her got to his feet.
Libby had to smile. Kate had the men wrapped around her little finger.
The other men quickly got to their feet as well. “Dessert sounds great,” one of them said and they all left, leaving Kent and Libby alone.
Adrian laughed. “Do you get the feeling we’re being set up?”
“Kate seems to have had a change in attitude.”
“Mmm,” Adrian agreed. “I wonder why.”
Libby had to change the subject. “George mentioned you had a bad interview this morning.”
The change in Adrian was instant. It was as though a shield went up. His eyes were guarded and his body tensed. She wished she hadn’t said anything. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.” She placed a hand on his thigh without thinking, and though he hesitated, he took hold of it.
The shield went down and some of the tension left him. “I need to talk to you about it. It’s to do with Kate.”
Concern filled Libby. “Did the interviewers know about her?”
“No.” Adrian took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “One of the interviewers thought my latest song was encouraging children to self-harm.”
Libby gaped at him. “To Be Hurt?” she asked.
He nodded.
“But it’s not. It’s about yearning for love.”
Adrian met her gaze and she saw all the way into his soul. He squeezed her hand. “Yes, it is.”
Libby tried to focus on the conversation. “Then why?”
“The interviewer’s nephew almost died last week because he cut himself. My song was on his stereo. He was ten.” There was real pain in Adrian’s voice. “No one had known anything was wrong.”
Libby immediately thought of Kate. What kind of trauma had this boy experienced that would make him want to die? And if he could do it, what about Kate? She’d seen horrific things no one should have to see. Was she at risk? “You should talk with Kate,” she said.
“That’s what I was thinking.” Adrian hesitated. “Maybe we should do it together. She listens to what you say and it might have more impact if we both talked to her.”
“Of course.” It meant a lot that he would ask her to help him. “Will you have time before tonight’s concert?”
“I’ll make time.” He checked his watch. “If you can be back at the hotel at three.”
“Absolutely.” She patted his hand. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
“But I have to check.”
“Kent! You ready to get started?” George called out from the stage.
“Geo-rge, don’t interrupt!” Kate complained and Libby realized everyone was watching them and they were still holding hands.
Adrian jumped to his feet, letting go as he did so. “Sure am.” He turned back to Libby and gave her a genuine smile. “We’ll talk later.” The Kent swagger as he walked away was so different from Adrian’s walk – he really did seem like another person altogether.
Libby stood and moved over to Kate, near the buffet. “What happened to my chocolate cake?” she asked.
Kate scanned the area. “Um …”
Libby laughed. “Never mind. Go say goodbye to your uncle and give him his chocolate bar and then we’ll go.”
“Don’t you want to come say goodbye too?” Kate asked, her eyes wide.
“Already have,” Libby answered.
Scowling, Kate went and said her goodbyes.
Chapter 10
After leaving the entertainment complex, Libby and Kate decided it was too cold to go down to the harbor and instead headed back to the hotel room to do their writing. They had stopped to make a hot chocolate when Adrian returned. Libby put out another mug and prepared the drinks while Adrian cleaned up.
He came out with damp hair, wearing low-slung blue jeans and a red T-shirt. Libby ignored the double thud of her heart as he smiled at her, took the mug of hot chocolate she offered and went to sit on the sofa next to Kate, who was curled up tapping on her laptop.
Kate didn’t answer.
“Libby and I want to talk to you about something.”
That got her attention. Kate’s head whipped up and she looked at her uncle, then Libby, and grinned. “Sure.” She put her laptop on the coffee table and picked up her mug.
Oh, Kate had the wrong idea. Hoping she wouldn’t be too disappointed, Libby sat on the sofa on the other side of Kate.
Adrian glanced at Libby and then looked back at his niece and sighed. “We need to talk about something serious.” His tone was gentle.
The smile fled Kate’s face. “What’s happened? Has Aunt Susan died?”
“No. Oh no, honey, no one’s died,” Libby said quickly.
Adrian took Kate’s hand. “Something came up during one of my interviews today. There’s been a lot of media attention and there’ll probably be a bit more before it goes away. You need to be prepared for reporters outside the hotel.”
“But they don’t know who I am.” Kate looked from one to the other.
“No, but they may want to ask children about my music.”
“Why?” She had that wary look children get when they know they aren’t being told the full story.
Adrian glanced at Libby for reassurance. She smiled and nodded.
“There was a boy your age who tried to kill himself,” Adrian began.
Kate frowned. “Why would he do that?”
“Some people are saying one of my songs encouraged him to do it.”
“But that’s silly.” Kate looked at Libby for confirmation, then back at her uncle. “Your songs are loud, but they don’t say anything about killing.”
Adrian grinned at Kate’s review of his music. “Remember how we talked about how people interpret others’ actions in different ways?”
“Like when Aunt Susan said you didn’t care about Mama and Dad dying because you didn’t cry at the funeral?”
Libby was shocked. What a thing for anyone to say, let alone in front of a child. Everyone grieved in different ways.
“Exactly like that,” Adrian said. He paused. “People can interpret song words differently as well. Some people think my song is about physically hurting yourself. They think the boy listened to the words of the song and then tried to hurt himself.”
Kate scoffed. “Well, aren’t they dumb as dirt?”
“That’s not a nice thing to say, Kate,” Libby admonished. “People have different experiences and it makes them see the world in different ways.”
“I didn’t mean the boy, I meant the people who thought it. No one would kill themselves because of a song. He must have had other problems.”
She was so matter-of-fact. Libby didn’t think she’d had that level of maturity at Kate’s age, but then again she hadn’t been orphaned.
“What kind of issues do you think he might have had?” Adrian asked.
Kate shrugged. “Maybe he was bullied at school. Or maybe his mama and dad hit him.” She clasped Adrian’s hand. “Not everyone has a great family.”
Adrian’s face clouded briefly. “You’re right, kiddo.” There was something about the way he said it that made Libby think his family hadn’t been loving. He’d avoided talking about them when she’d asked about Kate’s parents’ death.
“Have you ever been bullied?” Libby asked Kate.
“Nah. People make fun of my hair sometimes, but that’s just ’cause they’re jealous.” She said it with such confidence.
“You know you can talk to me about anything?” Adrian said tentatively. “If you’re sad and life doesn’t seem fun anymore.”
“Huh?” She stared at him as if he levitated where he sat.
“Sometimes when people have sad things happen in their lives, they don’t want to go on,” Libby said. She hoped she was saying the right thing and not putting ideas into the girl’s head.
“Like Mama and Dad dying?”
“Yes,” Libby said.
Kate’s face clouded. “I still get real sad thinking about it, but I know they’d want me to be happy.”
“Would you tell me if you ever changed your mind?” Adrian asked. “I spoke to the boy this afternoon and he said he didn’t feel like he could talk to his parents about what was happening at school.”
Kate leaned over to put down her mug. “You’re worried I might kill myself?” Her tone was incredulous and slightly offended.
“No, I –” He glanced at Libby for help.
“The parents of the boy who tried to kill himself had no idea he was sad,” Libby explained.
“Uncle Ade, really,” Kate said, patting him on the arm. “I miss Mama and Dad so much, but I don’t want to join them in heaven. There’s lots of stuff I want to do with my life, like write my book.”
“I was worried,” Adrian said.
“I know. I love you.” Kate hugged him tightly.
“I love you too, Katie.”
Libby ached for a hug like that, so full of love and acceptance. Hugs from her parents had been perfunctory at best.
Her eyes welled with tears as Kate pulled away.
“You don’t need to worry,” the girl told her uncle. “You’re stuck with me forever. Someone has to take care of you.”
“I’m so glad,” Adrian said, holding her tightly next to him.
Libby stood up. She should go. This was their time together and she’d be back in a couple of hours when Adrian had to go to work. “I’ll leave you two and come back in time to make dinner.”
“Stay.” Adrian and Kate spoke simultaneously and then grinned at each other and said, “Jinx!”
Adrian turned to Libby and was more hesitant. “That is, if you don’t have any work of your own.” His gaze was sincere.
“She doesn’t. She’s already halfway through her edits,” Kate said. “You could play a game with us. Uncle Ade said we could play the dancing game today.” She jumped up and snatched the computer game cover. “There are lots of songs to choose from.”
Libby debated it, torn between wanting to stay and not wanting to make a complete fool of herself dancing. Adrian also looked uncertain.
“It’s fun if you don’t take it seriously,” he said.
“Yeah, I always beat Uncle Ade. I need some better competition.” Kate grinned at them both.
Libby laughed. “I feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter. All right, I’ll stay.”
“Awesome. I’ll set up.”
Libby helped Adrian move the coffee table and the couch out of the way to make a bigger dance floor, then Adrian fetched a bag of chips out of the cupboard and poured them into a bowl.
“Chips, dancing and beautiful company. I think we’re set for the afternoon,” he said.
A warm glow filled Libby. It was going to be a fantastic afternoon.
***
“It’s ready! Who’s first?” Kate asked, standing up and holding the two controllers.
“I think you’d better show me how it’s done,” Libby said as she took a handful of chips and sat back on the couch.
Adrian took the controller from his niece as she flicked through the songs. He suddenly remembered how uncoordinated he was at this game, particularly when they first began.
He tightened the strap of the controller around his wrist. He really should have steered her toward playing something else, but he’d wanted to see Libby dance. He hadn’t thought about the fact that he would have to dance as well.
Forcing a smile on his face, he saw a relatively easy song come up on the television screen. “How about that one?”
“That’s easy, Uncle Ade,” Kate complained.
He grinned. “Consider it a warm-up.” He took his position next to Kate, fully aware of Libby’s presence behind him. This was such a bad idea.
He didn’t dance. As a rock star, the most he had to do was strut around the stage or play his guitar. He was comfortable with that.
This, on the other hand, required his hands and feet
to do different things at the same time.
The music started and he had no more time to ponder why he was doing this. He had to dance.
He tapped his hand to the beat and stared at the screen waiting for the little figure in the corner to tell him what dance move was coming up. Then it was on.
His hands and feet refused to work together from the start and he was already half a beat behind.
Beside him Kate giggled.
“Watch it, kiddo or I’ll make you play SingStar,” he growled. Adrian paused and then started again, this time in time to the music. His face was hot with embarrassment. Somehow he made it through to the end of the song and then breathed out a sigh of relief it was over. Kate had thoroughly beaten him. He took the strap off his hand and reluctantly turned to face Libby.
She had taken off her shoes and was sitting cross-legged on the couch. Though her lips were turned up with only a hint of a smile, her eyes were laughing.
He raised an eyebrow. “It’s your turn next.” He handed her the controller.
Libby took it and rose from the couch as she tightened the strap.
“Let’s do this song,” Kate said, choosing an upbeat pop song from one of the latest boy bands.
Adrian sat on the couch as they took their positions in front of the television. Libby stood directly in front of him and he used the opportunity to admire her figure-hugging jeans.
The song began and Adrian’s jaw dropped. Libby was worse than he was. He covered his mouth with his hand to stop himself from laughing as her feet went one way and her arms went the other.
Libby groaned. “Oh my God, this is harder than it looks!” She giggled as she tried to keep up with the movements on the screen.
Adrian grinned as her arms flailed and her feet crossed – and then, with a shriek, she tripped and landed hard on her butt.
Adrian jumped to his feet as her laughter rang out. Kate checked Libby was fine, shook her head and continued to dance. He held out his hand to help Libby up and she reached for it before dissolving into giggles again. The laughter he’d been holding in burst out.
Libby widened her eyes in mock outrage, her laughter coming in gasps.
The Texan Quartet (Books 1-4) Omnibus Page 14