Lucas stretched his arms over his head and pulled Sindy to his chest. “It’s our last good night’s sleep in a real bed for a month. Let’s enjoy it.”
She let out a sigh. “You make it hard to resist, but there’s also huevos rancheros waiting downstairs. Do you really want to miss your last breakfast at home with your family?”
Lucas sat upright. This would be the last home-cooked meal he’d have for the next few weeks, and he didn’t know which he’d miss more – Papi’s cooking or his own bed. With eagerness in his stride, he went downstairs and joined his family for breakfast.
Everything seemed better this morning. The day was clearer, warmer than usual, and the birds exceptionally joyful as they chirped the day’s greeting to the world. The sun shone brightly through the windows, bathing the house in a warm yellow glow. The juice tasted sweeter and the eggs fresher. He savored every morsel as if it were his last meal. He listened to the chaotic banter around the table that had, in the past, drove him crazy with the way everyone talked at once.
When the meal was over, he cleared the table, which garnered a loving kiss on the cheek from his mother and praise for being such a good son. After Sindy helped him load the dishwasher, he went back to his room to find something to take with him on tour that would remind him of home. He picked up a half dozen different trinkets, but he couldn’t decide what to take with him. He picked up a framed picture of him with his family that was taken at his college graduation. This is what he’d take with him.
“I remember that day.”
Lucas turned toward his dad, standing in the doorway.
“I watched you graduate and thought, there’s my first-born child. When did he turn into a man? Now I look at you, and that’s all I see. You’ve done so much with your life already, and now you’re embarking on this journey that’s going to take you to the next phase in your life. And I’m torn between being so incredibly happy and proud to watch you grow, and wanting you to stay exactly as you are. I know it’s only a few weeks, but I’m going to miss you like crazy.”
Suddenly melancholy at being away from his family, a lump landed in Lucas’ throat like a baseball, and he struggled to speak. “I’m gonna miss you too, Dad.” His gaze dropped to the Les Paul in his father’s hand. “Were you playing?”
“Yeah. I got really sentimental. Sit down with me for a minute.”
Lucas sat next to his father, who kept staring at the Les Paul across his lap.
“I’ve had this guitar since before I met Papi. Me and your mom were newly married when I bought it. We were really struggling with finances back then, and we couldn’t afford it, but I had to have it. The moment I laid eyes on this beauty, I fell in love. This guitar has been with me at every single show I’ve ever played since then. I’ve never taken the stage without her at my fingertips.” He gazed lovingly at the instrument. “I almost lost her once. In the jungle in Fiji. She almost burned up, but Papi saved her. He saved me, too.”
There were a million stories that revolved around his dad’s beloved Les Paul. Just when Lucas thought he’d heard them all, his dad revealed a new one.
“I love this guitar. It means the world to me.” His dad held it up in both hands. “She’s yours now.”
It took Lucas a second to comprehend his father’s statement. The gesture floored him with humility. Passing down the Les Paul was the ultimate gift, and Lucas felt unworthy. “You’re giving me your Les Paul? Dad. No. I couldn’t take it. It means too much to you.”
“It means nothing compared to you, Lucas. I want you to take it with you and use it at every show, just like I have. I’m gonna worry about you on the road. Touring isn’t easy. It’s hard work. I’ll worry you’re going to get burnt out. Or if you’re sleeping enough or working too hard. If you take this guitar with you, it’ll be like a piece of me is there with you. She’ll watch over you like a talisman.”
Lucas took the Les Paul in his hands, as gentle as if he was cradling a newborn baby. “Thank you, Dad. I was looking for something to take with me to remind me of home, and this is perfect. I’ll cherish it forever.”
Lucas lovingly carried the Les Paul to the tour bus and tucked it inside, just as his father had always done when Immortal Angel was on tour. The road crew had never touched the beloved instrument, and it never went in the cargo area. Even on commercial jets, the Les Paul always had its own seat, and Lucas planned to uphold the tradition. He exited the tour bus and stared at the people he’d known his entire life. Everyone came to say their final goodbyes. Jimmy and Audra, including their younger son Michael, all bubbled with excitement. Aunt Mary sat in her wheelchair, smiling with joy. Kira and her husband were here as well, along with their seven-year-old twins. And, of course, Damien and Alyssa.
“You have a big family of friends,” Sindy commented.
Lucas extended his arms to the sides to include everyone in front of them. “These people right here are what we like to refer to as the Immortal Angel family.” Lucas let out a small chuckle. “But I have a lot more relatives. Wait until you meet my six grandparents and ten aunts and uncles. And all my first cousins.”
Sindy stared at him, wide-eyed. “You’re joking, right?”
“Not at all. When you have three parents, you get a third more relatives than everyone else.”
“I have presents!” Lucas’ mom called, her arms full of shopping bags.
Tessa let out her usual squeal of glee. Honestly, you could give that girl a pencil and she’d howl with excitement. Of course, knowing his parents, it would be a 24-karat gold pencil.
“I’ll give you yours first, Tessa, since you can hardly contain yourself.” It was one of his mom’s signature guitar straps. Tessa held it up and admired it, then hugged and kissed their mom on the cheek. Lucas and Sindy also received custom-made guitar straps, each embellished with their name in silver studs along the back, and each with unique designs branded into the leather.
Sindy examined the gift with awe, placed it over her shoulder and ran her hand along the leather. “This is so soft and supple. Did you make these?”
“Of course,” his mom replied. “I’ve been making these guitar straps since before I had my degree in designing.”
Lucas fingered the bright silver studs that spelled Sindy’s name. “This is sterling.”
Sindy’s eyes darted up. “Tell me you’re joking.”
Lucas shook his head, amused that she expected his mom to use something besides precious metal.
“I’ve never owned something this beautiful. Thank you, Mrs. Blade.”
“You’re welcome, honey. But, please call me Jessi.”
“Or Mrs. Blade-Garcia.” Papi draped his arm over her shoulder and gave her a loving kiss on the cheek. “You are my wife, too, sweetheart.” Papi was always teasing her about using his name.
“Thanks, Mom,” Lucas said. “You’ve made me a million of these over the years, but I think I love this one the most.”
She touched his cheek. “That’s so sweet, baby. Thank you.”
“Are you all ready to go?” Papi asked.
“Wait. I have one more gift.” Lucas’ mom walked up to Mason, who was standing a few yards away with his family. She stuck her hand in the shopping bag and pulled out a leather stick bag and presented it to him.
“Oh, cool!” Mason exclaimed. “Thanks.” He turned it over several times, examining it from all angles, then held it up to show Lucas. Mason’s initials, MW, were branded into the side with the same silver studs.
Lucas gave his best friend the thumbs up, because the gift was truly a work of art.
Jimmy Wilder snatched it out of his son’s hand. “This is awesome, Jess. You never gave me a leather-studded stick bag. Man, I need one of these.”
“I made you one, too, Jimmy. It’s upstairs in my workroom.”
“Sa-weet!”
Lucas watched his dad hugging Tessa, which meant it was time to go. They hung onto one another, as if she was leaving for a year instead of a month.
And Papi already had tears in his eyes. His mom was the strongest one of the three, standing tall with an excited smile, but he knew she’d probably miss them the most.
Everyone said their goodbyes, except Lucas and his dad. He saved it for last, because he knew it would be the hardest. His dad put his hands on Lucas’ shoulders and stared at him with a small smile. “Go leave your mark on the world, son. Show them what you got, because it’s something no one has ever seen before. Knock them off their feet.”
Lucas clutched his father in his arms and squeezed him with all his might. “Thank you for everything. For teaching me to play and how to run the band. I owe you everything.” As he hugged his father, thoughts of inadequacy from the past haunted him. He had thought that he lived in his father’s shadow. Now he realized that he shined in the afterglow. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Lucas. Now go show the world that you’re better than your old man.”
He tried to swallow the emotion clogging his throat. “Never. Not even close.”
After two weeks on the road, they made it clear across the country to Los Angeles. According to Mason, his mom had already booked a show at the Whisky a Go Go and the Hollywood Bowl for Prodigy’s national tour next year. Exhausted, but riding high, Lucas fell into the leather captain’s chair on the tour bus.
Sindy was sitting on the sofa with Tessa, still awestruck at meeting Ellen DeGeneres. “I just love Ellen DeGeneres! She was hilarious and organic. Just like she comes across on TV.”
“I never expected Conan to be so tall,” Tessa commented. “The guy towered over me by almost a foot. Mase, you’ve met most of these TV hosts already. Who’s your favorite?”
“I like Jimmy Fallon the best. That guy is so funny and cool.”
It seemed so long ago since they played The Tonight Show back in New York. Lucas had lost count of how many interviews they’d done and how many radio stations they’d visited across the nation. There was little down time since they were on the road so much, and he wished he could show Sindy around the cities they visited. At least they’d had a free afternoon in Chicago last week that they had spent at the Navy Pier, which she enjoyed.
The movement of the bus slowly started to make Lucas’ eyes close, and he suddenly felt drained. “Where are we headed?”
Tessa pulled out her phone and scrolled through her calendar. “Reno. After that, Portland.” She lifted her head up and smiled, her eyes sparkling. “Then Seattle.”
They arrived in Seattle shortly before 6:00 pm four days later. At Tessa’s insistence, their first stop had to be at The Walrus and The Carpenter for fresh oysters and clams. Lucas scarfed down a half dozen before noticing that Sindy had an empty plate. “Here.” He placed a large oyster, with a beautiful marbled shell, and two small clams onto her dish. “Eat up. Don’t be shy.”
Her lips wrinkled and bowed downward. “I don’t eat this stuff.”
“Are you serious? You don’t like clams and oysters?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had it.”
Lucas wondered if maybe she never tried it because she couldn’t afford it, and looked forward to treating her to things her previous economic situation prevented her from enjoying. He squeezed some lemon on them and offered her cocktail sauce.
Sindy looked at Tessa, who was devouring the oysters as if she hadn’t eaten in a week. “Why is Tessa using lime and tabasco?”
“My sister’s a food snob. She has to be fancy.”
Lucas expected Tessa to reply with a witty retort, but she simply smiled with her eyes as she continued to slurp the contents from the pearly half shells without pause.
“Try some cocktail sauce.” Lucas put a dollop on one of the oysters, knowing that it would soften the saltiness if she wasn’t used to the robust flavor. “Go ahead. Try it.”
Sindy hesitated before picking up one of the oyster shells and stared at it for a long time.
Mason gave her one of his infectious smiles. “Just suck it down. Don’t chew it for half an hour. Only one or two chomps are enough, then swallow.”
Sindy stared at him. “That sounds obscene.”
Mason laughed, then ate an oyster to demonstrate. “Ahh! Delicious!”
Lucas watched Sindy as she took a deep breath before sliding the oyster into her mouth. Her eyes immediately squeezed shut, and she grimaced as she barely chewed it and then swallowed with an audible gulp. “Ugh!” She gave a full body shudder that echoed her dislike. “That was the most disgusting thing I ever tasted.” She practically dropped the shell into her plate. “How are you eating these things?”
Everyone laughed. Even Tessa stopped gorging on the shellfish long enough to tease Sindy. Lucas had pity on her, though, and put his arm around her. “As soon as we’re done we’ll head downtown for a real meal.”
They ended up at Spinasse where they shared aged prosciutto, fresh cavatelli with braised beef and roasted cherry tomatoes, fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta and lemon, and tajarin with butter and sage – all at Tessa’s suggestion. There was no need to question what to order whenever she was at the table, except, of course, if Papi was dining with them. Then the two of them would have a lengthy discussion of which meals were ultimately the best on the menu. Sometimes it was so frustrating that his mom would summon the waiter and order an appetizer while everyone waited for the night’s recommendation.
“Good evening, Mr. Lucas, Miss Tessa and Mr. Mason. It’s been many years, but I’d recognize the three of you anywhere. Welcome back to Spinasse.”
It was the manager, who’d been at this restaurant since the first time Immortal Angel ate here. Spinasse’s was a regular stop whenever Immortal Angel came to Seattle, and Lucas, Tessa and Mason had joined their parents here every time.
“You know him?” Sindy whispered to Lucas, while Tessa and Mason explained to the manager that they were now touring in their own band.
“We came here with our parents whenever they played in Seattle. We’ve known him since we were kids.”
“I forgot you’ve been to all of these cities before.” She gazed at him with wonder. “I still can’t believe you’ve traveled all over the world. It’s foreign to me. I’ve never been anywhere outside of Baltimore, besides New York.”
He wanted to show her everything – all of his favorite places in every major city in the world. He would relive everything through her eyes, as excited as he had been the first time he was old enough to appreciate the amenities of the places he traveled to. He thought back to when he was a kid and on tour with Immortal Angel and how his parents had showed him their favorite places and explained the different cultures around the world. He was suddenly homesick as old memories filled his head, and he slipped away from the table with an excuse to visit the restroom.
He called his mom first, since she was on his mind the most right now.
“Sweetheart!” she sang into the phone, the elation clear in her tone. “How’s the tour going?”
A smile immediately spread across his face at the sound of his mother’s voice. “It’s great, Mom. Everything I hoped it would be. It’s exhausting, though, I have to admit.” His parents made it look easy, even touring with two kids.
“Slow down, then. I know it’s exciting, but head back to the bus and get a good night’s sleep as often as you can. You don’t have to hit the bars and clubs every night. They’ll still be there on your next tour. You don’t have to do it all this time around.”
He wished he had the time and the energy. “I know, Mom. We actually don’t have much free time. Tonight’s the first night in a long time that we have off. We’re in Seattle. At Spinasse.”
“I love that place. Make sure Sindy tries the tajarin.”
He remembered how much his mother loved the dish. “Tessa made sure we ordered our favorites. Sindy loved everything. Even the zucchini blossom.” He chuckled a little as he pictured her face when she realized it was a flower. It took a little coaxing after the trauma of trying an oyster, but she gav
e in and tried it and loved it.
“How’s Tessa? Is she taking it easy, or running circles around everyone with her attention to every last detail?”
“Since when does Tessa take it easy? And you know that she doesn’t listen to anyone.” Quite the opposite. Tessa tells everyone else what to do, but his mother already knew that.
His mom let out a long sigh. “I miss you both. I’m so happy you’re doing so well. I’ve read all the reviews of Prodigy and they’re stellar, but I can’t wait until both of my kids are home.”
A lump settled in Lucas’ throat, making it hard to speak. “We only have about two more weeks on the road. We’ll be heading back east in a day or two.”
There was silence on the phone for a few seconds before his mom spoke again. “I’m very proud of you, Lucas. I don’t have to tell you how much talent you have. You’re an amazing guitarist, and you’ve grown into such a responsible, mature, intelligent and handsome man. I couldn’t ask for better children. I love you and your sister very much.”
Oh God. The baseball lodged in Lucas’ throat clogged his chest with emotion. He blinked rapidly and looked up to the ceiling as he tried to find his voice. It cracked and shook but he didn’t care. “Love you, too, Mom.”
The last week of the tour mirrored the initial few weeks on the road. Cities began to blend into one another, and, some days, Sindy couldn’t remember which state they were in or if they were heading to another gig or another city. She was used to hard work. She had put in double shifts at the diner and sometimes worked 60 hours a week, standing on her feet all day and carrying heavy trays back and forth to the kitchen, but it was nothing compared to the hectic schedule of the promotional tour. They traveled all night and woke at a ridiculously early hour in order to appear on live morning television shows. Sometimes they would go to an interview at a radio station afterwards, and then straight to a taping of a late-night talk show.
LUCAS BLADE: Radical Rock Stars: Next Generation Duet Book 1 Page 27