CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: The Sultry Songstress
Elderberry made a call from the airplane, trying to find out where Nick might be staying. While investigating Apocalypse Records, he found out about the corporate Hilton account. After calling the Hilton, he discovered Nick was registered there. He decided to go straight to the French Quarter when he arrived in New Orleans. He had a hunch Nick would be roaming the streets.
Nick found his dark corner in the piano bar. When he settled down enough to notice the singer, he was shocked. It was Shana D’Angelo. Her voice was even more beautiful than he remembered – so was she. She didn’t notice him sneak into the bar, since the crowd was huge and rowdy. She had the audience singing along with her and some of them were dancing on the chairs. When her set was over, she walked to the performer's room off the side of the stage. She stopped right in front of Nick, who was sitting in the chair by the door. She stopped and looked at him straight in the eyes. He had a sad puppy face on.
“Nick, is that you?”
“It sure looks like it is.”
She grabbed his hand, stood him up, and gave him a giant hug. He was surprised at the reception.
“It’s so good to see you, Nick.”
“Same here.” This is an affectionate hug, thought Nick. She doesn’t seem angry at all.
“Where have you been hiding all these years?” Shana asked, as she broke away from the embrace.
“Oh, I’ve been doing things.”
“What kind of things?”
Nick looked around at the crowded room. “Why don’t we go somewhere a little less crowded and talk.”
“Sure,” said Shana. “We can go to the bar across the hall. It’s not as noisy.”
They went into the bar and sat at a table. This was the main bar but since the weather was great, most of the patrons were in the patio area. They were about ten feet behind Benny, who was sitting at the bar while nursing his Hurricane, with his back to Nick and Shana.
“You look gorgeous, Shana. The years have certainly been great to you,” said Nick.
“You’re still a smooth one, Nick. You haven’t changed a bit,” said Shana. She held up two fingers towards the bartender.
“Well, you sure have. That voice of yours has gotten even better.”
“Thank you. I’ve been having lots of practice, and I have you to thank for that.”
“Me?” Nick was surprised.
“Yes, you. That tape you made of me got me the audition for this job. I’ve been here ever since.”
“But you’re a lounge singer,” said Nick, almost apologetic.
“But, I’m a lounge singer at Pat O’Brien’s. Do you realize what kind of exposure I get?”
“Not really.”
“For one thing, I met my husband here.”
“You’re married?”
“Yeah, to Eddie, he’s a wonderful recording engineer. We’re working on an album for me right now. I’ve also met a lot of business contacts. I’ve had job offers all over the world.”
“But you’re still here.”
“I love it here. Maybe after my record is completed, Eddie and I will do something with it and take some people up on their offers.”
“So, you’re happy?” Nick was trying to rid his guilt.
“Exceptionally.”
“I was worried there for a second.”
“Why?”
“Well, remember when I left town without a good-bye?”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t find that strange?”
“Not for you.” Shana didn’t really know Nick well, but she did know him.
“Am I that easy to read?”
“Nick, don’t kid yourself. I knew why you were helping me out with the tape. I’m not stupid. I’m grateful for the results and I’m not sorry I had to sleep with you to get it.”
“You didn’t have to. I would have recorded you anyway.”
“You sure didn’t mind,” Shana said, with an impish smile.
Nick smiled. “It was good, wasn’t it?” Shana smiled right back. “The tape was really good.”
Nick’s smile plummeted. “What about the sex?”
“It was okay, I guess. I thought you knew I was just using you for the recording.”
“Actually, I thought you were the one thinking I was using you.”
“It looks like we were using each other,” she added, with a smile.
“Yeah, I guess so.” I guess she knew me better than I knew her, he thought.
The bartender brought two Dixie beers to the table.
“Well, tell me about yourself. What have you been up to?” asked Shana. Love Blender started blaring through the jukebox speakers. Nick and Benny both shook their heads.
“That, for one thing,” explained Nick, as he pointed to the jukebox and tried to hide his shame. “How in the hell did they get it in their rotation so quick?”
“Don’t tell me you wrote that garbage?” Shana asked.
“Unfortunately, yes. Not my best effort,” explained Nick. “However, I guess that tape turned out to be a good thing for both of us. I gave it to a guy from Apocalypse Records and he really liked it. I was trying to promote you, but he ended up hiring me. I’ve been living in New Lake City ever since”
“That’s great.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Of course not. Why would I be?” asked Shana.
“Because the tape I made for you is the one that got me this job.”
“Hey, it worked out great for me, too.”
“I guess you’re right,” Nick said.
“Nick, you were always a caring man. You had an I-don’t –give-a-shit attitude, but I read right through it.”
“What do you mean?”
“You had lots of friends but you weren’t close to any of them. You had a hurt face. Even when you smiled, I could tell you were hurting. That anger is what drove you to do all those fantastic things you did here.”
“I wouldn’t call them fantastic.”
“I would. Look at all the bands you played with. Think about all those street kids you helped by setting them up with other musicians to form bands. You got them off the streets.”
“That’s only because they all had girlfriends that were grateful to me for helping them out. I got most of my, uh, fun times that way.”
“The motive didn’t matter, Nick. It was the results. Look at me. I couldn’t have done this without you.” Shana was sincere.
Nick had trouble accepting the fact that something he did for himself actually helped somebody else, too. “It’s funny you say all this. I had a dream last night – at least I hope it was a dream – that a certain, um, let me say force, told me I no regard for anybody but myself when I lived here.”
“Maybe that’s what you thought, but I knew better. You’re a very caring person. Did you ever find the right one?”
“No.” He knew what she meant.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you have almost the same broken-hearted look in you eyes as you had when you lived here.”
“What do you mean by almost?”
“The Nick I knew had a broken heart with no hope. Now, I can see in your eyes, your heart is breaking, but there is a glimmer of hope.”
“Is everybody in this city psychic?”
“No, Nick. It’s just you’re that easy to read.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“No, Nick - thank you.” She gave him a little kiss on the cheek. She held up her beer bottle to Nick, who did the same. They tapped them together. “Have you ever been back home?” asked Shana, as she took a sip of the ice-cold brew.
“No,” Nick answered. He took a few long gulps of beer and asked, “Why do you want to know that?”
“Because I think it’s time you quit running away.”
“I’m not running from anything.”
“You were running from Lafayette when you lived here.” “I never
told you anything about Lafayette.”
“Yes, you did. One night after a long session…”
“Recording?”
Shana smiled. “No, actually, I lied. The sex was good. It was after one of our all nighters, you passed out and started mumbling about Lafayette, Maw-Maw, and Jamie.”
“See, you’re wrong. I’m not running from Jamie. I just saw her three days ago. In fact, she’s the one who sent me back here.”
“Didn’t she send you here in the first place, in one way or another?”
Nick looked her in the eyes for a few seconds, then said, “I guess you have a point there.”
“Since you’re this close, why don’t you make a trip to Lafayette? Find out what you’re still running from and maybe you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course I am. Go find yourself because, believe me, you’ll like what you find.”
“You are a really a beautiful lady, Shana. Thanks for the talk.”
“Would you like to come have dinner with Eddie and me? He’s meeting me in a few minutes and we’re going eat at K-Paul’s.”
“No, thanks. I’m going to walk the streets. I need to start finding myself.” He downed the rest of his beer and gave Shana a hug.
“And don’t forget to make that trip back home.” She waved good-bye to Nick then went to the bar. “Hey, Bryan,” she yelled to the bartender. “Can you get me a ‘to-go’ cup while I’m waiting for Eddie?” She looked next to her and saw Benny with one hand on his drink and the other holding up his head by his chin.
“Hey, buddy. You’re looking a little down,” she said to Benny.
He turned his head and saw Shana. “You’re that singer I saw a while ago, aren’t you?”
“If you were across the hall, I guess I’m the one.”
“You’re really good.”
“Thank you. Why are you sitting here by yourself, looking like you just lost your best girl?”
“Because I just did.”
She looked closer at him. “Hey, aren’t you the one who was with that girl and said y’all were from New Lake City?” Shana was good with faces, even in the dimly lit piano bar.
“That would be me,” Benny said.
“It’s funny. I was just sitting here talking to a friend of mine who lives there now.”
“Yeah, it’s a darn small world, isn’t it?”
“What happened? Did y’all two get in some kind of fight?”
“Not really. She’s out on the patio, talking to an old boyfriend.”
“So they’re just talking?”
“I guess so.”
“Why are all men such idiots?” she asked. She drank another sip of beer and slammed the bottle on the bar. “I swear, man. What’s the big deal about your girl talking to an old boyfriend?”
“You don’t understand. I have a problem holding on to girlfriends lately.”
“Well, with an attitude like that, it’s no wonder why.”
“What do you mean?”
“You need to be more sure of yourself. Go back out there, give her some time to talk with her old friend, and then show her that you’re her man. That other guy will get the picture.”
“Even if that other guy is Tony Brunella?”
“The linebacker for the Saints?”
“Yeah, and the girl is Julie Templeton.”
“The BreastMaster slut?” Shana had seen the commercials. She wasn’t a fan.
“Hey, watch it. She’s not a slut.”
“If she’s out there with Tony Brunella, she is. He’s the biggest womanizer this city has ever seen. He sleeps with every girl he can get his hands on.”
“Well, his hands are probably all over Julie right now.”
“So, go stop him, you idiot,” Shana ordered.
“Didn’t you ever see how big he is?”
“Do you love this girl?”
“It’s kind of soon to tell. We’ve only been together two days,” Benny confessed.
“Two days, two months, two years, it doesn’t matter. If it’s love, you’ll know it.”
“Since you put it that way, I guess it is.”
“Go out there and show her who the real man is.”
“The real man.”
“No, say it like you mean it.”
“I’m the real man.”
“Louder.”
“I’m the real man, darn it.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“You sound just like Nick,” said Benny.
“You know Nick?” asked Shana.
“What?”
“Never mind. Go out there and claim your prize, slugger.”
“I’m the man,” screamed Benny, as he trotted out of the bar like a boxer, weaving through the crowd.
Bryan the bartender put the empty plastic cup down in front of Shana and filled it with the rest of her beer. “He’s gonna get his ass kicked, right?” he asked.
“Pretty much,” said Shana.
The Devil's in My Bathroom Page 38