“Riley?” questioned Jake, recognising the description of his former student.
“Might have been. I only met her briefly,” replied Garrett vaguely. “No idea where Jim found her or how to get hold of her.”
“Leave that with me,” said Jake. “I’ll make a call in the morning. See if we can’t get her on board with this.”
“You know her?”
Jake nodded. “Riley was one of the students in my ten-day workshop class. Incredible voice for such a tiny girl. She’s a senior at the high school. I’ll call the principal first thing and see what we can work out here.”
“Sounds like a plan. Now, where are we with this?”
“Just about there, I think,” said Jake, casting his eye down the list. “Want to play a few of these before we call it a night?”
Almost reluctantly, Garrett nodded.
Playing seemed to soothe the older musician’s nerves and, once they got started, he was keen to keep going. Gradually, they worked their way through the set, adding scribbled notes alongside the song titles to annotate who would guest where. After some gentle persuasion, Garrett finally agreed to do three of the songs entirely on his own.
“There is a price to pay for that idea, Mr Power,” he commented as he unplugged his guitar for the night.
“And that is?”
“I need an opening act.”
“Garrett!” protested Jake, sensing he’d been backed into a corner.
“Forty-five minutes. An hour tops. Eight or ten songs.”
“This is your show, not mine,” challenged Jake calmly.
“Bill just says plus special guests. You’re my plus one here, Jake.”
Recognising that he had no choice, Jake nodded, “Ok, I’ll do it,”
“Thanks. Knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
“Guess I’ve another set to work out now.”
“Looks like it,” laughed Garrett, trying to stifle a yawn. “Personally, I’m calling it a night and going to bed.”
Glancing at his watch, Jake was shocked to discover it was almost five o’clock in the morning.
“Sleep then set,” he agreed.
“Feel free to treat this space as your own,” offered Garrett warmly. “And remember your masterclass is at ten-thirty this morning.”
“Thanks, Garrett. Appreciate it. Who needs sleep anyway?”
Try as she might, Lori’s design progress was slow. She lost three whole days when both kids were ill then a fourth as she went out to Beebe for more pre-natal appointments. Her baby bump was growing rapidly and the sonogram revealed that for a third time she was measuring above average and larger compared to her first two pregnancies. Baby number three was going to be another big baby. When the consultant cautioned that she could be placed on full bed rest by Christmas, Lori had burst into tears. The thought of twelve weeks on bed rest scared her, bringing back dark memories of the days after her accident. Drawing on every last ounce of her inner strength, Lori vowed to herself on the drive home that she would avoid bed rest until after the Silver Lake album launch mid-February.
Pulling into the last free space at the school, Lori spotted Grey’s truck on the far side of the parking lot. An idea hit her. Awkwardly, she manoeuvred herself out of the driver’s seat, steadied her balance then, leaning heavily on her cane, walked across the parking lot. Spying her approaching in his mirrors, Grey came out to meet her.
“Hi. You look fabulous today!” he complimented warmly, genuinely glad to see his friend’s wife.
“Cut the crap, Grey,” laughed Lori as the baby launched a furious assault on her ribs. “I look as though I’m ready to give birth!”
“Not quite,” he laughed, eyeing her obvious baby bump. “But there’s no hiding that bump now.”
“I know,” sighed Lori, rubbing her belly. “I’m just back from Beebe. Looks like Power Pack number three is going to be bigger than one and two were.”
“Shit! That’s not such great news, is it?” sympathised Grey.
“No, it’s not but we’re both fit and healthy so that’s all that matters,” replied Lori philosophically. “Anyway, I came over to beg a favour. Can I borrow Becky for the weekend?”
“Sure, but why?”
“The kids were sick Sunday through till Tuesday and I’m behind schedule on the design for the cover. If Becky could watch the kids Saturday and Sunday, I should be able to catch up. Maddy needs the design by Wednesday,” explained Lori hopefully. “I’ll pay her of course.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” countered Grey sharply. “Becky’ll be over on Saturday morning. You coming to our Hallowe’en party on Friday night?”
“Yes,” replied Lori smiling. “Kids are super excited about it. They’ve even agreed a theme for their costumes.”
“And what are you? Who or what are you dressing up as, Mrs Power?” teased Grey. “A pumpkin?”
“Hey! That was cruel,” giggled Lori, punching his arm playfully. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“You’ll look fabulous whatever you’re wearing.”
“Grey, you are impossible!”
Securing her messy bun with a hairpin, Lori realised her young daughter was watching her closely. Having dressed the kids in their costumes first, Lori was now rushing to get herself ready. She’d kept her own outfit simple. Safe in the knowledge that all the adults at the party already knew she was pregnant, she’d customised a black tunic top by spraying it with glitter, painted on a huge full moon then carefully drawn in the silhouette of Elliott and ET on the bicycle from the classic movie ET. The theme Kola had set was films and TV and her simple costume fit the bill to perfection.
“Mommy, what are you dressed up as?” asked Melody curiously.
“A scene from the film ET,” replied Lori with a smile. “Don’t think you’ve seen that movie yet. It’s an old one.”
“And your tummy is the full moon?”
“That’s right, Miss M.”
The little
