“And sing at a sell-out show at that.”
“How many people will be there?”
“About five hundred,” replied Jake. “It’s an intimate venue. Garrett wanted to keep things low key. Perfect small venue for him.”
“Small! Five hundred is freaking huge to me!”
“It’ll feel kind of huge to me too when I step out to play my support set,” admitted Jake. “Still not sure how I got talked into that.”
“What? You’re playing too?”
Jake nodded, “I’ll do a solo set then support Garrett for his set. Sing a few for him. Play on a few. There’s a couple of other guests dropping by too.”
“Who?”
“Paul’s playing drums for him. Grey said he’d help out on bass. Mikey from Weigh Station hopes to be here to play on a couple too.”
“Who else is singing with him?”
“You and me. That’s it.”
As they stood gazing over at the small theatre, Jake realised that the enormity of the situation had just hit the tiny, green-haired songstress by his side. Putting his arm around her shoulder, he said, “Let’s get you back to the gothic palace, Miss Riley.”
Sun shining in through the bedroom window wakened Lori early on Sunday morning. She had worked late into the night on the Silver Lake cover but felt that she had made good progress. If Becky could keep the kids entertained till late afternoon, she hoped she would be able to finish the piece by the end of the day. While she had still been at her desk the previous evening, she had heard Melody creep up the stairs to the attic to join Becky. It warmed her heart that the kids treated Becky like a surrogate older sister.
“Mommy.”
At the sound of Jesse’s voice, Lori turned towards the door to see her young son standing there still more asleep than awake.
“Mornin’!” she said, wriggling to sit up. “You ok?”
“Where’s Becky?”
“Still asleep I think,” replied Lori as Jesse clambered up onto the bed.
“Can we play on the beach today?”
“Looks kind of cold out there.”
“But it’s sun shiny.”
“Well, maybe Becky could take you both for a walk later.”
“Daddy would play with me,” grumbled the little boy sourly. “I miss my daddy.”
“Me too,” said Lori almost to herself before adding, “He’ll be home soon.”
“Promise?”
Pausing, Lori thought for a moment before saying, “Promise.”
Smiling, the little boy wriggled closer, snuggling in for a cuddle. Running her fingers through his tousled blonde hair and feeling the baby stirring restlessly, Lori prayed that she had just made a promise she could actually keep.
“Lori,” began Becky over breakfast. “Can I beg a huge favour?”
“That depends what it is,” countered Lori, wondering what her teenage guest was about to ask.
“Can I invite a friend over for lunch? They could help me take Miss M and Jesse for a long beach walk after.”
“And who is this friend?” quizzed Lori curiously.
“Dorrian,” replied Becky softly.
“Dorrian?”
“He’s my boyfriend,” explained the teenager awkwardly. “Dad doesn’t know. Kola kind of knows.” She paused, “Uncle Jake knows him. Dorrian took his class.”
“I don’t know,” began Lori hesitantly.
“Please!” pleaded Becky. “You can meet him first. Check he’s trustworthy. We don’t need to go out. We can watch movies and play Lego or play games. Please, Lori?”
“Invite him over for lunch,” relented Lori, praying she wouldn’t live to regret it. “I’ll decide about the beach walk after I’ve met him.”
“Thank you!” gushed Becky, hugging her. “You’re the best, Lori!”
“Don’t let me down, young lady.”
“I won’t. Promise.”
“Fine,” said Lori, getting up from the table. “Time I made a start on some work. You ok to tidy up in here and to help the kids get dressed?”
Becky nodded, already reaching for her cell to text the good news to Dorrian.
Once settled at her desk, Lori was soon engrossed in the fine details of the Silver Lake design. There were a few finishing touches to be made before she added the lettering. Restricted as she was by the size and font of the band’s logo, she deliberated long and hard as to how she could blend it in so that it complimented the rest of the design. On a separate sheet, Lori practised with a few different options, mainly playing about with the shadow effect to the letters. Time lost all meaning as she added depth and shading of varying degrees to the distinctive Silver Lake logo.
At some point in the background, she was aware of the back door opening and closing followed by voices in the kitchen. After much pleading from Melody, Becky was supervising the kids’ painting in the kitchen. The doors had been closed to muffle the noise but the all too familiar squeals and giggles had echoed through to her workspace.
“Lori!”
Becky’s voice broke through her concentration.
“Lunch is ready,” called out the teenager.
“Lunch? Is that the time?” quizzed Lori, looking up from the latest attempt at the lettering.
“It’s gone one,” replied Becky. “I heated the lasagne that was in the refrigerator and Dorrian brought in some Italian bread rolls.”
“Perfect,” said Lori, laying down her pencil. “Did you find the tub of parmesan?”
“Sure did.”
“Oh, you can come kiddie sit every weekend,” laughed Lori as she got stiffly to her feet. Her leg was aching after sitting for so long and she could feel her back joining in too, thanks to the growing weight of her baby bump.
When she entered the kitchen, Lori smiled to see Jesse sitting happily on the lap of a young long-haired boy that she presumed was Becky’s boyfriend.
“Dorrian?” she checked warmly.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a smile. “Thanks for having me over.”
Laughing, Lori said, “No need to call me ma’am. Makes me feel old! It’s Lori.”
Their young guest blushed.
