“No, I’ve got this, Lori.”
Over lunch, the kids monopolised conversation by telling their mother all about the pictures they’d painted. Jesse got particularly excited as he told her about the shark Dorrian helped him draw.
“I thought music was your thing,” said Lori casually. “Not art.”
“It’s kind of both,” replied Dorrian shyly. “I draw cartoons mainly. Anime. Manga. That style of thing.”
“Tell Lori about your job,” prompted Becky, nudging him under the table.
“It’s not really a job as such,” he began awkwardly. “I sold a few designs to a tattoo parlour yesterday. Guy said if they prove to be popular, he might hire me to help out a bit. Wants someone in-house to draw the designs while he does the ink.”
“Guess who it is,” interrupted Becky excitedly.
“Danny?” suggested Lori with a smile.
“Do you know him?” asked Dorrian.
Lori nodded, “He does all of Jake’s ink. He’s done mine too. Talented guy. You could learn a lot from him.”
“I’m booked in for my first next weekend,” confessed Dorrian. “Just don’t tell my mom.”
“How’s the music coming on?” asked Lori, nibbling on the last piece of garlic bread.
“Good. A few of us that did the workshop have put a band together. Riley was doing vocals for us but she’s got a big break and has gone up to New York for a week or so. Gave us a weekend off,” he replied. “We learned so much from Jake last summer. Best class I’ve taken.”
“Jake enjoyed teaching it,” said Lori. “Spoke very highly of all of you.”
“Mommy,” interrupted Melody. “Can Dorrian and Becky take us onto the beach?”
“Please, Mommy,” pleaded Jesse instantly.
“I guess so,” agreed Lori, glancing out of the window to check the sun was still shining. “But you guys need to behave. No running away, Jess. No getting wet either.”
“I be good,” promised the little boy.
“Fine,” said Lori then turning to Becky added, “Don’t take them too far. Head towards town rather than south.”
“Can we take them along the boardwalk?”
Lori nodded, “Be back before it starts to get dark. I’ll message your dad and say I’ll drop you off home after dinner. That give you two enough time together?”
“Thanks, Lori.”
With the kids out of the house, Lori returned to her desk to finalise the cover. While they’d been eating lunch, she’d been thinking about the lettering and reached a decision in her mind as to how she wanted it to look. Now that she had a vision of the finished piece, Lori was hopeful of finishing it in time to deliver it along with Becky to Grey later in the day.
It was late afternoon before the two teenagers arrived back at the beach house with the kids in tow. Both of them were clutching bags from the Candy Kitchen and Jesse took great delight in showing her his blue tongue.
“Dorrian, would you like to stay for dinner?” invited Lori warmly.
“Thanks, but I need to be getting back. I’ve a paper due for school tomorrow. English,” replied the boy politely.
“Ok, another time maybe,” said Lori. There was something likeable about the boy and, in many ways, he reminded her of Todd when she had first met him.
“I’d like that,” said Dorrian then reaching out to ruffle Jesse’s hair added, “And I’ll draw more sharks for you next time, buddy.”
“Yeah!” yelled Jesse, jumping up and down. “Big sharks with sharp teeth.”
“Kids, why don’t you go in the sunroom and watch some tv till Becky says goodbye to Dorrian,” suggested Lori, subtly trying to give the young couple a few moments to themselves. “Becky, could you fetch me the roll of bubble wrap from the garage, please?”
“Sure,” she replied as she led Dorrian towards the back door.
“Nice to have met you, Dorrian,” said Lori. “Good luck with that paper and with the designs for Danny.”
“Thanks,” replied the boy. “Kids, see you next time.”
“Bye, Dorrian!” they yelled in unison.
Almost half an hour later, Becky came back indoors carrying the roll of plastic bubble wrap.
“Where do you want this, Lori?” she asked brightly.
“Dining room table,” replied Lori as she added her trademark initials to the finished design. “I want to package this up and drop it off with your dad. The guys need it for Wednesday.”
“Can I see it?” asked Becky, curious to see the band’s new album cover.
“Of course,” said Lori. “But no pictures of it. This stays under wraps till your dad tells you otherwise.”
Gazing down at the finished album cover, Becky’s eyes filled with tears, “Lori, that’s…….”
Her words were lost in a sob. Wrapping her arms around her, Lori said softly, “I know. I know.”
“It’s perfect,” sniffed Becky quietly. “Dad will love it.”
“He’s seen it. He does,” revealed Lori softly. “I just hope Jake and the others love it.”
“I’m pretty sure they will. It’s perfect.”
“Thanks.”
The arrival of the little green-haired songbird injected an air of youthful enthusiasm to the gothic palace. She had warmed to Jethro instantly, looking on him almost as a grandfather figure, much to Jake’s amusement. In an effort to help her to relax, both Jake and Garrett had agreed to allow her Sunday off to explore the city, guessing that she would be better ready to focus on rehearsals if she had done all the tourist stuff first. Almost on a whim, Garrett suggested that she help out in the store during the day Monday to Thursday and that they rehearse at night. Two of his regular members of staff had booked some vacation time but Jake’s presence in the store had increased customer footfall. Keen to pull her weight, Riley was more than delighted to help out, proving herself to be a hard
