“To hell with superstition!” stated Grey bluntly. “Let’s go with the 13th.”
“Unless,” countered Jethro, twiddling with the end of his long white braid. “We play this a bit cute. Let’s release it just a minute or so before midnight on 13th. That way it’s on the cusp of Valentine’s Day. We can have a launch on the Friday night with a late set from the guys and end proceedings with the launch.”
“That could work,” mused Grey, looking thoughtful.
“Inspired,” declared Jason enthusiastically.
“Everyone happy to go with Jethro’s suggestion?” quizzed Maddy, already visualising the launch event in her mind’s eye.
“Works for me,” agreed Jake.
Both Grey and Paul nodded their agreement.
“Excellent,” said Jason. “Now, onto the proposed tour schedule.”
Despite her best intentions to leave early for New York, it was almost eleven o’clock when Lori finally pulled into the underground garage and into Bay 16. Both kids had long since fallen asleep in the back of the car.
“Home sweet home,” she said to Annie with a weary sigh.
Beside her, Grey’s mother smiled, “Do you know, I think this is the first time I’ve been here?”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” said Annie, unfastening her seat belt. “I’m excited to see your apartment. Becky has raved about it so often over the years.”
“Well, come on then,” laughed Lori. “Let’s figure out how we’re getting the kids upstairs and you can see it for yourself.”
“What about the bags?”
“I’ll have them brought up,” said Lori as she climbed down awkwardly from the SUV. “Can you grab their backpacks, please? I’ll waken Miss M but I guess I’ll need to carry Jesse.”
“Be careful, honey,” cautioned Annie, her voice echoing with motherly concern. “He’s kind of heavy for you.”
“Just not sure I’ll get him wakened,” said Lori, reaching into the back seat.
Gently, she shook her young daughter awake, whispering quietly in her ear.
With a yawn and a stretch, Melody wakened up enough to get out of the car and take Annie’s hand. Reaching back in, Lori unbuckled Jesse from his car seat. The little boy whimpered as she started to ease him out of the seat.
“My do it. My do it,” he whined sleepily “Not a baby.”
“That’s my boy,” said Lori, more than a little relieved that her son was wanting to get out by himself. “Take my hand, buddy. You’re a little bit sleepy to do this on your own.”
Reluctantly, the little blonde boy let her help him down from the SUV. With his favourite plush shark tucked under his arm, he took Lori’s hand and allowed himself to be guided towards the elevator.
When they stepped out into the brightly lit lobby, the duty concierge, Tyler, looked up.
“Mrs Power,” he greeted her politely. “I was beginning to get worried. I was told to expect you around nine.”
“That had been the plan,” sighed Lori, suddenly feeling bone tired. “We were held up leaving the shore.”
Passing him her key fob, Lori continued, “Can you please bring the bags up? There’s three in the trunk plus my laptop bag.”
“Certainly, Mrs Power,” he replied, moving across the foyer to press the elevator call button for them. “I’ll be up with those in a few moments.”
“Thanks, Tyler.”
Small table lamps had been lit in the penthouse apartment’s hallway and lounge making it feel homely as Lori ushered her children inside.
“Downstairs, kids,” she said firmly. “Straight to bed.”
“Wanna play,” whined Jesse as he started to make his way down the wide oak staircase.
“In the morning,” stated Lori calmly. “Let’s get some sleep then you can show Annie where the park is.”
Keeping half an eye on her children, Lori turned to Grey’s mom and said, “Go on through to the lounge. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Obediently, both children staggered into their rooms, getting ready for bed without complaint. Thankful that she had had the foresight to leave clean pjs in the apartment, it didn’t take Lori long to get them changed and into their beds. Jesse was asleep almost the second his head hit the pillow. When Lori went through to tuck Melody in, she found her little girl sobbing.
“Hey, why the tears, angel?”
“I miss Daddy,” confessed Melody as she hugged her mommy. “He always comes here with us.”
“Not always,” corrected Lori softly. “I’m sure he misses you too.”
“Will we see him soon?”
Lori nodded, “Yes. Soon. Now, get to sleep. I need to show Annie where everything is. Do you want to take her to your favourite diner for breakfast tomorrow?”
Melody nodded, “Can I get strawberry pancakes?”
“You can get whatever you want, baby girl,” promised Lori, kissing her gently on the forehead. “Now, snuggle down. Sweet dreams, angel.”
“Night night, Mommy.”
When she entered the lounge, Lori found Annie standing at the window admiring the view of the city.
“Impressive,” commented the older woman as she heard Lori approach.
“It is,” sighed Lori. “That view never grows old. It’s better from the terrace but it’s a bit chilly out just now.”
“Terrace?” quizzed Annie.
“There’s a roof terrace out there with patio heaters. I’ll show you in the morning,” explained Lori, feeling the baby stirring restlessly. “I promised Miss M we’d go to her favourite diner for breakfast. Hope that’s ok with you?”
“As long as they serve strong coffee, it’s good for me,” laughed Annie.
Behind them, they heard the door open and Tyler call out softly.
“Oh, thank you,” said Lori, limping out into the hallway. “Could I impose even further and ask you to take them downstairs for me?”
“Certainly, Mrs Power.”
“Thank you. Leave them in the lower hallway. I’ll take them from there.”
As the concierge bade them goodnight, Annie commented that she felt out of
