The entire crowd had fallen silent, captivated by the intensity and the emotion of the performance. Several of the diehard Silver Lake fans had tears in their eyes as they drew a different message from the song. Being Silent’s lyrics told of Garrett’s struggles in the days after his partner’s death. To Jake and the various members of the Silver Lake family, it echoed the emotional journey they had travelled after losing Rich.
It was a fitting, if emotional, climax to the evening. There were tears in the eyes of all three of them as they stepped off stage for the final time.
Ignoring the congratulations and chaos around him, Jake headed straight towards his wife. Maintaining his focus on the set had been beyond challenging. All he wanted to do was escape from the crowd and talk to Lori, praying he could pick up the pieces of his shattered life.
“That was incredible,” said Lori sincerely as Jake approached chugging on a bottle of water. “Being Silent was breathtaking.”
“Quite something, isn’t it?”
“The album version is awesome but that was mind-blowing,” gushed Lori, still partially overcome by the emotions of the encore. “Where did Garrett find that girl?”
“He didn’t. I did,” revealed Jake with more than a hint of pride. “She was one of my workshop students. Jim and Jethro are taking her under their wings but I’m hoping Garrett’s going to step in too. Long story.”
“Jake!” yelled Maddy sharply. “Move it out. Time to get cleaned up and over to the gothic palace. You have press commitments first though.”
“Shit,” muttered Jake. “I’d forgotten.”
“Go,” said Lori, understanding that he was still needed elsewhere for a little longer. “Plenty time to talk later.”
“Jake!” yelled Maddy a second time.
“Maddison,” he growled. “I heard you.”
The green room was packed when Lori limped in behind Jake. While Garrett and the others had been on stage, several journalists had been allowed entry with the promise of time with Garrett and his guests. Protectively, Jethro was hovering in the background as several of the press cornered Riley, keen to get an exclusive interview with the new rock goddess. Three British journalists had surrounded Garrett, who looked anxious and keen to escape.
Before they had made it as far as the table where there were bottles of juice and water and beers, two journalists had whisked Jake back out into the hallway, promising to only detain him for a few minutes.
Helping herself to a bottle of apple juice, Lori gazed around the room. She was delighted that the album launch show had been so enthusiastically received but she was also concerned that all of this media frenzy was about to overwhelm Garrett. He was such a private person, Lori feared that this was his idea of hell on earth.
“Mz Hyde?” said a voice beside her. “Can you spare a few moments to tell us about the inspirations behind the album’s artwork?”
Adopting her public, Mz Hyde persona, Lori replied, “Of course. What would you like to know?”
And with that, she was swept into the media maelstrom.
More than an hour later, the theatre’s security staff intervened and ushered the last of the media from the backstage area.
“They’re like fucking piranhas!” sighed Garrett, flopping down onto a nearby couch. “I’m drained of all life after that.”
“That was intense,” conceded Jake, still reeling from the experience. “So many fucking questions!”
“Time to return to the gothic palace,” declared Garrett, checking the time. “We’ve kept the caterers waiting long enough.”
“Ten minutes!” called out Jethro. “Be ready to move it out of here in ten minutes, folks!”
Crossing the room to where Lori was standing, Jake asked, “You ok?”
“I’m fine,” she replied with a tired smile. “Wasn’t expecting that but I’m fine.”
“Did the press ask about the baby?” he asked, keen to keep their affairs private.
Lori shook her head, “Somehow I kept this little Power Pack under wraps.”
“How do you feel about walking back to Garrett’s?” suggested Jake, hoping that she would say yes. “It’ll give us some time alone to talk.”
“As long as we take it slowly,” replied Lori, already aware that her weaker leg was throbbing.
“We’ll take it as slow as you want,” promised Jake. “Give me five minutes to grab my jacket and things.”
Leaving the warmth of the Gramercy Theater behind them, Jake and Lori walked slowly side by side along the sidewalk. Neither of them knew where to start; neither of them wanted to risk saying something that might upset the other. Both of them were silently hanging onto the fragile bonds from a few hours earlier. Around them, the midnight air was bitterly cold.
“You warm enough, li’l lady?” asked Jake eventually, desperate to say something to break the silence.
“I’m fine,” she replied, smiling up at him, “This little Power Pack is keeping me cosy.”
“I still can’t believe you’re pregnant,” commented Jake quietly. “Can’t believe you’re here either.”
“It was a bit of a surprise,” giggled Lori, reaching out to take his hand. “With everything that’s happened over the summer, I missed the signs. I only found out myself a few weeks ago.”
Hearing her musical laugh tugged at his heart and Jake squeezed her hand, “I just hope a third baby isn’t too much for you. After last time… if anything happened to you…”
“Sh,” she said softly. “I’ve seen the doctor. Everything’s fine. I’m about nineteen weeks along. I’ve another ultrasound next week. Baby is measuring ahead again. Yes, I need to be careful. Yes, they’ve threatened me with bed rest from twenty-eight weeks but I’ll be fine. No more dramatic births.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” laughed Jake, rolling his eyes. “Do the kids know?”
“Melody does,” replied Lori.
