“Very nice,” complimented Jake, genuinely impressed with her natural ability. “Try it again. Hold each chord in turn and strum each four times.”
He demonstrated what he meant her to do and, after a few failed attempts, Melody managed it successfully.
“Great job, Miss M,” praised Jake. “How are your fingers?”
“Sore.”
“Want to rest till after dinner?” he suggested. “We could come back down when your Mommy is putting Jesse to bed.”
“It’s a date,” declared Melody, smiling at him. “A Daddy/daughter date.”
“Sounds good to me.”
As the days slipped by, Jake and Melody split the daily music lessons into two sessions. By keeping them relatively short, Jake managed to hold her attention. For someone so young, Melody quickly demonstrated that she had a good attention span and also proved herself to be a perfectionist, just like both of her parents. Afternoons became family time for the Powers with the time being spent either down on the beach or out trail walking or at one of the many kiddie playparks around town. Conscious that he needed to spend time with Jesse too, Jake tried to find activities that they could enjoy together. The little boy was fascinated with his toy trains so at some point every day Jake found himself sitting on the sunroom floor laying out wooden track while trying desperately to remember the names of his son’s coloured trains.
“Daddy,” scolded Jesse on more than one occasion. “Thomas is blue. This is Percy. He’s green.”
“Is this Thomas?” Jake teased him holding up a red train.
“No!” Jesse wailed. “That James!”
Gradually, as he became immersed in family life, Jake felt himself begin to relax and “switch off” his rock star head. It felt good to just be Melody’s Daddy or Jesse’s Daddy and Lori’s husband. He couldn’t switch off his inner musician entirely and slipped down into the basement for a couple of hours each evening to play and occasionally write. At the end of their evening lesson, Melody would ask him to play one song for her. He allowed her to choose the song and was pleasantly surprised by some of her requests.
“Will you play like a rock star at Aunt Maddy’s party?” asked Melody on Thursday night. “Mommy said there would be lots of music. Loud music.”
“Maybe,” replied Jake with a grin. “Maddy asked me to bring a couple of guitars along. Do you want me to play?”
“Yes!” shrieked Melody. “I want you to play and sing like you do on stage.”
“I’m not so sure Maddy’s neighbours would like that,” laughed Jake. “Might be a bit loud.”
“Live is loud!” declared Melody emphatically.
Roaring with laughter, Jake said, “Oh truly you are my baby girl! Yes, Miss M, live music should be loud.”
“So, will you play loud tomorrow at the BBQ?”
“We’ll see, Miss M. I need to do as Maddy tells me. She’s the boss. The manager.”
Bending close to her father, Melody whispered, “She’s scary. I’d do as she tells me too.”
Trying not to laugh at his daughter’s serious expression, Jake said softly, “She scares me too. Only sometimes, but don’t tell her I said that. Now, it’s time for bed. Run upstairs and get ready. I’ll be up to say goodnight in a bit.”
Without being asked twice, the little girl scampered up the steep steps and disappeared back into the house. As she closed the door over, he could hear Lori calling her. Smiling to himself, Jake turned his attention to his guitar collection. The message from Maddy had been clear, “Bring at least two electric guitars and one acoustic. Amp and cab too. Maddison’s All Stars have been booked to play on July 4th at the Edwards Addison Family BBQ.”
Without knowing who he was playing with and what he would be playing, Jake chewed over the decision about which guitars to take. Choosing an acoustic was easy and he opted for the instrument he had been gifted on a TV show several years before. Over time, it had proved to be one of his “on stage go to” guitars.
He had just zipped up the gig bag on his cherry red SG when his cell phone began to vibrate and ring in his pocket.
“Hi,” he said cheerfully as he answered the call.
“Jake?” came a vaguely familiar woman’s voice. “It’s Maria Santiago.”
“Hi. Long time no speak. How’s Florida?”
“Hot and humid,” replied Rich’s older sister.
“Isn’t it always?” laughed Jake.
“Not always,” said Maria before pausing. “Look, I’m sorry to disturb you but have you heard from my brother?”
“Hasn’t he arrived yet?”
“No. I had expected him yesterday. He called on Sunday to say he’d be here Tuesday or Wednesday but he’s not arrived and I’ve not heard from him.”
“Have you tried calling?”
“Of course. I’ve left at least a dozen messages but not a word from him.”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” assured Jake calmly. “I’ll try calling him. I’ll check with Grey and Paul. See if they’ve heard from him. He’s probably just stopped somewhere for an extra night.”
“Maybe,” sighed Maria, sounding doubtful. “If you hear from him, let me know.”
“Will do,” promised Jake. “And if he gets there, get him to give me a call.”
“I will. Thanks, Jake,” said Maria softly. “I’m sure he’ll be absolutely fine but I’m kind of worried at the same time.”
“Phone signal’s maybe patchy on those back roads. Remember he was avoiding I-95.”
“True,” acknowledged Maria. “I’d best go in case he’s trying to call me.”
“I’ll message when I’ve spoken to the others,” promised Jake.
“Thanks. Appreciate it.”
As soon as he ended the call, Jake called his band mate’s phone. It went straight to voice mail.
“Hey, Rich, give me a call when you pick this up. Your sister is keen to speak to you too. Call her first.”
When he called Paul and Grey, neither of them had heard
