“This I need to hear,” declared Jake, turning his attention to the window through to the studio.
From his seat in the cramped control room, Jake watched as Garrett talked Melody through what he wanted her to play. He listened as the older musician ran through his part, showing the little girl where he wanted her to start playing.
“Ready when you are, Jim,” called through Garrett. “Keep recording until I give you the nod.”
“Got it,” called back Dr Marrs as he indicated to Lee that they were ready to resume.
With his heart swelling with pride, Jake watched Melody as she focussed her attention on Garrett and the unfamiliar guitar she was holding. Silently, the older musician counted her in and she played her part perfectly. It had a simple nursery rhyme feel to it. The same sequence was reprised twice more during the instrumental.
“And here we have it, gentlemen,” declared Garrett after the first attempt. “Raw, real, live and perfect.”
“In the can,” agreed Dr Marrs with a relieved sigh. “Miss Power, I wish you’d been here about six hours earlier. Thank you, honey. You are a star.”
The little girl’s musical giggles echoed through the speakers.
“You still recording, Jim?” called out Garrett as he sat the guitar on a stand.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. We can use that giggle at the end. Love it!” declared the older musician. “Come on, Miss Power, let’s negotiate your fee with your dad.”
As Jake stepped back out into the lounge, Garrett emerged from the live room hand in hand with Melody. When she saw her daddy, the little girl let go of Garrett’s hand and ran straight into Jake’s arms.
“I’m going to be on Garrett’s new record!”
“So I heard, Miss M,” said Jake, swinging her up into his arms. “Told you that you were after my job.”
The little girl giggled as she hugged him tight.
“Thanks for that, Jake,” said Garrett warmly. “Melody here was the inspiration I’ve been searching for all day.”
“Glad she could help,” said Jake. “Been a long day?”
The older musician nodded, “We’ve still a fair bit to do. Should be done on schedule though.”
“You done for the day?” asked Jake.
Garrett nodded, “I think so.”
“Want to come over for dinner?”
“Please, Garrett,” pleaded Melody.
“I don’t want to impose,” began the older man hesitantly.
“We’re having steak sandwiches,” declared Melody brightly.
“Lori’ll be glad to see you,” added Jake warmly.
“I’d love to,” accepted Garrett, smiling down at the little girl. “We can discuss Melody’s fee over dinner.”
“She’ll take five per cent,” joked Jake mischievously. “Or, if that’s too steep, you could buy ice cream for dessert while I get the sandwiches.”
“With extra rainbow sprinkles,” added Melody.
“Deal.”
By the time Jake and Melody arrived back at the beach house, with Garrett close behind them, Lori had set the picnic table for dinner out on the deck and made a jug of lemonade. Having hugged their guest then stowed the ice cream that he’d brought in the freezer, she joined the others outside. Delighted to have his daddy home, Jesse had clambered onto Jake’s knee while Melody was happily sitting beside Garrett. While they ate, the little girl told her mother all about recording in the studio.
“We’ll need to watch our backs,” joked Garrett between mouthfuls of sandwich. “This young lady has talent.”
“She’s got a good teacher,” said Lori with a wink towards her husband. “And she practices regularly.”
“Speaking of teaching,” began Garrett. “What’s this I hear that you are going back into the classroom? I thought Silver Lake were booked into JJL to record.”
Nodding, Jake said, “I start a two-week summer school workshop on Monday. Rich had committed to it. I didn’t want to let the kids or the school down.”
“How many students?”
“Ten, I believe,” replied Jake. “I’ve a plan worked out. We’ll be out at JJL for a couple of days during the second week if you fancy helping out.”
“I could be persuaded I suppose. What’s the plan?”
“First couple of days will be music tuition then some songwriting. I plan to pair them up for an assignment to write a song. Week two they’ll rehearse it then record it. End game is to have some tracks for a CD that the school can sell to raise funds.”
“Sounds fun. Count me in,” said Garrett then added, “What about the Silver Lake stuff?”
“Too soon,” stated Jake quickly, too quickly. “We’ve not talked about the future much yet.”
“Don’t leave it too long,” cautioned the older musician wisely. “I was talking to Jethro. He says there’s to be a memorial show next month.”
“Did he? That’s still to be agreed too.”
“Garrett’s right,” said Lori softly. “You guys need to talk and agree a plan.”
“I guess,” sighed Jake then, changing the subject, asked, “Who’s ready for ice cream?”
“Me!” cried Melody and Jesse in unison.
After dinner, Jake suggested to Garrett that they take a walk along the beach with the kids. The sun was just setting on the horizon and the beach was virtually deserted. Along the waterline, as they walked towards the bathhouse, an occasional lone fisherman stood watching his line. As the kids ran on ahead, Jake said, “Can I ask your opinion on something?”
“Sure,” replied Garrett, sensing the younger man’s emotional turmoil.
“Should we keep Silver Lake going?”
“Do you want to?”
“Sometimes I think so and then I try to visualise standing on stage playing Silver Lake songs without Rich to my left and I’m not so sure,” confessed Jake.
“What would Rich do?” asked Garrett, playing Devil’s advocate. “Would he have kept the band going without you if the roles were reversed?”
“Probably,” answered Jake after a few moments of reflection. “He loved to play. Loved the band. He lived for the
