CHAPTER 21
CHRISTMAS lights tastefully decorated the exterior of Kurt and Morgan's home. Evergreen wreaths accented with large red bows hung from every window facing the street. The brick mailbox at the end of the drive even had wreaths on each side of it. Welcoming smoke puffed out of the chimney, promising a warm relief from the cold Georgia night.
James parked behind a pickup truck on the end of the lawn. "Looks like a few people beat us here," he said before getting out of the car to open Melody's door.
"That's Stevie's truck. He's my lead guitarist." She gestured at a red Ferrari. "And that belongs to Ray Porter, my drummer. He's a hoot."
James smiled as they walked up the drive. "A hoot, huh?"
"A constant source of entertainment. I think he originally wanted to be a stand up comedian." Excitement nearly burst her open. She couldn't wait to see everyone.
Morgan met them at the door. She wore a cream colored sweater and blue slacks. Her heels made her come to eye level with Melody. "There you are," she said, grabbing her sister and hugging her. "I missed you this morning."
"I wanted to be with my husband," Melody laughed. She stepped back as Morgan hugged James and wished him a merry Christmas.
"Good. That's where you belong on Christmas day," she said. "With the nature of ya'll's careers, you're going to be apart enough."
Melody frowned. What a sobering thought. "You're right. I hadn't even thought of that."
James put a hand on the small of her back and gently rubbed. "We'll make it work," he promised.
Melody smiled up at him. "Absolutely." She looked past Morgan and spied her lead guitarist. "Stevie!" She rushed toward him and gave him a hug. "How's Tiffany?"
"Big as a house and beautiful as ever," Steve said. "Only four weeks now."
She tucked her arm through his and turned him around, guiding him back toward James while she spoke. "We have a backup lined up for when she goes into labor. He's going to travel with us so there will be no delay. We also have the pilot on call so whenever you need to leave, you can."
"You're the greatest, Melody. I can't imagine not being able to be there when the baby's born." He held his hand out to Hal, who was talking to James. "How's it going, big guy?"
"Definitely not boring, Stevie. How's your beautiful wife?"
"Happy to have made it through today without going into labor."
Hal's laugh boomed through the room. "I bet."
"She's been eating a ton of mayonnaise. It's weird."
"Mayonnaise? On what?" Hal asked.
"On everything. It's weird, man."
Melody released Steve's arm and slid next to her husband, slipping an arm around his waist. "Stevie, I'd like you to meet James Montgomery, my husband. James, this is Steve Masters."
James and Steve shook hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you," James said.
"Likewise. I'd hoped we'd get to meet you tonight." He gave Melody a significant look before adding, "Music City has been abuzz."
"I bet." A uniformed waiter approached with a tray of eggnog. She grabbed one for her and one for James. "They'd convinced themselves that Bobby Kent and I would announce our nuptials any day."
James raised an eyebrow. "Who's Bobby Kent?"
Stevie looked at James like he had just asked who Albert Einstein was. "Seriously man?"
Melody took a sip of her drink and stifled a chuckle at her very disconnected husband. "A dear friend, fellow singer, and good man. We are always coupled in the tabloids. They often fake my photos to make me look pregnant and run headlines like 'Bobby Kent's Love Child', etcetera, etcetera. It's highly annoying."
"But good press," Hal said. At James' sideways glance, Hal laughed. "I don't condone it. But, every time her face is on the cover of a tabloid, her name is there with it. Name recognition is, pardon the pun, the name of the game in branding."
Melody saw a shock of bright red hair through the archway into the dining room. "There's Ray. Come on, I want you to meet him."
James held his hand out to Steve. "It was nice to meet you. Excuse us."
Steve laughed. "Go ahead. Todd just walked in, anyways."
Melody spent the evening introducing James to a good portion of her band, crew, backup singers, and dancers. He watched her with them, watched their reaction to her, watched her interaction with them, and realized that what she had was a very close, very large family. He felt a sense of relief at their signs of an initial acceptance of him, though he expected, and therefore didn't feel fazed by a little skepticism.
At one point, Ray, the drummer with nearly orange-red hair and shocking green eyes suggested that they all go caroling. And somehow, James let Melody talk him into it. So the group of entertainers with a few spouses and significant others, bundled up in coats and scarves and set out to carol their way through Kurt and Morgan's gated community neighborhood.
The professional musicians made amazing music with their voices. They stomped booted feet for rhythm, and others hummed melody and harmony to accompany those who sang. The beauty of the experience moved James.
Walking back to the house, following behind Melody and Hal, James was startled when someone rushed up behind him and took his arm. He looked down at Morgan's friend, Ginger. "Hi there, Ginger. I didn't see you earlier."
"I got here late. Caught up with ya'll as you started. Wasn't that fun?"
"It was. I've never caroled before."
"Seriously?" He glanced down, certain she batted her eyes at him. "They always go caroling. It's like a thing with them or something."
"I can see that," he said with a smile.
"Last time I saw you was Morgan's wedding. I was, like, totally shocked when I saw the cover of the local section in the newspaper this morning."
"You were?" He kept an eye on Melody as she rushed away from Hal and jumped on the back of one of her male dancers. He laughed and twirled her off of him, then spun her around like a top. James' heart stopped when she looked back at him and grinned, blowing him a kiss. "I guess Melody and I are on it?"
"All over it. You'd think she would have called a certain someone."
"We've had a lot going on." James disengaged his arm as Melody twirled back to him, launching herself into his arms. She laughed with joy as her legs went around his waist and her arms around his neck. He easily caught her and kissed her, warming her cold lips. He couldn't help but smile as she slid off of him.
"Ginger!" she said, excitedly. "I'm so happy you decided to come."
They walked up Morgan's driveway and the group made their way back into the warm interior. "I was just telling James it would have been nice to get a phone call. Daddy's not too happy about it either, Mrs. Montgomery."
Melody slipped out of her gray coat and straightened her back. "I don't care if he's happy about it or not. Morgan didn't even find out until the day of. And yesterday we were a little busy."
Ginger's eyes filled with tears. "I thought I was your friend."
"Honey, you are." Melody put her arms around her. "I'm sorry you felt left out."
"I did feel left out. Just, " Ginger sniffed, "next time when you're making calls, at least call me after calling Hal."
Melody smiled. "Deal."
¯¯¯¯
HOURS later, curled up with Melody on the sofa in their apartment, sipping mugs of hot spiced cider, James kissed the top of her head. "Will you be free for church on Sunday?"
"Definitely." She sat forward. "We'll invite everyone and arrange transportation to get them all there. Then we'll have a catered lunch afterward before getting back to work."
"I think that's a great idea."
Melody leaned back against him. "Maybe. We've never been a churchgoing crowd, but I have several believers in the crew so they might like the chance."
"Are you always with your crew on Christmas?"
She took a sip of her drink and snuggled further against his chest. "So far. I always start my tours on New Year's Day. This is the third year in a row I've done it. We have so much work
to do in the final stages of the launching of the tour that we start on the twenty-sixth. That might change after next year. My five year contract is up. Why do you ask?"
"The caroling was fun. Has anyone ever told you you're a pretty good singer?" He overlaid the question with understatement.
Melody laughed. "I think a few folks might have mentioned it on rare occasions. But, thank you. I appreciate it."
"And the party at Morgan's house was also a lot of fun. You work with some really talented people."
Melody leaned forward and set her cup on the coffee table. "I always kick my tour off in Atlanta and she has that party every year. I can't believe we didn't meet until now."
"For the last two years, I was in London during Christmas. Before that, I went with Mark to his wife's parents' in Savannah for Christmas. I guess God's plans were for us to meet this year."
"I guess they were. Aren't you curious about that?" Melody nervously spun the ring on her left hand. "Why now? Why the missed meetings year after year until now?"
James picked up her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her right above the ring. "His timing is perfect. We have to trust that."
"You're right." She leaned back under his arm again, feeling content and sleepy. "What does your schedule look like next week?"
"I am considering a totally confidential merger with a Japanese firm. I'll be behind closed doors with them starting Monday morning." He slipped a hand under his glasses and rubbed his eyes with his fingers and thumb. "I should have spent the last week preparing for that, but I've been a little, how shall I say it, occupied."
Melody playfully slapped at his arm. "Occupied? Is that what you kids call it these days?"
He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Engaged."
Snuggling even closer, she sighed and closed her eyes. "Last few hours of vacation."
He ran a hand over her arm. "How can we avoid the crushing boredom?"
Melody laughed. "I don't know. Surf the internet? Read a book? Watch reruns? I could probably unearth a deck of cards from my suitcase."
With his raised eyebrow, she grinned and lifted her face for his kiss.
¯¯¯¯
CHAPTER 22
"WE can't do that song until the encore." They had gathered at the Philips arena. Hal had arranged to have it for the entire week in order to get her band and crew ready for the upcoming tour, and this Monday afternoon, she and Steve sat on the edge of the stage, busy debating the order of the songs after the first full practice. All around them people tuned instruments, or ran cable, or adjusted lights, or tested the sound system. The arena crew prepared the flooring and the overhead stanchions and the seating. Melody loved the chaos of it all.
"Melody, you can't do it last. That song is shooting up the charts. Everyone will be waiting for you to sing it all night."
"If it was any other song, I would agree with you. But the last time I sang it live, I almost lost my voice completely. We can't risk that happening again." Someone handed her a bottle of water, and she took it with a smile of thanks.
"Then don't sing it the same," he said, watching her roll her eyes. "Look, all you have to do is tone down the ending. You probably lost your voice hitting that high C."
"By the end of the show, my voice isn't going to be in the best shape as it is. I'm not singing that song in the middle of the show. The fans might get upset that I do it last, but they'll be even more upset when I have to stop half way through because I can't sing at all."
Hal walked up and touched her shoulder, which made her check the time on her phone. "I have to get to the dance studio to practice with the whole group. I'll come back here when I'm done."
"When does the fill-in get here to work with me?" Steve asked.
"He's supposed to be here in about ten minutes."
"I keep meaning to ask. Who'd you get?"
She winked as she stood and brushed off the seat of her pants. "Max Warren."
Steve's eyes bugged out of his head. "You got Max?"
"Don't worry, Stevie. I'm not replacing you." Melody teased.
"How did you get Max?" It was amusing to hear the deep respect for Maxwell Warren's talent in Steve's voice, mainly because Max had spoken equally highly of Steve Masters' musical talent.
She patted his cheek as she walked past him. "Because I'm Melody Mason," she said with a laugh. She left him staring at her with awe as she headed to her dressing room. A glance at her watch told her just how late she was running, so she hurried in to grab her bag.
In the process, she didn't see the rose that she knocked off the table. It fell to the ground and she stepped on it, crushing the delicate petals under her boot.
She found Hal backstage with David Patterson looking over the schedule for the tour. David's white shirt stretched tight against his large stomach and his tie looked too small for a man of his girth. He wore his thinning gray hair slicked back from his forehead. "Hi, David."
"Hello, Melly. I've hardly seen you since you've been in town," he said, taking her thin hand in his large, warm grip. "You should come to dinner one night this week while you've still got the chance." His eyes narrowed. "Bring your new husband."
Dismissing his tone, knowing he felt left out in the wake of her impromptu marriage, she absently waved her hand. "I'll see what I can do. Ready, Hal?"
"Yes. I'm going to go take her to Ginger's studio, David. Want to ride along, see the routines?"
"No, not today. I'll arrange to be here Thursday to see the full show," he said, turning back to Melody. "Thank you for giving Ginger the chance to dance with you, she's very excited."
"She's good. I wish she could work it into her schedule to do the entire tour with us."
"Well, you know, commitments and all. You two better get going before you're late. We'll go over those dates again, Hal. Call my office tomorrow. See when I'm free."
Hal and Melody walked to the back exit. Once out of earshot, she asked, "What problem does he have with the dates?"
"There's not enough of them," he said, reaching to open the door.
"How many different ways do we have to point my contract out to him? There is no way my body will take performing every night. I'd end up in the hospital." She stopped, angry. David Patterson was a good friend of her late father, but doing business with him was like being put through a wringer.
"Maybe if he knew why, it would be easier to explain things to him." He put his hand in the small of her back to guide her along.
They stepped outside and a brisk winter breeze instantly chilled her cheeks in stark contrast to the bright noonday sun illuminating the empty expanse of concrete. A few dozen rosy cheeked fans and bundled up reporters waited behind a roped off area. When they caught sight of Melody, cameramen started filming and fans started screaming her name. It would only get worse as the week wore on and the concert date approached. As they neared the car, Peter Glasser opened the door of the limousine.
"We can't do that, and you know it. We're still in the early stages of negotiating the deal with Marathon records. I can't risk him using that as leverage to stay with his label." She glanced up at the crowd and waved as she started to get in the car, when she spotted a man showing a pass to the security officer assigned to the barricades. "Hey, there's Max! Let me talk to him before we go."
She started toward him. Hal stepped in front of her to block her path. "Melody, we're already late—"
Hal stopped his sentence midway through a word in the exact moment Melody felt something hot and wet splash against her cheek and neck. A split second later, Melody heard a distant explosion like thunder and the sound echoed around the mostly empty parking lot. Hal just stood there with a shocked look on his face, staring down at her chest, his mouth moving, unable to speak. Melody slowly looked down at her white shirt and, to her instant horror, saw her chest covered with bright red blood. It began to steam in the cool December air.
Her world became very small as her peripheral vision evaporated. Oddly, she
felt no pain, none at all.
Is this what it feels like to die, she wondered?
Hal grabbed her and threw her into the car, yelling at Peter to go. The crowd screamed in fear, now, while people dropped to the ground or ran for cover and the television crews filmed everything. The limousine peeled out of the parking lot, the rear end fishtailing as it headed in the direction of the nearest hospital.
¯¯¯¯
KURT'S secretary stuck her head through the doorway of Rebecca's office. "Hey there. I know you're standing guard. You need a break to go to the girl's room or anything?"
"Eve, you're a Godsend. Give me fifteen minutes to go grab a snack and I'll be right back," Rebecca said.
"Take your time," Eve said as she sat at Rebecca's desk.
Rebecca had been unable to leave her desk for the last two hours. James and Kurt were in deep negotiations with a Japanese firm, discussing a buyout that would allow Montgomery-Lawson to own a large electronics manufacturing company in Japan, thus opening a toehold in the Asian market. No one was allowed in the office, and no phone calls were permitted through, so she'd been afraid to leave her desk for any reason. Very few people knew about the meeting.
She went to the break room on her floor. Several people sat around the table in the middle of the room. She got a container of yogurt out of the refrigerator and joined the group. "Hey guys. What's up?"
"I read the paper yesterday," an intern from R&D said. "Our boss has apparently tied the knot."
Rebecca smiled. "She's a lovely woman. I got to meet her at Mr. Lawson's wedding."
A secretary from the engineering department put a hand on her forehead. "That's right. I guess Lawson and Montgomery are brothers now. What a riot!"
Rebecca started to respond, but her eyes glanced over at the silent television on the wall by the door. A breaking news report interrupted whatever medical human interest piece usually ran on the 24 hour news station this time of day. The headline in the graphics sent a cold chill through her. "Country Diva Melody Mason Shot".
A Melody for James (Christian Suspense) Page 20
