“Sure.” She smiled up at him as he sat down next to her.
“How’s your husband doing?”
“He’s fine.” She relaxed again. “I assume you heard the news.”
“Who hasn’t? That was a low blow.”
Sure was. “Some people can’t take it.”
“My wife is afraid something like that is going to happen to me.”
Clara turned her head toward Trent. “That was selective. Is she still worried about you on this tour?”
“Yeah. See, she couldn’t come with me because she’s pregnant.”
Clara lifted her head from the seat. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I wouldn’t get to be here if we weren’t only doing a few shows.”
She was glad it was only a few too. It would be enough to get some exposure and experience. But already she wanted to be back with Warner.
Trent had been good conversation on the flight. They were a lot alike. They both had big families, were recently married, and wanted a house full of kids.
Trent had a lot more experience performing the kind of venue that they were headed to. He’d given Clara a few tips to ease her mind, but most of all he’d given her a friend to turn to if she needed him.
Their first show was in Anaheim, California. Clara had expected the weather to be much warmer, she was pleasantly surprised to find out it was rather cool in the fall.
They were expected to settle into their hotel rooms and then meet up for the bus to take them to the Honda Center where they would perform the first show of Savannah’s tour tomorrow night. There would be a full run through and rumor had it that if they thought Savannah was critical of them during rehearsal, she was worse on the road.
The stress of being on the road with Savannah and her crew were lessened when Clara stepped into her room and there was a bouquet of roses and the card simply said, I love you! Warner.
She was missing him like crazy and it had only been a few hours. But since the night he’d been beaten up there was a new feeling that had emerged from this crazy, whirlwind romance she was having. The feeling was love, but on a grander scale and respect like she’d never had for any other person.
Ten cities and they’d be back together. His show would be wrapping up their taping and then they could be together. And for the first time since he chased her down in the street, they could find out about each other and she could finally date her husband.
The thought made her laugh.
Thanks to modern technology Trent had given her a grand idea. He was going to Face Time with Warner tomorrow night so he could see and hear her perform live. It was almost as though he’d be there. She couldn’t think of a better plan—unless she flew him out.
***
Warner sat on the couch letting the feeling of home sink in all around him. Only a month ago he had lived in the worst apartment ever and now he had a home and a wife.
His wife. God, wasn’t she amazing? He’d just watched her perform live at a concert in California thanks to the guitarist from The Broke Tourists. She killed it. His music had never sounded sweeter than when his wife sang it with her guitar.
He let out a deep breath when the phone rang.
“What did you think? How did I do?” Clara was screaming into the other end of the phone.
“Oh, sweetheart, I cried. I actually cried.”
“I did good. I did really good!”
He could hear the excitement in her voice and it buzzed though him too.
“Jeremy said they had someone filming so they could put it on my show. You know, loser Warner’s wife performing his music on tour with Savannah.”
“First of all you’re no loser.”
“That’s because I have a smoking hot wife.”
“Well you do.” She laughed. “Oh, Warner the energy that buzzes through this place is amazing. I mean sure, half the seats were empty when I took the stage, but still.”
“They won’t always be empty.”
“Tom Wheeler says we need to get these recorded and soon.”
“I happen to agree with him.”
“Ten cities,” she reminded him.
“Nine to go.”
“I’ll be home to you soon. I miss you.”
“Not possibly as much as I miss you.”
They finished their conversation and Warner ended the call. If there was as much energy buzzing through him, as she’d said, he wondered just how high on life she was at the moment.
He stood and headed for the stairs. He needed to get some rest. Randy had offered to meet him in the studio the next morning and help write some new material. Jeremy was still being tight lipped about who wanted to work with him, but he didn’t care. Someone was taking note and he was going to impress them.
As he turned off the light and cleared the first few steps his phone chimed a new message in his pocket. He smiled. She was going to be up all night. He might never get any sleep.
But when he looked down at the message his heart rate kicked into an uncomfortable pace and his hands began to shake.
Today would have been her 33rd birthday. You killed my baby. I will make you pay.
It came every year in a letter, in an email, now in a text message. Patricia Little still blamed him for her daughter’s death and he didn’t have anything to do with it. But what did it matter? His life was in her hands as long as she possessed the power she had.
Warner slowly climbed the stairs to his room. His adrenaline and excitement from the night was ruined. Mindy had made her own choices in life and she chose to stay in Vegas when he came home. Her death was not his fault.
He fell onto the bed and closed his eyes.
It was never going to end.
Chapter Twenty
Clara stood on the side of the stage and listened to the band play after her. The lead female vocalists were amazing. They just had great sound together.
Trent looked toward her as they finished their song and smiled. He knew that feeling too, she could tell. There was electricity that just exploded inside of you when the crowd applauded.
Four more songs, then the four of them ran off stage as the crew began to tear down their set and set up Savannah’s.
Clara was there to hug each of them as they came off the stage. “You were fantastic. Absolutely amazing!”
Starla, the dark haired singer said, “You were great too. A hard act to follow.”
“I don’t know about that, but thank you.”
“I’m starving,” Cheryl, the blonde who was married to the drummer, said. “They have food back here, right?”
“I love a woman who can eat,” her husband said as they walked away with Starla.
Trent wiped a bead of sweat from his brow with his sleeve. “What did your husband think of your set?”
“He was thrilled. Thank you for thinking about doing that.”
“Hey, what are friends for?” He fanned himself with his hand. “So you going back to eat too?”
“I want to watch her take the stage. I want to see that magic from here.”
“Okay, I’ll make Starla save you some food.” He bent over and kissed her cheek then went on his way.
Clara certainly hadn’t thought she’d made friends on this tour. She’d already had her emotional walls up and ready for attack. But what she was finding was that no one thought little of Warner, it was Patricia they hated.
Warner and Randy worked for twelve hours in the studio which Jeremy Smith had arranged for them to use.
Warner had to admit that doing the show had some perks. Of course Randy had to sign a million waivers to work with Warner and to acknowledge that he’d be videotaped for the show. That, Warner thought, was a pain in the ass.
As they wrapped up their day and put their instruments in the cases, Warner looked up at Randy.
“Thanks, man, for helping me out.”
Randy closed his guitar case and looked at him. “I was really pissed at you. You’re lucky I chose to do this.�
�
Warner shook his head. “What?”
“I had it in my head you were moving in on Clara and using her. Then you run off and get married. That isn’t like her.”
“Well it seems to be her style now.”
“Okay, let’s just say it wasn’t.” He rested his hands on his case and leaned on it. “She fell for you the minute you sat in on her rehearsal and listened. I thought she was crazy.” He looked at his watch and picked up his case. “I still think she’s crazy, but she’s in love with you so I give her credit. What I don’t like is that she’s on this tour, alone, and that bitch of a stepmother of yours has anything to do with it.”
“She didn’t know that either when she signed.”
“I know. That’s no one’s fault. I just don’t want that woman to hurt her. Who’s to say she didn’t order that attack on you personally?”
That thought had crossed Warner’s mind too and he didn’t like it.
“I think she’ll be fine. Only eight more cities after tonight.”
Randy laughed and headed toward the door. “You know, she owes me and now so do you. I think that first born kid needs my name. No matter if it’s a girl or boy.”
Warner laughed. “I’ll let her know your opinion on the situation.”
“I think she knows,” he said as she walked out of the room.
As Randy walked out Jeremy walked in. “You guys got a lot of work done today.”
“He’s pretty talented.”
“I think he was here for moral support. I was watching. You can crank them out can’t you? How do you write that many songs?”
Warner shrugged. “It’s just how I work, I guess.”
“Keep it up.” Jeremy said as he pulled up a stool and sat down. “How is your wife doing?”
“She’s good. I had the pleasure of watching her performance last night on the phone.”
“Technology is something, huh?”
“Yep.”
“She has a few days between shows coming up, doesn’t she?”
“Yes. She’ll be home for three days next week.”
“Good. I’ll see if I can’t get meetings set up during that time for you. It would be nice if she were here with you.”
Warner focused his eyes on Jeremy. “You’re going to tell me who’s looking into my music?”
He smiled. “It’ll be time by then.” He stood. “They want to do interviews with you tomorrow. Be in there by ten?”
“No problem. And thanks for the use of the studio.”
“Only the best for you.” He gave him a wave and walked out, but Warner stood and stared at the door that had closed behind him.
He squeezed his eyes shut and hoped that Jeremy Smith wasn’t just setting him up. He’d never had anyone, other than Clara, compliment him as much as Jeremy Smith did. It was nice, but Warner was skeptical.
***
Clara was counting down six more shows, but after tomorrow night she could go home for a few days and spend time with her husband.
It was already growing colder in Kansas City, but when the lights on the stage hit she warmed up just fine.
After her set, which she thought only got stronger each night, she would stand off to the side and watch The Broke Tourists’ set. It too sounded better every night.
“They are quite talented aren’t they? More so than you or your worthless husband.”
Clara turned to the woman who had spoken to her. It took her a moment in the shadows of backstage to realize that it was Patricia Little who was standing only a few feet from her.
She walked toward her and Clara felt her body begin to shake. “I don’t know what Jeremy sees in him—that show isn’t going to help him advance his stupid career. Besides, if he gets a lucky break he’ll fail.”
“No he won’t.” Her voice shook and she didn’t want that. For Warner’s sake she wanted to be strong. “Warner is the most talented song writer I’ve ever heard. He’s going to do just fine, even with your harsh words.”
“Harsh words?” Patricia moved in closer to her. “Do you know what he’s done to me? Do you know the pain he’s caused me?”
Patricia moved in even closer. Clara tried to back away, but she found she was already next to the wall.
“If you have a good marriage I assume you’ve already heard about my Mindy.”
Clara swallowed hard. “I’ve heard about Mindy. He told me everything about her.”
“Yes, well, if he hadn’t been the piece of trash he was she never would have gotten into all that stuff and followed him to Vegas.”
“She was already into all of that before she and Warner were together. You can’t blame him for her death.”
“You believe what you want to believe, but he’s feeding you lies. They are all lies.” She was so close Clara could feel the woman’s breath on her skin. “He ran out on her when she needed him most.”
“He left to pick up the pieces of his life. He changed.”
“And he left Mindy there in the hands of that man who killed her.”
“She took the drugs. She drank the booze.”
The piercing stare from Patricia was frightening. The look in her eyes was just like that of Alexander Hamilton’s before his hand knocked her to the ground that night he tried to burn down the theater and leave her locked inside.
“What about the baby? Huh? Oh he didn’t tell you she was pregnant?”
Clara was sure the woman had just kicked her in the gut.
“See, he’s been lying to you the whole time. He’s responsible for her death. And if you stay with him he’ll be responsible for your death—even if it’s only your career that dies.”
Clara felt the tears falling down her warm cheeks and the breath in her lungs was coming in short bursts.
The sound of the crowd beyond them erupted in applause. Patricia looked out onto the stage and then back at Clara. “He’s never going to change. He’s going to lie to you for the rest of his life. And if you think a man can walk away from that lifestyle forever you’re wrong. Dead wrong.”
Patricia turned and walked way into the dark hallway that lead to the corridor just as the band cleared the stage.
Clara stood at the wall where Patricia had left her. The tears streamed down her cheeks and her body shook with the sobs.
Trent noticed her right away and hurried to her.
“Clara, are you okay? Oh, God. What happened?”
Clara could only look up at him. She could hardly even make out who it was, her sobs were so loud in her ears and the mascara running down her face had nearly blinded her.
Trent laid his guitar down and pulled her into his arms. “C’mon, it’s okay.”
She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him as he stroked her hair.
“Shh, get a breath in you.”
Clara forced herself to breathe through her tears.
“What got you so upset?”
“Patricia Little,” she managed to get the name out.
“Figures.”
He held her tight and let her cry out her pain. When she felt as though she could breathe again he pulled back just far enough to look at her. She figured she was a horrific site, but he only smiled.
“Are you going to be okay?”
“I’m tired. I’m just so tired.”
He smiled. “Let me put my guitar away and I’ll see you back to the hotel.”
He gave her a kiss on the top of her head and then walked away with his guitar.
Clara gritted her teeth. She wanted to believe Warner. She did believe Warner—or so she thought.
Clara waited for Trent and he helped her to a car that waited for them. The tears were back, but she’d managed to clean up the trails of makeup which had stained her face.
He let her rest her head on his shoulder and held her close as she cried out the rest of her tears.
When Warner called during their ride to the hotel she silenced the call. She wasn’t ready to face him yet. Not y
et.
When the car pulled up in front of the hotel Trent stepped out and held his hand out to help her from the car.
He walked her all the way to her room with his arm around her shoulders.
As she slid the key into the lock she turned back to him. “Thank you so much for being there for me tonight.”
“Remember, that’s what friends are for.” He smiled kindly. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes.” She let out a breath. “One more day and I can talk to him face to face. She just caught me off guard tonight.”
Trent nodded. “I told you, she’s a witch.”
Clara laughed. “I don’t think that was the word you used.”
He nodded. I’m trying to clean it up before that baby gets here and his first word is a four letter one.”
“Your wife is very lucky to have you.”
“I tell her that all the time.” He kissed her on the cheek as he had the night before. “Goodnight, Clara. Call me if you need anything.”
She nodded and closed the door.
She sucked in a long deep breath and slid down the door to the ground.
The tears were back, but this time they were angry tears and not aimed at Warner, but at herself for falling apart. If there had been a baby Warner would have told her. If there was a baby then he didn’t know anything about that. Patricia Little had been trying to make his life hell since he was ten. Why wouldn’t she go after the wife and make her second guess him too?
It was then her phone buzzed a text message in her hand. She looked down to see the words I love you. That was what she needed. Even if Warner knew about a baby, that was almost fifteen years ago. He hadn’t killed her or a baby. Mindy had been a lost cause long before that. Warner fixed his life and she was proud to be his wife.
She texted him back. I love you too.
Chapter Twenty-One
Warner walked into the interview room and sat down where instructed. There was a pitcher of water and a glass next to him so he poured some water and took a sip.
The interviewer began his questions and they discussed his writing and the songs he and Randy had penned the day before. They talked about Clara’s performances opening up for Savannah.
Love Songs Page 18
