“Chris, it's Bridgette, your mother. I heard about your father's death. I'm so sorry. I know it's been years, but please, please contact me. My number is-”
Wow, wow, and wow. Chris hung up the phone, anger coursing through his veins. First off, she couldn't even originally say mother? What brought her out of her silence after all these years? She'd walked out on them when he was thirteen and Melody had been eleven without a word. Nothing.
Did she really just hear about Dad's death and want to offer her condolences, or did she want something else? It was no secret Baby Stetson's continued success gained attention, especially with country stars like Kyra and Belinda Wainscott, Avery's birth mother, helping out. Maybe Mom … Bridgette wanted money.
The phone rang again. Chris picked it up immediately. This time, his sister called. “What's up, Melody?” Should he say something? If she was calling, maybe it meant Mom tried to call her, too.
“We're heading to Sunset Hills early for Kyra's housewarming party. You're coming, right?” Hope filled her tone.
He held back a sigh. Chris didn't really want to go, but it did beat sitting around the apartment. Plus, maybe he'd catch up with Taryn again. Maybe she had an answer about joining the band. “Yeah, I'm coming.”
“Do you want to ride with us?” Us probably included the whole band and their significant others. Avery and her husband Lucas, Jameson, Melody, Blaine, Jameson's sister and her fiancé, Randy, Marty, and whoever the woman was he'd been dating. “Randy and Blaine already headed down there, since Randy's helping Matt with something.”
“What time are you thinking?” If he could get Melody here a little earlier so he could break the news to her about the phone call, it would be a good thing.
“I don't know. An hour or two?” Melody covered the phone and said something to someone in the background, which Chris assumed was Jameson.
“Is everyone already at the house?”
“No, just me and Jameson. His mom and Chet are leaving,” she informed him.
“Okay. I'm going to come over. I have something I need to tell you, and I want to get it over with now.” His stomach knotted.
“What?” Melody's pitch raised, alarmed.
“A phone call I got today. I'll be right over,” Chris promised. Maybe he should have just said he'd come over, instead of worrying her. Too late now. He hung up the phone, grabbed his keys, then made his way to see his sister.
Melody waited for him on the back porch, her lips turned down in a worried frown. “What's going on, Chris? And don't you dare do that to me again!” She socked him on the arm. “I don't care that it only took ten minutes to get here, I panicked the entire time!”
“Calm down. It's not anything life threatening.” He rubbed his sore arm. “Look, I'm just going to say it straight, and it's obvious you didn't get the same call.” He sucked in a breath.
“Call?”
“From Mom,” he mumbled. Damn, did it feel weird as hell to say it.
“I'm sorry, but did you say what I think you did?” Melody grabbed his arm. Wide blue eyes full of anticipation and surprise stared back at him.
Chris nodded. “Yeah. Listen to the voice mail.” He dialed and handed the phone over. Her skin paled as she handed the phone back.
“Why you? Why not me?” Her voice came out timid, but angry.
“I don't know,” Chris admitted.
“Have you called her back?”
He shook his head. “I don't even know what the hell to say. Did you notice she didn't even say Mom at first? I don't know why I'm so stuck on that.”
“What's the area code she called from? I wonder where she is.” Melody mused.
Good question. He checked again, paying attention this time. “Kansas.”
Melody pursed her lips. “I always wondered if one day she'd call. Guess I don't have to wonder any more.” After that, she stalked off inside.
Chris followed her. “Mel-”
“She left us. She walked out of our lives! What gives her the right to call, now of all times? Maybe she saw all the band's press, or maybe she heard about Anthony's trial and found out about Dad. Maybe-”
“Or maybe she's dying and has a guilty conscience,” Chris added.
“Wow, Chris. Really? You had to go there, of all places?” His sister was on the verge of freaking out all together.
“I'm trying to come up with anything! I guess the best thing to do is call her back, but I don't know what to say!”
“Tell her we don't need her,” Melody snapped.
“Did I miss something here?” Jameson entered the room with a confused expression across his face.
“My long lost mother called Chris this morning,” Melody informed him.
Chris blew out a breath and decided he'd call Bridgette back tomorrow. He'd take today to gather his thoughts. After that long of a silence, he couldn't even imagine what she'd want, but it had to be big. Most likely, it wasn't good, either.
Chapter Five
Taryn kept quiet the whole time during Kyra's housewarming party. Only made up of family and friends, her gathering wasn't very large, which suited Taryn fine. These were the people most important to her friend, and Taryn wanted to see how well she would fit in with them if she accepted Kyra's suggestions about joining Baby Stetson.
It all sounded good, but if she went ahead with this plan and it didn't work out, it didn't give her enough time to get anything else set up. But Kyra really believed she'd be a good fit playing for Baby Stetson. If she didn't, the idea wouldn't be brought up so much.
“Do you feel as out of place as I do?” a semi familiar voice asked from beside her. Taryn glanced to the left to find Chris standing next to her. He was good looking- light brownish blond hair and hazel eyes. The blue denim shirt he wore suited him. He leaned against Kyra's suede couch as he smiled.
“I'm not that out of place. Just watching,” Taryn informed him. “So let me guess. Parties aren't your thing, either?” This guy puzzled her, but she also wanted to know more. What was his story?
“They used to be. Honestly, I don't have a thing right now,” Chris admitted. His hand tightened around the red cup.
Neither did Taryn, but she so badly wanted to change that. Shake up her routine. Being laid off sucked, but if she looked at it in a positive note, it gave her a chance to come up with something new. She still had to decide on the new. “Why not?”
“Huh?” Chris blanched.
She'd taken too long to ask, therefore catching him off guard. “Why don't you have a thing?”
“What kind of question is that?” A scowl spread across his face.
“An honest one. Just curious. You don't have to answer.” Geez. What was with this guy? He was so edgy. Then again, Taryn had no room to talk. She had the same type of attitude far too often.
“I don't have a thing because I'm not sure what's next. I moved here to be close to Melody after … stuff we went through, but the more I stay here, the more I realize I don't fit in.” His shoulders raised, then fell.
“Okay. So let me ask you something point blank. Are you talking to me because you want me to join the band so you can go on your way?” She had to know. Taryn didn't have time for people with ulterior motives. Nope, she'd had enough of that. Sure, she'd asked this the last time she saw him, but when a guy goes out of his way to talk to her lately, she wondered.
“I told you no the night of the concert, and I still mean it. I admit, I'm curious as to what you'll do, but it's not why I came by.” Chris reeled back. Genuine hurt laced his voice.
“Sorry,” Taryn muttered. “I kinda have a hard time with people's motives these days. Good looking guys don't come up to me twice just to talk.”
He raised a brow. “Well, that's a shame.”
“To be fair, I probably put off a 'stay the hell away' vibe. Plus, until recently, my go-to places consisted of work, home, and shopping. Oh, and open mic nights.”
“Stay the hell away vibe. Interesting choice of words.�
�� Chris pulled up a chair from nearby and dropped down to sit on it. Odd, when the couch was right there, but this positioned him directly in front of her. “So, what is it about drums that draws you in?”
“My need to beat stuff relentlessly,” Taryn quipped, shooting him a smile. “I don't know. My uncle gave me a drum set for Christmas one year- I think more so to get back at Dad for the noise maker toys he bought for his kids before I came around. The rest is history. I took a fond liking to it.”
“Nice.” Chris lifted his cup to his lips, taking a good long sip of whatever was in it. “And how did you end up on tour with Kyra? That's how you two know each other, right?”
Taryn blushed, then laughed. “I stalked her. Not like literally stalked her. I took a crazy chance and sent in a video when her drummer left the band. I tell ya, I never expected her to contact me, let alone become like a sister to me.” She glanced past Chris to see Kyra standing next to Matt on the far end of her living room. The two were holding hands as Kyra spoke to someone. The entertainment center behind her held awards and achievements, plus photo frames which included some of Kyra and Taryn from their younger days. “Can I ask something?”
“Sure.”
“Is there a certain reason Baby Stetson can't keep a drummer? I don't want to seriously consider this just to find out there's a problem with the band. I need to know my options immediately,” Taryn nearly whispered.
Chris shook his head. “I'm not sure why they can't keep a drummer, but it's not because the band is hard to work with. They're some of the nicest people I know.”
She made a mental note of that. It helped in her decision weighing process.
Someone started jamming on a guitar, then a second person joined in. The room quieted down. Taryn scanned the area to see who was playing. In the far right corner by the second large window, Kyra's brother David and Matt's son Andrew were playing together, sitting across from the other on barstools, each holding a guitar. Both boys were learning guitar from Baby Stetson's lead guitarist, Jameson, and it was obvious they were getting better. David had played on stage at the benefit concert, and Taryn loved the Sanders family collaboration. Kyra's younger sister, Amy, made her singing debut as David played guitar in front of a crowd for the first time.
Standing nearby, close to the suede love seat which matched the couch near her, Jameson's fingers twitched as if he were playing the guitar, all the while smiling, probably because both boys were rocking it.
Kyra and Avery started singing lyrics, both of them taking it line by line as they had to wing it. They were giggling as the words didn't flow the right way a few times. Everyone clapped and laughed as the rhythm really started to pick up.
Taryn didn't think about it until ten beats in that she'd been drumming on Kyra's end table. It had been within reach, and a beat called to her.
Everyone stopped and stared at her.
“Sorry,” she muttered, feeling sheepish.
“Do that again,” Kyra instructed.
“Yeah, that beat rocked. It totally works with their riffs,” Jameson added. “Boys, start again from the top.”
“Umm, sure.” Taryn shrugged and waited for her cue. David and Andrew started again, so she jumped in with the beat she'd been playing, ignoring the fact that all eyes were on her.
“I love that. You came up with something really offbeat that works with their tune. I want to make a song out of this.” Kyra glanced at her brother and Andrew. “Were you using that melody for anything specific?”
“Nope, we were just jamming.” Andrew's smile turned a little bashful.
She watched Kyra, knowing the gears were turning in her mind. Taryn had just put together a quick beat that didn't require any thought, and somehow everyone loved it. It would be fun to work on a song with Kyra again. They used to mess around on the tour bus late at night when some of their weird, sleepless quirkiness came into play, but it ended up creating the best songs. And this made her realize how much she did want the love of music back in her life. To be part of a band and have a say, to create songs.
Maybe she'd at least give Baby Stetson a shot.
What could it hurt?
*****
“Did you call her back?” Melody inquired the next morning just after band practice.
Chris sighed. “No. I just woke up an hour before coming here to practice, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to say.”
“Tell her she- Never mind. Not my business. It wasn't me she called, anyway.” Yep, Chris detected a sour note in Melody's voice. It bothered her that their mother called him and not her, even though it seemed Melody wanted nothing to do with her anyway.
“Maybe she found my number. Isn't yours under Jameson's plan?” Chris offered up as a thought.
“Maybe, but...” Melody sighed. “I guess it bothers me more than I want it to.”
“The whole thing bothers me. Why after all this time?” he mused out loud.
“That's why you should call her back and find out,” Melody pointed out.
“Why don't we both be together when I call her?” Chris suggested.
She hesitated. “I guess that'll work.” She didn't sound convinced, and he understood. After so many years of silence, their mother calling out of the blue was just odd and bothersome. “So, it seems like Taryn's considering playing for us more.” Melody changed the subject pretty quick.
Chris nodded. “She's been debating on it, from what I hear.”
“I just wonder if she'll end up being temporary, too. Her hesitance-”
“Is probably because she hasn't been doing this in a long time,” Chris wasn't sure why he made the interruption. His sister still held on to the idea that he'd play on a more permanent basis. He didn't blame her for the sentiment. They were all they had in terms of blood relatives. After the last few years, they stuck close together. Chris didn't want to break that, but in the same instance, he did. He needed something of his own, but couldn't figure out what. Drumming wasn't it, and he couldn't find an easy way to break that to Melody. “Things are different for her now.”
“Sure, I guess.” She shrugged.
“Do you want to head to my apartment and get this phone call over with? Since it's still crazy over here, we can get some privacy.” With all three of the Grants engaged and preparing weddings, when there wasn't band practice going on at Jameson's, there were wedding plans. The house always had some sort of chaotic vibe.
“Yeah. Let me tell Jameson I'll be back.” Melody darted out of the garage in search of her fiancé. It didn't take her long. Melody returned less than five minutes later. “All right, let's get this over with.”
The ride to the apartment was quiet. Chris had no idea what to say, and Melody seemed lost in thought. He cracked his knuckles, then gripped the steering wheel. This silence sucked. The dread rose in his gut with each passing minute. He pulled into his parking spot, turned off the car, unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned back in his seat.
“Are you dreading this call?” Melody asked quietly, looking over at him.
“Yeah. I don't know what to say. I don't know what will come out if I say anything at all. I don't know what she wants.”
“Do you remember much of her any more?” His sister's voice was soft and timid.
“I have a few memories. They're getting harder to recall, though,” Chris admitted. One memory stuck out in his mind the most- the day she left. “Ready when you are.” He shoved open the car door. They needed to get it over and done with. There was only one way to find the answers they were looking for- by making that damn call.
“Yeah. Let's do it.” Melody pursed her lips together, then exited the car.
Inside the apartment, Chris dug out his phone and searched for the phone number. His finger hovered over the dial button for a few seconds before he pushed. “It's ringing,” he whispered. She'd dropped her purse on his couch and stood close, watching him with inquisitive eyes.
“Hello?” His mother's breathless voice came over the li
ne.
He cleared his throat. “Hi. It's Chris.” Maybe he should put the phone on speaker to let Melody hear. Yeah, he did just that. His sister scooted closer, and they waited. Did Bridgette hang up?
“Wow. You sound … so grown up.”
Chris laughed, the sound came out with a bitter edge. “Well, it has been twenty years.”
“Yes. It sure has.”
“Twenty years without any word,” he continued.
“Chris … I don't want to get into all of this yet.”
“Then why did you call?” His pulse points throbbed.
“I heard about your father. I'm sorry.” Her sincerity actually surprised him.
Melody rolled her eyes, face red with anger.
“Thanks. We miss him every day,” Chris replied, wondering when she'd get down to the nitty gritty of why she called.
“And your sister- she's in a band!”
“Yes she is. Melody shines on stage.”
“So you're in Texas now?”
Chris had enough of beating around the bush. “You're really going to make small talk after all this time? Do you want money? Is that it? Do you think because Melody is in a band that you can sweep back into our lives just to get something?”
Melody reeled back as if he'd slapped or said the things to her.
“I-” Bridgette stuttered, before the line went dead.
“She hung up on us! What the hell?” Chris swore before calling her back. No answer. It went to voice mail after five rings. He didn't bother leaving a message.
Chapter Six
“We'd love to have you do a working interview, Taryn. If it turns out you plan on staying here in Sunset Hills, I'm sure a permanent job can be arranged,” Kyra's mom said to her on Sunday.
“I don't want to put anyone out,” Taryn insisted. “Please don't go out of your way to create a job only for me.”
“I wouldn't be. It actually wouldn't hurt to have another receptionist on board, and there'll be a few clerical duties as well. You'll be a perfect fit,” Mrs. Sanders replied. “I don't know what your last position paid, but we have comparable hourly pay for the work you'll be doing.”
Offbeat (Love and Music In Texas Book 5) Page 5
