Take Me As I Am

by JM Dragon

  The band all nodded and took up their instruments again.

  When they were finished and the band left, Joanna was concentrating on the sheaves of paper in her hand.

  The two people, still sitting on the piano bench, looked at one another.

  “I think she’s forgotten us,” Thea whispered conspiratorially to the lanky man at the piano.

  “Could be, want to go for a coffee? I know a great place—”

  “Frank, Lenny’s new addition won’t be a problem, will it?” Blue eyes captured the man’s startled eyes.

  “Not me, Jo. It sounded like you and the band nailed it in one. Do you want me to speak with him and get him to do a few more sessions before we go on tonight?”

  “No, it’s good.”

  Frank stood, smiling warmly at Thea and mouthing rain check as he left the stage.

  Thea leaned on her elbows watching Joanna and a tender smile came to her lips.

  Joanna lifted her head, catching Thea’s unabashed smile and gave her a gentle indulgent look. “Hi there, want to share a light lunch with me?”

  What a question. The singer’s idea of a light lunch was a piece of rye bread and a gallon of coffee. Thea’s, on the other hand, was a lovely colorful salad and a pot of aromatic tea.

  “Do you need to ask if I’m hungry?”

  Jo grinned and stuffed the music sheets in the back pocket of her jeans. “Thought so, let’s go and you can tell me what you thought of the practice session.”

  “I will and thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For my not having to make up an excuse to not have coffee with Frank.”

  “I see the way he looks at you. I think he has a crush on you.” Joanna shrugged. “Can’t blame him.”

  Thea grinned, feeling a warmth course through her body at the softly spoken words.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  John-Henry grinned at the two women arguing in a controlled and quiet manner in the far corner of the café. He wondered why women always did that, bringing up all the reasons why they couldn’t possibly do something when he knew they would do it anyway. Draining his coffee cup, he decided now was a good time to intervene, hoping he wouldn’t get caught in any of the fallout.

  “Lucy, I’d like a refill please.” The low voice of the man had the owner of the café, Lucy, and her sparring partner, Daisy glancing at him.

  “Sure.” Lucy walked to the freshly made brew at the other end of the counter.

  “How are you today, Daisy?” John-Henry asked Daisy.

  The old woman scowled. “I’ll be fine as soon as our stubborn friend there tells me why it’s important I go to St Louis to see a concert when she won’t tell me who it is performing.” Daisy gave Lucy a hard glance.

  John-Henry smiled. Thea had talked with him and Lucy and they all agreed that it would be better to surprise Daisy. There was no doubt in any of their minds that Daisy would bring up all kinds of excuses for not going, if she knew the truth. Daisy didn’t have a kind word to say about Karen when Lucy inadvertently let it slip that Thea had been living with her once estranged mother.

  “Will it help if I say I’m going too, as your chaperone?”

  “Chaperone? Why would Lucy and I need one of those? We are both more than able to take care of ourselves. What is it with men who think women can’t go into big cities and be safe? I’ll have you know that I’ve been to Washington DC on my own, three times.” Daisy’s annoyance changed to focus entirely on him.

  “Well, I wouldn’t exactly—”

  “Here you go, John-Henry. Now, Daisy, let’s discuss this one more time, shall we? I have tickets for this concert and I want you to...”

  “Yes, I know I’m coming. When are you picking me up?” Daisy asked.

  John-Henry looked at Lucy and saw her shocked expression that he suspected mirrored his own.

  “Yeah, no problem. I’ll call for you around one, if that is okay. We need to go through security and our flight leaves at three thirty. It is a short flight and we will arrive in St. Louis in time for dinner at—”

  “Spare me the details, Lucy, I have things to do. My hair, for one. I’ll talk with you both later. Why couldn’t you have told me earlier? I’ll have to arrange something special now with Jenny....” Daisy was muttering to herself as she left the café.

  Lucy stood behind the counter with her jaw dropping. “I spent the best part of an hour trying to talk her into going and now all of a sudden she has a change of heart. What did you say to her?”

  “Me? Nothing, I swear. All I said was maybe she needed a chaperone or something along those lines.”

  “Oh, that’s bad, John-Henry.” Lucy chuckled. “You know how independent she is.”

  John-Henry nodded and winked.

  “Thea said she’d meet us at the airport around five and take us to dinner. Jo will be too busy at that time, but after the concert, we’re going backstage and then onto a late supper. She said Jo needs sustenance after a concert. Is that what she told you?” Lucy asked.

  “Yep, pretty much. Although, Thea did say I could go backstage and watch from the right wing. She said it won’t spoil the surprise for Jo since she never appears on stage from the right.”

  “Are you going to do that?”

  “Hell, yes. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the behind the scenes action.”

  “Oh, no.” Lucy’s eyes widened. “That means you are leaving me with Daisy. I hope she’s not going to be one of those unforgiving old women who do nothing but moan after she finds out we deceived her.” Lucy pulled at her bottom lip.

  “We haven’t deceived her, Lucy, merely omitted all the facts. That sounds much better, don’t you think?”

  “You know exactly what to say, John-Henry. How about a piece of my apple pie? It’s on the house.”

  “Now, that’s something I won’t turn down. Thank you, Lucy.”

  †

  Jo, for the fifth time, flicked through her wardrobe and came up blank. Each time she thought she’d decided, she changed her mind. In the old days, it had never happened. She’d only possessed one decent change of clothes for her performances. Her eyes strayed to the well-worn jacket with ‘Jo’ on the back that she’d refused to retire. It was as much a part of her and her history as any of these outrageously expensive jackets, jeans and shirts she now owned would ever be.

  “Damn, why do I have so many choices?” A tinkle of laughter brought her attention to Thea who was silently walking toward her.

  “Joanna, there is no such thing as too many choices. Besides, if you’d let me hire a dresser for you, there wouldn’t be a problem.”

  Thea’s genuine smile was like a tonic to Jo and as always, when her friend was in the vicinity, she felt herself relax. When she was sick, the doctors told her she needed to slow down and give herself a chance to heal. At the time, she could tell they didn’t believe she ever would. That all changed because she had Thea by her side. She thanked God every single day for that remarkable fact.

  “Why would I need that when I have you?” Jo winked. “Want to help me decide?”

  Half an hour later, both women looked at one another in exasperation.

  “You have too many choices.”

  “Told you so,” Jo replied smugly.

  “Hmm, okay, close your eyes.”

  Jo complied. She was startled for a moment when a hand clasped hers and laid it gently on the rack.

  “Choose, Joanna,” Thea said.

  A smile flickered across Jo’s lips realizing what her friend wanted her to do. Her hand glided for a moment before dropping decisively on a hanger.

  “Great choice, Joanna.”

  Blue eyes opened wide and a chuckle passed Jo’s lips. “That’s the first outfit I looked at when I started my search.” The white silk shirt that was transparent enough to show off her black bra, along with black slacks, was understated elegance. “You know, there’s something to be said for blind faith.”

  Jo began p
ulling the clothes from the wardrobe rail, laying them out on a chair in the room.

  “I know what you mean. I was thinking that maybe after the show we could go to a club....”

  Jo raised an eyebrow and had a slight frown.

  “I know. Only if you can have a good, square meal. That’s a given,” Thea countered.

  Jo could feel her smile crinkle in the corner of her eyes. “Hey, you eat almost as much as I do after a show,” Jo teased.

  Her highly charged performances helped to keep the late eating pounds off her lithe body. After the long lazy stay with her parents and their mollycoddling, she’d put on some extra weight. Most of that was due to her father, who daily made her break every one of her rules about not eating pastries when he baked them especially for her.

  “Okay, I’ll book somewhere for around midnight,” Thea said.

  “No problem with me. I’ll eat anything.” Jo was now refocusing on the upcoming performance this evening. She picked up her lyric sheets to study them again.

  “Great. Now, I’ll leave you to your own personal rehearsal and I’ll catch up with you before you go on stage, as usual.”

  “Fine, thanks,” Jo whispered absently.

  †

  Thea smiled tenderly at Joanna who was engrossed in her work. She really needed to be leaving for the airport. She knew Joanna would be surprised and pleased to see their old friends again.

  Leaving the room, Thea looked around and smiled. It was going to be a great evening and in just more than an hour, her friends would be there with her, too. She was looking forward to seeing them again, especially Daisy. She’d missed the older woman greatly. Although she’d written and called her several times, Daisy had either not responded to her messages or was abrupt on the phone. Today will be different, I know it.

  Once she’d arranged with Pete, the head roadie, to have Joanna’s coffee arrive in her dressing room at the precise time they would have their ritual coffee before every performance, Thea turned to leave the building.

  “I’ll not be long. I promise to be back before she’ll miss me,” she told Pete with a smile.

  With arms folded across his gigantic chest, Pete gave her a serious glance before a glint appeared in his eyes. “She’ll miss you. She always does. Make sure you’re back, Thea, before the show starts or we’ll all be in trouble. Want to tell me where you’re going, for safety’s sake?”

  Thea smiled warmly at the large man with an incredibly gentle tone. “Promise not to tell her?”

  “You got it.”

  “I’ve invited some friends from where I used to live. Joanna knows them too and I want it to be a surprise. They arrive at the airport in half an hour and I’m taking them to dinner then bringing them here for the show. Joanna won’t know until the end. Frank’s going to see that one of our friends watches the show from the right hand side of the stage since she never goes to that side. I know he won’t give away the surprise. What do you think?”

  The giant of a man grinned. “I think she should be grateful she has you for a friend. You’d best be going. I’ll personally make sure Jo doesn’t know about the surprise.”

  “Thanks, Pete, and don’t forget about her coffee.” Thea was happy; everything was going to work out great.

  “Never do.” Pete walked with her out of the building and flagged a taxi for her.

  †

  “I can’t see her, can you?” Lucy whispered, hurrying them purposely forward.

  “The younger generation never knows when to walk slowly,” Daisy muttered.

  “Nope, she’ll be here. Thea would never let us down,” John-Henry remarked quietly. His eyes dove into the crowd of people waiting.

  “I can see her! She’s there. Look.” Lucy flew forward and within seconds engulfed Thea into a warm hug. “Thea, you look wonderful. Traveling with Jo must be good for you.”

  Thea disengaged herself from the bear hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you again, Lucy.” Her eyes turned to John-Henry who gave her a wide smile before taking her in for a second warm hug.

  “Where’s Daisy?” Thea asked smiling excitedly. Her heart was full of happiness at seeing her friends again.

  Lucy and John-Henry looked a little sheepish as they pointed toward Daisy, who was looking around agitatedly with a less than happy expression.

  Thea grinned happily and shot off to greet her old friend.

  “Do you think we should have told her about Daisy?” Lucy asked.

  “Nope. That’s up to the two of them and I think old grumpy will give in. In the end, she never could say no to Thea, could she?” John-Henry smiled.

  “Too true, but she might be antsy.”

  “Well, we can put that down to a bad flight. It was kinda bumpy up there.”

  Thea walked up to Daisy and instinctively pulled her into a loving hug.

  †

  The sight of Thea made Daisy look twice, wondering why the younger woman was there. How did she know? Then it dawned on her. Why those two conniving no good so-called friends.

  “Oh, Daisy, it’s so good to see you. I’m so pleased you came. I have a wonderful dinner planned for us at a restaurant that I know you’ll love. After that we’ll go to Joanna’s concert and then supper at a great club after that,” Thea gushed.

  “Humph, I wasn’t....”

  “Now, come on, Daisy, let’s go. I’m starved,” John-Henry said. “You be good and don’t you go spoiling this for Thea,” he whispered.”

  Daisy glared at the man.

  “I’ve arranged for a car to take us to the restaurant,” Thea said. “We can catch up as we go along.”

  Daisy recoiled when Thea hooked her arm in hers but heeded John-Henry’s words. She’d make sure her two friends would know exactly how she felt about their deception. The four old friends left the terminal and a large black limousine whisked them away.

  †

  An hour later, Lucy gave Thea a sympathetic look in the restroom of the restaurant. “Sorry, Thea, we should have told you that Daisy wasn’t that friendly toward you. We figured that she might change her tune once she saw you.”

  “I knew something wasn’t sitting right with her. I’ve seen the look she gave me when she saw me and I knew I was in trouble.”

  “I should have known better. I let it slip that you were staying with your mother and she didn’t take kindly to that.”

  Thea glanced at herself in the mirror. “You know, two years ago I would have been devastated that Daisy was upset with me. Now, I realize that people have opinions and that they don’t always agree with others.” She shrugged. “If Daisy wants me to disown my mother, she’s barking up the wrong tree. It isn’t ever going to happen. She doesn’t know all the facts, Lucy.”

  Lucy chewed on her lip. “That’s where you are wrong, Thea. Daisy knows all the facts. She has many redeeming qualities, except for one—her blind faith in your father. Your mother didn’t stand a chance against that or the poison your father filled Daisy’s mind with about her.” Lucy hugged Thea. “Daisy is a little set in her ways but I’m sure she’ll come around. Anyway, I’m real happy you asked us here and John-Henry can now boast even more about Jo.”

  “He boasts? Really? About what and to who?” Thea smiled at the change of subject. Daisy was going to feel however she wanted, and she could do nothing about that.

  “Anyone who wants to know and some who don’t. When one of her songs starts playing, he’s there telling them that she used to play in the bar before her big break. Mind you, we are all proud of her and you, Thea. It wasn’t easy leaving town and now, look at both of you now.”

  Thea felt the genuine warmth and sincerity in every word Lucy said. She knew that Joanna was going to be so embarrassed when she heard that John-Henry spoke so highly of her.

  “We’re doing well, now. We’ve had our moments, but somehow we can’t stay apart for long,” Thea whispered to herself.

  “Your mother mentioned that Jo was quite ill for a time and that you helped
to nurse her back to health?”

  “Yes, it was a shock. She nearly killed herself with the workload and other things. Now she’s more careful.” She wondered if Joanna was being more careful or if she was on her behalf. Whichever it was really didn’t matter, as long as the outcome was the same—Joanna remained healthy and happy.

  †

  Lucy heard the tenderness in Thea’s voice and smiled inwardly. Karen was right when she said her daughter loved the singer. It was in every nuance of her speech and facial expressions when she mentioned Jo’s name. It would be interesting to see her body language when she was around Jo.

  “I’m glad for you both. Shall we get back to John-Henry? I’m sure by now he’s had an earful from Daisy. Unless of course he went to the men’s room, leaving her on her own. I’m not sure any one of us could take that.” The two friends laughed and left the restroom.

  “Oh,” Lucy said, as they were making their way back to the table. “I completely forgot to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “George Andrews was arrested this morning for fraud and embezzlement.”

  Thea laughed. “That is truly good news. Tell me all about it.”

  “Don’t know much more than that. They were arresting him as we were leaving.”

  “I hope they take him to jail and throw away the key.”

  †

  “Anyone seen Thea?” Jo asked sharply as she scanned the corridor outside her door. The usual coffee break had arrived on time except one very important aspect was missing. Thea. They would normally chat about insignificant items for an hour and then Thea would leave her to the final preparations for the evening performance. Where was she?

  A young roadie, who she’d never seen before, shrugged then turned quickly, immediately running into Pete.

  “Where’s the fire?” Pete asked.

  Jo watched with interest.