Impossible Depths (Silver Lake series Book 2)

by McCallum, Coral

  Six songs in and the lights dimmed for a moment before a single spotlight focussed on Jake perched on a stool centre stage. Lori just caught a fleeting glimpse of Todd scampering off stage, having handed over Jake’s precious acoustic guitar.

  “Still with me, Atlantic City?” he asked as he settled himself on the stool. The crowd cheered back. “Time to catch our breath a bit. Those of you who’ve seen us before will know the next two numbers mean a lot to me. Tonight they’re even more special because “Lady Butterfly” is out there among you. If you know the words, please sing this with me. Lori, these are for you.”

  Beside her, Becky was jumping up and down “Uncle Jake’s singing just for you, Lori!”

  “Sh,” said Lori, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Let’s listen to the song, honey.”

  Out on stage, Jake gazed out over the room full of Silver Lake fans and smiled. As he began the gentle intro to Lady Butterfly, he watched the audience in front of him light up as the fans held their cell phones high in the air. When he began to sing, they were each hanging on his every word. This was the kind of moment he had dreamed of and, knowing that Lori was out there among them, made it all the more precious. Stronger Within went down just as well with the fans as they sang along in perfect harmony with him. When the song ended, Jake stood up and bowed to the crowd before blowing a kiss towards the balcony.

  “Thank you. That was beautiful. Very special.”

  A quick change of guitars and the rest of the band were back out on stage for the next section of the set. The audience went wild when they played Out Of The Shadows. Once they were finished that one, the tenth on the set list, Jake and Rich were moving into untested territory from a fitness perspective. Another two songs later and the moment Jake was dreading was upon him. Physically, he was beginning to struggle. His shoulder was throbbing; his ribs were aching; his heart was pounding. As the lights dimmed, he accepted his change of guitar from Todd. With trembling hands, he plugged the black Gibson into his radio pack. Behind him, his fellow band members had gathered in a line in front of the drum riser, their heads bowed.

  Unsure what was coming next, the crowd started their customary Silver Lake chant. Up on the balcony, Lori was on the edge of her seat, watching anxiously, as Jake stepped forward.

  He rubbed his sweating palms dry on his jeans, then grasped the microphone with both hands.

  “We’d like to take a moment now, folks,” he announced, his voice ringing our clear and true across the packed hall. “Some of you may know we lost a dear friend back in July. He was instrumental in setting tonight up for us.”

  Avoiding looking up at the balcony, Jake continued, “His family are here as our guests. We wish he was here too. Gary, wherever you are buddy, this is for you. This is At The Beach.”

  The dedicated fans in the audience cheered Jake on as he took a step back.

  Head bowed, his blonde hair hiding his face, he began to play the delicate French air intro to the piece before launching into the heavy frantic riff that ran through the instrumental. His long, slender fingers flew over the frets with graceful ease as he immersed himself in the solo performance. Focussing on getting through the next few minutes, he tried to block out the memories that were tumbling unbidden into his mind. Jake was all too aware of his three band mates standing silently behind him, paying their own quiet tribute to their late friend. His emotions threatened to spiral out of control as the number reached the final section, a return to the gentle French theme echoing the start. With tears blinding him, Jake made it note perfect to the very end. Emotionally, as well as physically, he was spent. As the last notes drifted out over the audience, he raised his head and faced them, his cheeks wet with his tears.

  The crowd, who had been stunned into silence, erupted.

  Up on the balcony, everyone, Lori included, her own cheeks wet, was on their feet cheering. Behind Jake on stage, his three friends were also applauding him. At the side of the stage, Maddy was sobbing openly into Jethro’s shoulder.

  Having taken a deep breath, Rich walked forward, accepting his guitar back from Todd en route, and stepped up to his mic, “Atlantic City, give it up for the incredible Jake Power!”

  While the fans continued to cheer, Jake took a bow, then walked across the stage to the drum riser for a drink of water, taking his time and using the few precious moments to compose himself.

  “Thank you,” he said humbly when he returned to his usual centre stage spot. “This next one is off the new album. Ironically perhaps, this is Impossible.”

  By the time Silver Lake reached the last song of their encore, the ever popular, Flyin’ High, Jake was exhausted- physically, mentally and emotionally. He felt himself going through the motions at the end of the show, flicking picks out into the crowd, reaching out to shake hands with those lucky fans in the front row, then, with a final wave, he led the band off stage.

  Up on the balcony, Lori watched him disappear into the darkness at the side of the stage. Around her, the fans were beginning to filter out, heading for the exits, some of them still chanting “Silver Lake, Silver Lake, Silver Lake, Lake, Lake.”

  “Do we go and see Daddy now?” asked Becky, trying to stifle a yawn.

  “Yes, we do,” promised Lori, giving her a hug. “Let’s wait till most of the people are away though.”

  “They were fantastic!” enthused Alice, standing up and gazing round the venue at the departing sea of rock fans. “Gary would’ve been so pleased with that set.”

  “Yeah, I think he would,” agreed Lori with a wistful smile. “And with Tom for his technical support.”

  “I couldn’t see him. Was he on stage?” asked Alice.

  “He was down the back of Paul’s drums most of the time,” replied Lori. “I saw him passing fresh sticks up a few times.”

  “He’ll live off this for months!”

  “I hope so,” said Lori as she stood up and reached down to pick up her cane. “Let’s go and find the boys. Becky, take your Grammy’s hand, please.”

  Once safely off stage and in the dressing room, Maddy was the first to reach out and hug Jake. With tears in her eyes, she whispered, “That was incredible. I’ve no idea how you did that.”

  “Thanks, Maddison,” he said, kissing her cheeks.

  Passing him a towel, Grey declared, “That was quite something, Jake. Quite something.”

  “I couldn’t have done it,” stated Rich, his own voice thick with emotion. “It was tough enough just standing out there while you played.”

  “You’d have managed it, Rich,” stated Jake, drying himself off with the towel. “That said, I’m not doing that again. Tonight was a one off.”

  “Never say never,” cautioned Paul, handing him a bottle of water. “The fans loved it.”

  “Hmm,” muttered Jake as he wandered off towards one of the smaller dressing rooms.

  It took Lori and the others almost twenty minutes to thread their way through the venue and round to the dressing rooms. As soon as she saw him, Becky flew at Grey, hugging him tight. Lifting the little girl into his arms, he kissed her forehead and asked if she’d enjoyed the show.

  “It was awesome!” she said seriously.

  Looking over at his mother, Grey asked, “Too loud for you, mom?”

  “A bit,” she confessed. “But what a show!”

  Glancing round, Lori asked, “Where’s Jake?”

  “He’s through getting changed, I think,” said Rich, pointing towards the smaller dressing room at the back.

  Knocking the door first, Lori entered the small room. Jake was sitting on a hard plastic chair, legs stretched out in front of him, head back and eyes closed.

  “Hey, rock star,” she greeted softly, closing the door behind her.

  “Hey yourself, Mz Hyde,” he said, opening one eye.

  “You were incredible out there.”

  With a worn out smile, he conceded, “It felt pretty special.”

  “You ok?”

  �
�I will be,” sighed Jake, sitting up straight. “I’m fucked. My ribs are agony. My shoulder’s screaming at me. I’m beat.”

  “At The Beach was beautiful,” commented Lori, reaching out to take his hand. “You did Gary proud tonight.”

  “That was hard. Damn hard.”

  “But it came straight from the heart,” she said warmly. “Everyone around us got that. It was perfect.”

  “Thanks.”

  A knock at the door interrupted them. The door opened and Grey stuck his head round, “Sorry to ruin the moment, but Maddy’s wanting us to get cleaned up and cleared out.”

  “We’ll be out in a moment,” promised Jake.

  As Grey closed the door over, Lori said, “Let’s not mention the wedding tonight. Doesn’t feel right.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive,” she nodded as her fiancé got to his feet. “Tonight’s about the band, not you and me.”

  “I guess you’re right,” he agreed, giving her a sweaty hug. “Ok, let’s join the party. I don’t know about you, but I need a drink.”

  Duty called for the band for the next couple of hours as they dined with their invited guests and the various VIPs that Jason had brought along. Obligingly, they all chatted politely and posed for photographs then shortly before two in the morning, Maddy rounded the boys up.

  “Time to make good our escape,” she whispered to Lori. “Head back to the studio suite. I’ve secured it for us to relax together for a few hours.”

  It took the band a while, but eventually they had each excused themselves and filtered away from the after show party. Not surprisingly, Jake and Lori were the last to leave. On the way up in the elevator, Jake put a protective arm around her and kissed her gently on the top of the head.

  “One drink, li’l lady,” he yawned. “Then I’m heading to bed.”

  “I’ve heard that before,” laughed Lori, snuggling into him. “Let’s see how this goes.”

  “You still sure about keeping the wedding news quiet?” he asked. “If it’s only us then we could announce it.”

  “You’re desperate to tell them, aren’t you?” she teased as the elevator doors opened. “If the right moment comes up, you can tell them.”

  “Love you,” whispered Jake with a sleepy smile.

  Entering the large suite, Jake and Lori found everyone sprawled about the room, relaxing with a drink. The TV was playing one of the many rock music channels. All of them looked exhausted. In one corner, Todd, Kate and Tom were huddled round a laptop, looking for fan videos online of the show. Rich was lying across the curved couch where Lori had sat during the interview that morning. On the floor beside him, Linsey sat curled up, her head resting on his thighs. Across the room, on one of the over-sized armchairs, Kola sat on Grey’s knee sipping a beer.

  “Lively bunch,” commented Jake as he poured a drink for Lori and himself.

  “It’s late. It’s been a long fucking day,” muttered Rich, sounding more asleep than awake.

  “It has been a long day,” agreed Jake as he passed a glass of wine to Lori. “What’s the plan for tomorrow?”

  “Relax and head home,” sighed Maddy from her seat by the window.

  “My mom’s staying on till Monday,” added Grey. “Says I kept her out of the casino for too long.”

  “Where is she?” asked Lori, scanning the room.

  “With Becky, I hope,” replied the bass player.

  “She’s probably got Becky with her at a slot machine,” teased Paul.

  “It wouldn’t fucking surprise me,” muttered Grey, scowling at the thought.

  As Lori sat down on the only empty chair in the room, she said, “Alice, what are your plans?”

  “Stay on here for a few days,” replied the English woman, trying to stifle a yawn. “We fly home on Wednesday.”

  “Ah! I meant to speak to you about that,” began Jake, as he sat on the floor at Lori’s feet. “Tom and I have it all planned out.”

  “You do?” replied Alice and Lori together.

  “You’re coming back with us tomorrow. Tom and I have an appointment on Sunday morning,” explained Jake with a conspiratorial wink over at the teenager. “I’ll drive you both to the airport on Wednesday.”

  “Jake,” began Lori. “We can’t leave until after lunch tomorrow.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve arranged for us to have lunch with your family before they all head off,” she explained. “Is that ok? Alice, you and Tom are more than welcome to join us.”

  Alice burst out laughing. “Jason’s invited us to lunch.”

  “Lori,” called out Rich, trying to maintain a serious expression. “Can we come to lunch? I’m feeling left out over here.”

  Giggling, Lori launched a cushion at him before declaring, “Jake, if we can’t even organise this, how the hell will we organise a wedding?”

  Jumping on the throwaway comment, Maddy asked, “Have you two set a date?”

  Realising what she’d said, Lori blushed, then nodded.

  “When?” squealed Maddy loudly.

  “December twenty second,” revealed Jake with a grin.

  “But that’s…..” started Maddy, staring at Lori.

  “I know,” she interrupted. “At least this way I’ll remember the date for a positive reason.”

  “Explain, Mz Hyde,” said Rich looking bemused.

  “It’s the second anniversary of my accident,” replied Lori quietly.

  “Shit. Sorry,” mumbled the guitarist. “Fuck. I feel like a jerk now.”

  “It’s ok, Rich,” said Jake. “You weren’t to know. So, are you all free that day?”

  A chorus of “Yes” almost deafened them.

  “This calls for champagne!” proclaimed Maddy theatrically.

  “Not tonight, boss,” answered Jake. “I’m wiped out. How about we arrange something for Sunday night?”

  “Deal,” agreed Maddy. “Come out to the farmhouse. We’ll throw a party for a change.”

  It was almost four thirty before Jake and Lori headed back to their room. Both of them were completely and utterly exhausted. Once there, they both undressed, collapsing into bed in virtual silence. As she snuggled in close to Jake, Lori asked, “Are you happy now that it’s all out in the open?”

  “Yes,” he replied sleepily. “Are you?”

  “Yes,” she purred, her eyes closing. “Love you, rock star.”

  “Love you too, li’l lady.”

  Both of them slept late; slept through their ten thirty alarm call. They slept through the reminder call at ten forty-five. It was Jake’s phone ringing that finally roused him just after eleven.

  “Wha’?” he mumbled sleepily as he answered the call.

  “So you are still alive?” snapped Maddy harshly. “I’ve had reception on the phone. They were worried when you ignored your pre-booked alarm calls.”

  “Never heard them,” said Jake, sitting up in bed. Every bit of him ached and his head was pounding. “We’re both fine. No need to panic, Maddison.”

  “As long as you’re ok,” she replied, her tone somewhat softer. “You need to be checked out by twelve. The bill’s already taken care of. Hand the key card in on your way out.”

  “Yes, boss.”

  “Ok. We’re heading home. We’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Come over about four.”

  “See you tomorrow, Maddison.”

  With their bags safely stowed in the trunk of the Mercedes, Jake and Lori went to meet Jake’s family for lunch. They had agreed to meet Tom and Alice at three in the hotel foyer, giving themselves plenty of time for a leisurely lunch. When they walked into Johnny Rocket’s together, the rest of the Power family were already seated and waiting for them. Jake’s two nephews began waving madly at them as they approached the table.

  “You’re late and I’m hungry,” complained Josh, as Jake and Lori sat down.

  “Sorry. We slept late,” confessed Jake, his voice sounding a little hoarse. “How’s everyone today?”<
br />
  “Dying,” declared Peter, who was sitting with his sunglasses on.

  “Likewise,” muttered Simon. “But I won three thousand bucks last night.”

  “Don’t give them any sympathy,” cautioned Lucy with a smile.

  “And how are you, son?” asked Colonel Power warmly. “When did you two stop partying?”

  “Tired,” confessed Jake. “It was after four before we headed to bed, I think.”

  “I’ll be glad to get home,” added Lori, her voice sounding tired. “It’s been an intense couple of days.”

  After they had ordered their meal and the waitress had returned with their drinks, Colonel Power asked, “So what’s next for the band?”

  “We’ve a few days free then its promo stuff right through to mid-October and the record launch. The tour starts on November 17th in New York then we head to Europe around November 27th. We fly home on December 19th,” replied Jake, feeling even more exhausted at the thought of it. “We have a date for you all to put in your schedules. Keep December 22nd free.”

  “Why?” asked Lucy, not daring to hope it was for what she was thinking.

  “We’re getting married,” said Lori, smiling over at her fiancé.

  “Really?” cried Lucy, eyes wide with excitement. “Where?”

  “Really,” assured Jake, putting his arm around Lori’s shoulder. “It’ll be a really small private wedding in New York.”

  “Congratulations, both of you,” said Ben Power, glowing with pride.

  Conversation throughout the rest of the meal was monopolised by wedding talk. Jake’s brothers playfully cautioned against it while Lucy interrogated Lori for details. She offered to take Lori wedding dress shopping and to help in any way she could.

  “The planning’s still in the very early stages,” said Lori eventually when she could get a word in. “We would like to involve the boys, though if that’s ok with you and Rob?”

  “Sure,” agreed Rob, realising there only was one answer. “Doing what?”