“Maybe Sam could do a reading? And Josh could be ring bearer?” suggested Jake looking at his two young nephews. “Nothing too complex.”
“It’s a deal,” said Lucy. “What about bridesmaids? And the best man?”
“Still working that out,” answered Jake, “Now, enough questions for one day, little sister. Just make sure you all keep the date free.”
♫
By the time everyone had said their goodbyes and Jake and Lori had met up with Alice and Tom, it was almost four o’clock before they were heading away from Atlantic City. Traffic down towards Cape May and the ferry terminal was light, making the journey easier. During the ferry crossing, Jake excused himself and went to sit on deck on his own for a while. The intensity of the last two days, plus the show itself, had taken its toll on him. He was in desperate need of some private time. In the last of the day’s September sun, it was cool on deck. Selecting a quiet spot in the sun, Jake lay out along one of the white benches and closed his eyes. His ribs were still aching and he gently ran his hand over them as he took a few deep breaths of the clean ocean air. The ache only served as a lingering reminder of the last two months. It struck him as odd that he could look at his reflection in the mirror every day and barely notice the scar below his eye, but that the ache in his ribcage brought it all back. Playing At The Beach had brought it all back too; had almost brought it all crashing down, but there was no denying that the fans had loved it. Paul’s words about “Never say never” came back to haunt him. If need be, could he play it live again?
Having all of his family there had been strange. A good kind of strange he decided as he lay staring up at the sky. Lunch had been his first proper family meal since his mother’s funeral. Seeing his two brothers tired and hungover, with their dad looking on in disgust, had brought back teenage memories of being at home in the kitchen with his mom claiming, “The boys are just tired, Ben” as his brothers sat suffering from the excesses of the night before. It made him wonder what she would have thought of the band. What would she have thought of Lori? What would she have had to say about their wedding? Before the maudlin mood took hold completely, Jake got up and went to stand at the guard rail, watching the waves. He loved the ocean. It soothed his soul.
Leaving the girls to enjoy a leisurely, late breakfast out on the sun deck, Jake drove Tom into Rehoboth on Sunday morning for their mystery appointment. In bed the night before, Jake had explained to Lori that he had arranged for Danny to do him a favour and open up for a couple of special commissions. As he parked the truck round the rear of the tattoo parlour, he spotted Todd running up the street.
“Am I late?” Todd gasped as they come round the front of the building.
“Not any later than us,” joked Jake with a grin. “Now are you two sure about this? It’s a huge commitment. If you want to back out, now is the time to do it.”
“Sure,” stated both boys in unison.
“Alright,” said Jake, leading the way into Danny’s shop.
As he opened the door to the tinkling of the wind chime, the familiar smell hit him. Hearing them enter, Danny appeared from the back of the shop.
“Good morning,” he called out cheerfully.
“Morning, Dan,” replied Jake. “I’ve brought you two tattoo virgins.”
“Ah, fresh, unblemished skin!” laughed the diminutive tattoo artist, rubbing his hands together in front of him. “Welcome to my lair, boys.”
Both of the teenagers exchanged nervous glances, then looked to Jake for reassurance.
“He’s kidding, guys,” laughed Jake, recalling how anxious he had felt about getting his first tattoo. “Dan, I have an order for two more Silver Lake knots. One for each of them. Same template as mine.”
“Same as Mr Santiago too,” commented Danny. “He was in last night. I thought he was the last of you. Miss Addison even paid me a visit, although hers is smaller and in a more discrete location.”
“Maddison was in?”
“A few weeks back. Mid-August, I think. Are these specimens the last?”
“Has Scott been in?” asked Jake curiously.
Danny nodded, “He was in the same day as Grey and Paul. Can I expect Mz Hyde too?”
Shaking his head, Jake said, “I doubt it, but you never know.”
“And what about you? Am I inking you today too?” enquired Danny, a hopeful edge to his tone.
“Not today.”
“Pity,” murmured the ink artist. “Right, who wants to sit on one of my thrones first?”
Todd stepped forward tentatively.
“Have you decided where you want the design, Todd?” asked Jake, feeling somewhat responsible for the boy.
“Same place as yours,” replied his protégé as he took his jacket off.
“Tom?”
“Same,” replied Tom. “I’ve ideas for my upper arms for another time.”
“Ok, Dan, they’re all yours,” declared Jake. “I’ve a few errands to run. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“I’ll be gentle with them.”
When Jake returned to the shop, he found Todd sitting on the bench, watching the finishing touches being put to Tom’s tattoo. Taking a seat beside him, Jake asked if he was alright.
“Now I am,” replied Todd. “I felt like shit at first. Nerves I guess.”
“You’ll be fine.”
As Tom carefully pulled his T-shirt on over the dressing on his chest, Jake handed Danny a bundle of cash. Without bothering to count it, the smaller man stuffed it into his pocket.
“So when will I see you back on my throne?”
“I don’t know,” said Jake. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back. I’ve just not worked out the next one yet.”
“Well, I’ll be waiting to photograph the next one,” joked Danny as he handed the boys their aftercare leaflets and a jar each of his magic healing cream.
“We’ll see,” laughed Jake. “Now, I need to get these two home. Thanks for this.”
“Anytime, Mr Power.”
Once outside, Jake invited Todd back to the house, but he declined.
“I’m heading up to Baltimore this afternoon. Classes start on Tuesday and I’ve paperwork to submit tomorrow first thing,” Todd explained.
“Ok,” acknowledged Jake warmly. “Take care. I’ll call you during the week. Remember, if you need anything, call Lori or I.”
“I will,” promised Todd, giving him a hug. “Thanks for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” said Jake. “Remember to keep November 22nd free. You’re working for me that night.”
“Will do,” promised Todd.
Leaving him to say goodbye to Tom, Jake went round to the start the truck, A few moments later the passenger door opened and Tom clambered in.
“Alice is going to murder me,” he laughed as he plugged in his seat belt.
“You didn’t tell her?”
Tom shook his head.
“I’m not taking the rap for this,” declared Jake as he started the engine. “You’re on your own with that one.”
The girls were still out on the deck chatting when Jake led Tom round the side of the house. Both of them looked up at the sound of their footsteps.
“Hi,” called Alice. “Good trip into town?”
“Yeah,” agreed Tom, taking a seat at the table. “Said goodbye to Todd. He starts college on Tuesday.”
“I thought he was coming to the party?” commented Lori, looking up at Jake.
“Apparently not. He’s heading up to Baltimore this afternoon. I told him to call one of us if he needs anything,” Jake replied. “When’s the boss expecting us?”
“Soon. She called earlier. I said we’d be no later than three,” said Lori before adding, “How was Danny?”
“Same as ever. He was asking when you were coming back to see him.”
Looking over at Tom, Lori asked, “Well, where did he put it?
Glancing nervously at his older sister, Tom swallowed before replying, “Same pla
ce as Jake’s.”
“And Todd?”
“Same,” replied Jake, watching to gauge Alice’s reaction.
“What are we talking about here?” she asked sharply. “What’s been put where, Tom?”
“I got a tattoo,” stated the teenager bluntly. “In memory of Gary. Same one the band all have.”
“A tattoo!” yelled his sister. “Why in God’s name did you do that?”
“I wanted to,” said Tom, looking to Jake for moral support.
“Alice,” began Jake calmly. “It’s ok. It’s all been expertly done. Each of us got one to remember Gary by. It was important to Tom to be included. I set it up with Danny. He’s done a fantastic job.”
“Let me see it,” demanded Alice, glaring angrily at Jake.
Taking his shirt off, Tom carefully peeled the dressing off to reveal the raw design on his chest.
“You’ve got one the same?” she asked Jake without taking her eyes off her young brother.
“Identical,” replied Jake. “Here, I’ll show you. I got mine done first. Two days before the crash. After, the guys decided they would get the same design done to remember Gary by. Even Maddy has it inked somewhere.”
Slipping his T-shirt over his head, Jake moved round to stand beside Tom. When she saw the healed Celtic knot, Alice sighed, “Put your shirts back on.”
“Don’t be angry, sis,” said Tom, patting the dressing back into place. “This was important to me.”
“Fine,” muttered his sister. “It’s done now. Don’t let Dad see it. He’ll kill you. He detests tattoos.”
Cars were lining the driveway out at the farmhouse with several already parked in the front yard, including Kola’s Harley. Wishing he’d brought the truck, Jake carefully reversed Lori’s Mercedes onto the grass under the shade of a large oak tree. As they all climbed out of the car, they could hear music coming from the rear of the building. Taking Lori’s hand, Jake led them round to the back yard.
“Afternoon,” he called out loudly.
His fellow bandmates were already there, beers in hand, as were most of their road crew from Atlantic City. In the shade, Jethro was sitting contentedly on a rocking chair with Hayden on his knee.
“What’s up, Jake?” yelled Grey with a grin. “You’re not late!”
“Very funny.”
“Jake!” called Maddy from the French doors. “I’ve a young lady here looking for her favourite uncle.”
“Afternoon, boss,” he said as he strode towards the house. “Where’s my little Wren?”
“In the playpen,” answered Maddy, stepping aside. “You’re about the only person she’ll go to without screaming the place down.”
“I’m honoured.”
With Wren snuggled into his shoulder, Jake wandered back out to join the party. The baby eyed the other guests with suspicion, burying her face into Jake’s hair if anyone tried to talk to her. Both Paul and Maddy were busy playing at being the perfect hosts and, once everyone had arrived, including several people that neither Jake nor Lori recognised, Maddy called out shrilly, “Folks, can I have your attention for a moment?”
Soon all eyes were on her. Smiling over at Lori, Maddy said, “I got a call last night with two pieces of exciting “hot off the press” news. The first is that Jake here has been shortlisted as top new rock vocalist by MMR magazine.”
A cheer went up and Jake felt his face redden in embarrassment.
“The second news,” began Maddy, “is that Mz Hyde has also been shortlisted for her artwork on Dragon Song and for her zombie drain cover and for the last Weigh Station artwork.”
Another huge cheer went up as Lori stared at her friend in complete disbelief.
“Your invites will be in the mail but the award ceremony is in New York on September 25th,” finished Maddy, raising her glass. “To Jake and Lori!”
Chaos reigned over the party for the next half hour as everyone congratulated them both on their nominations. Eventually, Lori made her way over to Jake and wrapped her arms around him. Adjusting his hold on Wren, he put an arm around Lori and kissed her on the top of the head, “Congratulations, Mz Hyde.”
“Likewise, rock star,” she said with a giggle. “Guess we’d better dust off the glad rags.”
“Can’t I wear my jeans?” protested Jake.
“I doubt it,” replied Lori. “I’ve been to that ceremony as a guest before. It’s black tie. You may need to invest in a tux.”
“That’ll be the day,” muttered Jake, loathing the thought of wearing a tuxedo. It reminded him of his high school prom night and that had been an unmitigated disaster.
♫
Running his hand round the inside of his shirt collar, Jake viewed his reflection in the mirror. From her seat at the dressing table, Lori giggled.
“Glad you think this is funny, li’l lady,” he growled as he undid his black silk tie. “There’s no way I’m wearing that!”
“Relax, Jake. Stick the tie in your pocket for now.”
“Remind me why I had to wear a suit?”
“Invite states formal dress,” she replied, standing up and smoothing out the front of her dress. “That means a suit not jeans.”
“Now, you look stunning,” he complimented with a proud smile.
After a lot of debate between frocks, Lori had opted to wear a long, fitted black dress with a plunging neckline. It was more revealing than her usual choice but she had decided it was more appropriate for the occasion. The skirt of the dress was slit up to the thigh at the right hand side and, as she walked over to lift her bag and cane, Jake caught a glimpse of smooth sun-kissed skin.
“I’m losing the ponytail too,” he muttered, untying the leather cord at the nape of his neck.
“Just be yourself tonight,” soothed Lori, passing him the hairbrush.
“I’d be happier if I wasn’t performing,” he admitted as he dragged the brush through his long sun-bleached hair.
At the last minute, Weigh Station’s management had contacted Jake and requested that he perform Broken Bottle Empty Glass with Dan. Weigh Station were scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award and their three song performance was to be the finale for the evening. They had had time for one quick rehearsal at lunchtime but that was all that time had allowed.
“Time to go,” said Lori softly. “Show time.”
She had booked a limo to drive them across town to the Times Square hotel where the ceremony was being held. At first Jake had protested, but she had swiftly explained that it was expected.
As the limo pulled up outside the building, Jake took note of the crowds that were gathered behind the security barriers and also of the long, plush, red carpet.
“You never mentioned red carpet, Mz Hyde,” he hissed nervously.
“Sorry. Must have slipped my mind,” she replied with a mischievous wink. “Now remember, I need you to help me out of the car.”
A uniformed attendant opened the door before Jake could reply. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out to a barrage of flash bulbs and screaming fans. He turned and offered a steadying arm towards Lori then discretely shielded her from view with his body position until she was out of the car. He hovered beside her until she had positioned her cane and was ready to walk across to the open doorway at the far end of the crimson runway. Keeping a protective arm around her waist, Jake guided Lori into the foyer, followed by cheers from the Silver Lake fans among the crowd. Once inside, just out of sight of the public, a journalist from the magazine approached them.
“Good evening,” she purred. “MMR is delighted you could join us this evening.”
“Thanks,” smiled Lori. “It’s an honour.”
“And you’re both nominated for awards. I think that makes you our only celebrity couple where that’s happened,” commented the journalist. “And, Jake, how are you feeling about guesting with Weigh Station later on tonight?”
“Nervous,” confessed Jake, holding onto Lori a little tighter. “It’s an honour to be inv
ited to play with them. I’ve been a huge fan of theirs for a long time.”
“Speaking of fans, there’s a few of yours lined up outside. When can they expect something new from Silver Lake?”
“The new record comes out October 14th and we’re playing a few shows mid-November,” replied Jake.
“And, Mz Hyde,” continued the journalist, returning her attention to Lori. “Have you done the album cover for Silver Lake this time round?”
“Yes,” said Lori calmly. “But we’re keeping it under wraps a little longer.”
“You’ve received three nominations across two categories. Were you surprised?”
“Completely,” answered Lori honestly. “I only brought Mz Hyde back to life just over a year ago, so to be recognised for three covers in that space of time is just amazing.”
“Three diverse covers too,” commented the reporter. “I shouldn’t ask, but do you have a favourite?”
“No,” said Lori, shaking her head. “That’s like asking a mom to pick her favourite child.”
The journalist laughed politely, then spotting her next celebrity arriving out of the corner of her eye, said, “Thank you for your time. Good luck for tonight and, Jake, I’m looking forward to hearing more from you later on.”
“Thanks,” said Jake, guiding his fiancée towards the ballroom doorway.
A uniformed hostess greeted them at the door and led them through the maze of tables to one at the right hand side in front of the stage. The round table seated ten and another three couples were already chatting over a glass of champagne. Both of them recognised Tori from Molton and, to her right, Leo from When The Chips Are Down.
“Jake Power,” declared Tori loudly. “Looking hot as ever!”
Blushing, Jake replied, “Evening, Tori. You look stunning.”
“And Lori!” exclaimed the singer. “Love the dress!”
“Thanks, Tori,” said Lori, taking a seat. “Need to look the part.”
“Stunning as always,” complimented Leo, raising his glass towards her. “Have you found my axes yet?”
Impossible Depths (Silver Lake series Book 2) Page 33
