“News? What are…hold on,” Ian ordered, only slightly calmer now as he turned to face Lily. “Sweetheart, please call Meggie. Tell her it was Seamus and he’s okay.”
Nodding, Lily dialed her own phone on her way to the kitchen to give them a bit more privacy. “Now tell me what’s happened,” Ian said, forcing himself to relax back against the couch.
“I…em…kinda…blacked out,” James admitted then added in a rush, “but they checked me out at the hospital and I’m okay. They’re not sure what caused it, but they did a whole slew of tests and released me. Told me to take it easy the rest of the day, and I’d be fine by tomorrow.”
Ian sighed heavily. “You’re sure?” he asked again.
“I am, really,” James assured him. “I’m tired, though; it’s been one hell of a day. They gave me some pills to help me get some sleep tonight.”
“You’ve not been sleeping well for a while now,” Ian observed quietly. “Seamus…this is killing you, slow but surely. You’ve got to take a break.” He drew in a deep breath. “I’m worried for you, dearthairin mo chroi.”
“I’m going to have time off, very soon. Right now, though, I’m going to call Beth so she can fuss over me a bit, then I’m heading for…wait, she’s calling me. I’ll catch up with you later.” He paused. “I love you, Ian,” he said before the line went dead.
Lily came back in, giving Ian a concerned frown. “What was that all about?” she asked, taking a seat next to him.
“Naught much to talk about,” he said, keeping his tone nonchalant. “Seems that Seamus collapsed for reasons unknown and they had to rush him off to the hospital. He says they did tests and sent him home and now he’s just grand.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “Do you think he’s telling the truth?”
“Not a chance.” Ian sighed.
* * * *
Having seen the story of James’s collapse on CNN, Beth was in full panic mode. “Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked over and over.
He reassured her as best he could and with a huge yawn announced that he was heading off to bed. “I love you, darlin’,” he murmured as he hung up the phone.
Dearthairin mo chroi, Ian had called him. Little brother of my heart. James’s eyes misted over at the uncharacteristic endearment. He lay in bed for at least an hour, thinking of what the doctor had said. General anxiety disorder, what the hell is that really? If they wanted to do something to help, they’d make the fucking dreams stop. He shivered at the thought of another night of waking up in a cold sweat, his heart pounding at the unknown dark threat looming over him.
His eyes wandered over to the nightstand, the plastic bottle of sleeping pills untouched. “Just this once,” he promised himself, swallowing one before he could change his mind. Sighing heavily, he rolled over and punched the pillow. He just needed to sleep. Conjuring up an image of Beth’s smiling face on the pillow next to him, he drifted off into a drugged and dreamless sleep.
By the time James awoke the following morning, he did feel much better. After a quick shower, he headed out in search of food. He stepped into the hallway, sniffed the air then set off at a trot. Rounding the corner he ran into Spider, just coming back from his own breakfast. “You’re looking better than when I saw you last.” Spider nodded.
“Feeling better too, no doubt,” James agreed.
“Take care of yourself,” Spider said. He reached out as James moved past, grabbing his arm. “Seriously, man. Take care of yourself.”
Calvary. Images of the Old West came flooding to his mind at the casual touch. James gave his friend a warm smile and patted him on the shoulder. “I will. Thanks, Spider.”
Spider gave a satisfied grunt at that and continued on down the hall. James resumed his mission of trailing the heavenly smells wafting from the nearby hospitality room. He made a beeline for the steam table and commandeered a plateful of scrambled eggs, sausage, and what he hoped was some sort of fried potato. Grabbing a couple crescent rolls and licking his lips in anticipation, he turned to take a seat but froze when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Talk to you a minute?” Aaron asked.
James stared down at the hand until its owner noticed the pointed look and jerked it away. With a tight nod, he sat down at a nearby table and hunched over his plate. “What’s on your mind, Aaron?” he said, wolfing down his food in huge bites.
Obviously uncomfortable, Aaron took the seat next to him and sat fidgeting in his chair. “I just…ah…wanted to see how you were feeling,” he offered.
Like you care, James thought sarcastically. “Grand, thanks. Much better. I’ll be fired up and raring to go tonight. Is that what you’re looking for?”
Aaron blanched watching the singer inhale his breakfast. “Jesus, slow down before you choke,” he scolded, “Nobody’s going to take it away from you.”
“I’m hungry,” he snapped. “A glucose drip isn’t much of a dinner.” His eyes narrowed to slits, gaze fixed on the older man. “What do you want, Aaron? Come to spring the news about the compilation tour on me? You’re too late. No break after this tour? You’re too late for that too. Anything else you want to pile on me today? No?” He threw his napkin down and stood. “Then we’ve naught much to talk about.”
Aaron opened his mouth to speak but he wisely snapped it shut. James snorted with derision. Turning on his heel, he stalked from the table and out of the room, slamming past Dante who jumped to get out of his way.
James fulfilled his obligations for the day without a hitch and that night kicked ass and took names at the hastily rescheduled Seattle show. The band played an extra long show to kiss and make up and the fans were happy to forgive. On the way back to the hotel, James stared off through the limo window, not uttering a single word. He nearly made it all the way to his room before Aaron accosted him in the hallway. “Great show tonight, boyo,” he chortled. “Going to change?”
“Something like that,” James muttered, swiping his keycard.
“The cars will be back around in about an hour,” Aaron rambled on, “someone will be up to get you. You’ll have plenty of–”
“I’m not going to the party,” James said softly. “I’m going to take a shower, call my girl, and go to bed, in that order.”
“But I’ve already alerted the media you’ll be there,” Aaron blustered. “You made the news last night. Everyone’s going to want to see you. I told them you’d be there.”
“Sucks being you, then. Good night, Aaron.”
“Don’t be stupid. This is a great opportunity for press. Go shower and change, and I’ll see you downstairs.” The manager turned and started down the hall for his own room.
“I’m. Not. Going,” James repeated in a low growl.
Aaron looked back over his shoulder and opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“Something you wanted to say?” James mocked. They stared at each other in a long uncomfortable silence before James pushed his room door open. “Didn’t think so. G’night, Aaron.” He slammed the door behind him and the definite snick as it locked echoed down the hall.
Although Beth put on a brave face when he broke the news of the upcoming support tour, he could feel her sadness from three thousand miles away. I’m done with it, he thought, climbing into bed. I’m done taking orders, I’m done going to parties and making nice to people who’d stab me in the back soon as look at me. He pulled the covers up to his chin and curled into a tight ball. “You were right, Da,” he whispered into the darkness. He lay motionless, trying to breathe normally and relax, but it was a long time before sleep finally claimed him.
The new tour launched with a one-day break between the last date of the old and the first date of the new, that day being spent in travel. The band members wandered lost in their collective thoughts as they lounged in the main cabin of the plane. “Whose bright idea was it to put back to back shows on opposite sides of the US?” Bryce sulked aloud, breaking the tense silence. “This is a big fucking country
.”
James stirred in his window seat. “Who the hell knows?” he mumbled, never breaking his sightless stare into the cloudy skies over the Midwest. His chest tightened again and closing his eyes, he began humming to relax. The hum turned into a very soft song, inaudible even to those closest to him.
And I would walk a thousand miles, o’er rolling hill, through darkened street
For one of my dear lady’s smiles, and just a taste from her lips so sweet…
* * * *
Beth dragged her groceries up the stairs, making the conscious effort to tighten her gluts for the added workout. She dropped the heavy bags unceremoniously on the kitchen floor and stretched her cramped fingers. Searching for the frozen stuff first she began to hum, then broke into song while she put everything away.
Her face, the sun to light my day; her eyes, the stars to light my night
Her laugh, it calls my heart to play; her touch, it sets my world aright
Pausing in mid breath, she closed her eyes to see if she could seek him out. She envisioned him staring out a window, but couldn’t quite tell where he was. All she could focus on was the sad look on his face. “We’ll just see about that,” she sniffed, grabbing her phone.
* * * *
James jerked back to reality when the phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, gazing wistfully at the wallpaper of Beth in her bridesmaid’s dress, lit by the last torch of the night.
thinking of you–smile, her text read.
Sighing heavily, he replied.
thinking of you too–wish I was there with you
When his phone rang a moment later he forced a smile to answer it. “Hey, sweet darlin’,” he said softly.
“Hello yourself,” she said. “I got this strange idea that you needed cheering up, so I’m reporting for duty. How are you feeling? Where are you?”
“Fine and lost somewhere in a cloudbank,” he answered. “How and where are you?”
“Home and I’d be a whole lot better if you were here,” she said. “My bed is too soft. I’d much rather fall asleep on you, lumpy man.”
He purred into the phone, instantly aroused at her words. “There you go teasing me again. What have I told you about that, ye wicked wee thing?”
“To keep doing it?” she cooed.
He chuckled. “Yeah, that was it.” They continued to talk until the captain came on and told everyone to turn off their electronic devices. “We’re landing in just a minute, mo chroi, so I’ve got to go,” he said. “Thanks for calling. Hearing your sweet voice is the best pick me up I’ve had all day. Wanna know what part of me it picked up?”
“I bet I can guess,” Beth giggled.
Ian and…soup? Jaysus, this is getting weird. He blinked to clear the sudden vision. “I’ll see you tonight,” he promised, his voice more serious.
“You better - I’m holding you to it, Irish,”
* * * *
The show in Tallahassee went off without a hitch. In spite of the persisting pains in his chest, James pulled off an amazing performance. The band took numerous encores to thunderous applause before heading back to the hotel just after eleven.
Bryce clapped James on the back in celebration as they rode up to their floor in the elevator. “Man, you were the biz tonight. You heading out for the after party?”
“Thanks,” James said, “but no. The show beat the shit out of me. I’m calling it a night.”
The band exchanged a concerned glance at one another and nodded. “Get some rest, man. Can’t have you falling out again,” Bryce said.
When the doors slid open, the elevator was immediately flooded with a pack of groupies that had made it past the lax security. James recoiled as they shoved their way in, pressing himself against the wall. One rabid fan wasted no time going straight for the gold. He grabbed the offending hand and thrust it away, only to have another appear in its place and two more grabbing at his ass. He gasped, struggling to stay on his feet and push his way through the crowd of squealing women.
Their career ending chat interrupted by the commotion, several beefy security guards came running. Realizing James’s plight, one of them muscled the girls aside to grab him by the arm and pull him free. “This way, Mr. Kelly,” the man said, yelling at the girls to stay back while the other guards rescued the rest of the band.
Security escorted James the rest of the way to his room. Once inside the darkened room, he leaned back against the door trembling. His breaths came in shallow pants, a light sheen of sweat covering his body. He sank to his knees and clutched at his chest. Hurts…and his world once again pitched into darkness as he collapsed to the floor.
When he awoke some time later face down on the carpet, it took a few minutes to get his bearings. He felt around for the phone that had fallen out of his pocket. When his hand closed around it he pressed two on speed dial, determined not to succumb to the burning and stinging in his eyes and throat.
17
Just after midnight, Lily was readying for bed when she heard Ian’s phone ring from somewhere in the living room. Realizing he had forgotten to put it on the charger, she went in search of it. Ian had gone to bed unusually early after giving her the assurance that it wasn’t her cooking that had made his stomach queasy. “He’s not been feeling well all day,” she fretted to Bella, who trotted along at her heels in hopes of a late treat. “I hope he’s not coming down with something.”
She found the phone next to his sketchpad on the coffee table and answered it. “Hiya, brother dear,” she chirped. She listened for a moment then took off for the bedroom at a dead run. “Wait…hold on,” she cried, giving Ian a hard shake to rouse him.
He jerked awake with a protest on his lips, but it died immediately as soon as he saw her face. “Wh….what’s wrong?” he gasped.
Lily held out the phone. “It’s James,” she whispered. “I can’t make out what he’s saying, but he’s asking for you.”
Ian bolted upright and grabbed the phone. “Seamus?” he asked cautiously. By the light pouring into the darkened bedroom from the hall, Lily saw all the blood had drained from his face.
“Where are you?” he asked and paused to listen. “Right. Take a deep breath. Tell me wha…please, I can’t understand…oh, Seamus.” He squeezed his eyes shut, a muscle leaping in his jaw. “Stay where you are. I’m coming.” He jumped up from the bed and flicked on the overhead light on his way to the closet. “Seamus, it’s all right now.” His voice was gentle and soothing. “I’m on my way.” He listened for another moment and whispered, “I love you too” as the call ended.
Lily watched transfixed as Ian sprang into action. Muttering under his breath in a strange mixture of Irish and English, he yanked on faded jeans and a dark t-shirt and flipped through his contact list on his phone. Making his selection, he dialed and waited. It rang three times, then four. There was a click and a gruff masculine voice came on the line. “Don’t you have clocks in your house, lad?”
“Sully! Sorry to be calling you so late, but I am in serious need of your help. I’ve got to get to Tallahassee ten minutes ago. I’m needin’ a plane.” The men talked for a moment while Ian dug around the floor of the closet. “Tampa Executive Airport. Thirty minutes. I’ll be there,” he said, hanging up. Running through his contact list again, he made one last call, cradling the phone against his shoulder while he tugged his boots on.
“Spider, this is Ian Kelly,” he said, his voice deepening. He listened only a moment before he interrupted. “No, I’m fine. Listen. Seamus just called. He’s been out cold in his room for who the hell knows how long. I’m on my way now and I’m taking him home. We’re done. It’s over. I’m leaving within the hour; I’ll be there in less than two. I need you to clear a path to him for me or else I do it when I get there, but if I do it, you’ve my word it’ll be mighty fucking ugly.”
He paused for a moment. “I owe you. Please…stay with him until I can get there. I’ll call you when we land.” He listened again and uttered a hear
tfelt “Thank you,” before hanging up.
Lily’s blood froze in her veins at the grim visage of her husband. “My turn now,” she jumped in. “Tell me what’s going on.”
Ian sighed and tied his hair back with a long strip of leather. “Seamus has been lying on his room floor unconscious. He was…” his voice broke. “I’m going to get him and I’m bringing him here. Is the guest room made up?”
“I’m going with you,” she said firmly.
“No, you’re not,” he said, just as firmly. “Seamus is not doing at all well, my sweetheart, and…he’s, ah…he doesn’t…”
Ian continued to flounder around until Lily rescued him. “He doesn’t want anyone to see him like he is right now,” she said, giving his shoulder a quick squeeze in understanding. “I’ll get his room ready.”
“Would you call Meg, tell her to let the family know? And Dr. Thorne. He’ll want to check him over, I would think. And, oh, Christ, Beth. You have to call Beth and let her know that–”
Lily put a hand up to interrupt. “I’ll handle it. Go,” she said, pushing him toward the door. “Keep me posted and be careful. It might not be that easy getting him out of there.”
Ian smiled, but there was no humor in it. “I can be very persuasive,” he said, a dark edge to his voice. A quick hug and he stepped into the elevator, blowing her a kiss as the doors closed. With a sense of purpose and a firm set to her shoulders, Lily went back inside to circle the wagons.
* * * *
James sat on his bed in the dimly lit room, hands clasped and forearms balanced on his thighs. He stared anxiously at the clock, willing it to move faster.
“Watched pots don’t boil, my grandma always said. So tell me more about your girlfriend,” Spider invited, taking a seat at the table.
“She’s great. I guess I’ll be seeing her soon…” he said, looking at the clock again.
“He’ll be here,” Spider assured him. “You know all hell is going to break loose in the morning when Aaron finds out you’re gone.”
The Gypsy Ribbon Page 22
