Linnie smiled, the first carefree smile she’d had in a very long time.
A Voice Like Honey
by
Becca Fanning
Nicole Warren’s hands hovered over her keyboard as she pondered on the right word to use to describe the album she was reviewing. For all the years she spent in English classes and all her experience writing, there was always that one word that would fit perfectly in her write-up. Finding it was like hunting an elk in the frozen tundra. You couldn’t blindly rush for it, because your mind would seal it off and it would be gone. You had to stalk it, tip-toe around it until it happened to fall into your lap.
She took her well worn pen into her mouth and sucked on the end. Her tongue found the little scratches and dents her teeth left in it. She noticed the small growing pile of empty yogurt containers on her desk. The plant in the window of her bedroom had seen better days, and there really were way too many dirty clothes on her floor for her to consider herself an independent adult. Ahh, the glorious life of the freelance writer. She didn’t recall any pictures of this scene in the San Diego School of Journalism brochures.
The album was a fairly typical college rock blast from the 90s, by kids who weren’t even old enough to be genuinely nostalgic about that period of time. It was derivative, but that was a cynic’s word. Nicole wasn’t a cynic. It had elements of passion that came through and it even took chances at times, so to call it derivative would be just as inaccurate as calling it flawless. And it definitely wasn’t flawless.
She let the thought run through her mind again. To think that she was almost done with the article. She was really eager to finish up on this one and move on to her personal project. In actuality, it was not an official project yet. She still had to submit it to the powers that be, but it was something she had her heart on for a very long time now.
She was going to start an interview series for those behind the success of the big stars. The idea had first come to her during an event. She had been standing beside someone she eventually found out was the manager of one of the new up and coming hip-hop stars. It struck her then that while everyone was obsessed with the stars, there were a lot of people behind the scenes who made their success happen. It was her duty as a music lover and reporter to bring people’s attention to things they previously overlooked.
Fortunately for her she had an editor who was beyond enthusiastic. The smile Josh gave her as soon as she spoke the words “interview series” told Nicole that she was in. He told her right then and there that he would take care of all the nitty gritty and that as soon as she was done with this album review, she could start working on the new project.
Nicole remembered being so excited that she left his office immediately without another word. She was going to finish this album review and then sink her teeth into something real. Not this four paragraph consumer report on a rock album that would never amount to anything. Something like real journalism. Then it hit her. It landed in her lap like a surprised elk that bumbled through the brush right into the hunter’s sights.
Authentic. That’s what the album was. Just because the band was born a decade later than they needed to be to grow up on Nirvana didn’t mean they couldn’t identify with those heavy guitar riffs. If nothing else, this was an authentic album.
She tapped at the keys of the keyboard some more and then brought the article to a close. She read through the piece one last time and saved it on her hard drive. She thought to email to Josh but decided against it. The walk to his office, little as it was, would do her some good. And there was also the fact that she wanted to see him personally about her new mission. She clicked ‘print’, got the papers out of the printer and headed on to her editor’s office.
She had a good feeling about today. She could feel it in her bones that it would be the start of something new and wonderful in her life and her career. She nodded at the colleagues she made eye contact with and greeted the few within earshot. On entering his office, he was on the phone. He had the wide-eyed, excited look he usually did when he just closed something big on his face. This was even better for her. She made herself comfortable on one of the chairs opposite his table and waited till he was done with his call.
“Hey Nicole, what’s up?” he said to her with a smile.
“Hello Josh.”
“How are you this fine day?” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Very well, thank you,” Nicole said, “You’re in a good mood. Ex-wife have an accident?” Nicole said, making air quotes with her fingers.
“Bah! I’ll never be lucky enough to outlive her. Got something for me?”
“I actually do. Geronimo’s album review,” she said and handed him the review. She folded her hands in her lap and waited for him to read through it. She watched him, trying to judge his mood. She was going to need his help to pull off this interview piece. She’ll need his Rolodex, his Facebook friends and even his little black book. His whole network of roadies, managers, gaffers, backup dancers and voice coaches.
“This is lovely as usual, Nik. Top notch stuff,” he said when he was done.
“Thank you. You know I always put my all into whatever I am working on,” she said, hoping her confidence would grease the wheels for this next project.
“I never have a doubt when it comes to your work, Nicole. When you came to me with this interview idea, I said to myself, ‘Self, she’s finally stepping up!’”
“Yes, about that. I am glad you are giving me the opportunity to speak for all these silent people in the industry. I’m moved that you trusted me enough to green light it without hearing the full pitch.” Nicole did her best to control herself, to keep it calm and professional. But she was about to get the nod to do a real journalism piece, not some magazine fluff.
“We’re on the same page, Nicole,” he said, nodding sagely. “I don’t have to listen to the pitch to know what you are going to say. I was sold the instant I heard ‘interview’ series. I always wanted to feature a series.”
“Great. So for the interviewee, I have in mind…”
“Ha! I’m way ahead of you! That’s who I was on the phone with just now, your first interview!” Josh's finger pointed at the phone, grinning like he’d just scored a touchdown at the big homecoming game.
“Really?”
“Yes. In fact, you would be spending time with them to cover their lives. That is the essence of the series, right?”
Nicole was dumbfounded. This was too good to be true. He had actually arranged it all. “It is. To cover their lives. To really get in there and, and…” she said, her mind racing so fast her mouth couldn’t catch up, “do it.”
“Good. Pack your bags. You’re going on tour with The Solid Oaks.”
Nicole stared at Josh. She cocked her head sideways and furrowed her brow. She tried to make sense of the last statement Josh made to her. She couldn’t have heard what she just did. How in the world did they get here? “Umm, what was that again?” she asked, the confused look still all over her face.
“Give me a story on The Solid Oaks. Country band out of Georgia. All brothers, can you believe it? At least I think they’re all brothers. They all seem to have the last name Dixon. I dunno. That’s your job! You’ve heard of them, right? What’s their song on the radio right now?”
“Dust Moon Rising,” Nicole said, staring off out Josh's window. The sunny morning had changed. Overcast and a strong wind was whipping against the tree branches outside.
“Yeah! That’s it! I mean, it’s not my cup of tea, but our readers will eat it up. Five handsome young country boys up on a stage with their cowboy hats and GEDs,” Josh said, holding up his hands in his defense, “or maybe they’re MIT graduates. I have no idea. Neither does anyone else. That’s why you’ve gotta get the scoop and get it now.”
“Yes. No. Wait, what?” Nicole sputtered. “This is not what we discussed!”
“Huh? You said interview series. Who better to interview-”
“Thi
s series is not for the stars!” Nicole said, her hand slapping down on Josh's desk. “It’s a series for those behind the success of the stars. I am talking producers, video directors, cinematographers, make-up artistes, and song writers. The people who never get written about.”
Josh looked at her levelly. “There’s a reason they’re not written about. There is no way I could agree to dedicate an entire segment to that. Come on. This is a music magazine for Pete’s sake. Our covers sell our magazines and you want us to have a cover with a fat neck-bearded man at an audio mixing station?”
“It’s something real, Josh. All these people who help and support these few stars. Without these people the stars wouldn’t be stars,” she said, rubbing her sore palm.
Josh's face softened. “Nik, people love the stars. Whether or not you are willing to accept it, they don’t care very much for other things. We don’t make the demand, we only give them what they demand.”
“That is where you are wrong. People do care about these people and if they don’t, it’s high time we made them. These people need to be recognized and celebrated,” she said, her righteous indignation already fading. She felt disappointed, but mostly she felt embarrassed.
“I run a music magazine here, not a peer reviewed journal.” Josh retorted and then he let the silence in the room build. “Look, we can’t keep going at this. We’ll discuss this when you get back from your tour with The Solid Oaks. Right now is too late to change any plans. Get me something good, something really juicy and I’ll see about this expose of yours.”
“I…” she started to say but he held his hand up shushing her.
“I’m not promising anything but we’ll see. Spend a week over there. That should be enough time to embed with them and get into their good graces. See the beginning of the tour, live a little with them, write.”
Nicole sighed. There was no use arguing about this. She had no choice but take this offer and hope that something good would come of it. Until then she could only hope. If she didn’t agree, Josh might as well had the project to someone else and she would lose everything. Better to endure. “Fine. I’ll do it. But I want to reopen talks the minute I get back.”
“We can see about that. Now note, I said ‘talk’. I didn’t say we have agreed on anything.”
“Fine. When am I expected?”
“I just got off the phone with the group’s manager. You’re due there tonight.”
“What?! A flight to Georgia? It’s almost noon!”
“We’re both excited about this and we don’t want anything delayed. This is good for us both. Their tour starts the day after tomorrow and I see no better opportunity to get all you need than this tour. You see them all the time, you live them, and you breathe same air. That translates into a feature that will move copies!”
It was one thing to be given a different assignment than you hoped. It was something altogether to be given it with zero notice. Here’s your assignment Nicole, now get on the plane! What if she had things to do? What if she was married with kids and needed to see to her family’s needs? Well that was it, right? He saw her as some single girl who would sacrifice everything for her work. Never mind that he was right: she couldn’t let him have this so easily. “You do realize that this means disrupting all my plans, right?” she said.
“I do and I appreciate all that you do.” He opened his drawer, got out an envelope and handed it to her. “Some petty cash to cover any expenses you might run into. Your ticket will be waiting for you at the airport.”
“I can’t believe I am agreeing to this. I haven’t even eaten yet,” she muttered under her breath. “Now I have to pack. Ugh!”
“No pouting, Nik,” Josh said, cracking a smile.
“Kiss my ass.”
“Tick-tock, young lady.”
“Fine!” she said, storming out of Josh's office.
She hailed a cab and got home in time for a quick shower and a rushed packing. She didn’t know what to expect on the tour so she did the exact opposite of what she did at work- packed everything that she felt was potentially useful. Her phone rang. It was Josh.
“Yeah?” she said into the phone.
“At the airport yet?”
“No. And I won’t make it in time if you keep calling me.”
“I’ve only called once and it’s a mobile phone. It doesn’t affect your walking. I’ll be texting you your pick-up’s number. Just in case you don’t see him the instant you land. But I doubt you’d have to search for him.”
“Thanks.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“Bye.”
Nicole stuffed her phone in her bag. This was no dream. It was really happening. She had to get grip of herself and quickly too. She dragged her suitcase out into the hall and locked her apartment door.
This tour had better be worth it.
The first thing that hit Nicole was that she had made terrible decisions when it came to the outfits she had packed. The only word that came to mind now that she was here was ‘cold’. She knew there was only so much the light sweater she had in her suitcase could do. She silently cursed Josh for not giving her enough time to prepare. If she did, she would have had enough time to google the climate conditions. She had never been to Dahlonega, GA in her whole life and as her tough luck would have it, the band decided to kick-off their tour at their origins. And their origins were deep in the Appalachian Mountains. High altitude and wind that could cut right through you. And that’s what it did as she waited in the semi-covered vestibule outside the airport terminal, waiting for her ride. If it is this cold by afternoon, it’s going to be brutal by night or even dawn!
She looked around again to see if there was anyone who even remotely looked like he was looking for someone. Nothing. She had been waiting for about thirty minutes now without any sign of the person that was to pick her up and she was beginning to get uncomfortable. One taxi pulled up and she started to walk towards it, but the driver got out and greeted a man who came out behind her. She got out her phone and dialed the number Josh had texted her. This was ridiculous.
The phone rang twice before it went to voicemail. She dialed the number again only to hit the machine straight up this time with an automated response that the phone was now off. Nicole felt anger rush up her spine. She couldn’t believe the audacity of this. He had ended the call and turned off his phone, whoever it was.
Another thirty minutes went by and there was still no sign of this person. She felt her blood boil over in spite of the cold. If they didn’t want her to do the interview, they could have just turned it down. She was cold and tired and still had no clear idea of what the days to come held for her. She watched as more people stomped out of the terminal and then dispersed, leaving her to wait. She didn’t want to call Josh, but she didn’t have any options. She whipped out her phone and called her boss. He answered on the third ring.
“Settling in well?” he answered right away.
“Oh yeah, it’s great. Did you know that airport security will give you the evil eye if you stand around outside their terminal too long? Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll get kidnapped by a hillbilly with no teeth.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” He sounded genuinely concerned. “Are you ok?”
“No one’s come to pick me up! Your guy is a no show. I’ve been waiting for an hour. My calls to him are going straight to voicemail. Phone’s off. ”
“Shit.”
“Is there anyone I can call? I’m cold and tired and kind of freaking out here. I don’t see a Starbucks. I don’t think they have Starbucks here, Josh!”
“Just relax. Sit tight. I’ll call Ben now. Just give me five minutes. Maybe less.”
“Who in the hell is Ben?”
“The group’s manager.”
“Just do something soon please? I have a real pretty mouth and that’s not a good thing to have here!”
“Hang in there. Don’t get into any strange vans or pickup trucks, no matter how much candy is offered.
” he said.
“Great. Thanks,” she replied and ended the call. She felt mentally drained already. To think that she hadn’t even started working yet. She sank onto a bench and felt the cold metal bite into her butt through her jeans. She felt her phone vibrate against her thigh and she hurriedly answered Josh's call.
“Someone will be with you soon,” he said.
“Someone? Like the someone who was supposed to meet up with me?” She sighed. “I’m sorry,” she added quickly. “I’m just very tired and cranky.”
“It’s alright. Ben is coming to get you himself this time.”
“Thanks a million, Josh.”
“You’re welcome. Call me when you are rested.”
“Did you say call you when I’m arrested?!”
Luke (BBW Country Music Bear Shifter Romance) (Bearly Saints Book 3) Page 62
