Page 16 of Perfect Pitch

Love you.

Mama:

Love you too.

Just as I’m about to put the phone to the side, it rings. I glance at the area code and notice it has 203 as the prefix. I’m debating letting it go to voicemail when something inside me whispers, answer. I drawl, “Hello?”

“Yes, is this DJ Kensington?” a crisp Southern voice inquires.

“Yes, this is she.” My heart begins beating frantically.

“I apologize for calling your personal number, Ms. Kensington,” the voice begins.

“Kensington,” I decide on the fly. “Just call me Kensington.”

“Very well. My name is Alison Freeman. I’m the general counsel and chief financial officer for Amaryllis Events. I’m hoping you’ve heard of us.”

“Heard of you? Ma’am, where I’m from, little girls start dreaming about wearing an Amaryllis wedding gown at birth. It’s the number one thing on anyone’s must-have list.”

Alison Freeman laughs in my ear. “Those might be some of my favorite words. Kensington, I’m calling because one of our brides is in a bit of a bind. A family friend happened to be at a retirement event you were playing at and was impressed. I don’t suppose you’d be available for a wedding Friday night?”

“Give me one minute to check my schedule.” Meanwhile I leap to my feet and jump up and down for the second time today. “I’m available. Is the wedding in the city?”

“In Connecticut—Greenwich, to be exact. Do you know it?”

“I do.” How I’m going to get there is another question.

But Alison relieves me of that concern immediately. “If you don’t have transportation, we can arrange that for you.”

“Yes, that will be necessary.”

“I thought that may be the case. So many New Yorkers don’t maintain cars in the city. I can only imagine how challenging that must be trying to transport equipment and such.”

“Incredibly considerate of you.”

A warm chuckle follows. “Trust me, we’re honored to have you accept. The bride was devastated when my sister had to call her to let her know the DJ she booked for her reception backed out.”

“That poor woman,” I empathize.

“Weddings are always a strain, which is why we at Amaryllis Events try to make them run as smoothly as possible. Now about your fee,” Alison drops a number that has me stunned silent. “That’s for five hours, not including your set up and take down time.”

“I’m sorry. Did you say twenty-five thousand dollars?” It takes everything in me to not screech the amount.

“That was the contracted amount the previous DJ had arranged with the bride. The bride said if we were able to obtain someone’s services at the last minute, she’d gladly pay the same amount.”

“She’s generous,” I choke out. “I accept.”

“Excellent. Do you have an email address I can send the contract to?”

I rattle off my newly created email address. I hear my laptop ping. Hopping off the bed, I find an email from Alison in my inbox. Reverently, I whisper, “This is really happening.”

The crisp voice on the other end softens. “It really is. And since the individual who heard you is a... music aficionado... himself, I’m just pleased we were able to establish a relationship with you now.”

I open the email and absentmindedly ask, “That’s the second time you’ve mentioned someone hearing me recently. Do you mind if I ask who it was?”

Alison pauses slightly before giving in. “I don’t suppose it will do any harm. You’re aware that retirement event was for the former CFO of Wildcard Records.”

“Yes.”

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