Page 18 of A Christmas Duet

“Don’t worry, not many have,” he said dismissively, like he would have been surprised if she had. “I left that band a couple years later and then joined another.”

“You’re currently in a band, then?”

He closed his eyes, as if this was the one question he wished she hadn’t asked. “I left when the band broke up.”

“I’m sorry. You must have been with the group for quite a few years.”

“It feels like we were together half my life,” he admitted, and rubbed the back of his neck as if to say it had been a difficult time.

“What happened?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Hailey regretted the question. “I apologize, I had no right to ask you that. Your reasons are personal; I didn’t mean to pry.”

He shook his head. “I don’t mind telling you. It wasn’t an amicable parting. Two of the band members walked out in the middle of a tour. Life on the road is never easy, and we got on each other’s nerves. Over the years I’ve slept in dozens of crappy hotels and eaten enough fast food to last me a lifetime. Being in a band was my dream, but it soon became a nightmare when tempers flared and no one seemed to be able to get along.

“Frankly, I think we’d all burned out. I refused to admit it until Trevor and Alex left. I needed time away to think and deal with the backlash of what happened. I went out on my own and have worked nearly nonstop as a producer for the last couple years. Between my fledgling company and the legal hassles with the breakup of the band, I was working myself into a mental breakdown.”

Hailey knew a producer was the one who put everything together, the musicians, the sound team. She also was aware that they were the ones who collected a large share of the royalties.

“Mom suggested I take a breather and come home for Christmas. It’s been years since I was in Podunk for the holidays, so I took her up on the offer. What I didn’t realize was that she was going to put me to work.”

Hailey grinned. Physical labor was probably exactly what he needed to put his mind at ease over the holidays. “Tell me about the company you started,” she said.

“I called it Cantor Music. Not exactly original, you could say. It’s had a small but growing amount of success in the indie market. Nothing big. I like to encourage fresh talent when I hear it.”

“You’ve certainly encouraged me.”

“Good, because from what I’ve heard up to this point, you’ve got talent.”

She smiled, enthused, and said, “Thank you.”

“I’m sincere, Hailey. Don’t give up on your dream. Toomany do and then live to regret it. There’s a price to pay with success, too. That was what being with the band taught me. Success is hard work, sacrifice, and staying true to yourself, which isn’t always easy.”

Hailey knew he was right. Her dream had already cost her the relationship she’d once treasured most. From the painful look in Jay’s eyes, she knew he’d had similar losses himself, including the relationship with the other band members. He breezed over that fact, but Hailey wasn’t fooled. The breakup of the band had deeply impacted him.

“When did all this happen with the band?” she asked.

“A while back, well over two years ago now, but it feels like yesterday.”

In essence, he was saying the pain of it was as sharp now as it was when it happened. That he’d confided in her, shared this pain, and trusted her deeply touched Hailey.

“Do you mind going back to your song a second time?” he asked, abruptly turning the subject away from himself.

“Not at all.”

“Play the first verse again.” He sat back, closed his eyes, and nodded approvingly as she sang.

Once again, she stopped where she had earlier.

“Do you mind if I give it a try?” he asked.

“Sure. Have at it.” She handed him her guitar. He accepted it with the ease and familiarity of a professional. Then he astonished her by playing back her song, note for note.

He ignored the surprise in her eyes. “Sing me the lyrics,” he said, deep in thought.

She complied.

Jay plucked a few notes, paused, and glanced up at Hailey.

“That’s it,” she said, excited by what she’d heard. “That’s exactly the lead-in I was hoping to create.”

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