Page 10 of The Ties that Bind
I considered. Actually, that was a pretty good idea. We still had the problem with coordinating that, though. And that would mean Al and I would probably be with the band and socializing at opposite times.
This was Maggie’s wedding, and she and Marty came before anyone else, of course, but I was still looking forward to spending time with Al during the reception. “It could work,” I conceded unwillingly. “Let’s give it some more thought, though. I’d rather figure something else out.”
“Sure. Maybe some of the boys will have ideas. And you still need to meet Jonah.”
The new drummer had flown into Miami a few days ago to become better acquainted with the band and practice with them. I hadn’t had a chance to meet him yet, but Al had talked about him often when we stayed up late into the night, talking about this and that and how much we missed each other. Jonah was fitting in well with the group, and he appreciated and enjoyed both our old and new music, unlike the old drummer who had abandoned the band when the other members agreed to try a new sound for the new album.
“Right now?” I asked, realizing that we were headed in the direction of Al’s massive mansion, which also served as a sort of headquarters for the band.
“I figured it would be best for us to stay in the house since we’ll be practicing and working on the wedding music so much.” Al stopped at a stop sign and swung his head to the side to give me a full-effect wink. “Not that we can’t go to the condo if we need a little more privacy for any reason… Any reason at all.”
“In case we want to…” I let Al hang on my words for a moment. “Work on songs by ourselves?”
“Not exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking something a little more…curvy. Sexy,” he mused, rubbing his chin as though looking for the right word and waiting for me to supply it.
“Hm. I’m not sure if those lyrics would work well in songs for the wedding. You might want to write them down and put them on the back burner.” I grinned fiercely, relishing my triumph as Al finally gave up and dropped his suggestive attitude and turned his eyes back to the road. “We’ve got to think about Marty and Maggie right now. And I need to figure out this music problem.”
“I know. But why can’t we have a little fun in between figuring things out and practicing? We could have sex… make love… anything and anywhere you want…”
Impossible. Insatiable. I could only shake my head. Luckily, we had just turned into the driveway so I could hop out of the car while Al had to stay behind and finish unloading the trunk. I grabbed a bag, left the other one for Al and headed inside.
The next few minutes were filled with “hi”s and greetings as the band members welcomed back their new pianist. I spotted a new face behind the guys I knew and introduced myself. “I’m Abigail,” I said, shaking his hand. He had a very, very firm grip, but I shouldn’t have been surprised to feel that from a drummer.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jonah. I’ve heard a lot about you…. Can’t wait to see if you’re as good as this big guy’s been telling everyone.” Jonah clapped Al on the shoulder just as he walked in.
“Lies. All of it lies,” Al said promptly. But he winked at me when Jonah turned away, and warmth spread through my heart to know that Al would give me such high praise without ever expecting I would hear it.
I chatted some more with the guys in the band, but my phone rang not ten minutes after walking into the house. “Hold on,” I told Jonah, stepping outside. The number was unknown, but it had a New Orleans area code. “Hello?”
“Hi, Abigail? This is Lily Etienne, Zoe’s mother?”
“Oh, hi, Mrs. Etienne! Sorry, I didn’t recognize your voice!” I hadn’t seen Zoe’s mother in quite a while. I had been to Zoe’s house a few times, but the last couple of semesters at Tulane had just been so busy for us all.
“Don’t worry about it! I had an idea for Maggie’s wedding, and I wanted to talk to you about it.”
“What is it?” I asked, wondering what on Earth it could possibly be that Mrs. Etienne would need to call me.
“Zoe was telling me that Vaporized is playing at the wedding and reception… Congratulations, by the way. Playing in a famous rock band is something most people only dream about.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is really a dream come true… in a kind of a weird way.”
“I was worried, though, that the band might have to play so much that you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the reception. And you are a bridesmaid.”
“Really, you read my mind. I was wondering how to work that out too… with Al and the band.”
“I think I have the answer, Abigail… I was thinking, what if I hired a jazz ensemble to play as well? Vaporized could take the stage as much as you wanted, and the jazz ensemble could play whatever time you feel like taking breaks or spending time with the wedding guests.”
I stood there in the warm Miami sun, a little stunned. Here I had been thinking about this problem all day, and Zoe’s mom had already thought of it and found a solution. “Wow, Mrs. Etienne, that would be amazing! I really was worried about that,” I admitted. “I want to play, but I also want to spend time with Maggie and Zoe. Having a jazz band there would be the perfect solution!”
“That’s great, Dear,” Mrs. Etienne said enthusiastically. “I’ll make the arrangements asap. I’m so glad I could do something to help out. It feels like everyone else is so busy, and I wanted to do my part.”
“Thank you so much!” My heart bubbled over, and I couldn’t wait to tell Al.
“It really is nothing at all. I want to do this for Maggie. I think it’s best we don’t tell her right away. If I know that girl, she’ll tell me not to hire the ensemble just to save money.” We laughed about the truth of that for a moment, then Mrs. Etienne hung up.
I stood there, my phone still raised a couple inches from my ear until Al came out of the house. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
“That was Zoe’s mom. She’s going to hire a jazz ensemble to play some of the time so Vaporized can enjoy the party.” I hadn’t sent up a single prayer, but they had been answered anyway.
