Page 44 of California Love Songs
Erin sensed Crystal’s hesitation and with kindness said, “Don’t worry, we’ll help her get ready. I’ll talk her through the interview process, give her some talking points. You help her get camera-ready. You know how to make a girl look her best for a party—it’s no different for a TV camera.”
“Where’s the interview?”
“Oh, it’s here. Roxy made sure of it. I get the feeling she’s pretty excited about getting behind the gates into Damien’s home.”
“Damien’s going to hate that.”
“He should have thought it through, then, before inviting a gorgeous young singer out here, even if it is only into his studio.”
Crystal smiled. Erin might be the nicest of Damien’s siblings, but she was still a sib. Together they headed to the studio, waited for Opal to take a break from feverishly trying to improve her new song, and took her inside the main house to get ready.
Crystal watched as Opal took in Damien’s impressive home. She was obviously trying to play it cool, but it was hard to do when the place was so beautiful. And vast! Crystal had always admired his place, how stylish it was without sacrificing comfort. She’d been in plenty of multimillion-dollar homes that felt sterile—minimal to a fault, or on the opposite end of the spectrum and stuffed full of gold and marble. Damien had chosen his furniture carefully, with plenty of midcentury pieces, and then offset the vintage look with glass and a huge collection of framed music posters. He kept all his awards and gold records locked away in a cabinet in his study. He wasn’t the type to show off his achievements. He simply focused on the next challenge.
And there she went again, daydreaming about Damien.
Bringing herself back down to earth, she turned to Opal. “I’m going to help you get ready. I’ve been planning events and weddings for ten years, and I’ve always believed I should be able to do every part of the business. Believe me when I tell you that I’m as good as any makeup artist out there.”
“It’s true,” Erin said. “A swipe of her makeup brush and she’ll make you feel like a Hollywood star.”
Opal looked less than impressed. “I’m so sorry. I know you’re both trying to help me figure this out, but I’m just not a makeup girl. I leave my hair to air dry. Sometimes I use a tinted lip balm. That’s about it.”
“Because that’s all you need,” Crystal said. “You’re naturally gorgeous. But being on camera is different. The lighting will wash you out. Your pretty features will get shiny. You need just a little bit of makeup to enhance what’s already there.”
Opal was silent. Erin squeezed her arm. “I know this is not what you signed up for when you took Damien’s offer of mentorship, but sadly, it’s all part of becoming successful. If I know my brother, he thinks you’re good enough to make the big time. So the sooner you get used to the limelight, the better.”
Opal still looked worried, but it was clear that Erin’s good sense was getting through. “Okay,” she said, turning to face Crystal. “I trust you guys.”
Opal had a small makeup bag in her luggage and some curling tongs, and while Erin went to fetch them, Crystal told Opal to take a seat at the kitchen counter. She switched on the overhead lights to simulate the rig the camera crew would bring with them, and asked Opal to close her eyes and try to relax. “Just imagine you’re on holiday and getting ready for a lovely dinner with your friends.”
Opal’s frown disappeared and her jaw softened. When Erin returned, Crystal got to work on Opal’s clear skin, sculpting and shading and making sure to powder anywhere that might look shiny under the lights. She added two coats of mascara to her long lashes and carefully lined her lids with a dark brown kohl, which would make her blue eyes sparkle on camera. A slick of rose-pink gloss and she pronounced Opal finished. Erin gave her a hand mirror.
Opal grinned. “Wow, I actually look good.”
Erin laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised. You’re a knockout, and Crystal is a professional.”
“You look like you, just a little polished,” Crystal said, and then asked Opal how she usually styled her hair for gigs. She followed her lead, making soft waves in Opal’s long, shiny hair.
As Crystal worked, Erin told Opal she’d take her through some practice questions that might be asked in the interview, and help to refine her answers. She also explained how to massage an interview question to squeeze in the message that Opal herself really wanted to give.
“It’s all about subtle redirection,” Erin said.
With her hair finished, Opal stood and did a little spin. “Should I change into something else? I have a couple of dresses with me.” After a quick discussion, Erin and Crystal decided that what Opal was wearing was perfect. She was dressed like somebody going into the studio to lay down some tracks, not show up for a fancy interview, and Crystal felt that would come across to people who were watching.
By the time two media vans rolled through the gates, they were as ready as they could be. Crystal only hoped their gamble would pay off.
But when she realized the top-rated national media show was going to film her practicing in Damien’s studio, Opal suddenly said, “I can’t do it. I’m not ready.”
Damien said, “I know it’s not ideal, but we’ll explain that you’re working on brand new material. That’s the whole point.”
“I’m so nervous. Don’t you ever get nervous?”
“Sure, I do. Just imagine you’re sitting in your favorite coffeehouse, singing to the regulars who come to hear you play.”
She snorted. “Easy for you to say. Who do you pretend you’re playing for if you get nervous?”
She obviously didn’t believe he ever suffered from nerves, but to everyone’s surprise, Damien said, “When I get nervous, looking out over a hundred thousand fans, I imagine I’m singing to Crystal.”
Chapter Twenty-One
