Page 55 of California Love Songs
He nodded, and then, when he should have let go of her hand, he held on. Everyone around him was watching the screen, so why deny himself the comfort?
Roxy Thanton began their segment by saying how much she’d wanted to interview Damien Davenport for years. And now, getting behind the gates and into the famously reclusive rocker’s music studio was one of the highlights of her career. She was fun and a little bit flirty about it. “You can imagine my surprise when Damien Davenport didn’t invite me to his house to promote his own record or his own career, but to help out a brand new musician on the scene. Oh, am I excited to share the music of Opal Dahlberg!”
The interview wasn’t long—five or six minutes—but by the end of it, all his fears were gone. Opal interviewed even better than he’d imagined, and the snippets they shot of her acoustic songs sounded incredible. Even in a short clip during the segment, the way they worked well together shone through.
When the piece was over, Arch muted the TV. “Damien, that was great. I’m no fortune teller, but I suspect that young woman is going to be the next big thing in music.”
He let out a huge sigh of relief. As the piece had ended, Crystal had slipped her hand out of his, and he wondered if she felt awkward showing public displays of affection in front of his family. They hadn’t yet talked about how to handle things with this loving but very nosy bunch.
“Damien,” Mila said, “we have to call Opal.”
Crystal agreed. “She probably doesn’t realize how big this is, how well she did.”
He was glad to be nudged. Grabbing his phone, he said, “I’ll do this in the kitchen.”
He called Opal and realized that Crystal was right. She sounded nervous. “It went pretty well, didn’t it?”
His smile was huge, even though she couldn’t see it. In response, he told her his brother’s prediction that she was going to be the next big thing in music.
“Archer Davenport said that? You mean, Archer Davenport watched me look nervous on national TV?”
He laughed. “Honestly, you didn’t look nervous at all. You were great.”
Instead of being as excited as he felt, in a small voice she said, “I’m not sure I’m ready. My music isn’t good enough yet. This is all happening so fast.”
“Don’t worry,” he soothed her. “You’re as good as you need to be, and getting better every day. That’s what this gig is about. Constant improvement. You’ve got all the talent in the world, a great work ethic, and you handled yourself really well in a stressful situation. I think things are about to get interesting.”
There was a small pause as Opal took in his encouragement. Finally she said, “I hope so.”
He got the feeling she was a little homesick. “How is it having your family and your boyfriend so far away?”
He heard a sigh on the other end of the phone. “It was hard. I know what I’m doing, and making music is the most important thing in my life. But I missed having the most special people in my life right here when it happened.”
“I know.” And he did. He thought about how he’d been able to reach over and hold Crystal’s hand while the interview was broadcast, how he’d been surrounded by the people he loved most in the world. He hadn’t had that privilege in a long, long time. Sure, it wasn’t his big break, but it was an important moment for him. His protégée was in the process of being discovered. He just hadn’t realized until the last couple of days how much of a responsibility he’d taken on.
“I’m going to give you a piece of advice, even though I try not to be big on advice. But here’s the thing that’s kept me sane for the last couple of decades in this crazy business. The people who love you now are the people who will be there for you when you’re so famous you don’t know who to trust. Even though it might seem like it sometimes, you’re not alone.”
“Thank you,” Opal said, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As he hung up, Damien reflected on just how much he owed Crystal. She’d been his friend and supporter from the beginning and now was so much more. He felt like the luckiest man in the world.
His mom came into the kitchen and gave him a hug. “You did great, sweetheart,” she said. “Opal’s lucky to have you as a mentor.” She stepped back and looked at him with a warmth that made Damien feel like a happy kid again. “I’m proud of you. It’s great you’re helping other people realize their dreams.”
Damien smiled. “I never realized how rewarding working on someone else’s music could be. I’m the lucky one.”
His mom smiled again and tucked a blonde curl behind one ear. “We’re going to order in some dinner. I’m sure I can get you something vegan.”
He shook his head and told her that he and Crystal were going out for dinner. He almost told her that they were headed to a jazz club. But he wasn’t ready to tell even his mom about the whole jazz thing, because it was too new, and he was too unsure.
His mom’s pretty blue eyes twinkled. “I couldn’t help but notice you were holding Crystal’s hand during the interview.” There was a pause, until she said softly, “Is anything going on there?”
He was so happy someone had actually asked him. “Mom, I’m not going to lie to you. Yeah, there’s something going on there. It’s really new, but it’s incredible.” He grinned from ear to ear and then added, “Please don’t say anything to anyone else.”
She patted his cheek as if he were three years old. “You know I’m not one to betray confidences in this family. I’ve known Crystal a long, long time, and over the years I’ve watched you two together. I think she could be really good for you.”
He loved that he had his mom’s seal of approval. Not that he needed it at his age, but it was still nice to have. “Look, while we’re alone, can I ask you something?”
“Of course, honey.”
