Page 22 of Sunsets at the Beach House

Roxie called Fresh Vines again.

Kim answered, just like she had the first time.

“Hi, Kim, it’s Roxie. Just showed my mom the pictures and she loves the cotton clouds. We both do. There’s one thing we’d like to add, if possible. An arch of those same roses. Something that my mom and her fiancé can stand in front of during the ceremony. Do you know what I’m talking about?”

“Sure, we do those all the time for weddings. Especially beach weddings.”

“So you have an arch we can borrow or rent or however that works?”

“We do. And you want that whole thing covered in the cotton cloud roses?”

“Yes. With greenery, too, or whatever you normally do. My mom would like some petals to scatter around the ceremony site, as well. Is that something you can provide us with?”

“Absolutely. Give me a little time to talk to our supplier and price this out and I’ll get back to you in maybe an hour or two? Then, if you’re happy, I can take a verbal approval and a credit card deposit, and we’ll get started. I’ll need the address of the venue, as well.”

“Sounds good. I look forward to hearing from you.” Roxie hung up and looked at her mom. “Well, I think we’ve got flowers. Now we just need someone to marry you and someone to make the food and we’ll be just about there.”

Jules sat on the porch, staring out at the water, sipping her much-needed cup of coffee. She hadn’t slept so late in a long time, but she and Cash had been up until almost one a.m. practicing Dixie’s Got Her Boots On and working on a new song that Cash had been noodling around with, a song he called Bayou Moon.

It was a sweet, rolling tune about falling in love and being so smitten with the object of that love that you couldn’t see their faults. Jules loved the song and after tweaking some of the lyrics, had decided it was perfect for the album.

Which was now really coming together, something she was very thankful for.

She should really go in and get her day started, but the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze had lulled her into an almost trancelike state. If not for the fact that she was just about out of coffee, she might have stayed longer.

Reluctantly, she got up and went inside. Cash was in the kitchen, getting himself some coffee.

“Morning.”

He turned. “Morning, Mom. I know we’re supposed to go practice in the studio today, but I haven’t showered yet or anything.”

“No worries, neither have I.” She stood by while he finished getting his coffee. “I was thinking about your new song. I really like it.”

“Your new song.”

“You did most of the work on it.” She smiled. “Our new song. How about that?”

He nodded. “Cool with me. Can I get like an hour before we go?”

“That sounds fine.”

He moved away from the coffeemaker but didn’t head back upstairs like she expected. “So, um, Mom. Would you mind if Sierra sat in with us today?”

Jules picked up the carafe to refill her cup. She hadn’t expected that. “Sat in with us? In what way?”

He shrugged. “You know, like played the keyboard. Maybe sing a little backup on some of the songs.”

Jules gave him a look. “You already told her she could come, didn’t you?”

“I might have kind of mentioned it. But she’s good, I swear. I know how important your music is. I would never have brought it up if I didn’t think she was worthy of being there. Okay, in truth, I have no idea about her keyboard skills. But I’ve heard her sing, and she would be great on backups.”

Jules filled her cup, then put the carafe back. “Okay. I trust you. I am giving you an associate producer credit on this album, so that means I have to actually let you associate produce. But if I don’t think she’s right for the album, I get final say.”

He grinned. “Absolutely, you get the last word. Thanks, Mom. You’re really going to like her.”

“I hope so. Now, I’d better get in the shower.”

“Yeah, me, too. See you back here in an hour.”

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