Page 37 of Sunsets at the Beach House

As Sierra moved to the keyboard that was already set up in the studio, Jules shot Jesse a look through the glass window, mentally asking him what he thought about Sierra.

He shrugged and shook his head as if to say he had no idea.

Interesting. She worked for him at the club, after all. But, if she was a server, he’d have no idea about her musical abilities.

Sierra got the keyboard turned on, played a few keys to get the feel of it, then started right in. Jules recognized the music immediately. It was from Jules’s most popular album, a song called Midnight Memories, a simple tune about a woman thinking about her lost loves in the middle of the night.

Sierra not only played beautifully, but she had a clear, sweet voice with a soft, compelling vibrato.

Jules had only ever heard Midnight Memories sung by one other person, a woman on an electric guitar playing in a little club in Nashville. The woman had seen Jules in the audience and done it, but she’d given it a much quicker tempo, losing a lot of the soul of the piece, in Jules’s opinion.

Sierra sang it like she’d experienced that heartbreak herself. For a young woman, she had impressive emotional range.

When Sierra was through, Jules clapped, giving her the praise she’d earned. “Well done. That was impressive. Both the song and the keyboards. Where did you learn to sing and play like that?”

Sierra smiled. “Church. My dad is the associate pastor at Beach Life Church. I play in the praise band and sing, too.”

Jules nodded. “I could hear the gospel in your voice. Works well with a song like that. Have you heard the song we’re doing for the demo? Dixie’s Got Her Boots On?”

Sierra glanced at Cash before answering. “I have. Cash played it for me. I hope that’s okay.”

“It’s fine. Saves us some time. I’d be happy to have you sit in with us.”

“Really?” Sierra blinked, then a wide grin spread across her face. “Thank you so much. I love the song.”

“Thank you.”

Cash leaned in. “Told ya, Mom.”

“Yes, you did. I need to have more faith in you.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “It’s okay.”

“Why don’t you run through the song with her a few times? I need to talk to Jesse for a minute anyway.”

“Okay.”

Jules took her guitar off, set it in the stand, then slipped out and went into the control room.

Jesse looked like a kid in a candy shop, about as excited as she’d ever seen him.

“You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “You have no idea.”

She laughed. “I think I do.”

“I had no idea Sierra could sing or play.”

Jules nodded. “Thankfully, she’s pretty good.”

Strains of music filtered through the speakers in the control room as Cash played for Sierra. Jesse reached over and turned the volume down.

It occurred to Jules that this might be the exact right moment to ask him about joining her on tour. “I love how much you love music. I know I’ve said that before, but it’s worth repeating.”

He stood up. “It’s true. Music means a lot to me. But I think this experience means even more because it’s not just anyone in that studio. It’s you. I’ve always enjoyed your music, but getting to know you, getting to care about you, has been amazing. It’s made all of this so much more important.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I’m pretty glad Shiloh got loose from you that day on the beach.”

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