Page 80 of Sunsets at the Beach House

“Thanks.”

From there they went straight to the studio. Jesse opened the door to the control room. Through the glass window, Jules could see Sierra, Bobby, and Rita. They were all fiddling around with their instruments, tuning up, and getting ready.

Jules tucked her purse onto a shelf near the control panel where she knew Jesse would be able to keep an eye on it.

Jesse opened the studio door, and all eyes were on her. He introduced her. “Ladies and gentleman, I give you Julia Bloom.”

Sierra gave a little wave from where she was standing at the keyboard, but Bobby and Rita got up. Bobby stuck his hand out first. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Big fan.”

“Thank you. It’s my pleasure to meet you and, please, call me Jules.”

“And you can call me Bobby.”

Rita was next. “It’s a real honor to be here.”

“It’s a real honor to have you both be a part of this. As I’m sure Jesse explained, my son Cash will be playing rhythm guitar and also singing background but he’s helping his cousin move today. He’ll be back tomorrow. The day after that, we’re hoping to record the demo of Dixie’s Got Her Boots On, so we have a lot of work to do.”

Bobby nodded. “We’re ready to do it.”

“All right, then. Let’s get started.” Jules sat down, got herself and her guitar situated, then glanced at her fellow musicians. “Sierra, if you’re ready, I was thinking you and I could play the song through one time in full, then we’ll teach it to Bobby and Rita.”

“Okay,” Sierra said. “You still want me on the bridge?”

“You bet I do.” Jules began to play, the song coming to her as naturally as any of her other tunes now.

At the end of the performance, Rita clapped. “I can’t believe I get to play on this song. I already love it!” She looked at Bobby. “Holy crap, we’re going to be a hit.”

Jules laughed.

Bobby already had his fiddle on his shoulder. “I’m ready to go. Might take me a run through or two, but I’ll get it.”

“I have every faith in you.”

He did get it, too. So did Rita. On the third rendition, they sounded pretty close to perfect to Jules. Having the extra musicians was already bringing the song to life in new ways.

Half an hour later, Nina and Arlo showed up. Nina quickly explained she’d had to have her car towed, then they’d gotten an Uber. “It won’t happen again.”

“No one can predict car trouble,” Jules said. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Nina and Arlo picked up the song just as quickly, and Arlo’s tenor was a welcome addition to the background vocals on the bridge. When Cash rejoined them, Jules had every faith it was going to be incredible.

An hour after their arrival and Jules was thrilled with the results. She stood up to stretch. “You guys are as good as Jesse said you were.” That got her all kinds of smiles. “Let’s take a lunch break and be back here in an hour or so. If that works?”

Jesse spoke through the intercom. “I had one of the chefs come in early, so there’s lunch available here today. Any sandwich or salad on the menu is available. Just let him know what you want, because there aren’t any servers.”

“Thanks, boss,” Jules said with a wink that was just for him.

He grinned. “Jules, I’ve ordered lunch for us in my office so we can discuss a few other things.”

She put her guitar aside, not entirely sure what he wanted to discuss but ready for the break. “I’m on my way.” She looked at the musicians around her. “You guys were incredible. I mean that. This demo means a lot and I am thrilled to have such a great-sounding group backing me up.”

The response was lots of nods and thank yous and appreciative smiles. She made her way out to the control room, grabbed her purse off the shelf, then walked with Jesse to his office. “Did you really order lunch? Because if it’s already been delivered, Toby may have eaten it.”

Jesse laughed. “I did, but I told him not to bring it until I phoned, which I’ll do when I get in there.”

He unlocked the door. Toby was asleep on the couch in the same spot. One ear was flipped over backwards.

Jules snorted. “That dog can sleep anywhere.”

---