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I shook my head. What did he think this had been? “You have talent. The rest will follow. Tuesday night is a shit night for gigs, but I’m doing you a favor. You’ll get a little cash and gain a lot of experience.”
“But—”
I waved a hand, cutting Kyle off. “It’s not up for debate. I’m not letting you waste your talent like your father did.”
Like they all did. ABCR had been so close to making it.
Kyle’s gaze hardened and he lifted his chin. “I’m not my father. I’ll do my best to be here.”
“Not good enough.” I wagged my finger at him. My sweet niece was the heart of their group. To me, it seemed obvious he was the leader. “Say you’ll make it happen and be here Tuesday nights.”
“All right, it’ll happen,” he said firmly. “I’ll be here. I’ll make sure we all will.”
I grinned. “Come hell or high water.”
I pushed it, feeling like I had to. I didn’t want them to go wrong, either with their relationships or as a band. If I could help them in any way, I was going to do it.
“Whatever you have to do. This isn’t just a chance for you and your uncle.” Pausing, I stared pointedly at Kyle. He was born and raised in Southside. He knew chances were as rare as happy endings. “It’s a chance for my niece too.”
Addy
Later that night, Footit’s Place was hopping, which was unusual for early in the week.
I was doing the bartender dance back and forth between customers waving credit cards or cash. The place was so busy, I’d called in an additional bartender.
Vaguely, I registered Claire. Across the crowded width of the space, she sat on the edge of the stage with Kyle beside her.
My thoughts in a whirl after all that had occurred, I managed to serve my customers without screwing everything up, only because I’d been doing this job so long I could do it in my sleep. Which was a good thing with Barry taking up so much of my head space.
Why had he come by? What did that glint in his eyes mean? It didn’t seem like he wanted to be just friends again.
A song came on over the sound system, a service I used for nights bands didn’t play. The current song was one I hadn’t heard before or maybe I had, but it had never registered with me. The acoustic guitar chords were compelling. Ditto on the tinkling piano. The drums were steady.
Oh, how my heart yearned for days past. The style of music reminded me of ABCR with Rachel on keyboards.
My body swayed to the melody without even consciously thinking about it as I slid along the length of the bar, serving patrons. The song did something that hadn’t happened to me in a long time.
It made mefeel.
I thought hard, trying to recall if I’d heard the artist singing the lyrics. He was good, but he wasn’t someone I recognized. The lyrics seemed familiar. As they penetrated my mind and heart, they made me stop dead in my tracks.
This is a second chance for me and you
What we learned wasn’t wasted time
What we got wrong
We can make right now
What do you say?
Don’t be afraid
Let’s make it right
Let’s make it right
Right now
