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“Oh.” She kept her eyes fixed on her laptop, and her cheeks turned a dusky rose. She bit her lip and shook her head. “No. That hadn’t even crossed my mind, what with rehearsals starting soon and another tour beginning in mid-October. Both my kids will be in school this year. I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to manage daycare and their schoolwork while on the road. Elli is in school too, which is a requirement for her visa. She can’t always go on the road with us. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle everything.”
“These days you can schedule virtual appointments from anywhere. Therapy is worth looking into. You don’t need to carry all the stress and grief on your own, Theresa.”
She nodded. “It’s David’s rage toward me that’s the toughest to bear. I don’t understand why he married me if he hates me as much as he seems to. He acts like I’m the one who betrayed him, as if I’m the one who slept around and started using drugs.”
Caleb had some theories on that, but his opinions about her abusive ex wouldn’t help matters. “That’s something you can explore with a therapist.” He turned to face her. “Theresa, I want you to know I’d like to be your friend. I’d like to help you through this any way I can.” Her lovely eyes filled with another look of confusion or maybe uncertainty. Her vulnerability tore at him, and he couldn’t help wondering what must be going through her mind.
“Thanks, Caleb. I appreciate that. Did you see a therapist when you lost your family?” she asked, her gaze searching, intense.
“I did.” He hit a minor chord, and began a short jazz riff, wanting a distraction or maybe accompaniment for his tragic tale. “A few months after the accident, I considered ending my life, and that scared the shit out of me. I made an appointment that same day. I went through therapy and joined a support group for people who’d recently lost their spouses or partners. I still get together on a regular basis with the friends I met through that group.”
“All right.” Theresa groaned, a sign of resignation maybe? “I’ll look into getting some help.”
“Good.” He smiled. “Let’s get back to work. This album will be about your journey.”
“I don’t recall agreeing to an entire album.” She arched a brow.
“No? Well, let’s see how things go before you decide. What do you say?”
She flashed him a half-smile. “We’ll see.”
Theresa’s au pair came into the house through the door off the kitchen. What had Theresa called the young woman before? Ella? Elli? She spoke with an accent. He remembered that much. At any rate, she didn’t disturb them. The au pair headed off down the hallway, returning a few minutes later to join the boys outside.
They spent the next few hours reshaping the song Theresa had written. The kids darted in and out of the house for snacks, drinks, bathroom breaks, or to get a toy for the puppy, but they never interrupted.
“I think we’ve done enough for today. I need some time to think about more changes and I want to add another verse or two. We should figure out a schedule for our collaboration,” she said, closing her laptop and rising from the piano bench. “Mondays work for me. How about you?”
“Sure. Mondays are good.” He saved their work, put his laptop to sleep and slipped it into his backpack. “Have you thought about hiring a teacher to travel with the band? You could coordinate curriculum with their school, so they can slip back in without being behind.”
“That’s what I’ve been hoping for. I spoke with the principal at their school, and she’s going to help me find someone willing to travel with us. She says they always have a ton of applicants whenever there’s an opening, and they can only hire one or two. Dr. Fletcher is going to contact a few of the applicants who impressed her to see if they’d be interested.”
“Great. So, next week, same place, same time. Would that work for you?” he asked.
“You don’t mind coming here again?”
“Not at all. Under the circumstances, I figure you’ll feel more comfortable if you stick close to Jeremy and Charlie.” As if speaking their names had called them, the two kids, Sully, the au pair, and the bodyguard came inside. The happy chaos drew Caleb like the proverbial moth to flame, and he followed Theresa into the kitchen. The puppy headed for his water bowl. Sully took a big drink, and then he curled up for a nap in his crate which sat against the wall.
“Hey, Mr. McGee.” Jeremey ran to him. “You know what?”
“What?”
“When Sully is done being trained, he’s gonna sleep on my bed,” Jeremy said, reaching for Caleb’s hand. “Mommy, can Mr. McGee have dinner with us?”
“Sure. The more the merrier,” Theresa said. “Lasagna is going into the oven right now.” She drew out a large pan from the fridge. “It’ll be about an hour or so before we eat. Would you like to join us, Caleb?”
“I don’t want to intrude.” He squeezed Jeremy’s small hand. “You and Charlie can call me Caleb or Cal. Okay?”
“Okay, Mr. McGee.” Jeremy peered up at him. “My mommy makes really good food.”
“She does. You should stay.” Charlie joined his brother.
“Sounds delicious. I’d love to have dinner with you,” he said. “What can I do to help?”
* * *
“There’s nothing to do right now, Caleb, but thanks.” Theresa set the oven temperature. “I just need to put the lasagna in the oven. The salad is already made, and I have a fresh baguette to go with the meal.”
Caleb was so easy to be with. He encouraged her, made her smile, and provided her with a willing ear without judgement. She didn’t really have anyone else she could talk to about her divorce and what her husband had been up to. She and Caleb hardly knew each other, yet he’d offered her a helping hand.
