The four of them were in the great room in the Blade-Garcia mansion, the only place besides the kitchen that Sindy had occupied in the enormous house besides the studio and Lucas and Tessa’s suites. Everyone quieted when she said she had an announcement, and now she felt dwarfed in the room that was almost as big as her entire apartment. She had made hard decisions recently, choosing to put all her energy into the band. “I quit my job at the diner. I know it’s a big risk, but I think it’s smart. We’re going on tour, then we’re going to record this album. I don’t want anything to distract me from putting all my energy into Prodigy.” Tessa was her role model. Lucas was her inspiration. She decided to follow their lead, although she still had her reservations. “If I really need it, I think I could probably pick up a shift or two at the diner, but I think I made the right decision in quitting.”
Lucas put his arm around her in a show of support. “Congratulations. You’re a full-time musician.”
Tessa, sitting at the opposite side of the couch, leaned over and squeezed Sindy’s knee. “That’s awesome. Now we’ll have more time to hang out and go over things like wardrobe and production. If my brother will let you out of his sight, that is.” She sent a teasing smile in Lucas’ direction.
“Cool.” Mason nodded. “That’s a good move. Touring and writing is hard work. Luckily, Prodigy has a large music library, so we’re not starting from scratch. We still need to re-do the songs to add rhythm, and we still want your input.”
Apprehension tickled Sindy’s belly, but she knew she could do this, especially with the support of this wonderful group of people that weren’t just her friends, but her family. She was suddenly reminded of the conversation she had with Damien Diamond, in this same room, and silently nodded to herself in agreement with the words he’d offered.
Voices and footsteps grew louder before Tommy, Angel, and Jessi entered the great room and stopped just inside the doorway. Angel wore the biggest smile of the three and looked like he would explode at any second.
“I know that look, Papi.” Tessa smiled at him. “What did you do?”
“We wanted to wait . . .” He nodded his head toward Tommy and Jessi. “Well, they wanted to wait. I couldn’t. We have a surprise. It’s outside, and it’s for all of you. It’s a little going away gift for Prodigy. Something every band needs.”
“What fun is getting something you need?” Tessa teased. “Get us something frivolous.”
“This is frivolous,” Tommy said. “Believe me, it’s very frivolous.”
“It’s well worth it, mi amor.”
Tommy leaned his arm on Angel’s shoulder. “It is. Everything’s worth it when it comes to the kids.”
Jessi fanned her face with her hand and blinked rapidly. “I feel like I’m in my twenties again watching Immortal Angel take the big stage for the first time.”
“Oh, hon.” Tommy enveloped her in his arms. “I remember it, too. We finally got the big break we’d been waiting for. I say we, because it wasn’t just happening to me. It was happening to the both of us. If you hadn’t been by my side to push me every second, pull me up when I was down, encourage me when I lost hope that I’d ever make it as a musician, I would have given up.” His eyes glazed over as he gazed at her. “It feels like yesterday. Where does the time go?” He let out a long sigh, and then waved them out of the room. “Come on. You’re gonna love this.”
“What’s going on?” Sindy whispered to Lucas as they followed behind everyone and approached the front door to the mansion.
“You never know when it comes to my—”
Tessa let out an excited scream the moment the door opened and everyone rushed outside to see the surprise.
While Tessa, Mason and Lucas thanked Tommy, Angel, and Jessi, Sindy just stood there and stared at the massive tour bus parked in the circular driveway with Prodigy’s logo displayed on the side panel. She didn’t know what she expected would bring the band across the country, but she never imagined something that looked like it just rolled out of the showroom with custom paint. Everything happened so quickly when it came to Prodigy. “We have our own tour bus?”
“We didn’t want you to go on the road with a rental.” Tommy said, his arm now slung over Lucas’ shoulder.
Standing side by side, Lucas and Tommy were mirror images of one another. Granted, there was an age difference, but they honestly looked more like brothers than father and son. They were the same height and had the same big blue eyes that mimicked the color of the sky above them. The same long blond hair graced their shoulders, although Lucas’ was shorter than his father’s, and they had the same broad chest and back. She saw Lucas in Tommy Blade, and Tommy Blade in Lucas. The likeness was amazing. “Thank you so much,” she finally said. “This is beyond generous. I . . . I don’t know what to say that could ever express how much gratitude I have for all of you.” Oh God, now she was tearing up. “It’s so beautiful.”
“We were happy to do it,” Tommy said.
“Come look at the inside!” Jessi sounded as excited as Tessa. She grabbed Sindy and Tessa by the hand and brought them both onto the tour bus. It was section after section of rich-smelling leather couches, dining booths and state of the art electronics. There was even a kitchen with modern cabinets, an oven, a microwave, and a sink! This must have cost over two hundred grand. Sindy had assumed the outside was misleading and the accommodations would be small and cramped, but the interior of the bus was huge. They were going to travel in style, like a bunch of already-famous rock stars, and she couldn’t wait to get on the road.
“Are you sure you got everything?” Lucas asked, eyeing the suitcases lined up by the front door of Sindy’s apartment.
“I think I over packed.” Sindy had no idea what to bring, so she brought everything. They loaded her things into Lucas’ car, drove back to his house and stowed them in the tour bus. They’d be leaving in the morning, so it was easier if she and Mason stayed over at the mansion.
“You’re home.” Jessi greeted them when they entered the kitchen. “We’re getting snacks.” She handed a bowl of fresh-popped popcorn to Lucas. “This is all I could make on short notice. Check out what Papi made.”
Angel held up a large tray. “Yucca fries with garlic mojo and bacon wrapped tostones.”
“Why the snacks?” Lucas asked.
“That tour bus sitting in the driveway has made me incredibly nostalgic. I decided to watch some old videos,” Jessi replied. “Come sit with us, Sindy. I want you to see them.”
“Are we looking at Lucas’ baby pictures?” Sindy broke into a wide hopeful smile. She knew Lucas would be embarrassed, but she would love to see them.
“No.” Jessi squeezed Lucas’ chin. “Although he was the cutest baby boy in the world. I’ll show you another time.” She looped her arm through Sindy’s and led them to the great room. “Come see a young Immortal Angel perform.”
