After two weeks on the road, they made it clear across the country to Los Angeles. According to Mason, his mom had already booked a show at the Whisky a Go Go and the Hollywood Bowl for Prodigy’s national tour next year. Exhausted, but riding high, Lucas fell into the leather captain’s chair on the tour bus.
Sindy was sitting on the sofa with Tessa, still awestruck at meeting Ellen DeGeneres. “I just love Ellen DeGeneres! She was hilarious and organic. Just like she comes across on TV.”
“I never expected Conan to be so tall,” Tessa commented. “The guy towered over me by almost a foot. Mase, you’ve met most of these TV hosts already. Who’s your favorite?”
“I like Jimmy Fallon the best. That guy is so funny and cool.”
It seemed so long ago since they played The Tonight Show back in New York. Lucas had lost count of how many interviews they’d done and how many radio stations they’d visited across the nation. There was little down time since they were on the road so much, and he wished he could show Sindy around the cities they visited. At least they’d had a free afternoon in Chicago last week that they had spent at the Navy Pier, which she enjoyed.
The movement of the bus slowly started to make Lucas’ eyes close, and he suddenly felt drained. “Where are we headed?”
Tessa pulled out her phone and scrolled through her calendar. “Reno. After that, Portland.” She lifted her head up and smiled, her eyes sparkling. “Then Seattle.”
They arrived in Seattle shortly before 6:00 pm four days later. At Tessa’s insistence, their first stop had to be at The Walrus and The Carpenter for fresh oysters and clams. Lucas scarfed down a half dozen before noticing that Sindy had an empty plate. “Here.” He placed a large oyster, with a beautiful marbled shell, and two small clams onto her dish. “Eat up. Don’t be shy.”
Her lips wrinkled and bowed downward. “I don’t eat this stuff.”
“Are you serious? You don’t like clams and oysters?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had it.”
Lucas wondered if maybe she never tried it because she couldn’t afford it, and looked forward to treating her to things her previous economic situation prevented her from enjoying. He squeezed some lemon on them and offered her cocktail sauce.
Sindy looked at Tessa, who was devouring the oysters as if she hadn’t eaten in a week. “Why is Tessa using lime and tabasco?”
“My sister’s a food snob. She has to be fancy.”
Lucas expected Tessa to reply with a witty retort, but she simply smiled with her eyes as she continued to slurp the contents from the pearly half shells without pause.
“Try some cocktail sauce.” Lucas put a dollop on one of the oysters, knowing that it would soften the saltiness if she wasn’t used to the robust flavor. “Go ahead. Try it.”
Sindy hesitated before picking up one of the oyster shells and stared at it for a long time.
Mason gave her one of his infectious smiles. “Just suck it down. Don’t chew it for half an hour. Only one or two chomps are enough, then swallow.”
Sindy stared at him. “That sounds obscene.”
Mason laughed, then ate an oyster to demonstrate. “Ahh! Delicious!”
Lucas watched Sindy as she took a deep breath before sliding the oyster into her mouth. Her eyes immediately squeezed shut, and she grimaced as she barely chewed it and then swallowed with an audible gulp. “Ugh!” She gave a full body shudder that echoed her dislike. “That was the most disgusting thing I ever tasted.” She practically dropped the shell into her plate. “How are you eating these things?”
Everyone laughed. Even Tessa stopped gorging on the shellfish long enough to tease Sindy. Lucas had pity on her, though, and put his arm around her. “As soon as we’re done we’ll head downtown for a real meal.”
They ended up at Spinasse where they shared aged prosciutto, fresh cavatelli with braised beef and roasted cherry tomatoes, fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta and lemon, and tajarin with butter and sage – all at Tessa’s suggestion. There was no need to question what to order whenever she was at the table, except, of course, if Papi was dining with them. Then the two of them would have a lengthy discussion of which meals were ultimately the best on the menu. Sometimes it was so frustrating that his mom would summon the waiter and order an appetizer while everyone waited for the night’s recommendation.
“Good evening, Mr. Lucas, Miss Tessa and Mr. Mason. It’s been many years, but I’d recognize the three of you anywhere. Welcome back to Spinasse.”
It was the manager, who’d been at this restaurant since the first time Immortal Angel ate here. Spinasse’s was a regular stop whenever Immortal Angel came to Seattle, and Lucas, Tessa and Mason had joined their parents here every time.
“You know him?” Sindy whispered to Lucas, while Tessa and Mason explained to the manager that they were now touring in their own band.
“We came here with our parents whenever they played in Seattle. We’ve known him since we were kids.”
“I forgot you’ve been to all of these cities before.” She gazed at him with wonder. “I still can’t believe you’ve traveled all over the world. It’s foreign to me. I’ve never been anywhere outside of Baltimore, besides New York.”
He wanted to show her everything – all of his favorite places in every major city in the world. He would relive everything through her eyes, as excited as he had been the first time he was old enough to appreciate the amenities of the places he traveled to. He thought back to when he was a kid and on tour with Immortal Angel and how his parents had showed him their favorite places and explained the different cultures around the world. He was suddenly homesick as old memories filled his head, and he slipped away from the table with an excuse to visit the restroom.
He called his mom first, since she was on his mind the most right now.
