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ChapterFive
Lounging on the sofa with her leg casually thrown over the arm, Cole scrolled through some videos on her tablet. One caught her eye. She watched it, her smile lighting up, and then she watched it again.
“Mom! Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Lauren’s here in New York!”
“Who?” Cole’s mother asked, only half listening as she sorted bills on the counter.
Cole rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Mom? Lauren?Lauren Stone?Look!” She brought the tablet over and plunked it down. The video was dated the night before. On the screen, a bottle-blond reporter was standing on the city sidewalk in front of a club.
“Hello, everyone! I’m Sherry Fordham, and we’re outside Blue Ruby, one of the city’s hottest new clubs. Joining me is Lauren Stone, lead singer of The Kingmakers. Lauren, I hear there’s exciting news about your new album?”
“We’re starting work on our latest project. The band’s had a nice, refreshing break, and we’re eager to get back to the studio. Fitz McCallum will be producing it. We’re very happy to work with him.”
“Does that mean you’ll be staying in New York for a while?”
“It does. The band’s temporarily relocating here while we record.”
In the background, someone’s voice rang out: “Kingmakers rule!”
“Well, that is great news for your fans! We are all eager to hear what The Kingmakers come up with!” The camera zoomed in on Sherry, all spray-tan and teeth. “You heard it here first! The Kingmakers are back in town and have a new album coming out. Back to you, Derek.”
Cole couldn’t stop grinning. “That is so cool! I mean, how fabulous would it be if she came to visit her family and I ran into her at the store or something?”
“That would be something,” her mother said.
“This is so awesome!” Cole grabbed her notebook, scribbled a few notes, and then tossed it to the side and went back to daydreaming.
Everyone else had started eating when Danny and Lucas arrived late for Sunday dinner. They washed up in the kitchen, their jeans and t-shirts in stark contrast to everyone else, who were still in their church clothes. When he slipped into the seat next to her, Heather gave her oldest a look and then glanced at Danny, who nodded.
“Where did you run off to after church?” Cole asked.
“We were at Mr. Fiorino’s house,” Danny said when his son remained silent. “There was a mishap with a baseball. Instead of paying to repair the dent in his car, Mr. Fiorino said Lucas could work it off.”
“It was an accident,” Lucas said, his voice ever-so-slightly sullen.
“And?” asked Danny.
Lucas sighed. “We take responsibility when we make a mistake… and we make it right.”
“That’s right.” Danny nodded and looked at his other two sons. He figured he’d have to do the same thing with them someday, but he hoped they’d learn a little bit from what Lucas was doing.
Once they both had full plates and started to eat, conversation around the table kicked into high gear. It wasn’t long before the adults were wrapped in a heated debate over the response—or distinct lack of one—to the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil platform. Once that was done, they promptly moved on to the pros and cons of the Affordable Care Act. Danny smiled as Cole threw herself into it and held her own. The Padovano family was nothing if not opinionated.
When the discussion reached a lull, Richie asked, “What’s going on for you at school this week, Cole? Other than taking over the debate club?”
Cole’s cheeks turned pink at her grandfather’s gentle tease. “I’m turning in my project on Lauren Stone tomorrow. It came out awesome! And I saw online that Lauren is here in New York to record her new album. How cool is that?”
Danny just grunted something like, “oh,” and kept eating, eyes fixed on his own plate.
Cole continued merrily on. “You know what would be really amazing? If you had a chance to catch up with her, Uncle Danny. I mean, you haven’t seen each other in years. And, well, if I happened to be around, you could totally introduce me to her!”
As soon as the suggestion came out of Cole’s mouth, Danny felt his back stiffen. His marriage was foundering, and while the issues he and Heather were having ran much deeper than Lauren Stone, the suddenly resurrected ghost of his relationship with her had turned into a pebble that constantly irritated Heather.
“That’s not really fair to put your uncle in that position,” Maggie said to her daughter.
