AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So, while I wanted the Onyx Knight gig, I didn’t need it.
And that made a huge difference.
“Where are you off to?” Greatty asked as I made myself a cup of coffee on Saturday morning.
“That damn follow-up audition with Onyx Knight,” I said, turning and leaning against the counter. “I could be there all day. They wanted me to learn a ten-song set. Fucking pain in my ass.”
She squinted at me, drawing herself up to her full four-foot-eleven-inch height. “Don’t even pretend this is a nuisance. You know you want this gig, young lady. You can lie to yourself but don’t you dare lie to me.”
I smiled.
Even at eighty-one she was still a spitfire and as astute as ever.
“There’s no point in getting excited over something that probably isn’t going to happen,” I said, shrugging. “We both know how it goes in this business.”
“Just because it didn’t happen in the past doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen this time. You’re a well-known, sought-after studio musician.”
“I’m a woman who’s learned to deal with misogyny at every turn,” I said.
“That’s a copout. Look at Ann and Nancy Wilson. Stevie Nicks. And they did it in the 70s, before you were even born.”
I rolled my eyes. “Heart and Fleetwood Mac were from another generation,” I protested, mentioning the legendary rock bands that featured women.
“Lzzy Hale is kicking ass leading an otherwise male band right now,” she pointed out.
“I know, Greatty. I know there are exceptions to the rule. And I already said I’m going to the audition. I’m just not getting my hopes up, that’s all. If it happens, and they offer me the job, then I’ll have to think about what to do next because it’s more complicated than them just wanting me.”
“You’re going to think about it?” She gaped at me. “Seriously, I do not know how we’re related sometimes. What’s to think about?”
“I have a job and two years’ worth of obligations,” I said. “And I’d be walking away from a very lucrative sure thing to do something that’s the opposite of that.”
“Which is why you make sure there’s a contract in place, so you’re compensated like a member of the band, not just a bass-player-for-hire on one tour.”
“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
“I always worry. I’m not getting any younger, you know, and without me around, I can’t imagine what dumb shit you’ll do.”
I laughed.
I couldn’t help it.
She made me laugh every single day.
It was one of many reasons I loved her.
The others were far more important to me, though.
She’d helped my grandmother raise me when my mother decided parenting was too hard. Then Grandma had gotten sick, leaving Greatty to do it all.
She’d been the one who’d insisted on piano lessons, forced me to learn to play the flute in middle school band, and made sure I knew how to read music. When her only daughter—my grandmother—passed away when I was thirteen, Greatty hadn’t batted an eyelash in getting me through high school. She’d even been willing to take out a home equity loan to put me through college, though I hadn’t wound up needing it because of scholarships and working all through school.
“Are you laughing at me?” Greatty demanded, narrowing her eyes.
“No, ma’am. I’m laughing because you’re cute.”
“I’ll give you cute!” She flattened her hand and waved it back and forth, as if she were going to spank me with it.
“Bye, Greatty! Gotta go!” I kissed her forehead before grabbing my keys, backpack, and bass case, and heading out.
