Aileen's Song (7 page)

The internal diatribe ended at once.

Liam, get over it. You have a great thing going with Aileen
. He shook his head and squeezed the bridge of his nose.
Don't mess things up because of an ill-advised chemical reaction. You've always enjoyed a perfect friendship. Openness and a level of affection that's as deep as it is real.

Resolved, he spun toward his desk and pulled his suit coat from the back of the chair. Time to get busy and focus. First, he'd meet the girls in reception then he'd escort them to the conference room. The rest would be up to God's hand and will. He shrugged into the garment and aligned the lapels, ready to give Aileen his all from a professional standpoint. He owed her that. Liam froze for an instant and blinked, realizing once again that he was completely focused on her.

He squared his chin. He was being professional, that's all. Excited by an opportunity. Given what he had seen and experienced at the fundraiser, Liam was on fire to see that all four of the Sisters in Spirit touched lives and moved hearts.

 



 

“Have you ever jumped out of an airplane?”

Aileen's somewhat breathless inquiry made Liam laugh—and he needed a laugh at the moment.

“Can't say that I have. Why?”

“Because that's just what I feel like I'm about to do right now. I'm standing at the open portal, being pushed into the atmosphere without possessing one lick of preparation or training.”

Her three comrades giggled at the comment, but he sensed a building nervousness. He strode the hallway toward the company's main conference room and shot a look over his shoulder as he led the way.

“Wrong.”

“What?” Aileen studied him.

“Wrong. The four of you have all kinds of training. This is what your life at college taught you, isn't it? Performance? Voice? Dance? Theater? You're going to be fantastic.”

“Fantastically terrified. I've taken a dive and landed way over my head. This is coming at me…at all of us…so quickly.”

Aileen sported flaring black slacks paired with a matching blazer. She accessorized a white, button-down shirt with a long, multi-layer necklace that featured a rainbow of glossy, colored stones. Once again, Liam's nerve endings twitched with a call toward connection, a need he feared.

“Yes, the meeting came together fast. That's because we have every indication Sisters in Spirit is going to be a phenomenon.” He nodded toward the closed door of the conference room before pushing through. “Ready?”

Kassidy's lips quirked and she delivered a bland look. “What? For a pitch to a record label? No big deal. We do this kind of thing all the time.”

Maeve sighed dramatically, a haughty tilt to her head. “Absolutely. I hope there'll be champagne.”

Liam rolled his eyes. “Sure. Just like I find your caliber of performer every time I turn around. Believe me, if I unearthed a group like yours and failed to land it, I'd get fired. So, think of it this way. You're doing me a big favor today. Helping me keep my job and everything.”

A short round of laughter followed. Aileen seemed to relax and even chuckled lightly. They shared an elongated look, rife with the undercurrents of all that was to come. Confident in the restoration of equilibrium, Liam nodded. “Let's do it.”

He turned the handle and opened the door, striding front and center in full command. “Good morning, everyone. Thanks for your time today. I'd like you to meet some very special guests of our label.”

A round of introductions and greetings ensued. Three of the executives who had attended the show were in place around an expansive, oval table. They were already in Liam's camp, but joining the team were three additional members of Zion's Peak—the head of marketing, the head of label development, and the CEO.

While the girls extended handshakes and smiles, Liam passed around the proposal copies. He loved the way Aileen and the others moved through the room. With confidence and smooth grace, they acquainted themselves with the hierarchy. Soon, seats were claimed and the presentation began.

“You're going to get to know these ladies far better over the course of the next hour, but to kick things off, let's start with what makes Sisters in Spirit unique…”

From there, Liam took charge, striking arrows at each point in the presentation. After that, he cued a freshly edited video of the fundraiser that featured the fifteen-minute segment of Sisters in Spirit.

While the team watched, Liam's gaze barely touched the wall-mounted plasma screen. Instead, he catalogued reactions. Team focus was intent and unreadable until the mid-point. During the transition from one song to the next, the four women joked with the audience and chatted briefly in a display of polished interplay that elicited smiles, nods, and the exchange of meaningful glances between those gathered around the table. Only then did Liam allow himself to breathe deep.

“Where did this idea come from? Who launched it?”

That question came from the head of label development once the screen faded to black. In a charming and pointed way, four female gazes came to rest on Liam, who chuckled and waved his hands. “I pulled them together because I knew their history and their love of music. What you just saw belongs to the four of them equally.”

“Aileen. Aileen both prompted and guided the performance you just saw. I definitely see her as the leader of Sisters in Spirit.”

Siobhan's forthright declaration put forth the truth that Liam wouldn't dare. Not in this setting. Maeve and Kassidy nodded their agreement, and he praised God for moving in their midst. There was no showmanship; there were no unsightly egos. Aileen wasn't set above the others, but upon her would rest the mantle of leadership once all four women were in agreement.

Perfect, yes, but Liam knew Aileen very well. He knew he would need to be on guard for this sensitive and open hearted lady.

Right on cue, Aileen demurred, moving back in a subtle way while she shook her head. “I offered the idea Liam proposed, and the four of us teamed together to put together a fun, unpressured performance of the type of music we love. It's that simple and that honest. No need to complicate matters beyond that truth. If Sisters in Spirit comes to fruition, it will be because of the four of us together—nothing more, nothing less.”

With that, she looked around and engaged those gathered with a smile. An open, blue-eyed gaze took in each member at the table. Liam's pulse reacted in an up-tempo rhythm. Once again, Aileen and her friends answered the challenge of accountability, flawlessly obliterating any sense of anxiety amongst those gathered. No divas would ever be found in this group.

“I'm not afraid to say it. I'm impressed.”

Liam's attention shifted from Aileen to Dan Ruthenbeck, the CEO.

“I'm willing to secure studio time toward the production of a high-quality demo. Liam, that's your forte. Line up a group of top tier musicians and producers. After the demo is in place, I want to meet again and review. From there, if we like what we see, we'll discuss the merits of a small scale, local venue performance. Maybe Westerville Theatre again. This time, the full performance would belong to the four of you. It's a thousand-seat venue. Plenty big enough to test the water. The skill-set is there, without question. What I want to determine—and I mean this with all due respect—is whether or not this group can carry a two-hour show comprised of the music envisioned.”

“I agree, Dan, but I believe Sisters in Spirit will strike a chord.”

That opinion came from the head of marketing. Keenly attuned, the girls sat back and let the suits have their way toward determining next steps. They were attentive and composed; Liam gave them credit for restraint and professionalism as their collective fates were decided.

At that moment, Aileen caught his eye. In a private, intimate exchange, she simply held his gaze. Liam battled to stay steady against her impact and delivered a quick, assuring wink.

 

 

 

 

7

 

Aileen shivered, shaking off a cold wind that sent leaves and small branches skittering down the sidewalk into the pathway of fast-striding pedestrians. Cars whizzed past. Yanking open the door of Zion's Peak headquarters, she stepped into a welcome blast of warmth. Even a short walk from the public lot where she had parked her car was a battle against the elements. Her fingertips were wrapped around a large-sized beverage holder from Cuppa Café. In deference to her throat, today's selection was peppermint tea.

As she crossed through the simple but elegant lobby, she received a text from Kassidy.

The troops r assembled. U here yet, General?

Aileen grinned while she checked in with security and handed over her ID so they could create a pass. While she waited, she typed.
Just walked in. I'm crossing the moat. Should be scaling the tower momentarily. Stand strong.

She received clearance just as Kassidy responded.
Endangered villagers now weep with joy. Hurry.

Snickering, Aileen tucked her cellphone in her purse and stepped into the elevator. She took a moment to rest against the back of the lift. For the tiniest interlude, she allowed herself to simply absorb.

This was it. This was the culmination of an intensive, two-week rehearsal period. Today Sisters in Spirit would put that hard work into motion and record four songs for their demo.

“Take it from here, God. Take it where You want and need it to go.” Aileen closed her eyes and breathed the words as the elevator slowed to a stop on the fifth floor. To the right, four doors down would be Studio H.

The only thing that helped still her jumbled nerves was the knowledge that Liam would be there as well—ready and waiting.

Cautious and silent, she tiptoed into the control booth, immediately drawn to the image of Liam. Bent over the sound panel, intent and focused, he listened to music coming from the studio just beyond. The simple act of entering Liam's space and being near him caused warmth to flow.

He bent to study monitor levels and converse in low tones with a member of the crew. She moistened her lower lip, continuing to stare. What a handsome man, thoroughly in his element. Aileen released a soft, involuntary sigh.

“Enjoying the view?”

Siobhan sauntered up from behind, causing Aileen to jump and nearly upend her tea. Her best friend's whispered tease and sparkling eyes stirred a feather dance along the hairs of Aileen's neck and forearms.

“Oh, hush for once.”

Siobhan blinked prettily because Aileen's scold was half-hearted at best.

A glance through the glass into the studio just beyond stilled her pleasure in an instant. Who was the stunning woman inside? Liam switched on the receiver between the control booth and the studio. “Great job, Roxy. That was an amazing cut.”

Roxy, a tall, slim brunette with painted on jeans of white, a pink blouse, and black boots removed her head gear and fingered back a sweep of long, brown hair. Smiling through the glass at Liam, Roxy left the equipment behind on a tall stool and bounded into the control booth, cheeks flush and eyes alight.

“Thanks, Liam. That felt fantastic!”

This Roxy person stepped quite neatly into a shared hug with Liam. Her smile was mega-watt sunshine. This was the kind of woman Aileen had always compared herself to—and come up woefully lacking by comparison.

At that point, Liam noticed her arrival. Aileen lowered her lashes while heat crested and receded beneath the chill of her own self-doubts.

“Ladies!” He moved away from Roxy. “Ready to get going?”

Aileen pasted on a smile and slipped a wide, paisley pashmina away from her shoulders. With practiced poise and a carefully honed disregard for her truest heart, she brushed jealousy aside. If she didn't, she'd break down and sob. “It's freezing out there!” She dropped her purse and shawl onto the arm of a nearby couch. “I can't believe how fast autumn is disappearing into winter.” Through a supreme act of will, Aileen maintained a sweet disposition and met Roxy's inquisitive, dark-eyed glance head on. “Hi, I'm Aileen Brewer.”

“Roxanne Mitchell. Great to meet you. You must be Liam's next session.” The woman accepted Aileen's offered hand, her attitude warm and genuine. “I couldn't agree with you more about the weather. Typical New York, right?”

“Absolutely.”

Roxy…Roxanne…gave Liam a quick glance as she retrieved her coat. “We're set for Thursday and Friday in the city, right?”

Liam nodded as he took possession of Roxy's coat and held it open. Aileen went unnaturally still. Wait—what? The city? As in New York City? As in overnight? Her skin prickled.

Ever the gentleman, Liam settled the garment over Roxy's shoulders. “Drew Wintower is our go-to for concert management and promotion. We'll discuss preliminaries with him and share the first cuts we recorded today so we can map out production ideas like lighting, dance, and choreography. Should be a productive trip.”

“I'm so looking forward to it.”

“Me, too.”

Aileen fought the urge to crumble, especially when Liam furthered his courteous behavior by leading the singer out of the studio. Fabulous. Just fabulous.

When she finally took in the rest of her surroundings, Aileen came aware of a triple threat in the form of three interested bystanders who watched her with matching expressions of interest. Didn't that just figure? Her friends knew her far too well to ever be fooled, and obviously, her face had given her away.

Fortunately, Liam returned before an inquisition could begin. “We'll get started as soon as the band and tech crew reset.”

Siobhan linked arms with her brother. “Good. That gives us time to pray. This is huge. We need to give it to God.”

“Amen.” That from Kassidy and Maeve, in a typical display of unison.