London Harmony: Doghouse (10 page)

I finished on a muted note, the final note humming through the bass until it and my voice faded off to entropy.  I opened my eyes to the cheers.  Amy and Gina were standing cheering and whistling.  I caught Amarissa's eye.

She mouthed, “Beautiful,” to me.

I hesitated, she had a different smile on her face than any she had given me before.  It was supermurgitroid and made me blush and look down as Mr. Raisin joined me onstage.

He kissed my cheek and said into my ear,  “You've got Walker's magic Liza.  You can play Ronnie Scott's anytime.”  I gave him a smile and he said into the mic, “Lil' Walker everyone!”

I gave a nervous bow to the cheering and then I hustled to the back of the stage as he announced a ten-minute intermission before the headline act came on.

I quickly put Audrey in her case and leaned her in the corner.

Earl intercepted me and said into my ear to be heard over the piped in music, “You're not leaving her there are you?”

I nodded and he shook his head.

“No, put her in my office.  I'd feel safer if she were locked someplace safe until you are ready to leave.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Nobody is going to touch her onstage.”

He gave me the look of a parent scolding their child.  “You know damn well that she's not just a double bass.”

I exhaled.  “Fine.”

He made a motion and the big guy I had met before came up and Earl told him, “Ben, get Lil' Walker's bass locked up in the main office.”  Then he looked at me and added, “If she gives you permission to touch her that is.”  He lowered his sunglasses that he wore even in the club and shot me a questioning look.

I nodded and the big man went over and picked up Audrey and disappeared into the crowd with her.  So Ben was his grandson's name.  I had forgotten to ask and I was too embarrassed to admit I didn't know it earlier when I saw him tonight again.

For an old guy, Earl was strong, he hopped off the stage and put his arms up and he lifted me down like I was nothing but a doll.  He gave my shoulder a squeeze and shot me a toothy grin.  I smiled at him as I shook my head and pushed his shoulder playfully.

Then I cut through the crowd, zeroing in on Amy's table.  The two women were laughing so hard there were tears on their faces.  I had to grin at them as I arrived at the table.  They both went instantly silent, trying to hold in their laughter.

I narrowed my eyes.  “What?”

They looked from me to each other and Gina said, “Oh nothing.”  They exploded into laughter again.  Oh Louie's Horn, they were discussing me.

But then Amy sobered and tilted her head cutely at me as her eyes fixed on that nebulous spot to the left of my face.  She had a touch of admiration in her voice when she said, “You were really amazing up there tonight Eliza.  I knew you could play, but... bloody hell.”

My heart sped up and I could feel a blush burning on my face.

Then she added to Gina's giggling delight, “And you wore cowboy boots.”

I brushed an errant lock of hair behind my ear and sat down next to her.  She did a cute hippity hop, bouncing her chair closer to mine, then looked down at my hands in my lap.  She lowered her eyes bashfully and reached out to rest her hand on top of mine as Earl announced Charlie H.

She was so distracting, I slowly moved my hand under hers until our palms were facing each others and laced our fingers.  She didn't pull back.  Then I remembered something and shot my eyes back to Scratch and June Harris-West.  They were gone.  I scanned the place and saw them leaving the club.  Damn it.

Hey, wait a minute.  I turned my eyes to Amy, who had been sitting rigidly in her seat since I laced our fingers.  The fingers of her free hand were resting lightly on the lanyard of her glasses.  I accused, “You could have contacted Scratch anytime you wanted.”

She shrugged. “You wanted to speak with Fran.”

Grrr.  “Why you deceptive little runt.”

She grinned and shrugged again.

Then I asked, “Did you tell them I was playing here tonight?”

She nodded.

I exhaled, “How can someone so cute be so evil?  I mean Darth could take lessons from you.”

I squinted at her, I could tell Gina was watching us both carefully now.  Then I asked in a slow, patient tone.  “So Amy, can you get me in contact with Scratch?”

She squeezed my hand and said, “No. That's a different deal.  Our deal is I get you in touch with Fran.  After that, we can discuss a deal concerning Scratch.”

Then she looked around, ran her fingers up the lanyard to her glasses, and sighed in relief.  She gave me a cute scrunchy face and laid her head on my shoulder.  “Now hush, you owe me this night.”

I... she... but... oh dear lord, never mind.  I laid my head on top of hers, and Gina cutely propped her head up on her hands across from us.  I could hear the “awww” in her head.

The pure brass note of a trumpet on stage snapped me out of basking in the warm feeling I was getting from the frustrating imp I seemed to be smitten by.  A small part of me was enjoying the games she was playing.  Nobody had ever led me around like I had a ring in my nose before, and she seemed immune to my charms for the most part.

When the whole band kicked in for the swing number Charlie was playing, Amy looked down at my boots, bit her lower lip then stood.  She didn't release my hand and she pulled me up and hustled us past Gina, looping her arm in hers and pulling her up.  She chirped out like some deranged chipmunk, “Let's dance girls!”

I proceeded to have more fun that night than I've had in a very, very long time.

By the time Earl took the stage to play the final number himself, something I learned he does every night at his club, I was shocked to learn it was two in the morning.  Time really does fly when you are laughing and spending time with good people.

I waited with them at the door as Ben went to retrieve Audrey for me.

Gina said to us, “Thank you so much for such a fun evening ladies.”  She gave us each our very own kiss on our cheeks then she looked up at me hopefully. “Tomorrow then?  Help me get ready for my...”

Amy chuckled. “You can say it you silly bird.  Date.  Help you get ready for your date with Valerie.”

Gina stuck her tongue out at the sequin-dressed pixie. “Fine you evil woman.  My date... with  Valerie.”

Amy crinkled her nose in victory.

I bumped Amy's hip to make her be nice and pointedly nodded at Gina.  “Of course.  I'll help make you even more irresistible to your barista.”

She exhaled and sighed, “Thank you so much.”  Then she looked at Amy. “You'll be there too?  We all know our Liza needs a keeper, or I'll be dressed in some Catholic schoolgirl uniform, two sizes too small.”

I defended myself, “Hey!”

They both looked at me, Amarissa cocked an eyebrow at me.

I sputtered out, “Well fine, but still... hey!”

They both chuckled and Amy laid her free hand on Gina's arm.  “Of course.  I told you I would earlier.”

Gina nodded and said, “Thanks.”  Then looked first at Amy then at me.  And asked abruptly, “Aimes, are you gay?” Then she lowered her head as she raised her shoulders and covered her mouth.

Amy didn't even blink.  “Gay?  I think I'm pretty happy most of the time.”

Gina rolled her eyes and Amy grinned and said, “If you're referring to sexuality.  I've not much experience so I'm not right sure.  I know I like romance.  I love any tawdry romance I can get my hands on.  Straight, gay, lesbian.  It's all about the love story to me.  Romance and intimacy.”

Then she seemed to melt. “But American cowboys?  Mmmmm...  I'd say I'm cowboy-sexual if I really need a label.”

I knew it!  She looked down at my boots and bit her lower lip.

Gina giggled then gave us each a departing hug.  She whispered into my ear as she hugged me, “Saddle up cowgirl.”

I was shocked that sweet little Gina said that.  I was grinning like a loon when she released me.

She tottered off with a small wave as Ben arrived with Audrey for me.  He also handed me an envelope that had my cut of the gate.  I cocked an eyebrow, there was over two hundred pounds in it, and a note from Earl asking me to call to discuss possible performances.

I pocketed the envelope, thanked Ben, and hefted Audrey over my shoulder.  I reclaimed Amy's hand, just because I could and I sort of missed holding it.  She gave a little squeeze.

Then I said, “Let me walk you to your car.”

She nodded and asked, “How are you getting back to the hostel?”

I grinned and said, “Oyster card.”

She rolled her eyes and dragged me bodily along behind her with our clasped hands.  “Nothing is running this late you silly bird.  I'm driving you.”

You do not argue with concentrated evil, so I didn't argue.  Before I knew it, we were heading back to the hostel in what I can only describe as a little wind-up clown car, with Audrey's neck sticking out the back seat window.  Fine, it wasn't a clown car, it was a little Fiat 500.

I felt a little pang in my gut when we finally said goodnight.  I was sad to see her go.  I walked up to the door, and pulled on the handle and found it locked.  Crap!  I forgot curfew again.  I tapped lightly on the door but nobody came.

I sat on the ground by the door to wait to see if I could get lucky again.  A few minutes layter, I pulled out my phone and looked at it for a minute.  I scrolled through my missed calls and my thumb hovered over Kelly's name, I knew I could entice him to have me over for the rest of the night.  I realized that I hadn't played around since I got to London.

I stared at my thumb and wondered why I couldn't tap the screen.  A little voice in my head said, “Because Liza, it would be like cheating on Amy.”  Amy and I were not a couple, but it didn't matter because I knew in my heart, I wanted us to be.  What the hell had London done to me?  It broke me.  I don't do commitment.  I don't fall for people.  Especially not short annoying people who are playing games with me.

I chuckled at myself knowing I'd never do anything to hurt the woman.  I pulled up Amy's number and again my traitorous thumb wouldn't let me call her.  I didn't want to inconvenience her.  Okay whatever, be picky, I was afraid.

I scrolled down to Gina's name and hit connect.  “Hi Gina?  I don't want to impose upon you, but I missed curfew at the hostel.  I don't really want to sleep on the street, do you think I could... yeah?  Thanks, you're the best.  See you in a few.”

I hung up and absently slid my cell into my bag as I grinned.  Not many people would get back out of bed to come pick up a stranded friend.  I heart me some Gina.

The next morning I woke on Gina's couch.  I stretched under the blankets she had brought out to me.  My eyes reflexively darted over to Audrey, propped up in the corner of the living room, and I grinned.  I was so paranoid about her when she wasn't locked up.

I started a pot of coffee brewing then headed to the shower.  I'd have to borrow something to wear from Gina.  I was in such a great mood.  I sang in the shower, adding some swing to some of Amber LaLanie's upbeat numbers.  I threw on the clothes I wore last night and headed out to the coffee maker as I ran my fingers through my long hair to help it air dry.

Gina was there in an oversize Penny Franklin tour tee.  She was sipping a cup of coffee in one hand as she looked at my phone in her hand in the other.  She saw me and her brow furrowed further.  “Amy called and your mobile kept ringing instead of going to voicemail, so I answered to take a message.”

She offered the phone to me as I reached her.  I took it as she said, “It was Amy, looking for you so she could drive you here.  I told her no bother that you had spent the night here.  She just said, 'oh,' and rang off.”

Oh shit.  She thought...  I dialed her quickly.  I poured a cup of coffee as I waited for her to pick up.  She answered with a terse, “What?”

I replied carefully, “Gina said you called.”

She said with no emotion in her voice.  “And to think I believed you when you said you were just friends.  I knew we were playing games with each other, but I thought we...”

When she didn't finish, I offered, “It isn't what you think...”

She interrupted, “That's how it always is, what they always say.  Goodbye Eliza, please don’t call again.”  Then she hung up.

I just stared at the phone in my hand, stunned.  Finally, I set it down and closed my eyes.  It must be some sort of pattern with me, screwing up anything good in my life.  That's what I get for letting people in.  I kept my eyes closed.

A concerned Gina asked, “What's wrong Liza?”

I shook my head and opened my eyes to look at her.  I gave a crooked half smile and shrugged, “She thinks we slept together.”

She paled. “Bloody hell.  I should never have answered the mobile.  Call her back.  You can explain... I can explain.”

I shook my head. “She said not to try.”  I exhaled and pushed it all aside.  “I don’t do relationships anyway.  It's all for the best.” I lied.  Then I forced a smile onto my face.  “And we need to figure out what you're going to wear and get you ready for your date today.”

She hesitated and tilted her head to look at me.  I could see she didn't believe my bullshit front.  She shook her head sadly then smiled and asked, “What am I going to wear?  Formal?  Casual?  Jumper?  Dress?  Oh, dear lord, it's just a movie right?”

I started chuckling as she brought part of me out of the shadowed quagmire of my thoughts.  This would be a great distraction to keep my mind off of  Amarissa.  It would be a pleasure to help Gina find herself, and who knows, maybe she'd get lucky tonight.  I needed to help her enhance her adorableness.   Valerie didn't stand a chance.

When we had gone through Gina's entire wardrobe and she wasn't happy with anything, I said, “Alright, don't panic.  You've spent most of your life trying to hide in the shadows.  We just need some new outfits.  I know just the place.”

I tossed her bag to her and I grabbed mine as I pointed outside.  “To the Gina-mobile.”

She chuckled and countered, “But, my car's name is Perry.”

I gave her a mock squinty glower and rephrased, “To Perry!” I kept pointing until the grinning lady moved slowly past me like someone not wanting to wake up a wolf as they passed.

A short drive later and we were at Forgotten Threads, where I had found my boots for... Amy.  I have to remember to thank Gina at a future time.  She kept my mind from dwelling on Amy as we made it an adventure, a fashion show of decades past.

We chuckled at the flapper dress she tried, and the sixties tie-dyed skirt.  Then what could only have been a disco outfit from the seventies.  We were laughing so hard that the owner had to make sure we were still breathing.  She got into the show herself, and I tried on a few outfits.  They all looked better on me than the clothes I had borrowed from Gina.

We wound up with Gina in a white pirate blouse with billowy sleeves.  A cute forest green corset over it that just enhanced her bosom, and some form fitting boy jeans that made all her curves pop.  She was blushing into the nether realms at how Alisha, the shopkeeper, and I were gushing over the look on her.  The best thing about the outfit was that she had nowhere to hide in it.

She looked between the two of us.  “Really?”  She held her arms up and the billowy sleeves drooped slightly.

I nodded like a fool as did Alisha.

Alisha said in a sweet honey tone, “That looks darling on you, you'll be broadcasting on all frequencies to your bloke that you are all woman.”

I can't possibly convey to you just how proud I was of Gina's shy response as she countered with, “Bird. She's a woman.”

I knew just how hard it was at first to admit that in public.  She still wasn't one hundred percent sure of her orientation, but she still wasn't shamed at her admission.  You should never be ashamed of who you are attracted to.  It is just bigotry, fear, and hatred that makes you feel like it isn't natural, like you are different.  When in reality we are all the same and nobody should shame anyone for who they like.

Alisha didn't even bat an eyebrow or hesitate as she corrected herself, “Well she'll be satisfied with the results.”

Now I really knew I loved this shop.

I wound up with another outfit myself, I really didn't know where I was going to stuff it into my backpack, but it was cute.  I could cull a shirt and some of my more worn and ratty jeans for it.

I took my blushing companion back to her place with the threat of, “There, now that the easy stuff is done, on to the torture!”  I grinned like a loon and the silly woman actually held up a stylized crucifix in defense, which was hanging from some gorgeous rosary beads from her rear view mirror.

I broke into a giggle fit.  She was really coming out of her shell.  Now I had to make sure that Valerie was powerless against her.  With what I hoped was a wicked gleam in my eyes, I attacked Gina's hair and makeup.  On the plus side, she didn't need much makeup at all.

I explained it to her, “Your natural coloring is awesome.  I'm jealous of your tone and complexion.  So all we're going to do is accentuate your puppy dog eyes a bit.  I admit they were one of the reasons I originally picked you out of the crowd.”

She was in super blush mode again.

With the barest hints of shadow and liberal use of eyeliner, drawing her lids out to catlike points, you couldn't help be be drawn to her eyes.  Then I barely highlighted her cheekbones with blusher.  I finished with a clear lip gloss and couldn't stop from feeling a little smug at the result.  It added a little edge to her bashful body language by making it almost impossible not to fixate on her lips.

She wanted to look in the mirror and I chastised her, “Not yet.  I haven't had this much fun in a long time, and you can't see until I'm done.”

She snorted. “You make me sound like a bloody science experiment.”

I wiggled my fingers in the air in front of me and said, “She's alive!”  As she giggled, I started adding a couple little green streamers in her hair which I made from some old Christmas ribbon she had lying around.  The green was a decent match to her corset.  I left one streamer flat and I curled the other with some scissors.  I fastened them with a barrette on the side of her hair that insisted on flopping cutely over her cheek all the time.

I asked if she had any jewelry, and I accessorized with some silver loop bracelets and a delicately thin silver necklace with a tiny heart charm on it.  I sat back and just grinned at the results.  If she wasn't my best friend here, I'd be drooling.

I spun her in her chair to face her full-length mirror on the back of her bedroom door.  “Taa daa!”

She blinked, then smiled and reached up to touch the ribbons in her hair lightly.  “I don't even look like me.”

I rolled my eyes.  “Poppycock.  We just brought out your natural adorableness.  We couldn't go with sex kitten because that just isn't you.  I had a great subject to work with.”

She looked at herself one last time then I gacked as she pulled me into a hug.

She almost vibrated as she started aimlessly pacing and looking at the time on her cell.

I chuckled and said, “Relax, it's just a date.”

She slowed a bit and shared, “I know.  Do you think she'll like me?”

I held up three fingers.  “Scouts honor, she's going to drool.  She already likes you or she wouldn't have accepted your clumsy attempt at asking her out.”

She smirked and shoved my shoulder.  “You're just partial because you're my friend.”

I crinkled my nose at her then said, “Drive a girl home?  That will waste some time before you need to go pick her up.”  She nodded and started walking to the door.

I chuckled and held up her purse.  “You may need this Speedy.”

She looked back then exhaled and chuckled as she took it and I slung Audrey over my shoulder.

I was mostly silent on our way to the hostel, with a mini auburn haired terror on my mind.  I needed to go talk with her.  I hated that she thought I was cheating on her.  Which makes absolutely no sense.  It wasn't like we were a couple or anything.

Gina seemed to be reading my mind as she pulled to the curb at the Oxford and laid a hand on my arm.  “Get out of your head Liza.  Just go talk to her and explain.”

I grinned at winked at her giving me sage advice.  When had our roles reversed?

I got out, unloaded my double bass, and leaned in the driver's side window and gave her a peck on the cheek.  “Will do.  Call me the moment your date ends, I want to hear everything.”

She nodded and paled, I'm sure she realized that now she was flying solo and her nerves were getting to her.  She drove off in a semi-panicked daze.  I couldn't help but smile as I watched her pulling into traffic.  She was going to do just fine.

I stowed Audrey and made a quick call to the Factory and prepared another letter to mail.  Then I couldn't put off what I really wanted to do anymore.  I called Amy.  It went straight to voicemail.  I grimaced and hung up.  This was something that had to be done face to face or it wouldn't sound sincere anyway.

I gathered my courage, stepped outside, and cued up some inspirational jazz as I put my earbuds in.  I let the music take me as I danced down the street, trying not to think of a certain annoying pixie with her awesome sarcastic smile.