London Harmony: Feel the Beat (15 page)

I blinked when the doctor shined a light into my eye a couple times then things came back into focus and I looked around me quickly and took in everyone's faces. Mum had her hands pressed to her lips in silent prayer with her expectant eyes. My Belle had never looked so pretty to me. I choked out on a tear, “I can see.”

I cried when Isabelle engulfed me in a hug. I cried a second then composed myself as I pulled back and went to wipe the tears on my sleeve. The doc caught my arm. “Slow down Miss Addison. You can't rub or wipe your eyes for a few days. There is basically just a flap of tissue over your cornea right now until it heals.” He handed me a tissue. “Just dab lightly.” I nodded and did as he said.

I looked around and mused, “This is better than my glasses. Everything is so sharp.”

He nodded as I looked at my smiling ladies. “In some cases it will be. In some cases, you still won't be able to see well close up, so you may need reading glasses.”

I nodded again, Doc Vaughn had said that already. We all listened to his recovery instructions and Belle took the prescription slips for more antibiotics and other eye drops I would need for a a few weeks. I loved how she wanted to take care of me. What had I ever done to deserve someone like her?

I found myself trying to compare how I saw now to when I was a kid. I wasn't sure if I could remember what it was like to see without glasses, but I'm sure this came close. I found it odd that if it weren't for the mugging, this might never have been possible. God certainly does work in mysterious ways.

When I was discharged, we all walked out to the car. I absently dug in my bag and pulled out my glasses as we walked. I paused with then half way to my face then smiled and made a show of dropping them back in the bag. This got some chuckles.

I bit my lower lip to stop from crying. I laid my head on Izzy's shoulder as we walked. This was possibly the happiest day of my life. A stray question came to mind.
I wonder if I can learn to drive now?

It wasn't until the following week, after I got my reading glasses and realize how it was so odd to wear feather light glasses after so many years of wearing paperweights on my face that Rayleigh and I got serious about our music again. I still reveled in how crisp the world was.

Isabelle and I sat at our place one night when Ray and Randall arrived with carry out and a box of Demo CDs. They just walked in without knocking. They were family. They knew we'd lock the door if we were... ummm... busy. We wouldn't let that happen... again.

We all sat on a sheet on the floor instead of our tiny table and traded cartons as we ate out of them with our chopsticks. We listened to one of the demo CDs as we addressed all the envelopes we were sending out to all the studios and agents we could locate.

I looked at an envelope as I stuffed a cover letter and a CD into it. “I wonder how many thousands of these studios get in a month. You think they'll even listen to them?”

Ray was upbeat. “It is better to try than not. Worst case, we can give them out or sell them when we busk. I always have people asking. We should get cards we can hand people with links to buy the tracks online. We already have them printed on the back of the demo sleeves.”

I nodded agreement. Then Ray said, “We need to drum up some business, fundage is getting low since you have been out of commission. Being back at the Garden is helping some.”

I gave her a cross look. “Well, you could have been out singing instead of hanging out with me every day. I'm not an invalid and can take care of myself lady. You should have taken that gig last week on your own.”

She shook her head. “I just saw it as a vacation with a mate. And we're a backup team.”

I smiled at the woman, and she cutely shrugged her defiance and laid her head on Randall's shoulder.

Belle said, “Sorry love, you can't argue with that much cuteness.”

I nodded. “True. Wait, who's side are you on?” She grinned at me and leaned over and kissed me gently then said, “Whose do you think?”

I blushed and melted into her side. Then sat up. “Okay, let's finish getting theses ready to post and then we can see what we can find.”

We finished up the envelopes before Rayleigh dug a stack of business cards and handwritten scraps of paper out of her purse. I skipped over to a little folder Belle made for me that had all the miscellaneous cards I had and then I stopped at my equipment case and pulled out the ones in there.

We sat and we started going through them all. Ray snickered and tossed one away. Belle snagged it and looked at it then laughed and handed it to Randall who read it and rolled his eyes. I looked around to them all. “What?”

Randall just grinned. “Another love note professing love to my girl.” I chuckled. She got those pretty frequently, but with her looks it is no wonder.

I pouted comically, “I never get love notes from creepy strangers.”

Isabelle was grinning like a mad woman. “Better not, and if you do I'd burn them.”

I snuggled into her and said as cutely as I could. “Cuz I'm yours.”

She smiled and said, “Damn straight.” Randall and Ray chuckled at our display.

We stacked the cards into separate piles, ordered by likelihood of hiring us. Belle stood up suddenly. “Wait, there's more. I put some in Abi's bag the night she was attacked.” She snagged an envelope from my bag and sat back down with us. She handed the envelope with the cash to me after she pulled out a few cards.

She sifted through them and threw out an unreadable scrap of paper into the little waste bin we were using, followed by something black that clanked as it hit the can, then she handed the rest to me to sort. Rayleigh squinted at the bin. “What was that?”

Belle shrugged and said, “Just a card with no name or anything on it. Just a number. Probably some perv.”

Both Rayleigh and I froze in place then slowly turned to the bin. I swallowed hard and Ray took a deep breath and grabbed the bin and looked in. She looked up at me then reached in and pulled out a black plastic card with a gold J on one side and a gold phone number on the other.

She looked at the card and me in shock. I whispered, “No way.” I couldn't think straight. It couldn't be, those things were just an urban legend. I was gobsmacked.

My voice was hoarse as I asked, “Is that... is that a J-Card?” Both Belle and Randall were looking at us like we had lost the plot. Ray just nodded slowly then we squealed like a couple of schoolgirls and jumped up and hugged.
This can't be real can it?

Tink was looking comically frustrated now as she asked with her crooked grin, “What are you two on about now?” The underlying laugh in her tone was coiling around my arms like satin ribbons of lavenders and blues.

I released Ray then grabbed both of Belle's hands and pulled her up as Percy, catching our excitement, threaded between our legs with his tail wagging. “You're in the music industry and you don't know what a J-Card is?” She shook her head and I pulled her back onto the ground to sit on the sheet on the floor again.

I looked at her then to an equally confused Randall and took off my reading glasses. “You know London Harmony right?”

She nodded. “That's the studio that produces J8, Tabby Cat and the like.”

I added my nod to hers as I continued, “It is an invitation only studio. That's why we didn't bother addressing one of these envelopes to them... very elite. There's an urban legend that the performers who are invited to sign with the label are slipped a card from June Harris-West herself. In the form of...” I held it up. “...A plastic card, black as the midnight sky, with a sparkling gold J on one side.” I flipped it around. “And the studio's private phone number on the other.”

I was vibrating with excitement now. “I never believed the rumors and even if I did, everyone knew it was just people in the underground music scene here in London that received the cards.”

I stared at the card and tilted my head. “So how did I even get this? We've never sang backup at a rave or anything. I think someone may be yanking my chain... but who would be that cruel.”

Ray stood and walked to my bag and pulled my mobile out and sat again, holding the device out to me. “There is only one way to find out isn't there?”

I stared at the phone like it was a coiled snake, and Belle exhaled in exasperation and took it from her and pushed it firmly into my hand. “Come on love, do it.”

I took a deep breath then slid my reading glasses on and looked at the number on the card, then to the eager faces around me. I looked at the mobile and said, “It is late at night, even if it is real, nobody would be there to take the call.”

My blue haired traitor reached over with a cute grin and turned on the mobile in my hands, then dared me with her eyes.
I'll so make her pay for this later tonight!
I nodded and exhaled and entered the number on the card and took another deep breath and put the phone on speaker and set it on the sheet in front of me.

After two rings, I started reaching for the mobile to ring off. “Well, no answer so...”

Then a grumpy sounding American woman answered, “It's Wednesday Night! This had better be good to interrupt my snuggle time!” A growling brown undertone to an otherwise melodious voice.

I didn't know what to say. This surely wasn't London Harmony. “Terribly sorry. I believe someone was just pranking me. I'll leave you to your... umm... snuggle time.” I felt like a bloody git that I fell for it.

The woman asked before I could ring off, “Wait, how did you get this number?” She sounded genuinely curious and her tone had changed to a more formal tone.

I shrugged then felt silly knowing she couldn't see it and said, “It was on the back of a black card I found in my equipment case. I didn't mean to disturb you. Just someone's attempt at tomfoolery.”

Then I somehow got the impression that the woman sat up straight, I know you can't tell that from someone's tone of voice, but that was the impression I got nonetheless. “There's only one outstanding J-Card. You must be the one woman a capella band.”

One woman... I blinked then said carefully, “I suppose that would be an apt description. Umm... not to be rude, but... who is this?”

The woman chuckled and asked, “Do you know what that card is?”

I replied even more cautiously, “It looks like one of those J-Cards I hear rumors about.”

She responded in a prompt, “So that would make me...” She left it to me.

I blinked as I started suspecting this wasn't a prank as I half said and half asked, “June Harris-West?”

She said... well, almost sang a playful, “Taa daa!” I slapped my hand over my mouth and Ray squeaked. Then she asked, “And what is your name? Abi, right?”

I blinked, still in shock and squeaked out, “Abigail. Umm, Abigail Addison.” I felt the little scar under my eye where the stitches had been twitch a bit.

Then June said, “Well Abigail, I'd like to speak with you about signing with my label. Nessie dragged me out to listen to you in the Garden and I have to admit, you floored me. It's like you are channeling the music somehow.”

I was speechless and after an awkward silence she said, “Please call me in the morning and we can set up a meeting at London Harmony to discuss this. Right now, I have some serious snuggling to do, it is Wednesday Night.” She gave the impression of Wednesday Night being a proper name and capitalized.

I nodded at the phone and my Belle nudged me in the ribs, oh! “Oh, okay. I'll call in the morning. Good night ma'am.”

She actually snorted and asked, “Good God, ma'am? I'm not that old I hope. We'll speak in the morning. Good night Abigail.” Then she rang off. I looked around to my shocked friends then three heartbeats later we ladies squealed and hugged as Randall just grinned and shook his head at our antics.

After Rayleigh and Randall had left for the night, my girl found creative ways to bleed off all of the excess excited energy I had. I was quite happy with her inventiveness as we drifted off together, my toes curled satisfyingly into balls. I wanted to purr as I held the woman I loved.

My last thought as I surrendered to that exquisite exhaustion as I felt the beat of the city outside the window was that I'd finally be able to share my music with the world.

I looked at my partners in crime as we made our way down the stairs to the studio level one floor down. I could hear Abigail's unique ad-libbing as we cracked the door open to peek inside. She could somehow make it sound like an entire band complete with backup singers the way she created loops of music and sound and tied them together seamlessly. The harmonies she could create with her own voice and the emotions she could wrap around the listener made you feel like she was part of the music, part of her own creation.

I grinned at what I saw. Vanessa and June were lost in the music as they always were dancing and swaying with their eyes closed, their heads cocked to listen intently. Mickey's hands were flying across the panels as he took cues from the hand signals we had devised with Abigail to start and stop the proper loops.

My smile got even bigger as I saw Abigail's girl standing with Sir Percival. She had such an amazing look with that blue hair and those awesome tats and piercings. She looked to me as if she had just stepped out of an anime movie and was brought to life. The thing that struck me most was the look she always shared with Abigail. Even now, they looked through the window of the isolation booth and all I could see was love and adoration. It was almost a tangible thing, like what was between June and Vannie.

The song finished and after Mickey had shut down the panel, everyone clapped and we stepped into the room. Abigail exited the isolation booth and was instantly engulfed in a hug by her lady.
Grawl, I wanted a hug too.
Abi saw me over her girl's shoulder and then grinned as she released Belle and made a cute face of resignation then held her arms open and wiggling her fingers, saying, “I know you want to Zil.”

Yay!
I nodded and dashed over for a hug. What can I say? I'm a hug slut and am proud of it. Then we turned at the squealing behind us. I smiled at the sight of Lizzie swinging her big sister side to side in a hug. June's feet were dangling almost a foot off the ground in her Amazonian tall little sister's embrace.

June asked, “What are you doing here little sis?”

She smiled with a little smirk that I swear was something all the West's shared whether they were adopted like Elizabeth was or not, and said, “I had news that I wanted to share face to face. A phone call just wouldn't do big sis.” She always got that fun twinkle in her eye calling the much shorter June big sis.

June cocked one of her meticulously shaped eyebrows and Liz brought her hands together and pressed them to her lips as something truly mischievous twinkled in her eyes. She took a breath and asked as she dipped her head a bit, the motion rippling down her shiny black hair all the way to her butt. “How would you like to be an aunt?”

Not many things in this world can make June Harris-West speechless. I can count on one hand and still have fingers left over how many times I have witnessed it. She put a hand over her mouth then searched Lizzy's eyes. Her sister smiled and nodded and June dropped her hand and hugged her tightly. “Really? Oh my god!”

She stepped back and placed her hands on her sister's tummy. Her eyes were sparkling with glee as Liz nodded and said, “Jeremy and I are having a baby.”

We all retired to the green room to celebrate, dragging Abigail and Belle with us. After catching up a bit, we all stopped and turned when a sweet lullaby filled the room. June was on her knees in front of her sister with her hands on her belly, singing to her future niece or nephew. It was mesmerizing. You could feel the emotion behind it.

When she was done, she looked around, realizing the room was silent. She blushed and stood. Abigail was staring at her with an almost accusatory look on her face. She started to say, “That was... you're... she isn't computer generated!”

We all looked around, oh crap, the J8 secret was getting harder to keep every day. Abigail mused to herself, a smile in her voice as she said, “That's why she sounds so much like Mandy Fay. Her daughter...”

June said, “Umm...” Then she looked at Vannie.

Vanessa shrugged and said, “You're going to have to come clean sometime soon. You've already proved you can do it on your own over the past two years and fifty songs.”

June looked at everyone apologetically. “I will some day. I just... I can't...”

Vanessa teased smugly, “The day you come clean with the world is the day I admit I'm your girlfriend.” Knowing June would never do it.

I almost got whiplash how quickly June said, “I got this shit!” before Vanessa could realize what she had done. June looked at Abigail and said on fast forward, “Yes, I'm J8. Pleased to meet you.”

She turned to me as Vanessa was trying to stop her. “Zil, set up a press conference for tomorrow. J8 is coming out to the world.”

Then she turned to Vanessa with possibly the smuggest expression on her face that I have ever seen on a human being. Vannie blinked then smiled. “Well shit. I walked right into that one didn't I?” Then she softened and I saw that almost electric spark between the two women, “Of course I'm your girlfriend June... haven't you figured that out already?” Then they kissed so very gently and I felt happy tears on my face.

Small Fry blurted out comically, “Oh thank god! It's about damn time!”

The two women broke the kiss and shot her mothering looks and said in unison, “Language!” We all started chuckling. Fran grinned like a Cheshire cat and put her hands up in surrender.

June and Vanessa's hands found each others like they always did, and their fingers laced. Then we all started talking. We included Abigail and Isabelle like they were old friends. At one point, Abi asked, “So just how did you find me?”

June smiled at her. “Complete and fortunate accident.” She looked at her... girlfriend, and gave her hand a squeeze. “Nessie here was at the Apple Market getting me a gift and she walked past you. She swears she stopped dead when she heard your voice and how you assembled your music on the fly. She listened intently and figured out you were taking the sounds around you to construct the rhythms.”

Vanessa shrugged and June continued, “I put you on the long list of candidates on her recommendation. But then a funny thing happened. I got a call from one of our local contacts, Ronnie Marx, and he said that a friend had mentioned this girl at the Garden that was amazing. He went to investigate and he came back with the same story about this one woman band.”

She smiled at Abi. “Then you know what happened after that? I get this call from a good friend, Tabby Cat's manager, and wife, Teresa McClellan. She went on about how she ran into one of her old students who was performing on the streets in Covent Garden and how I just had to check you out.”

She shrugged like it was nothing, “I took it as a sign that so many people whose judgments I trust had discovered this a capella talent. I thought to myself, 'How can a capella lend itself to a pop and rock label?' Vannie dragged me out to find you. It was like you were a ghost and had just disappeared off the face of the planet. We looked for weeks. I put feelers out to all of our contacts and they put the word out across the city.”

She smiled. “Then one day, out of the blue, I get this call from a man with about the deepest voice I have ever heard. He called himself Bear. He said I needed to be at the Garden that day to find who I was looking for.”

She paused in the memory. “I heard you before we even got to the corner where you were singing, and every doubt I harbored had gone up in a puff of smoke. Here was this sassy brunette singing her heart out, swaying with her eyes closed, channeling the city around her. Making more music than a single voice should be capable. You truly were an entire pop band to my ears.”

Then she shrugged like it was obvious. “I couldn't drop a J-Card into your case fast enough. The rest is history.”

I watched Abigail's reaction to the story and was struck by the look of pride on Isabelle's face as she looked at Abi. The tears running down Abigail's cheek was all the confirmation I needed that London Harmony was indeed the place that made people's dreams come true.

Now... I need a hug!