Nashville SEAL: Jameson: Nashville SEALs (12 page)

“Lizzie, where will we get the money for our tickets?” he said as he sat.

“Our tickets? I thought you said Thomas would pay for your ride. Jameson, you go.” Lizzie grabbed the chair beside him, taking his hand in hers.

“No, I’m not going without you.”

“Sweetheart, it’s okay. You go. That way you can focus on speaking with the execs, give Thomas the pat on the back he’s always wanted from you. It would mean a lot to him. And then you come back home. To me. And I’ll fix you right up. I promise you.”

‡

J
ameson was surprised
Kyle agreed to do battle for him, and get permission for the trip to Nashville. He dug out a couple of his “lucky shirts” he’d nearly tossed some time ago before Lizzie had stopped him. They fit him tight, just like before. His SEAL physique was heavy now that they’d had the workup to deployment. But he’d always been in shape when he was performing, just not spending as much time in the gym as now.

He was sad to miss the Saturday beach barbeque with the team families, but was glad Lizzie was going. He said goodbye to his girls at the airport and was on his way., catching the early non-stop flight Thomas had arranged. He promised to let her know when he’d landed safely in Nashville. Thomas had booked him a room at the Millennium House, and he’d left all that information, along with his return flight, with Lizzie.

“Break a leg, Jameson.”

“Honey when we say break a leg, we mean it. So don’t go saying that, okay?”

“Sorry.” She hung her head. Charlotte was clutching her father’s leg. He tipped her chin up toward him and planted a kiss, and sang, “Mm-Mm kisses sweeter than wine…”

She blushed at first, but then kissed him back with all the desperate need in her soul. “Come back to me safe. I want you to have a good time, but keep Thomas out of trouble, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am. Not to worry, Lizzie. I think he’s got his act together, finally.”

“I hope so.” She clutched his paperwork and waited for them to be separated.

“You got my boarding pass?”

She handed the papers back to him, and he pulled out what he needed. “Can’t go very far without this.” He kissed her again. “Sweet dreams, baby. I’m gonna sing to you up there on stage. I know you’ll feel it.”

“I know I will too. I love you, Jameson.”

“Love you too.”

The announcer paged his name as being late for his flight. He gave Charlotte a hug and kiss and ran as fast as his long legs could carry him until he got to the gate. He turned and waved to the two of them standing behind the plastic barrier, just before he entered the gangway. The door slammed loud behind him, making the trip final.

Thomas picked him
up at the airport in a brand new black SUV.

“Spending your money before it’s sent, are we, Thomas?”

“Oh, I got some funds for promo. This isn’t mine, but I’m taking over the lease when sales start coming in.”

“So it’s a done deal?” Jameson said as he placed his carryon bag and guitar in the second seat.

“Yup. You are officially lookin’ at a Sony Music Recording Artist!”

Jameson punched Thomas in the arm as the two left the airport. “So, how did you score the Starwood?” Jameson asked.

“I got this manager, a friend of Candy’s from the Halfway? And oh, man, we had ourselves a party there on Wednesday night. Just like the old days, Jameson. Ladies from wall to wall.”

It didn’t interest Jameson, but he was happy for Thomas. The man looked ten years younger. “So of course you did some sampling.”

“You bet I did. Is it my imagination, or are the women hotter these days? I mean, I was shown things I’ve never even seen in a flick, you know?”

Jameson was nodding, looking at the scenery buzzing by. All of it had been familiar to him at one time, but now it seemed lackluster. He was warming to the bright sun and blue skies in San Diego and to the greens and golds of Sonoma County. Nashville didn’t hold any magic for him now. And something else was different. He was actually nervous.

He remembered Thomas’ performance at his wedding and wanted to ask him the question that had been nagging him. “So you write more lines to that song we started? The one you played at our wedding.”

“As a matter of fact, I did. You’ll see.”

“You’re playing it tonight?”

“Indeed I am.”

This worried Jameson. Thomas should have obeyed the rules of respect between artists and asked him first. One thing to hear it at the wedding, but another to go playing it in front of five thousand people.

“Shouldn’t we have talked about this?”

“I thought you would have when you heard it.”

“I was a little busy trying to romance my bride.”

“We’ll have a little chat after tonight. We should talk about it. I agree.” He began to slow down, the theater coming into view. “So you got a couple songs you can sing, things you might want to peddle?”

“Maybe.”

“You wanna have a chair all by yourself, or do you want some backup? The band’s real first class. I was rehearsing with them yesterday afternoon, when I sobered up.”

“Careful on that, Thomas. You know you can go overboard.”

“Oh hell, Jameson, you don’t regret letting an older guy have a little fun? Who knows, maybe I can save up for a facelift or some tucks here and there.” He extended his chin and rubbed against it with the backs of his fingers. “I just can’t believe my luck.” Thomas kept glancing between the road and Jameson’s expression. “You all right now? I’m sure happy you came out here to help me launch.”

“I’m fine. I’m happily married, Thomas. That’s where my gold is. But I sure do love seeing you hit yours. You’ve worked a long time, played in a lot of places we don’t even want to talk about.”

“Ain’t that the truth? I guess it was worth it.”

“Just pace yourself. Don’t blow it being stupid. You want a long career, not an exceptionally bright and short one. Shooting star and all? Remember that talk you used to give me when things were starting to gel?”

“I still think if you hadn’t met those SEALs you’d have done well for yourself, Jameson. They’re looking for real legitimate songwriters, not just pretty boys to sit up there and croon. Heck, Willie and Waylon—they made more money as old guys than they did when they was young. I’m like a bottle of your fine wine, aged to perfection.”

Jameson chuckled. “More like stewed.”

“Hey! Don’t go doin’ that. No complaints. I paid for your ticket and your room, remember?”

He was right, Jameson thought. A tiny part of him was a bit jealous. When he compared his methodical habits, the work ethic he had about producing new music, keeping himself in shape and not drinking too much on the road—keeping it between the lines with the ladies as much as possible—he was nothing like his best friend sitting next to him in the truck. Those habits didn’t get him a record deal, but they did lead him on the path he was on right now. And that was the real one he wanted. It wasn’t just what he told himself. It was the truth.

“I apologize, Thomas. You’ll have to forgive me if the old green-eyed monster raises his ugly head from time to time. I’ll get over it as soon as I get home and Lizzie gives me that big kiss I’ve been promised.”

“No offense taken, Jameson. I know how it must feel. But to tell the truth, you did the right thing. Your little lady is the prettiest thing I’ve seen. Your daughter is precious. That’s not going to be part of my future. So I’m just kicking up hay while I can.”

“Fair enough.” The silence was good for them. Thomas had a way of relaxing him, the constant for so many years. He would have done anything for Jameson back before his decision to join the Navy. Jameson had left him out in the cold, on his own. If anyone should be sore, it should be him. But none of that needed to be expressed. It was just understood.

“So, we stop by for a little sound check first, then head over to the suites to get ready.”

“Suites?”

“I got you a nice place, Jameson. Big old jetted tub, king bed, with a view overlooking downtown Nashville. You open those windows and you’ll hear music all night long, if you want.”

“I’ll be sleeping, I’m sure. Been awhile since I’ve been up on stage, for even two songs. And that’s all I’m planning on playing, if it’s okay with you.”

“Fine by me. You want to open?”

“You mean open the opener?”

Thomas laughed. “That’s it. I’ll wander on stage at the end of your second song—which one are you singing?”

“She’s Got My Eyes.”

“Oh, that’s a beauty. You’ll have all the ladies in a stampede.”

“That’s not what I’m here for. How many times do I have to say it, Thomas?” Jameson’s irritation was dampening his mood. “Quit putting that action in my night. I’m not doing anything like that.”

“Oh hell, I was just joking. I know that. I’ll stop teasing you now that I see you’re sensitive about that.”

Jameson didn’t like that Lizzie had to trust him. Was he afraid he’d slip back into his old ways? He didn’t think so, but he wasn’t looking forward to appearing that he did. He wished he didn’t have to perform and look available when he wasn’t. But it was part of how he had to play the game. Give them the fantasy.

“Not sensitive, my friend. Just damn careful. I’m like a teenager with his first car. Been doing nothing but being an old married man and father. But I’m not perfect, and damn, I still like to look.”

“I’ll just bet you do.”

They parked outside a side entrance to the ampitheater. The open-air venue looked like a football stadium in the daytime. At night with all the lights and screaming fans, it would feel smaller. Of course, maybe there wouldn’t be any screaming fans for him. That was his job, to help warm them up.

He followed Thomas through the door, avoiding some young skinny music movers who were hauling in equipment. The hair color and piercings, along with full sleeves of tats told him everything he needed to know about the young star from Calgary. Jameson also knew the crowd would be young, not his usual fans. He was suddenly relieved by that.

“I gotta warn you. They don’t drink. But man, do they smoke weed. They won’t mind if we have a bottle of Jack on the stage, either.

The stage looked like a movie set from a Roman gladiator movie. Huge white imitation stone columns stood in a cluster, one positioned to look like a ruin and was broken, on its side. Large sheets of shiny fabric blew in the wind in deep golds and blue colors. One of the band members was playing with a smoke machine until another handler complained he couldn’t see the hookups he was in charge of getting right.

The band would be on a sloping dais. A brass-colored plate hung from the ceiling at the back, behind where the band would sit. On it were carved the initials SB.

“I don’t get the columns and crap, Thomas. What’s the message here?”

“I don’t know. I remember the days when we had bales of hay and scarecrows—beats me. But the ladies love it. Dramatic. I guess he likes to be Emperor, not king.”

“He an okay guy?”

“Well judge for yourself.” Thomas shook the hand of a skinny boy nearly ten years younger than Jameson was, wearing heavy eye makeup, in tight golden brown pants, silk slippers that curled up in the front and a flowered robe hanging open against his hairless white chest. He wore several earrings on one side, his hair stiff and tufted with gel at all angles.

“Sonny, I’d like you to meet Jameson Daniels, the finest songwriter there is.”

“Thomas here says you got some songs for me to buy. I can’t wait to hear them, man.”

Jameson broke the handshake, hoping he wasn’t looking too obviously angry, but his insides flew into a boil. He wanted to strangle Thomas, hang him by his testicles by one of the light standards.

Sonny left, along with his entourage of other young men, also wearing eye makeup.

“He’s just a kid, Jameson. I brought you out here to play for your producer and a couple other people, not for this punk.”

‡

O
n the way
home, Lizzie took Charlotte to her favorite pancake house. The morning was still young. They took their time. She didn’t want to go home to the empty house just yet. She needed a bit of space to experience the fact that Jameson was gone, not permanently, but her Friday night would be alone with Charlotte, just like all the old days when it was just the two of them. It would be so again tonight. She was used to it, but that didn’t stop her from feeling sad.