Never Enough (35 page)
“That’s because she doesn’t,” Miles called out. “Mum doesn’t flash her knickers in public. This boat stuff is awesome.”
“I’ve been considering buying a boat. Want to come with and help me pick one out?” Adrian asked Miles, a smile on his face. Gillian wanted to sigh but couldn’t bear to be bristly over it.
“Where would you keep it? You can’t off your house.”
“There are several marinas near enough. Or I can buy a house with a dock. What do you think, Miles?”
“I think you should buy a house on Bainbridge. Have a big studio built. You could have a boat dock right there.”
Adrian cocked his head and took Miles in carefully. Gillian held her breath because she’d been thinking the exact same thing but hadn’t wanted to bring it up in the wake of their stalled conversation about living together.
“Would you like that? For us to live in the same place?”
“Duh!”
“Miles, what did we say about
duh
?” Gillian let the heat soak into her bones as she cracked an eye open to take in her boy.
duh
?” Gillian let the heat soak into her bones as she cracked an eye open to take in her boy.
“Aunt Erin says it.”
“Your aunt is an adult and your mother just told you not to do something. That’s enough, Miles.”
Well
.
.
Miles was just as surprised at Adrian’s fatherly interruption as Gillian had been. But probably didn’t react the same way she did. It made her all flustered and flattered that he’d parent with her that way. And it made her proud that he’d reinforced one of her rules.
“Sorry, Mum.” He ducked his head a moment in a perfect Brown mimicry.
Adrian clapped his son on the shoulder. “Mistakes happen. Now you were going to tell me how you felt about us living in the same house.”
Nicely done, Dad.
“I like seeing you all the time. But when I’m at your house on the weekends I miss practice with the band and miss my friends. It’d be cool if you lived nearer.”
Gillian sat up straighter, but didn’t interfere.
“Yeah, that’s a good point. But the good part is, we can agree on the living together thing?”
“I’d like that a lot.” Miles looked up to the man he resembled so strongly. His grin was huge, reminding her that he had an ortho appointment before they were to go to Whistler.
“Your mum seems to like the idea too.”
She liked that Adrian used the word
mum
when he referred to her. It was a silly little thing she knew, but it still meant something. Made it feel like a family.
mum
when he referred to her. It was a silly little thing she knew, but it still meant something. Made it feel like a family.
“I do.”
Miles turned his smile to her. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Seems like we need to start working on a solution then.” Adrian smiled while he spoke, eyes on the horizon.
“So, tell me about this producer you’re meeting tomorrow?” she asked as they sat on the back lawn some hours later.
“He’s Reg Thorne.”
“Ah. Yes, I know of him. He’s done a great many records that are on my favorites list. Are you looking to make a change in sound?”
“Why didn’t you pursue a career in music? I mean”—he turned to her—“you went to this big-time school and that means you’re damned good. I’ve heard you play, I know you’re good. So why are you doing marketing and piano lessons instead of being on a stage?”
“That’s a program change, isn’t it?”
“I figure we can share on this one. I’m nervous. I admit it. Humor me.”
“Nervous why? My goodness, Adrian, you’re not only gifted, you’re very successful.”
“Answer my questions.”
She sighed. “Because not everyone gets a blue ribbon. You should know that more than most. Yes, I’m good. I’m very talented, as a matter of fact. Of the people playing piano, I’m up there, of course. Just not quite enough. If I’d started earlier or had more lessons. If, if, if. Anyway, I did some studio work for a while in my last years at school. I wanted to be a concert pianist and that just didn’t work out. I’m good. Just not
that
good. And then Miles came along and what was I to do? I’d been living in a grotty little apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, which is one thing for a young adult, another entirely for a newborn. And how would I pay for rent if I stayed home? How would I take care of a baby if I was at auditions and taking all the extra classes and jobs I could, which were often in the evenings. I made a choice and I’ve never regretted it. I have my music still. In fact, Elise asked if I’d be willing to do
Carmina Burana
for her school.”
that
good. And then Miles came along and what was I to do? I’d been living in a grotty little apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, which is one thing for a young adult, another entirely for a newborn. And how would I pay for rent if I stayed home? How would I take care of a baby if I was at auditions and taking all the extra classes and jobs I could, which were often in the evenings. I made a choice and I’ve never regretted it. I have my music still. In fact, Elise asked if I’d be willing to do
Carmina Burana
for her school.”
“She did?” Adrian grinned, kissing her knuckles. “Neither of you told me!”
“She only asked me via text earlier today. They’re doing a joint performance with a choral group. There’s a version of it for two pianos instead of a full orchestra. It’s a challenging but really wonderful piece. I told her I would. It’s in March.”
“Congratulations. I can’t wait to hear it. As for the rest, well, you chose Miles. Every time you choose our son.” He kissed her softly. “That makes me love you even more. You gave it up for him.”
“I gave it up because chances were that even though I could have made some money and gotten gigs, it wouldn’t have worked with me as the single mother to a young child. Life is all a benefit/cost analysis, Adrian. You make choices much the same every day. You could be on tour right now making even more money but you chose to take time with your family. And you’re making this choice to try something new because it feeds you artistically. That’s important. Making good choices is important.”
“I want to try something darker and harder. I’ve been writing a lot lately. Since I found out about Miles. I have some songs I think are pretty amazing, Erin agrees. And if Reg agrees to take me on, it could be a big bust or a career change. Either way, I can afford something that doesn’t quite make as much money and I feel like I have this small period of time to take some chances.”
“I’m excited for you. I can’t wait to hear the songs and I have zero doubt you’ll be hugely successful. How can Thorne not like you?”
“He’s mercurial. He only takes projects that appeal to him on a personal level and he only works a few times a year.”
“All right then, how do we make him choose you?”
He laughed. “Ah man, that’s better. You make things better. Thank you. I’m going to play a few songs for him tomorrow. Just me and my guitar, he says. I told Miles he could come watch, but he has to stay in the booth. Do you think he can do it? Would you go with him?”
“Yes, he can handle it and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than listening to you.”
“It won’t be the whole time. There’s a private, one-on-one meeting first and then if he likes my pitch, he’ll ask to hear the material. Jeremy will come to breakfast tomorrow. He’s on a red-eye tonight from Los Angeles. He’s got a pitch worked up for me. Thank God for him, that’s all I can say. We’ll all go over together.”
He tipped his head back and looked up at the sky. “You know, all I could think of when I was away from you both was how I was looking up at stars you couldn’t see and how much I hated it. I’ve never been much convinced a man could have a good balance between career and personal life, but you and Miles give me hope. I feel like when I talk about music you understand. That he understands too.”
“We both do. I love to hear you talk about music. It’s like you open up a super secret place inside and let me in.”
“You and Miles are there now too. My most special things.”
She blinked away tears. “He told you about that?”
“He did. I like the most special thing idea. I like being able to talk to you and have you know what I mean.”
“Well, I don’t know much about how the music industry works at your level. I just know it’s hard to expose what you bring out from inside to the public. And it’s harder for you than it ever was for me. People fill arenas to see you. That’s some serious exposure there.”
He stood up and pulled her close. There, under the stars, across the country from home, she swayed with him to a song only he knew but she felt like she’d heard before. Wanted to hear it again.
“Adrian! Hey, is that you? Do you want to introduce your lady to the viewers at home?”
That this was bellowed through a bullhorn from a tiny boat some hundred yards away did not mitigate Gillian’s distress. Adrian put her behind him and backed into the house where Gavin was.
“Gavin, we’ve got company. Paps know we’re here.”
“On it. I just checked on Miles, he’s sound asleep, but I’m setting the alarm when I go out. You two stay in here. I’ll handle the authorities.”
Gavin swung his bulk from the seat he’d been occupying. Within hearing, but giving Adrian and Gillian privacy.
“Damn it. I didn’t even get twenty-four hours. One of the neighbors might have tipped them off for a couple of bucks. Or they followed us from the airport earlier. Who knows. We need to move.”
“Neighbors call the media? Really? You think they’d hate having the press here with all the noise and nosiness.”
“People do it all the time. Once it amazed me. Now I suppose I’ve just gotten used to it.”
“That’s ridiculous! Why should you get used to people selling your privacy for money? These people live in huge waterfront mansions. Unless they need to pay for a liver transplant, selling out other humans to the media is unacceptable!”
“God help me, I adore you, English.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“Do we really need to move? This house seems very self-contained. I’m fine with whatever you decide, but I don’t necessarily think we have to move right away. Will they swarm up onto the lawn?”
“No. That’s private property. They’ll camp on the street out front and then on the canal outside, all waiting with cameras to get a glimpse. I’m not as exciting as some others, or hell, as exciting as Brandon is, so there’ll be five instead of fifteen. But that’s five people with cameras trying to get a picture of my son. I’m not down with that.”
She took his cheeks in her hands and tipped his head so she could reach up to kiss him. “I love when you protect him.”
“Of course I do. He’s my son. You’re my woman. You don’t need to have pictures of every trip to get gas or coffee run on gossip sites. I have to deal with it, but you two don’t. I won’t have it.”
Gavin came in some minutes later. “There’s another who just showed up. Cops arrived, chased them off but they know just how far to stay offshore. Stick to the roof or the indoor pool and you’ll be all right. Cope wants me to ask you about adding another person to security while you’re here, and also if you’d like to move to a place in a high-rise? He’s got several contacts through the record company. Pap-free building, though you’d be losing the pool.” He shrugged.
“What’s your perspective on it?” Adrian asked, patting his pants pocket. Looking for cigarettes he’d ceased smoking some years before, she knew. Old habits die hard, as she knew very well.
“This house has great security. Anyone comes onto the dock and lights and sirens come on. Anyone tries to enter the house and same. I do think two of us running interference would be good, especially as you’ll be heading into town tomorrow and then up to Orlando. If you do the parks, it’ll be nice to have us around just to give you some space in case you’re recognized.”
Which of course he would be.
This made her appreciate Seattle even more. Most of the time he was left alone and she knew he liked it that way.
“I’ll talk to Cope myself. But let’s get the extra guard here. I want him on Miles and I want someone with weapons knowledge.”
“Weapons knowledge?” she asked weakly.
“I told you it could get hairy out there sometimes. Chances are we won’t need it. But should anyone even try to throw down, you’d be amazed at what a former Navy SEAL or an ex–special forces Marine like Gavin here can do to defuse it.”
“I’m going to go check on Miles.”
She knew he was all right. Knew it in her heart and also trusted Gavin on his word, specifically because Adrian did. But she had to see him herself.
“Go on up, English. I’ve got calls to make. There are movies in our room you might want to check out.
Audition
is one of them.”
Audition
is one of them.”
She shivered. “That one is so creepy. I won’t start without you, I promise.”
After standing over Miles where he’d sprawled on the big bed, she also checked the door to the balcony, making sure it was bolted, which it was. She left his door open, knowing she’d feel better if she could hear him if he woke up.
She liked this house. It was palatial, yes, but someone lived here too. It was nicer than a hotel room would be, though she’d go along with whatever Adrian and his team decided.
“Andy, tell me the news,” he said when Cope answered.
“First things first, everyone all right?”
“Yeah. Pap just yelled from his boat asking if I wanted to introduce Gillian to the readers at home. Fuck. Um, no, I don’t! I don’t want my kid in the rags and risk him seeing twenty-five-year-old losers living at home ripping his appearance to shreds. Or saying Gillian isn’t pretty enough or that she should wear makeup to Tart or whatever. I sure as hell don’t like it when they do it to me. I’m not going to tolerate my family being pulled into it.”
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