Chapter 14

Singing? As Dillan I had never liked my voice, so sang as little as possible. The only singing I had done as Sophia was to a few songs in the car with Gem. “Err...only in the car.” I replied.

“What was the last song you sang?” She asked me.

I blushed since it was one of her songs and for some reason that made me feel embarrassed. “Gratitude.”

She laughed. “Come with me.” She jumped off the couch again and headed off at a fast pace. I don't think she knows how to do anything with less than full energy.

I hurried to keep up with her. She led me to the large open plan space and the stage at one end. She jumped on the stage and then offered me a hand up. I practically flew through the air with her pull up. She then put her hands on my shoulders and led me to the front and centre of the stage, adjusted the microphone stand to my height and switched it on. She then disappeared behind me. I was left facing an empty room with Eve fiddling with something behind me. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. I thought I knew the words, but at that moment I just couldn't think of the first line. Then Eve started playing the piano and that reignited my memory.

I couldn't sing to the empty room though, so I turned the mic stand around so I was facing Eve and started on the song. It was a bit of a surreal experience. When you are singing in the car, you can still hear the artist singing, when you are singing to a microphone with just the piano giving you accompaniment, you can really hear your voice. The good and the bad is quite clear with nowhere to hide.

I didn't think I did too bad a job of it. Nothing in Eve's class, of course, but I didn't feel my voice go off, which I used to as Dillan, and I quite liked the higher tone that came naturally. When I had finished Eve looked at me with a very focussed expression. She seemed to only have too modes, still and explosive action.

“Stay here, I will be right back.” She said as she charged out of the room.

I sat on the stage looking out at the empty room. Eve was definitely a character. Full of life, passionate, and I think she would be a lot of fun. Curious and a little bit probing with her questions, but avoiding the more hurtful areas. She would make a great friend and a terrible enemy.

She came back in again with the notepad, writing while she was walking. Lisa was trailing her waiting for her to finish. Eve slowed down and stopped in front of me still writing something in her notebook. When she was done, she looked up at me and smiled. Lisa then made a pretend cough to let her know that she was behind her and wanted her attention. I had seen that in movies, but didn't really think that happened in real life.

Eve turned around to Lisa. “Have you finished already?”

“No, but Jane has arrived for your gym session.”

“Oh yeah, is it that time already?” Then she looked back at me. “If I am going to suffer, I think you should too.” She turned back to Lisa. “Do we have any workout clothes that will fit Soph?”

“We have some spare swimming costumes that can probably be used.”

None of the one piece swimming costumes fitted me, so I ended up in a bikini, purple with white dots, doing a yoga and weights session with a music Goddess, pushed to my limits by a middle aged woman in lycra. Jane appreciated my presence, since it made Eve work harder, for some reason. My body was in pretty good shape. Not as strong as I used to be by any means, but great stamina and since I had less body weight, some things felt easier. We finished the session with a few laps in the pool and then we relaxed together in the hot tub. That was where Lisa and Gem found us, drinking bottled water and luxuriating in the bubbles.

I was getting pretty tired and I think Gem was too. We got ourselves organised as quickly as possible and headed back to Gem's flat. I was hungry, but I was more tired than hungry and fell asleep in the limo that was dropping us off. It took a real effort to get myself into the flat and collapse on the bed.

Laura Kind's POV

I was looking at the time waiting for the last few minutes to tick past so that I could call Eve on the agreed time. Finally, I had some good news to tell her. I was on the flight home tomorrow and I couldn't wait to see my energizer bunny. Just a few more minutes to wait before I could tell her.

Then my phone rang. I thought about not answering hoping whoever it was would get off soon and leave me to phone Eve, but I checked to see who it was and it was Eve.

“Hi honey.” I said surprised. She always left it to me to make the phone call. Since I could be busy at any time, it was easier to arrange with the director that I would be free at a specified time for a certain time. It was even in my contract. Because of that we had agreed between us that I would initiate the call, and that was exactly what had happened every single day. Until today. Even when Gem unexpectedly called Eve to tell her that she had a family emergency and had to leave for a few days, Eve had waited for me to call before telling me everything. “Is something wrong?”

“No, I was just so excited, I couldn't wait. I have broken my block.”

“You wrote a song again. That's wonderful. I told you it had nothing to do with muses.” I told Eve. I liked and believed in some of the New Age type stuff and Eve was the sceptic, but Eve did have one superstition. She believed there were people who were able to stir her creative juices. Usually she dated them and called them her muses. Brad the arsehole model was her last muse and she hadn't managed to write anything since she dumped him and that was almost two years ago. Since she still had quite a bit of material that was in varying stages of development, it wasn't obvious, but it was probably her biggest stress.

“I wrote two songs or at least started with the idea of them. I have found my new muse.”

My heart dropped, that meant she had met someone else. Was this my being dumped call two months before we got married? “Errr... that's great hon.” I said, on the verge of tears.

“What's wrong? What did I say?” Eve asked worriedly.

“Nothing, nothing, tell me about your muse.” I said with a more normal voice. I could feel a tear running down my cheek, but I was an actress, I could act the part of friend, while my heart was breaking. I was expecting to hear about a new male Adonis type figure. I loved Eve, I truly did, so if I needed to let her go, I would do so, but he better be a decent man.

“Well, she is a fifteen year old girl that Gem brought home with her. Actually we have a great opportunity, but I needed to speak to you first.”

The relief that swept through me blew away my barriers and I started crying on the phone.

“What's the matter? Sweetie, please talk to me.” Eve begged me.

I struggled to be able to talk. “I thought you were leaving me.” I sobbed.

“Why would you think that? I love you. And I mean love you, love you. You are my soulmate, I would never leave you.”

“You have always dated your muses.” I managed to get out to explain my assumptions.

“It was the best way to keep them around. But I am committed to you. No more dating for me, especially not a fifteen year old girl. I am almost old enough to be her mother. Darling, we are getting married. I can't wait to lock you down and take you off the market. I think I should be the worried one. You are so beautiful and wasn't the last movie a romantic chick flick with kissing scenes and stuff.”

“I'm sorry. I think this being apart from you is making me an emotional mess. Good news, by the way, I am flying back tomorrow.”

“That is great. I can't wait to see you. Tell me the time and I will meet you at the airport.”

“I will text you the details, but if you go it will be a public spectacle. Could you just send the limo and we can celebrate more privately at home?”

“Definitely. I've missed you so much.” Eve replied.

“I'm looking forward to showing you how much I have missed you. Now, didn't you want to ask me something?”

“Yes. Gem has agreed to take over planning the wedding, but after talking to Soph there are a couple of challenges that they are facing.”

“And is Soph your muse?” I prompted.

“That's right. Gem is her legal guardian, I don't know what happened to her parents and I didn't want to ask. Soph is going to need a stable environment to finish her schooling and Gem's life is not set up for that just yet. She is only renting a single bed flat and after our wedding is over, is out of a job. Not only that, but in the meantime, our wedding is going to take up most of Gem's time.”

“So what were you thinking?” I asked.

“Obviously, I want to keep my muse close, they can't stay where they are and we have twenty spare bedrooms.”

“Are you talking about just until the wedding or more long term?” I queried.

“Would you be upset if I said more long term?”

“I haven't met Soph, and I'd prefer to do so before saying yes, but provisionally I don't have a problem with it. What about Gem's job?”

“Well, I have been trying to get you to agree to having your own personal assistant and stop using mine. You get on well with Gem and if she is living in our house, it could be ideal. What do you think about hiring her as your PA?”

I thought about it. Gem had been my bridal liaison rather than Eve's, but Eve didn't get on with the person the company had sent and we ended up sharing her. After most of a year I think we both considered Gem more as a friend than an employee. That was probably what I would want in a PA. Someone who could keep me organised, but at the same time would be comfortable relaxing in the hot tub after a long day. “You're right. I think she would be perfect.” I admitted to Eve.

“I won't say anything until you've had a chance to meet Soph. Is it alright if I spend time with Soph? You are not going to get jealous or anything.”

I laughed at her, my confidence in our relationship was back. “You just want to get some more song material. Of course I don't mind. Are you going to tell her?”

“You think I should?” She asked me.

“She might think it strange if you don't tell her. You don't have to tell her your superstitions, just that being around her has helped you with your creativity.”

We went through our usual love yous and missing yous. Now we also had the can't wait to see you tomorrow. When I finally managed to put the phone down, I had to collapse on the bed. That conversation was an emotional roller coaster, I felt exhausted.