someone who can encourage the artists to stay true to
their vision, ‘cause we both know that’s the only way fans are gonna buy what
they’re sellin’.”
Trey smiled. “Now
you really sound like your old man, kid. I remember in the beginnin’ of my
career, Luc told me I should never try to be someone I think the fans want me
to be ‘cause they’ll know I’m just tryin’ to sell them a bill of goods. I
should always stay true to myself, acknowledge my flaws, make the kind of music
I’d want to listen to, and appreciate each and every person who buys one of the
records ‘cause they’re the reason I get to wake up and do somethin’ I love
every day.”
Evan grinned.
“Sounds like somethin’ Dad would say.” Luc had been responsible for so many
legendary musicians in his career for a reason. He was the best, and Evan was
proud to be his son, to be given the opportunity to fill his enormous shoes.
“You’re so much
like him, Ev. But you’re different in a lot of ways too. It took him a while to
figure out what was really important in life, but he got there eventually. I’m
not gonna lie. I’m worried about whether you’ll ever sort it out.”
Trey had always
been someone he could confide in, so he didn’t hesitate to tell him about his
game plan with Erika. “I’m gettin’ there. In fact, that’s what this proposition
is about. I want to bring you on board so I can start to make time for a
healthy relationship. I want a wife and a family, and I still want the woman I
build that life with to be Erika. I don’t believe it’s too late to turn things
around and make her believe I’ve changed, but I know if I wait much longer, it
will be too late.” He drew a deep breath. “I’m kinda askin’ this as a favor,
Uncle Trey. Will you help me out?”
Trey grinned and extended
his hand. “Hell, you know all you had to do was ask.”
Evan felt a weight
lift as he shook Trey’s hand. “Thanks, man. You don’t know how much this means
to me.”
“Hey, what are
families for?”
***
Erika tried to
slip in to the room without waking Anna, but her roommate was lying in bed
watching TV. Jeff had wanted to share her room, but she wasn’t comfortable with
that arrangement, given the fact her ex was sleeping just down the hall.
“Are you okay?”
Anna asked, looking up at her.
“I don’t know,” she
said honestly, sinking down on the edge of her bed. “Evan and I had a long
talk. He’s ready to move on.”
“I find that hard
to believe. Anyone can see that he’s still in love with you.”
“I don’t think
that’s the issue,” Erika said, staring blankly at the screen. “We realize we
could never be happy together. We grew so far apart during the last year or two
of our relationship. We started wanting different things out of life.”
Anna turned the TV
off and turned toward her, curling up in the fetal position with the down duvet
tucked under her chin. “I know what you mean. I’m beginning to wonder whether
Tom and I are on different paths as well.”
Erika was
surprised to hear Anna questioning her relationship with her fiancée. They’d
been together for several years, and when he hadn’t accompanied her to family
functions recently, Erika just assumed he was busy with his residency at the
hospital.
“Are you guys
having problems?” Erika asked, kicking off her sandals and moving to the center
of the bed. “Is that why he didn’t come to the wedding?”
“No, he couldn’t
get away from work. We’re not really having problems, it’s just…” She bit her
lip, as though trying to find the words to express her confusion. “He’s
fielding offers from hospitals in other states. I knew relocating was a
possibility when he proposed and I thought I was okay with it, but now…”
“You’re not so
sure?”
“Yeah, is that
bad? I mean, I made a promise to him. I should be willing to honor that,
right?”
Erika smiled at
her friend. “Honey, you have to do
their vision, ‘cause we both know that’s the only way fans are gonna buy what
they’re sellin’.”
Trey smiled. “Now
you really sound like your old man, kid. I remember in the beginnin’ of my
career, Luc told me I should never try to be someone I think the fans want me
to be ‘cause they’ll know I’m just tryin’ to sell them a bill of goods. I
should always stay true to myself, acknowledge my flaws, make the kind of music
I’d want to listen to, and appreciate each and every person who buys one of the
records ‘cause they’re the reason I get to wake up and do somethin’ I love
every day.”
Evan grinned.
“Sounds like somethin’ Dad would say.” Luc had been responsible for so many
legendary musicians in his career for a reason. He was the best, and Evan was
proud to be his son, to be given the opportunity to fill his enormous shoes.
“You’re so much
like him, Ev. But you’re different in a lot of ways too. It took him a while to
figure out what was really important in life, but he got there eventually. I’m
not gonna lie. I’m worried about whether you’ll ever sort it out.”
Trey had always
been someone he could confide in, so he didn’t hesitate to tell him about his
game plan with Erika. “I’m gettin’ there. In fact, that’s what this proposition
is about. I want to bring you on board so I can start to make time for a
healthy relationship. I want a wife and a family, and I still want the woman I
build that life with to be Erika. I don’t believe it’s too late to turn things
around and make her believe I’ve changed, but I know if I wait much longer, it
will be too late.” He drew a deep breath. “I’m kinda askin’ this as a favor,
Uncle Trey. Will you help me out?”
Trey grinned and extended
his hand. “Hell, you know all you had to do was ask.”
Evan felt a weight
lift as he shook Trey’s hand. “Thanks, man. You don’t know how much this means
to me.”
“Hey, what are
families for?”
***
Erika tried to
slip in to the room without waking Anna, but her roommate was lying in bed
watching TV. Jeff had wanted to share her room, but she wasn’t comfortable with
that arrangement, given the fact her ex was sleeping just down the hall.
“Are you okay?”
Anna asked, looking up at her.
“I don’t know,” she
said honestly, sinking down on the edge of her bed. “Evan and I had a long
talk. He’s ready to move on.”
“I find that hard
to believe. Anyone can see that he’s still in love with you.”
“I don’t think
that’s the issue,” Erika said, staring blankly at the screen. “We realize we
could never be happy together. We grew so far apart during the last year or two
of our relationship. We started wanting different things out of life.”
Anna turned the TV
off and turned toward her, curling up in the fetal position with the down duvet
tucked under her chin. “I know what you mean. I’m beginning to wonder whether
Tom and I are on different paths as well.”
Erika was
surprised to hear Anna questioning her relationship with her fiancée. They’d
been together for several years, and when he hadn’t accompanied her to family
functions recently, Erika just assumed he was busy with his residency at the
hospital.
“Are you guys
having problems?” Erika asked, kicking off her sandals and moving to the center
of the bed. “Is that why he didn’t come to the wedding?”
“No, he couldn’t
get away from work. We’re not really having problems, it’s just…” She bit her
lip, as though trying to find the words to express her confusion. “He’s
fielding offers from hospitals in other states. I knew relocating was a
possibility when he proposed and I thought I was okay with it, but now…”
“You’re not so
sure?”
“Yeah, is that
bad? I mean, I made a promise to him. I should be willing to honor that,
right?”
Erika smiled at
her friend. “Honey, you have to do
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