to say, for some neutral topic to discuss.
“ Here ’ s your iTouch back, ” Marcus told her, sliding the iTouch across the table.
She picked it up, slid it into her pocket, and peered over at him. “ Hey, I practically gave you my whole life ’ s story yesterday, but I don ’ t know much about you. ”
“ My life ’ s pretty much an open book. What would you like to know? ”
“ I don ’ t know. Tell me about your family. Is Dwight your only sibling? ”
“ Yeah. ”
“ Did you grow up here in Vancouver? ” It seemed like getting him to respond with more than one word answers was going to be a difficult task.
“ No, on Vancouver Island. My parents still live there. They run a bed and breakfast slash water buffalo farm in Duncan. ”
“ Oh, cool. What do you do with water buffalo? ” she asked, genuinely curious.
“ You use the milk to make yogurt and cheese. You know that mozzarella you liked so much at Granville Island Market? It ’ s one of ours. ”
“ Wow! ” She was impressed. Putting her chin in her hands, she raised one eyebrow. “ Did you have to milk them? ”
“ Hell, yeah. Dwight and I both. ”
She laughed. “ I can ’ t imagine. You and Dwight as farm boys, that I ’ d like to see! ”
Marcus sat back. “ That could be arranged. You should come to the farm this weekend. We ’ re all heading to the island for Thanksgiving. You could fly out with Dwight and me. ” He pulled out his cell phone.
“ Thanksgiving? But it ’ s only October. ”
“ Canadians celebrate it earlier, the second Monday of this month, ” he explained. “ We have plenty of room at the house. The B and B shuts down for the holiday. My mom would love it. She ’ s been dying to meet you. Everything closes down here in the city, too. You might as well. Say yes. ”
“ Ok. Ok. If you get your mom ’ s approval, I would love to come. ”
“ Cool. ” He selected recent calls off his phone log. His mom or dad called every day since rehab to check on him. “ Hey, mom … Yeah, I ’ m fine … Yes, I ’ m still coming … No, I ’ m not pushing myself too hard … No, mom. No, the songwriting ’ s going great … Hey, can I get a word in edgewise? Thanks, mom. Listen- I wanted to bring Avery over to stay with us for the holiday. Would that be alright with you? I know, I told him that. Ok, see you then. Thanks. Perfect. Love you, too. Bye. ”
“ See, told you. Done, ” he concluded, like he was the winning lawyer in a court case. He glanced outside, then back at Avery. “ Now that we ’ re warm and fueled up, do you think we can make the rest of the circuit? ”
“ Yeah. Hopefully it ’ s not as cold outside as it was earlier. ”
Fortunately, the sun had emerged. They biked and explored until they were both worn out. When they were done, Ray was dutifully waiting for them in the aquarium parking lot, which was now packed with people.
Back at the hotel, Avery smiled. Money to pay Campanella soon to be delivered. Spending the day with Marcus. It had been a really, really good day. She collapsed on the bed, an exhausted but contented heap.
CHAPTER 14
“ We plan to release ‘ Brothers ’ as the first single, ” Mary announced to the group as they gathered around the conference table at Black Cat the next morning. “ It ’ s strong enough to generate buzz for the album, which given Marcus and Avery ’ s current pace, should be done soon. ”
Marcus smiled over at Avery. She just shook her head, a little intimidated by this formal promotional meeting.
“ We also plan to amp up the national media interest in the band. ” Marcus shifted uneasily as Mary turned to focus on him. “ You ’ re not going to be happy about this, but I ’ ve scheduled an interview with Carter Besille this afternoon. ”
“ Not interested, ” Marcus said flatly.
“ Listen, Marcus. ” Mary held up her hand. “ He ’ s in town to interview some actors and approached us
“ Here ’ s your iTouch back, ” Marcus told her, sliding the iTouch across the table.
She picked it up, slid it into her pocket, and peered over at him. “ Hey, I practically gave you my whole life ’ s story yesterday, but I don ’ t know much about you. ”
“ My life ’ s pretty much an open book. What would you like to know? ”
“ I don ’ t know. Tell me about your family. Is Dwight your only sibling? ”
“ Yeah. ”
“ Did you grow up here in Vancouver? ” It seemed like getting him to respond with more than one word answers was going to be a difficult task.
“ No, on Vancouver Island. My parents still live there. They run a bed and breakfast slash water buffalo farm in Duncan. ”
“ Oh, cool. What do you do with water buffalo? ” she asked, genuinely curious.
“ You use the milk to make yogurt and cheese. You know that mozzarella you liked so much at Granville Island Market? It ’ s one of ours. ”
“ Wow! ” She was impressed. Putting her chin in her hands, she raised one eyebrow. “ Did you have to milk them? ”
“ Hell, yeah. Dwight and I both. ”
She laughed. “ I can ’ t imagine. You and Dwight as farm boys, that I ’ d like to see! ”
Marcus sat back. “ That could be arranged. You should come to the farm this weekend. We ’ re all heading to the island for Thanksgiving. You could fly out with Dwight and me. ” He pulled out his cell phone.
“ Thanksgiving? But it ’ s only October. ”
“ Canadians celebrate it earlier, the second Monday of this month, ” he explained. “ We have plenty of room at the house. The B and B shuts down for the holiday. My mom would love it. She ’ s been dying to meet you. Everything closes down here in the city, too. You might as well. Say yes. ”
“ Ok. Ok. If you get your mom ’ s approval, I would love to come. ”
“ Cool. ” He selected recent calls off his phone log. His mom or dad called every day since rehab to check on him. “ Hey, mom … Yeah, I ’ m fine … Yes, I ’ m still coming … No, I ’ m not pushing myself too hard … No, mom. No, the songwriting ’ s going great … Hey, can I get a word in edgewise? Thanks, mom. Listen- I wanted to bring Avery over to stay with us for the holiday. Would that be alright with you? I know, I told him that. Ok, see you then. Thanks. Perfect. Love you, too. Bye. ”
“ See, told you. Done, ” he concluded, like he was the winning lawyer in a court case. He glanced outside, then back at Avery. “ Now that we ’ re warm and fueled up, do you think we can make the rest of the circuit? ”
“ Yeah. Hopefully it ’ s not as cold outside as it was earlier. ”
Fortunately, the sun had emerged. They biked and explored until they were both worn out. When they were done, Ray was dutifully waiting for them in the aquarium parking lot, which was now packed with people.
Back at the hotel, Avery smiled. Money to pay Campanella soon to be delivered. Spending the day with Marcus. It had been a really, really good day. She collapsed on the bed, an exhausted but contented heap.
CHAPTER 14
“ We plan to release ‘ Brothers ’ as the first single, ” Mary announced to the group as they gathered around the conference table at Black Cat the next morning. “ It ’ s strong enough to generate buzz for the album, which given Marcus and Avery ’ s current pace, should be done soon. ”
Marcus smiled over at Avery. She just shook her head, a little intimidated by this formal promotional meeting.
“ We also plan to amp up the national media interest in the band. ” Marcus shifted uneasily as Mary turned to focus on him. “ You ’ re not going to be happy about this, but I ’ ve scheduled an interview with Carter Besille this afternoon. ”
“ Not interested, ” Marcus said flatly.
“ Listen, Marcus. ” Mary held up her hand. “ He ’ s in town to interview some actors and approached us
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