CHAPTER ELEVEN
TOMMY
Speculation about the fate of the band is rife. Jesus, news travels fast, especially when it’s bad.
I notice my head of security, Ray, has added a few extra bodies to his team this morning as I leave my apartment building. Thank fuck he did. Barriers on the street contain fans and press, while police do their best to keep order. It’s pretty wild.
I arrive at Ash and Calla’s New York brownstone to find it’s just as manic.
Wall-to-wall bodies line the pavements and it’s a nightmare getting out of the car, but again, Ray and his team are there to guide me through.
I acknowledge Max and Ash’s security guys at the door, and Ray walks me inside before he joins them.
“Hi, Tommy. Come on through,” Calla says, waving me in. “How are you holding up?”
I’m unsure how to answer. I don’t know what I feel. “Okay, I guess.” Her hug seems tighter than usual, and when she pulls back, her eyes are so sad. “What about you?” I ask, knowing she’s worried sick about her husband and the state of our band.
She rubs my arm and half smiles then her lips purse. “Yeah, you know. I’m trying to be supportive. I think you guys just need to be together for now.”
I nod. “Thanks Cal.” She’s right and Ash is lucky to have a wife that understands.
Cal turns to lead the way, but then stops, turning back to face me again. “Actually, before we go inside, can I ask you a favour?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Nothing serious. I was just wondering if you spoke to Angie in the last couple of days.”
My brow knits together. “Yeah, but it was brief. Has something happened?”
“Not exactly, but I’m worried about her. She’s working like a lunatic, and although she gets home to bath Josh, she carries on working as soon as he’s in bed.”
“I thought she had a nanny to help her out now.”
“Oh, she does. Mrs Trunchbull.”
“What the hell—”
“Sorry, but she reminds me of the headmistress from Matilda. It doesn’t help that her name is Agatha.
” Calla smirks. “Such a scary-looking woman. Super strict and no fun at all. Josh cried the first time he met her, which is a red flag in my book. I can only think Angie is desperate for help. It’s just not like her.
She’s so tired and doesn’t have time for anything but work and Josh, which is why I’m trying to get her to socialise again. ”
“Okay, but how can I help when I’m here and she’s all the way across the pond?”
“Well, she’s been seeing this guy—just once or twice—”
“You know about him?”
“Yeah, of course.” Calla obviously catches the relief in my face. “It’s okay, Tommy,” she says, touching my arm again. “Of course, I’m sad my brother isn’t here to look after her, but Angie can’t be on her own forever, which is why I helped with setting her up.”
“You set her up?”
“Indirectly. As well as trying to juggle the business and being a single mum, she’s so lonely, which is why I asked my friends if they knew any single men looking for love. That’s how the date with Fraser came about. I don’t know him very well, but my friends do.”
“Oh, cool.” It’s not cool. I’m irritated and maybe Calla can detect my uncertainty. “She’s a big girl, Tommy. She can handle it, but I was giving her a little push. Fraser is a great guy, and if Angie gave him a chance, he could be good for her, which is where you come in.”
“Me?”
“Yes. She’s agreed to go out with him again, but it took some persuading.
Anyway, when you next call, can you give her some words of encouragement?
She needs more than just work in her life and this could be the start of something beautiful.
” She pats my chest and walks into the kitchen.
I follow, deep in thought, wondering how soon I can fly home to Braebeach.
“Come on,” Calla calls over her shoulder. “Everyone is waiting.” She turns towards me before picking up a tray of bacon rolls. “Can you grab those plates for me?”
“Sure.” The smell of bacon is not helping my sick stomach and knowing about a second date for Angie is the cause. I don’t know why it bothers me so much. I wish I could check this guy out properly before she dates him again.
Everyone is here, talking with hushed voices, and there’s a weird atmosphere, like someone died.
Ash and Max get up and stride towards me with open arms. This is the greeting I so need. There’s a hug and slap on the back from both.
“Hey, man. How are you holding up this morning?” Ash asks.
“Probably the same as you. The whiskey last night didn’t help.”
“It got me through. I slept like a baby.” Max smirks.
“Babies don’t snore like that, man.” Ash laughs.
They ended up falling asleep on my sofa and left in the early hours. I don’t know about them, but my head is not in a responsive mood this morning.
Dani is mid-conversation with her dad when I amble into the lounge. Bernie flew in from London last night. Now Dani has taken over our management, Bernie spends most of his time at Election Records headquarters in Braebeach. He’s here to help with damage control.
Dani turns around as soon as she hears my voice. “Tommy. I thought you’d never get here.”
“Hey, Dani.” I lift my chin towards her.
It’s clear she’s uptight. “Sorry I’m so late.
I needed to spend some time with Ozzie this morning before he went to preschool.
” Her eyes question me and I answer before she asks.
“Yeah, we still need to talk about that.” I haven’t got around to telling Dani or Bernie that my marriage is over.
Straight away, I look at Bernie, who greets me with a hug. “Hey, Bern. How are you doing?” I ask.
“Shocked to the core, son, like everyone else. I can’t quite believe it.”
“I know what you mean. It’s surreal,” I say, taking a seat on the plush cream sofa.
“Okay, boys. Let’s get to work. We need a strategy in place to deal with whatever shit he’s about to throw at us,” Dani orders. It’s like a war room, except I know I don’t want to go to war with Brett. Does he really want to fight?
“So, has anyone heard from him yet?” Dani asks.
“Nope, not me,” Ash answers with a tic to his jaw. I’ve never seen him so uptight.
“Me neither.” Max shrugs with vacant eyes like he’s in another world. He’s taken Brett’s departure the hardest.
I lean towards him. “You okay, man?”
He’s wearing a tight-lipped smile when he answers, “Yeah, I’ll be all right. Thanks, bro.”
“How about you, Tommy? Anything at all? Any ideas?” Bernie asks.
“Nah, nothing.” We look at each other, racking our brains.
“What a selfish tosser,” Dani mumbles a little too loudly, and all eyes dart her way. “He won’t answer our calls, and his solicitor is accusing me of harassment, which is just bloody ridiculous. I think we’re entitled to an explanation.”
I wouldn’t want to take on Dani at the best of times. No wonder Brett isn’t responding, but I’m still shocked at the way he’s treating his bandmates. I thought the four of us were family. We fought like cat and dog at times, but we’d always be there for each other. Maybe I was wrong.
“You need to calm down, Dani. It’s caught everyone off guard, but you can’t let your emotions get in the way. I know you’re close to the band—”
Dani is quick to correct her father. “Emotions? I’m not emotional, Dad, I’m bloody furious!”
“That’s an emotion, my darling. You should take a step back and look at this logically.
There’s no point in getting worked up. Let’s see what Brett has to say in his statement before we make any judgments.
In the meantime, we should try to put together a response, just in case we need one. We can tailor it later if needs be.”
“Do we know if Brett is making the statement himself?” Ash asks.
“No idea,” Dani says. “I’ve got word it might be one of his representatives, which is fucking incredible because, until this morning, Election Management represented him.
The next thing we know, he’s got his own people.
Well, I’m not falling for his bullshit. It’s obvious to me he’s been planning this for a while. ”
“It’s probable, Dani.” Bernie smiles sadly.
“Perhaps we should prepare two statements, so we’re ready for anything, good or bad.
If he’s tired of it all and has simply had enough, then we express our genuine sadness that it’s ended this way and wish him well.
If there’s more to it, then we still wish him well, but due to legal reasons, we have no further comments. ”
“Jesus, that all sounds a little clinical, Bern,” Ash says.
“We just need to prepare for the worst.”
He’s right. Bernie’s been in this business a long time and knows his stuff.
“We’ll follow your lead on this one,” I tell him.
“Yeah, we trust you, Bern. Although, deep down, there’s part of me that hopes Brett is just having a bad day and he’ll be back tomorrow,” Max says, taking a seat next to me.
“Yeah,” I agree, but I’m also angry. If Brett were here, I’d fucking show him how much.
Ash nods in thought. “You think you know someone when, in reality, you have no idea what goes on behind their closed door.”
The doorbell rings out of the blue. We’re not expecting anyone else.
“Bloody press,” Dani mutters, but Calla is already peeking through the blinds.
“It’s not the press. It’s security. I’ve just seen a courier hand something over.”
In no time, Ash’s security arrives inside with an envelope.
“Cheers, man,” he says, ripping it open while we sit around, drinking coffee and eating breakfast—at least, some of us do. Max isn’t eating.
“Well, shit,” Ash says out loud.
The room falls quiet and I’m the first up on my feet. “What is it?”
Ash looks up. “Brett wants to talk. He’s gonna call just before the statement goes out.”
“That’s good news,” Max says, and I can see the hope in his eyes. “Do you think he’s changed his mind? You know what, we’ve been on the road for over a year. Maybe he’s just burned out and wants some time.”
“This last tour burned everyone out. That’s why we’re taking a break for six months,” Ash responds.