Chapter 6 #3
Someone was unhappy with her. Orla’s earlier sentiment caused a discomfiting twist in Frankie’s gut.
Involvement with the darker side of society, even if well intentioned, did get people hurt, at least on TV.
Considering the loans and maxed-out credit cards, Estelle could theoretically have owed money to the wrong person.
“Hey, do you guys think there’s a possibility someone was with Estelle when she died?
” she asked. “That the heart attack was—I don’t know—provoked? ”
Both of them stared at her, then Kayla slapped Matt’s arm. “See what you did? Planting weird ideas…” She faced Frankie again. “No, there’s no way. She would have told you if someone was giving her grief. You two were closer than most.”
“So close,” Frankie agreed as the waitress arrived with their drinks. “We didn’t have any secrets.”
“Oh, honey,” the waitress said, setting Frankie’s Moscow Mule down before her. “Everyone has secrets. The things I hear…” She tapped her temple before distributing the remaining drinks on the table. “Now can I get any starters going for you?”
They requested more time to decide, and once the waitress had left, Frankie stirred the straw in her drink while considering that unsolicited truth bomb.
Had Estelle had secrets? Frankie wanted to say no, but she couldn’t completely dismiss the growing number of signs to the contrary.
To Orla’s point, the implication of the card was that at least one person out there had thought of Estelle with less than affection in their heart, which, in turn, meant there might be others.
And that wouldn’t happen without reason.
Nevertheless, Frankie forced confidence into her voice when she spoke again. “I’m sure we’re just missing something. Once I get into that private account, I have a feeling I’ll find some answers.”
Matt nodded. “And in the meantime, I told Dad to give you a call.”
Frankie stared at him. “You told him about Starview’s money problem. Why?”
“Because I thought he could help.”
“What’s to say I want help?” This couldn’t get out. The community would think she wasn’t up for the task.
“I mean, you kind of need it.” Matt had a sip of his beer. “You still have bills and paychecks to cover, right?”
“I’m figuring it out,” Frankie lied. “As soon as we get back into the routine of things and I can see what the new day-to-day looks like, things will fall into place. No need to involve other people. I just emailed the staff about taking on more students, didn’t I, Kayla?”
“You did.” Kayla glanced at Matt, a silent beat passing between them.
“What?” Frankie asked.
“I don’t know if that will be enough,” Matt said. “It might drive up revenue a little, but for each extra lesson you offer, someone also has to get paid to teach it.”
Kayla scrunched up her nose. “And you do need to hire a new vocal coach to take over Estelle’s students, and that person is probably not going to be okay doing it pro bono.”
Frankie’s heart sank. Kayla was right; while Estelle hadn’t taken a full paycheck for her hours, a new person would need to be compensated. How had she not thought of that?
“I’ll figure it out,” she said again, flicking her nail through a water droplet on the table and watching as it multiplied.
Borrowing money was not an option. Estelle had clearly tried it with the second mortgage, and while it was out of character for her to make a wrong move like that, Frankie had to assume she’d had a good reason.
“But what happens if you don’t?” Matt asked.
“I will,” Frankie said. Failing wasn’t an option. Not for a Lavigne.
We dust ourselves off and we persevere, Estelle whispered in her ear.
“Would you ever sell?” Matt asked in a softer voice. “If it came to that, I mean.”
“Sell?” She stared at him in disbelief. She’d hit one little speed bump… “Starview is my life.”
Matt pressed his lips together as if unsure he should continue, but since he’d never been one to hold back before, out it came even though Kayla shook her head at him in warning. “It doesn’t have to be,” he said, and Kayla hung her head.
“What do you mean it doesn’t have to be?” Frankie asked. “It’s all I know. My life is here.”
“He doesn’t mean anything,” Kayla started, but Matt butted in again.
“You used to have other dreams,” he said, taking a long pull on his bottle before resting it against the table. “Remember that night in Memphis? When my mom and I came out to watch Aunt Estelle play and she pulled you up on stage?”
The argument left Frankie in a rush. She’d been eight, and her accompaniment had brought the house down. Lights reflecting in the ivories beneath her stubby fingers, the base drum thumping in her stomach, the grown-up smell of sticky bar tables wafting by. “I do.” A small smile tugged at her lips.
“You wouldn’t shut up about it for the next two years. You wanted to be just like her.”
“No, she was the star in the family,” Frankie protested. “She had that it factor… or whatever you want to call it.”
“My point is—that’s what you wanted. To play. Not to run a school.”
Her irritation rose again. “So what? Kids dream of all sorts of things. Didn’t you want to ride around the world in an air balloon at one point?”
“You did?” Kayla asked, eyes widening as she looked at her husband. “That’s so cute and also completely ridiculous considering your fear of heights.”
Matt shrugged. “What can I say? Jules Verne made a big impression. But…” He held up a finger. “I have traveled to many corners of the world. What stages have you performed on, Frankfurter?”
Ugh, could he be any more obnoxious? Without a suitable comeback handy, Frankie bought some time by looking deep into her copper mug.
“I will save the school,” she said after she finished drinking. “Because it’s what I want, and because I owe it to Mom.”
Matt was about to say something else, but this time, Kayla’s elbow drove into his side, effectively giving him other things to think about.
Frankie sent her friend a grateful look. At least Kayla understood that this was something she had to do. Starview was Estelle, and you didn’t turn your back on family.