Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Astrid
I said goodbye to Berk less than two hours ago with a promise to join him and Stevie for lunch today.
My call with Heidi, the owner of Keyline Music Group, is scheduled for eleven my time. The fact that she arranged this call at eight a.m. west coast time on a Sunday morning speaks to her enthusiasm.
I’ve never met her, but her direct message to me on Instagram was filled with expectations.
She wrote about how deeply moved she was by the video she saw of me performing Wait.
She went on to say that she was able to track down a few more clips posted by people who had filmed me on various subway platforms and street corners.
I take a deep breath as I see Eloise approaching on the sidewalk.
Vinyl Crush doesn’t open for another hour, so we agreed to meet for a coffee at our favorite place.
The walk here hit me hard.
It shouldn’t have.
It’s not far, and the early morning sun is shining, but it felt nostalgic in a sense.
My mom and I would take this same route to the café in the months leading up to her death.
Sometimes I’d make a solo coffee run before the store opened, but often, she’d tag along convinced that the fresh air had healing properties.
It was no match for her aggressive cancer, but it always put a smile on her face.
Eloise rushes into my arms. “I can’t believe this is happening to you.”
She’s excited for me even though she doesn’t know the whole story yet.
Eloise’s enthusiasm is based on a comment that Heidi left under one of the videos tagged with my name. She did that under the Keyline Music Group’s corporate account.
The post itself got almost one hundred thousand likes which is impressive in its own right, but Heidi’s comment shot to the top when it acquired more than fifty thousand likes.
Every second of the past twenty four hours has felt like a dream.
I need a moment of normalcy, so I look her over, taking in the faded jeans and bright red hooded sweater she’s wearing. “You look amazing, Eloise,”
Since I’m wearing one of her sweaters too, she grins. “You do too, Astrid. You haven’t worn that sweater in a long time.”
She’s right.
It’s light blue and fitted. I put it on this morning for good luck. The last time I wore it was when Eloise was accepted into the school of her dreams.
“I think I’ll wear it more often.” I tug on the bottom hem. “I think it brings me good luck.”
“You don’t need luck,” she scoffs. “You have talent.”
I point toward the door of the café. “The mornings are still cool. Let’s go inside and warm up.”
“I’m all for that.” She laughs. “I’ll handle it if an onslaught of your fans rush us.”
I look into the window of the café at the very short line of people waiting in line. “I think we’re okay for today.”
She turns to face me. “Promise me you won’t forget me when you’re famous.”
An instant lump forms in my throat. I swallow past it. “I’d never forget you, Eloise. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She pushes a strand of my hair back behind my ear. “Speaking of love, are you there yet with Hot Dad?”
I laugh at the nickname she won’t drop.
I can’t confess what I’m feeling to her. I haven’t even told Berk that I’m falling in love with him.
“I like him a lot,” I say.
“You like him a lot and then some.” She smiles. “Life is good to you right now and, I, for one, couldn’t be happier about it.”
I couldn’t be either.
Everything I’ve ever wanted is within my grasp, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Every dream comes with a sacrifice.
I replay those words over and over in my mind as I cross the street on my way to Crispy Biscuit.
It’s a diner that Berk asked me to meet him and Stevie at for lunch.
He sent me a text message less than thirty minutes ago asking me if I’d be okay with eating there.
I don’t care where we dine. All that matters to me is spending time with Berk and his daughter.
The last time I saw Berk, he was leaving my apartment early this morning.
So much has changed in those few short hours.
I spoke to Heidi. She was very clear about her desire to sign me to a recording contract.
The focus will be on streaming services, although she’s excited to produce a vinyl rendition of the album that she thinks will be a perfect tie-in to a marketing campaign that focuses heavily on my position as the owner of a “trendy, quaint record shop in Manhattan.” That’s a direct quote from her.
I’ve always viewed Vinyl Crush in the way she described it, but when she continued talking about her plans for my future, my stomach dropped.
It was a lot to take in, so when I saw my dad’s name flash across my phone screen as soon as the call with Heidi ended, I answered.
Everything poured out of me, including the proposed record contract, my feelings for Berk and Stevie, and the future that seems so unclear now.
My dad offered me the same words today that he did on the day my mom left to pursue her music career.
“Every dream comes with a sacrifice, Astrid,” he said.
It’s true.
If I chase the dream Heidi is offering to me, it comes with a sacrifice.
It’s one that I’m not sure I can make right now or ever.