27. Saturday Night Live
27
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
MAL
Ian was as calm as ever, and Archer was straining at an imaginary leash like Charlotte when she spotted a rabbit. Archer was eager for his small part in the action star’s comedy skit, and to show the world our music.
I was at peace at last. No matter what came from our performance, I was resigned to the course I was taking. This was a progression of events that could only come from the life I’d lived, and that was good.
A production assistant named Deke had been assigned to keep us where we needed to be, and it was Deke who brought our families back to the greenroom as the audience was let into the studio.
As our marketing manager, Nicky was allowed to be with us for the entire day, so Ian had her as an anchor. He didn’t let go of his fiancée even when swamped by his mother, father, two brothers, and a sister.
Archer had even more to contend with. He had his parents, two sisters, a brother-in-law, a nephew, and O’Connor, who had stopped to chat with the guest host and two of the more famous comedians on the cast.
My guys had full entourages. I had Mama.
But she was enough.
“ Liebchen ,” she said, kissing my cheek. “I’m so proud of you. This is very exciting!”
I was overwhelmed with the love I felt for her, and I held her to me for as long as she’d let me. Then she squirmed away and looked up at me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get Prentice to come.”
I was startled. “Why would you assume she’d show up?”
“I don’t know. I hoped, you know. She was so good for you. But she wanted to go right to our seats in the studio.”
I cocked my head like Charlotte. What was that unexplained noise? “What studio?” I asked, confused.
“That studio.” She threw her thumb over her shoulder and then saw me blinking at her. “That studio out there. She’s in the audience.”
“Tonight?” I couldn’t process the words she was saying. “She’s here? She’s here ? Now? Prentice?”
Mama nodded, and I reached out and grabbed the first shoulder I came to. It turned out to be Ian’s brother, Dom. “Ian,” I croaked to Dom. “Get Ian. Archer.” I flapped my hand uselessly in the direction of my brothers, and they heard the shock in my voice. They pushed through the crowds of their loving families and came to me.
“What is it?” Archer asked. Ian had one hand on my back, the warmth startling and comforting me.
“She’s here,” I said, still trying to believe it.
“Who? Prentice?” Ian scanned my face and waited for my nod. Everyone in the room noticed our sudden intense interest and turned to watch. I looked at Mama, who put on her “I’m so innocent” face.
“How is she here?” Archer asked her.
“I brought her,” Mama said simply. Like that was enough.
“How?” Ian asked.
She shrugged and looked away evasively. “I might have implied that I was intimidated.”
The three of us spoke at once.
“What?”
“You?”
“By who? Who intimidated you, Mama?”
She closed her eyes and raised her eyebrows. Do not argue with me. “If you must know, Phil.”
I blinked. That bastard!
But our agent stepped forward, as confused as I was. “Me? I intimidated you? I thought you were coming to work for the New Talent Agency!”
“Of course I am,” she said. I shook my head in the hopes that I could process what she was saying. “But I needed a reason to get Prentice here. You boys can do whatever you want, but Mal, you couldn’t do anything if she wasn’t here. And she’s here. So do whatever you want.”
Ian and Archer looked at me. I frowned and bit my lip and still couldn’t process. But they were waiting, so I gave them my assessment, which came out as a very thoughtful, “Ummm.”
“You can say that again,” Archer said. “Gerta, you’re moving to LA?”
“Of course,” she said. “That’s where you boys will be moving, isn’t it?”
O’Connor stepped up and took Archer’s hand. “You ought to, you know.”
Ian looked to Nicky, who was grinning. “I can do marketing anywhere,” she said.
That left me. I looked back to Mama. “You’re moving to LA?” I said, still trying to clarify. “You’re going to be what, a talent agent?”
“Certainly not. I’m going to be the chief operating officer. I’m going to run the company. At a very competitive salary too.”
I’d always know my mother was strong. I’d just never seen it outside of her usual setting. “Huh,” I said.
Deke stuck his head in the room. “The show will be shown on these TVs here,” he said, “but anyone who wants to sit in the audience should go now.”
There were shrieks and bodies bolting for the door. Most of the family members stopped long enough to pat Charlotte and wish her success, but soon the three of us—well, four, including Charlotte—were alone.
“Well, shut my mouth.” Archer grinned. “This is turning out pretty well!”
“Now you won’t have to wonder if she’s watching,” Ian told me.
I exhaled. “Yeah. That’s right.” Too much had happened. I was having trouble processing.
“Don’t worry about it,” Archer said, slapping my shoulder. “You’ve got a full thirty-seven minutes to figure it all out. Plenty of time!”
Ian studied me. “Dog therapy,” he decided. He pointed to the dog, and I sat on the floor to pet her.
It helped. She stretched and rolled under my hand, getting her wiggles out. Her silky ears had no judgment. Her grinning face showed nothing but simple happiness. Her enormous body butted up against mine, providing me with warmth and a reason to smile.
By the time Deke took us to the stage, my confusion hadn’t cleared, but my hands were no longer shaking. I took my place behind the drums, and Ian, Archer, and I exchanged our “Are you ready?” look. Our groove was waiting for us.
I didn’t even look at the audience until halfway through the song. Instead, I focused on finding the beat. By the time I realized I was scanning for Prentice—the way I’d watched for her at the gig back at the Paramount a lifetime ago—the entire place was dancing.
Archer’s vocals were free and wild and perfect. The harmonies fell into place with precision. We fit together, the three of us, with Charlotte sitting upright by Archer as he sang.
Sometimes you don’t have a choice
The tide is going out
You’re staked to the anthill
Small before the storm’s shout
Street dancing
When the drums demand it,
When the guitar’s insisting
When the vocals pull like magnets,
There’s no use resisting
Street dancing
She loses herself in the beat
No other world but now
If life is staid and gray
There’s a struggle just to survive
One thing shreds the monotony,
Reminds you you’re alive
Street dancing
The applause was a rolling wave of energy. Archer took our bows for us, and then the lights went out.
“Come on back to the greenroom,” Deke said. I hadn’t even spotted Prentice.
I followed, along with Archer and Ian.
“Weird,” Ian said.
“Shit, yeah,” Archer agreed.
I nodded. “Feels really strange to stop in the middle of a gig,” I said.
Archer turned to me suddenly. “Brother Malachi! You talked to them about the piano, didn’t you?”
I smiled at his panic. “Yes, Archer. I talked to them. A fine time to remember now.”
“Phew,” he said with a grin. “Then just another twenty-two minutes until you put your life on the line, my guy. You’re not worried, are you?”