Page 23 of Doc Rock
The other woman shrugged.“As long as you like. Until yougetbored.”
Mai laughed as she sat back on her stool.“Don’t say that. You underestimate how much I love music.”
Clara laughed.“Alright. Let’s call it thirty minutes.”
“Sounds good.”
Perched on her stool, she began to play. Closing her eyes, she got lost in the music.
“Mai.”
Her eyes snapped open when someone hissed her name, and she grinned at Hel, who stood in front of her with Frost.
It always surprised her every time shesawhim, what a giant he was. He was easily six-foot-three and built like a tank.
Hel danced on the spot, holding her left hand up, which sported a stunning ring with a large ruby surrounded by diamonds.
“He said yes.”Hel danced some more.
Frost’s arm was slung around her shoulders, and he pulled her tightly against his body, kissing the top of her head.“Wasthereever any doubt?”
“No. Well, I was pretty sure.”Hel grinned, then blurted,“I was shitting a brick. I don’tknowhow men do it.”
Mai smiled and leaned away from the microphone she sang into.“Congratulations.”
“Thanks for covering for me so Icoulddo it.”Hel looked so happy. It made Mai’s heart soar for her friend and break a little for herself.
“No problems.”Mai managed to keep smiling, even as her mind flashed to Donnie recognising her at the concert and, more importantly, Fordnotrecognising her.
But that wasn’t Hel’s fault; she had no one but herself to blame for the mess her life was.
“You sound amazing!”Hel said.“I’ll leave you alone. We’ll talk when you finish playing.”
Mai wrenched her mind away from Ford, whereit wasspending too much time.“Thanks,”she said to her friend before launching into the chorus.
Hel and Frost listened to her for a few more minutes before they strolled off together, caught up in their own bubble of each other.
She played until she figured all of the guests had arrived. Mai decided to finish onSummer Days, the Midnight Thunder song Clara loved so much.
She sang it with her heart and soul.
Chapter 10
Ford
Ford admired the gum trees lining the driveway of Taylor and Clara’s property. Their place was only a few kilometres out of town, but itfeltlikeit wasin the heart of the bush.
When he pulled up, a kid, who couldn’t have been more than twenty, greeted him to valet park his car. He remembered being that age; he thought he was an adult, but looking at this boy, heknewhow far away he had actually been.
In the days leading up to the baby shower, Ford debated offering to do a short set for Taylor and Clara, but in the end, decided not to, as itfelta little too much like trying to make the event about himself.
When he climbed out of his car, hecouldhearmusic. As he followed the path around the side of the house, the music became clearer.
Weird. He had neverheardthis version ofSummer Daysbefore. He didn’t evenknowthat Sie had recorded it. Her voice was so good that he always wondered why she never wanted to sing. He'd offered her lead vocals on so many songs, but she always declined.
Ford frowned as he got closer.
It didn’t sound like a recording—butit wasdefinitely Sie’s voice. He would recognise it anywhere, even after all these years.
