London Harmony: Water Gypsy (15 page)

We took the time that evening to hook my devices up to charge when the generators powered up. We did a quick run to our little cafe for sustenance and for Teresa to relieve herself since there's no way she would use the manky bog on this boat no matter how much she loved me.

When we returned, she decided that we were both sore enough in all the best places so we just cuddled and had a slow snogging session. This woman was insatiable and it had me brimming over with joy, satisfaction, and the warm burn of love and adoration every time I looked at her.

I glanced at my mobile and chuckled. She pulled me back down under the covers and asked a question with her eyes. I shrugged and explained, “One voicemail from an unknown number, one from Ronnie, and thirteen from Paya.”

I gave a toothy grin and she crinkled her nose with an answering smile. She said, “You should call her. The poor girl is probably going insane wondering what 'The' June West wanted with you.”

I bobbled my head with a tight-lipped smile, then said mischievously, “Which is precisely why I'd rather cuddle with the woman I love while my bestie stews near the bursting point with curiosity.”

She exploded in a cracked high pitched tone in surprised laughter. “Honestly love, you are so cruel to her.”

I smiled, gave her a quick peck on the lips, and shrugged. “I'm still punishing her for the bloody Tabby Cat name.”

She smiled raised her nose slightly in challenge and said, “What little Tabby Cat?” She kissed my neck, sending delightful shivers down my spine. “You don't like me calling you my Tabby Cat?” She nipped at my ear and I bit my lower lip in want and need. “You don't like being MY Tabby Cat?”

I felt silly and playful so I rolled over panting and showed her my belly and purred for her. Then said with a coy tone in my voice, “Good lord I hate you woman. You can call me Tabby Cat all day and I'll be your kitten.”

She smiled and pulled up my shirt and started kissing her way across my belly. “Kitten... I like that.” If I hadn't been so aroused, I would have rolled my eyes at that and wondered what I had just done to myself. She crawled up my body and locked eyes with me. She placed one hand on my belly, not losing eye contact, and slowly started sliding her hand down past the waistline of my pants, moving toward her target and asking in a breathy tone, “Does my kitten want to play?”

I nodded stupidly and mewled out, “Yes, please.” And then we both suddenly jumped and Terminator barked from his pillow when there was a knocking at my door.

Paya was calling out, “Tabs, are you home?”

The moment lost and my arousal fading fast, we both laughed almost hysterically and I giggled out as I pulled my shirt back down, “Hiya Paya, come on in.”

She stepped in with a grin but then stopped and blinked at us. “Oh my god! That's sex hair!” Then she blinked a couple times as I blushed. “The place reeks of it.”

She plopped down right beside us with a self-satisfied grin and Terminator claimed her lap for Terminator-opolis as she blurted out, “It's about bloody time!” She hugged me then pulled back and looked at us. “Wait, you two weren't about to...” Then she blushed, I have to say, I've never been attracted to Paya in any sexual way, but that blush with her exotic complexion always did look amazing. “I'm sorry... umm, I can come back later. You just weren't answering your...” She paused and looked at us again in realization. “...of course you weren't, you were busy doing it like bunnies.”

I slapped her shoulder, mostly because I was embarrassed it was true. Then I sighed. “No, it's fine. We were just celebrating.”

This got her attention, and she prompted, “Celebrating?” Teresa and I exchanged conspiratorial smiles. Paya sputtered out in frustration, “Good lord woman, if you don't spill why June bloody Harris-West was contacting me to locate you, I'm sending you to opposite corners without sex!”

No sex?
Oooh now that would be a terrible punishment. My bestie was right mean. I crinkled my nose at her then stuck out my tongue. I looked at Ter and she just shrugged at me, I exhaled and said, “Oh it was nothing. She just had to drop something off for me.”

She arched an eyebrow urging me to continue. I shrugged and reached over to where my mobile sat and grabbed the J-Card and handed it to her with a micro shrug of one shoulder. It isn't often I can stun Paya like this so I savored this moment. I bit my lower lip before I grinned, watching everything go through her mind as she turned the card over and just stared at it.

First was curiosity, second was the realization of what it was, then came the additional realization of what it meant. Emotions flickered across her face and in her eyes. Joy, vindication, and pride. Then she did the last thing I expected. She looked up at me and my bestie started sobbing. I blinked at the tears and pulled her into a hug in concern, stroking her hair. “Shhh. Shhhh... It's ok Paya. What's wrong? Why are you crying?”

She pulled back and wiped her tears on the sleeve of her coat. She wasn't a pretty crier, her eyes were red and puffy and a little bit of clear snot was coming from her nose. It was the one time my pretty friend wasn't exotically beautiful and that made her human to me. She smiled as she fought the tears. Teresa had moved in front of her, her back to the wall and had a hand on Paya's knee, stroking her thumb across it.

Paya sniffed and wiped her eyes again regaining her composure. She shrugged and said hoarsely, “I don't know... I'm just so bloody happy for you. Oh, bloody hell, I'm such a girl.” Then I understood, they were tears of joy. Good lord I loved this girl more than I can say. June was right, Paya was one of those one in a million friends.

We wound up in a three-way hug. Then when my bestie regained her composure, she pushed us both back with a smirk on her face. “You two reek of sex.”
Aaaaand she's back!
I had to grin.

She smiled broadly. “So spill. Tell me all the details.” Then she quickly clarified, “You know, the June thing, not the sex.” Then she got silly and cocked her head and wiggled her eyebrows, “Although...” She is so bad.

We chuckled and Paya shivered. Teresa noticed and said, “How about we retire to my flat and we can discuss it. I have central heat and beer.” We all nodded agreement and stood. I had to grin when Teresa scooped up Terminator and stuffed him into the front of her jacket. I took it she wasn't planning on releasing me into the wild anytime soon. I caught Teresa's scent as she exited after Paya and my toes curled, good Lord, if I'm her kitten, she's my catnip. I grabbed my things and hustled after them.

That was possibly the last 'normal' night of my life, just talking with my two favorite people. Discussing the future and all the endless possibilities into the wee hours of the morning, and thinking about the adventure of a lifetime we had just embarked upon. I did so love a good intrigue. I clasped hands with the Dragon Lady of the McClellan Music Conservatoire, the love of my life, and knew there was nobody I'd rather have by my side.

I still couldn't believe I had just watched Tabby Cat finish recording her second album, Water Gypsy, here at London Harmony. I grinned as I watched her hug Vanessa and June after she got out of the isolation booth.

She caught Zilrita and me spying from the door and she gave us one of her patented crinkle nosed smiles as she called out in that rich voice of hers, “So what ya think Small Fry?” Vannie shot me a reprimanding look for spying then gave Zil a matching one, but the little smile quirking at the corner of her mouth gave her away. I sighed in relief internally.

We were caught anyway, so I looked up at Zil, who gave me a little wink and we entered the control room. I giggled as Zil snagged Tabitha and engulfed her into one of her patent-pending squid hugs. I thought I caught a “Glork!” from Tabs.

I gushed out, “It was amazing! It felt like I was being carried away by a current, just to see a landscape painted with emotion go floating by. The juxtaposition of life and love seemed to coalesce around me.”

Tabs blinked at me after Zilrita decided to let go so she could breath again. She tilted her head and her forehead creased a little as she said incredulously, “That's... bloody perceptive. I was comparing my life and emotions with life on the river.” Then she nodded in approval and made a silly duck face and held her arms out with her elbows at her sides in an inviting gesture her fingers wiggling.

I hugged the superstar, I'm not daft. I sqee-ed on the inside... I was hugging a figgin' superstar! I know I should be used to it, since anyone who ever got a J-Card with one exception, have become superstars and they hang around here all the time.

June raised an eyebrow at me playfully and said, “Juxtaposition? Coalesce? A little young to be using words like that aren't you?” I loved our familiar banter and the inside joke, then just stuck my tongue out at her.

June winked at me then turned to Tabitha. “So Pipes, that was the last take. We should have something worked up for your approval by next week then we can release the album on schedule. I have to say, this is your best work yet. I love the emotion that weaves throughout all the tracks.”

She shrugged and said, “I'm no J8, but I try.” The entire room went silent for a moment as the rest of us suppressed our laughter. I glanced at my pseudo-sister, one day her secret is going to have to come out to the world.

Then Zil spoke up. “Have you given any more consideration to going on tour? I've been putting off the promoters for months.”

The copper-haired woman turned her almost unnaturally colored eyes to the goth. “Teri and I have talked about it. How about after our wedding next month? I want some of the proceeds going to low income housing projects.”

Zil clapped her hands rapidly together in excitement. “Ok, should I get with you or her about dates?”

“Just get with Ter.” I thought it was so cool that the love of Tabby Cat's life ran a music school like June's mom did. Teri McClellan also happened to be Tabitha's manager. That woman had some business chops like no other.

We all walked into the Green Room as Tabs grabbed her purse. She looked at us all and asked, “We'll see you on the Water Witch on Thursday night for movie night?”

I grinned, we had kept our traditions of Thursday night movies and Friday night family board game nights since moving from New York. When Tabitha heard about what inspired our little unorthodox family movie night; the musicals projected onto a sheet in a New York alley every Thursday night; she picked up the tradition. She projects old musicals on a sheet in the marina every Thursday night where her gorgeous houseboat, the Water Witch is moored. We had a standing dinner date with her and Teri there.

I found it surreal, all of the famous people we hung out with, all part of the magic that surrounds June. June smiled and said, “No place we'd rather be Pipes.” Vannie added, “Of course.” Nobody missed Vanessa reaching her hand to her side idly and June absently taking it and interlacing their fingers. The two frustrated me to no end, when were they going to seal the deal?
Grrr.

Then out of the blue it just hit me. I can be dense sometimes. A lot of Tabby Cat's music centered around the water... the latest album was titled Water Gypsy, the title track of the same name was about the most amazing thing Tabs had created. She lived on a houseboat and used to live on a floating slum. She loved the water! She 'was' the water gypsy that was often referred to in her songs!

Zil said, “Oh! Just a sec!” Then ran out of the room to return a moment later with an envelope. She handed it to the singer who was swaying in a restrained dance, most likely thinking up a new number. “Here's London Harmony's donation to the Flotilla.”

The Russian Brit grinned thanks to all of us then gave me a smiling wink and scooted out the door, calling behind her. “Thanks! See you all tomorrow night!” I swallowed and bit my lower lip, is it wrong that her wink turned me on a bit? More and more often I wondered if I might not be more like Vannie than I knew.

I thought about the Flotilla Project. It was a low-income housing project spearheaded by Tabitha herself. She had partnered with the captain of the barges she used to live on to renovate and retrofit the three barges plus two new ones, into clean living spaces with all the modern amenities. In all, it supplied twenty affordable or free cabins, larger than she had lived in, to low income people or families until they could transition into permanent homes. There was even a fund to help them pay first, last and agency fees to get people back on their feet again.

Vannie licked her lips then leaned in and kissed June softly and pulled back, leaving a goofy dreamy look on June's face. Then my sister placed her forehead on June's so she could watch the music she said that played in her eyes. It helped keep the voices in her head at bay almost as well as the medication. She prompted her with two words, “Wednesday Night.”

June gasped out, “Right!”

Vannie said, “You best get it done then.”

Then June straightened a bit and said, “I got this shit!” She almost ran into the studio. Zil waved us all a good night and headed out while Vannie and I followed June into the recording studio.

I chuckled. 'Wednesday Night' was Vannie's compromise with June. The two loved to tease each other, but it was almost cruel to June. I know one day my sister will fall madly in bed with June and they won't resurface for days. They are dating whether they admit it or not. They are so friggin' in love with each other. My sister started the weekly tradition of her and June sharing a bed one night a week, cuddling. June proudly tells me that she is the little spoon. I shook my head, I didn't understand those two, just playing with each other when they'd rather be doing it like horny bunnies.

Vannie just stared at Mickey when we entered the room, and he made a beeline to the door, he wasn't allowed to know what was about to happen. “Night all.” He said as he headed out the door toward the stairs. We all mumbled our good nights.

We waited until we heard the doors close downstairs then June leaned down and gave Vannie a lingering kiss on the lips. The heat in the room was almost unbearable. Then June entered the recording booth and picked up the old pink and white electric guitar. The thing was so worn and well used. It was older than June herself... her mother's from another time. Back when Mandy Fay Harris ruled the airwaves as the queen of rock.

I had guessed June's secret after the third single from J8 was released. I kicked myself for not realizing it instantly like Vannie had. It wasn't like the name J8 was a dead giveaway for anyone who was familiar with the urban legends of June's Eight. The group of friends June hung out with in college. But J8's voice sounded almost identical to Mandy Fay Harris.

She had created this facade of the mysterious rocker who nobody had ever seen. She wouldn't do any interviews so that she could make music of her own and not be in the shadow of her larger than life mother. She's created yet another urban legend of her own as she releases a new single every other Friday.

She tuned the guitar as Vannie took levels on the controls. June strummed a little and then broke into some impossibly complex chord progressions as only she could do. She sang a line from the track she was about to record as she played, allowing Vanessa to adjust the mic levels. Then June froze, looking past us.

Vannie and I turned around to see Tabby Cat standing at the door, her mouth open in shock as she stared past us to June in the isolation room. Then she blinked and held her arm up with her jacket draped over it. She whispered, “I... forgot my coat.” Then even quieter she said, “Bloody hell.”

I glanced back and forth between June and Tabs not knowing what to do. June's eyes twinkled and she smiled and she winked at the woman and raised a finger to her lips. Tabs comically covered her eyes with a hand and retreated down the hall saying loudly, “I didn't see a thing!” Then we all burst out laughing as we heard her again blurt out, “Bloody hell!”

We all exchanged glances, and June nodded to us, knowing that she would never tell a soul. Then I just watched as Vannie closed her eyes and just let the music and emotion flow through her as J8 sang her latest promise of love.