A Nashville Collection (44 page)

Smiling, I greet the SongTunes staff, their lawyer, Ian Carter, and the head of A&R, Aaron Littleton. For a few minutes the conversation around the table is casual—the great summer weather, May's ACM awards, the record number of fans attending June's CMA Fest, and speculation about the Titans football season.

At last, Nathan clears his throat and stands, his expression morphing from happy host to driven businessman. Under his piercing gaze, I shift in my seat, pour more FRESH! over my ice, and take a slow sip.

Nathan strolls behind his team on the other side of the table. “We're working on recasting our vision, redeveloping our objectives, putting SongTunes back on the map.

“When did SongTunes leave the map?” I ask. “You have five of the top artists in the business. Me, Emma Rice, Janie Leeds, Paul Kirkland. Never mind new artists like Mallory Clark.”

Nathan stops at the other end of the table, propping his hands on the edge. “Aubrey, I need an album from you.”

“Fine.” I glance over at Ian. “Finish our renegotiation.”

“Aubrey,” Ian starts, shifting in his seat. “We—”

“The negotiations are off,” Nathan interjects. “This company is in the red, and we're not giving any more money to artists already earning millions off of us.”

I rocket to my feet. “What about the millions you earn off of the artist? Off of me, Nathan? What about the money you earn off my back catalog? Songs you put on compilations that sell so cheap I don't see any money.”

Zach swivels toward Nathan with a glance at Ian. “Red bottom line or not, there's money being made from MP3 sales and back catalog, and Aubrey's not seeing any of that money.” He motions to Ian. “We just went over all of this. You agreed.”

Ian defers to Nathan. “We're putting renegotiations on hold until we see Aubrey's new project.”

“The new project is on hold until I see the money,” I say with fire. Zach stands, holding his palm up in my direction. “Aubrey—”

“Zach, we're not putting the negotiations on hold. It's his way of stealing from me. I don't care if SongTunes is in the red.” I glare at Nathan. “Which I find hard to believe.”

“You see me standing here instead of Greg Leininger, don't you?”

“Doesn't mean anything,” I say. “You probably went around telling lies about him.”

“Aubrey.” Now Skyler is on her feet. “Don't get personal.”

“Aubrey,” Nathan starts, “all I want is what's owed this company.”

“And all I want is what's owed me.”

Nathan crosses his arms and strolls my way. “Back to square one, are we?”

“Tell you what,” Skyler interjects. “Aubrey will deliver an album by . . .”

“September first.” Nathan fires the date as if he'd held it on the tip of his tongue.

“September first? That's two months away.” Pressure forms at the crown of my head.

Skyler's expression begs me to calm down. “At which time, you'll agree to open renegotiations, correct?”

Nathan hesitates with a look at Ian. “Certainly, we'll consider it.”

Skyler taps the table with her fingernails. “BMG would not be pleased if you held up a new Aubrey James release over a few back-catalog and MP3 dollars.”

“Perhaps they would not be pleased if Aubrey held up several million dollars over a few back-catalog and MP3 pennies.”

“Nathan,” I begin, “I can't do an album in two months. Dave and I need to talk about our concept, go over the songs we have on hold. I want to go in a new direction. The last two albums have been the same old, same old. Me belting out songs. There was no craft, no art—”

Nathan interrupts with a hard laugh. “Don't spout your artistic-integrity mumbo-jumbo to me, Aubrey. Be a tortured Van Gogh, if you want, but give me Andy Warhol. Neat little everyday Campbell's soup cans. I want standard Aubrey James. It's too late to reinvent yourself and expect the customers to follow.”

I study him for a moment. “Nathan, I have the best
fans
in the world. They will follow me. And for your information, I know this is a shocker, but music isn't always about the bottom line, branding, and marketing campaigns. Art can't be confined to black or red ink.”

He tugs the crease of his slacks and sits in his high-back leather chair. Rocking back, he scans the room, stopping at each face. First his team, then mine.

At last, me.

“September first, Aubrey. And, don't come in here with a compilation you just threw together. I want platinum Aubrey James.”

Out on the covered porch, watching Juan weed the garden, I sip from a
glass of Gina's iced tea. The six o'clock air is hot and stifling. The twilight sky is cloudless, and I decide we could use some rain.

“Still thinking about the meeting?” Piper comes out and sits next to me, hugging her knees to her chest. Her bare toes curl over the edge of the wicker sofa's cushion.

“Yes, trying not to be angry.”

“Right, sitting out here alone brooding will accomplish that.”

I laugh.

“You smiled a lot today while talking with Scott.”

“It was fun,” I admit.

“See, we told you.” She pats my leg playfully. “Scott's pretty cool, isn't he?”

Brushing her hand away, I shake my head with a snort. “If you like the arrogant jock type.”

“What happened between you two? How come I never heard about it?”

Juan is crawling into the garden on his hands and knees, picking weeds and stuffing them into a burlap bag slung over his shoulder.

“Just another incident in the life of Aubrey James.” I glance over at my friend of sixteen years. “Have I told you lately what a great friend and assistant you are? Thank you.”

She squeezes my hand. “Then dish about Scott. Come on.”

I situate myself sideways on the sofa, facing her. “We met last summer. On the Fourth of July. A year ago tomorrow. ”

“At Music City Park?”

“Yes, at the concert. He was doing his first piece on the Sandlotters.” I wipe the dew from my glass. “He strolled over with his cocky, I'm-a-jock-news-reporter swagger and introduced himself. He didn't even know who I was.”

“You're kidding.”

“Nope. After a few minutes he figured it out.”

“I suppose that's sort of refreshing. He wanted to talk to you for you, not because you're famous. By the way, where was I during all of this?” I shake my head, then remember. “You were on vacation last year, weren't you?”

“Oh yes, the family reunion from Oz. So, you met Scott Vaughn . . . fell in love, what?”

“No.” I shove at her with my foot. “He invited me to a Fourth of July party down in Brentwood. One of his football buddies. Jeff Moore worked security for me all day, so he drove me to the party and waited. When I gave him the okay signal, he went home. You think I'd know better.” Recounting the story creates a swirl of anxiety.

“What happened?”

“Scott and I were getting along fabulously. Too good. It seemed surreal, like one of those stories you hear old married couples talk about. ‘We just clicked.' ”

“So, you started feeling confident and jazzed.”

I make a face. “Yep.”

“You sang karaoke, didn't you?”

“Of course. And don't imply singing karaoke made Scott weird out. Something else bothered him that night.”

“Did you sing your own song? You know when you do that it looks like you're showing off.”

“What? No, it doesn't. They begged me to sing.”

“Anyway . . .” She swirls her hand, urging me to continue.

“We were talking and laughing, enjoying the party, slow dancing.” I still remember the feeling of his arm around me, the scent of his cologne, and the way he pressed his cheek against my hair.

“Then what went wrong?”

“I have no idea. He was going to tell me this morning, but Olivia interrupted. Thinking back, we got separated and ended up in different conversations, then the karaoke started. I never saw him again.”

Piper shifts her position, curling her legs under her. “He just left?” “Just left. I was stranded.”

“So he didn't know Jeff dropped you off and went home.”

“No, but so what? When is it ever okay to dart out on a date or on a friend without at least saying good-bye?” I stuff my hands under my crossed legs. “When I realized he was gone, terror gripped me. Alone, forty minutes from home, with a half-dozen drunk, defensive linemen.” “Did you ever tell him?”

“When would I? He never called. Today was the first time I'd seen him since that night.”

“You should tell him,” Piper decides. “The
whole
story.”

“Maybe, if it comes up.” The evening is warm. I comb back my hair with my fingers and pile it on top of my head. The breeze feels good on my neck. “What I really want to know is
why
he left. By the tone of his apology, I'm sure he didn't intentionally hurt me.”

Piper stretches out her legs too. “I'm really proud of you.”

“For what?” I laugh softly. “Forgiving Scott? Woo, what a gal I am.” I punch the air with an awe-shucks fist.

She laughs. “Yes, and for doing the interview and the Coming Home celebration. About the third year of your career, you became very specific about what you would and wouldn't do. Aggravatingly so at times. But you're softening, considering new things. Even being willing to work with Nathan Brack again.”

I stretch my arms along the back of the sofa and rest my head on the top of the cushion. “Don't be impressed about Nathan. I'm sticking with SongTunes because of my history with them. And, I
do
owe them an album. I've done a lot of stupid things in my day, but I want to be a woman of my word. If Daddy taught me anything, he taught me to be trustworthy. Nathan is just a kink in the works.”

“Too bad Greg wasn't a better businessman.”

“Greg was a frustrated artist who tried to fulfill his dreams by backing a no-talent artist like Shelby Hayward. It bit him in the butt. But Nathan? Only number one Billboard hits will do. Deliver or die. He doesn't care who he crushes.”

“Maybe you should spread some forgiveness over Nathan's way.”

I lift my head to peer at her. “I've forgiven him.”

“Yes, the venom in your voice is proof.”

I consider my relationship with Nathan. Have I forgiven him? He tried to hijack my career ten years ago when I was at Mountain Music. Wanted to turn me into Britney Spears with a twang. We fought constantly.

“Forgiveness isn't the issue, Piper. I don't trust him.”

Juan finishes in the garden and gathers his tools. He stands back, hands on his hips, and surveys his work.

“Watch.” I motion for Piper to look out back. “He's like an artist, but instead of oil and canvas, he paints with flowers and plants.”

With his spade, Juan kneels on the ground by the south side of the garden and digs up a wilting plant. From my perch on the porch, the edges seem to be browning. Dirt falls around his feet as he cups the roots with his hand and gingerly walks to the north side of the garden where the shade is rich and thick. He stabs a fresh hole in the ground with the tip of his spade.

A peaceful silence lingers between Piper and me before she scoots off the sofa. “I've got to get going.” She swings her hips as she heads for the French doors. “I've got a date.”

Hooking my arm over the back of the sofa, I twist around. “Oh yeah?” I smile. “With who?”

“A guy I met on eHarmony. He's an accountant.”

Piper's had a series of bad dates with supposedly good-hearted men. It confounds me that someone as beautiful, kind, intelligent, and witty as Piper hasn't found love.

I wrinkle my nose. “An accountant? Online? Really?”

“Yes, an accountant, and don't wrinkle your nose at me. Car's a glorified accountant.”

I lift my hands in surrender. “Accountants are good. You've dated enough flakes and weirdos in the music business. A nice, solid, steady bean counter would be a lovely change.”

“He seems really nice, and he likes sports. A must for me. So, he's not a total nerd. Goes to a Baptist church.”

“He sounds very nice, but be careful, Piper, please. Maybe have Jeff check him out.”

She laughs. “Sic your body guard on him? Scare him to death?”

“Good point.” I point at her with eyes narrowed. “Don't tell him who you work for.”

“Have I ever slipped up?”

“No, but humor me—” I fire off a test question. “What do you do for a living, Piper?”

“Life coach.” Not a nanosecond of hesitation.

“Who are your clients?”

“Confidential information.”

I give her a thumbs-up. “Perfect. Have fun.”

She steps back over to me, grabs my face, and kisses the top of my head. “There, now I have some of your golden charm.”

10

The house is way too quiet. I wander the great room wishing I'd made plans
to go out or called Vickie to come over for a little jam session. Piper's office area is dark and quiet.

Hope her date is going well. Be nice, Accountant Man.

The kitchen clock tells me it's almost nine, and I'm a little tired, still recovering from the tour. Car's working late, working on his downtown SoBro development project. He asked me again to invest, and when I said no, we argued. I can't seem to make him understand.

George and Ringo hop up from where they were sleeping on the kitchen tile, stretching and yawning.

“What should we do tonight, boys?”

They wag their tails as if to say, “Whatever you want to do.”

What do I want to do? I haven't had this much time to myself in quite a while. Guess I could make some popcorn and find a good movie on Lifetime or TMC.

Do I even have popcorn? Checking the pantry, I find the picnic basket I sent home with Juan. There's a note attached.