Lies Inside (41 page)

“Now, you know I have a soft spot for new talent. So, I’ll turn it over to one our favorite amateurs, Aiden, and his friend, Finn.”

The crowd roared as Finn and Aiden walked onto the stage with their guitars. They took their seats on the two stools, side by side.

“Thank you. I always love playing at Rusty’s. Now, let’s get this started and pop my best friend’s Rusty cherry.”

The audience filled with laughter before Aiden and Finn began playing their favorite blues medley.

Finn couldn’t have imagined an even more thunderous applause, but it happened—a standing ovation.

After they finished, they stood next to the stage, accepting the congratulations of those present. Finn noticed one man just hanging back. He seemed like he was just waiting for an opportunity to pounce, maybe a reporter. It made him a little uncomfortable.

He approached cautiously and held out his hand for Aiden to shake.

“Wonderful performance. I’m glad I decided to come.”

Aiden shook his hand not suspecting a thing of it.

He turned to Finn, who watched him with apprehensive eyes. The man reached into his inside coat pocket and pulled out a business card.

“My name is Steven Randall.” He handed his card to Finn. “I’m a producer for Outright Productions.”

“I’ve heard of you,” Aiden said before taking the card from Finn. “You represent Johnny King.”

“Yep, one of the best guitar players around. He’s actually the reason I’m here. I’m a friend of Rusty’s, and he said you played here sometimes. Johnny heard the song you guys posted on your website. I knew I needed to hear you live. Johnny is looking for a few more guys for his next album. He’s recording it this spring with a planned tour next summer. I would really be interested in sitting down with the two of you to see what you’ve got.”

“Yes! Of course.” Aiden grabbed Steven’s hand and began to shake it. “We’d love to. Wouldn’t we, Finn?”

Finn turned to Lucy and saw the absolute joy in her eyes. He took a deep breath and composed himself. “Sure. Talk, I mean. We’re both going to be in school. Can we work around it?”

“I would never dream of interrupting your studies. Johnny will be in town on Friday. I’m sure he’d love to meet you two. We could get together at the studio. What do you think?”

Aiden was about to pee himself he was so excited.

“Sounds terrific.”

Lucy and Aiden’s arms both surrounded Finn as he finally saw a glimpse of his perfect future on the horizon.

Lucy had been distracted all morning. Her latest book review was due to her editor that afternoon, and she couldn’t give the last sentence that oomph she knew it needed.

She sat at her computer, letting her mind wander to everything that had happened to bring her family to that day.

Finn, Lucy, Rylan, and Jack started at NYU as planned, taking up an entire floor of an apartment building for the better part of four years. Lucy stuck with her major in English with a minor in communications. How she pulled that off, she still didn’t know. Finn majored in instrumental music and even got some extra credits for his compositions that ended up on an album. He and Aiden spent five days over spring break that year recording with Johnny King. Then that summer, they did a fourteen-city tour in six weeks. It was just a warm up for what was to come.

Next, they released an acoustic album featuring all original music by Aiden and Finn. When Finn realized that they were not bad lyricists, they added a few vocals provided by Lucy and Rylan. That album put Lucy and Rylan on the map. As “Midnight Blue,” their first single was number one only two weeks after the album was released. Singing for the album in the recording studio was one thing, but Lucy’s first live performance was as if she’d stepped into a whole new world. Eventually, she stopped puking before every performance and got used to the nerves. It became like an old friend, one she dealt with quickly and quietly whenever it was time.

Rylan, on the other hand, had nerves of steel. She majored in communications, which came in handy as well. She became the unspoken manager of them all. She dealt with their manager and the producers, the label and all the venues. She was actually really good at it. She kept them all organized and on task.

Jack kept his aspirations on task, being the third pick overall that year in the NBA draft. The first year, Jack was the back up center. When he was brought in for an injured first-string center during the playoffs, he won the game with a last second three pointer, and he earned a spot in the starting line-up. That night, he proposed to Rylan. Six months later, they married in a fairytale ceremony only Claire could construct. Jack went on to hold the record for most three pointers scored in a game in the team’s history.

Aiden, he couldn’t wait as long as the rest of them. He and Bryn got married their sophomore year and took up residence in the same apartment building where the rest of the gang lived. It became a lot easier for them all to work on the first “Midnight Blue” album. Bryn joined in occasionally on the keyboard since they had a few songs that called for it.

So they had their platinum records and the championship rings, yet they all still lived in their home town in the same area they grew up in. How silly it was, but really there was no other place they really wanted to be.

Chloe and Olivia had grown into such beautiful and smart young girls. Chloe at ten was smarter than Lucy ever was. She loved to read. Lucy spent hours talking to her about the classics, and Chloe would soak up every word in amazement. Olivia was girlie when she needed to be, but was a complete sports nut. At eight, she was the number one scorer in her soccer league. To top it all off, Lane was her coach. She called him Uncle Lane. It always brought such a smile to Lucy’s face how they really were one big happy family.

A few months before, Lucy was asked to take part in a new magazine called “Celebrity Passions.” It was made up of articles from celebrities ranging from art, music, film, literature, fashion, and much more. She had been given the task of being the critic in residence. Having a lot of time to read while on the road, she was able to write up several reviews rather quickly. The magazine liked them so much, they signed her to a two year contract with her own column for each monthly issue.

Yet, this month’s issue was a little harder than the rest. It was not the typical classic that she loved, but a love story all the same. About a young girl that, despite everything inside her that told her to run, she fell in love with an unattainable man. She had really loved it, but for some reason couldn’t form the words to make it perfect.

“Luce?”

Her husband’s voice pulled her out of her memory fog. “Yeah, hun?”

“Where’s my tie with the green lizard on it?” His voice was slightly muffled from the closet.

“It’s on the tie rack with the rest of your ties. You’re not really going to wear that one are you?”

She heard a muffled giggle. He knew Lucy hated that tie. She had threatened to throw it out several times. He had gotten it as a gift from the label after his first album. Something having to do with one of their songs they thought was about reptiles, but Lucy never got it.

“I thought I might.” Finn had the tie around his neck as he stood in the doorway to their closet.

“You’re trying to torture me, aren’t you?”

He swaggered over to her with a sultry grin sliding across his lips until he stood right beside her.

“Just a little.” He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss.

“How about you wear the black silk one.”

“Of course. What would I do without you?”

She opened her mouth to speak but was silenced as one of his slender fingers came up to press against her lips.

“That was a rhetorical question.” Lucy smirked as his finger left her lips. “How much more do you have to do?”

“Almost finished. I just need that last sentence to tie it all together.”

He came behind her and started reading over her shoulder.

“Why don’t you do this.” He brought his arms around Lucy and his fingers started tapping at the keyboard.

When he was finished, she sat back in awe. It’s exactly what she was trying to say.

When faced with an impossible love, no matter what the risk or consequence, you take the chance. A life without that kind of love is no life at all.

Leaning back, she kissed his neck.

He kissed the top of her head as he stood up. “Black silk one, right?”

“Right.” He made his way back over to the closet as Lucy saved her review and e-mailed it to her editor.

“Lucy, I’m so sorry.” Chloe held their little boy in her arms. He seemed to be covered in some sort of jam. “He got it out of one of the bottom cabinets. I guess the baby lock doesn’t work on that one.”

“Aiden Jackson O’Malley, you know better.”

Chloe set him down and he ran over to his mother. Lucy realized it was a good thing she hadn’t changed yet, because she was covered with jam after the hug her eighteen-month-old son gave her.

“Who’s Mommy’s sticky boy?”

His cheeks blushed pink. “Me.”

“That’s right. It’s okay. We’ll get you cleaned up.” Lucy turned to Chloe. “Thanks. I’m sure it could have been a lot worse.”

“No problem.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Guess it comes with the aunt territory.”

“Yep, good old Auntie Chloe.” Lucy’s sticky son turned and blew Chloe a kiss as she left the room.

She grabbed a few baby wipes and started to get off the big chunks that were there before taking him for a bath. She was amazed at how he was the right combination of herself and Finn. Finn’s sparkling blue eyes. Her auburn hair. Finn’s long, slender fingers. Her little nose. She loved just looking at him, getting lost in his cherubic good looks.

“AJ, what have you gotten yourself into?” Finn walked out of the closet, fully dressed in his best black suit and Lucy’s favorite silk tie.

“Dada!” AJ held his arms up to Finn.

“Oh, no.” Lucy picked up AJ and held him close. “He got into some of the jam which has earned him a trip to the tub.”

“Oh.” Finn nodded. “You just wanted some more time to play tug boat, didn’t you?”

“Hoo, hoo!” They laughed when AJ made his tugboat noise.

“Come back in about ten minutes and help me get him dressed.”

“Alright. I’ll go make sure the kitchen isn’t covered in jam.”

AJ and Lucy went into the bathroom as Finn disappeared downstairs.

The whole family stood in the courtroom as the judge went through his list of questions for Murphy and Claire. After six long years, Chloe and Olivia were about to become a permanent part of the family. The adoption process was halted at every stage by Viktor and Camille’s lawyer. It took about four years longer than it should have, but eventually, the O’Malley’s won.

The court saw what a wonderful home they had made for the girls and how the large unconventional family worked well for their upbringing.

“Chloe?”

“Yes, Your Honor?” Chloe was always so respectful and polite, just like Claire.

“You and your sister have spent a long time with the O’Malley’s. It seems by this letter you have written me that you are very much ready to join their family permanently. Can you tell us why?”

Chloe cleared her throat as she held Olivia’s hand. “I don’t remember much about my biological parents, but I do remember what they did to me and why we came to the O’Malley’s in the first place. I know this family suffered so much because of what they did. They could have handed Olivia and I over to the state and not thought another second about it. Instead, they took us in and made us a part of their family. Even though I’m sure we serve as a reminder of what our parents did, they have loved us and cared for us as if we were their own blood. They had a choice and they chose to love us. Olivia and I love them. They are our family.