The Devil's Lair (5 page)

After Jen left us, we all sat staring into space. How do we not let this affect us in a profound way? To say the mood in the room took a nosedive is an understatement. Jack admitted that Jen filled him in before the show. He kept it from Leila and us. Leila was visibly shaken as she listened to the details. She asked question upon question while Jack held her hand.

Leila was the first to speak, “We need to do something.”

She’s right. That little dude deserves as much happiness as he can get. Paula is a very brave woman. I can’t imagine putting on a happy face, pretending everything is perfect while knowing you’ll be leaving your child alone in the world.

Later that night when I told Mandi, she handled the news just as I knew she would. She remained very quiet while I relayed the details. The only emotion was evident in the occasional tear that rolled down her face. We spent the night talking about ways we could help both Shane and his mom.

When the band met up the next day, we brainstormed on what we needed to do. We decided to immediately set up a college fund for Shane, with a percentage of each show’s profits being donated. Leila’s stepmother fought breast cancer. It’s already a charity she actively contributes to. She and Jack decided to pick up all of Paula’s medical bills. Trey has volunteered to give him private guitar lessons a few times a week, since Shane will not be able to have his lessons at home these next few months. Mandi and Patti went shopping for his favorite toys. Play dates are scheduled with the twins at every juvenile attraction in every country we’ll visit. These are all great ideas, but the elephant in the room, or at this rehearsal at least, remains to be Shane’s future guardianship.

“Leila and I decided we’ll take him,” Jack blurts out as soon as we get backstage. He looks over to his wife, and she nods in agreement. “We plan on talking to Paula about it tomorrow.”

“That’s huge, man. You guys discussed it at length?”

He nods at my question. “Yes. There’s no way we can let him go into foster care. Now that we’ve met him, now that we’re getting to know him, we want him. There’s a reason he came into our lives.”

“Between the eight of us, he’ll have everything he’ll ever need.”

“Except his mother,” Leila mumbles, but we all hear her.

“He’ll have you. He couldn’t ask for a better mother,” Trey speaks for the first time since our rehearsal.

Leila smiles at his comment. “Thank you, Trey. You don’t have to say that.”

“I’m just being honest. He’s a lucky kid to have found you guys. He may have been dealt a crap hand, but it’s what comes of it that counts.”

There is so much truth in his statement. He’s most definitely speaking from experience. His mother isn’t dead, but she may as well be. He lived his life without her by choice. Shane may not have a choice. If he did, it wouldn’t be what his future holds. Having Jack and Leila as parents is the best scenario that could come from this tragedy.

An uncomfortable silence falls over us again. We have a few hours before we go on, and we need to improve our moods. As band manager, I’m taking matters into my own hands.

“Why don’t we bring Shane on stage to play with us tonight?”

All eyes turn to me in disbelief.

“What?”

“Are you insane?” Scott asks what they are all thinking.

“Hear me out. He has his tiny bass. He’ll stand beside Trey, but he won’t be plugged in. He’ll be our special guest. Have him perform a song or two. He’ll love it.”

They process my words for a few seconds. Leila nods slowly, “That would be amazing. We’ll have to ask Paula, of course, to be sure she is ok with it.”

“We don’t have much time to get this done. I’ll have to run it by Jen. Wouldn’t want the lawyers freaking out.”

“I’ll handle Jen,” Jack says, dismissing my concern of any problems she may throw at us.

Over the next few hours we do whatever is necessary to get this done. Paula was thrilled with the idea. Surprisingly, Jen was also on board. We got the little dude a very rock star looking outfit. Leila even got him his own pair of shades. When we told Shane he would be playing tonight, he literally jumped in place like a monkey.

The smile on Paula’s face was blinding. She explained to her son that he would play the first two songs with us, and then he had to go back to the hotel with her. It would be way past his bedtime, and he needed to be rested for our plane ride tomorrow. I’m not sure he heard any of that. He continued to jump around during most of his mom’s speech. In fact, as we stand off stage waiting for the house lights to dim, he’s still jumping around.

Trey squats before Shane and says something quietly. Shane nods, smiling wide. They bump fists as Trey winks at him.

Leila looks on like a proud mama, and not just toward Shane either. Trey notices the dopey smile on her face and moves to whisper something in her ear. Based on the slap he receives on his arm, even in the dark I can tell whatever he said has her blushing at the moment.

Upon our cue, Trey lifts Shane and carries him up to their spots on stage. The rest of us follow and wait for Jack to make his usual opening remarks. On the dimly lit stage, I can see Trey helping Shane with his miniature version of the same bass guitar his idol uses. All pairs of our eyes are focused on Shane’s little silhouette. Leila has the arena recording his performance so he can watch it over and over again. It was a great idea. I doubt he’ll remember any of this once it’s over.

“Good evening, Barcelona!” Jack calls into the dark arena. The screams explode with such force that Shane startles. I wish I could see his face right now.

Jack continues to engage the crowd with his normal banter. When the stage lights go on, he introduces Shane immediately. The building is vibrating from the noise level. Jack asks Shane to take a bow. Like a little pro he steps forward and bends at the waist. His tiny bass rests on his back. The dude looks awesome. His hair is spiked, his clothes and tiny
Doc Martens
all scream rock star. Leila did a fantastic job prepping him for his debut.

During our first song, Shane mimics Trey move for move. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. He’s a Mini Me to Trey, but much more likeable. We may have to add him to our band officially, based on the reaction he’s receiving.

After our second song, Jack brings Shane front and center and has him bow again. He gives Jack a high five and waves to the fifty thousand people watching him, as if his audience consists of only a few people. The kid’s a natural. He lifted our moods, giving us the rush we needed to finish our show…to finish it in true Devil’s Lair style.

Jack

I’m nervous. I don’t do nervous. My wife does, so it’s predictable to see her pacing and wringing her hands erratically. I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve been nervous in my life, including this one.

We didn’t have a chance to talk to Paula before we left Spain. We’ve now been sitting on this plan to adopt Shane for two days. We arrived in Frankfurt, Germany late yesterday. I made it my business to personally invite Paula to our suite for breakfast. Leila and I asked her not to bring Shane. We felt it was important for her to see us as parents to our twins. To also digest what we have to offer without feeling pressured to accept, or without Shane’s presence possibly clouding her judgment. She doesn’t know who we are, what we are like as parents. Her granting us guardianship of Shane is really no different than granting a foster family the same. We feel it’s important for her, for both of them to get to know us.

We’ve spoken to my dad regarding the legalities. Of course, he’s concerned she’ll jump on our idea because of our wealth. We aren’t concerned. Jen said that Paula is a genuine person. She’s just a mother who wants the best for her son.

The twins are dressed, fed, and playing with their toys. My wife continues to pace until a light knock on the door stops her in her tracks. She throws me a hesitant smile before opening the door.

“Hi Paula, thanks for coming by.”

Paula smiles and shakes her hand, “Thanks for having me. This is so sweet of you guys.”

Leila shows her into the suite. The twins run to Leila, no doubt because Madden is curious, and Siarra is scared with the stranger in our room. I walk toward them, scooping Siarra up in the process.

“Hey, Paula. This is Siarra.” I smile down at my daughter who is clinging to my neck. “This guy is Madden.”

Paula squats, getting down to Madden’s level. “Hey, Madden. I love your name. Can I shake your hand?” Madden immediately thrusts his little hand out, eager to please. Once they exchange a handshake, Paula stands before Siarra and me. “You’re so pretty. You look like your mommy.”

Siarra lifts her head long enough to glance at Paula before burying her face in my neck. I shrug an apology. “She isn’t as social as her brother.”

Paula laughs. “I think it’s a boy thing. Shane was never shy. Even at Madden’s age, he’d kiss a perfect stranger full on the lips.” A flash of emotion crosses over her features before she replaces it with a smile.

“Sounds like something Madden would do,” Leila smiles back. Madden, already bored with the new human in the room, runs off to play with his toys. Knowing he’s a safe distance away, Siarra squirms in my arms to be let down as well. She scampers off after her brother.

“Come, sit,” Leila says while motioning toward the table that is already laid out with breakfast.

While Leila pours coffee Paula says, “It must be awesome traveling around the world as a family. The twins are precious.”

“Thank you. I’m a bit apprehensive having them away from home for so long. Our parents are not happy with us, but they’re young and they seem to adapt well to the constant changes.” We all glance at them playing individually, yet side by side. “As long as Madden has his cars and Siarra her dolls, they’d be fine living on a deserted island.”

Paula nods in agreement. “That’s how Shane is with his guitar. Thank you so much for allowing him to be on stage with you and giving him that amazing gift. He hasn’t stopped talking about that experience.”

“He’s a natural, born to be a rock star. He fit in with our band perfectly.”

Paula tells us of how Shane’s obsession began. He always loved music, even as a baby. When shopping at a local toy store for his birthday, he flew over to a toy guitar and clutched it to his chest. He never let it out of his sight, even going as far as sleeping with it. When other boys his age were watching cartoons, he was watching the music channels. The day he saw our video for
In The Cards
, he found his new idol, Trey. It was instantaneous. He was only three at the time.

Paula explains how she found Jen and was shocked when Jen responded. At the time, she was hoping to get an autographed picture of Trey to give Shane for his birthday, or maybe even a video message. Over those months, Jen and Paula rekindled their friendship. Paula was then diagnosed and the favor she initially asked Jen for became so much more. She speaks of Jen with unmasked admiration. Knowing Jen as we do, it’s hard to fathom this other person Paula is describing. Jen leaned on Paula to forget her failed marriage to Malcolm. Paula leaned on Jen for moral support during the early stages of her illness.

“You went to school with Jen, right?” Leila asks.

“Yes, we were really good friends during most of our middle school and high school years. My family life was nonexistent. Jen comes from a very loving, supportive family. I craved it. She graciously shared them with me. We lost touch when she went away to college and then I got knocked up.” She blushes and adds, “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You have a beautiful son.”

Paula nods, “He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” Silence falls over us as she picks at her food. A few long seconds pass before she asks, “How did you two meet?”

“Go ahead, you tell the story,” Leila says with a smirk and a wave of her hand. Usually when someone asks and she recounts the day we met, I interrupt with all the embarrassing moments that Leila purposefully leaves out.

So, taking the opportunity, I tell Paula my version, including all those moments my wife would like to forget. Paula laughs out loud at my analogies, quickly apologizing to Leila for laughing. “I’m used to it,” she replies.

Conversation flows easily between the three of us. The twins constantly interrupt, running over to steal a strawberry or a sip of juice. After the fourth time, Madden takes up shop on my wife’s lap, deciding it’s easier to get what he wants. Siarra watches from a distance. Paula includes him in the conversation as much as possible. She’s very personable. I can see where Shane gets his personality.

Leila and I keep exchanging glances. She places Madden on the floor next to his sister and returns to the table while watching me. We need to bring this up. We rehearsed it, but having to actually ask someone for her child borders on lunacy. She barely knows us. After more small talk has us in a lull, I start the conversation as best as I can.

“Paula, I’m sure you’re wondering the real reason we asked you here today.”

She wrings her hands nervously before nodding. “It has to do with Shane, I’m sure.”