“Yeah. My new sister-in-law writes beautiful ones. We’re trying to get her to sing with us. Hopefully soon.”
“That going to make you The Five Saints?”
Luke laughed and pulled out his wallet to pay for the new drum sticks. “Could be, though don’t pass that on. Addy’s okay about recordin’ with us, but she’s not too keen on gettin’ on stage in front of an audience.”
Chad grinned as he handed Luke his change. “I won’t say anything, then. Pam would have it all over town in a day. She sure liked you boys.” He sighed, shaking his head.
Luke laughed again. “Don’t worry, man. You can tell your wife that my two older brothers got themselves married over the past few months.”
“Now, won’t that be a disappointment to some of the ladies,” Chad said, though he himself looked relieved. “Looks like you got yourself a girlfriend, too.”
Candace froze when she realized he was talking about her. Luke grinned and crossed to put his arm around her.
“Workin’ on it, anyway.”
“Looks like she got caught out in that gully-washer this morning.”
“That she did,” Luke said, hugging her close before turning toward the door.
“You all have great day, now.”
“Thanks. You too,” Luke said, reaching for the door.
But Candace spotted a movement outside and held him back. Luke glanced out and saw the giant black car creeping along the sidewalk. He didn’t hesitate.
“Hey, Chad,” he said, pulling her back away from the door, “you got a back door to this place?”
Chad looked up. “Sure, but I keep it locked.”
“Mind if we use it?” Luke asked. “There’s this car that’s been followin’ us around all mornin’, and I see it out there, now.”
“Want me to call the cops?” Chad asked, concerned.
“No, no. They’re probably harmless, but they’re botherin’ my girl. Can you just let us out the back door? We can catch a cab on the next street over and get away before they can follow us.”
“Sure. No problem.”
As he started toward the back, Luke caught sight of one of their CDs on display on the peg board behind the counter. It had already been opened, apparently for playing in the store, so he grabbed it, pulled a pen out of his pocket, opened the plastic case, and pulled the cover out.
“You’re wife’s ‘Pam,’ right?” he asked.
“Yes!”
Luke signed the cover “To Pam” with a flourish then put the case together again and handed it back to Burton.
“For your wife and the favor,” he told him with a grin. “The next time you all come to hear us, bring it, and I’ll get my brothers to sign it, too.”
“Thanks, man!”
Chad led the way back, turned off the alarm, and let them out the rear door.
“You all take care now, hear?”
“You, too,” Luke said. “And thanks.”
24
It must be nice, Candace thought as she hurried to keep up with Luke. She’d read about celebrities, of course, but this was the first time she’d seen one in action. Then she thought of the easy, friendly conversation between Luke and the store owner and decided that maybe it hadn’t been celebrity after all. Maybe it was just because Luke was a nice guy.
They came out of the alley onto a cross street, and Luke stepped to the curb to flag down a cab. He kept her hand in his. Probably just to keep me from bolting with his coat, she thought, but it felt good, just the same. Then a taxi pulled up, and Candace froze, as Luke opened the back door and stepped aside to allow her to enter first.
“I know you’re still not sure of me,” he said, keeping his voice soft, so the cab driver wouldn’t hear. “And you can keep the coat, even if you don’t get in. But I can promise you’ll be better off for comin’ with me. My sister-in-law will be at rehearsal today, too, so she’ll be able to make you feel a little safer, I think. I know me and my brothers can seem kinda overwhelmin’ if you’re not used to us.”
“You think?” she said, without thinking about it then clamped a hand over her mouth in embarrassment.
Luke only grinned. “Yeah. That’s what both of my new sisters tell us, anyway.”
Candace took a deep breath. How could she tell this man that it wasn’t really him she feared? She was eighteen years old today and had never been in a car before. She’d been literally a prisoner all her life, though it wasn’t until her mother’s confession yesterday that Candace had really appreciated it. She still felt like the biggest fool on the earth.
“Meter’s running,” the cab driver called out.
“Don’t worry about it,” Luke said to the man.
He turned back to Candace. “So. What’ll it be?”
Candace took another deep breath then stepped into the car.