“Hey, it’s okay,” one of the women said, quickly rising. “Everything’s okay, here. Nobody’s going to dock anybody’s pay, all right?”
The least threatening of the group, the woman was a couple of inches shorter Candace’s own five-foot-six, with an attractive figure wrapped in a teal blue wool dress. Her otherwise clear, fair complexion was dotted with freckles, and she had pulled her shoulder-length curly auburn hair back into a low pony tail, which was wrapped in a matching teal scrunchie. The woman’s clear blue eyes matched Candace’s own.
“I’m Mel,” she said, coming forward and offering Candace her hand. “I’m married to the one with the guitar. He’s Matt.”
Her smile was open and friendly, and Candace allowed herself to relax a fraction.
“I’m Candace,” she said, accepting the offered hand.
“Geeze! I can’t believe I forgot to ask you your name!” Luke said, clearly disgusted with himself.
Candace found a smile for him. “That’s okay. You were busy.”
“Looks like you got soaked by the rain,” Mel said.
“I’m afraid so. Luke was nice enough to lend me his coat.”
“You should sit over here,” the other woman said, waving to the chair she had just vacated which was sitting in front of some kind of grid. “The heat’s on.
“I’m Addy,” she added shyly. “The guy with the bass is my husband, Mark.”
Candace could only stare at Addy, who was a couple of inches taller than she was. Her complexion was darker, as though she spent a lot of time in the sun, and her sandy-blond hair was styled in an artsy, feathery short cut. It was her eyes that caught, Candace’s attention, though, for they were the same deep gold as those of the men. Candace automatically took the other woman’s hand, but Addy must have felt her trembling, because she released it quickly.
“No one here’s gonna hurt you, Candace,” Addy said, her voice soft and low. “Just take a seat and get warmed up. We have work to do, so relax and enjoy it.”
Candace managed to return the other woman’s smile but was grateful to follow Mel to the other side of the room. The heat felt good, and it was just possible she would stop trembling, if she could only get warm. Then she caught the older man’s piercing gaze and knew it couldn’t be that easy.
25
“Okay, then,” Bart said. “Let’s get started.
“Can we assume you at least managed to buy new brushes?” he asked Luke.
“Right here.” Luke smiled at Addy. “I think you’re gonna like the new sound, Addy.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“The short one is John,” Mel told Candace, joining her near the heat vent as the guys picked up their instruments and Uncle Bart entered the recording booth behind them. “And the big one is Uncle Bart.”
Candace wanted to laugh. John was only small in comparison to everyone else, and they were all “big” as far as she was concerned. Still, “Uncle Bart” was broader than the others, and he looked as though he was a good ten years older than the oldest brother, Matt.”
“Don’t worry,” Mel whispered. “Bart’s really not as scary as he looks.”
“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it,” Candace murmured, though it wasn’t really necessary since the boys were beginning to rehearse.
They warmed up with a quick, up-tempo number about a dog named Cecil. The lyric was hilarious, and Candace found herself smiling as she tapped a foot and hummed along. The boys all sang bass or baritone, and they blended beautifully. The brothers had all played and sung together for years—that much was obvious—but Addy seemed to fit right in, playing guitar, too, though she only joined in on the singing for the choruses. Candace wasn’t certain why—the other woman had a beautiful alto voice—then between numbers, Mel solved the mystery for her.
“Addy sings beautifully, but she refuses to sing on-stage with the boys. They’ve talked her into adding her voice when they record, but she won’t sing in public. I’m still trying to convince her—my boss really wants to sign her—but it’s a work in progress.”
Candace nodded her understanding. The studio was a safe place to perform. She herself had always been terrified to sing and dance in front of an audience, so she could relate to Addy’s hesitation.
“All right then,” Bart said over the intercom. “Sounds good boys—and girl. Let’s try out those new brushes, Luke. Give me Addy’s “Love Me Always.”
Candace heard Mel sigh. “She did perform this song live with the band one time—at our wedding,” she said. Her eyes had taken on a dreamy quality. “She made it a wedding present.”
Candace sighed herself as the song began. It was a beautiful love song, slow and dreamy, about a man giving his heart to his woman and asking that she return it to him intact. Addy’s voice was lovely and pure, and one look at Matt and Mark showed both men were singing it to their wives—and always would.