When it was finished, Bart spoke again. “Very nice, Addy darlin’,” he said, and even he sounded affected by the music this time.
But Addy was shaking her head. “I have to fix the key change for the final chorus,” she said. “That final time through needs the female voice on top, but I just can’t hit those notes.”
“I’ll bet Candace can,” Mel said, and Candace suddenly found herself the center of attention.
“I don’t think so,” she stammered.
“You were humming it just fine,” Mel insisted.
“Really,” she added, looking at each of the others in turn.
“Could you?” Addy asked, looking excited.
“Well, I…”
“Come on, darlin’,” Luke said, hopping up from his stool and crossing to take her hand to lead her to the center of the room. “Give it a try. Addy’s dyin’ to hear it the way she wrote it, the way it’s supposed to be.”
“Please?” Addy asked, her voice a plea.
“We can try it that way,” Bart said from the next room, though he sounded doubtful.
His attitude was enough to push Candace over the edge, and she accepted the sheet music Addy was holding out to her.
Singing is one thing I can do, she told herself, whatever he might think.
“Okay, let’s do it this way,” Addy said. “I’ll do the first chorus solo then I want you to sing with me in unison the second time through, then the third time, you move to the top line. Okay?”
Candace nodded. She wished she had had the opportunity to warm up her voice, but she could do this.
The music started again, and Candace felt the tune as strongly as the first time. Singing in unison with Addy was easy—the other woman’s voice was that smooth. By the time they hit the chorus the third time, she was warmed up enough to open up fully, and the six voices blended beautifully, with Candace’s sparkling on top of the chord.
The room was hushed for a long moment following the last ripple of chord then Addy jumped up and hugged Candace to her.
“Yes!” she cried. “That is exactly what I had in mind for that endin’!”
Everyone started talking at once, then Bart’s voice rang out.
“Very nice. Let’s move on. Addy, add Candace in on the next few, wherever you think will work.”
The next thing Candace knew, she was singing as though she had been a part of this band forever. There were times when both she and Addy sat out, but as often as not, Addy pulled her into the center, quickly told her what they needed, and they were off again. By the end of their scheduled time in the studio, Candace was exhausted but happy.
“Well done, boys and girls,” Bart said. “I think we have some cuts that’ll be sure to get Ms. Konstantine’s attention.”
“I know you did,” Mel said, knowing her boss at the Konstantine Talent Agency very well.
The band packed up, and Candace realized she had dropped Luke’s coat along the way. She was finally dry—and even warm—though her clothes looked as though she had slept in them.
“I’m starvin’,” John said on a cheerful note. “Tell me it’s lunch time.”
“Yeah, it is,” Mark said, putting their youngest brother in a head lock.
“We have the van and Mel’s car,” Bart said. “Where are we goin’?”
Candace felt the return of her panic. “I can’t…”
“Sure you can,” Matt said, putting one arm around her and one around his wife.
“Lunch is on me,” Bart said, giving her a wink.
“But…”
“Why don’t I take Addy and Candace home,” Mel suggested, picking up on Candace’s discomfort. “Candace will want a shower after her drenching this morning, and I can eat lunch there before I head back to work.”
“You’re sure?” Matt asked.
“I’m sure.”
Candace met Mel’s understanding gaze and felt tears threaten. These were very nice people, and she was certain they wouldn’t want anything to do with her, if they knew the truth about her, but she really didn’t have any choice but to go with them. She knew the Manager would have men combing the city, looking for her, and she couldn’t bear the thought of going back to that place.
“Okay, darlin’,” Matt said, kissing Mel soundly on the lips.
“I’ll put stew on for supper,” Addy said, “so you all get your business done then come on home.”
“Will do, darlin’,” Mark said, kissing her.
“Man, I got to get me one of those,” John said to his uncle with a grin.
Bart laughed. “Come on, boy. Let’s get Luke packed up so we can get some lunch to carry us through meetin’ with Ms. Konstantine.”
“Wait in my office, Bart, if you beat me there!” Mel said, taking Candace’s hand and heading for the door. “Do not—I repeat, do not—approach Kitty Konstantine, until I get there!”
“Yeah, yeah…”
Mel laughed, and Candace had a feeling that Mel was the mama bear in this odd clan. It remained to be seen just how protective she would be of her cubs when she learned the truth about Candace.
26