When Sparks Fly (39 page)

The annoying ring of Blake’s cell phone brought them back to reality.

“McIntyre. Yes, yes. We’ll be there. Thank you so much.”

Blake smiled broader than Renee had ever seen. He tossed the magazine up in the air.

“That was Ev Pinchert’s office. We have an appointment with him at two o’clock.”

“Wait, weren’t we supposed to meet with Frankie then?”

“Trust me, this takes precedence. I’ll let Frankie know what’s going on. You go finish getting ready. Put on some concert clothes, sweetheart. This is the most important thing that’s happened yet. You’re performing for Ev Pinchert.”

‡
Chapter Twelve

After her initial bout of jitters, Renee nailed the song she’d sung for Ev Pinchert. Her hands were clammy and she rubbed them on her jeans. She sighed. She wasn’t sure about any of this: the posh office, this man who closed his eyes and seemed to sleep through her performance, his matter of fact attitude.

“Blake, I agree with all you told me.”

Ev’s large hand clamped down on Blake’s shoulder.

“Let me roll this around awhile. I’ll be in touch.”

Hand in hand Blake and Renee walked out of Pinchert’s office and headed for the row of overstuffed chairs by the windows. They sat down and looked at each other.

“Well, that was interesting,” Renee slightly chuckled.

“Honey, you just held audience with the most influential man in the music field today. Ev Pinchert is the best of the best, kinda like Quincy Jones.”

Renee stretched her booted feet out in front of her and raised her arms above her head. She needed a nap before going to the Kids With Cancer fundraiser.

“Blake? Can we please go home now?”

“Sure. You doin’ okay?”

“Yeah, I just need to rest a bit before we hit the ground running again.”

Blake nodded his head. He knew what tired was because he was exhausted from this fast pace, too. It’d been quite a while since he’d had to be on point 24/7. While the adrenaline rush carried him through most days, when he could rest, he didn’t.

Renee and Blake entered their apartment building arm in arm. With only them in the elevator, it was a smooth ride with no stops.

Once upstairs, Blake helped Renee take off her boots and made her comfortable on the couch in her apartment.

It didn’t take Renee but a few minutes before her eyes closed and her breathing slowed. She wasn’t asleep, she was just relaxed. She didn’t have time to sleep. She rolled onto her side, facing the back of the couch.

Blake pulled the soft chenille throw over Renee and walked quietly to his apartment, leaving the doors of both places open. He was still in shock from Pinchert’s request to hear Renee.

Man, I sure hope this works out.

Blake shuffled the papers on his desk to form a neat pile then headed to ready himself for the concert. Before he did that, he made sure all of the equipment was packed up. Renee had requested he bring both guitars. After placing them and her folder of music by the other items, he ran off to change clothes.

Renee laid on her couch for a while thinking about the afternoon. The magazine article and ratings made her smile. She was shocked that her music had run up the charts so quickly. She knew it surprised Blake as well.

Renee moved to the piano, took a few deep breaths, and did some vocal warm-ups. She’d been excited to participate in the cancer fundraisers in the past. While she was still more than willing to be a part of this annual money making event, it just wouldn’t be the same without little Allison standing by her, holding her hand, and singing some of her favorite Renee songs.

Twenty minutes later Renee walked across the hall and stood in the doorway of Blake’s apartment. He was seated at his desk, phone to ear, talking with someone.

Renee just observed and smiled. She didn’t signal her presence, she just wanted to watch this man who’d captured her heart.

Blake was dressed in khaki trousers with a loud floral print silk button down shirt. At the moment his bare feet were crossed on his desk, and he’d leaned back in the office chair after replacing the phone in its cradle. He kissed the file folder he was holding.

Blake noticed Renee standing in the doorway staring at him. He smiled. He loved this woman so much. How could it be that she was right here all along?

“Hey, looks like you’ve got everything under control.”

Renee surveyed the mound of things resting by the door.

“Are you ready to roll?”

“Not before I get my hug, I’m not.”

Blake sped to where Renee was standing and wrapped his arms around her. He placed a passion-filled kiss on her glittery glossed lips that lit her soul on fire.

“Mmmmm. If only there was time.”

Renee raised and lowered her eyebrows rapidly.

Yes, if only there was time. I’d consume all of you!

“Well, now, my darling Blake, there’s always time.”

Blake kissed her again, massaging the small of her back.

“Really, there isn’t. I need to get this stuff loaded and then set up so we can run through a couple things.

Renee shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

Your loss, buddy, but there’s always later.

*

The largest conference room inside the Children’s Cancer Center was standing room only. The staff had brought most of the inpatient children from their rooms and there were many parents and other outpatient children, as well as big name financial donors lining the walls. Doctors and nurses stood interspersed among the children.

The kids loved Renee. They enjoyed her stories, her music, and the fact that she always had time to talk to all who wanted to visit with her.

“Hi everybody,” Renee greeted.

Renee sang for thirty minutes. The children laughed, participated in hand gestures, and sang along with her. She paused long enough to motion to a young man to join her.

“Hey, most of you know my friend Casey, right? Well, he’s going to read a story to you now. It’s a story that he wrote.”

Casey was eighteen now. Three years ago he was fighting for his life here in the Cancer Center. He’d survived radical chemotherapy and radiation, graduated high school, and was now in his first year of college. He’d also written and illustrated a children’s book about how he’d dealt with and conquered cancer.

An appreciative audience applauded Casey’s story and turned their attention to the man who shook the young man’s hand.

“Thank you, Casey. What a wonderful young man. For one day only, Casey has decided to donate the sales from his book to the Children’s Cancer Center. Isn’t that awesome?”

Smiles and nods from some of the adults confirmed Casey’s selfless gesture.

“Before we go any further, I should probably introduce myself. I’m Dr. Scott Donner, CEO of the Children’s Cancer Center. Thank you all for attending today.

“Cancer doesn’t care who you are: it doesn’t care about your gender or race, it doesn’t care if you’re healthy or ill, nor does it care if you are an adult or a child. It attacks, and, in some cases, it’s fatal.

“We at the Children’s Cancer Center have new hope in research that we can find the cause and obliterate this disease so it no longer attacks our precious little ones that surround us today. Through your generous donations we can continue to provide quality care to any and all who come here seeking treatment. I can’t stress enough how much your dollars mean and how important you are to all of us. To the parents, volunteers in the Kids with Cancer program, donors, and my staff, I thank you in advance for your support of our work.”

Doctor Donner disappeared in the crowd who now stood shoulder to shoulder. That was Renee’s cue to get the music going again.

“Hey, let’s make some noise, okay?”

Renee had asked the staff to bring the instruments from the music room here at the hospital and distribute them to the children. There were small drums, flutes, chimes, and various other noise makers.

“Okay, when I point to you, I want you to play your instrument, ok? Here we go.”

Renee engaged the kids in the song and all were laughing when the song ended. It was a song she’d specifically written for music time when she was here volunteering.

“I have another surprise for you,” Renee declared to shouts of approval from her audience.

“Blake, come here, please.”

Blake stood up from where he’d been sitting on the floor directly in front of her. He looked at the audience, pointed to himself, and shook his head.

“Me? You want me?”

“Yes, Mr. McIntyre, please come join me. I’ve heard you’re a great singer and I think you should join us on this song.”

Renee handed Blake a guitar.

Blake rolled his eyes and smiled at her. He pulled the guitar strap around his shoulder and attached it to the guitar.

You’ll pay for this later, sweetheart, oh yes you will!

“Is everyone ready? You have to sing really loud when we get to the chorus, okay? You know what song we’re doing?”

The kids screamed in unison “The Fly Song.”

Blake chuckled. It’d been years since he’d sung this song. He strummed a chord on the guitar.

God, I hope I remember all the words.

“This half of the room sings with me and this half of the room sings with Mr. Blake, okay? Blake, you start us off.”

This was the first time Renee had heard Blake sing. She was pleasantly surprised with his deep baritone voice.

“There was an old woman who…” Blake began.

They continued the countless verses to the song, each time singing the chorus faster and louder until the laughter took over and the music stopped.

Blake kissed Renee’s cheek and whispered “thank you” before handing her the guitar.

“I have to rest after that one,” Renee declared.

Renee took a few gulps of water from the bottle that was sitting on the stool behind her. She sat down and placed the bottle at her feet. This was her last song. It was Allison’s song and truthfully she didn’t know if she could get through the introduction, let alone sing it.

“Thank you all for being here today to support such an awesome thing. The staff here at CCC is the best of the best. Your financial help will allow research to continue and provide quality care to those who need it. Your kind, heartfelt donations will go directly to research with hopes of finding a cure for cancer.

“We lost a very special little girl earlier this year,” Renee began, shifting her body slightly.

“Georgia and Steve Mortenson, your daughter Allison was an inspiration for so many, especially me. Allison, my sweet butterfly angel, this one’s for you.”

Allison’s presence engulfed the room as Renee sang. Feeling her little friend’s spirit was the only thing that allowed Renee to finish the song without completely breaking down.

The reverent silence was eerie after the last note of the song was played. The adults were moved by her words and music. Even some of the children who knew Allison were crying.

Doctor Donner made his way to the front of the conference room. He hugged Renee and thanked her for being a part of the fund raiser.

“What a lovely tribute to a beautiful young girl. Thank you, Renee Manelli, for being with us today. There are refreshments in the cafeteria. Casey will be signing his books and Ms. Manelli will be making her rounds, too.”