Real Time (21 page)

Trevor shook his head disapprovingly. “Sounds high-handed.”

“I’ve been doing this for over twenty-five years. A good show is one which goes off without anyone getting hurt and nothing breaking. I can’t always help the equipment but I
can
keep my people safe. Tonight, you’ve become one of them. It’ll work out for you in the end anyway, because once we get to the arena, my focus will be on the show and this leaves you with someone to show you how things work.”

“It still smacks of babysitting,” Trevor grumbled.

“Call it whatever you want, big brother,” Nick answered with a smile, as the car pulled into the arena parking lot. “Bottom line, it’s my way. No discussion. Ask anyone in this entourage and they’ll all tell you the same thing. I should have warned you before you flew all the way out here, but it’s how things have to go.”

The driver took the car through the underground driveway which allowed entertainers to go inside without any interference from the public. The car pulled up to a single door and the second limousine, with the rest of the band, was right behind them. Security got out of both cars and took over, making sure everyone got out and through the door which led to the dressing rooms. Because they normally got ready at the hotel, Nick didn’t have to maintain a separate one for Kate at any of the venues. As soon as everyone was inside, Nick, Sam, and Mickey left the room as Trevor sat down beside Kate.

“Okay, I concede,” he told her. “The first word on my mind was bastard.”

Kate started to laugh. “You didn’t believe me, did you?”

“I thought you were exaggerating a bit,” he told her.

“He was being nice,” Kate offered. “If my advice is good for anything, Trevor, do what he says. It is not worth the argument... you’re going to lose anyway.”

“I’d never thought of him this way. He’s always been distant around me, but I always attributed it to the fact we didn’t get along, even when he was a kid.”

“Your brother is one-hundred-percent a perfectionist. He knows how he wants things and it is how it will go. Any deviance from this and you start praying his anger won’t be directed at you; there’s nothing worse than Nick being upset with you. I’m not any more immune than anyone else in this band, just because we’re married. Personal and professional are two different things here and the last thing any of us want is to ignite Nick’s temper.”

“Are his fans really as big a problem as he makes them sound?”

“They can be. But Nick has learned a lot in this business over the years. That’s why uses the security he does and why things go his way. Just stay close to Kyle tonight and everything will be fine. Kyle will find you a good place to watch the show and you won’t have to deal with Nick.”

“I’ll do that,” Trevor confirmed. “I’m learning so much about my brother I absolutely never knew.”

“He has his quirks,” Kate answered, smiling. “And, for the most part, things work just fine for us. We don’t disagree often, mostly because we don’t have the ‘normal’ things married couples argue about. Money is definitely not an issue; I have no clue what he’s even worth. Between recording and touring, we don’t have much idle time where anything else could be a problem.”

“Well, after the whole debacle with Phillip, I took the job in the States to put some distance between us. I’m hoping to better this one with Nick.”

“My parents live in Westwood,” Kate told him. “They live in a fairly nice neighborhood about fifteen minutes from the university. If you want, I can have them check if there are any houses in their neighborhood. This will give you some familiar faces because I can guarantee they’ll be happy to meet you. They love Nick.”

“That would be fantastic. Shelley, Missy, and I plan to come during Christmas break to start looking.”

“Nick will be home through the holidays. We don’t go back out on the road until after New Year’s. I know he’ll want to help out.”

At almost eight, Mickey walked back in and signaled for everyone to follow him out to the stage. Kate followed the rest of the band and Kyle stepped over to Trevor, showing him where he could be backstage. The band got on stage and the crowd started to roar. After a few minutes of making sure the sound was correct, Andy started to count to four and the band started with the introduction music they played at the beginning of each show. After about three minutes, Mickey walked out on the stage and introduced Nick.

* * *

T
revor was mesmerized watching the show. Kyle had gotten him a barstool from one of the lounges and the two of them watched from backstage where Andy was to the right, behind Nick on the stage. Kate was behind Nick to the left, Steve and Dave were toward the middle, and Trent was behind them all on the drums, on an upraised platform. The music was louder than Trevor normally liked but he found himself enjoying his brother’s show. He had seen Nick play years ago at one of the local London clubs. He hadn’t gone backstage or let Nick know he’d been there – their relationship was bad in those days. He knew Nick had been talented, although he never expected him to be this successful. Their father was extremely negative about Nick’s career choice and made it easy for both older brothers to adopt the same position. Although, based on the recent issues with his elder brother, Trevor was starting to regret the time he had missed with Nick.

Trevor liked Kate’s idea of her parents checking for houses in their neighborhood – this was one of the things he was nervous about: coming to a new country and not knowing what kind of neighborhood he was moving into.
Was it nice families or was it gang-infested like he had seen on the telly sometimes?
And, even though Kate was young enough to be his daughter, Trevor enjoyed his sister-in-law. She didn’t pull any punches and was an endless pool of knowledge to help him get to know Nick better. Catherine, on the other hand, had always been aloof at family gatherings; Phillip being well-known in the banking industry, Trevor felt she thought she had an image to maintain. Their two sons were no different – both went to good schools and had jobs with their father. Phillip’s sons were almost Nick’s age – Phillip married Catherine when he was twenty and Nick was four. Martin was born within nine months of the wedding and William the following year.

Trevor’s kids were younger – David was twenty-one, Jonathan was nineteen, Alicia was eighteen, and Melissa – Missy for short – was ten - so the cousins were not close, either. Trevor wondered if Nick and Kate planned to have any children – Nick was getting close to fifty, so if they were going to start, it should be soon. Somehow, he didn’t think they would – Kate seemed comfortable on the stool, playing behind Nick. Nick had told him she was talented – he got to see how much so when she did the solo parts on the ballads.  Kate played the piano parts beautifully and, even from where he was seated, he could see pride in Nick’s eyes as he turned toward her to watch her play.

It was chaotic after the show and Nick had mentioned they might not be in the same car going back to the hotel. Trevor found himself with Kate but also with Trent and Dave. He asked Kate if this was normal for them to be separated and she nodded, telling him after the show, everyone got into the nearest limousine and sorted it out back at the hotel. Nick was usually off the stage first, so Sam and Mike would move him to the front car. Each night was different, she told him.

The week went by fast and Trevor was sorry to leave. It had been a good time for them both – Nick had told him he felt they had made good headway into building a better relationship. Nick also had lots of ideas for houses for when Trevor and his family came back in December. Nick had been talking about going to Jamaica during one of their last phone conversations, but Los Angeles was just as good for Trevor. He was excited about the move and looked forward to the holidays with Nick.

E
verything about this Thanksgiving was good. It was the first Thanksgiving in the States for Trevor and his family; it was the first holiday Nick got to spend with his family since he was a kid; and Nancy had found a new best friend in Shelley and an almost-granddaughter with Missy. Luck had it that there was a house almost directly across the street from Nancy and Allen, which, as soon as Trevor and Shelley said they liked it, Nick bought. Nick’s argument was because they weren’t US citizens, the bank wouldn’t give them an easy time and Nick hated the idea of them renting. Trevor tried to argue about it, but Nick wouldn’t budge, putting the deed in his brother’s name. Kate had been correct – her parents did like Nick’s brother and his family and they had become fast friends. Missy made a new friend with Christy, who lived next door and was her age – everyone was happy.

Nancy made dinner at her house – Kate came early with Nick to help – and it was an awesome feast. The food was delicious and not much was left when it was all done. When everyone finished, Nick ushered everyone into the den where there was a piano in one corner, the one Kate used as a kid learning to play. Nick had brought his guitar and Kate sat down behind the piano.

“We want to try something out,” Nick said to everyone. “Something we’ve been working on for a bit.”

Nick started to play a soft ballad-style tune and, after a couple of minutes, Kate joined him. As he started into the second verse, Kate could be heard echoing his lyrics. This was new for Kate; she’d never sung with his band and this was something Nick had coaxed her into trying. The song was about finding love and everyone sat mesmerized as they played a perfect duet. The reaction when they were finished was exhilarating – everyone loved the song and Nancy had tears in her eyes.

“We are going to take it into the studio next week,” Nick told them. “Plan to release it as my next single.”

“It’s beautiful,” Nancy said, coming over to hug Kate. Nick smiled at the exchange. “I’ve never heard you sing before, Kate.”

“Nick’s got all kinds of ideas if this works. We wanted to try it out on family first.” Kate added.

“So the plan is we’ll get this recorded and then be off for Jamaica. Everyone is still good with leaving on the twentieth of December, right?” Nick asked.

Everyone nodded approval. Kate’s parents had originally tried to back out, thinking Nick would want to be alone with his family. Once Nick found that out, he had a long talk with both of them and the subject became closed. Nick wanted this trip to be a
family
trip – not just his, but Kate’s as well – because family was what made him happiest these days. The love he had for Kate, the now solid relationship with his brother, and the parental feeling he got with his in-laws. And, for Nick, it was all real time.

J
eanine Binder grew up in a small town in California on the outskirts of Palm Springs, where the Hollywood celebrities liked to vacation. After thirty years, she packed up, moved to Arkansas where she still lives today. Writing has always been a passion and hoping the next twenty years will bring many enjoyable books for others to read.

You can connect with Jeanine on her website at
www.JeanineBinder.com
.