Sing a Song of Love (13 page)

  I forgot all about him though as when I got to my room Mack
took one look at me and grabbed my hands and twirled me around.

“Wow you look fabulous Jess.  And is this the dress?” 

I nodded as he took in the skirt I was carrying. 

“I’ll be thinking about ripping it off you all night!”

“There will be no ripping Marcus O’Connor.  It will be hard
enough giving it back.  I didn’t have much faith in someone else picking out a
dress for me but I don’t think I could have picked better.  I love it!” 

I laughed as I wasn’t usually this precious about clothes
but I guess we all have a diva inside us somewhere!  And mine had just come
out!

The rehearsal was completed by mid-afternoon and we headed
to the cafes in Kingsland to get a bite to eat.  I was so excited that I didn’t
think I would be able to eat but I surprised myself when the kumara chips and
aioli arrived.  They were divine and by the time I had ploughed through them
and had a cup of coffee I felt ready for anything.

“Hope our boys do us proud tonight!”

Cam smiled confidently at Lance, “Wouldn’t get too excited
mate!”

Mack laughed, “Inclined to agree with Cam, other than a draw
in 1983 I don’t think we have beaten them in the last century!”

Lance looked doubtful at Mack, “Really? I thought we had a
good rugby team!”

Cam slapped Lance on the back looking gleeful, “Don’t take
it too hard, sure you Scottish boys have other skills!”

I listened to them talk with half an ear while my thoughts
wandered idly around.  I was trying to contain my half smile as I thought how
different they were to what people perceived rock stars to be.  It really
wasn’t all sex, drugs and rock and roll with the good artists.  Like any
profession it required hard work and dedication and that didn’t mix well with
getting blotto five days a week.  So really other than being famous the same
things made them tick as any other person.  Well almost!

I looked over at the familiar faces and realised how
attached I had become of them over the last six weeks.  They were like family
to me.

“Love your rendition of the anthem Jess.  Are you folks
coming down to the stadium tonight?”

“I couldn’t get tickets Cam as the game has been sold out
for weeks.”

Mack, who had been listening, piped up at this point, “I can
put their names on the door for our box.  In fact we have room for about ten
more if you guys want to invite anyone else.  Just give me the names in the
next hour so I can organise it.”

I couldn’t keep my delight from my face, “Thanks Mack, will
ring them now. You’re the best.” 

“Sorry I didn’t think of it earlier.” 

I popped out the back to the courtyard where it was quieter
and gave Mum a ring.  I could hear Dads whoop when he heard the news and
smiled, “I can probably get tickets for four or five so if anyone else in the
family wants to come let me know so I can add their names to the door as well. 
Can’t wait to see you guys tonight.”

“See you tonight love, and break a leg eh!”

I walked back in and smiled at Mack, “Mum and Dad were over
the moon.  Will let you know if any more family is coming, and thanks Mack.”

“No problem Jess.”

We got back to the park about half an hour before we were
due to perform.  The stadium was filling up fast and was already two thirds
full.  We could see a makeshift stage that was in the middle of the field on a
large trailer so it could be quickly removed after I had sung the national
anthem.  I felt a shiver of excitement and nerves and Cam squeezed my hand. 

We had a new twist to our first number and I was looking
forward to seeing how the crowd would receive it.  Josh had been watching Stomp
and had come up with this novel idea to start our first number off with us
stomping out the base and then to bring in the banjo and the guitar.  It had a
fast melody so when the strumming dropped in on our stomping it sounded
amazing.  Then the rest of the instruments came in with the vocals.  It was a
lot of fun to do so I hoped the audience enjoyed it.  We would soon find out
anyway!

We were shepherded out to our stage on a small buggy and the
noise was deafening.  I looked around at the guys and could see a few cases of
nerves, “All for one and one for all!”

That cracked the guys up, not that I had meant to be amusing.

“What are we the three musketeers with Tonto and Batgirl or
something?” 

I laughed, “Whatever gets you through the night!”

“Anyway I’m more like an Iron Man than Tonto,” said Cam
grinning, “I’m witty, handsome and I always get the girl!”

The laugh did us good and by the time we got on stage and
Lance had introduced us, we were ready. 

We started stomping into the silence and the crowd was
mesmerised.  Then Robbie and Lance brought in the guitar and the banjo,
strumming the fast rift of the introduction, and by the time we started to sing
the crowd was stomping and yahooing too.  Could have helped that the beer had
been flowing freely for the last few hours and they were ready to be
entertained!  But the reception we got managed to set us free from the last of
our nerves and we had the time of our lives on stage.  By the time we finished
our second number we were sad to be at the end!

The buggy came back for the boys while someone helped me
behind the stage to discreetly attach my skirt and fix up my makeup.  I was
sweating profusely after the stomping and needed the sheen removed from my
face!  I didn’t want to look all shiny on camera during the close ups.

Someone asked the crowd to rise for the National Anthem and
I stepped up to the microphone.  I breathed into the silence and focussed on
the fact that this was a song to my fellow countrymen.  Nothing to be scared
about.  I took another deep breath before I started off the first verse in
Maori.

As I sung I could hear myself joined by fifty thousand other
voices and for the two verses we were joined in our common love for our
country.  It was a moment I would never forget and by the time I finished, I
had to blink hard to disperse the tears that were welling in the corner of my
eyes.

The buggy came for me and Mack was waiting at the entrance
to the grounds to escort me up to the box.

He swiped me up in a bear hug that left me in no doubt of my
performance.

“You didn’t tell me about the stomping that was pure
genius!  And you brought tears to your folk’s eyes when you sung the anthem. 
Can’t get better praise than that!” He leant down and added for my ears only,
“Except for mine tonight Jessie girl!”  And he gave me his wickedest grin.

I felt myself grinning back and had a feeling it was going
to be painted on all night.  Don’t think I had ever felt this high on life and
it felt incredible.

“So the stomping sounded good?  What did Mum and Dad think
of the High Land Boys performance?”

“We are just about at the box so you can ask them.”  And he
opened the door and ushered me in. 

I was greeted by a round of applause and I felt the grin
stretching out even further.  Dad swept me up into a hug and he didn’t need to
say a word for me to see how proud he was! 

“Jess you were spectacular out there and by the time you
were in your dress I hardly recognised you as the same person.  I’m so proud of
you darling.”

“Thanks Mum.  And isn’t the dress gorgeous?  It was pure
genius whoever came with the idea of the detachable skirt.  Right I’m off to
quickly get changed as I want to see the boys do the Haka.”

I slipped away and changed into some jeans and was back in
time for the Haka.  The All Blacks looked fierce and by the time they kicked
off the park was back to full volume.

We had a fantastic view from the box and it was fun to relax
and watch the game.  I would like to say the game was close but the All Blacks were
always a step ahead of the Scottish team and by full time the score was twenty
seven to ten. 

I said goodbye to my folks with promises to come up and
visit before I left for Australia. 

“You are lucky to be working with such a great group of
people Jess.”

“I know Dad, I couldn’t be happier.  Really feel like my
luck has turned around!”

“You turned your luck around my girl.  You have worked hard
to get to where you are so enjoy your success.” 

Dad gave me a warm hug and I could feel his kiss on the top
of my head.  I thought, as I had a million times before, how lucky I was to
have such great parents. 

“Hey Batgirl, are you heading into town with us tonight?” 

Lance looked at my doubtful expression and tried harder.

“Oh go on, it’s been ages since we all had a drink and a
dance together.” 

Robbie and Josh joined in at that point and my resolve
waivered til I found myself agreeing to come out with them.

“How about you Mack, you up for a few drinks?”

“Sounds good, give me a few moments to tie up some loose
ends and I’ll be right with you.” 

We arrived at the Viaduct around eleven and the queues
outside the bars looked long and tedious.  I wished for a moment that I had
whisked Jessie back to the hotel and just ordered champagne from room service. 
But the boys were right; we hadn’t been out for a drink for ages and it was
important to celebrate our successes together.  Thankfully our names were on
the door and we were taken straight through.

We headed for the bar and I gave the staff my credit card
and opened a tab. 

“What’s everyone fancy?”

The boys wanted Kilkenny and Cam, Jess and I decided to
share a bottle of champagne.

The promoters had reserved the back room at the bar so we
could mingle with the crowds but escape when it got too much.  I found a table
and we all sat down to toast our success.

I looked round the group and almost didn’t know where to
start. They had come so far since we left Scotland.  The biggest crowd before
Queenstown was about five hundred, at a local dance hall in our home town.  To
rise to where they were in such a short space of time was nothing short of
miraculous. 

“To the High Land Boys and their terrific sidekicks Tonto
and Batgirl!”  And I winked at Jessie.

We all burst out laughing before Cam added indignantly,
“It’s Iron Man!”

“All for one and one for all!”  Robbie added and we all
raised our glasses laughing, in a toast to us. 

It was a great feeling to get to the end of the first half
of our tour amid such raving reviews.  We had one last concert tomorrow night
and then I had organised for everyone to stay up at Matapouri for four nights.

I wanted to talk to Jessie too, and see whether she minded
if our relationship went public between the six of us.  It no longer felt right
keeping it a secret from them.  Also it was damn hard to keep my hands off her
and act all platonic while they were around.  And I was pretty sure Alina had
said something to Lance, which meant Robbie and Josh already knew.  So that
really only left Cam to tell.

“You feel like a dance Jessie?”

“Sure.”  And I lead her to the dance floor before drawing
her in close. 

I was a master at picking the right songs for a slow dance
and it was good to have her safely wrapped in my arms.  I had loved my time in
New Zealand but was looking forward to getting Jessie safely away.  That crack
pot sending the letters was keeping me on edge and I was over it.

“Do you think we should tell the guys about us?”

“Cam already knows and he seemed to think Lance did as
well.”

Mack laughed, “Well I’d say everyone knows then so it’s just
a matter of getting it out in the open.  What do you think?”

She smiled up at me and her eyes were alive, like they had
been the very first time I had seen her on the demo tape. 

“I’d like that.  Hate pretending around them.”

“Well that’s settled.”  And I pulled her in for the
remainder of the dance.

After the song ended we made our way back to the bar for a
quick shot to fortify ourselves, then made our way back to our table and sat
down. 

“Got a feeling you guys already know this, but for the
record, Jess and I having been seeing each other for the last few weeks.” 

I looked round at them gauging their response and was
pleased to see everyone looking happy. 

“Well that’s a relief, wasn’t quite sure how that was going
to go down!”

Lance laughed, “Wondering when you were going to come
clean.  Though it was amusing watching you pretend to be friends.  You’re an appalling
actor Mack!”

“Glad to be of entertainment value!”  I added drily. “So I’m
guessing Alina told you.”

“Nah Gina told me you were ‘mooning’, her word not mine,
about some girl and I put one and one together!”

I could see the others were amused by this and even Jessie
was trying to cover her smile; talk not going exactly as I planned!

“Alright jokes over and topic is closed.  I’m heading to the
bar, anyone need a refill?”

I could hear them chuckling as I headed to the bar and tried
not to feel pissed!  Trust Gina to tell her brother verbatim what I said.  Though
I guess if it had been anyone else I would be laughing as well.

I ordered a shot of tequila with the round of drinks and
downed it before heading back to the table.  I slipped in beside Jess, “Shall
we get going soon?”

“Did you really say you were mooning about a girl?”

“I might have done in passing.  Be careful where you go with
this as there will be consequences!”  I already had my hand on the top of her
thigh and gave her a wee horse bite to reinforce my words. 

I must not have pulled off the menacing tone as it didn’t
deter her one bit, “I like the thought of you mooning about me!” 

“Well I’ll moon about you a bit more if you stop with the
teasing.  You’re ruining my reputation!” 

Jessie giggled, “I guess mooning doesn’t sound very manly.”