The Gingerbread Boy (11 page)

Joey once told Daniel he had some kind of power over women, and in an uncomfortable way, maybe he did. At times, he wondered if it was a good thing that he loved to perform, that he loved the music and the lights and the cheering and the clapping. He
hungered
for it on stage. The joy he got singing was like no drug on Earth could duplicate, and the audiences thrived on it.

But whom was he really attracting? He liked to believe that Julia could look down on him and be proud, because people seemed to like him and he could make them happy. At least for a little while. But was it enough? Were his words sinking in when they were often delivered in such a fashion? Catherine had him struggling with questions he’d once taken for granted. Should he write more ballads, more fun songs? Songs people could participate in and talk about? Make that difference he longed to make? Was it silly and idealistic to want to help make people more human again? Creatures of substance and compassion and depth? What did he think people were, earthbound angels?

Earthbound
Angel.

Yes.

Inspired
,
Daniel crossed out the former lyrics. He lowered his head, and began to scrawl over the paper. He didn’t care that his words weren’t neat and controlled, and looked like a child’s. If he could barely caress his beloved guitar-strings, then he’d caress this paper with a love song. He looked over at the table where another book he was planning to study lay. A medical journal. Maybe he was being ridiculous and a little paranoid.

Still…

He gazed at his fingers in consternation a moment, then relaxed and began to write. He had no time to worry about what was wrong with his hands. It was time to enhance the things that were right.

Chapter Seven

Beth thrust an envelope in Catherine’s face. Catherine squared her shoulders and carefully peeled the letter out of her roommate’s fingers.

“I think it’s from Daniel,” Beth said, fluttering her eyelashes. When on a quest, she flapped those eyelashes like a horse swatted flies with its tail. “Don’t be surprised if it’s a see-you-later letter. Don’t say I didn’t tell you so.”

Catherine tried to hide her joy at seeing the letter. She and Daniel had so little time to spend together; maybe letters could help fill the gaps. The only letters she usually received were from Hazel. At that thought, she felt a twinge of guilt. She hadn’t written Hazel in over three weeks. The poor old lady had sent a rather disturbing letter two days ago, and Catherine felt as though she were Hazel’s only friend on Earth. She
should
write, and would. Soon.

But she knew she’d be writing back to Daniel, first.

“I recognized Daniel’s return address,” Beth said, her tone condescendingly sweet. “What is it like at his house, anyway?”

Catherine rolled her eyes. Beth was stalling hoping to stand around long enough for the envelope to be opened. Humor her, Catherine thought, studying Daniel’s unusual penmanship. He wrote so large for having such elegant hands.

“You’d hardly be interested,” she sighed. “The house is big and open, but old. And he has a big, cranky parrot he lets fly around, and feathers land everywhere. He also has junky furniture that doesn’t match and a refrigerator that sounds like a lawnmower. But there is a nice studio attached. It’s warm and cozy, like a big den. Daniel and his group hang out in it.” She flipped the envelope over and over in her fingers. “Anything else you’d like to know?”

Beth crossed her arms, her mouth twitching. She stared at the letter.

“Doesn’t he drive anything but that ugly old van? He must. I hear their CD is selling like crazy.”

Catherine shrugged. “I saw something buried under a tarp next to the studio, but it might belong to one of his friends. It could be an old wreck for all I know. It might be a flying saucer for that matter…”

“Will you ever open that letter?” Beth suddenly asked. She put her hands on her hips. “You’re scared to, aren’t you? You don’t want me to see it because you’re afraid I might be right about him.”

Catherine rolled her eyes in disgust. If she didn’t open the envelope Beth would never leave her bedroom without being whacked over the head and carried out. She pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of the envelope. As she began to unfold it, her heart hammered in a sudden fear.
She had done something like this once before
and the horrible letter she’d found from Calvin’s “other” girlfriend had ended up folded inside of his sandwich at work the next day. As much as she loathed Calvin now, the memory stung, and her eyes were blurred by the time the letter was fully unfolded and legible.

Daniel took a few sentences to apologize for the sloppy writing, but explained that the words to the song were original and he wanted Catherine to have them:

If I were an eagle with wide, spreading wings
I’d soar high and gaze down on beautiful things
Then I’d see the only one who could bring me back down,
My
Earthbound Angel
waiting there on the ground.

Earthbound Angel
I long to make you happy
Earthbound Angel
I long for you to fly away with me
Earthbound Angel, tell me that which we already knew
And share my feathers; they belong to you, too

If I were a spirit, soaring through whispering leaves
It’d be terrible to see you alone without me
I would fall hard and painfully, it’s true
To gladly become earthbound with someone like you.

Earthbound Angel
I long to make you happy
Earthbound Angel
I long for you to fly away with me
Earthbound Angel
take these feathers, it’s I who’s alone
With you,
Earthbound Angel, the Earth is my home.

Catherine closed her eyes, absorbed in Daniel’s words.

She could sense Beth reading over her shoulder.

“Good Heavens!” Beth finally exclaimed. “It sounds like Daniel is thinking of giving up his career, Sealey. Just to be around an ordinary girl like you. Is that what you want? Really? How selfish of you!” Then she stalked out of the room.

Chapter Eight

Joey glanced behind him to see at whom the stunning blonde was
really
staring as he stood alone in the rear room in Elderly Instruments, a famous music store in Lansing. He feigned being lost in thought while she worked her way nearer, glancing occasionally at guitars with little interest. By the time she was within several feet, she was approaching rapidly. It was odd, Elderly’s wasn’t on the campus beat.

Joey felt his stomach clutch. Beautiful girls rarely confronted him. And as much as he hated to admit it, they scared him.

The next thing he knew, she was standing directly in front of him, gazing his way with the loveliest blue eyes he’d ever seen. Her hair, swept elegantly back on her head, tumbled in golden ringlets against a handsome blue coat which accented her eyes. Joey faked a look of surprise, as though he’d just noticed her.

She raised a finger and smiled. “I’ve seen you before,” she said, her voice low and sultry. “Do you work for Daniel LaMont and The Front?”

Joey relaxed. He should have known this wasn’t about him.

“In a way, they work for me. I manage the band.”

“Oh, you’re a southerner,” she gushed. “I
love
that accent. How long have you lived up north Mr….”

“I’m Joey Thayer.” He stretched out his hand, and she shook it briskly. Her hands were cold. “I’ve lived here many years, but never lost the accent. I like to think it holds a certain amount of charm, Miss…”

“Shaker. Beth Shaker.”

They released hands.

“What can I do for you, Miss Shaker?”

“Call me Beth.”

“What can I do for you, Beth?”

Beth shrugged, glancing sideways at nothing in particular.

“I don’t need you to do anything for me,” she replied, “I just wanted you to know that I think your band is the best I’ve ever heard, and the singer is especially talented. Didn’t he use to play lead guitar?”

Joey nodded glumly. As usual, the conversation was reverting to his buddy. If he didn’t love Daniel so much, he’d hate the guy’s guts. Any notions of romantic possibilities for himself and Beth faded, and he settled into his more comfortable promotion mode.

“Daniel can play just about any instrument he’s ever laid his hands on. He still plays, occasionally for his own pleasure. But he’s devoting himself entirely to vocals now. Don’t you think the new guitarist is holding his own with the music?”

Beth batted her eyes. “Oh yes, he’s fine. All of the band members are extremely talented, and they all seem dedicated. I love the interaction between them and Daniel. They seem to actually enjoy what they’re doing on stage, and respect the image Daniel wants to maintain.”

Joey’s invisible antennae raised. “The image?” Beth sounded as though she knew Daniel.

Beth gave Joey a coy look and clenched her hands together in front of her.

“Yes. The image. A clean, upbeat act. The world needs more music like that, and your band certainly isn’t afraid to provide it.”

Joey rubbed his chin. “Do most of your friends feel that the same as you?”

“They do.”

“Daniel will be happy to hear that.” Joey cocked his head at her, grinning slightly. “Or
have
you told him? You seem to know him.”

Beth sighed. “I don’t know him. Not yet. It’s hard to talk to him whenever they play in the area now. He spends so many of his breaks sitting with some little brunette that it’s difficult to approach him. Lots of other women feel the way I do.”

“The Front’s followers aren’t all women,” Joey said.

“Maybe not, but, women still make up over half of the audiences. They love Daniel. They want to imagine he’s, well, that he’s free.” Beth paused, gazing straight into Joey’s eyes. “Is he?”

Joey made no comment. This girl had a point as disturbing as it was. Daniel was not one to enjoy groupies, yet the business side of Joey recognized they were a factor in the band’s continued success. This was tricky. Talking to this woman was like walking on eggshells. Tiny, little eggshells.

“Daniel’s not married.” He finally replied.

“Not yet.” Beth said.

There was an uncomfortable silence.

“Most girls hope that girl is his sister,” Beth finally said. “They do kind of look alike. And I’ve never seen him kiss her. It should probably stay platonic don’t you think?”

Joey lowered his forehead into his hand. What should he say? He had never seen Daniel as happy as he was in Catherine’s presence. And Joey wanted Daniel to be happy. Although Daniel had had only a few serious relationships in the years Joey had known him, Joey sensed it was going to be different with Eastie. He
felt
it. He approved of it. He liked Catherine, and it was fun to give her a hard time on occasion. She was as much of an epitome as Daniel. Something wonderful was growing between them, something that Joey envied and hoped one day to find for himself. He was glad for Daniel.

But for the sake of the band as a whole Daniel’s involvement with someone
could
hurt sales.

Sales!

Joey hated putting a price on Daniel’s emotions. Still as the band’s manager, he had a duty to consider what this ‘fan’ was telling him.

“Don’t you think it would be wise for a handsome lead singer like Daniel LaMont to remain unattached?” Beth asked, pulling Joey from his thoughts. “I realize it’s not what their image is supposed to be based on, but what about the fantasy factor? Daniel attracts women. Women with money the band needs to continue its advancement and success.”

Joey looked directly into Beth’s face. Her eyes were icy and determined. He towered over her, yet she made him feel small.

“Just think about it –
really
think about it.” Beth said, narrowing her eyes. Then she turned and strolled away, leaving Joey feeling like he was sinking.

****

When Calvin drove by the large white house for the third time that day, he couldn’t believe what he saw. His jaw dropped as his foot let off the accelerator. The gorgeous blonde had stepped into the black German sports car in the driveway. He rubbed his chin with delight, watching in the rear-view mirror as the luxury car backed out.

So apparently one of Cathy’s
roommates
owned that vehicle – not that flashy singer she was seeing. How stupid of him to assume the man was living there! Catherine hadn’t changed that much, after all. She lived with a few female students, and that was it.

Not that Calvin was afraid of Daniel. But the guy had knocked one of Calvin’s front teeth loose, and had an awful mean buffoon as a friend. He had to be cautious.

His eyes narrowed as he thought of the blonde in that luxury car. He’d met her that first day when he’d first asked if Catherine was home. Apparently the girl was
loaded.
An interesting tidbit of knowledge.

Then he thought of the cold look in her eyes. She obviously wasn’t as naïve or trusting as the girls he was accustomed to. There was something almost dangerous about that woman that he was afraid of even if she had money.

Then his previous thoughts of how Catherine had embarrassed him re-surfaced, and Calvin pounded the steering wheel with his fist. Catherine
owed
him. She’d embarrassed him in front of hundreds of people, and she had to pay for that. Somehow. And soon. And the haughty blonde might just be the ticket.

****

Catherine stood alone on her front steps, nervously bouncing up and down on her feet, her hands tucked in her jacket. She was much too excited to fully absorb the splendid warmth of the March Sunday. Daniel had said he had a surprise to show her this morning, and she expected to hear the sputter and clunk of Bruiser climbing up the nearby hill any time. She tipped her head, smiling, allowing the balmy air to caress her face. Somewhere overhead, a robin chirped in a maple tree.