Ch89 Great Together

“She’s here!” Luke shouted.

Alana jumped up and ran to Janet, then she stopped—as if embarrassed by her eagerness-- blushed and said in a particularly dignified voice, “Hello, Janet.”

Janet laughed and gave her a quick hug. “It’s great to see you again.”

“Welcome to Luke’s music studio,” Alana said.

Janet gasped as she looked around. “Wow, you weren’t kidding. This place is amazing,” she said staring wide-eyed at every imaginable musical instrument residing in its designated spot, ready to be played.

“Um…are more people coming?” she asked. “You know, like a whole orchestra?”

“No, just you,” Luke said, chuckling.

“But you do have other musicians who play with you?” Janet asked.

“Sure, there's Peter, but he couldn’t make it tonight,” he replied. “He has to babysit his little sisters while his mom’s at work and Jonah…well, I just don’t know about him. I think he’s gone. May need a replacement for him.”

At the blank look on Janet’s face, Alana filled her in. “Peter Adams is on keyboards. He goes to your school so you might know him,” Alana said.

“I have heard of him. Plays football I think, hangs out with the popular kids,” Janet said.

“That’s him, really nice guy. Very talented,” Luke adamantly said.

“And Jonah who plays the drums is older and may be on drugs,” Alana whispered.

“Oh, that’s no good,” Janet said, removing her jacket and setting it aside while she continued to walk around looking at the sundry musical equipment. “So, you have a real band together already?”

“Not quite…trying though,” Luke said, sitting down on a stool. “No one’s as serious about it as I am.”

“Peter is,” Alana said.

“Yeah, but he doesn’t have the time,” Luke retorted running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I may have to ask my dad for some help getting this band together, but I really don’t wanna do that.”

“Don’t blame you,” Janet said, without thinking. “I mean…he seems nice, but…”

“He’s great when it comes to music, he knows his stuff, but he’s a total control freak and if I let him in there is no getting him out again,” he said. 

“This is my gig and I want it my way.”

Janet grinned like a mischievous imp and said to Alana, “But Luke’s not a control freak, huh? Nothing like his dad.”

Alana giggled. “A little bit.”

“Hey, whose side are you on?” he shouted.

“Just teasing,” Janet said. “Um…Can I ask why do you have so many instruments if you don’t have anyone to play them?”

“Luke plays them,” Alana said.

Janet made a skeptical face. “Come on. Not all of them.”

Alana nodded while Luke shrugged, looking a tad embarrassed.

“You’re kidding,” Janet said looking from one to the other.

Alana shook her head. “Tell her, Luke,” she said, nudging him.

“It’s no big deal. Once you know how to play one, you can do the others.”

“Easy for you to say,” Janet said. “I took piano lessons for three years and I suck!”

They laughed. 

“Anyway,” Luke said. “I wanted to show you what I’ve been working on. I was hoping we could record you doing some background vocals.”

“What?” Janet shrieked. “I don’t know how to record.”

“You don’t have to. You just have to sing. We’ll do a few songs first for practice.” Luke then got up and grabbed one of the six guitars standing at attention against the wall.

Janet turned to Alana and nervously whispered, “Is he serious?”

“He’s always serious about music,” Alana said. ”Really, it’s not hard, Janet. You just gotta sing like you normally do.”

Janet didn’t believe that for a second, and suddenly wondered if Jasmine might not have been a better fit for this.

* * * * *

When Wes walked into the music studio well past nine o’clock, the first thing he heard was Janet’s sweet voice and he smiled. 

♪ ♫… Look at me, can’t you tell I’d be so thrilled to see the message in your eyes…♩ ♬ 

Then he saw her sitting next to Luke on the piano bench and that smile vanished as they continued to sing in unison.

♪ ♫…Suddenly the wheels are in motion, and I-I-I-I’m ready to sail any ocean …♩ ♬ 

Alana spotted him, waved then motioned for him to come over to sit by her, behind and out of sight of the other two who were too intent on their task to notice anyone coming in.

“Hi,” she said in a whisper. “Don’t they sound great together?”

“Yeah, they do,” Wes said, reluctantly.

“Janet told us you were working. Had a tough time?”

“Not more than usual,” he replied, staring at the two at the piano with their backs to him. “Are they nearly done?”

Alana giggled. “Luke’s never done. He’d stay here all night if allowed. His mom will kick us out when my parents call to check on me usually around ten.”

“You live just up the road a bit, right?” Wes asked, still staring at the back of Janet’s head.

“Yep, Luke walks me home,” she said.

They stopped talking and listened to the pair at the piano singing the chorus together.

♪ ♫… Suddenly I don’t need the answer cuz I’m willing to take all my chances with you …♩ ♬ 

“I think you’ve got it,” Luke said.

“How’d that sound, Ala…Wes! When did you get here?” Janet shouted jumping out of her seat and hugging him.

“Two minutes maybe,” he said, delighted with this reception.

“Went well I guess. You’re done early,” Janet said, smiling up at him.

“Early?” Wes said, astonished. “It’s nearly ten.”

“No, it’s not,” she said, grabbing his arm and looking at his watch. “But we only just started.” 

Alana giggled. “This place is like a time warp or black hole or something. Time does funny things here.”

“Wes, thanks for letting me borrow Janet,” Luke said.

“Did I sound okay?” Janet asked Wes.

“Perfect.”

She went up on tiptoes and kissed him then she turned to the others and said, “He’s just saying that cuz he wants to get in my panties.” 

Luke and Alana burst out laughing.

“Janet’s really great. A few more practices and we’ll be good for the Gala and then the wedding,” Luke said. 

“When is the Gala?” Janet said, butterflies suddenly floating around her belly.

“Three weeks and the wedding’s two weekends after Thanksgiving,” Luke said. “Can’t wait for football to be over so we can concentrate more on this. I would quit the team now, but it would kill my coach.”

“That soon, huh?” Janet nervously said, looking at Wes.

“You’re not worried, are you?” Wes asked. “Janet, you’ll do great.”

“Of course she will,” Alana said.

“Maybe I should let Jasmine do this instead of me,” Janet mumbled.

“No way!” Both Wes and Luke said together.

“I don’t even know your sister, but you…” Luke said, draping his arm over Alana’s shoulders. “You we can work with. We get along great. You pick things up real quick, too, and Alana thinks we’re good together and that’s all I need to know. One more song? We can show Wes.”

“I don’t want to rush you, but it is late,” Wes said, looking at Janet. “Don’t want your mom freaking out.”

She nodded and turned to Alana giving her a hug. “Thanks for all your help. I didn’t know half those songs,” she said.

“We gotta cater to our clients’ taste and they want the old stuff,” Luke said, with a slight grimace.

“Here’s the list of the other songs we picked out for the gala. Practice them on your own when you can,” Alana said handing her a sheet of paper. 

“Can you come back tomorrow?” Luke asked.

“Uh…can you bring me, Wes?” Janet said.

“I have an away game. I’ll get back too late,” he said. “How about your mom?”

“She works tomorrow.”

“Your dad?” Alana asked.

Janet stared at her. “Uh…I don’t know…Maybe. I could ask.”

They said their good-byes and were in the car when Wes asked, “Are you really going to ask your Dad?”

She ran a nervous tongue over her bottom lip. “I…I don’t know…I just don’t know.”

“Had a good time with them?” he asked.

“Omigosh, Wes! Luke is so amazing! Did you know he can play every single instrument he has in the studio? Alana said his dad does too but… can you imagine having that much talent? What the heck he wants with me…can’t imagine,” she said with a laugh.

“Why wouldn’t he? You’re a great singer.”

“You really think so?” she asked, anxiously looking at him as he drove on. “I mean, Luke’s really serious about this. He was telling me he’s got huge plans for concerts and gigs at some clubs in the city and…and he and Alana really think it’ll happen and they want me to…to be a part of it. Do you think I’m cut out for all that?”

“You like singing?”

“Love it and I’ve already learned so much, just tonight!”

“Then I think you can do it,” he said. “And I’m not just saying that to get in your panties.”

He had just pulled up in front of her house and turned off his car.

She giggled and touched his arm. “You’re the best boyfriend, aren’t you?”

“I dunno. Am I better than your wonderful, amazing, talented Luke?”

Janet nodded vigorously.

“Then I guess I am,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her.

Janet sighed when he pulled away. “Wanna come in?”

“It’s late. My dad’ll kill me if…” He drifted off when he spotted his father’s car in the driveway. “He’s still here?”

“Who?” she said following his gaze. “Oh…”

“Janet, can’t you stop your mother from being so…so…”

“So what?” she asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

“So…nice. My dad’s gonna fall for her! Hell, I almost did when I first met her.”

“Are you serious?”

“Okay, not fall for her, but…She was so nice to me and it was right after my mom died and I missed her so much… I…I wanted her to be my step-mother and if she hadn’t been married at the time I would’ve… tried,” he said, grimacing. “But not now. It would be weird. I don’t want my girlfriend to suddenly be my step-sister.”

“My mom’s still married, remember? Nothing’s going to happen,” she said, just as the front door opened and they both saw Donny and Wendy saying a very friendly goodbye with Cindy right beside her father.

They exchanged worried glances, the same thought crossing both their minds: What if Cindy weren’t there? Would there have been a goodnight kiss?