Page 93 of Not Another Love Song

“Well, he told me Lorenz was negotiating or something…”

“Negotiating,” Ava hissed from the sink, disdain dripping off her expression.

“But you want to do the concert, yes?” Nathan prodded.

“I think it’s a great marketing idea—”

“Good!” He clapped his hands together like that settled it. “Look at what our art department mocked up.”

He opened the binder, and Gwen stared down at a rendered picture of herself playing the violin. Alex stood behind her, holding his cello in one hand while the other was wrapped around her waist. It was a rough computer drawing using manipulated photos of the two of them. Nathan turned the page to another sketch of two bodies wrapped up in silk sheets, a cello and a violin lying next to them.

“Oh” was all she could think of to say.

“It’s just a little idea of what we could do for a photo shoot. This would go in the December programs to advertise the duo concert.”

“Right.” Gwen put her mimosa down, feeling a little light-headed. “It’s very…provocative, isn’t it?”

“Well, it’s a Valentine’s Day concert! What better time to be provocative! We could get you both in with a photographer next week and start chatting through the set list. What else is Alex writing? Any more of the Fugue series?”

“Not really. But we did collaborate on something last week,” she offered cheerily. “Are you thinking of featuring more of his original pieces?”

“Absolutely,” Nathan said. He placed a hand on her shoulder and steered her around the corner into the dining room. “And I know Ava doesn’t want to talk about this on a holiday”— he glanced over his shoulder—“but finances are doing good, although not great. Christmas will bring in money like it always does, but if we had this Valentine’s Day concert, we would be solvent for the rest of the season.”

Gwen felt a weight lifting off her. She smiled brightly at him. “That’s great news!”

“So that’s why it would be wonderful if Alex agreed to this concert. I think it could really further his career and his music too. Do you think you can try to convince him?”

“I’ll…do my best.”

Gwen grinned and let herself be pulled into a conversation with Ava about yams and stuffing.

She was already running behind when she got off the subway in Queens. Ava and Nathan had kept her about half an hour too long, and the trains were slow because of the holiday. She would only have forty-five minutes at Mabel’s before she needed to meet Alex back at the apartment.

Mabel had a small garden apartment off a bustling street in Jackson Heights. She had violins, banjos, and tambourines hung on the walls, and every harsh footstep would jangle the cymbals. Her couch was thirty years old, her appliances older, and her cat always scratched if you got too close.

Gwen apologized for being late and moved directly into the kitchen to help with what was on the stovetop.

“I’m only doing a stew this year,” Mabel said, washing her hands. “Without you and Jacob, it’ll just be me and Lenny upstairs, so there was no point in a big production.”

“I’m sorry to ditch you this year.” Gwen lifted the lid off the huge pot on the stove, and the smell of meat and spices hit her nose. She inhaled, preparing what she’d practiced in the mirror. “But I’m going to Boston tonight. With my boyfriend.”

Mabel turned to her with a playful expression. “Gwen Jackson, you didn’t tell me you have a boyfriend.”

“It’s Alex. Fitzgerald. Alex Fitzgerald.” Mabel blinked, and Gwen stirred the stew. “We’ve been getting to know each other. I know he was a nightmare when you last knew him, but he’s really kind and he cares about me a lot. We talk about music, everything from Bach to the Beatles. He’s brilliant—but you knew that. And we…I think we get along so well because of your influence. We see music the same way.”

She took a deep breath and tore her eyes from the stove. The playful look had melted off Mabel’s face.

“Interesting” was all she said.

“I’m really happy,” Gwen rushed out.

Mabel’s lips pulled upward weakly. “That’s wonderful. So you’re headed to Boston.”

“Yeah. Thorne and Roses has a gig.”

Mabel pulled the cutting board out of a cupboard and started prepping the carrots. “Has he brought you to Lorenz?”

“I’ve met him, but I’m not signing with him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

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