Page 64 of The River in Spring
But I love her. She loves me. That argument holds a greater weight. Could we meet on some middle ground I cannot see right now?
She hasn’t even responded to my text.
Don’t think she buys the shower story, but I’m sticking to it.
“Pass the syrup,” she says, reaching across the table of the hole in the wall diner.
I picked a quiet spot for breakfast, tucked against the hills on the edge of the city. Neither one of us are one hundred percent relaxed. I feel the imbalance. Never felt it before. Jumping into the problem seems the best way forward.
“So I was thinking of our predicament all night.”
She looks me in the eyes and a seriousness appears. “What predicament is that?”
That sort of pisses me off.
“I think you know. How are we going to handle this long distance? I can’t see me tagging along club to club and then hardly having your company.”
Her fork is laid on the plate. She locks eyes with me and delivers the news.
“Nobel, it might be much worse than that.”
Didn’t expect that response.
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning if things work, we will cut a record. You haven’t heard all the news yet, becauseyou were in the shower.But there’s more.”
The way she says it is pointed and accusatory. She’s right, but it doesn’t stop me from not liking it.
“What?” I say.
“Archangel’s lead singer is interested in us. Hopefully he likes what he hears when we go to Nashville next week. Are you familiar with the country band?”
“Well yeah. I’m not that old or out of the loop.”
“Didn’t say you were. It’s just that their rise has been recent.”
“What does that all mean? What does he have to do with you?”
“Not sure yet.”
“You’re going to Nashville for how long?”
“I don’t know for sure. Arthur wants to rerecord “Mined” at his studio. That’s huge in itself. He wouldn’t put the money in if he didn’t think it was going to pay off.”
“Congratulations. I’m happy for you, Dove. You deserve the recognition.”
As much as it is hard to admit, what I said was the truth. Minus one thing. Happy for her, unhappy for me.
“But there’s more.” She doesn’t break eye contact.
I am not going to like this.
“If it turns out the record is as good as Arthur believes, it will be released under his label. Maybe we will be signed. If so, it will be important to stay so we can write and record more songs there. Be close to the label.”
I lean back in the booth and take a breath.
“Wow. This is a lot to take in. Moving to Nashville for good?”
