Page 51 of The River in Spring
“Let me see who this is.”
Retrieving the phone sitting atop my purse, I stare at the name. Arthur James? Arthur James!!
“Oh my God!” I holler.
Deborah, who had been looking down at her own phone, jumps with my scream. “Fuck! You scared the shit out of me!”
I turn the screen to her.
“Oh my God! What did he say? Read it!”
With shaking hands, I bring up the text. I can’t help but remember the unfortunate circumstances of our last phone conversation two years ago. Hope things have changed.
Arthur:Afternoon, Dove. I was given a cut of your song “Mined” recorded at Cosgrove Studios in May. I’d like to speak with you. Are you and the band available for a Zoom call tomorrow at one?
“He wants to have a Zoom call tomorrow. With the band.”
That’s all I can get out before tears blur the screen and interrupt the words.
“Answer him!! Oh, Dove.”
“Don’t you want to? Shouldn’t it come from our manager?”
“Not this time. I think you should make the personal connection. Let’s see what he has to say.”
Her arms surround me with the compassion and shared joy only a best friend can offer. And the excitement a manager does. She is the only person outside the band that understands what this could mean to us. Could being the operative word. I untangle and try to compose the right response.
“Okay, help me. I don’t want to sound anxious or blasé. What should I say?”
“Say yes.”
One text, four excited calls from the car, and for Deborah and me a rehashing of our shared history with Arthur. It fills the half hour it takes to get back home. Everyone is already there waiting as we pull in the driveway. I’m out of the car, running toward the men and screaming my happiness. Four faces tell the same story. ZZ’s half-smile lifting the corners of his mouth equals the same sense of excitement. That is his unbridled joy. Jimmy wears the biggest smile. I jump in Tony’s outstretched arms and he twirls me around.
“Is this really happening?” he says. “You better not be bullshitting.”
“Do you think I’d be that cruel? Come on.”
“Do you think he’s gonna offer us a contract?” Oscar asks, following me to the door.
“I don’t know. Maybe. We got close before.”
We enter the house and Deborah goes for the refrigerator. “I’m going to get us some beer.”
The purse gets thrown to the floor under the window and I join Tony and Jimmy on the couch. I look Jimmy in the eyes and ask the question I know he’ll have a thoughtful opinion about.
“I mean we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but this looks pretty good, right? Please say yes.”
A big sigh precedes the answer. “Yes. And the best part is the fact he’s interested in an original song.”
I start to react before I weigh my actions, but at the last moment resist kissing him on the cheek. It’s just that I feel such love for all the guys. It would be so natural under normal circumstances. But our relationship hasn’t found its new normal yet. Even after all this time. So instead of a kiss he gets my most enthusiastic high five.
“Let’s talk about our options should we get an offer,” Deborah says, passing a beer to Tony.
She tosses one to ZZ. We all have our preferences and for Jimmy and me beer doesn’t do it.
“Want a Coke?” Deborah says.
“I’m good.”
