Page 77 of The River in Spring
Two number one hits on the pop chart that segued into the country category has changed everything. The Archangel tour last November put Montana on the world’s stage. It was a huge success for them. That was Michael Angelica’s smartest move. It won’t happen again. They are too big. But right before they broke out, he had them as his opening act. That alone is another angel feather in his cap.
Now there’s talk of a national tour next year, but this time Montana will be the headliners. Their debut album is climbing the charts. I don’t see anything stopping plans to perform from San Francisco to New York, and many cities in between.
Dove has become everyone’s golden girl. But she is my woman. It’s weird being photographed as a couple. Funny. The shoot for Entertainment Tonight’s online magazine was a new experience. Getting praised for my looks, an embarrassment. It’s happening pretty regularly now. Aargon, Scarlett, and Van will never let it die. They find it hysterically inaccurate. My birthday cake a few months ago saidDon’t Get A Big Head, You Are Forty Fucking Five.The words of my father when the article appeared, and I started getting compliments.
Inside Dove’s dressing room, she dresses and I watch. Love to hang out while she prepares. She likes it too. Regularly, it turns into sex. They all know if the door is a lockin’ don’t come a knockin’. We are as annoying as eighteen-year-olds.
Knock knock.
“Thirty minutes to show,” the backstage manager calls.
“That looks great, honey,” I say, checking out the new outfit she just climbed into.
“Thanks. Does it make my ass look too big?
“Turn around,” I say, pretending I don’t know the answer. “Your ass looks the perfect size. Not too small, not a watermelon.”
She chuckles and blows me a kiss.
“Not that watermelon would be a bad thing. It’s one of my favorites,” I add.
Another knock.
“Yes?” she calls.
“It’s me. Nobel in there?” Jimmy’s voice needs no further introduction.
“I’m here. Come in.”
The door swings open.
“Hey, can I steal your husband for a minute?”
We have gotten used to being called husband and wife by the band. Even though it is not legally a fact.
I follow him out the door and he heads for his dressing room.
“I have your birthday present. I’m a little late.”
“I thought you did it on purpose. Just because you can be a dick.”
“You are going to feel really shitty when you see what it is.”
How this relationship morphed surprised me more than any other. I always felt an ease with Tony and Oscar. And even ZZ, whose bark is worse than his bite. Jimmy was something else. Because of his history with Dove, we both had our doubts. I initially thought we wouldneverbe friends.
But one thing changed, and her name is Polly. Arthur’s receptionist. I’m not surprised at how thoroughly a woman can change a man. After all, it happened to me. But Jimmy, I think that one felt like it came out of the blue.
We reach the door, and he leads the way inside.
“So is this a gag gift or a real one?”
“A gag gift is a real one if you do it right. But no, this one is something you will like. I hope.”
Leaning against the wall is a large canvas with its back to us. He picks it up and turns it to face me.
“Oh, man. God. That’s…it’s perfect, Jimmy. You did this?”
A smile lifts the corners of his mouth and he knows without a doubt he has scored a home run. Maudie’s sweet face stares back at me. Somehow Jimmy captured her soul through the eyes. She is sitting above the River, under the trees, overlooking her kingdom. The wind is in the leaves and against her coat. She lifts her head loving the feel of the breeze.
