Throw Him My Way

Before they could get maudlin and she could ruin the carefully and masterfully applied makeup, Mrs. Spinelli shook her head.

“I couldn’t have done any of this if you hadn’t had the talent, or the will to work hard and succeed. Now, I don’t want to hear another word about tonight not being a success in every way. There shall be no defeatist attitude. You will impress this Dale, and he will offer you what he can. You will tell him that you must think about it. You will come back and tell me all about it. You will tell me how your young man looked at you. You will tell me if he saw you, like you sang for him to.”

Heidi nodded.

She would.

She would do all of that.

Her resolve hardened, and her spine straightened.

“I will. The performance of my life, Mrs. Spinelli. I wish you would come.”

She shook her head.

“When you have your name in lights, I will come,” she promised.

If only for that, Heidi would work harder than ever for that – to have her name in lights.

*****

Heidi wasn’t scared.

She was terrified.

She hadn’t seen Christian. That must mean that Dale wasn’t there, either.

No matter.

She was going to give the performance of her life, and she knew it.

Heidi walked onto the stage when it was her turn and she turned on the charm. She was an entertainer, and by God, she would entertain.

“So, ladies and gentlemen, I hope nobody has brought any turnips into the house?”

There was a titter, though not a chuckle.

So, a tougher crowd than usual. She could handle it.

“That’s great. Please, remember that if you break anything by throwing it at me, you will have to pay for it. Even if it’s my head, I’m a penniless singer and songwriter. I haven’t got any insurance.”

This time, there was real laughter.

“So, tonight, I’ll have to beg your patience for a few minutes because instead of singing one of Mariah Carey’s greatest, I’ll be singing an original. I hope very much that it will be worth your patience. But if it’s not, it’s my soul at stake. Just a few minutes for you. I’m not too sure which would be worth more. If there’re any lawyers in the house, your minutes might be worth more than my soul. Even on the black market. Which, by the way, I know nothing about.”

Now she had them.

So she let the band play, and she sang.

For the first ten seconds, she wasn’t sure how it might go.

But from the eleventh second, she knew that she had it.

So she sang, putting her very soul on the line as she’d said she would.

Every note, every syllable was wrenched from the deepest part of her.

Whatever happened, whoever heard or didn’t hear her, she knew that this was a part of her, and it would never be taken away from her.

She didn’t feel afraid as she laid it bare.

She felt powerful.

When the last note finally died, there was absolute silence for the briefest of moment before she got the applause she had needed.

And it was real.

Every beat of it was as lovely as music, and it came from each of those hearts.

She didn’t question it.

Standing up, Heidi took a bow, and then another. And she knew that she’d had two nights where she’d owned it all, everything that every performer dreamed of.

No matter what, she had those memories. She would never give up as long as she had that.

Heidi got off the stage into a hug so warm that she felt like she was home.

“You were amazing,” said Christian.

“I didn’t see you here.”

“We got here as soon as you got started. You were amazing,” he said again.

Heidi looked up at him and thought, no. No, he was amazing. She had performed a good song and done it very well, but he was amazing.

In every way.

But he had taken her hand and was guiding her to a table that she hadn’t noticed earlier. That was strange, in itself. She always noticed everything about a room where she performed.

“Heidi, meet Dale Coulson. Dale, this is…”

“The goddess who just created a world all of her own in here,” said Dale, getting up charmingly and taking her hand.

He kissed the back of her hand, making her smile, amused.

“I won’t smite you. Unless you annoy me,” said Heidi, making him grin.

They sat down, got drinks, and he leaned towards her.

“Christian isn’t given to exaggeration. I remember that. But I didn’t know that there was such a gem singing here. You are incredible. I wish I had more to offer you.”

She smiled.

“Whatever you have, I’ll hear all offers.”

“I was going to ask you to audition, but I don’t need an audition. We’re looking for an opening act for a band you might have heard of. The Spinettes.”

She had. And she had thought that was the silliest name for four men in a band, but she could get past that because they were extremely well-known in the circuit.

They got paid for their music. They went on tour, too.

“I know their music. It’s a silly name, but a good band.”

Dale grinned.

“Well, I heard your sample, and now I’ve heard you. I think you’d do great as an opening act for them. They’ll be performing in a week. You know the place.”

He named an auditorium where she had longed to perform, quite often, about half an hour away from home.

“I know it, yes,” she said, and she managed to keep the tremor of hope from her voice.

“Then shall I tell them that they’ve got their opening act?”

Oh, did he think she was that easy?

Heidi sat back, her lips curving in a sexy smile.

“After we talk numbers, Dale. Of course we can.”

And so it began, for her.

After Dale took his leave, she turned to Christian, and let the vulnerability show.

Not too much. But enough to let him in.

“So, how did you think I did?”

The question made him smile, as much as it warmed him.

“I think you were more wonderful than I could ever say,” he told her, and she heaved a sigh of sheer relief.

“I was nervous. So nervous. Gosh, I have to call Mrs. Spinelli and tell her. Or maybe it’s too late for that. I’m… Oh wow, I’ve got a booking! And actual booking that pays actual money! And it’s all thanks to you.”

Christian shook his head.

“No. I just brought him here. You won him over. That was all down to you. You were magnificent, Heidi.”

She smiled, slowly.

“I was pretty good, wasn’t I?” she asked, and made him laugh.

“Another drink?” she suggested.

He nodded.

They toasted her triumph, because for the moment, she had triumphed.

Finally, Heidi checked the time and gasped.

“Sh*t, I need to get home. I still need to walk the dogs. Oh, hell, if I get more bookings, I’ll have to give that up, won’t I?”

Christian looked amused.

“Really? You’re worried about giving up the dog walking business?”

He was teasing her.

But she nodded seriously.

“I don’t think you understand how attached I am to those stupid mutts. I tell them every time everything goes wrong. I talk to them. I understand them, too, sometimes. And they love me. I don’t want them to have to get used to another person, all over again. But then…”

“This is what you’ve worked for,” said Christian, softly.

She nodded.