“Well, goodmorning, Storm,” I said with a groan.
“Storm,” Skylarcalled.
“He’s in here,honey,” I called back, scratching him behind his ears.
“Stormy,” Skyleradmonished as she rushed into my room and pulled him off of me. “You’re sosneaky. Come with me and leave Auntie Mel alone.”
I chuckled.“He’s fine, sweetie.”
Storm seemed tounderstand exactly what I was saying because he jumped up on the bed and layflat on top of me. Skyler burst into giggles, but then decided to join him.
“Oh, I see howit is,” I said, rolling over to snuggle both of them.
“Skylar, thereyou are,” Harmony said, walking into my room. “I thought you were looking forStorm.”
“Found him,” sheretorted, letting out a squeal when I tickled her.
Harmony grinned,stalking toward us, her hands raised like she was going to add to the tickleparty.
“Oh my gosh,Mama, no!” Skylar cried, still laughing uncontrollably.
Harmony piled ontop of us, and I ordered, “Let’s get her, Sky,” and the attack was on.
Skyler and Iflipped Harmony onto her back and tickled the crap out of her until she cried,“Uncle.”
“Oh my god, I’mgoing to pee,” she warned.
Storm pouncedbetween the three of us, panting and barking, having a grand old time as wefell in a huddle with Skyler in the middle, relishing the attention from bothof us.
“I promise Ididn’t wake Auntie Mel,” Skyler said.
“No, that wasStorm’s fault,” I said.
Storm raised hishead at the sound of his name, and I jabbed a finger at him. “Yes, you. Yourswas not the tongue I wanted this morning.”
Harmony laughed.“Right. Well, we’re going to let you get up and get dressed. Breakfast intwenty. Come on, sweet girl, let’s get this beast downstairs.”
She helpedSkyler and Storm off the bed, then left me to wake up properly.
Train
An incoming callinterrupted my morningworkout. I didn’t recognize the number but picked up anyway in case it wasMelody.
“This is Train.”
“Hey, Train.This is Vick Weathers. I’m Melody’s MD.”
The MusicalDirector or MD, as they’re known in the business, oversees the band. Everythingfrom running rehearsals to giving live cues.
“Oh, hey. How’sit goin’?”
“Better now thatI know we have a lead guitarist on board,” Vick replied. “How are you feeling?”
“Nervous,excited, scared shitless,” I replied.
Vick chuckled.“It doesn’t matter how many tours I’ve done, I’m a bag of nerves before everysingle one of them. I drive my wife fucking nuts for two weeks leading up tothe first show.”
“I’m sure I’llfeel a lot better once I get to actually play with the band.”
