Jesse claps his hands and a genuine laugh erupts. “How have those noodles survived through the years?”
“Dude, Willie’s lookin’ haggard. He’s missing most of his beard and one braid. He kinda looks like Great Aunt Freida. Wearing a bandana. It’s honestly a good look for Freida.”
I’m trying to be quiet, but that one makes all of us laugh a little.
“I think I love your mom,” Hannah says.
“Mom’s a fucking lunatic,” Jesse says.
And Ever adds, “But she’s our lunatic.”
Hannah tips her head and smiles. “So, music runs in the family. I’m curious, who’s the songwriter between the two of you?”
Ever tips his head in Jesse’s direction.
When Jesse doesn’t say anything, Hannah probes, “Your songs feel deeply personal. I wondered if you could spend a few minutes talking about the inspiration behind them?”
“Write what you know, right?” Jesse drops his gaze to the floor, and two seconds later, his head tilts and when his eyes meet Ever’s, there are tears in them. Paired with his bouncing heels, he looks ready to make a break for it.
Ever slaps his knee. “What do you say we go grab a beer and a burger before the show and save this for another time?”
Jesse bolts upright and is off the stage in two strides.
Hannah lowers her camera, and I don’t miss the concern registering in her eyes. “Did I say something wrong?”
Ever’s response, though short, is obviously meant to comfort when he says, “No, it’s us. We’re a little fucked up. Don’t take it personally.”
“I should’ve asked about triggers. Lesson learned.” She looks apologetic.
And it hits me that there’s a learning curve for all of us, maybe with the exception of Ben, who’s been a touring musician for almost a decade. This is Hannah’s first major project outside of film school. Ever and Jesse have only been performing for a few weeks. And me? Well, I have no experience whatsoever.
After Ever joins Jesse at the bar, I’m not sure what to say, but I feel like I need to say something. “You’re a natural when it comes to interviewing.”
Moving a stool back to the center of the stage, she says, “I know a lot of the footage will get scrapped and it will all come together the way it’s supposed to in the end, but I feel like everything I’ve touched today hasn’t gone to plan.” She glances up at me and tucks her long hair behind her ears so I can see her face. “You ever have days like that?”
I look back over each shoulder to check she’s not asking someone else because I feel like the answer to that question should be obvious. “Umm, yeah. Most days lately.”
I’m starting to get the feeling that maybe Hannah isn’t quite as put together as I thought. Maybe none of us are. She takes a deep breath and exhales. “It’s all going to work out.”
It wasn’t a question, but I answer honestly, “We’re both a long way from home. We don’t have a choice; it has to. You’ve got this.”
She’s looking down at the floor, but her head begins nodding solemnly. When she lifts her chin, her eyes are glassy, but there’s a small genuine smile on her lips. “This is already harder than I thought it would be,” she confesses.
I nod to agree and reassure her. “I got you.” As the older sister, especially after losing our mom, I’ve always felt protective of Lola. Looking at Hannah, that same feeling’s rising. “A burger does sound good.”
“Have you eaten yet?” she asks.
I shake my head. “The old stomach wasn’t too jazzed on all the firsts happening this morning. That made eating impossible.”
As she unplugs the lights from an outlet in the floor, she says, “I can’t believe you’ve never flown.”
“Life never required it. Plus, I’m cautious by nature. Possibly to a fault. There are lots of things I’ve never done. My sister dared me to do something that scares me every day, so I’m working on it.”
She brushes her hands off on her skirt as she stands. The floor is sticky and smells like a variety of decades’ old liquor spillage. “How’s that going?”
I shrug, but smile. “Scary.”
She laughs a little. “Fair enough, but I admire that.”
