“Don’t worry about it.That magazine has been following us around everywhere.They saw the Portland show and were bound to write a piece anyway—water under the bridge.We messed up, too.I should have given Darren credit.The label didn’t want to add more names to the roster.I could have tried more,” Jesse claimed.
“Yeah, but it was wrong.I was angry at everything and took it out on you.I should have tried to talk to you all about it.I tried to call that number Tonya and Mason gave me.”
Fawn greeted Mason by jumping onto his lap and licking his face.
“That would be my fault.I gave you the wrong number.We had to get a new number when our old number leaked.Fans try to find our number like FBI detectives, so we change it here and there.I am sorry, Penny.We girls need to stick together.I will get you Ronny’s number.That way, we can stay in touch,” Tonya said, while scratching her head.
“Oh,” I said, wondering about who got all the nasty voicemails I left.
“Ronny showed us the article, and we went into pursuit of finding you and Darren.We had to make it up to you two kids,” Mason said as rubbing Fawn’s ear.
“I appreciate it.I only want Darren to get credit, so we are on good terms if you do that.”
“They are going to do more than that, Copper,” Darren said, raising his voice an octave up.
My momma placed her hands in her lap, trying to contain herself.What was going on?It seemed like everyone was in cahoots except me.
“We have been in contact with your mom and Darren for a while and have decided to help your family.I am so sorry for how I behaved around you and your friends.I was hurting and didn’t know how to reach out.When I saw what losing James did to your family, I knew I needed to change.The day after the funeral, I got clean and recorded the song.My agents sent it out way too early.I’m not perfect, but I am trying,” Jesse stated.
“That explains the picture at the Westbrooke Rehabilitation Center.So, what have all of you been discussing without me?”I demanded to know.Westbrooke had many different floors.Some helped people detox when they were addicted to something, others were for people who were depressed, and the top floor was for people who couldn’t live on their own.Jesse was either on the first or second floor.The picture was on a balcony, so I figured he ended up being on the second.
“Well, we have decided to hold a concert benefit in honor of James.All of the profits will go toward your family.Your mom can attend beauty school, and you won’t always have to work.You can focus on school.Your mom told us you are a good student; we wouldn’t want anything to interrupt that.We will also start some sort of fund so you can go to college if you want to,” Mason revealed.
“Are you pulling my leg?This cannot be real.James would be ecstatic if you are playing in Butterfield again.He wanted to take me to one of your live shows.”
Jesse stood up, placing his thumbs into his pockets and moving his body back and forth.“That is exactly why it will pull in more money than you could dream.Your mother also found some sponsors for the event.”Who would sponsor an event for a dead guy they didn’t know very well?Who cared enough to help us out?
Jesse unfolded a green flyer from his pocket and gave it to me.It was my favorite shade of green.Darren must have helped design the handout and suggested making it that color.The flyer said, “Grocery Outlet and The Peach Pot present Jesse Young and The Matches Benefit Concert in honor of James Hartley.”The front of the brochure was fun, energetic, and lively.There was a graphic of a stage, a microphone, and the same picture of James on his headstone.That picture had to be my momma’s doing.At the very bottom of the flyer in fine print, it read, “Special Guests: Darren Lawerence and Bret Beats!”Benefits were typically slow and dull.The concert would bring people together without crying or having long, dreadful conversations.James would have chosen to go to a concert over a funeral any day.
I wanted to run and tell James that things could get better.I imagined dancing around the living room with him and introducing him to the amiable people surrounding me.People did care.I allowed my raw emotions to come out, making droplets of joy fall onto James’s white shirt.
“Thank you so much,” I said.
****
“Do you want to stayfor dinner?I bet you all are starving after driving all the way out here,” Momma asked.
“I could eat.Recently, I got a real sweet tooth,” Jesse said, seemingly replacing one addiction with another.
“Sounds like someone I know,” I said, nudging Darren.
“All right, sit tight!Penny, why don’t you take the band out onto the carport or the backyard?Give them a tour of the house.It is the least we can do for them.”
It was peculiar showing my favorite band around our house.It wasn’t anything spectacular like what they were probably used to.As I gestured toward my bedroom, I was glad I tore down my posters of them.I would have looked like a crazy fangirl if they were still plastered to the wall.Stuffed animals lay on my bed, revealing my inner girlhood.It was also the first time Darren saw where I lived.I closed my door, hoping he wouldn’t comment on the giant giraffe stuffed animal I had or my floral bedspread.We walked down our narrow hallway as I pointed out each room and showed them where the bathroom was in case they needed to use it.I was used to my voice echoing throughout the house, but it was stuffy with all our bodies crammed inside.
“Why don’t we head outside?It’s a little cramped in here,” I suggested.
I led the band to our backyard.
My momma was already wiping off our outdoor table and chairs with a rag so the band could sit.Fawn ran around the yard while Darren helped me puff our umbrella over the table.Momma made everyone sit down as she returned to the kitchen and got to work.She was overjoyed to be cooking for someone again.She didn’t like cooking for only two people because we always had leftovers.She brought out a small platter of snacks to fill our bellies while we waited.
“So, this is where you grew up?You see my house every summer.It’s ridiculous.This is my first time seeing where you come from,” Darren commented.
“Yeah, sorry.It’s not much.”
“Not much?This house is so peaceful and charming,” Tonya said.
“I wish I grew up in a nice house like this,” Keith added.
