London Harmony: Flotilla (12 page)

Steph just stepped right up onto the deck of the boat with me in tow, and she released my hand a moment and without any hesitation, slid open a door and step inside. Then reclaimed my hand for her very own once we stepped in, the door sliding back in place on its own. I gave our hands a glancing smile. Who the heck was I to complain, I just wish she'd stop sending all these mixed messages that were twisting me up inside.

I glanced at her and wondered how it was possible that just the sight of a person could make your chest ache. She was a walking heartbreak.

Two ladies were at the kitchen by a stairway that led up. One was wearing a black hoodie with the hood down to reveal a cute woman in her late twenties or early thirties. The other, whom she was grinning at as she poured some fizzy drinks into glasses, was positively glowing. And quite pregnant.

I swallowed and added, and quite famous.

I stood there blinking at J8. Bloody hell! I didn't know she was pregnant, she had dropped off the music scene a few months back, which had everyone speculating since she had released a single a week for almost a decade now and it all just stopped. She was... pregnant?

Before I could find my voice, the goth woman from above came quickly down the stairs with an immaculately dressed woman who looked as if she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Natalie was squirming in excitement so I let her down as Steph set Wil down. They squealed as the goth crouched and opened her arms wide.

Nat was giggling, “Auntie Zilrita.” And Wil echoed, “Anie Zwiria.”

She scooped them up in a bearhug and just let their feet dangle off the ground as the other woman covered her mouth to hide her big smile.

I was sort of overwhelmed with all the action just standing dumbly as the children were released and the goth woman, this Zilrita, pulled Steph into a bear hug too. I felt oddly jealous, and that cleared my head as Tabby and Teri came downstairs, Tabs asking with a chuckle, “What's all the racket?”

As everyone sort of gathered around us, she said, “Oh great, you made it.”

June Harris-West spoke in the American accent I had grown up listening to on the radio, “Hi Dimples, who's yer friend?” They hugged over her huge belly. Then she bent over, a hand on her back then hugged the roos as the other woman kept a hand protectively on June's shoulder the whole time.

Then June stood back up with effort, Stephanie smiled at everyone and said to me, “Ange, this is June, Vanessa, Jen...” Then she waved airily at the goth, “And the hug-drunk bat there is Zil.”

Then she looked at everyone and said, “This is Angie Wells, my girlfriend.”

I stopped breathing and just blinked, I was peripherally aware that the Zil woman had engulfed me in a hug as I stared at Steph, who didn't break eye contact with me as if she were daring me to say something... anything.

I think someone was saying they were pleased to meet me. I might have been June. I kept my attention on Stephanie, who's eye was ticking quickly just then. I knew it did that when she was nervous or stressed.

My mouth finally caught up with my mind, and I asked in a wavering voice, my body almost shaking in... fear? Hope? “I'm your... girlfriend?”

She nodded and said almost in a dare, “Do you have a problem with that?”

Ummm.... I shook my head and said quietly, not trusting my voice as my whole body felt numb, “No?”

She nodded once and dismissed it with, “Good. We'd be old and grey if I had to wait for you to make the first move. Even with all my advances and invitations. And honestly, I got tired of waiting.” Then she added with a softer tone, “And the children love you to death.”

The other women were chuckling at me as I started heating up from my core, a new warmth spreading through me as she grasped my hand again.

I heard a familiar giggle from behind and Paya said, “You done broke her. Now where am I going to find another assistant?”

This broke me out of my stunned shock, and I turned and pointed at the far too smug looking ebony haired woman. “I will hurt you.”

She grabbed my finger and shook it, “Hello to you too stinker. Glad you could make it.” Then she stepped past me and into one of those bear hugs from Zilrita.

The Goth said, “And now it's a party, Paya is in the house.”

June looked over at Paya as she was finally released from the hug, “This the one you and Tabby are babbling about?”

My boss shaped friend nodded. “The one and only, you have to...”

She was cut off by the other woman, what was her name? Vanessa? “Thursday Night.” She said in a commanding tone.

June sighed and smiled at her, patting her hand which was still on her shoulder. “Right you are. No business until afterward everyone.” They all nodded and grabbed drinks, supplying the little ones with juice boxes and headed upstairs.

I whispered as I watched the very pregnant June waddle up the stairs, grinning at the fact that a superstar waddled like a normal pregnant person, “After what?”

She said as she grabbed my hand and pulled it around her waist for me as we followed the children, who were absconded by Zilrita and Jen, up the stairs, “Shush, you'll see. I'll not spoil it and ruin your first impressions.”

I exhaled in frustration then asked, “What business?”

She shrugged and kissed me to shut me up. I was suitably on cloud nine by the time we reached the top deck through a hatch and then stutter-stepped when I saw Abigail Addison and her service dog, Sir Percival. My eyes swam around the deck to see a virtual who's who of the London music scene. Most of the famous singers that had signed with London Harmony were present. Had I just stepped into the twilight zone?

I heard a sweet chuckle as Stephanie reached up and pushed my chin up. “Your mouth is hanging open, love.” Then she whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “You'll get used to it. Your boss and our mutual friend Paya lives in a completely different world and travels in different circles than us mere mortals.”

I nodded and in a whisper of my normal tone, “I... can see that.”

June spoke loudly, “Everyone, Angie, Steph's squeeze. Angie, everyone. No time for proper intros yet, Nessie wants to get things rolling.”

There was a murmur of greeting from everyone as they all seemed to go into motion, slipping into the rows of outdoor furniture that littered the large space.

I looked around in acknowledgement then I froze when my eyes passed by Paya. I narrowed my eyes when I saw an important detail missing from her hand. Where her prominent engagement ring had been, there was nothing but the indentation where the ring had formerly been. She had just been wearing it on the Persephone so this had just occurred.

She caught my scrutiny and looked down at her hand and then stuffed it into her pocket and shook her head at me in a pleading gesture. Right. Now wasn't the time. My heart went out to the woman. She had known that this day was coming but it just didn't seem fair to me. She did so much for other people and she deserved to be happy.

I gave her a look to let her know that we would be talking about this later. If she needed me, I would be there for her like she had been for me. But oddly, like her, I didn't harbor any bad feelings for Harry. As she had said, he was a wonderful man, but their dreams just were not compatible anymore and it wouldn't be fair for either of them to sacrifice their dreams for the other.

The smile she was keeping on her face was just a mask, so others wouldn't know that something heartbreaking had just occurred to the woman. I noted Steph had caught our exchange and I saw a sad shadow pass across her face. She sighed in exasperation. I knew she was going through the same thought process which I just had.

Steph smiled apologetically at Paya, and then dragged me to one of the wicker love seats.

We sat, and she pulled a heavy blanket off a stack on a table beside us. The roos seemed to materialize from the ether and climbed up on us. I was still trying to figure out what was going on but then didn't care as soon as Steph laid her head on my shoulder while the roos cuddled in under our blanket with us.

I whispered to my obsession, curiosity killing me, “What's...”

She cut me off with a, “Shhh.”

Then I looked down at Nat, who was staring across the docks. I followed her gaze as I started to whisper to the roo, “What...”

Natalie mimed her mother, a little finger to her lips, “Shhh.”

I sighed and surrendered and looked out over the docks to the marina office and noticed a huge white screen stretched between some posts over it. I was about to ask again when I heard an old film projector click to life somewhere below us on the dock, and the screen lit up.

A classic black and white musical sprang to life, and I smiled in wonder and looked around to all of these famous people just staring at the screen with rapt attention. This was like one huge living room with family gathered around the telly to share an experience as only family could, and I smiled at the thought since that was exactly how it felt at that moment.

I noticed that Steph was just smiling at me and watching my reaction to it all. Then she snuggled in and said quietly, “Thursday Night.” I nodded, kissed the top of her head and then pulled Nat closer to us and settled in to watch.

I noted that Paya was curled in on another wicker couch, being comforted by a concerned looking Tabby and her wife. Good. She needed someone just then.

That was the most surrealistic and amazing experience of my life. A little voice in my head was repeating over and over, I'm Stephanie's girlfriend. I hoped I wouldn't disappoint her since, though I knew I was lesbian, I had never gone out with anyone before. I was terrified that I'd mess everything up.

That though washed away with a wave of warmth when she sighed into me. Everything was just perfect when she was around, so how could I possibly mess it up?

When the film ended, everyone applauded, not just from the Water Witch, but from all around us. That reminded me about the others we saw lining the other boats and on the shore. This was obviously a major tradition for the little marina community.

I smiled down at the roos, snuggled into Steph and me, sound asleep. I whispered to my... to my girlfriend. I can say that now, right? Girlfriend? “They do this every week?”

She just nodded and found something better for us to be doing than talking. She tipped her head up and kissed me gently, lingering for five long heartbeats. I swear I heard my soul sigh.

She blushed and whispered, “You'll have to guide me through all of this, I'm sort of new to this being with a woman thing.”

Then I bit my lower lip and furrowed my brow and admitted, “I'm new to this too.”

She pulled back a bit with confusion on her face. “But, you said you were lesbian.”

I was blushing hard as I looked anywhere but her face as I confessed, “Just because I'm lesbian doesn't mean I have... well... experience. I mean. I've not had much dating experience. Or any I suppose.”

She barked out a sound halfway between surprise and amusement and covered her mouth when we saw people around us turn to the noise. She put her mouth next to my ear, her hot breath causing gooseflesh to race down my skin as she asked, “So you're... a virgin?”

I was ready to die of complete and utter embarrassment, but J8 came to my rescue by stepping up with a small entourage. Vanessa, Paya, Tabby, and Teri were all in tow behind her as she spoke to Tabby, “Now that the movie is over, on to business.” She patted her wife's hand which was in her other hand, then asked Tabby and Teri, “You're sure?”

Tabs was grinning and nodding as June stopped in front of us. We sat up, repositioning our precious sleeping bundles on the wicker sofa. What was going on?

I started to ask but stopped as June said, “Alright then, let's hear what you got.”

In my truly articulate and poised manner, I asked, “Huh?” I swear I needed a playbook when hanging out with Paya and the rest of the frustrating women.

Tabby stepped beside June and wiggled her eyebrows at me, the little copper top's signature expression when she was being playful, and she just started singing. All of the commotion on the deck stopped as everyone quieted and turned to the star as she sang one of her hits, ‘Against the Current,' in a flawless a capella. She kept nudging her chin at me.

Paya looked like she was about to fall over she was leaning so far toward Tabby Cat, nudging her own chin at her, prompting me. What? They wanted me to sing? In front of all these famous people?

Abigail started thumping a hand solidly into a seat cushion and added pips and harmonic accents to the piece with her own voice. Slowly others lent their support, turning it into a vocal orchestra to the amazing impromptu performance Tabby was giving.

Teri looked at me from beside her woman and crossed her arms expectantly. I knew that look. It was the same look she gave when she thought I wasn't applying myself to the vocal lessons which she still hadn't explained why she was giving me.

What did everyone know that I didn't? Was this some sort of initiation into Thursday Night? Was it some sort of musical cult we had stepped into? I chuckled inwardly at a line I had heard sometime in my past but couldn't quite place the reference, “You must sing for your dinner.”

I glanced at Steph, who just shrugged, she seemed to be just as clueless as me, at least that was a little reassuring, knowing I wasn't the only one in the dark. But she smiled and swayed to the music. She nudged her shoulder into mine so I exhaled. If my girl wanted me to sing, I would sing.

I slid into harmony with Tabby, lending backup to her flawless tone. I picked strategic places to shore up the melody and give it power and accent. Teri was making subtle hand motions under her chest, and I straightened, lending my voice more support from my diaphragm.

Tabs held a hand out, and I took it, shrugging at my girl and slid out from under the blanket to stand. Steph covered the roos and just looked up at me with eyes glittering with a glee I hadn't seen from her yet that just made my heart soar higher with the music.

And I got lost in the song. Tabby Cat seemed to be able to shine a spotlight on all of our inner insecurities, and with her words, get to the raw emotion of it all. We spiraled around the core of the message and lifted it higher and higher with our voices, holding it up for all to see. She could reach impossible highs which I harmonized with in a lower register.

Then all of life's insecurities were washed away through the music as the current of it stripped them away to leave the core of our beings exposed to the world, shining like a beacon. Bloody hell I loved this song. I finally got it, its message. It was about finding that one thing that can complete us all. Love.

We finished on a restrained note. I held mine low and steady to support her's, as she trilled in an almost delicate syncopation that made it a haunting end to a beautiful piece. I wiped a tear from my eye as we sat in silence.

I looked around to all the people just looking on. Then the smiles started to bloom as people started to praise the tune. I looked back as Steph grabbed my hand from behind. I turned back to smile at her. Her eyes were brimming with tears.

Then June nodded once and said to Tabby, “She almost has your range. You're right... again. Do it.”

Tabs shook her head and said, “She was Paya's find.”

June nodded and shot Paya a wink. I was as confused as hell and finally broke and snapped out in frustration, “Would someone kindly tell me what in the bloody hell is going on here?”

It was at that moment that June gave an exclamation of surprise. Vanessa held her shoulders. We all looked at her, and Vanessa looked at her wife down to the deck. We all followed her gaze and saw...

Zilrita squealed with glee, and was actually hopping up and down clapping her hands rapidly together as she announced, “Her water broke! The baby is coming!”

The... baby? Bloody hell!

The sound level around us rose as everyone started moving around. The calm, cool, and collected Vanessa was suddenly the picture of panic and indecision. A young woman who looked so much like her that she had to be her sister stepped up and took her arm to move her to the side.

She said to Vanessa in a calm tone, “You're panicking sis. I'll drive.”

June had a smirk on her face, and she exhaled loudly as she said tongue in cheek, “Well crap, now I gotta go down those damn stairs like this.”

A chuckle rolled the crowd and the younger woman asked in concern, “You alright J-Dub?”

The superstar gave a toothy grin to her and said as she was led off, a fretting, Vanessa following, “I got this shit.”

That statement caused an explosive bout of laughter through the crowd. I didn't get it.

Then they chuckled again when June squeaked and gasped, “Contraction.”

Paya stepped past to the roos as she said to me, “Come on Muscles, I'm not missing this for anything, and I don't have a ride. Harry dropped me off tonight, and I was going to bum a ride off of you later.” There was a tone of hurt in her voice.

Before I could say anything, she snagged Natalie, who had been sitting up and rubbing her eyes and handed her to me. Then she scooped up Wil and offered a helping hand to Steph, who looked bemused as she looked between her, me, and the stream of people following June's egress. Stephanie took the offered hand, and Paya helped her stand and handed a now awake and giggling Wil to her, upside down.

Then we were following the crowd down and out to the docks. I said incredulously as I saw the vehicle they placed June and her immediate family into, drive away, “J8 is having a baby.”

Steph chuckled and said in a Holmes-ish tone, “Very astute, Watson.”

This snapped me out of my shock, and I grinned over at her. We hustled to the car and strapped the roos into their seats. Paya slipped into the back with them as my girl took the shotgun position. Then I took a deep breath, started the car and followed what looked like a convoy behind the lead vehicle.

I chuckled and said to the universe, “What a bizarre and exciting night.”

Paya chimed out, “So sayeth Captain Obvious.”

Before I could throw out an empty threat, my girl did it for me as she clasped hands with me on the console, “She will hurt you Paya.”

We all shared amused looks then I paused a moment before asking, “Before June upstaged everyone, what was all that bullocks about back there? I felt like a sodding wanker...” I paused to see the children brighten up at that, and I squinted a pained apology toward Steph, who had an eyebrow cocked imperiously at me. I exhaled and asked, “Bloody muppet?” She waffled her other hand and shrugged.

I grinned and started again, “I felt like a bloody muppet back there, what games were afoot?”

Paya squinted an eye like she was expecting me to yell at her as she said, “I believe it was a job interview.”

I blinked in non-understanding. “I have a job I love.” It was true. I loved my job, and I have never had such a feeling of self-worth in my life now that I was helping people in need. I hadn't even thought I would be in a position to lend a hand.

She chuckled and said, “Tabby lost her backup singer, Bonnie Malone, to a solo career a couple months back and June has been bugging her to find a replacement for the upcoming album. They couldn't find anyone with the pure tones and range needed, and June was resigned to the fact that she'd have to come out of her self imposed semi-retirement to do it herself.”

I had heard that an American record label had signed Bonnie Malone, a local girl from here in London. I hadn't know she was the backup singer for Tabby Cat.

My caramel skinned friend looked guilty for a moment, and I asked with one eye narrowed in suspicion, “Paya? What did you do?”

She gave a toothy grin and shrugged as she said noncommittally, “I may or may not have mentioned offhandedly to Tabs that I may or may not have found a voice as dynamic as her own.”

I blinked no words came. Steph said them for me, “So, they want my girl to sing backup for Tabby Cat?”

Paya looked too pleased with herself as she said, “Certainly sounds like it doesn't it? They'd only need you on days she's in the studio, it shouldn't impact your work with the Flotilla. I hear their signing bonuses are heart stopping.”

I muttered in understanding, “That's why Teresa was coaching me? She was grooming me. Was there anyone not in on this scheme?”

She nodded enthusiastically and offered up, “Yes. You and Steph.”

There was a three beat of silence before we all burst out laughing. The children giggled though I'm quite sure they weren't following our discussion, but other's laughing is a wonderful excuse to giggle as well.

I said as I nudged my chin toward Stephanie, “She was right. I will hurt you.”

Paya's smile beamed in the rear view mirror. Then she asked, “What are you going to tell them?”

I shrugged. What do you do when people who outclassed you by an exponential number ask you to do something you're in no way qualified for? I'd be in way over my head and feel like an imposter, just pretending to fit in.

I looked over at Steph, who had laced our fingers and squeezed my hand reassuringly. “What do you think... love?” My heart sang at being able to say that.

She shrugged back and said, “Follow your heart and you can't go wrong. You have the voice of an angel, and others have seen that in you as well. I'm all for you expanding your horizons, but the choice is yours, and I'll support your decisions... always.”

I melted and looked back in the mirror. Paya held her hands out, absolving herself of all as she said, “Don't ask me. I'm not one to pressure anyone one way or another.”

Ok now that was about the funniest thing I had heard in all my years, and she couldn't keep a straight face when I said, “Yes Paya.” We all broke out into hysterical laughter to the children's giggling delight.

I wiped happy tears from my cheek with my shoulder and looked higher into the mirror and asked, “What do you think roos? Should I sing with Kitty?”

They enthusiastically nodded as Nat said in that tone that sounded freakishly like her mother's, “It would be brill.”

I chuckled and said in a resigned tone, “Well there you have it then. You can't argue with innocence.”

I swallowed. What in the bloody hell had I just agreed to? It didn't matter a moment later when Steph's other hand closed around my hand like a warm shield. I sighed inside again and just let the warmth take me away.

Then I sobered and glanced at Paya. “What about you. You alright? We're here for you.” She absently rubbed her ring finger and nodded. Saying with a touch of amazement in her voice, “Yes. Yes I believe I am.” And we knew with certainty that she would... she's Paya.