Things Lost In The Fire (10 page)

Their eyes met in the mirror and Sadie smiled awkwardly. “What do you think?”

Tess began to slow clap, beaming with pride. “Now
that’s
Piper Gray.”

“Yeah? I just need to darken my eyebrows and put on the makeup, but I think it’s a good disguise. It’s the one I liked using the most in the videos, though my full face was never really shown. I may need heavier makeup this time.”

“Agreed. I think that wig paired with a shimmering silver dress…” Tess trailed off, walking into the closet to rifle through the clothes Sadie had brought. “Kind of 1920s flapper meets Emo-goddess. We may need to buy you something. Don’t worry, I’m on it.”

“Okay.” Sadie turned back to the mirror and ran her fingertips over the dark strands of the wig, overwhelmed by it all.

A few hours after Tess had left, Sadie called her step-brother. She set up her laptop on her father’s upright piano in his music room and phoned Isaac using Skype.

“So you’re doing a show, huh?” Isaac asked, looking impressed. His black curls of hair had their usual messy look and his poetic hazel eyes were lit with excitement. “What’re you going to sing? Or should I say, what is
Piper Gray
going to sing?”

Sadie shushed him. “Don’t let Dad hear you.”

“Right. Sorry. I think he’s asleep anyway.” Isaac lifted his guitar and grinned. “How about ‘All These Flames’? That’s my favorite.”

“It’s my favorite, too. Okay, let’s try that one.” Sadie’s eyes fell to the keyboard as she placed her fingers on the keys and began to play. Isaac joined her, softly strumming his guitar.

When she began to sing, he softly mimicked her words for the chorus, giving the song a haunting, lonely echo that so perfectly mirrored the lyrics. It was a song she’d written for her parents, a song that bled all those old wounds dry. Relief rushed through her as she sang the words she’d never been brave enough to say to them in person. To, in her own way, call them out for all the damage they’d done.

“These flames destroyed us. These flames made us. These flames are all that remain. When the ashes fall, will you remember my name?”

As she wrapped up the song, she felt a single tear fall from her eye. She smiled at Isaac as she wiped it away. “I wish you could be here to perform with me. The song is so much better with you playing acoustic like that.”

“I wish I could, too. Maybe I’ll drop out of school and we could hit the road,” he joked, earning an appreciative laugh from her.

“Don’t you dare. You’re going to be a doctor someday and I might need to you to save my life.”

She watched Isaac suddenly turn his head, then spotted her father entering the room. He came up behind her brother, then noticed Sadie’s face on the computer screen.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were…what’s that called? Skipping?”

“Skyping, Dad.” Isaac chuckled, shooting an amused look at Sadie. “Old people.”

Ben angled down so his face was in view of the camera. He managed a tight smile. “Hi, Sadie.”

“Hey.” She felt her face burning and hoped he couldn’t tell. “How’s Boston?”

“Fine.” Ben cleared his throat, as if unsure what to say. “How’s, uh, your mother?”

“Fine.”

“Good. Well, I’ll let you kids get back to your…”

“Skype, Dad. Skype.” Isaac shook his head and sighed. “Why don’t you go call Tommy on your rotary phone and talk about the good ol’ days of eight tracks and big hair?”

“Ha ha, very funny.” Ben waved at Sadie before disappearing from the room.

Sadie let out a heavy sigh. “Awkward.”

“Yeah…” Isaac ran a hand through his hair. “Anyway, wanna do another song?”

“I think I should get some sleep. I’m heading over to see my mom again tomorrow.”

“Fun,” Isaac replied sarcastically, though there was humor in his eyes. “Call me next week before the show and we’ll practice some more, ‘kay?”

“Okay.” She blew him an affectionate kiss and smiled. “Night.”

After she turned off the computer, she continued to sit at the piano and sulk. It was always so awkward every time she talked to her father. It was like they were both holding back from saying something that so desperately needed to be said, yet they were too scared to say it. Or too stubborn, or proud, or who knows what.

She’d never felt like herself around him, not the way she did with Isaac or Tommy or Tess. With her father she always felt the need to put on a show or pretend to be anything other than a replica of Valerie. Which was why the thought of him discovering her performing under an alias worried her. What would he do if he knew she was following his path into music? Would he be proud of her, or would it bring back all those horrible memories he seemed so hell bent on forgetting? Memories of Valerie, the woman who’d been both a blessing and a plague in his life.

Thinking of her mother had her returning her fingers to the keys. She closed her eyes and imagined herself onstage, under those bright lights and basked in the glow of adoring fans. Excitement filled her at the thought, knowing she was born to perform. For years she’d denied herself the pleasure, but God knows she wanted it. Like Tess said, she
needed
it.

And soon she would have it.

H
E’D CHOSEN the black slacks and matching button up shirt out of pure defiance. He could’ve been compliant and shown up to his father’s birthday party in the white-tie apparel his brother suggested, but where was the fun in that?

Brody pulled into the driveway of his parents’ several million dollar mansion in Bel Air. He was promptly greeted by the valet, who gave him a suspicious look upon seeing his car.

“You better be careful, buddy. She’s worth more than your job,” Brody joked, patting the valet on the shoulder with a cocky grin. He covered his eyes with his favorite pair of aviators despite it being nearly eight o’clock at night. Again, why not?

As he sauntered up the cobblestone pathway to the front door, he tucked his hands in his pockets and took a good look around. It had been a year since he’d been invited back to his parents’ home. A year since the last blow out fight had caused a fissure no one in the family dare try and repair. Except Chase, of course. He was the only one who ever tried to keep the family in one piece.

He was welcomed through the front door by a formal looking butler and immediately thrust into a crowd of fancy guests. A few people cast looks of judgment in his direction, but for the most part they ignored him. Some even purposefully edged out of the way to avoid him, just in case he tried to strike up a conversation. He supposed he didn’t blame them.

A server approached him carrying a tray of champagne and offered a glass, which he gladly accepted. He tossed it back with relish and set it back on the tray before the server could walk away. Grabbing another glass, he continued through the house, enjoying the scene he was causing.

Chase emerged from the kitchen and bee-lined straight for him.

“Hey, you made it.” He attempted a smile but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Yep.” Brody sipped more champagne and glanced around disdainfully. “You know none of these people actually give a shit about Dad’s birthday. They’re just here out of obligation.”

“They’re not all business associates or clients,” Chase replied, though he looked bitter. “So, Dad’s kind of in a bad mood.”

“Let me guess, it’s because you told him I was coming.” Brody tilted his sunglasses down to eye his brother. “You should’ve listened to me when I said—”

“Brody.” A deep, emotionless voice said from behind him.

His entire body stiffened as he turned around to face his father. Beside him stood Brody’s waif-like mother, Laurie. “Well, if it isn’t the birthday boy.”

Max Odell scowled, his pale blue eyes never leaving his oldest son. He stood tall at nearly six foot four, his frame trim and rigid. Neatly combed white hair topped a long, hard-lined face that was always more intimidating than it was inviting. “Chase said you’d be coming.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Brody said, turning to his mother. He leaned in to give her a cheek kiss. “Mom.”

She smiled serenely, clinging to her husband’s arm. Her dark hair curled in soft waves around a tired face, her brown eyes that matched his own hazed with whatever anti-anxiety drugs she was on these days. Brody bit back the pity he felt at seeing her in such a mindless, compliant state.

“Take off those glasses, sweetheart. Let me see you.” Laurie reached for his face after he removed the glasses, touching his cheek lightly. “So handsome. Why do I never see you anymore?”

“You know why, Mom,” Brody replied. His eyes shot to his father as his mouth curved in a cynical grin. “I’m the prodigal son, minus the repentance.”

“Indeed,” Max drawled. He lightly tugged on his wife to edge her away from Brody. “Dinner’s in an hour. I expect you to keep your mouth shut.”

“Oh, you mean you don’t want to talk about Hugh Lovett?” Brody blurted out on impulse, earning a pleading look from his brother and a furious one from his father.

Max leaned in close to Brody’s face, meeting him eye-to-eye. He spoke in a low, dangerous voice, one that only the two of them could hear. “I promised Chase I wouldn’t let that little spectacle of yours ruin the party. But so help me God if I won’t nail you to the wall in court the second I get the chance.”

“Sounds like you’ve got quite the grudge, Dad.” Brody knocked back his second glass of champagne as his father turned and left, his mother in tow.

Chase shook his head and placed a hand on Brody’s shoulder. “This is all my fault.”

“No, it’s not,” Brody countered, looking his brother in the eye. “You’re the only person here who gives a flying fuck about this family.”

He stalked off in search of something stronger to drink, sincerely considering ducking out of the party. If it hadn’t been for his brother, he likely would have. Only a fool sticks around when he’s so clearly unwanted.

WITH HER first show just over an hour away, Sadie began to panic.

“What am I doing? Tess, you bitch, what did you talk me into?” She fought to catch her breath, her heart racing a mile a minute. The bright lights above the dressing table in the back room of The L.A. Rock Lounge had sweat beading on her forehead.

“Calm down.” Tess chuckled, dabbing powder onto Sadie’s face to hide the shine. “You’re going to be wonderful.”

“I’m going to be sick.” Sadie started to put her head between her knees, only to have Tess catch her and force her upright.

“None of that. You’ll mess up the hair.” Tess adjusted the wig, fixing a few black strands that had sprung loose. “Now, I want you to repeat after me: ‘I rock, I’m worth it, and I so deserve this.’”

“I rock, I’m worth—oh God, let’s just cancel it. I’m having a panic attack. I’m seeing spots in my vision.”

“No, you’re not.” Tess grabbed her by the chin and looked into her eyes. “Now repeat it.”

Sadie took a deep breath, let it out. “I rock, I’m worth it, and I so deserve this.”

“Damn right. Okay, it’s time to look in the mirror and meet Piper Gray.”

She spun Sadie around to face the mirror. Sadie blinked, staring at the perfect stranger looking back at her.

“That’s not me.”

“Well, duh. It’s Piper Gray, silly.” Tess brushed the wig a bit more, a big smile on her face. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud in all my life.”