* * *
‘Now that it’s come to it I don’t want to let you go’ Lia asserted.
Finishing stirring the mug of coffee she’d made, she brought it over to the small wrought-iron table where the girls sat for lunch. There wasn’t a lot of room in the basement, where all the stock was kept, but Lia had had a worktop and sink put in, as well as installing a fridge and a microwave oven, so that the girls could have some hot food from time to time.
Lost in thought, Caitlin was jolted back to the present as the petite blonde pulled out the chair opposite and sat down.
‘Sorry, what did you say?’
‘I said I don’t want to let you go.’ Lia breathed out a heavy sigh as she curled her hands round the steaming mug of coffee, her pretty brown eyes not bothering to try and hide her emotion.
Caitlin was genuinely touched. The girls had been friends for a long time now, seeing each other through good times and bad, and it was going to be as much a wrench for Caitlin to relinquish her job as it was for Lia to lose her. She’d always considered the esoteric bookshop to be the best place in the world to work in. Not only was she surrounded by books that had the potential to heal and uplift, but many like-minded people came into the store—and the fact that she worked with her best friend was a blessing.
But for the past week and a half Blue Sky had become more than just a wonderful opportunity to realise a long-held dream. It had become personal. Not only had Caitlin grown to respect and admire her fellow musicians, she was also starting to really care about them too. They worked so hard, were passionate about their music, talented and dedicated to their craft, and when Marcie Wallace had walked out they’d been understandably devastated. Caitlin wanted to help put things right…she wanted to help them realise their dreams too.
‘It’s not going to be easy for either of us,’ she agreed now, sliding her hand across Lia’s. ‘But I’m not leaving for good. I might not be working in the shop any more, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be around. I’ll still live here in the village, and when I come home after touring we’ll see each other every day because I’ll come in and chat and have coffee with you.’
‘I know all that.’ Lia freed her hand and drove her fingers anxiously through her short blonde hair. ‘But if you want to know the truth I’ve been worrying myself sick about you.’
‘Why?’ Caitlin was astonished.
‘Well…going off with a bunch of strangers to God only knows where. How do you know you can trust these people?’
‘Lia, I’ve got to know them. They’re not strangers any more. They’re professional musicians. Jake Sorenson, their manager, is—’
‘Jake is who I wanted to talk to you about.’ The blonde drew a deep breath in. ‘Didn’t you recognise who he was when you first saw him? Don’t you remember there was a “kiss and tell” scandal about him in the papers a few years ago? His wife left him for one of the biggest rock musicians in the world then spilled the beans about their marriage in an article in the papers.’
Lia’s words started to ring a bell. As memory presented a helpful picture of the artist her friend had referred to Caitlin stared at the other girl in shock.
‘I remember. She left him for Mel Justice…the lead singer with the band Heart and Soul. I didn’t realise the record producer she was married to, was Jake.’
‘Well, it was. And the picture she painted of her life with him wasn’t exactly flattering. Did you know she was a model? Not high-profile, but a familiar face in the magazines just the same. The main reason for the exposé was that Jake had promised to make her a star and he didn’t. Apparently she wanted to give up modelling to become a singer. But when they got married and he didn’t come up with the goods she had an affair with Mel Justice and eventually divorced Jake to be with him.’
‘Then she sold her story to the newspaper,’ Caitlin said quietly.
It jolted her to realise that he’d been married. She hadn’t read the story, but just before Lia had nudged her memory about what had happened she’d been about to comment that Jake Sorenson was a true professional—a man who elicited respect and admiration from his peers—and that she felt very fortunate to have him as a mentor. But even as the thought occurred accompanying it was the stirring memory of last night when Jake had kissed her…
‘Anyway, what has any of what you’ve just said got to do with what I’m doing, Lia? Why are you digging up old news about Jake Sorenson?’
‘Why? Because I want you to know what you’re getting yourself into that’s why’
Lifting her mug of coffee to her lips, her friend agitatedly put it down again without taking so much as a sip.
‘As your best friend, I can’t help feeling responsible. The people in the business you’re getting into are open to all kinds of temptations and bad behaviour. They certainly don’t seem to exhibit much loyalty towards each other. I’d hate for you to be associated with the band and have it all backfire on you if the press decide to dig up that kiss and tell story and speculate over if you’ll do the same, should anything go wrong.’
‘But I’m not having a personal relationship with Jake, am I? I’m only singing with the band he’s managing. Plus, I wouldn’t dream of selling my story to the press even if I had one! I’m twenty-six, remember? Not some gullible teenager. I can absolutely take care of myself.’
But Caitlin’s heart still raced. Nothing Lia had said before had remotely indicated what her friend really felt about her decision to join the band. Up until now she’d been so positive…so encouraging. ‘Follow your passion,’ she’d said. ‘Don’t let anything get in your way.’ Now Caitlin didn’t know what to think.
It wasn’t any of her business what had or hadn’t happened in Jake’s marriage. In fact it explained why he sometimes seemed a little aloof. As well as destroying any trust you’d once had for a person, to have your spouse sell their story about your marriage to the papers must have been truly demoralising. But at the end of the day Jake’s personal life was nothing remotely to do with her.
‘Okay, so if it’s true that you can take care of yourself then what about Sean?’ Lia’s brown eyes sparkled.
Caitlin could hardly believe what she was hearing.
‘That was below the belt, Lia,’ she murmured. ‘Okay, so I’ve made some wrong turns in my life. Haven’t you? Hasn’t everyone? It doesn’t mean that everything I do is doomed to failure or disaster, does it?’
‘I shouldn’t have said that. About Sean, I mean.’ Lia sniffed. ‘I’m sorry, Caitlin. I should know better, considering the business I’m in, shouldn’t I? It’s just that sometimes it’s hard to put wisdom into practice when it comes to someone you care about. You know what men can be like. They’ve got a one-track mind when it comes to women like you, and I mean that as a compliment. You’re beautiful and talented, with a sweet and trusting nature. They’re bound to try and take advantage and here you are—going off into the wide blue yonder with five of them!’
‘Well, you’ve got to try and stop worrying, Lia. I’m going to be just fine. I’m doing what I want to do, right? Nobody is forcing me. If I can trust that everything will be okay, then why can’t you?’
Abruptly rising to her feet, Caitlin carried her empty mug over to the sink. Then she rinsed it out and turned it upside down on the drainer.
‘I’d better get back upstairs and relieve Nicky so that she can have her lunch. Today’s my last day at the shop, so let’s not spoil it by having an argument.’
‘I’m sorry. I’m just feeling a bit on edge because you’re going. Don’t be mad at me?’ Lia pleaded as she got to her feet.
‘Don’t