Ember

IV

Do you ever have one of those days when the adage, ‘Something wicked this way comes’ is the truth? If I had known what was going to happen when I belted the opening acts lead singer in the nose for calling Blaze and the guys’ has-beens, I would have stopped myself. The wicked coming my way was Mindy Rivers, Blaze’s ex-girlfriend. She was hot and knew it, she was a star and she knew it, she was a pain in the ass and didn’t care. Hutch became my protector and buffer. Her mission in life was to make mine as horrible as she could and win Blaze back, in that order. The first day she just had to catch up with what was going on with one of her oldest friends and she knew I would understand. Why didn’t I go catch up with mine on the other bus? Hutch explained that their Dads were Navy Seals and Mindy’s Dad had died on a mission. The next drama was sleeping arrangements. The guys had given me the large bed in the back, but I was so understanding that she needed more space I could take one of the bunks. She gave me her instruments to tune. She asked me to fetch things for her; I had so much free time. Little by little she wormed her way back into Blaze’s life that he spent less and less time with me. He explained she was going through a rough time and needed him, I blew up.

“Is there going to be a time Blaze when you jerk her chain and make her stop?”

“I haven’t seen anything wrong. We were all friends long before you came along and we share too many things. Maybe you could quit being a bitch and lighten up.”

Okay, I was back to bitch status and let me tell you my inner bitch was ready; no holds barred, can’t stop me now, you haven’t seen anything yet Blaze. First off, you get paid the big bucks you tune your own stuff from now on, I was too busy writing songs. It was my main reason for being here. Sorry can’t write on the bus, I need fresh air and open spaces. We did a concert in Albuquerque and I disappeared to Taos for a week. It was fantastic I was able to write songs about open ranges and blue skies. Yes, there was one about men turning into boys and how fucked up they were, I couldn’t help it.

Denver was next on the list and I had decided to try to talk to Blaze one more time. What I hadn’t planned on was Hutch trying his best to keep me off the bus.

I caught a plane and met them in Phoenix where it all came to a head that fateful day. I hadn’t taken my Fender with me and had left it on my bunk with Blaze’s assurance it would be safe. I walked in to the sound check on top of the world and she had my Fender out and was playing it. I must also add very badly. Blaze was getting ready to tear me a new one for being gone, but the talk to the hand appeared. Hutch looked over at Mindy and turned white as a sheet.

“May I have my Fender back, please?” I was calm, a little too calm as Jaden started coming over. I held my hand up and he stopped.

“You mean this worthless old thing? I was going to throw it out, I needed more room. I decided you would understand.”

You can dis me, you can dis my life, but no one can dis my guitar. “An old adage comes to mind; it’s been real and it’s been fun, but it hasn’t been real fun. Please order from the catalog if you want any more songs. I am out of here! Belle and Jaden if you can handle the shit, you are a much better than I.”

Taking my Fender I put it in the cases and locked them up as everyone stood there frozen with Blaze walking over Mindy to protect her; that was my breaking point. I walked to bus grabbed my duffle and called a cab to pick me up a block away. It isn’t easy to walk a block with 2 guitars and a duffle, but I made it. I called Katrina in Amsterdam and checked to see if I could still come. I had 4 weeks left and I didn’t want to be on the damn tour let alone the same continent. I left Phoenix changed in New York and arrive in Amsterdam with my 2 guitars and the trusty duffle the next day.

Needless to say my brothers were not happy I had skipped out coming home. Once I explained to them what had happen and received promises of no murder occurring in the near future, I put Blaze and Mindy on the far back burner and sat at my café drinking wonderful coffee day after day. I had no worries and no cares. Kat and I went to bars and a few of her friends got together to jam and I was invited. We played acoustic and it was wonderful. I got roped into playing at a few bars and it wasn’t bad. I was seriously considering staying and taking up the life of a musician. I also found I could sing with a deep throaty voice that made promises in the night that were never kept. I also found out I was pregnant and 5 months later I had Rory Eoin Hutchison.

Rory looked like a miniature Blaze. I had tried to contact Blaze after I had him, but it went to voicemail.  That made my resolve not to be hurt by anything even stronger and my want to stay where I was more firm. After talking to my parents and arguing with my brothers I stayed. Matt took over the house and I went from teacher to composer, musician and singer. This was how my life was going to be now.

The next year Trident Rising came to Amsterdam as promised and like an addicted fool I went. I was able to catch up with Belle and Jaden. Jaden was going home; he and Slay were parting company. Belle and Lizard were still going strong. Blaze and the wicked witch had married in some huge wedding. Hutch was totally lost without his wingman and in a moment of madness I told Belle to have him call me. We all promised to keep in touch and Hutch and I had a quiet dinner after the concert. We talked about old times and he asked what I was doing, I told him about Rory and also that I had tried to contact Blaze, but never could. It might have been his brother, but he also understood my side and would not tell him.

Someone must have liked me upstairs because I got a record deal. My first album was Ember; The Blaze Dies Slowly. It was all acoustic and had that smoky bar sound. It took off like a bullet and now I was on tour as an opening act. I would tour as long as it wasn’t the US. I appreciated everyone I came in contact with; from the roadie to the fan. It was important to me that everyone knows my gratitude for helping me along my way, unlike some retard I knew. I only asked that no pictures be taken of me and Rory. A few got out of me, but Rory was well hidden. The next album was, Let the Blaze Begin which was more upbeat and had a mix of acoustic and Electric. I move from opening act to the main event.

It was in Melbourne of all places that Hutch came back stage after my performance. He was just as surprised as I was. I was surprised to see him and well, he was surprised at who Ember was. We talked about old times and laughed at some of the things that had happened on that fateful tour before Phoenix. Belle and Lizard had gone to Vegas and were married. Blaze and the witch had separated. Blaze was now known as the King of Partying. Hutch didn’t talk to Blaze that much and assured me he wouldn’t be saying anything. I had pictures of Rory to show him and we talked over drinks into the morning.

I also thought it was time to pay tribute to the only person I now loved, my son Rory, and I did an album of lullabies which I called, From a Kindred Soul.  I gave it away as a gift to moms around the world and many OB doctors included in their gift bag. I made sure that along with the traditional songs the song I wrote for Rory was included even if he liked All the Pretty Little Horses the best.

Rory and I went home for Mike and then Mark’s weddings. I loved my new sisters to death. I found out that Matt and Jaden were a couple. Strange that didn’t surprise me at all. Hutch had become good friends with my brothers and I saw him at family events. It never clicked for us and he became another brother to me. Actually, he understood me better than my own did.

I was more European than American now having bought a historical house in Haarlem. I was now bi-lingual.  That didn’t stop me on my next album, Blazing Up a Storm: The Duets, which we did in Nashville with some major country legends. Hutch quietly produced it for me.

Matt and Jaden moved to D.C. and Mark and Elaine started filling up the bedrooms at the house. I had given them a copy of the Kindred CD and they understood without words being spoken. Mom and Dad lived in the guest house to be close to the grandkids. It always brought back to mind the phrase Marry Me and Have My Children. I guess Blaze had figured I was back teaching and married by now. His escapades filled the online tabloids with new girls and his on-again-off-again marriage. To me it looked like neither of them was the adult in the relationship.