Same Kinda Different

Chapter 2

I walk into the doors at Big Machine Records with Remi walking in front of me. Remi stops at the front desk and starts grinning at Ms. Misty. I put my guitar down and shake my head at Remi.
Misty says, "Momma is it okay if I give her a couple cookies?"
I smile and say, "Yes ma'am. Have you seen Mr. Scott? I have a couple songs I want to run by him."
Misty says, "I think he's in the conference room. He has a meeting with one of the new singers at some point today so I think he's getting the room ready. Go ahead and I'll walk Remi up there after I get her some cookies."
I look at Remi and say, "Be good young lady. Listen to what Ms. Misty tells you."
I start walking to the conference room. As I approach the door I hear voices so I knock on the door then open it and peek my head inside.
Scott looks up and smiles at me then turns to the two guys at the table and says, "Let me introduce you all to one of the best songwriters in Nashville. This is Ms. Laken Brown, the daughter of Anastasia Brown and the adopted daughter of Tony Brown. Casey, you may know a little bit about her."
An older guy nods and says, "Yes, you've won a couple Song Writer of the Years. When you left Nashville a few years ago you had a lot of people very upset."
I look down and nod my head and say, "I know. It was at the time the right decision for me. Now looking back at it it was one of the stupidest decisions I ever made."
Scott says, "Trust me. It was hard and it took a lot of pestering her to get her to slowly start writing again."
He then looks at the young man who I quickly recognize as the neighbor who I got into it with at my old apartment. Scott says, "Lake, this is Casey and Tucker Beathard. Casey is a songwriter and Tucker signed with us a while back. We're working on his second extended play."
I nod my head at him and say, "Well I was looking for you because I have a song I've been trying to get someone to record. I keep asking Kane to do it but he keeps telling me no."
Scott looks at me and says, "Well you know how dealing with other artists that aren't on a Big Machine company works."
I shake my head and laugh.
Scott says, "Do you have it recorded or anything? We could let Tucker listen to it if you do."
I shake my head no and say, "No, but I do have my guitar. I'll go grab it and come sing it."
I walk out of the room and go back to the front desk. I see Remi is drawing on a piece of paper and eating cookies.
Misty says, "I was about to bring her in there. I was letting her finish her picture for you."
I smile and say, "I had to come grab my guitar so I'll take her. Come on, Remi, let's go and play a song for Mr. Scott."
Remi looks at me and says, "But, Momma, snacks!"
I give her a look and say, "Come on and I'll carry you on my back."
I bend down to let her climb on my back.
Misty says, "Here Remi take a couple extra cookies."
Remi grabs the cookies and mumbles, "ank you"
I shake my head and grab my guitar and start walking to the conference room.
As I get to the room Remi asks okay to eat cookies?
I laugh and say, "Mr. Scott won't care baby girl."
I walk back into the room and bend down so Remi can climb off my back. She takes off running to Scott and says, "Mr. Ott! Cookies!!"
Scott smiles and says, "Well hello, Remington. Your momma didn't tell me you were here, too."
I say, "Ms. Misty was letting her eat cookies and draw pictures so I wasn't worried about her coming in here at the time."
Scott looks at Casey and Tucker and says, "Tucker, are you okay?"
He nods and mumbles, "Yeah. I'm fine."
I could tell he instantly recognized Remi and now he's probably figured out who I was.
Scott nods and says, "This is Remi, Laken's daughter. She's also an occasional visitor here at Big Machine who loves cookies."
I look at Remi and tell her to say hello.
Remi kinda hides behind Scott and quietly whisper, "Hello."
I shake my head and say, "Really, Rem? Your going all bashful now? Your usually talking everyones ears off little one."
I sit my case down and start undoing it to get my guitar out.
Scott says, "I've been trying for the last few months to get this one to sign a record deal and get her to sing. She's got an amazing voice and I'm still not sure how to talk her into singing."
I grin at Scott and say, "We've had this talk before Mr. Scott. I prefer to be the mastermind who writes the song while someone else is the artist who sings it. Singing has never been my thing. Mom and dad have always said I could pick up my guitar and quickly write my thoughts down better than I ever could do with singing them."
I start tuning my guitar to make sure it sounds right. I start humming a song as I play a couple notes. I get everything adjusted where I need it. I look at Scott and he nods his head to go ahead and start. I start singing the song.
Tucker looks at me and says, "Would you mind if I change a couple things around?"
I shake my head and say, "No. I always allow whoever records my songs to change anything they need to."
Tucker says, "Play the chords and let me play around with the lyrics."
We work on the song for a little while. Then I look down at my phone and say, "Crap. I have to go. I have a meeting with my advisor in a little bit."
Scott nods and says, "See you soon, Lake."
I look at Tucker and say, "I assume you want to record the song since we sat here and rewrote it?"
Tucker says, "Yeah I do if your okay with it."
I nod and say, "I am. Bye y'all." I start to pack my stuff up and leave.

*At the house that afternoon.*
I pull up to the house after my meeting with my advisor and undo Remi from her car seat. I put her down on the ground and she takes off running to the porch. I grab all of our stuff from the car and I hear her yelling about flowers. I groan thinking great Whitt sent flowers again asking for me to call him and to forgive him. I pick them up and read the card. I grin and shake my head. I unlock the door and let Remi run into the house. I put the flowers down on the counter top and put everything else up. I take a picture and send it to my best friend. I text her well remember the guy that I was telling ya about from the old apartment that I got into it with right before I moved?
Liv texts me back and says yeah. Why?
I text back he sent me flowers.
Liv says wait! What?! I'll be there in a few minutes. I have treats for Remi.
I see Liv pull up and almost run to my front porch. I open it and let her in. She gives me a look and I know I'm in trouble. She grabs my hand and drags me to the living room. She points at the couch and sits down. I sit down next to her. She starts tapping her foot against my floor.
I finally say, "Hey Olivia."
She looks at me and says, "You know better. Now tell me how you got flowers sent to you."
I go into the story about the guy being named Tucker and how he is signed to one of Big Machines record labels and how he helped rewrite a song with me today.
Liv starts grinning and says, "Where are the flowers? What did the card say?"
I tell her flowers are on the counter and the note just was him apologizing to me and he left me his number.
Her eyes get big and she says, "Dear lord Lake! Text the guy! Like right now."
I roll my eyes at her and go and grab the card and my cell phone.

*Text conversation*
Me: Hey, Tucker, it's Laken Brown. Thank you for the flowers and the note. I forgave you months ago so you don't have to worry about me forgiving you.

Tucker: Hey, Laken. I was starting to wonder if I had sent them to the right place or not. I really am sorry. It was a bad day that day and then Remi had came down the hall screaming. I took it out on you when I shouldn't have.

Laken: it's fine, Tucker. I'm being serious everyone has good and bad days. So how did you end up with my address?

Tucker: I asked Scott for it so then I had to explain how we semi kinda knew each other. Got my butt chewed out by my dad and Scott wasn't to happy either.

Laken: lol sounds about like Scott. He's kinda protective of me.

Tucker: I do want to do a little more for me to feel better about what I did. Maybe we can go out and eat one night? With Remi, too.

Laken: Yeah that's sounds fine to me! Thank you for involving my daughter, too.

I look at Liv and say, "He asked me to eat with him one night and that Remi was invited too"
Liv starts grinning and says, "Yes! Oh I'll have to be here to help you get ready!"
I groan and mumble oh great!