Monarchy of Roses

Chapter 6

John had just emerged from his studio when she arrived home in the afternoon. "Nika, you have to hear this song!", he exclaimed, hazel eyes dancing with anticipation.

Nika was amused by her father's enthusiasm as she carefully set the shopping bags on her bed and followed him into his studio. She sat on a stool and watched as John hit Play on the recording console and the music played over the speakers. The song he and Josh had played yesterday came over the speakers, except this time it had her clarinet part. The clarinet's warbling tone floated above the guitars and recalled a lazy, yet content lark singing happily from its nest. But it didn't sound the least bit saccharine or cutesy as the occasional sharper note sounded as though the lark had glimpsed something and trilled a warning. "I had to adjust the about a half tone higher, but otherwise it's the original take. Josh loved it", he said.

Nika blushed. "Uh, cool", she mumbled.

"That's better than cool, Nika. Josh isn't that impressed by many musicians. He wants you to add more clarinet parts to some of the songs", said John.

This time Nika turned the color or pickled beets, a dark red verging on purple. "Dad", she muttered.

John got up from his desk and gave her a hug. 'Don't be so modest, you're a very talented clarinetist. Josh loved your playing and wants to add more clarinet to the songs, it's a good idea. We'll give you a songwriting and royalties, you just have to write down the music for publishing credit", he said.

"Dad, that's the thing. I don't want people to know I play the clarinet, the girls in high school picked on me because I was in the school band", she whispered.

"Nika, I normally wouldn't say this, but fuck 'em. You're not in high school anymore and they were probably jealous of your talent", he said.

John turned serious. "Nika, you are a very smart, talented woman. You shouldn't sell yourself short and turn red as a beet whenever someone admires your talent. Josh has really high standards when it comes to music, he was very impressed. In fact, we're all going out for dinner. He wants to pick my brain about the tour, he opened up for us on our European tour but this is going to different since he's replacing me in the band", he said.

Nika felt her mouth go dry and a weird tingly sensation start in her lower spine and travel down her legs and then to her feet, as though she had gotten stuck with a strong shot of Novocain. "Uh, okay", she stuttered.

"Josh is going to meet us at Kiusaki, he reserved a table for us at seven", said John.

"All right, but aren't you going to get sick of sushi?", she teased.

"Nah, you know it's my favorite. Go get dressed and we'll meet him there", he said.

Nika went upstairs to change. She tried to remain calm as she looked through her closet. At first she was going to choose a little black dress or black trousers and a white shirt, but then she remembered what Clara and the lady had told her. Nika looked through her shopping bags and selected a purple silk blouse and a calf-length purple Paisley skirt with bronze, blue and green swirls, along with purple suede ankle boots and a chunky necklace with purple stones. She took a quick shower and got dressed, arranging her curly dark hair in a neat French twist before putting on some of her new makeup.

John waited downstairs, clad simply in black slacks and a buttoned-down black shirt, his own curly dark hair tied back into a ponytail. "Josh is on his way there. Is that a new outfit?", he asked.

"Yeah, I bought today when I went shopping with Clara", she replied.

"Okay, you'll have to drive", he said.