Chapter 37
Nervous ~ Gray
Arriving at London City Airport when the sun was shining was a great way to introduce Hettie to my home city. The jet’s flight path had brought us over many familiar landmarks. Hettie squealed in recognition of the dome at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower Bridge, as these were instantly recognizable places to her.
Everyone knew why we were there that day. The charity had been working for many years, negotiating more red tape than you’d find on a dragon in a Chinese New Year festival parade. Hettie’s eyes were as big as saucers, and I had a huge grin on my face from seeing how delighted she was on her first trip home with me.
Dana reached over and passed Hettie a hairbrush. “Better sort that rat’s nest out, you’re about to have your picture taken.” Hettie looked shocked like it never occurred to her that anyone would be interested in her and grabbed the brush.
“Shit, now I’m nervous. Who are you going to say I am?”
“My wife?”
“That would be a lie.” She frowned.
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll think of something,” she replied as she shrugged, looking petrified.
“Don’t worry, it’s fine. Everything is going to be fine. You’re perfect, Hettie, and the press more or less leave me alone. I’m a lot less interesting than most rock stars out there.”
Apparently, the members of the press core hadn’t received the memo about leaving me alone and were out in droves at the airport as were our fans. I had an idea the promotion company was to blame, and although I knew it was great publicity it wasn’t the point of Bows4Angels.
As the flight attendant lowered the steps I pulled Hettie into my side. She looked petrified and physically shook with nerves. “It’s fine, baby, I got you. Don’t worry, just smile. We’ll be inside the car in a couple of minutes.”
I watched her swallow roughly as her hand slid up under my jacket, her fingers tightly clinging to the belt loop of my jeans. I pulled her closer still and she gave me another nervous smile as the band filed out, followed by Dana, leaving Hettie and I inside. I dipped my head, kissed her forehead then stepped back. “Okay, Mrs. Dennison-to-be, let’s get ‘em,” I said, reaching for her hand and immediately stepped out onto the steps.
Camera bulbs flashed, the incessant sound of shutters clicked wildly as I began to make my way down the stairs while I waved at them. Turning back to look over my shoulder, Hettie was stepping gingerly toward me, her eyes darting from the journalists to the stairway. I smiled because she looked incredibly cute as she tried to put a brave face on. When she stepped off the last step I pulled her back into my side and kissed her forehead again before I turned to face the press with her in a show of togetherness.
Eying the familiar face of the promoter I’d met once or twice, I saw him signal at the small podium that had been set up beside the crush barrier. As I began to make my way to it, Hettie’s small hand grabbed and tightened around mine. I squeezed hers back, dipped my head toward her and whispered in her ear. “It’s fine, you’re beautiful. I love you,” I said, leaning back to gaze into her eyes. A small smile quirked her lips and I murmured, “That’s better.”
Before she could think about it I pulled her up beside me as I stood on the podium and waved with her hand still firmly in mine.
Numerous questions were thrown at me, one after another about Bows4Angels which I handled effortlessly. Brody stepped forward a couple of times. He hated being the spokesman, but couldn’t stop himself from interrupting now and again to throw his two pence worth in. Naturally, the subject shifted to focus on Hettie as soon as they were satisfied they’d exhausted the topic they’d been alerted to cover.
“Gray, who’s this with you? What’s the lady’s name? Is this a new love interest? What happened to Phoebe?”
I held my hand up and leaned forward to the mic.
“This, ladies and gentlemen of the press is my beautiful girl, Harriet Lawson.”
“We’ve never seen you holding hands at an official press conference, Gray. Is this significant?”
“I’d say…most definitely.” I turned and winked at Hettie, but she was wigging out, a tight smile plastered on, so I pulled back on what I wanted to say, and concluded the press conference by thanking everyone. Turning away from another onslaught of unanswered questions, we piled into the limousine sitting close to where the jet had taxied to a stop. Once inside Brody slapped my leg.
“You’re a fucking tease, Gray Dennison,” he said with a grin and shook his head.
“I was that close to telling them the deal between us, but when I saw Hettie having a mental meltdown and a smile that looked more like a grimace, I figured it could wait until she’s got used to the idea of being in the public eye. I thought of my dad and Phoebe’s reaction when I saw Hettie’s face and that stopped me.”
“Phoebe?” Dana, Brody, and Hettie all said in unison. A frown creased Hettie’s brow.
“Yeah. Don’t be pissed, Hettie. I don’t want her or my dad finding out I’m getting married like that. I’d hate her to think I never considered her feelings.”
Dana’s eyes shifted from me to Hettie and mine followed. Hettie was staring at her hands and my heart squeezed because I’d hurt her. “It’s just—”
“Stop. We’ll discuss this later,” Hettie said before pursing her lips tight as if she were holding back her words. She sighed, unable to swallow her annoyance. “I get you’re in a band, Gray, and people will know your business, but I deserve an explanation for that statement in private at the very least.”
I felt like an ass. I had stepped off the plane with the excitement of a teenage boy filling my brain. It was only when it came to the crunch that Phoebe’s face flashed in my mind and I knew I’d hurt her even more if she found out via the media. To do that to her and to my dad after everything he’d been through as well would have been awful, not to mention Hettie’s family. They all deserved to hear it firsthand, not on TV.
“No, I’m saying it here because I get disillusioned when others confuse my feelings for Phoebe. I didn’t mean I wanted to tell Phoebe, Hettie. I want Dana and Brody to be the ones to let her know. Baby, you mean everything to me; all I’m doing is putting myself in Phoebe’s shoes for a moment. If it were me and you were with someone else, I’d hate to find out you were marrying someone else through the television. It would crush me. My dad too, your mother and Lorna, they’re important to us as well. After this one thing, I swear there will be no holds barred about telling the world what you mean to me.”
Hettie stared me out. I knew she wasn’t totally convinced, but she nodded. “I don’t like it, but I love you for caring about other people’s feelings, and I know I would hate to hear that you were marrying Phoebe on TV.”
“You’d never have seen that. There’s only one woman I want to marry.” Hettie’s face softened, she leaned in and kissed me. I guessed by her action she’d accepted I wanted it for the right reasons.
****
Walking into a carnival atmosphere at the youth center, I saw all the happy smiles on the faces of the many kids the charity had already enrolled. It made my heart swell that something good came from a decision we’d made. There were one hundred and twenty classes per week running in four different workshops, Monday to Friday; and all day workshops, for those who were older, at the weekends. It kept them off the streets, gave them purpose, nurtured their talents, and kept a few of them alive. It was a no drugs, no bullying, no prejudice environment, and the vibe inside was heartwarming.
Hettie appeared quiet, but not completely out of her comfort zone as she was used to her students. When I walked away to do my duties I knew Dana had her back. I imagined Hettie was probably still mulling over what I’d said, but if we were going to be together then I needed to clear the air with everyone in the right way. No loose ends, no unfinished business, nothing to come back and bite my arse. It was the only way I rolled after the work I’d done in therapy. After that, Hettie would be my first and last consideration in all things from that point onward.
Watching all the kids in attendance, I noticed the older ones taking on mentoring roles, encouraging the younger children. It gave me a real sense of achievement. It was as good as any concert I’d ever performed at. Maybe it wasn’t as exciting as being part of a rock band; however it still touched hearts and minds in a longer lasting way. It gave me a buzz to know we’d leave a lasting legacy even after the band was gone.
After an hour, I glanced at Hettie and smiled when I saw her deep in conversation with a small group of enthralled kids. They were huddled around the mixing board just inside one of the sound booths. The door was open so I stepped closer to listen. She was telling the kids about the construction of the room and how the mixing board worked. Using her scientific knowledge and teaching skills she explained how sound traveled and became distorted. She explained the speed of sound and how it was measured in decibels. I joined her and demonstrated a few blends of sounds which gave them the idea of mixing sounds to create different ones.
“We work well as a team, huh?” she said, smiling up at me as we stood in the hallway waiting for the car to be brought around for us afterward.
“We’ve got more in common than you think,” I said, nudging her hip with mine.
“You were great with the kids, Gray,” she added.
“Not as good as you, baby, you’re going to be a great mother.”
“I know. I want to have your babies,” she teased. She reached up and held my chin.
“You know how many times I’ve heard that?”
“First time from me,” she pointed out.
“True, and the first time that particular statement has made my dick twitch.”
“You have an itch?” she teased.
“I do…one that needs scratching…all over…with a slick little pussy,” I answered, smirking wickedly.
“You have a dirty mouth,” she replied, a mock frown on her face.
“Yeah and you love when I get it dirty,” I teased.
“True,” she said as she giggled.
“Want to come see my bedroom, little lady?” I asked. I wiggled my eyebrows playfully.
“I could do with a lie down,” she said, her voice became a little breathless at my flirting.
“If I let you lie down will you let me go down?”
Hettie giggled, and shook her head. “You’re incorrigible, do you know that?”
“What can I say? I know. But I remember enough to know you love that wicked side I have.”
Caleb cleared his throat. “You do know we can all hear you, guys? You’re not in the sound booth now,” he pointed out.
“Are we making you jealous, Caleb?”
“Fuck, I think I liked you better when you were moping. This loved up version is fucking sickening.”
Surge slapped Caleb on the back of his head. “Do you always have to interrupt everything? I was enjoying their little foreplay conversation.”
Hettie’s cheeks became heated and she ducked her head into my chest. “Oh, don’t start getting all bashful now. If you’re gonna be a rock star’s wife you’re gonna have to own it,” Brody warned her with a grin.
“I’ll get used to it. I just never expected to be marrying all of you when I agreed to Gray’s proposal.”
“Oh, if you’re marrying all of us, can you let me know what nights are mine? I’ll put you in my calendar, I wouldn’t want to miss them.” Caleb smirked.
Scowling at him, I shook my head. “This woman is mine. Watch my lips, M.I.N.E. Go within six feet of her when I’m not around and you’ll learn how a dick is dismembered from a body…first hand.”
Brody chuckled, “Oh I love this new caveman that’s joined the band. I’m selling tickets for the after show on the bus. It’s gonna be much more entertaining than the gigs themselves.”
I smirked and looked at Caleb who winked as he goaded me, but luckily the limousine pulled up.
“You’re so fucking lucky the car’s here, Caleb,” I warned with humor in my voice, as I led Hettie toward the back passenger door.