Sage…

I don’t know why but I slept through the night. It’s like a calm came over me after I talked to Roger. I just want to live my life in peace. Dealing with my mom has been weighing heavily on me and I didn’t even know it. Now that I have all the details planned and the meeting is happening, I only feel relieved and determined to get through it. No apprehension at all. Roger and I have been waiting in Haddie’s parlor for the past fifteen minutes waiting for Mom, Greg and her attorney to show up. Mom is never on time for anything. Haddie has been in and out. She wants to be here for moral support, but she still has a bed-and-breakfast to run. Nick is on the porch watching for any sign of my mom or Greg.

“I texted Katrina’s attorney and informed her that we are waiting another fifteen minutes but after that this meeting is off.” Roger hates rudeness and making someone wait is at the top of that list.

“Do you know the attorney Mom hired?” I don’t know how she managed to come up with money to pay the person.

“I know of her, but I have never met her in person. She’s an ambulance chaser and I don’t like using that term, but it’s the only way to describe her reputation. She has a private practice and she takes on clients she knows are guilty and has no way of getting them off a charge. She hikes up the price and collects every penny, one way or another. Some of the people she associates with have no morals and wouldn’t blink an eye at breaking someone’s leg to collect money. That is all hearsay, so I will keep an open mind when trying to work through this today. I am only relaying the rumors, so you know what kind of person you are dealing with. Her name is Ms. Wilkens.” I am surprised that Roger is repeating a rumor, that’s not normal for him. “Don’t worry Sage, you are in the right here by law and by what Travis wanted you to do. I wish you would reconsider some of the choices you have made but I can’t say I expected anything less of you. I think the interview this afternoon will clear up anyone’s misconceptions they have of you; if they don’t then they don’t deserve to be in your life.” I knew that Roger would and always will stand beside me. Then our talk is forgotten when my mom and her entourage of people walk in. Mom is dressed like she is going to a fashion show. It probably took an hour just to get her makeup on and then there is Greg who has left his usual jean attire behind for a pricey suit. I look at Roger and he just lifts his shoulder. Behind those two is a woman with her hair up in a French braid that is wearing shoes that look like she might topple over at any puff of wind and she has a crisp white shirt on with a white linen skirt. Haddie comes up and sits beside me on the love seat. Roger stands from the chair to my left and goes to shake hands with the guests coming in. Nick sits in the chair on the other side of me.

“Looks like I am under dressed in my own home.” I start to reassure she looks fine, but Nick beats me to it.

“Haddie, you would look better than those two women dressed in a wet potato sack.” Nick is patting Haddie on the hand and she is smiling at him and I feel like an intruder in a special moment between two people.

“Thank you, Nick. That was so sweet of you to say,” Haddie says sweetly.

“No sweet to it, just the plain truth.” I look away from the two of them, so they can have their minute. I look over and there are two men that came into the room who are whispering with Greg while Roger talks with Mom and the other woman, but he is eyeing the two men. They both look dangerous and I don’t know why they would be here. They have nothing to do with me. Roger walks back over by us and squats down to talk to us.

“The attorney says that those two,” Roger looks towards the two men that are looking right at us, “are business associates that would like to sit in on the meeting. I don’t know the men, but I will call the sheriff if you are uncomfortable, Sage, in any way.” I look at the two men and they seem like normal people. I see no evil in them but is that really something you can see?

“What I have to say is not going to change if they are here or not and they have nothing to do with me, so if you’re alright with it then so am I,” I answer without hesitation.

“Then let’s get this over with.” Roger stands up and faces the people waiting for Roger’s answer. Mom looks confident she will get what she wants but there is something else there that looks a little like fear. That doesn’t sit right with me, but it also doesn’t make sense. My mom has nothing to fear here. I stand up as does Haddie and Nick. “This is Ms. Wilkens and she is representing Katrina. Ms. Wilkens if you would introduce the other two gentlemen. Ms. Dade has agreed to let them attend the meeting but is as mystified as I am at how it may concern them but, in all fairness, she does not object to them being here. This is Mrs. Carpenter and Mr. Styles. They are here as moral support for Ms. Dade.” Roger points to Haddie and Nick. I didn’t think this was going to be a formal meeting, but Roger knows best.

“Please have a seat on the sofa and the chairs I have brought in. If anyone would like anything to drink, I can have it brought in.” Haddie is being gracious as always.

“I don’t think any refreshments are required. The two gentlemen are Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones and they are business associates with the elder Ms. Dade along with Mr. White.” I almost choke at the names that the attorney gave for the men. They could get just a little more original. “Now shall we get down to business, so we can get out of this small town and back to the city?” Now, I know I don’t like the woman. “If I may go first with the proposal that the elder Ms. Dade has for her daughter, Lyric Dade.”

“Ms. Wilkens, this is not a formal business meeting, in fact, this meeting is only so Katrina will know what Lyric is willing to give her to go away. This meeting will only go on for as long your client is willing to listen and not fly off into hysterics and demand unrealistic terms. This will be the sole meeting my client has with yours. To set the tone for this meeting, I would like to inform your client that the life insurance policy that she had on Lyric is null and void and she will be receiving notification from the insurance company. You, Ms. Wilkens, will be receiving notice from my office that your client does not have permission to take out any policies from any agent in her name, can’t use her name representing anything to do with Travis Dade, and can’t use Travis Dade’s name or his bands name in any kind of business ventures. Now, Ms. Wilkens, you have the floor.” The look my mom is giving me is one of pure hate.

“We are here today to come to an understanding about Lyric’s inheritance that she will be given full control of in twenty-nine days. It was brought to my attention that Mr. Dade had been under stress when he changed his will three years ago. His band was going through a transitioning period and there was a conflict between the younger Ms. Dade and the elder Ms. Dade and Mr. Dade changed his will during this stressful time. The elder Ms. Dade said that she and Mr. Dade talked it out and came to a solution over the ordeal and he had every intention to change the will back to where the elder Ms. Dade received fifty percent of his estate.” Roger had warned me this was coming. They had filed documents with the court and the case had been turned down by the judge. Ms. Wilkens was warned about filing frivolous suits when they had no evidence and only Greg to collaborate Mom’s accusations.

“Ms. Wilkens, you had your day in court and lost. Shall we move on.” Roger knows why Dad changed his will and the idea he was going to leave Mom half his estate is ludicrous. I just want this over.

“Ms. Wilkens, the reason my dad changed his will was because he found my mom in our house in their bed with Greg. My dad and I had been away with the band on a camping trip with all the kids and families of the band members. Mom wouldn’t hear of going so we went, and she stayed home. My friend Zane encountered poison ivy and he had a very bad reaction to it, so we decided to all come home a day early. I went in the house and to my room, but it was only a few minutes when I heard my dad yelling at my mom. I went to see what it was about, and Greg and Mom were still in the bed and Dad was angry. The thing that stayed with me that day was Dad yelling at Mom that all he asked of her was to keep the damn men out of his house. I won’t ever forget that day and if you want to know the details of what the old will said, all you have to do is ask. The only thing my dad changed was she was not getting that house. I think the exact words that I heard him telling Mr. Stanton is that he would burn it first. Everything else was left the same. Mr. Stanton showed me copies of both.” I sit back down. The two men are whispering to each other and Greg and Mom are both looking extremely nervous. Ms. Wilkens hasn’t said a word. Haddie grabs my hand and squeezes it.

“Ms. Wilkens, Lyric is telling the truth. Mr. Dade’s will is a legal document and it states everything including the pre-nup that was signed before the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dade so the laws pertaining to spousal support do not factor into the equation. I also have pictures and video that a private eye made available to Mr. Dade when Mr. Dade hired him to investigate his wife’s extramarital affairs. Lyric has only one concession for Ms. Dade and that comes with a stipulation that Ms. Dade will need to sign off on said stipulation before Lyric turns twenty-one on July first.” Roger is in attorney-mode and he knows he’s right. He pitches the idea so maybe Mom will go for it. I know she isn’t going to just drop it, but Roger wants her signature now.

“Mr. Stanton that was all stated clearly and to the letter of the law, but we have in our possession photos of Mr. Dade in compromising situations that may persuade the younger Ms. Dade to reconsider the distribution of assets after she views them.” I see red. I hate this woman and right now the anger I feel at my mom is on the edge of hate. Haddie feels my body go stiff. I’ve heard enough, and this civil meeting is going to take a turn into madness. I stand up and my whole focus is on Ms. Wilkens.

“What my mom forgot to tell you is I have already seen every one of those pictures the day I turned fifteen. What my mom also forgot to say is my dad caught Greg in our home again and Mom and Dad were arguing about it. My mom took the photos out and threw them at me. I picked the folder off the floor and sat at the breakfast table and looked at them all. There were scantily dressed women around the entire band. There was also one of my dad with a woman leaning on him, and they walked into his room together at a hotel. My dad didn’t try to hide them from me or take them away from me, but he told me that he never had sex with any of the women, and my question to him was why not? Mom cheated on him right under his nose. He had to hire guards to keep the men out of our home. Apparently, some sleazeballs get off on having sex with a woman married to a famous man in his bed. There is nothing that you or my mom can show me that will change my mind about anything. My dad was the best dad in the world. He kept our family together when most men would have kicked my mom to the curb long before. He made sure I had the best life he could give me.” I stop and take a breath before I say something I can’t take back. I don’t want to hurt my mom on purpose or callously, but I want her to understand that she could never change my opinion of my dad. He deserved a better life with someone that loved him like a husband should be loved. “Ms. Wilkens, have you ever wondered or even cared why I thought it was in my best interest to leave the only place I have called home before now? It was days before my mom knew I was gone. If the school hadn’t called—it would have been weeks. Have you ever gone over my schedules before I left that house? I had hardly any free time because I was booked with back to back after-school classes on things I didn’t even like. My mom kept me in those, so she didn’t need to spend time with me and she could be free to socialize. It got so bad that Dad paid Mom to go to spas and other expensive places, just so we could have time with his band, because they were and always will be our family. Mom couldn’t even be nice to them. She was downright rude to them. So, no, Ms. Wilkens, I am not interested in anything you think you need to show me about my dad. I already know who he was, and he showed me all the love a little girl could need.” I sit down, and all my energy is gone.

“Ms. Dade said you had a flare for the dramatics and now I see it for myself.” I laugh. Yes, I laugh out loud and stand back up.

“Ms. Wilkens, you and your entourage can see yourself out. This meeting is over. I tried to take the mature route in this matter, but you just pissed me the hell off. You have Mr. Stanton’s number if you have any more questions but there will be no more meetings between us. I have twenty-nine days before my birthday and I am not going to spend them worrying about any of you. You’ve gone to court and done your best and lost—that was without my attorney breaking a sweat, so we are done. Ms. Dade, the elder, may want to stick around and hear the interview that is going to happen out on Haddie’s front porch in just a few minutes. You may find it educational as well.” Ms. Wilkens face has turned white and my mom is about to explode with rage. One of the men steps forward.

“Are you saying that Kat is not getting any money or assets from you and Greg is not owed money either?” I don’t even want to answer but no worries Roger stands beside me.

“By Mr. Dade’s will Mrs. Dade will get her personal possessions, her personal vehicle, and one dollar as of July first. Mr. White was not a friend or associate of Mr. Dade’s and he was not in the will in any way,” Roger tells the man. The man, Mr. Jones looks at Mr. Smith and then they look at Mom and Greg.

“We will be in touch with you two very soon. When you get back to Dallas don’t try to skip town, we will find you.” The two men leave.

“You know you just signed their death warrants. Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones are in the business of loaning money and you either pay them the green back with hefty interest or you pay in blood. Either way they get theirs.” Ms. Wilkens looks at me. “Kat is right, you are one icy bitch. Even I care if my mom lives or dies.” Ms. Wilkens looks at my mom and Greg. “At least if they’re dead my boys won’t need to break their legs.” Then Ms. Wilkens walks out without saying a word to Mom or Greg.

“Lyric Sage Dade, I need the money to pay those people—if not you are going to be an orphan. Is that how much you hate me? You want to bury me too. I need five hundred thousand dollars to pay them by the end of the month and another thirty thousand for the lawyer. You have the money and with what you are going to inherit on your birthday you’ll never miss it. I brought you into this world and you are your dad’s daughter—I know you will do what’s right just like he always did.” My mom is laying the guilt on thick but if I bail her out now, she will know she has me every time she needs more. I know what I am about to announce at the interview is the right thing to do and this just proves it.

“Goodbye Mom.” I can’t look at her right now.

“Just come home Lyric, and we’ll be a family like before. We treated you right and we can do better,” Greg puts in but that is the worst thing he could have said.

“You mean drug me, so I will comply. I heard your phone conversation Greg. I am not buying your load of crap.” I like he knows what I heard. Greg gives up, he knows I heard the entire conversation. “Mom, when did you change your name from Stanton hyphen Dade to just Dade? Dad tried to talk you into dropping the Stanton and you refused but now you do it or is it even legal?” Greg is nudging Mom towards the front door. Mom has no answer. She gives me a look and I know this isn’t over. I walk over to the front window and I see the woman that is going to interview me setting up her equipment and I see Mom and Greg leaving. I turn back to Roger. “Do you think you can find out what all that is about? I don’t want to be involved with those men, but I can’t let Mom get hurt no matter how mad I am at her right now.”

“I will put it at the top of my list. I knew you would help your mom, it’s who you are but we need to make sure if you do pay for whatever she has gotten herself into that the gentlemen know there will be no repeats or that woman will bleed you of every penny you have. The name change is not legal. It’s something your mom started doing for an unknown reason.” I would like to argue with what Roger said but I know it’s the truth. I look at Nick and Haddie and I know they heard the ugly come out of me and I feel ashamed, but it’s hard not to confront Mom and Greg with what they have done.

“I’m sorry Haddie and Nick, you shouldn’t have had to witness me being so rude to my mom. I was not raised to have outbursts like that but sometimes it’s hard to bite my tongue.” I walk back over to Nick and Haddie who have stood up from their seats.

“Seems to me as if you have held your opinion to yourself for too long. A little tongue lashing never killed anyone. I don’t like to see such discord in a family, but it seems like in this instance it’s for a good reason,” Haddie says with sympathy in her voice. Coming from anyone else this would tick me off because sympathy is too close to pity but coming from Haddie it’s empathy and that I can deal with. I want no one’s pity.

“I would have said a heck of a lot more. Those people wouldn’t know the right thing to do if it bit them in their bohonkus. I think you did just fine today.” Nick is still upset about what was said by Ms. Wilkens. He just doesn’t understand that no one could ever taint the memories I have of my dad. He wasn’t perfect, but he was my hero and I always knew I was loved by him.

“Thank you both but I think the whole situation was out of hand and too emotional. I wanted calm, but it is what it is and now it’s done. Now I hope Mrs. Tate is ready for this interview because it’s time,” I say as I look at my watch.

“Remember the things we went over on what not to say and the things that you need to make sure she gets right. I advised a controlled setting so that I could help you if you got into trouble, but I know you will do just fine. We’ll all be there for your support and just speak from your heart and the cue cards you made in case you get stuck. I am sure Mrs. Tate is not cutthroat like the main media but still expect the unexpected. Now relax and enjoy yourself. I know that you didn’t want all the trappings of what goes with being famous like your dad and you would have rather put this off, but it’s best to do it now in Comfort so when the main stream paparazzi hits you after your birthday then at least at home it will be old news. You also need to be aware that once this story hits the press that the media trucks will show up. I don’t know how that is going to go with your schedules on the farm this year.” Roger is always thinking five steps ahead of the game.

“It’ll be alright. I have decided just to plant a small garden for my own use this year with some herbs in the greenhouse and then the two hayfields. I am going to prepare the fields so next year it will be ready to go for planting on the normal schedule. I am sending off soil samples to test the pH, so I know what to grow where and see what organic matter is best to mix with each spot.” Nick has told what he planted in each field, but I must do it the scientific way— I need to understand the process. Nick laughs softly, and Roger looks at me like I am talking a different language.

“I’ll take your word at that because planting is not my thing. Good luck with all of it. Shall we join Mrs. Tate so we can get to lunch because I need to get back to my office and make some calls to find out what Katrina has gotten herself into.” I know Roger is reluctant to do what I ask of him, but he’ll do it.

“I’m ready to get this done, so let’s do it,” I tell them all.

“I am going to check the kitchen and check in on Rita and then I will be out there,” Haddie tells us.

“I’m going to the restroom and I’ll be out there too,” Nick tells me. Nick and Haddie both leave the room. Roger walks over closer to me.

“Relax and don’t let the questions fluster you. This is your idea and you can stop it anytime you are ready. Do you need something to drink or need a minute to regroup?” Roger asks me.

“No, I don’t need anything but to get out there and get this done.” I am at peace with this.

“Then let’s go.” Roger bends down and picks up his briefcase and reaches for my hand and that gives me a warm feeling. Roger knows this is what my dad used to do if we were going somewhere. My dad always held my hand to let me know he was beside me in whatever I did. Roger opens the front door and holds the screen open for me and I take in all the people on the front lawn that have come out to watch this interview. I will never understand people wanting in someone else’s business. I see Trask and Botie close to the porch and I smile at them. Botie is the only person I wanted here so he can understand I am not hiding anything but just not making my decisions public. I know he is dealing with his own ghost from his past too. Roger walks me to the chair beside where Mrs. Tate is setting a microphone up, so we can be heard all over the big yard.

“Hello, Mrs. Tate, thank you for setting this up today. I appreciate the lengths you have taken to make sure Lyric feels comfortable.” Roger is the one that handled the details with Mrs. Tate.

“Roger, I told you to call me Stella. I was very happy to make this so Ms. Dade is comfortable.” Mrs. Tate is eyeing me up and down like she is trying to size me up.

“Thank you, Mrs. Tate, for doing this on such short notice.” Mrs. Tate stands up from adjusting the microphone and gives me a big smile that is warm and welcoming.

“None of this Mrs. Tate stuff for you either. I am just Stella and I should be thanking you. This will probably be the biggest interview I do this year,” the woman looks like she is thinking, “no, probably in my career and this may put the Comfort Banner on the map for a little while anyway.” The woman is just like Haddie, a bundle of energy and enthusiasm.

“Okay, Stella, are we ready and please call me Lyric?” I ask with as much enthusiasm as I can. Roger walks away from us but stays where I can see him, Haddie and Nick walk out the front door and go to where Roger is standing. I see the sheriff and his wife, Dara. I also see Branton standing with an older version of him and a woman, I am guessing is his mom. The whole yard is filled with people I don’t know but I guess they are curious about what the new woman in town has to say and why she is getting so much attention.

“Have a seat and we can start, Lyric.” Stella seems like a very nice woman. I sit in a rocker and Stella takes a seat in the one beside me. A man is taking pictures of us and Stella must see my unease. “That’s Brett, just ignore him. He will take a bunch of stills of us, but I won’t run anything in the paper until you approve it.”

“Alright, I have just avoided photos for so long it is second nature.” Stella smiles at me.

“I can understand that—ignore him.” Stella relaxes back in her chair and I do the same. “If you are ready, I am going to record the interview in case I forget something. That way I can go back and refresh my memory. Do you have any objections to this?” I don’t know what to say so I look at Roger and he nods his head.

“That will be fine, I have no objections to it.” I like that Stella asked before she recorded anything. Not that I have anything to hide but because it’s the right thing to do. The few nerves I had are gone now. I know Stella is going to be fair.

“I am here today speaking with Lyric Sage Dade. How are you today Lyric and how are you liking our small town of Comfort?”

“I am doing very well today Stella and I love the town of Comfort and I am hoping that Comfort is liking me. I intend to make this my permanent home. I just purchased a farm from Nick Styles.” I know I am rambling a little, but I want to get everything out. I reach in my pocket and take out the cue cards I have in case I forget anything.

“Well let me be the first one to tell you welcome. We need some new blood to liven up the place and from what I hear you may have some impressive history to share with us. Just to let everyone here know that this is going to be a bit unorthodox as an interview goes so just bear with us and move in closer if you can’t hear this. No recording devices or phones are to be used at this time, please. Can you tell everyone your name and a little bit about yourself?” Stella looks at me.

“My name is Lyric Sage Dade and I came here looking for a new home. I have been all over the United States for over four years now. My dad was killed in a car wreck a few months before and his name was Travis Dade better known as Tra Dade from the band TALK Kraze. He was a founding member of the band and he was known everywhere.” I hear the intake of breaths and the whispers in the crowds. “Today is the day I begin to take my life back and thank you for helping me do that.”

“Well, Comfort has its work cut out to live up to the life you have lived.” I laugh at that.

“Stella, I have been seeing the United States through the windows of the back of a bus, so Comfort is my ‘Comfort side of Heaven’. It is my home now and thank you to everyone who has made me feel welcome so far.” I think to myself that I have seen many miles and many places through a bus window.

“I guess my first question to you on that is didn’t you use the name Sage Collins when you first came here and stayed at Haddie’s bed-and-breakfast? Why did you use an assumed name instead of your legal name? I know you said you have been traveling on a bus while visiting various locations—can you tell us why a bus and why at such a youthful age? Surely no parent would approve of the dangers you must have met on the road.” Stella goes straight to the point.

“I guess I could take the easy road and say I was using the name, so I could travel without being found out and to tell the truth that is the truth but not the entire truth. Sage is my middle name and I used it to keep part of myself. Collins is a family name and I knew my mom would never think of me using it. My mom and I had a big misunderstanding and I wanted to be emancipated but if I was found before it was granted then I would be made to go home. I had my attorney draw up the papers and file them while I went on a cross-country adventure to find the place I belonged. My attorney did not know where I was at any time, but I agreed to stay in touch and not to let my education go. There were different problems that popped up during the process to gain my emancipation but a little over a year later I was declared emancipated and responsible for myself. A year after that I turned eighteen. I have been on my own and when I rode the bus to Comfort and stepped off the bus, I knew I had found my home. Comfort is the kind of town my dad wanted to retire to and buy a farm. He wanted the two of us to have the small-town life we craved. Dad knew that he didn’t want to be on stage the rest of his life, so he wanted us to get out of the limelight and for us to experience a real life— a hometown life. I intend to fulfill that dream and that is the real truth of why I am here.” I take a breath and look at Botie, but I can’t read his face, but I see my mom not standing far from him and her face is livid.

“Can you tell us the reason you left the safety of your home to go around the country on a bus and what difference of opinion with your mom would cause such a thing? You were a baby and what mother would not hunt you down and take you back home?” Stella is not going to let this go. I have no intention of bashing my mom but if I want to give honesty, I must say something so Stella will quit digging. I see the question in Roger’s face if I want him to step in. I shake my head no. Stella sees the move and she looks directly at me. “Is that a question that you can’t answer?” I look at my mom and I see the challenging look on her face.

“When my dad passed there was a dispute over his will and the dissension from it made it intolerable in our home and I am an independent person. I wanted my privacy and space to deal with my feelings over my dad’s passing. My dad and I were very close and dealing with his death was hard for me and I was not up for the confrontations happening at the time. My dad was my hero and losing him was losing a piece of myself. I needed to deal with it by myself. I hope that answers your question clearly enough because it’s still hard for me to talk about.” I take a moment and I think my answer should be satisfactory.

“I am very sorry for your loss and of course we can move on.” I can tell there will be more questions about the matter, but I signed up for this—it’s expected. It’s not like I’m not used to it. Dad protected me from the press as much as he could, but they always found a way to get to me. I think Mom may have had a hand in it, but I know to answer everything honestly and that way there is no way I can be misunderstood. I smile and ready myself for the next question.