The crew bustled around the stage, making last minute adjustments to the instrument set-up and microphone locations before soundcheck started. The large open air theater Emma had booked for her gig was turning out to be more of a pain than it as worth as they were having to bring in new cords for practically every microphone, and they'd had to call a piano tuner in that morning because the provided piano had been severely out of tune.
"We gotta start travelling with our own instruments, Shaun." Emma tossed the bill from the tuner on her tour manager's table and ran a hand through her hair, grabbing a microphone and walking out on stage. "Let's get this sound check started guys!" Instruments began playing the opening chords of Under The Boardwalk and Emma danced across the stage, singing as though her life depended on it. After the song was over she let out a sigh and laughed.
"Good job everybody, it sounds great. Maybe a little less on the bass, Johnny. I couldn't hear the piano at certain parts." Johnny nodded and made the adjustments on the soundboard. Emma looked up as she heard Shaun approaching.
"Message for you Emma." He handed her a scrap of paper with a scribbled message. The color in Emma's face drained as she read the note.
"Diana? Diana get me my bag and coat it's an emergency!" Emma ran off stage and grabbed her bag and coat from her assistant.
"Emma what's wrong?"
"Emma, is everything alright?"
She ignored all of them and ran out to the town car waiting for her.
"Roland, I need you to take me to the airport now! Please!" Emma wasn't one to say please, and Roland knew this.
"Yes ma'am." He took her bag and coat and shut the door behind her, getting into the driver's seat and speeding off.
Emma looked out the window and watched the street fly past her. She worried at her bottom lip and picked at a string on her blouse, her mind wandering. They pulled up to passenger drop off and she rushed out of the car, grabbing her things as she went.
"Thank you, Roland." She ran toward the ticket salesperson just inside the sliding glass doors.
"I need a ticket to San Francisco, the next flight. Money is no problem, I need to be there as soon as possible. It's an emergency!" Emma looked at the woman sitting behind the counter, lazily typing on her computer.
"Ma'am, it appears there are no flights going to San Francisco right now, there's a dense fog."
"What do you MEAN there are no flights landing in San Francisco? I need to be there!" her eyes began to tear up as the woman tried to explain it to her. She couldn't stand the droll voice anymore and stormed off toward the rental car area, hoping to get to San Francisco as soon as she could.
She successfully acquired a rental car and yanked her seat belt on, throwing the car into drive and speeding away. She muttered to herself under her breath as she pulled on to the highway.
"I'm coming Regina, wait for me."