When she reached her tiny studio apartment, Jean began to make a list of all the things she had to do before her debut that evening. She glanced at the clock over her bookcase stuffed with not only books but CDs and vinyl record albums. Three hours before she would leave to return to the club. Not enough time to get her hair done - she would have to do it herself. A fresh coat of nail polish was a necessity, something vibrant that would stand out as she held the microphone.

And what to wear? Her little black dress? No, something more memorable. As Lucien had reminded her, she should leave them wanting to come back to see her again. It would have to be the dark green dress then, the one with the slight sheen to it. No use saving it for the right occasion. If she didn't get this gig, well... She refused to think about that.

She had finished her nails and was packing the make-up items she would need into her little travel case when her phone sounded. She looked at the screen to see it was her elder son, Christopher. He had to be calling to find out about the job interview.

"Hello, sweetheart," she said, smiling as she pictured the earnest look on his face.

"Well, how did it go?" he asked.

"I have a gig for tonight, and if it goes well, it will be a regular thing," she told him.

"That's great, Mum. I'm sure you'll knock them dead." He paused a moment. "What about an accompanist? Didn't you say Billy is out of town?"

"I'm through with Billy," she said bitterly. "He's too undependable."

"But what will you do about tonight?"

"Already taken care of," she assured him. "There's a pianist who works there sometimes, and he makes Billy look like a hack anyway. We did a run-through of the set, and he's fantastic. Wait until you hear him. You can come tonight, can't you? Please say yes."

"Yes, of course. I wouldn't miss your opening."

"Good. I left your name with them, so there should be a pass waiting for you."

"This is a good place, right? You aren't just taking it because you need the money?"

"I am taking it because I need the money, but it also seems like a good place. The manager seems to be a decent man, and Lucien, the pianist, couldn't have been kinder or more generous."

"Oh?" said Christopher.

"Don't start," she warned him, recognizing the note in his voice. His father had been gone for many years now, and Chris thought it was past time for her to find love again.

"What? Is he married? Gay? Old and ugly?"

She laughed. "He certainly isn't old or ugly," she said. "As for married or gay, or both, I have no idea."

"Oh, come on, Mum. Did he flirt with you?"

"He thought I was married right up until the last minute, then when I told him about your father there was something... oh, I don't know. Anyway, no, he didn't flirt with me, nor did I flirt with him. It was all very professional. Now if you're finished trying to arrange my romantic life, I'll go back to getting ready for tonight."

"You don't have a romantic life for me to arrange, remember?" Chris reminded her. "But I'll let you get back to it, and I'll see you tonight. You'll be great, Mum. You always are."

"Thank you, sweetheart. See you then."

As she finished preparing for her big night, she had to keep cautioning herself not to assume the job was hers on a more permanent basis. Several times she caught herself thinking how she could change up her set, or what she could add if Matthew wanted her to do extra sets. Would she need to find a replacement for Billy if she was performing regularly? Surely she couldn't expect Lucien to be available every time she performed. Although it would be nice. She thought they made a great team, but with his talent surely he was in demand at bigger, more exclusive venues. Tonight he was just doing a favor for Matthew, wasn't he?

She put her green dress into a garment bag, then turned to the problem of shoes. She had sworn to treat herself to a new pair as soon as she found steady employment, a Christmas gift to herself, but for now her options were limited. She supposed she'd have to go with her old dependable black heels that had certainly seen better days. She shined them up as best she could and slide them into the bottom of the garment bag.

She would do her hair at the club, but for now she gave it a quick brush and touched up her make-up, telling herself it had nothing to do with whether she might run into Lucien on the way to the dressing room.


Matthew Lawson entered his office at the club and frowned to see Lucien's guitar case and other belongings piled in one corner. Lucien himself was seated on the couch, reading.

"What's all this?"

Lucien looked up from his book. "She couldn't very well dress in the same room as the band."

"No, I suppose not," said Matthew, making his way behind his desk. "So, tell me, what did you think of her?"

"Lovely voice. A bit nervous, which is understandable, and she could use a little guidance in her musical choices, but she did say she's been out of the business for a while." He paused and smiled. "I think she'd be a wonderful addition, assuming she connects with the audience tonight."

"Yes, assuming that," said Matthew. "Not a diva then?"

"No, she seems very pleasant to work with, and open to suggestions."

"I'll leave that side of things to you, then." He gave Lucien a sly look. "I'm sure you won't mind too much."

"No, I don't mind," said Lucien, ignoring the look. "She said her son will probably be here tonight to support her. I let Charlie know to comp a ticket for him."

Matthew nodded. "Will you open for her? We can't expect her to go out there to a cold audience."

Lucien nodded. "Just a few songs for me, I think, then I can introduce her. If she does well though, we're going to have to get the band in for a day of rehearsals with her. Her voice deserves more than just a piano to back it."

Matthew sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. I'll let them know they're on the clock all day, assuming as you said the audience responds to her. Might as well try to do it tomorrow. You'll be here to work with them on the arrangements?"

"If I can sleep here," he said, patting the couch he was sitting on. "It's hardly worth driving to Malibu for a few hours at home, then driving back in the morning."

"We have a spare bedroom, as you very well know," Matthew pointed out. "Come home with me. You know Alice won't mind. She'll be very glad to see you."

"Especially if I offer to cook breakfast," Lucien laughed.

"Yes, well, there's that," Matthew admitted. "Although with the baby on the way, she's become obsessed with thinking she needs to learn to cook. As if the baby will starve otherwise."

"How's she feeling? Still good?"

"Very good, actually. Not a trace of morning sickness. She wouldn't stand for it anyway."

"Probably not," Lucien agreed.

"It's settled then, you'll spend the night with us tonight. I'll just call Alice to let her know."

Lucien stood up and set his book aside. "I'll leave you to it. Have to figure out what to play tonight anyway."


Jean arrived at the club and proceeded directly to "her" dressing room to drop off the garment bag and make-up case. She could hear piano music coming from the direction of the stage area. Assuming it was Lucien playing, she went to thank him again for his assistance and to make sure she knew what she could expect tonight.

He was playing a slow, very mournful version of Saint James Infirmary Blues. "You'll have the audience crying into their beers with that one," she told him with a smile.

"Can't have that. Twenty-year-old scotch, maybe, but not beer," he said, standing and returning her smile. "Do you have everything you need for tonight?"

"I think so," she told him. "But how do I know when to go on?"

"Matthew asked me to play a few songs as a warmup for you, then I'll introduce you." He nodded toward the piano. "That won't be one of the warmup songs, I promise."

"Thank you. And thank you for everything. I really need this job."

"You're very welcome, and you'll do just fine. Just look them in the eye and give them your best. They'll support you."

"Will it be crowded? It's a Wednesday night, after all. And the week before Christmas."

"It's pretty crowded most nights," said Lucien. "A lot of regulars come two or three nights a week. To be honest, there isn't a lot to do in this neighborhood after dark, so the locals who don't want to deal with traffic or parking prefer this place. Especially around the holidays."

"I noticed it's primarily a residential neighborhood. Are you a local?"

"I might as well be, for all the time I spend around here, but no, I live near the beach actually. Matthew and his wife Alice live just around the corner, though. That's why he bought this place."

"I see," she said, filing away the fact that he lived near the beach. That accounted for his tan. "Well, I'd better start getting ready." She noted that a young man was out at the front, preparing to unlock the doors, and the elderly bartender was setting out glasses and bar ware.

"If you need anything, I'll be upstairs in the office. Otherwise, I'll see you on stage."


She looked in the mirror and nodded. She had never been a vain woman, but she had to admit she didn't look too bad for a woman her age. The dress had been a great investment in her career, she decided. And her hair had turned out better than she could have hoped without having it done professionally. She was as ready as she could be.

Satisfied, she left the dressing room and walked toward the stage area. She heard a large round of applause as she stepped into the darkened space just beyond it. Lucien, wearing a nicely cut, dark three-piece suit with an open-necked white shirt, had moved into the lights and sat down at the piano. Obviously he was a crowd favorite.

Watching him work in front of an audience, she could see just how good he was. Not just his playing, which was brilliant, but his rapport with them, too. He had them all on his side before the first song was finished. She hoped she could do half as well.

Looking out beyond the stage, she spotted her son Christopher seated at a small table near the front with Matthew Lawson and a very pregnant woman that she assumed was Mrs. Lawson. She figured it was a good sign for her that Matthew was seated by her son. He must want her to succeed.

Before she knew it, Lucien was looking in her direction. She nodded to him that she was ready.

"And now, I ask you to give a warm welcome to a very talented lady who is making her debut with us tonight. I'm quite sure you're going to enjoy the singing of Ms. Jean Beazley." He held out a hand toward her, and she headed to him with a big smile. They kissed each other on the cheek, and then she stepped up to the microphone.

She focused on Christopher as she began the first song, and he smiled and nodded his encouragement. Using that, she began to look around at the others. They seemed to be encouraging as well. Her confidence grew at the applause when she finished it, and she launched quickly into the next one, and then the next. A glance at Lucien saw him grinning at her and managing a 'thumbs up' gesture without missing a note.

An hour later she arrived at her final song, the one Lucien had suggested, 'Didn't It Rain'. The crowd was thoroughly on her side by this time, and they joined right in. Many were clapping along, and when she finished there were whistles of approval along with the thunderous applause.

Jean was glad they had prepared an encore, and when she finished it, again there were loud cheers. She gestured to Lucien, who moved over to take her hand and kiss it before he stepped up to the microphone and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Jean Beazley." He wanted them to remember her name, she realized.

She felt positively giddy as she made her way back to the dressing room. The evening had gone better than she could possibly have hoped. The buzz she felt reminded her why she had wanted a career in show business in the first place. There was nothing like it.

She had just finishing changing back into her skirt and blouse when there was a knock on the dressing room door. She knew it had to be Christopher; she was only surprised that he hadn't come sooner.

She opened the door, a big smile on her face, which grew larger when he handed her a huge bouquet of roses. He kissed her on the cheek. "I knew you'd be terrific."

"It did go well, didn't it?" she said.

"Just about perfect," he confirmed. "And Matthew Lawson asked if you could stop by and see him before you leave."

She lifted a questioning eyebrow.

"I think he wants to get your name on a contract before anyone else finds out how good you are," said Christopher. "He was that impressed with your performance. I'm so proud of you, Mum."

Hugging him, she said, "Thank you so much for being here. It means the world to me."

"I'll try to get Jack to come with me next time," he promised. "Now you should go see your boss."

"Come with me," she urged, reaching out a hand to her sensible, dependable son. She hadn't negotiated a contract in many years and could use some moral support.

He clasped her hand and nodded. "I wouldn't miss it. My mum the star."

"Hardly," she said, arching an eyebrow. Then she laughed, tugging him out the door.

Lucien was just sitting down at the table with Matthew Lawson and his wife when Jean and Christopher emerged. He stood up again and pulled out a chair for Jean, then moved to sit across from her. Matthew introduced his wife Alice to her, and a round of drinks was brought for all of them, with a ginger ale for Alice. Christopher declined the alcohol, saying he had to drive home.

"Now, then," said Matthew, "we're very pleased with what we saw this evening."

"You were wonderful," said Alice.

Matthew gave her a look, but Alice just glared back at him, refusing to back down. He finally returned his attention to Jean. "Yes, well, anyway, we would very much like you to become a regular with us."

"Us?" Jean needed this job, but she also needed to know exactly what she was getting into. Were there other bosses she didn't know about?

She saw Matthew glance at Lucien, who gave him a brief nod.

"Yes, the three owners," he said. "Myself, Alice and the major. We all agree that you'd be a great attraction. Anywhere up to four nights a week. It's your choice how often to work."

"Four nights a week?" They weren't kidding about it being a regular gig. If the pay was anywhere near what they'd offered her for the audition night she might be able to afford a decent-sized apartment before long. "Yes, I think that would work just fine," she said.

"You'll want to read through this," said Matthew, handing her a standard entertainment contract with a very attractive compensation amount written in. "If you need to have an attorney or agent review it first, you're certainly welcome to do so."

Jean looked at Christopher, then at Lucien, who wore just a slight smile as though not wanting to influence her in any manner. But Jean had always been a woman who'd known her own mind. She had seen no evidence of deceit or impropriety from either Matthew or Lucien. They had shown her nothing but decency.

"An attorney won't be necessary," she said. "Just give me a moment, please."

She read through it. There was nothing out of the ordinary. It was fair and equitable. She picked up the proffered pen and signed the copy. Matthew did the same with the copy he held, then they exchanged them and signed again.

"You keep that one," said Matthew, as he put his copy into a folder. "You can take care of the rest of the paperwork tomorrow."

"Welcome to our little family," said Alice, smiling and holding out a hand to Jean. "If you have any problem whatsoever with these two," she indicated Matthew and Lucien, "you come to me and I'll keep them in line."

"I'm sure that won't be necessary, but I'll keep it in mind," said Jean, returning the smile. She had a feeling she and Alice would get along just fine.