A/N- Finally, an update. The foundations for the next turn in this story are laid here. I hope you enjoy. Thanks for your kind words about this story. And Brendan's new Twitter profile picture- wow.
Disclaimer- Downton belongs to Julian Fellowes/ ITV/ Carnival.
John screwed his nose up at the sign that read only twenty miles until the M25. It was late in the evening and they had taken their time travelling back from their honeymoon, staying over with Anna's parents on the way back from Loch Lomond. It had been a wonderful couple of weeks, just him, his new wife and their baby boy. Anna was Mrs Bates, his wife and she now shared the same surname as him and Dylan. It felt amazing, to know now they were a proper family, bound together in a marriage.
His wife and son were fast asleep, six month old Dylan beside his father in the front seat, Anna in the back. John had never felt more at peace in his life, to know these two perfect beings were his family meant more to him than anything. This was what was important, to protect them and ensure their happiness.
The day after the wedding, Anna's mother had presented John with a business card from a man who had attended the wedding, Evelyn Napier. He was the new husband of a cousin and had been very impressed with Jack and John when they had performed. It was then that Harriet revealed Evelyn worked for a record company in London, and would be interested in meeting up with Jack and John when the honeymoon was over. Jack had been very excited when John had told him about it, although John had said he would think about it whilst he and Anna were away.
It had only been the past few weeks John had begun to appreciate music as more than an escape from the toils in his life. To do it for a living, because that was what he assumed Evelyn would be offering, was a whole different concept. John envied some aspects of a professional musician's life, but not the side of being away from home, especially now he was a married father.
Whilst sitting on the balcony of their cottage, overlooking the loch, it had been Anna who had made John see what a wonderful opportunity it would be. Working with songwriters, making his own music. John had sketchy ideas for his own compositions, but if he was honest the opportunity to work with professional songwriters was a chance he had always coveted.
So a quick call was made to Jack to arrange to meet up with Evelyn to see what the situation was. Soon after, his musical partner had texted back with the news they had a meeting scheduled for the Tuesday after John and his family arrived home. If he was honest, John wasn't expecting much, perhaps a couple of positions as session musicians had become available. He knew he personally wouldn't accept anything like that, he was quite happy working at Cheerful Charlie's for the time being. Jack was convinced a record contract was in the offing. That seemed a little far-fetched to John.
'What are you brooding about?'
Despite her hushed tones, Anna's whisper made John jump. She ran her hands over his shoulders from behind him, John meeting her gaze in the rear view mirror and smiling.
'Just thinking about the perfect two weeks we've just shared,' John replied, a quick glance to his son to ensure their voices hadn't woken him. 'Nice sleep?'
'Yeah, where are we?'
'Nearly on the M25.'
'Ugh,' Anna groaned, sitting back in her seat.
John released a chuckle. 'Yeah, that was my reaction too.'
'It would be nice to leave London one day.'
Searching for her gaze in the mirror once more, John smiled. 'One day. Where would you like to live?'
'Well, once you've earned me millions being a famous rock star, a pad in Malibu sounds quite nice.'
'Yeah right, you'd miss your home comforts too much. And besides, I'm not going to be a famous rock star.'
He could almost hear Anna roll her eyes behind him. 'You don't know that. You could walk into his office and that Evelyn will have two freshly written contracts waiting for you to sign.'
'Unlikely.'
'I wouldn't be too sure, John Bates,' Anna replied through a yawn. And then she fell silent, John eyeing her to see she had her eyes closed again. He smirked slightly before she began to speak again. 'And keep the beard. I like it.'
John had realised he had forgotten his razor on the first day of the honeymoon and quickly decided he wouldn't bother with shaving until they got home. It had grown in quickly, but John hadn't been expecting Anna to take to his facial hair as much as she had.
'If you insist, my love.'
Anna shook her head as she stood in the kitchen, Jack and John discussing their meeting in great detail behind her in the living room. She heard the intermittent happy burbling coming from Dylan as his father bounced him on his knee, a sound which was still music to her ears. Anna never forgot how close they came to losing him and had kept to her promise of not taking a single moment with her son for granted.
The honeymoon had been perfect, everything she had ever dreamt of but that didn't mean she wasn't happy to get back to some sense of normality, to begin her marriage with her husband properly. The wedding had been well and good, but it had been actually being John's wife she had been craving. To know he was hers and hers alone, she wasn't sure there were many other better feelings in the world.
The news from her cousin's husband had come like a bolt from the blue. She had met Evelyn on a couple of occasions, her cousin Georgia's boyfriend, but she and John hadn't been able to attend the wedding because Dylan was still in hospital. When John had questioned her about it, Anna had admitted truthfully she had no idea what line of work Evelyn was in. Anna believed it was a wonderful opportunity for John. She knew her husband, knew the joy performing music brought him but it had taken him some convincing to even meet up with her new family member, let alone accept what he had to offer. Anna was prepared to have some more motivational speaking ready for him in the coming weeks. She just had a feeling this was his and Jack's big chance.
'We need to be back by five anyway,' Jack said as Anna approached the two men with a cup of coffee in each hand. 'I have a date with Gwen.'
'Ahh yes,' Anna looked at Jack, her tone ominous. 'She's told me all about you, you know.'
'Really.' Jack didn't seem too confident as he accepted the cup Anna was offering him. 'What has she said? She thinks I'm too over the top doesn't she? I'm too loud. My clothes are awful.'
Anna winked at John in response to his meeting her gaze before replying. 'Are you too loud then?'
'No, well I don't think so,' Jack remarked, taking a sip of his coffee as he looked at John who was staring back, both eyebrows raised. 'Well, maybe a little.'
Anna handed John the remaining cup of coffee then took Dylan from him. 'I'm not going to tell you what she's said, it's up to her to do that.'
'Not even a little bit?'
'Nope,' Anna was resolute as she placed Dylan in his bouncy chair ready to feed him. 'But wear that black shirt you have, the one with white cuffs and collar. She liked that shirt.'
'Right.'
'Are you boys ready for this meeting then?'
'As ready as we'll ever be,' John said in answer, sitting back on the sofa. 'It will probably be for a couple of session musicians, or recording demo discs for the bigger artists.'
'Nah, we're about to sign a record contract,' Jack stared straight ahead as he spoke, 'I know it.'
'Don't get your hopes up,' John warned his friend, watching as Anna returned from the kitchen with a bottle and bowl of food for Dylan.. 'How big can this record company be, anyway? I've never heard of Highclere Records.'
'They are new, but they've had some success,' Anna replied, sitting down and stirring the contents in the bowl she was holding, blowing in an attempt to cool it. 'You know that young lad, plays the piano. What's his name?'
'Elton John?' John answered mockingly before Jack joined in.
'Billy Joel?'
'No,' Anna sighed before the answer came to her, 'Harry Thompson. Had a number one recently. He's signed to them. I've been doing some research.'
'See,' Jack bashed John on the arm, almost causing him to spill his coffee. 'They are a new company just starting out.'
'So start thinking positively,' Anna advised her husband. 'Have you got something prepared in case they need you to sing?'
'Charles recorded one of the gigs a few weeks ago, we're giving them that but we'll take the instruments just in case.'
The next few minutes passed in chatter between Anna and Jack about what their lives could become, Anna noting her husband seeming somewhat reserved as she and his friend conversed. She just wished he would believe in himself the way that she did. This could be something really great if he'd only embrace the situation for what it was. Sure, things might not turn out as well as she envisaged, and they certainly wouldn't if he went into it with a negative attitude, but she didn't want him to have any regrets.
'We best get moving, big man,' Jack announced, rising to his feet. He took the mug from John and walked to the kitchen. 'I just need to freshen up before we go.'
Great, a chance for a word alone, Anna thought to herself as she watched Jack disappear into the bathroom. 'John Bates, where is your positive attitude?'
'I don't have a negative attitude, I have a realistic one.'
'For God's sake man, this day could change your life.'
'No,' John shook his head. 'My life changed the day you walked in my life. I've had all the good luck I am going to be afforded. You love me, you are my wife, our son is perfect. That is all the good luck I need.'
Despite smiling at his words, they touching her heart in a way only the things that John said could, Anna knew she had to convince him this was a chance he shouldn't be letting slip through his fingers. She placed a hand on his rather fuzzier than normal cheek, she softly squeezing there causing John to close his eyes and release a small breath.
'I love you, and I know you John Bates. You love me and you love Dylan and we are both so lucky to have you. But you also love music, you love playing music. If you go in there with this attitude and it does turn out to be something special they are offering, like a record contract, they will take it away because it will look like you don't want it enough. And I think if you search deep enough, you do want it.'
'Ready then boss?'
John turned to see Jack regarding him from the door, he picking up his guitar case and keyboard. 'Yep.' He looked back at Anna, she feeling her stomach flutter at the smile he was offering her. 'I am now. I love you.'
Anna closed her eyes as John pressed his lips ever so gently to hers. 'I love you too. Now go.'
The record company was on the eighth floor of an office block not far from Tower Bridge. It seemed legitimate, John supposed as he saw pictures on the wall of new artists he vaguely recognised. He and Jack were sitting in a corridor, the rhythmic tapping of Jack's fingers on his guitar case was slowly becoming more irritating.
'Stop, please,' John whispered harshly, placing a hand over Jack's.
'Sorry, I'm nervous,' Jack replied.
'Well pace or something, that tapping is annoying.' Jack stood up and began to walk backwards and forwards, stopping occasionally to look at the pictures on the wall. John was wrong, the pacing was more annoying. 'Sit back down, I preferred the tapping.'
'John, Jack. It's so nice to see you again.' Both men turned to see Evelyn approaching them, his arm outstretched. Jack accepted his hand first, then John followed suit. 'If you'd like to come this way, my partner Anthony Strallan is waiting for us.'
'Your partner?' John asked, lightly touching Evelyn's arm to still his movements. 'I thought this was your company.'
'It is, mine and Anthony's. But don't worry, he's heard the recording I made of you and is very impressed.'
Evelyn continued back towards the office then, John turning to see Jack looking up at him smiling. 'Did you hear that? His partner is very impressed.'
Suddenly now they were here and this was it, John wasn't feeling the confidence Anna had installed in him earlier. It was one thing to deal with one record company boss, but two? He followed somewhat gravely, Jack skipping on ahead. Upon seeing the room through the glass panelled wall, it was everything John had expected a record company office to be like. A large solid oak table sat at the top of it and a man John supposed to be this Anthony Strallan was sat behind it.
'Tony, this is John Bates and Jack Ross.'
'Ahh, hello chaps,' he said, rising to his feet. 'Evelyn tells me you are both very talented.'
'Thank you,' Jack said with a smile.
'I watched the video he took of you at,' Anthony pointed at John, 'your wedding, was it John?'
'Yes, I was married just shy of three weeks ago now,' he replied, trying not to give too much way about how he felt about all of this.
'Well, congratulations. Please, take a seat.' Both men did as they were instructed, Evelyn and Anthony taking their place opposite them. 'So, tell me a bit about yourselves. If you don't mind me saying so, you don't look like the most conventional duo.'
'We work in a music shop in Carnaby Street, Cheerful Charlie's. That's how we met,' Jack began to explain before Anthony interrupted him.
'Cheerful Charlie's, I used to know Charles Grigg who used to own it. Lovely chap.'
'Right,' Jack nodded, slightly annoyed to be put off his stride before continuing to tell his story. 'Well, we used to jam together in quieter moments in the shop and soon realised we just clicked.'
'You're not English,' Anthony pointed out to Jack as if he wasn't aware of that fact.
'No sir, I am from Chicago but came over here to study the piano at the London College of Music and never went back. I can play the guitar as well.'
'Impressive. And what about you,' Anthony was now looking at John. 'What's your background?'
John wasn't musically trained at all and suddenly he felt this might go against them somewhat. He had to be honest. 'I was in the army, worked my up to Colonel and toured Iraq, Northern Ireland and Bosnia.'
'My father was in the army,' Anthony remarked, John wondering to himself if this man always had to get his two pennies worth into any conversation.
'Really? Many men have been.' That didn't sound as sassy in his head. 'Anyway, I used to play guitar to rouse the troops so to speak, and it just happened that my singing voice wasn't too shabby either. When I left the army, my marriage fell apart and I used music as an escape. I busked on Waterloo Bridge most mornings for a few years, until I met my now wife.'
'This is a romantic story,' Jack interrupted, nudging John with an elbow. 'Tell it John.'
John shook his head in the direction of Jack. He wasn't going to tell a complete stranger how he met his wife. 'People seemed to like what I was doing, and friends told me I was quite good.'
'Well, I think you are more than quite good,' Evelyn informed John. 'You both share a natural energy on stage that was clear for all of us watching at the reception to see.'
'It's more than the instruments, your voices mesh together so well,' Anthony enthused, leaning forward. 'It's just the two of you?'
'Yep,' Jack agreed with a nod of the head. 'Ross and Bates.'
In the next moment, Anthony was putting a music dock on the table. 'Have you heard of a song called Lovely Day by Bill Withers?'
'Of course, I love Withers.' John eyed the man before him with a sceptical gaze, a look to Evelyn and his slightly reddening cheeks made John question exactly what was going on here.
'It's a great song,' Jack remarked, for the first time his voice holding a hint of reservation.
'You see, I'm a great believer that if you are to play instruments there needs to be a drummer and a bassist,' Anthony explained as he scrolled through an iPod. 'Two people can't be in a band by themselves.'
'Right,' John's voice was sceptical. He kept his gaze on Evelyn whose mouthing of the words I'm sorry didn't fill John with hope.
'Ahh, here we go,' Anthony said as he found what he was looking for, placing the device into the dock. 'Now, I think as a vocal duo you too could be massive. You're something different, you'd appeal to everyone with the younger ladies screaming over Jack, and the older ones swooning over you, John.'
'Thank you,' John replied sardonically. 'Where are you going with this?'
'We've got permission for this to be your first single if the time arrives.'
'Bill Withers? Our first single?' Jack repeated the man's words in disbelief. 'A cover? We thought we'd be an original artist, to create our own music?'
The opening bars of the song began to fill the room, John rolling his eyes upon hearing it.
'Okay lads, I'm seeing John singing the first verse and Jack providing the harmony for the chorus. Give it a bash.'
They would have no choice but to sing, John was realising at the music reached the point where he would need to come in. Looking to Jack, he nodded and searched for the lyrics to the song they were about to perform.
'When I wake up in the morning love, and the sunlight hurts my eyes. And something without warning love, weighs heavy on my mind.'
'Beautiful,' John heard Anthony whisper, looking to him to find his eyes closed, his fists clenched. John furrowed his brow before continuing. This man was from another planet, but he was a music label boss he supposed.
'Then I look at you, and the world's alright with me. Just one look at you and I know it's gonna be… a lovely day.'
'Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day,' Jack sang as John held his final note into the chorus.
This felt ridiculous. John loved the song but it wasn't his song. It belonged to Bill Withers. He loved singing the classics, but he couldn't bear the thought of not being thought of credibly in the music industry. If they were going to do this, they were going to do it properly.
'Evelyn, can I speak to you outside for a moment? Jack, you come too,' Jack stopped singing immediately as John walked out of the room. Evelyn followed as did Jack. As soon as Jack had shut the door John launched into his tirade at Evelyn. 'He wants to turn us into fucking Robson and Jerome!'
'Wait a minute, who are Robson and Jerome?' Jack asked.
'Exactly,' John replied without missing a beat. 'Being offered a contract as a session musician would be preferable. Don't you have a say in this, Evelyn? This can't be what you envisaged for us?'
'No, but I only own a twenty per cent stake in this venture, it's all Anthony's money and this is what he feels is the right path for you.'
'I don't want to sing covers,' Jack argued, 'I would stay doing what I'm doing now if that's what I wanted.'
Evelyn sighed. 'There is one way out, but I'm not sure if it's what you want. You two are so tight, and I understand it can be difficult to mesh with other musicians.'
'What is it?' John asked, already knowing what was coming.
'Let's go and talk to Anthony about how you feel and he'll tell you what he wants.' John and Jack exchanged a look as they walked behind Evelyn back into the room.
'Everything alright, lads? That was brilliant.'
'We don't want to be cover artists,' Jack stated matter-of-factly, sitting back down as did John. 'We want to work on our own material.'
'And play the instruments,' John added.
'And you know how I feel about that,' Anthony pressed his hands together. 'Two can't be in a band.' He looked down to his desk, opening it before pulling out two pieces of crisp, white paper and placing them in front of John and Jack. 'I have two contracts here, offering you two albums. I really think people will love the two of you, putting a fresh spin on the songs they love, songs they grew up with.'
'Thank you, but we don't want that,' Jack replied, John feeling a sense of pride at how his partner was dealing with this. 'It's us making our own music, or nothing.'
'And do you have your own music?'
'We have some bits here and there,' Jack lied slightly, 'but I read an article the other day saying Harry Thompson works with songwriters. We can do that.'
Anthony exhaled a heavy breath, leaning back in his chair and regarding John and Jack with a heavy gaze. 'Evelyn came in here waxing lyrical about you, and I trust his judgement. But I won't sign a band with two members. It's something I strongly believe in. You need at least four.'
Evelyn made a suggestion. 'We can compromise, can't we though Tony?'
He were go, John thought before shrugging. 'What compromise?'
'I thought you might not go for this, so Tony agreed if you didn't we would give you four weeks to find a drummer and a bassist.'
Jack laughed out loud. 'Four weeks?'
'That's the deal,' Anthony replied, taking the contracts away and putting them back in his drawer.
'And if we don't?' Jack pressed.
'Then you sign the original contracts or nothing.'
John knew the music business was cutthroat, but he wasn't expecting to experience that so early on. He looked to Evelyn who in his defence, did look apologetic. One thing was for sure, he wasn't going to be one half of a duo who would be considered a novelty act.
'Do you mind if we go away and think about this?' John asked, looking at Jack who seemed genuinely disappointed.
'Sure, you have four weeks,' Anthony pointed out, standing up. 'We'll see you same time, same day, this time in a month. Either to sign those contracts or to audition with two new members. Ciao.'
And with those words, he was gone leaving John and Jack rather dumbfounded at their first encounter with the music industry.
'Sorry lads, but he has all these plans for appearances on tea time chat shows and cookery programmes. I tried to make him see that you are more than a cover artist but he wasn't having it, unless you found a bassist and a drummer.'
'Well that's it then,' Jack brought his hands down to his lap with a thump. 'Back to Cheerful Charlie's then.'
'Please do give some thought to finding someone,' Evelyn pleaded as he walked John and Jack to the door. 'Yours is a talent that would be a shame to waste.'
'Thank you, Evelyn,' John smiled. He liked the man, he couldn't deny. It's just a shame he was being held down by someone who didn't possess his same views on what passed for musical taste.
'And pass on my best wishes to Anna.'
'I will.'
Once they were outside, John and Jack went their separate ways, the latter to get ready for his date. John didn't know what to do. He had effectively just turned down a record contract. The notion he had even been offered one seemed absurd, he just couldn't get his head around it. John needed to talk to someone who never sugar coated anything, who was the straightest talker he knew. In the next moment he found himself calling his best friend.
'Hello John.'
'Hi Rob. I need to talk.'
John smiled as he saw the message Anna had sent, a picture of her and Dylan at home. These pictures were a daily occurrence but John treasured each one. She was responding to his text about going to visit his friend, telling him to do what he needed to do and that she would be waiting for him. He wondered if a more wonderful woman existed, Vera would never have been so understanding.
And now he stood on Robert's driveway, composing a message in reply before the door burst open. John looked up to see Robert standing on the doorstep, this being the first time they had seen each other since the wedding.
'Blimey, look who thinks they are Bear Grylls.'
'What?'
'What happened to the face?' Robert asked as John began to tread the drive way towards him. John touched a hand to his beard, soon realising as to what his friend was insinuating.
'Oh, the beard. I forgot a razor when we went to Scotland and Anna asked me to keep it.'
'Right, she's got you so under the thumb.'
Suddenly, Cora's voice was shouting from the living room. 'Robert, shut that door. It's freezing.'
'Yes dear.'
John stepped over the threshold with a smirk. 'You're under the thumb as much as I am.'
'How did the audition go?' Robert asked before he put his head around the doorframe of the living room. 'We'll be in the kitchen, dear.'
'Alright,' Cora replied, looking over her shoulder. 'How was the honeymoon, John?'
'Lovely thanks, Cora,' John replied from his position in the hallway behind Robert. 'How are you?'
'Fine thanks,' she called back.
'Right, we can continue the catch up later,' Robert said as he pushed his friend towards the kitchen. 'I asked you a question.'
'I need some advice,' John admitted, sitting at the table whilst Robert put the kettle on. 'We were offered a contract.'
Robert dropped the mug he was holding. 'Bloody hell, that's fantastic.'
'Hold your horses there, mate,' John interrupted, 'we were basically offered the chance to become the next Robson and Jerome.'
'Eww,' Robert winced, 'no one wants that.'
'Precisely, but we have a lifeline.'
'Which is?'
'We need to find a bassist and a drummer and we have four weeks to do so,' John revealed, 'or we sign the contracts to record other people's songs and become a laughing stock to anyone worth knowing in the music business.'
'Is that so bad?' Robert wondered aloud. 'Think of the money if you go stratospheric. You are both so good together you probably will.'
'I'd rather keep my credibility than earn money going through the motions. I'm reluctant to sign a record contract as it is, I certainly won't do so in these circumstances. Writing our own music with professionals, playing our own instruments, that's what we want.'
'You've been singing other people's songs for years. Why not earn a buck or two out of it?'
'It's not what I want to do and it's certainly not what Jack wants,' John argued, watching as Robert joined him at the table. 'So it's back to Cheerful Charlie's we go.'
'Can you not find somebody else?'
'Who?' John asked. 'It took a lot of convincing on his part for me to sing with Jack. It needs to feel right.'
'Audition for people.'
'I couldn't just play with complete strangers.'
Robert walked back to the kitchen counter, John recognising he was deep in thought. This was why he had come to his friend, he knew he would recognise his predicament and try to find a way around it.
'Michael Gregson,' Robert said suddenly. 'Served with us in Bosnia. Blonde hair. His wife wasn't well and he rang her sister for reports on her almost daily.'
Memories of the man began to come back to John. He was a quiet man, but also had a love for music, he and John often chatting about their favourite bands. John also remembered he played the drums in a band back home.
'The drummer.'
'Yeah, he lives in Sheffield if memory serves from the last battalion reunion. I have his number somewhere.' Robert stopped talking to shout down the hall. 'Cora, have you seen my address book?'
'Robert, don't be ridiculous. We are not going to form a band and be good enough to earn a record contract in four weeks.'
'Why don't you get off your ass and look for yourself,' Cora was then heard shouting back down the hall way.
'I am off my arse, darling. I am making myself and John some tea.'
'Oh, two sugars for me,' Cora said as she appeared at the door with Robert's address book in his hand. 'I'll wait for you to deliver it to the living room.'
'Yes, because I am a waiter,' Robert called after her as he looked through the book she had given him. 'Ahh, here we go. Michael Gregson.'
John took the book from Robert. 'He won't remember me.'
'He asked after you at the last reunion which you didn't come to because you were working.' Robert continued to prepare the tea. 'He asked if you were still into playing the guitar as it happens.'
John read the entry in the book, his name and number there before his eyes. He had liked Michael. Looking up, John watched as Robert put his tea in front of him. This was feasible and even if nothing came of it, it would be nice to meet up with an old comrade again.
'Can I take this number?' John asked as Robert sat beside him.
'That's my boy,' Robert ruffled John's hair. 'Of course you can.'
'Don't ever touch my hair again,' John brushed it back into place before tearing the page out of the book.
'So, how is married life?'
'Perfect, thank you.' John folded the piece of paper and placed it in his shirt pocket, beaming like a Cheshire cat. 'I am a very lucky man.'
'But you missed me, right?' John looked at Robert, who was staring back at him over the mug he held to his lips.
'Desperately.'
Anna lifted her head to see John come in, he chatting on the phone as he shut the door behind him. Dylan was in her arms, slowly drifting into slumber. She smiled as her husband met her eyes with his, he reciprocating and waving at her as he continued to listen to whoever was on the end of the line. She soon realised it was Jack.
'How old is he? Forty? Hmm, and he's good on the bass?'
Anna watched as John continued to regard what Jack was saying with a sceptical eyebrow. Why would they need a bassist?
'Michael said he would come over at the weekend. Can this Charles Blake be there too? It needs to be that soon, it's going to be difficult enough pulling this off in four weeks, let alone wasting more time.'
Now Anna was confused. What did they have to pull off? She was kept in suspense for a few seconds longer as John bid Jack farewell before he was hanging up the phone and walking towards her, sitting down on the sofa.
'Hello,' he said, resting his head against hers and placing a hand on Dylan. 'Sorry I took so long.'
'That's alright,' Anna replied, turning her head and kissing his temple. 'How did it go then?'
'Evelyn's not in charge, a bloke called Anthony Strallan is.'
'Right.'
'And this Strallan wanted to turn me and Jack into the next Robson and Jerome.'
'Oh,' Anna suddenly understood why John seemed a little dejected. 'Well, my mum loved them.'
John met her gaze and began to laugh. 'Exactly.'
'Well, is that such a bad thing?'
'That's what Robert said,' John sat up beside her. 'I was reluctant to sign a contract as it was, I certainly won't do so to become a novelty artist. Myself and Jack both decided we didn't want that, so we've been given an ultimatum.'
'Sounds ominous.'
'Hmm,' John cocked his head. 'We need to find a bassist and a drummer. This Strallan doesn't think two is right for a band. And we've been given four weeks.'
'And that is what you were talking to Jack about.'
'The search is going well, we've already found two people. The fact is, I'm not sure it can work. It took months for me and Jack to sound like we do together, we have four weeks with two people we don't know very well.' John looked down at Dylan. 'And I'm still not certain it's what I want.'
Ah. The truth finally. Anna knew as he looked at their son and had known for some time the deepest reservations her husband held were those that he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her and Dylan behind, which is what would happen if he became successful. One thing was for sure, she didn't believe he didn't want this anymore.
'You went out and found someone the same day you were given this option, and you're telling me you don't want a record contract?' His silence spoke volumes. 'Please, don't put the brakes on this because of me and Dylan.'
'Of course I am going to do that,' John argued back, his voice slightly raised. 'You are my family. I won't go off gallivanting and putting music first when you are at home on your own looking after our son.'
A thought then occurred to Anna. Could John be holding onto some long forgotten doubts that Vera had instilled in him? She knew that his ex wife had never been too supportive of his interest in music. Didn't he realise that Anna wanted him to not only realise his dreams, but that she supported him whole heartedly in his quest to make them come true?
'You are not going off gallivanting, you are going to be doing something you love. I think I know where these doubts stem from and I am sorry you feel like this. But don't you realise the thought of you doing what you love every day makes me so happy? The man I love fulfilling his ambitions, I can think of nothing better.'
Silence fell then as John looked at her, looking at her in a way only he could. In the next moment, his lips were upon hers, completely taking her by surprise as she succumbed to his advances, despite feeling wary of the now sleeping baby in her arms. Anna could feel his lips upturning into a smile against hers, and it was one of the sweetest sensations she had ever felt in her life.
'You're amazing,' he whispered, resting his forehead against hers. 'Everything about you is so amazing.'
'Only because you make me so,' she replied weakly, brushing her lips against his once more. 'Now stop holding back and give this everything you've got. You've got four weeks.'
