Chapter 19: Seven Day Mile
(Author's Notes: Okay so some people might be confused on how the format of this chapter will work out. Everything that happens within this chapter occurs during a seven day period with the beginning of the chapter starting on the last day of the week. During the chapter it will shift back to the beginning of the week and it will be indicated when each event or subplot occurred leading up to the last day of the week with Roger in Santa Fe. I know it may sound complicated but I hope you are all still following this story. The song featured in this chapter is The Frames "Seven Day Mile" which was played during the season 6 premiere of House at the end of the episode. I thought it was worth using as the inspiration in this chapter. I hope you can still keep the reviews coming.)
Santa Fe, New Mexico...
Roger spent another afternoon again at Cardigan Records working on a new song he wrote and some of the representatives from the record company wanted a preview from him. However, for Roger it meant he found himself spending another weekend at work which didn't suit well with Courtney again. A single father with his seven year old daughter alone in Santa Fe without knowing anybody in a new city was his life and he had no choice but to take Courtney with him to work. Boy he wished he was back home in New York and if he had any problems with Courtney he knew Mark and the others will be on board to lend him a hand, especially Mimi. The telephone conversation with Mimi seven days back triggered something inside of Roger and he knew that something was about to give out/ Everything leading up to this moment was what inspired him to write this song he was to present to the reps of Cardigan records. It took seven days and for Roger he knew that after this song was done, a lot was going to change before the end of the day.
"Thank you for meeting with us on such a short notice," one of the reps of the Cardigan replied. "It's a pleasure finally having one of Spark Record's top songwriters and musicians."
"Yeah the pleasure is all mine Mr. Fowler," Roger said looking at Courtney. "My apologies but if you don't mind I had to bring my seven year old daughter with me here to the studio today. I couldn't find a babysitter for her today."
"Usually we don't have children roaming the record company but I see that your priorities as a father must always come first." Mr. Fowler said. "If you want I can get one of the staff members to keep an eye on her while you do your recording session."
"I rather have her in the studio area with me so I can keep an eye on her. Courtney doesn't take too kindly on being alone and it wouldn't be fair to be ignoring my daughter. Please you called me for a recording session and with all due to respect I like if you can honor my request to let my daughter stay."
"Well it's your time and she can stay. We'll give you a few moments to prepare your band and whenever you're ready we'll start recording." After Mr. Fowler left for a few moments with the other reps from Cardigan Roger was left alone with some of techs and the band in the recording studio. Courtney sat on the couch in the recording studio and Roger knew that things between the two of them have been a bit tense since the night he called Mimi.
"Daddy...I don't hate you," Courtney suddenly said. "I'm sorry I yelled at you before and screamed I hate you."
"I know baby girl you're mad and you have every right to be mad." Roger replied. "Daddy made some idiotic mistakes lately and it's making you sad and upset with me I know. I'm sorry I dragged you to work with me instead of promising to take you out today on my day off."
"You have to work I know and you like writing songs and playing music. It's what you do because it's your job...write songs for people to hear on the radio."
"Yeah but my job is not fun without knowing that my number one fan is happy. I like writing songs and making music and it's a job I love but if it will cost me free time away from you Courtney than it's nothing but just a job I do for money. I've been making promises I couldn't keep, I haven't been home often since we moved here and my priorities need to change or else I'm going to screw up one more relationship that matters to me."
"Don't stop writing music because of me." Courtney answered looking at her dad. "You shouldn't be sad because I don't want you to lose your job. I'm always your big fan daddy."
"I know and that's what counts. I love this job and I'm not going to quit." Roger said. "However...being here if I wanted to write my music I have to be somewhere that makes us happy. Where's the fun of a job if you can't have fun and share it with the people that truly matter. Thanks for making me realize some things out that I need to think about."
"You're welcome you'll be fine," Courtney smiled. "Go knock them dead first daddy."
"That's a guarantee promise I will." Roger ended up handing lyrics to his new song to Courtney. "Here take this and if those people in fancy suits don't like my song at least I know I got one fan who appreciates my music okay? I love you my little miracle girl." entered the recording booth once Mr. Fowler returned with the other reps for Cardigan. Once everyone was ready, Roger gave his introduction about the song and then began to play it.
Your will changes everyday
It's a choice you got to make
I can't help you if you want to
Down here nothing gets a chance
It's a threat that's real enough
We can burn this bridge or stay here
It's a breeze everlasting like time
Making so sure that
I can return just to see it from your side again
Always never seems to work
It's a word you never learned
I don't really see a way clear
It's a sea ever churning in tides
In the sureness of time
And our words will repeat now forever again
Well this might take a while to figure out
So don't you rush it
And hold your head up high right through the doubt
'Cause it's just a matter of time
You've been running so fast
It's the seven day mile
Has you torn in-between here and running away
"Alright Mr. Davis you can stop there," one of the producers said. "We got most of the track down." Roger came out of the recording booth and the band took a break while he met with Mr. Fowler and the reps from the record company in regards to the song. Courtney looked on watching her dad and the fancy guys in suits talk.
"So what do you think Mr. Fowler?" Roger asked. "I worked on this a few days ago so I figured if you wanted me to preview a song that the company wants to produce I thought this would be the one."
"We've seen and heard your work from Grant at Spark Records and I got to say I'm impressed." Mr. Fowler complemented. "It sounds different, and the tone of the song is something unique. I like the string arrangement you incorporated in your song. It adds a feeel to the song that makes people relate to it."
"Trust me when you say that people can relate to this song Mr. Fowler that's why I wrote it. Some people can say that the biggest decisions and the choices you make usually take awhile to figure out. However, it takes going through a seven day mile to figure out what you need to do. Trust me I've been through it many times finding myself down this road and it's a road like me and everyone else come upon."
"Very interesting analogy of your song Roger and I understand why you're doing what you need to do." Mr. Fowler said as he left the recording studio with the other reps. "We'll resume recording the rest of the track in a little while while we deal with some business. We'll get back to you later on Roger keep up the good work."
"I liked it and you sounded it really good," Courtney replied. "Daddy what did that man mean by what he told you?"
"Let's say that it took daddy seven days to figure out some things that will be hard to explain to you but whatever happens at the end of the day promise me you trust me okay? I'm not going to lie to you but I think this is about the biggest gamble I'm about to take which will cost me my career. A lot of things will change after I finish up with this song at the end of today believe me."
"Why do you say that I don't understand."
"I know you don't but I had a reason to write this song baby girl." Roger took Courtney to the cafeteria to get something to eat and thought back to how the last seven days inspired him awaiting the outcome of what will happen to him at the end of today. "I will tell you that ever since Mimi called that night the last seven days has been one rollercoster ride. I could even imagine the impact of what we did will affect everyone back home. We may not be there but I know what the mood must have been like when those postcards came to the loft."
New York City: Seven days earlier...
Mark came home one afternoon after work and decided to plan a poker night with the gang since it was payday. In typical Bohemian style, they initiated a friendly game of poker and each of them were going to bet sums of their paychecks in the name of a good poker hand as Mark like to put it. As Mark was setting up and getting the loft cleaned up Benny arrived as he tossed down the key to his landlord and friend to let him inside the loft. He brought extra poker chips while Mark got the snacks ready.
"Thanks for letting me join in your game," Benny replied. "Have you heard anything from Collins and Angel?"
"The two of them are out of town for a trip," Mark added. "I think Collins mentioned something about Angel visiting her sister somewhere in New Jersey but Collins had a conference to attend somewhere out west."
"I see besides I need a place to lay low for the next few days to get out of visiting Allison's sister. There's something about her sister Lisa's family that irritates me and she's not a big fan of mine but Allison tried to convince me to come. There is no way I'm spending a few days staying at the sister-in-law's place. Allison's nephew Martin is a pain but Marcus gets along with him and my wife wants to show off Mischa to the family. I wonder how in the world I ended up related to them in the first place?"
"You married one of the Westport Grey's remember? Besides at least you can come back to hang out with us Bohemians in your old stomping grounds?" Mark joked as Benny set the poker chips down, "When you want to take a break from playing a yuppie husband to Muffy and the kids. So I take it the wifey has the kids with her?"
"Allison took the kids to visit her sister for a few days and I really am not a big fan of her sister so I lied and told her that I had to work on some stuff at Cyberarts." Benny said giving Mark his mail. "I take it you forgot to retrieve your mail from your box so I took the liberty using the spare key to get your mail."
"Thanks man." Mark looked through the bills and read a few of them and then he found a postcard from Santa Fe written by Courtney address to the loft. He read the postcard and sighed knowing that things weren't looking so great for her and he managed to get one from Roger too. "Postcards from Santa Fe. Majority of them are from Courtney and surprisingly I got my first postcard from Roger."
"What does it say? How are the two of them holding up?"
"Courtney's recent postcard says "I hate Santa Fe and I hate daddy for making us move here. I want to go home and daddy is making me think he's dumb and I am sad." Oh gosh the kid is at odds again with Roger and every single postcard she's been sending either says she wants to go home or we really misses us and Mimi everyday. Roger's relationship with Courtney is the last thing he hasn't destroyed but it's on the verge again. It's like he may go back to his old disgruntled self again now that Mimi is in London. Our friends are on different spectums of the world and now they're beginning to realize that maybe being with each other was the new dream they found instead. They brought the best out of each other Benny and as idiots in love thought for the sake of love they give up their relationship so each of them will live out their lifelong dreams. I know those two really didn't want to go but both of them runaway from the best thing they ever had."
"Trust me when I say when I thought they rushed into getting married unexpectedly I thought they were idiots. However, they were in love and something in Roger changed and it was a whole new him I saw the night he married Mimi. I don't think they married just because for the sole purpose of Courtney but they did it because they wanted each other. The Roger I saw that night at his wedding was the one who first married April and turned his life around for the better. It was like he was finally moving on and ready for another chance at love. What...does Roger's postcard say?"
"It says "Finally talked to Mimi and my relationship with Courtney is about to go up in flames. Not my one blaze of glory I want and going down that path again." Roger's realizing he's not coping too well because his dreams of Santa Fe weren't what he expected and his relationship with Courtney is about to suffer again, only this time it maybe permanent. I feel like this was my fault I broke them up because I thought if they stayed married then they'll be missing out on the opportunities they dreamed about. A few weeks before Roger and Mimi left I told them...that the only reason why they got married was because of Courtney and that was it. I told them they may love each other but their dreams will always separate them. What if...they found a different dream when they were together? Maybe by being separated they realized that their lives changed for something better despite all the baggage they have."
"And now they're finally realizing that maybe life for them was better here in New York instead of going to either Santa Fe or London to pursue their dreams," Maureen said walking into the loft with Joanne, "Sorry to intrude on your conversation but we overheard you two talking and let ourselves in. You got postcards from Courtney and Roger?"
"Pretty much with one from Courtney clearly stating that she hates Roger for moving to Santa Fe and one from Roger suddenly coming to the realization life was better with Mimi and is on the verge of going down that same path he went down after losing April," Mark said, "At times like this he really needs our help but also Roger has to figure out some stuff on his own."
"Maybe they need time to figure out things on their own," Joanne replied. "Roger and Mimi will eventually figure out what's important to them or else Roger will lose more than he could ever imagine."
"Do you think...they'll come back?" Maureen asked. "I mean if they're unhappy wherever they are it will give them reason to come back home to New York City."
"That's up to them all we can do is just sit back and watch," Mark added looking at the postcards. "The turbulent story of Roger Davis and Mimi Marquez. Two people with loads of baggage that goes with one another and throw into the mix a seven year old promiscuous little girl. It's hard not being there to help our friends out especially Roger after everything he's been through the last six years. Our family...our Bohemian family and that includes you too Benny is missing three key members that help keep us in line. It got hard being in this loft without hearing Roger bust out a riff of Musetta's Waltz, or Courtney's voice echoing in the room, or the smell of Mimi's cooking. I know they're missing us and all we got to do is maybe hope they'll find what they're looking for."
"They just need time that's all," Joanne said as they were setting up for their poker game, "It's just a matter of time but knowing Roger and Mimi they'll be fine and we got to be there for our family."
"Agree on you on that one Joanne," Benny added. "Mark they'll come around hopefully they will."
Santa Fe, New Mexico: Five days earlier...
Meanwhile, things were not going good between Roger and Courtney after their fight and the night Mimi called. Courtney still refused to talk to her father and luckily today Roger had a the day off to spend time with his daughter but it wasn't going well. Even Courtney's babysitter Nora noticed the change in her attitude and behavior towards Roger that she attempted to take a few days off from babysitting to give Roger and Courtney some quality father/daughter time. The mood in the apartment felt like that same mood when Roger and Mimi had their first falling out after their first date and it was the first time Courtney got a glimpse of her father's low point. His daughter didn't talk to him for two weeks after he exploded on his friends and also inquired about April. He almost came close to nearly losing his daughter because she was the last thing, the only reminder of what he had with April. If Mimi hadn't come into his life then things with his daughter would still be the same being disgruntled over April's death; not realizing the joys of raising a kid; or finding true love again.
"Courtney?" Roger knocked on her bedroom door, "Courtney? Sweetie can we talk for a minute? Come on baby girl you have to least talk to me please." He found Courtney writing another postcard again addressing it to Mark back home at the loft. He sent one out the night after Mimi called and it pained him to read Courtney's last postcard saying how much she hates him for moving to Santa Fe.
"Nora gave me my insulin before she left for the day," Courtney bluntly said without looking at him, "You don't have to give me my shot today."
"I know she told me. What are you writing there sweetie?"
"A postcard to Uncle Mark back in New York. I'm writing to ask him to tell Marcus happy birthday from me." Courtney continued to write her postcard as Roger attempted to keep making conversation with her.
"At least...we're talking you don't hate daddy that much right?" Roger asked, "Hey I even got the day off today to spend with you. Come on what do you say we spend some quality father/daughter time just the two of us?"
"The people in fancy suits will make you go to work like they always do. I can't spend time with you because you're too busy to spend time with me. I'm still mad at you because you're a big fat liar daddy!"
"I know what you wrote on your last postcard and you hate me okay I get that but it makes me upset to know that my own daughter hates me." Roger leaned against the doorframe trying to talk his daughter but her reponses still kept coming out with resentment and disgruntle towards him. "I moved you here against your will and we walked away from maybe the greatest thing that happened to us. I said things that hurt you badly and you spend your days here being unhappy because I was an idiot and made some stupid mistakes. The last thing I wanted was the things I felt before I met Mimi to rub off on you because that feeling of being sad and miserable is the worst thing ever. I can't do this and I know you're slowly begin to understand the grown up stuff I would talk about to Mimi, Mark, and everyone else and I'm sorry. What am I suppose to do? I pissed away one relationship and the other one is about to go down the drain."
"Be happy daddy..." Courtney simply answered, "Stop being sad all the time because if you're sad then we can't smile like we used to. I always like it when you're happy because it means bad things won't happen to you. It won't...make me hate you for being sad. Do something that makes you happy and I won't hate you." A few moments later, the two of them heard someone knocking on the door as Roger went to open it and was surprised by their guest when he opened the door...it was Collins.
"Wow three apartment doors later I finally managed to get the right residence," Collins teased as Roger and Courtney smiled, "I got the Davis family staring at me as if I'm a ghost are you going to let this philosophy professor in or what?"
"Oh my gosh Uncle Tom! You're here! You're really here!" Courtney ran out of her room and jump at Collins giving him a hug. "It's so great to see you!"
"It's great seeing you again Thomas what brings you by to Santa Fe?" Roger gave one of his closet friends a hug, "Where's Angel? I thought she would be with you."
"She went to New Jersey to visit some family, it personal stuff while I am here attending a conference here in Santa Fe. I thought it would be a treat to drop in and check up on how my little Bohemian girl and her daddy dearest are holding up. Mark got your postcards and stuff so I used the address as reference to look you guys up. So this is where you two been living for over the last six weeks it looks cozy and nice."
"Yeah this is has been home for awhile now Collins. Hey Courtney aren't you glad to see your Uncle Collins here?"
"It's nice to see you again and I really missed you a lot," Courtney smiled, "It's not the same being here with daddy without you guys. Are you going to stay with us?"
"I think...that will be a nice thing if you haven't found anywhere to stay while you're in town," Roger suggested as Collins revealed his luggage he had on him, "It would mean a lot to me and Courtney because it gets lonely without your friends around."
"Come on I'm not going to pass up an invitation to crash on one of my best friend's couch while I'm here." Collins noticed a bit of tension between father and daughter as Roger gave a brief tour of the apartment. It was a bit difficult to hide the conflict going on between him and Courtney after she went back to her bedroom leaving Roger and Collins alone in the living room. With a bottle of strolli Roger started explaining his experience in Santa Fe to one of his closet friends as Collins listened on. Roger told Collins about his talk with Mimi and the threat of not knowing where their marriage stood. The conclusion came as Roger explained that he made one of the idiotic decisions he regretted making and it impacted how things were with his daughter and with Mimi.
"So that's basically it," Roger said taking another hit of strolli, "My daughter hates me, my wife is halfway across the Atlantic and moving here was the worst thing possible. I thought Santa Fe and Cardigan Records was the dream I set out but now it's not what I thought it to be. Collins it's like deja vu all over and I'm finding myself down that path six years ago. What am I going to do? My heart tells me that I have to go back to New York to set things right, but what is going to happen with Cardigan if I walk away?"
"In times like this when your heart is torn between following your dreams and doing the right thing you ask yourself what is important," Collins said as he saw Roger's new song he was writing, "Wow you got something going on here. Very deep lyrics and inspirational I'm guessing ever since your talk with Mimi and the fallout with Courtney is what inspired you. Hey you're going to do fine and whatever you end up deciding before time is up don't worry...you'll have a friend to fallback on to help you. Roger you're a good man and always remember no day but today."
"Thanks Collins," Roger slowly smiled, "I think I got a hit here...one that will make a mark on Cardigan Records."
London, England: Three days earlier...
Meanwhile, Mimi came back from the doctors after getting the results of her test. At times like this she wished and prayed that Roger was here with her in London but she knew it wouldn't happen. Her conversation with Roger awhile back would have been the perfect opportunity to reveal her secret but what could she do? Mimi was devastated and she made a life changing decision after coming back from the doctors and headed to the Avalon School of Dance and handed in her two week resignation. After a much heated conversation and a bit of disappointment from those who got her the job in London, they agreed to accept Mimi's two weeks notice when she told them what happened. They understood why and Mimi left work for the rest of day to head home and think about her future after walking away from her dream job. The phone rang a little while later when Mimi was having dinner.
"Hello?" Mimi replied as the operator on the other end stated there was a collect call from the States. She accepted the charges and smiled when she heard the voice on the other line. "Hey Angel how's it going?"
"What's up chica how are things in the jolly old England?" Angel replied on the other end. "What's the weather like?"
"Usually grey skies but the air is clean and nice here. How are things back home?"
"Same old stuff with the exception that we found out that Joanne hid the fact she has a seven year old daughter named Hazel we all met a few days ago. Maureen knew about Joanne's daughter and we all learned that Jo was married before to the father of her daughter. That's one of the big gossips right now from the home front I'm actually in Princeton, New Jersey right now visiting my sister."
"The one in school at Princeton University?" Mimi asked. "That must be nice to have a sister whose studying to become a doctor."
"She's working to get into medical school and she's getting offers from either Mayo or Hopkins, two of the top medical schools in the country." Angel added, "How are you holding up Mimi?"
"I wish I could say things were great here but right now...I really need a friend to talk to right now."
"Well Mimi dear my ear is all yours to listen." Angel said, "Have you heard from Roger?"
"We talked about a lot of things in particular the future of our marriage, where things stand between us and the mistakes we made leaving New York City. Everything is so screwed up right now and I just wish I could have told him not to go to Santa Fe and I was willing to throw away a chance of going to London. But I couldn't do that to him and I couldn't hold him back from his dream and he gave me a way out by leaving town. Everyday since I've been here I go to sleep and wake up and all I could think about is Roger and wonder how is Courtney doing. Angel I managed to find a different dream instead of the one I originally wanted and the day I left New York it felt like something wasn't right. Roger thought if I stayed with him I was throwing away a good opportunity...but that already happened before I left."
"Oh Meems I'm really sorry I know that feeling. You know when the three of you left it felt like part of our little Bohemian family was missing. If you thought your leaving impacted the two of you alone it created a ripple effect and everyone of us thought about you guys everyday since you left. But we knew when you two realized what you truly wanted then eventually you'll decide what you're going to do and all of us back home will be waiting with open arms."
"It's not that easy to fix everything up. I said I threw away a good opportunity right before Roger convinced me to go to London...thanks to that night I found him in Westport him and I finally connected. In one day I managed to begin to feel the aftermath of something that was magical and memorable. You know how I said that I found a different dream instead...well I found myself suddenly left with nothing. Angel...six hours ago I handed in a two weeks notice resigning from my job at the Avalon School of Dance and I got no job, I'm alone in London without my friends, and those stupid sticks from the drug store were leaning towards something big that just changed my life unexpectedly. After the visit from the doctor today...it just sealed the deal and why suddenly everything changed in one day."
"What visit from what doctor?" Angel asked confused. "Did something happen Mimi? Come on you can tell me?"
"I don't know what my next move is because I just threw away everything I wanted to work for and I broke my word to Roger to go after my dream," Mimi started crying on the phone, "How was I suppose to tell him that night he called me that I already was having second thoughts. How was I suppose to tell him that night I slept with him in Westport I didn't imagine six weeks later I ended throwing up, feeling nausea, dizzy and going to the drugstore buying test after test that came out positive. I don't know if I can go home. I don't know what is going to happen to me or what I'm going to do. Don't worry I'm not dying or anything and I did get my T-Cells recounted they're still in range and I'm clean still I have to be. But being dumped with this burden on my own will kill me emotionally."
"If it's something big chica you should come home we'll be there for you," Angel assured her, "Just how much of this burden you're talking about is...oh my god Mimi are you?"
"You're wondering why I keep saying things just changed all in one day and what made me suddenly reconsider my future." Mimi sighed looking at her test results. "It doesn't matter and it won't to Roger. It doesn't make a difference but it changes everything. All I know is I'm done with London for good because...that's right I'm pregnant."
Santa Fe, New Mexico: Present day...
After thinking back to the last seven days Roger knew that after today everything would be different. Everything was being planned out and after some hard thinking and advice from those who knew him too well he was just waiting to hear some word from Mr. Fowler and the other reps from Cardigan Records. He didn't want Courtney to stay around for the rest of the recording session and since Collins was still in town Roger had him pick up his daughter and promised to meet up with them later. Once he spotted Mr. Fowler and the rest of the reps from Cardigan come back into the recording studio Roger waited patiently for them to respond.
"Thanks for waiting on us Roger," Mr. Fowler replied, "Well we were on the phone with Spark Records talking to Grant in regards to your contract and about your request you're asking. Before you sign we want to make sure...is this what you want?"
"Phil with all due respect I appreciate everything you have done to guarantee me my dream job of working with Cardigan Records," Roger said, "This job was always something on my mind ever since I first got my start at Spark Records. Being here got me my big break and I want to thank you all for that. However, I realized that my dreams and priorities have changed within the years and as much as I want to stay in Santa Fe with Cardigan Records...I may do more harm than good especially to myself."
"You know that Cardigan Records has been setting up joint ventures with Spark Records for the last two years and according to your contract you are still technically employed under our record company," Phil Fowler continued, "However, after much debate and discussion with Grant and the other reps from Spark Records...we will give grant you your request to release you from your contract. Although this has suddenly come as a shock and a much heated discussion in regards to your priorities in this business Mr. Davis why suddenly the change?"
"I always thought that coming here was the one blaze of glory I was looking for. I don't want to walkaway from this business and I love music with a passion. I didn't realize that I already found my blaze of glory and I'm about to lose the best thing that has ever happened to me. There is also one more person I considered in making this decision and that is my daughter. She and I have been through a lot together and by making her stay and unhappy somewhere where our hearts don't belong will do more damage than any good. If I stay in Santa Fe longer...I'm going to screw up raising my daughter and that is something I can't afford to fail at."
"Well I see from your responsibilities and priorities why you are reconsidering your contract with us. As we discussed we will release from your contract here at Cardigan Records. You Mr. Davis are one talented musician and we were at odds trying to come to a compromise in regards to your employment in this business. Grant and the reps from Spark Records will take you back under the condition...that you head up a newly official joint venture between Cardigan Records and Spark Records for the next three years. We have finalized a contract to produce and record a couple of songs and artists under both record companies and the venture will be headed by you up in New York under Spark Records. Although you no longer are a Cardigan Record employee as of today you will now be part of a new venture if this helps work with a compromise for you. Grant has the details of the contract back at Spark Records so if you need time to think about this then by all means let us know within a few weeks if you will officially come aboard on this project."
"I will consider it thank you very much," Roger smiled knowing that he was content with his decision, "I appreciate the offer and I will think about it with very discreet detail. I need to reconsider some options and priorities first before making another career changing decision. You know that I made a promise to least give Cardigan one song to leave a mark with as to why both record companies think I'm valuable. Going home...I think was about the first right choice I made today and I hope I am not causing any problems or controversy with my decision to resign from my employment at Cardigan Records. However, in regards to the offer laid out by both Spark and Cardigan for the venture I will highly consider it if I'm able to work out some other compromises in terms of the contract once I see it back in New York. However...first I have to finish off my last day by laying down the last portion of this track if that is okay?"
I don't have a choice in this
It's a road I've come upon
You can join us if you want to
Always never seems to work
It's a word we never learned
Time will be the judge of all here
This might take a while to figure out now
So don't you rush it
And hold you're head up high
Right through the doubt now
'Cause its just a matter of time
You've been running so fast
It's the seven day mile
Has you torn in-between here and running away
It's the line you've been wanting
It's your time
It's the seven day mile
Has you torn in-between here and never again
Never again
After spending the rest of his last day at Cardigan Record recording, Roger ended up leaving and taking the rest of his stuff from work and called up Collins and Courtney to meet up with him. He instructed Collins to drive his car up to downtown Santa Fe where Roger was waiting for him and Courtney to arrive and instructed Collins to pack a bag for Courtney. It was confusing for Courtney asking Collins why her father wanted her to pack a bag until when they met up with Roger they noticed he also had a bag on him to and all of his stuff from work in it.
"No wonder why you asked me to take Courtney for the rest of the day," Collins replied pulling up to the place where they met Roger, "I got to say man you sure are known for doing the outrageous and unpredictable. So you actually went through with it?"
"I sure did Collins and believe me when I said I didn't want Courtney to be there...when they found out I quit my job," Roger said, "But they gave me an opportunity to head up a new joint venture between Spark and Cardigan Records in New York City. So I may have lost one dream opportunity but I gained another opportunity that keeps me near the people that matter."
"So you left Cardigan Records and now with the two bags for you and your daughter packed you're also leaving Santa Fe?"
"A lot can change within seven days huh?"
"What's going on daddy?" Courtney asked confused, "Why did you ask Uncle Collins to pack some my stuff? Are we going on a trip?"
"Daddy quit his job today at Cardigan Records...because somehow he realized he had something better he gained," Roger smiled, "So since I am no longer working at Cardigan it means you and I...we're finished with Santa Fe. We're leaving Santa Fe and going home."
"Your dad's right there kiddo," Collins added. "Your dad quit his job and is done with Santa Fe. That means...you two are finally coming back home to New York."
