Jamie's Encore
Chapter 35
OFFICE OF RAFAEL PEREZ
"Caitlin, come in. Take a seat."
The music director was unusually effusive with his warm welcome. Caitlin's radar was engaged.
"You have met our ticket manager, Mr. Stillwell, haven't you?" He motioned to the gentleman seated to her left.
"Yes, I have," she extended a hand. He took it and they shook, with smiles.
"Mr. Stillwell has a problem." Rafael voices.
"And why am I here?" She is cautious.
"You are the problem, Dr. McKenna!" Mr. Stillwell huffs.
"Me! I have only performed once, and it was a success. At least I thought so. The newspaper thought so, too."
"Indeed, they did," He snorts.
"I don't see-
"Let me explain it so you can understand," Stillwell huffs with a condescending air.
"Please do," she huffs right back.
Rafael can hardly contain himself.
"The Rady Shell can only be configured to seat 10,000 guests."
"So?"
"And that, only 6 times per year."
"So?"
You are scheduled to perform in the valentine's day concert."
"Yes, does he think I don't know my own schedule?" She looks at Rafael.
"I'm speaking to you doctor!"
"Ah, I was wondering." She smirks.
Rafael covers his mouth.
"The problem is – I have already received 20,000 requests for tickets. From some very influential people. And when I say requests, I mean DEMAND! Am I clear, DOCTOR?"
"Oh . . . well, that's a good problem to have. Isn't it? Stillwell?"
"I HAVE NOWHERE TO PUT THEM!"
Caitlin shrugs . . . "And, why am I here? To pull lawn chairs out of my hat? Huh?" She looks to Rafael with a 'you owe me' look. Then gets up and leaves.
"I told you so," Rafael mutters to Stillwell.
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J/C CONDO
Caitlin stomps into the condo. She is a little late getting home. After her meeting in Rafael's office, she had difficulty concentrating all afternoon. "Mary, mother of God-
"Easy love, He's listening!"
Jamie comes around the corner and wraps her in his strong arms. He holds her tightly, rubbing circles on her back. "Do you need a little cuddle time?"
"Yes, please."
"Sit on the love seat, I'll be right there."
She shuffles to the LR and sits down.
Jamie returns to the kitchen to put some things away. Jack comes out of his room; he heard the commotion.
"Go on, uncle Jamie. I'll take over here; I see what you were doing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yup, go tend to aunt Caitlin."
"Thanks, bud!"
"No problem."
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"What happened, babe?"
She tells him all about the conversation in Rafael's office.
Jamie agrees with her. That's a nice problem to have. But if you are going to try and seat 20,000 people in a 10,000-seat venue – good luck! His very talented wife is always going to give it her all. Jamie has learned that much.
"Can you do back-to-back performances?"
"I could, depending on the music. Some is so difficult that back-to-back would be nigh unto impossible. But the union contracted musicians probably cannot."
"Union contract limitations?"
"Yup!"
Jamie snorts, "Good Lord! -
"Careful-
"I know, He's listening!"
"Yup. To you too!" Caitlin smirks.
Jack sticks his head into the LR . . . "dinner is ready!"
Caitlin looks at Jamie, "You left him in charge?"
"Yup, let's go see what he cooked up."
They had cod fish sticks, French fries, coleslaw and a beverage of choice.
"Just what I had started," Jamie admitted.
"Jack, you're hired," Caitlin laughed.
"When do I collect my first check?" He grinned.
"Right after you pay your rent," Jamie grinned right back.
"OH."
Laughter.
"Hired is a euphemism," Caitlin explains.
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SUNDAY DINNER NYC
Frank Reagan looks over the table. "Damn, it's nice to see you all back in your places."
"You too, dad, and Pops." Erin adds.
They all smile as they look around.
"I think we all had been lulled into a sense of complacency there. Things had been sailing along with so few changes, for so long." Pops intoned.
"Yes, we tended to forget that life just isn't like that," Erin opined.
"Yeah, then the kid threw a monkey wrench into things," Danny added.
"A really pretty monkey wrench," Sean smirked. "Dad, are you ever going to stop calling uncle Jamie 'kid'?"
"Probably not. He doesn't seem to mind."
"But I can see it on his face sometimes." Sean mutters.
"Naw, I don't think so."
Sean shrugs.
Erin raises an eyebrow.
Danny shrugs it off.
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J/C CONDO 23:00
"Jamie, are you asleep yet?"
"Not now."
"I'm sorry. I just had to ask you this."
"What?"
"Well, we haven't really talked about this."
"What, already!" Jamie is frustrated.
"Kids."
He sits straight up in bed. "Are you-
"No, no. But-
"Do we want kids? I do. Sometime. With you."
"Not with your other girlfriend?" She swats his chest.
"You, ONLY YOU!"
"May I stop the pill?"
"Now? What about 1 or 2 years of just you and me?"
"Which one? 1, or 2?"
"I vote for stopping the pill at our 2-year anniversary."
"Have an Rx burning celebration?" She winks.
"Will that jinx us?" He wonders.
"Naw, not us. Then we can start trying earnestly!" She winks.
"Practice time!" He rolls over and covers her. She sighs, she loves the full body contact! This is going to be fun.
Caitlin thanks the Lord daily that Jamie found her; that he persevered; and that she eventually trusted him. It was a process; a glorious process!
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TBC