Peter was moving a piano into position by the stage, he was playing some songs on the piano for the show tonight, when he saw Meagan come in the door dressed in a white uniform. Peter left some song sheets on the bench and walked over to greet her.
"Hey." Peter said.
"Hey yourself." Meagan said. "Dig the snazzy threads. It screams pro bartender."
"You do look very nice." Peter observed. Her long brown hair was up in a french twist. There was a light blue ribbon embedded in it, and it cascaded out the end of the twist and onto her shoulder.
"Thanks. I spent an hour and a half on this hair do. I haven't spent that much time on my hair since high school. I never got any dates so that did me a lot of good practice-wise."
"Ah I'm sure you beat the guys off with a stick in school." Peter smiled.
"Thats very nice of you to say, its not even remotely true. I was a little heavier back then. Most dates I got asked on were pranks. Cause of that I can't really tell if a guy likes me or if they are just having fun with me."
"Thats mean." Peter sighed.
"I know. But I got over it. Those guys will someday be bald and fat." She smiled. "I believe in Karma and Fate. You do something awful to someone, you will get it back later on. That sounds mean, but its kind of a balance."
"A way to make everything right." Peter nodded. "I know what you mean."
"Pete!" Mike called from the stage.
"I gotta go, Mike wants to rehearse before the show starts."
"I've never heard you play so this will be kind of a treat for me." Meagan said moving to the bar. "Later, I gotta set up myself. I just hope I have enough liquor." She said. "Some people think by drinking they improve the music."
"Let's hope its not the case today." Peter smiled and waved. He walked over to Mike who was plugging his guitar into an amp.
"You two get along pretty good." Mike said quietly.
"I have no friends besides you and the guys. And my fiancee of course. Talking to someone new is good for a change of pace once in a while." Peter said sitting down at the piano. "What do you do first?"
"Forget that girl?" Davy asked. Peter looked at him. "Just a thought." He shrugged.
"Sounds good." Peter said slowly. He couldnt help but wonder if there was a hidden meaning to Davys suggestion. Micky counted off the beats to the song on his drums and they started to play.
Halfway through the gig the guys took a fifteen minute break. Micky went to hit on some girl he spotted in the audience, Davy went to do his hair while Mike talked to a man in the corner of the room. Peter didn't know who he was but he looked important.
Peter ignored his bandmates conversation and went to see Meagan who had just served two men martinis.
"So far so good." Meagan said with a wink. "People actually want to remain sober for this gig."
"Thanks." Peter said with a pause. "I think."
"Its a compliment. You guys do very well. How come you don't sing more often?"
"My talent is with instruments. The other guys are the voices in the band." Peter explained.
"I would love to hear you sing." Meagan said as she got a glass from under the counter.
Peter thought about it. "All right. I'm sure I can get the guys to turn over the mike for once."
Meagan smiled. "Speaking of talents, look what I can do." She took two bottles of club soda and twirled them around, threw them up in the air, caught them and poured a little of each into two glasses. Peter was impressed.
"Wow. That is awesome." Peter applauded.
"If you think thats great, wait till I use actual glass bottles. I demolished three crates worth before I decided to work on using plastic first. I'm almost there."
"I tried juggling for a week." Peter said. "The guys took my juggling balls away cause I broke so many things. I'm still looking for them now."
Meagan laughed. "It looks like you are ready to go on."
She said pointing to the guys going back up to the stage.
"I'll see if I can't get that song in." Peter promised.
"Its ok if you don't get in tonight." Meagan said. "It'll be something to ask for next time.
"Its a deal." Peter said moving away from the bar.
"It looks like you have a guest too." Meagan called out and pointed to the door.
Peter turned and looked in the direction Meagan pointed. Sofie was at the door with a small coat on. Peter ran to her and gave her a hug. She planted a kiss on his cheek.
"What are you doing here?" Peter asked. "I had no idea you were back in town."
"I was coming to the gig but I got delayed." Sofie explained taking her coat off. "I have some bad news. I may be out of town again soon."
"But you only just got back." Peter said noting her bags by the door. She must have come directly from the airport.
"I know, but its unavoidable. We must delay the wedding for another month or so. Daddy is sending me to Boston to help put this deal together." She said. Peter nodded. "It will put his music company together with one on the east coast." She said as they stood in front of the stage. "It could mean a lot of money for us and you wouldn't have to play clubs ever again."
"But Sof, I like playing music." Peter protested.
Sofie shook her head and starting speaking to him as if he were a small child rather than a full grown man. "You don't need this, the long hours and the small bucks. I'm just looking out for our futures. And once we decide on children, you will be needed a lot more." Peter opened his mouth to protest but she laid a finger on them. "We'll talk later." She said with a thin lipped smile.
Peter sighed and sat on his piano bench. "It looks like I will be alone for a while."
"Why?" Davy asked. "When will you get married?"
"I have no idea. Shes going to be gone for a while, maybe late into July." Peter said. "We'll talk more later." Peter said changing the music on his music stand. "Can I sing a song?" He asked changing the subject. Peter couldnt bear the thought of telling his mates the truth about Sofie. She felt his playing in the band was way beneath him but he never even thought of it that way.
"Maybe shes right and I need to grow up and leave the music to the younger guys. It may be time to move on."
"Sure." Micky said. "You can play a song."
"Didja get a special request?" Mike asked.
"I did." He pointed to Meagan who was now for some reason talking with Sofie. It turned out she had ordered a champange drink and she was only getting it from her. Meagan turned to him and waved. Peter nodded and started to play "Your Auntie Grizelda."
