The rhythm of my swim stroke calms my mind, quieting the echoes from the gentleman’s club.
As I approach the wall, a hand appears, waving under the surface.
What the fuck?I stop swimming and tread water.
My best friend and manager stands on the edge of the pool.The look on her face makes time stand still.
“Cat, what’s wrong?”
“Siri, there’s been an accident.”
My heart stops, then starts to race.“Who?”
“Come here, baby girl.”She holds up a towel.
Swimming to the stairs, my mind is both blank and racing.
Blank, not wanting to think about how bad this must be for Cat to use her key to my apartment and invade my privacy.
Racing, wondering what has happened to whom.
As I emerge from the water, I ask again.“Who?”
She holds the towel for me.“Come sit down.”
Oh, god!
My heart beats hard with a dull ache as I allow Cat to wrap the towel around me and lead me to the barstool in the kitchen.
When I’m seated, she moves to the liquor cabinet, takes two lowball glasses, and pours us both a heavy splash of Crown Royal.Neat, so it bites.
She doesn’t say a word until we have both taken a hit of the whisky, then she says one of the two names no one wants to hear.“Your mother…”
“There’s been an accident.Your dad called me when you didn’t answer your phone.He doesn’t know much, but they are prepping her for surgery.”
I take the glass of whisky, toss the rest back, then stand.“I need to pack.Will you ask Bart if I may use his jet?”
“Sure, baby girl.I’ll make the arrangements.”
An hour later, I follow Brutus through McCarran International Airport to Bart’s private jet.He keeps looking down at me.I know he’s worried I’ll lose my shit before I get on board.My hands are shaking like leaves.
When we walk out of the terminal onto the tarmac, he asks, “Are you sure you don’t want me flying home with you?”
“No, I’ll be fine,” I say, braver than I feel.
I take two steps up the stairs, then turn and face him.“Brutus,” my voice cracks, “Thanks for having my back all these years.”
He grins, “Siri, don’t get all sentimental now.You’ll be back soon enough.Your mom’s had a bad accident, but she’s going to be fine.”
I nod.“I’ll call you when we touch down and the minute I know something.”
Once I’m on board, I look out the window.The big giant of a man who has been my bodyguard from the beginning is standing at the terminal waving.I wave back, knowing he can’t see me in the little window, but it doing because it makes me feel better.
As the jet taxies down the runway, I promise myself, as soon as Mama doesn’t need me anymore, I’ll return home to Vegas.I close my eyes and try to rest, but the tears begin, and instead, I cry.This isn’t the triumphant return to Live Oak, Alabama, I had envisioned.
For three years, I’ve lived a life other people only dream of as the headlining act atBeen Jammin’,the premiergentleman’s club on the strip.
Looking out the window not seeing the passing landscape, my thoughts drift back to the summer I arrived.
