Chapter 26
"Man. It's good to see you again, little lady!" Judy said, giving me a hug without waiting for me to stand. "And who's your friend?"
I smiled as I looked over at Craig, and he smiled encouragingly. "Believe it or not, this is my agent and manager, Craig Savage."
"Get out of town!" Judy said, so loud that I was sure the whole restaurant heard her.
I laughed. "Yup. As of today."
She took both of my hands. "So, things worked out with Tasha?"
I nodded. "Yes, thanks to you," I said, so excited that I could hardly stand it. "I go on tour with her as her front band in three months."
She flung her arms around me and pulled me in for another hug as I stood up. Then, she held me at arms' length to look into my eyes. "Well, congratulations, girl! I'm so happy for you!" She turned to Craig and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you!" Then, she looked back at me. "See? What did I tell you? Miracles still do happen but you have to have talent, too, and I know you must have talent!"
"Trust me, she does," Craig said, and then looked at his watch. "I hate to say this, but we have to be back at the studio in forty-five minutes to go over the song list for her first album."
"Oh!" Judy's eyes flew open wide as she looked back at me. "Well, what would you like? I'll get it to you ASAP."
I smiled. "We'll both take the Mushroom Swiss Burger, please. I'll also have a Diet Coke, and you'll have " I looked at Craig, raising my eyebrows.
"Draft beer, please," he replied.
"Well, alright, then!" Judy said, a bit too happy. Then, she threw her arms around me once again. "I'm so happy for you! See? I knew it would work out!"
"Yes, thanks to you."
"No. Tasha just gave you a shot," Judy said, suddenly serious. "It was up to you to keep it."
I smiled. "That's very kind of you to say, but thank you. Without you, none of this would have happened."
She smiled. "That's good of you to say, but you have talent, girl, or you wouldn't be here with him." She nodded toward Craig "You know the best way you can pay me back?"
I shook my head.
"I want to turn on my radio sometime soon and hear your songs."
I pulled her in for another hug. "Thanks, Judy."
"You're welcome," she said, dabbing at her eyes when she pulled back. "Now, I'll be right back with those burgers."
Craig held up his hand. "Would you mind making them to go?"
Judy gave him a smile. "Sure thing, sugar. And I'll have your drinks to you in just a bit."
"Thanks, Judy," I said, glad that I was able to tell her.
After she left, Craig asked me, "Have you told your parents yet?"
I smiled. "Oh, my goodness! My parents!" Then, I thought for a minute. "How did you know that they didn't come here with me?"
He shrugged. "Just a hunch."
I let out a breath that I hadn't realized I was holding. "No. I'm going to call them after I get my cell phone."
He pulled his cell phone out from inside his suit coat and laid it on the table. "Here. Help yourself."
I looked at it and then up at him, surprised. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
He smiled as he shook his head. "No. Not at all. But make it quick. We have to be going."
Just then, Judy brought my Diet Coke and Craig's beer. "Those burgers will be out in just a bit."
I nodded. "Thanks, Judy."
I looked up at Craig, who smiled at me encouragingly. Then, he pushed the phone at me and lifted his eyebrows. "Go ahead."
I picked it up and dialed the number. "Thanks."
He nodded as he took a sip of his beer.
Mom picked it up on the second ring. "Hello?"
"Mom? It's me. Alyssa."
"Oh my goodness!" Mom yelled into the phone. "I've been so worried about you!"
"Mom, Mom, calm down."
"Is this your phone you're calling from?"
I looked across to Craig. "No; it belongs to my agent." I cringed, waiting for her scream.
"Your agent?!" Mom yelled into the phone as her voice raised several octaves. "Alyssa, no! Really?"
I laughed. "Yes, Mom! I just signed a contract for an agent and a record deal today with SDC Studios!"
"Congratulations!" Mom said. I was sure she was in tears. "So, tell me all about it!"
"Mom, I can't talk now, but I wanted to tell you," I said, looking down at the table, imagining my mother's stunned face. "I'll call you tomorrow as soon as I get a cell phone and I'll tell you everything."
There was a slight pause. "Okay, dear. Do you have time to talk to your father?"
Craig held up his watch and pointed to it, as if on cue.
"No, Mom, but tell him and Greer that I love them. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay, dear," she said, crying.
Tears came to my eyes, too. "Mom, don't cry."
"I'm so sorry, dear," she said. "I'm just so happy for you."
"Thanks, Mom." Judy set two to-go boxes on the table with our burgers. "Mom, I love you. I have to go."
"Okay. I love you, too." Just before I hung up the phone, she added, "And you be sure to call me tomorrow!"
I laughed. "I will. I promise." Craig got up and slid two one hundred dollar bills into the folder with our bill. "Mom, I've got to go. Bye!"
"Bye, dear. Love you!"
I pressed the off button and the link to my mother was severed. I looked at the phone for a minute, and then handed it back to Craig as I wiped my eyes. "Thank you."
He nodded as he tenderly touched my hand. "I hate to have to say this, but we have to go."
I nodded, and then quickly downed my Diet Coke, while Craig finished his beer.
"Let's go," Craig said, pushing back his chair.
"Don't you need to wait for your change?" I asked, then felt stupid for doing so. After all, there was no way that the burgers cost even one hundred dollars, let alone two.
Craig shrugged as he smiled. "It's my way of giving Judy a small finder's fee as a thank you, of course."
"Of course." I nodded, smiling.
"Let's go," he said as he held my chair.
This time, I didn't argue. I reached for the burgers, but Craig beat me to it, easily scooping them up.
As we walked out to Craig's car, I knew that there was a lot that I would have to get used to. As I slid into the passenger side of Craig's car and he shut the door behind me, I couldn't help but wish it was Logan.
