Page 87 of Passing Notes

He’d been touring with his band, The Burnouts, as their drummer until recently, when he suddenly announced his early retirement and moved back to Green Valley. He’d been notoriously reclusive in the six months he’d been back. If I was being entirely truthful with myself, and though I would never say this to Janice, he struck me as another egotistical drummer who thought the sun shined out of their?—

“But I thought it might be good for him to get out more. See how the town has changed and grown. He’s been a little cooped up,” she explained.

“Oh, ah, okay.”

My brain raced to connect the dots of this conversation. I was the only band teacher for three band classes and the before- and after-school electives. Every weekend for the foreseeable future was booked. Even getting this weekend with my family required heavy lifting to my schedule and a few IOUs to Clara Hill. I had no time to be Janice’s celebrity son’s hometown tour guide.

I’d seen the videos of him online—not just the thirst traps uploaded by the Burnnies, but the ones where he stomped off stage or remained stonily silent in press interviews. He might have been from Green Valley, but he never thanked the town for his success or brought any of that fame back to help the town that formed him.

“I’ve heard about your star student, Cath Beckett,” Janice said, switching gears.

“Yes. Cath is incredible. She’s applying for the Berklee College of Music.” Pride filled me whenever I got to sing Cath’s praises. I couldn’t take credit for her raw talent, but I certainly had been trying to give her every opportunity to succeed, just as Janice had done for me. If ever there was a person going places, it was Cath, and you bet she appreciated her roots.

“Someone mentioned that she needs a percussion tutor for her college audition?” A sinking suspicion started to tingle the back of my neck, worse than my previous assumptions.

“I’m waiting to hear back from a friend of mine, Devlin. He’s the conductor for the Symphonic Orchestra of Knoxville. Even though he’s too busy, he knows a lot of people,” I said. Connecting back with him was one of a hundred items on my to-do list for the day.

“I had an idea that might help Cath and my son.” She flipped her hands out in hopeful excitement. “What if you asked Leo to tutor Cath?”

My knee-jerk reaction was to laugh or maybe weep, but Janice’s look was so sincere and pleading that I genuinely considered it.

The facts were that Leo had shown no interest in Green Valley since his return. He’d purposely avoided being seen and interacting. He hid at his mom’s house and did whatever guys in their late twenties without a job and with no bills to pay did. I shuddered to think. I highly doubted that even though Janice’s intentions were good, he would go along with it. The fact that she was asking me rather than him spoke volumes.

More than that, I needed to do what was best for Cath and her future career as a drummer. Was this really the best fit? The excitement in Cath’s voice as she spoke of Leo’s return was telling, but she needed to be consulted first. And didn’t they say to never meet your idols? Whoever they were.

I must have hesitated too long because she stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Don’t be fooled by what the gossips have said. He’s a good man; he just needs a little push. Somebody with your...tenacity.”

Not even nine in the morning, and already I’d had my pushiness referenced twice.

“Have you asked him?” I asked.

“I first wanted to check with you.” She flicked a look at her waiting friends. “And truthfully, I think it would be better coming from someone else. Coming from me, it would seem like—well, he might take it the wrong way. I wouldn’t want him to know it was my idea in case I accidentally hurt his feelings.”

I looked back to the bakery line, now ten people deep out the door. My heart sank. I couldn’t disappoint Janice.

“Okay. If Devlin doesn’t work out and Cath is on board, I’ll talk to your son.”

Janice’s face lit up. “Thank you. That’s all I ask. And remember that he’s very comfortable at home and might need a healthy shove out the door. I give you permission to do what’s needed. That’s why I know you’re the best for the job.”

“Why me?” But I knew the answer.

“You’re a motivated individual. A strong-willed woman.”

Oof.

Unfortunately, for most of my life, for most women like me, that rarely felt like a positive. In Janice’s case, it was meant as a compliment.

“He needs someone to shake up his routine and get him out of his shell. Only a major shake-up can motivate him. He used to be so excited about the future. I want to see that spark back. I think you will really help. Music and Cath.”

Chances were another solution would present itself, and I could forget all about this request. This was a future bridge to cross. For now, I needed to focus on my upcoming visitors and getting those pies.

“I’ll keep you posted,” I said.

“Great. Mari, thank you. This town is better for having you in it. I appreciate you.”

I beamed at her words.

With another quick goodbye, I made my way to the back of the line at Donner Bakery, my buoyant mood back in place. I had so much on my mind that Leo was quickly pushed aside.