Whiskey & Lace

Chapter 1

“Lacey, phone!” My grandma Del yells from the kitchen.

“Coming.” The only time I get a call on the house phone is when my Dad’s assistant calls for him. Grandma gives me a small smile as she hands me the old corded phone and I already know whatever the assistant has to say I really don’t want to hear. “Hello” I lean the phone between my shoulders as I sit at the kitchen table as Grandma goes back to stirring the pot on the stove.

“Hi Miss Lacey, you don’t know me but my name is Parker,and I’m your Father’s new assistant. I was calling to inform you that we will be in Nashville next week for the Restless Wicked tour stop. Both your Father and Brother have requested your attendance for both nights of the show.”

“Peter was it?” Dad changes assistants so many times that I know by next weekend Parker won’t be working for him and why should I call him by his name. Petty and childish, maybe but I owe him nothing. “Please give my regards to my dear Father and Brother, tell them how I am truly sorry but I am unable to make it next weekend.”

“Miss Lacey, your Father told me to let you know that you have to attend as he hasn’t seen you in 2 years. He already has a car scheduled to pick you up from your Grandparents’ house at 12 pm Friday. Please pack a weekend bag as the car will return you back to your Grandparents’ Sunday evening when we leave for North Carolina..”

“Parker, Parker, Parker, I already told you that I have plans. They are the ones who have been too busy to see me. So since I already have a gig booked next Friday and I simply won’t be available to make it. Maybe he should’ve given me more than a week’s notice.”

“A gig? Mr. Haywood never mentioned you might have a gig.” Parker asks in surprise. s**t I need to cover.

“I meant plans. I have plans and can’t cancel them.”

“Your Father said that if you have plans with your friends, then you can invite them to attend the show as well.” He only suggested that I can invite them so that after he sees me for a little bit in the beginning, he wouldn’t feel guilty for leaving me alone. That’s their M.O., they get distracted and leave me on my own like they did when I flew to New York right after my high school graduation, both my Mom and Dad had missed my graduation so the trip was supposed to make up for it. But as soon as I arrived, I spent the first two days alone since Mom went on a few daytime talk shows then Dad met with industry people. When I mentioned going home early, they invited my best friend Willow to New York to spend the last few days with me as they were busy with prior commitments.

“Sorry, but they aren’t Restless Wicked fans.”

“Everyone loves Restless Wicked and this tour has been noted as being the must see tour of the year.”

“Not everyone is a fan.” Not me, at least, Willow I know would be thrilled to see them live but only because she has a crush on Dillon, the band’s drummer.

“Please you have to attend, my job is on the line. I was told that I can’t take no under any circumstances. What do I have to do to get you there?” The man is not beneath begging, he must be desperate to prove himself.

”Nothing. If my Dad or Mason really wanted me there, they could call me themselves. But my answer still is no. Goodbye Parker.” I know they won’t call me unless they truly have to, unlike Mom who’ll have her assistant call me, then they give her the phone to speak to me. I’ve always dealt with Dad’s assistants. I can count on my hands the number of times my Dad has actually called me and a couple of the times it was by accident. Hanging up the phone before he can respond. I notice Grandma as she shakes her head and softly sighs.“You know honey, you’re going to really have to tell them. We can’t keep this a secret forever.”

“No I don’t. My career is as Lacey Brooks. No one outside of here knows I’m related to them and I prefer it that way.”

“But what about the talent scout from Pacific Sound coming to your show next week? If he’s interested, then he’s going to learn that you are actually Lacey Brooks Haywood and then it will get back to your parents.”

“I’ve spoken to numerous scouts over the past 6 years and each one has told me I have a great sound but they have to pass as I’m not what the company is looking for. So this talent scout from Pacific Sound won’t be any different. The only difference will be that I’m performing at the Listening Room instead of that coffee shop.” For the past 6 years, I’ve performed everywhere from small coffee shops to small venues all over Nashville, but The Listening Room is the biggest opportunity I’ve booked.

“Alright. We will always support you. Grandpa and I are super proud of you and will always be here for you.”

“I know.” I give her a hug as I walk out of the kitchen back upstairs to my room to finish off the song I’ve been playing with all recently. I was hoping to have this song ready for the Listening Room as I have selected 11 of the 12 songs I was planning on performing with input from Willow as she swears one day she’ll be my manager when I sign with a record company. She has always been by my side since we first met in the church choir at 6 years old. She is completely different from me personality wise, while I’m definitely more cynical in comparison to Willow’s sweet-naturedness, she is not one to be underestimated because she can kick some serious ass. That’s why she is my best friend. Willow is just a few weeks from finishing her bachelor’s degree from Belmont University in Music Business Management since she is serious about being my manager. While I took a few college classes at the local community college, nothing spoke more to me than my music. Music is my therapy, it’s my way to express emotions I’d otherwise bottle up and in some way I feel connected to my family.

Strumming the first few cords of the new song, the lyrics just flow smoothly from me from the pen to the paper. Finding the missing pieces to the song. .

From the first date to the last

He always said I love you like the last

What makes a man want to leave this place

As he whispers I’m his whole world, but it’s time to go

And I know I’ll love him too

I saw him last on that Friday afternoon

He gave me the gift of love and took it away,

Shot an arrow through my heart

Left a hole where love once lived

Five years later, you look the same

No one here has seen the change

This old broken heart of mine still shows

He gave me the gift of love and took it away,

Shot an arrow through my heart

Left a hole where love once lived

Till the day he came home,

Tattered at the seams

As he gazed around the place

I can see the fear on his face

So I took his hand and said

Welcome home.

Finishing out the last few notes, my phone starts ringing. I have a feeling I know who it is without looking. I quickly answer, “Hi Mom”.

“Hey Lace, your Dad just called upset that you’re refusing to meet with him and Mason next week?”

“Yes, I have plans already and I can’t change them on Willow. I told his assistant that.”

“You can still hang out with Willow at the show. Your father and brother were looking forward to seeing you. You haven’t been to a Restless Wicked show in 3 years. And I know you’re probably upset that we haven't been able to visit sooner, but I’ll come to visit during my summer break and maybe I can talk Madi into coming with me.”

“My plans for Friday can't be changed. We’ve been looking forward to it for weeks now.”

“What’s so important about these plans you have?” She questions.

“We’re seeing a friend perform at the Listening Room. This is big.” I try to emphasize the importance of this night without her asking more.

“What time is your friend performing? Maybe you can do both?” She ask with pleading tone.

“They are first on the set list, so 6.”

“See your brother goes on stage at 9. The Listening Room is close to the stadium so you can do both. I know Willow enjoyed the show last time so don’t say she isn’t a fan.”I don’t respond and just sigh, she must’ve heard it. “Please do this, Lace. I know we haven’t been the best and I’m sorry, but it would mean a lot to me and to your Dad if you were there.”

“Alright, fine, tell Dad I’ll be there.” I resign knowing that if I don’t agree she’ll find a way to get me to go anyways.

“I knew you’d agree sweetheart. They are calling me back to set. But I will call you soon and we can make plans for my visit in a few weeks.” I can heard her PA in the ground telling her they are calling her to the set now, she needs to go. “Love you Lace. Talk soon.” I hear the phone as she ends before I’,m given a chance to say goodbye.

The next few days, I just go through the motions of my daily. I get up and help grandma around the house and then I retreat back to my room and practice the songs on my set list. Willow arrived home a few hours ago and has been on the phone to the reps from The Listening Room.

“So?” I ask when I see her finally put her phone down, holding back the nervousness I feel, hoping they aren’t calling to cancel my show tomorrow.

“We were going over the details for tomorrow. Because of the Restless Wicked show, they don’t know if the crowds will show up for showcase night like they usually do. But they aren’t canceling, they just wanted to let us know. They did say, they’ve heard amazing things about you and would be willing to bring you back next month for a bigger crowd, if the crowd that does show up loves you. So now we have to make sure you look the part.” Willow smiles as she walks over to my purse and turns to grab my hand pulling me up from my seat.

“I don’t really need to go shopping.” I plead. “I was going to wear my favorite dress and I have that gorgeous rhinestone guitar strap you insisted I buy a few months ago that will go perfectly with it.”

“I know but what is the point of having that black card from your parents, if we buy you a new dress for the biggest night of your career and we also need to get you 2 outfits to change into for your brother’s concert.” She smiles as she leads me out towards my truck. Climbing into the driver’s seat as she climbs into the passenger seat.

“Alright where are we going?” I ask as I start the truck and pull out of her driveway.

I alway dread shopping with Willow since we end up going to several boutiques before she finds anything she likes, unlike me I go in and find the first thing I like and call it a day. But with tomorrow night being so important, she insisted I keep looking. I felt like her human size Barbie since I tried on so many clothes, but at the end of the day we managed to find what she claimed to be the perfect dress - a mini white lace bohemian style deep V halter dress. I found a cute moto style leather jacket I can put on over the dress to wear to Mason’s concert after my show and for the saturday’s show we found a black corset top mini dress, that was just a little bit country and a little bit rock which I’m already planning to re-wear to Willow’s graduation party in a few weeks.

After dropping Willow off at her parents house with promises to pick her up first thing tomorrow morning, I pull down the long driveway to my Grandparents house a little after 7 pm to see a few black SUVs blocking the front of the house. Parking my truck in the garage, I can hear their voices already. “Grandma, Grandpa, I’m home, but I have to get ready for choir practice.” I shout from the doorway as I enter the kitchen from the garage, carrying the few bags I had purchased, placing them down near the stairs.

“Oh Honey. Come to the living room first, we have visitors.” Grandma calls from the front of the house. Walking into the living room I see Dad and Mason sitting on the couches, along with Dillon, Lukas, and the new guy who plays bass guitar from Restless Wicked.

“Surprise baby girl.” Dad stands and hugs me as I approach the couch where they were sitting on. After Dad lets me go, Mason stands to give me a hug too. “Good to see you little sister.” He releases me as Dillon and Lukas give me side hugs like they’ve always done. The new guy offers me a small smile and nod.

“Don’t take this wrong but what are you guys doing here?” I ask looking back at my Dad. .

“We arrived a few hours earlier than we anticipated, so I thought we could all come and surprise you. It’s been too long. You’re looking more and more like your mother every time I see you.” Dad says.

“Well it’s great to see you and it’s a nice surprise, but I have to get ready for choir practice.” I smile as I step back towards the hallway, looking for the quickest way to escape. I was prepared to see them tomorrow, not tonight.

“We thought we would go with you.” Mason spoke up, “You know to offer our professional advice and stuff. Dad already spoke to your director and she was excited for us to attend.”

“Wait, you’re coming with me?” I look Mason in the eyes.

“We figured you’d be excited to spend time with us. And you can get to know our new member, Whiskey before tomorrow’s show.”

“Whiskey, what type of name is that?”

The new guy clears his throat before saying “It’s actually Elijah Craig but these a-” he pauses for a second looking at my grandparents before continuing,”these guys think it’s hilarious to call me Whiskey after the brand. But it's nice to meet you, Lacey.”