Reconnecting: Part 4

By Morganperidot

1.

Avery decided to bring in another producer to assist in recording the vocals for his duet with Juliette. If he were the only one singing he would have done the producing himself, but Juliette was always a wild card. Should things go sideways somehow with the duet – which was a strong possibility – it would be a good idea to have someone else there in control of things professionally. So he brought in a colleague he respected, Tori Sanders, to take the wheel.

Juliette had offered her band to play on the music track, and Avery made use of her drummer, bass player, and rhythm guitar guy, while he took lead guitar. Tori sat in on that recording, which allowed Avery to really submerge himself in the music and open up the sound of his guitar to a fluid purity that made his soul soar. When he came out of the booth Tori was just shaking her head. "To quote Billy Joel," she said. "Man, what are you doing here?"

Avery laughed. "That's a long story," he said. "So, did it sound as good as it felt?"

"Better," Tori said with a smile. "You know, I've heard a thousand different guys play guitar, but I've never heard such a sustained honest tone like that. You are blessed, Barkley."

"Thanks," Avery said. "We'll see if I feel that way after I play this for Juliette."

"She would have to…"

"She's unpredictable," Avery said. "If something strikes her wrong, even some little thing, everything could go out the window. Which reminds me, when she's in here, don't engage with her. Pleasantries and small talk are fine, but go easy on any direction and criticism. Don't hide things from her if there are problems, but don't push her either."

"Is she really that volatile?" Tori asked.

"Let's just say it's best to treat her like the star she is," Avery said, "and she will perform at that level. If anything, you may need to pull me aside if I'm not matching that. I haven't recorded vocals in a long time, and I've never done it with Juliette. So let me know if I'm not holding up my end."

"I have a feeling you know what to do," Tori said.

"Yeah, and with the guitar that is all natural," Avery said. "I can play that anywhere. But the vocals – I haven't done lead in a while. I did a lot of trio stuff and trying to blend into the mix."

"Didn't you release a solo song a while back?" Tori asked.

"Yeah," Avery said, "before I burned up my solo career." At her questioning look, he just said, "That's a story for another time. I'm just saying I'm open to any guidance you have."

"Just sing like you played today," Tori said, holding out a USB flash drive with a copy of the recording.

Avery smiled and accepted it. "I'll give that a shot," he said.

2.

When Avery arrived home he found Juliette sitting on the floor with Cadence in her lap and a bunch of tour photos spread out around them. Avery walked over and kneeled down next to them. He kissed Juliette on the lips and Cadence on the top of the head. "So, what is all this?" he asked.

"Jeff wants a storyboard for the DVD," Juliette said. She picked up a notebook and handed it to him. There were a lot of scribbles, cross-outs, circles, and arrows on it, and Avery wasn't sure if it was something he was supposed to be able to decipher.

"If the goal is to make his tiny brain explode, this should do it," Avery said, handing it back to her. She glared at him, and Avery settled on the floor next to her. "So, Fordham is still involved."

"He's a pig," Juliette said.

"No argument here, other than going a lot stronger than that," Avery said.

"He wants signoff on the DVD concept," Juliette said, scooping up some of the pictures. Avery noticed that the on-stage shots were labeled with the relevant song and date.

"We can put something together," Avery said. He looked at the photos. "I take it we don't have the actual footage," he said.

"No, he has everything," Juliette said. She hugged Cadence, and Avery smiled.

"Not everything," he said.

"He won't let go," Juliette said. "The lawyers…"

"OK," Avery said, cutting her off before this became the issue of the night. "We'll deal with him. But first of all this sleepy girl needs to go to bed." He slid Cadence out of Juliette's arms and took the baby to the nursery where he laid her down to sleep.

Juliette stood in the doorway. "What happened with the music track for the duet?" she asked. "How did it turn out?"

Avery looked from his daughter to his wife. "It's amazing," he said.

"So, let's hear it then," Juliette said.

"Actually," Avery said, grasping her nearest hand with his, "let's have a big glass of red wine first." He led her out of the nursery and to the kitchen.

"If it's so amazing, why do you want to get me drunk?" Juliette asked.

"I don't," Avery said. "I just don't want you to be all wound up about Fordham when you listen to it. That SOB is going to get his, and he's not going to ruin anything else for us." Juliette just smiled, and Avery asked, "What?"

"You are so sexy," Juliette said.

"Yeah?" Avery said.

"Yeah," Juliette replied. "The only man I want to be wound up about is you." She stepped close, and Avery didn't need to think about whether he should follow the cues to kiss her. Their lips met tenderly and then passionately, with all the love of two lost souls that had somehow found one another and held on despite all the bumps and swerves in their road together.

Juliette slid her hands under his shirt, and Avery dismissed all thoughts of the music, wine, and Jeff Fordham. The only thought in his mind was of his wife. "I love you," he said.

Juliette smiled. "I love you, too," she said.

3.

Later Avery went back to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine, filled two glasses, and took them to the bedroom. Juliette was sprawled on their bed in nothing but a very short black teddy. "You're gorgeous," he said, handing her one of the glasses.

"Of course," Juliette said. She reached for the waistband of his jeans with her free hand. "You're overdressed," she said.

Avery smiled but moved away. "Enough stalling," he said. "I need you to listen to the duet track. I have time reserved tomorrow in case something needs to be redone…"

Juliette sat up. "I thought you said it was amazing," she said.

"It is…"

"Then you don't need that studio time, right?" Juliette said.

"Will you just listen to it?" Avery said, trying not to sound as frustrated as he felt. "I really want to know what you think."

"OK," Juliette said. "Put it on and then come over here."

Avery slid the USB drive into the bedroom sound system, booted up the track, and then went over to the bed to wrap his arms around Juliette. He kept the volume somewhat low because he didn't want to wake Cadence, but it was loud enough to appreciate the tone of the music. Juliette relaxed back against him, and he closed his eyes. The intro was full and fast, sliding down into a quieter bit for the verse. He could hear the integrity of each instrument and silently thanked Tory for her help with that. And then came the swirl of the guitar into the chorus that tore a hole in the fabric of the universe.

"God," Juliette whispered. Avery felt that response in his soul, and he smiled. It really did sound amazing, and his only concern was that the power of the music might detract from the vocals. He listened as the music went on into the second verse track, then the second chorus, then the bridge, with the guitar leading the way all the way through, only to slide down and play out in a quiet wail. Avery let go of the breath he was holding and waited for his wife to speak. "That is really hot," she said. She turned and looked at him. "You know, that night, I always think what if a million things had happened differently…"

"But they didn't," Avery said. "You and I were on a cosmic collision course."

Juliette smiled. "It seems that way," she said, "from that first moment we literally collided at the Opry."

"Yeah, and all the ups and downs since," Avery said. He kissed her lips softly. "So, the track seems OK?" he asked.

"Except for…" Here it comes, Avery thought. "The rest of those instruments," she said.

She had said it so seriously that for a moment he wasn't sure how to interpret it. "Are you being serious?" Avery asked finally.

"Of course," Juliette said. "We don't need all that clutter on the song. It would be really great with just a tambourine and a triangle…and maybe a bit of cowbell."

Avery smiled. "Funny," he said. "So, you like it?"

"I like champagne and jewelry and big crowds chanting my name," Juliette said. "This I love, like I love you." She grabbed his face and drew him into a long deep kiss.

"I was just thinking about the tempo shift into the bridge," Avery said when his lips were free again. Juliette rolled her eyes. "Seriously," Avery said. "Maybe that should come a little earlier…"

"It's perfect, Avery," Juliette said. "The tempo and the rawness and the sexuality…"

"It's just that I have that time booked for tomorrow to make adjustments," Avery said.

"You don't need it," Juliette said. "It's perfect the way it is. Don't mess it up."

Avery laughed. "OK," he said. "It felt good, and Tori liked it…"

"Who's Tori?" Juliette asked.

"Remember I told you I was bringing in another producer?" Avery said. "She told me…"

"What?" Juliette said. She moved back from him.

Avery didn't understand her reaction. "I was just going to say that she…"

"This producer is a woman?" Juliette said.

"You have a problem with female producers?" Avery asked.

Juliette got off the bed. "Don't play dumb with me, Avery Barkley," she said.

"I'm clearly not playing, because I have no idea what the problem is," he said.

"Then why did you hide this woman from me?" Juliette asked. Avery just stared at her for a moment. He was surprised that he could still be shocked by her insecurity, but it truly amazed him that she didn't trust him. He could feel his anger rising to the surface, and rather than express that he got off the bed, grabbed his wine glass, and walked out of the room. He went to the kitchen and refilled the glass. "Answer the question," Juliette said when she arrived there as well.

Avery drank some wine and then set down the glass and looked at her. "No," he said.

"I'm not kidding, Avery," Juliette said.

"I don't care," Avery said.

"Fine," Juliette said. "Then you can forget about the duet."

"Thank God," Avery said.

He saw the shock register on Juliette's face before she could hide it. "What does that mean?" she asked.

"It means thank God I don't have to deal with the humiliation of some public blow up in my place of business, which is guaranteed to happen if that duet ever happened," Avery said. He finished off the glass the wine, well aware that he was imploding something that he really wanted by saying what he'd said.

"You can be a real bastard," Juliette said. She turned and walked back to the bedroom, where she slammed the door.

Avery was about to refill his glass again when he heard Cadence start crying. He set down the glass and went to check on his daughter.

4.

Later, Avery found the drive with the duet track on the floor in the hallway outside the bedroom. He picked it up and threw it in the garbage in the kitchen. Then he ordered a pizza.

While he waited for the pizza to come, he picked up the tour photos and started putting them in a reasonable order. He flipped the page on Juliette's notes and took some of his own, ignoring his annoyance at having to do anything by the order of Jeff Fordham.

When the pizza came Avery took a couple slices over to the sofa by the TV and watched some old sitcoms while he ate and drank more wine. He hadn't intended to fall asleep, but he realized he had when he woke an hour or so later to the feeling of a warm body beside him and a blanket over them. Avery felt the pain in his heart loosen, and he sighed.

"I'm sorry," Juliette said softly.

Avery put his arms around her and drew her closer to him. "Thank you," he said. He kissed the top of her head. "I love you," he said. "I only want to be with you."

"I know," Juliette said. "I just get scared sometimes that you'll get sick of all the crap…"

"I'm yours," Avery said. "That's what I want."

"What you said about recording the duet…"

"I shouldn't have said that," Avery said.

"It's true, though," Juliette said. "If we…"

"When we," Avery said.

"No…"

"Yes," Avery said. "We're doing it. If you want Tori out, she's out. I'll get someone else."

Juliette was silent, and Avery waited it out. "You brought her in because she's good?" she asked finally.

"Yes," Avery said.

"Then we'll keep her," Juliette said. "We want the best."

"Yes, we do," Avery said. He had another thought, and he considered not bringing it up. But he knew it was better not to ignore their problems, even if it wrecked a nice moment. "Do you really not trust me?" he asked.

Juliette turned toward him. "Avery…"

"Just tell me the truth," Avery said. "Do you think I would cheat on you? Do you think I would sleep with another woman?"

"I think…you might see someone at some point who isn't as much trouble as I am," Juliette said.

"So, this isn't about me cheating," Avery said. "This is about me leaving."

"I'm just so afraid I'll lose you somehow," Juliette said.

"We're family now," Avery said. "You aren't going to lose me."

"Avery…"

He drew Juliette closer to him and kissed her deeply. "Believe it, OK?" he said. "As long as you want me here, I'll be here."

Juliette smiled. "OK," she said. Cadence started to cry, and Avery shifted to get up. "I've got it," she said. "You just get pizza and wine and keep the bed warm."

Avery smiled. "OK," he said.