The Wedding March. Tara Randel

been missing since starting in the business.

      “Well, if Mr. Hastings agrees, I’ll be hanging around the Klub more often.”

      “Really, Mr. H.?”

      “Yes. Cassie wants to volunteer. Give music lessons.”

      Erin’s face lit up. “You promise?”

      “I do. But right now, I need to prepare before we go on. Excuse me.”

      Cassie gingerly stepped over the cords and between the instruments and monitors. She marched down the steps and strode to the tent set up for the band. As she entered the empty space, her stress level lowered.

      She grabbed a water bottle from the large ice-filled tub. The cool liquid soothed her throat as drops from the wet container splashed down on her dress. She brushed the moisture away, taking another swallow before placing the bottle on the makeup table.

      Pacing now, she cleared her mind. The ritual eased her nerves. Jitters plagued her whenever she performed, right up until she released the first note of the first song and her passion kicked in. Nerves are good, her manager always told her. Keeps you humble.

      Did Luke see her as a humble musician? Or a career-driven poser? She wasn’t sure, but in the time she had left in Cypress Pointe, she was determined to leave him with a positive impression. Why his opinion meant so much to her she didn’t fully ponder, just let it simmer below the surface. Funny, she tried not to care what most people thought, but Luke had joined the ranks of those she wanted to please.

      She shook off the image of Luke. Continuing to pace, she included vocal exercises. She hummed the scale, her tone clear in the process. Long ago she’d learned to start out by humming so not to strain the vocal cords. Then she added the words of a song, again moving up and down the scale before taking another drink of water.

      Minutes passed and she started to softly sing a random melody, eyes closed, final prep for the performance. She let go, her mind free, shaking her arms in the process, working out the kinks. Tonight had to be a success. She needed to show Luke that she was more than willing to work in exchange for his agreement to help her unlock the writer’s block. That her motives were not one-sided.

      She took another pass across the room when the tent flap flipped open.

      “Cassandra. I’ve been looking for you.”

      She held back a groan as her father walked in.

      “I’m busy right now, Dad.”

      He glanced around the empty tent. “There’s nothing going on here.”

      “I’m preparing.”

      “It can wait,” he said, impeding on her space. “I have a request.”

      She took a deep breath to control her annoyance.

      “I want to play with you tonight,” he rushed on to say without waiting for her go-ahead. “It will be a good move for your career.”