The Devil's Lair Read Online Free PDF Page B

emotion was evident in the occasional tear that rolled down her face. We spent the night talking about ways we could help both Shane and his mom.
    When the band met up the next day, we brainstormed on what we needed to do. We decided to immediately set up a college fund for Shane, with a percentage of each show’s profits being donated. Leila’s stepmother fought breast cancer. It’s already a charity she actively contributes to. She and Jack decided to pick up all of Paula’s medical bills. Trey has volunteered to give him private guitar lessons a few times a week, since Shane will not be able to have his lessons at home these next few months. Mandi and Patti went shopping for his favorite toys. Play dates are scheduled with the twins at every juvenile attraction in every country we’ll visit. These are all great ideas, but the elephant in the room, or at this rehearsal at least, remains to be Shane’s future guardianship.
    “Leila and I decided we’ll take him,” Jack blurts out as soon as we get backstage. He looks over to his wife, and she nods in agreement. “We plan on talking to Paula about it tomorrow.”
    “That’s huge, man. You guys discussed it at length?”
    He nods at my question. “Yes. There’s no way we can let him go into foster care. Now that we’ve met him, now that we’re getting to know him, we want him. There’s a reason he came into our lives.”
    “Between the eight of us, he’ll have everything he’ll ever need.”
    “Except his mother,” Leila mumbles, but we all hear her.
    “He’ll have you. He couldn’t ask for a better mother,” Trey speaks for the first time since our rehearsal.
    Leila smiles at his comment. “Thank you, Trey. You don’t have to say that.”
    “I’m just being honest. He’s a lucky kid to have found you guys. He may have been dealt a crap hand, but it’s what comes of it that counts.”
    There is so much truth in his statement. He’s most definitely speaking from experience. His mother isn’t dead, but she may as well be. He lived his life without her by choice. Shane may not have a choice. If he did, it wouldn’t be what his future holds. Having Jack and Leila as parents is the best scenario that could come from this tragedy.
    An uncomfortable silence falls over us again. We have a few hours before we go on, and we need to improve our moods. As band manager, I’m taking matters into my own hands.
    “Why don’t we bring Shane on stage to play with us tonight?”
    All eyes turn to me in disbelief.
    “What?”
    “Are you insane?” Scott asks what they are all thinking.
    “Hear me out. He has his tiny bass. He’ll stand beside Trey, but he won’t be plugged in. He’ll be our special guest. Have him perform a song or two. He’ll love it.”
    They process my words for a few seconds. Leila nods slowly, “That would be amazing. We’ll have to ask Paula, of course, to be sure she is ok with it.”
    “We don’t have much time to get this done. I’ll have to run it by Jen. Wouldn’t want the lawyers freaking out.”
    “I’ll handle Jen,” Jack says, dismissing my concern of any problems she may throw at us.
    Over the next few hours we do whatever is necessary to get this done. Paula was thrilled with the idea. Surprisingly, Jen was also on board. We got the little dude a very rock star looking outfit. Leila even got him his own pair of shades. When we told Shane he would be playing tonight, he literally jumped in place like a monkey.
    The smile on Paula’s face was blinding. She explained to her son that he would play the first two songs with us, and then he had to go back to the hotel with her. It would be way past his bedtime, and he needed to be rested for our plane ride tomorrow. I’m not sure he heard any of that. He continued to jump around during most of his mom’s speech. In fact, as we stand off stage waiting for the house lights to dim, he’s still jumping around.
    Trey squats before Shane and says something quietly.