Dead People by Edie Ramer

Author:Edie Ramer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Walrus Books
Published: 2010-11-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-eight

Luke hadn’t gone happily to the clinic with Cassie. They got there a few minutes before closing time, the waiting room empty except for a bored looking young woman reading a magazine. Cassie spoke to the woman behind the reception desk, and a moment later a nurse led them to a small office at the end of a long hallway.

Dr. Rudolf, a big-boned blonde a couple inches shorter than him, hurried around her desk. She beamed, her teeth a brilliant white and her gums pink and healthy. Her handclasp was firm. She greeted Cassie with less teeth and no visible gums, then gestured to them to take the two chairs in front of her austere maple desk.

“It’s an honor to have you in my office” She rounded her desk to her chair, walking backward to keep her gaze on him.

He shifted uncomfortably. “I write simple songs. It’s not saving lives.”

“Music is the soul of life. Which reminds me...” Dr. Rudolf slid open a drawer, took something out, and stood. She reached over the desk to hand him a Dirty Secrets CD. “Would you sign this?”

Luke stared at his younger self gazing at Vanessa as though he couldn’t wait to throw her in bed and start banging her—which pretty well summed up their relationship. Had it been only eleven years ago? It felt like decades.

Cassie nudged his arm with her elbow. He took out the insert and signed his name above his shoulder-length rocker hair.

“I haven’t bought any Dirty Secrets’ albums since you left.” Dr. Rudolf stared at him with an adoration that made him shift again. “Are you ever going back on stage? In the Rolling Stones article last December, you said you were writing songs for other singers—”

“No.”

“But you have such stage presence.”

Cassie leaned forward, catching the doctor’s gaze. Luke relaxed a fraction. About time she took over.

“Luke moved to Bliss to give his daughter a normal home. He’s here for the long haul and going back to one-night gigs is out of the question. You understand, don’t you?”

Luke’s fingers curled on his thighs. How the hell did she know all that?

“Of course, I understand.” The doctor gave him the disbelieving smile of someone who couldn’t see past the glitter—not the pain when a song was thrown out because it didn’t have a hook, not the executives who cared only about the money, not the hype, not the sex, not the drugs. Especially not the drugs and the way they ruined good people. “I honor you for putting your daughter over your career.”

“That’s why he’s here to see you.” Cassie slid to the edge of her chair, her eyes wide and her expression earnest. “He loves living in Bliss and has so many plans. He’d love to get involved in the community. Maybe give a benefit.”

He glared at her. What the fuck?

“That would be fabulous!” Dr. Rudolf slapped her hands on the clean desktop. “Absolutely fabulous! I can assure you, we have a number of families who could use help with their medical expenses.

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