Page 227 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland
P. 227

Chapter Thirty-Eight


               “The new president is Jimmy Bowen!” Hudson’s tone is
            oddly flat.
               “Oh no, that’s not good, is it? All that terrible stuff we’ve
            heard about him.”
               “Yes, and it gets worse. He’s already fired all the Capitol
            staff.”
               My knees buckle and I sink to the floor. “Oh my God!
            How awful.”
               “Apparently that’s what he does when he moves to a
            new record company. He brings in all the people he’s used
            to working with. Any deal in the works is gone!” Hudson is
            obviously upset.
               So am I. “So, it really does mean the deal is dead. Dead
            before it even has a bloody chance?”
               “I’m afraid so.”
               “Are you sure? Can’t we audition for Jimmy? Can’t we at
            least try?”
               “I don’t know. I didn’t talk to Nashville. It was just the guys
            from here.”
               Damn.
               What now?  We have worked my entire career towards
            this one deal. We have lived and breathed this business. We
            have sacrificed so much. This was our one big chance! We were
            THIS close. And now, our dreams of Nashville are shattered.
            Just three weeks after my life literally hit the ditch, I am left
            with no husband, no manager and no U.S. record deal.
               Hudson breaks the silence, his tone surprisingly matter-
            of-fact.  “By the way, I’ve decided I’m moving to Nashville.
            There’s no reason I can’t still move down there. I’m going to
            do graphics and design. Besides, I’ve got to get out of Toronto.
            My life’s over here.”
               “Oh … okay.” My voice is still shaky after the shock of


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