Saturday June 29, Music Festival Day

In the morning They awoke at the same time.

“So will we start the day with a few games?”

Bobbie straddled him and pretended to restrain his arms, “Simmer down Fella, you’re going to wear this old girl out.”

He felt himself stir. “Now look what you’ve done, you’re a naughty girl.”

“Now I’m all worked up! Rock stars perform better with a bit of sexual tension.” She giggled and jumped out of bed.

Brose laughed and watched her go out the door. He wasn’t good at making close personal connections and this was so easy.

The coffee was ready and they sat at the island. The doorbell rang. It was Jamie. Johnny was right behind him. Johnny looked like he’d been hit by a truck.

“Up Late were you, Johnny?”

“Rock stars perform better hung over.” Replied Johnny.

Brose sipped his coffee. “I look forward to the show today, I’ve only heard Bobbie sing once or twice.”

Johnny raised his eyebrow in surprise. “She hasn’t performed in a while. We should get over there, lets take your car over, Bobbie, we may need to run some last minute errands.”

Bobbie went and got all her stuff and said. “Honey you don’t have to come now. I have a chair for you in the car. Why don’t you just walk over around 9:30.”

Brose smiled. “I’ll give Fossy his meds.”

In the car Jamie said. “I guess you’re really serious about this guy, eh Sis?”

“Bobbie’s dating the man.” Said Johnny.

“It’s not that weird to reconnect with a childhood sweetheart when you’re older.”

Johnny looked out his window and said. “I thought I was you’re childhood sweetheart.”

Before Bobbie could answer she pulled into the parking area and they saw 2 police cars with flashing lights and Johnny’s friend Stack was arguing with someone.

“Oh shit.” Said Jamie, getting out of the car.

A cop leaning against the cruiser straightened up and walked over. “What are you two doing here?”

“Hi Harry, what brings you here?”

“I mentioned I was transferring and I’ve been here a few weeks. We’re investigating a theft of sound stage equipment. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you?”

Johnny cursed and walked towards Stack. He saw the guy that was yelling at him and recognized him right away. His first thought was that Bobbie was going to faint when she learns Tate Cowell is standing there. “Oh hey, mister Cowell sir, I’m Johnny Gold and maybe I can help sort this out…”

Bobbie smiled. “Johnny can talk the birds out of the trees, he’s got this.”

A few minutes later Brose joined them and Stack walked over. “So I’ve been travelling with Tate Cowell and his band and I knew they were stopping in Cid City and taking a few days off. Their equipment was just sitting in those trucks doing nothing for the next 3 days. I thought I could do Johnny a solid and make a couple grand…”

“That’s Tate Cowell?”

Brose joined them. “Isn’t he that singer?”

“He sure is, I’ve listened to him as long as I can remember. I remember jumping on my bed pretending my hairbrush was a microphone and belting out his songs. Johnny and I learned every one of his his songs.”

Johnny and Tate were walking towards them.

Bobbie was about to meet one of her idols, her heart was pounding and she wanted to run. She stood there and stared at him.

Johnny looked at Harry. “Mr Cowell here, is dropping the charges sir.”

Tate Cowell nodded. “We have come to a resolution I’m sorry to trouble you officers.”

Johnny looked at Bobbie. “Tate is going to watch our first set and maybe play with us tonight. Do you have a room for him at the motel?”

Bobbie texted Joe and said. “Please reserve a ground floor suite. Tate Cowell will be staying with us.”

Joe texted back. “Tate Cowell is here!?”

“Also arrange for flowers and a thankyou basket, he’s doing us a favour. Make sure there are blue smarties.”

“Maybe I’ll come back for the show tonight.” Said Harry, tipping his hat and walking away.

Trixie and Greg pulled in. They had two giant T-rexes stuffed into the back seat.

The T-rexes jumped out of the car and pretended to be scared of the police. They ran around trying to hide.

Tate looked at Bobbie. “I like the direction this festival is going. I may as well be your sound guy. I know all the equipment pretty well.”

Bobbie smiled nervously. “That will be awesome.”

Greg and Trixie walked over. “Was that Tate Cowell who just sat in your sound booth?”

“Yup.”

“What did Johnny do?”

They climbed on stage for their sound check and Johnny called them together and said “We’ll do “Never Together” for the sound check.” That was the Tate Band’s biggest hit. Bobbie nodded. They had a very different arrangement and she wanted Tate to hear it.

Jamie started with the mandolin, Johnny played the base guitar and Bobbie played her acoustic 12 string. They sang their mostly acoustic arrangement for the classic rock song and when they stopped Tate walked up to the front of the stage.

“I can’t believe that’s my song; we’ll sing it tonight.”

High praise thought Bobbie. Bobbie jumped off the stage and walked towards Brose, leading him to the car. She popped the trunk. “Lets set up these chairs by the stage and get the cooler over there.”

They went over to a roped off area and placed the chairs. Greg and Trixie came over with their chairs and Bobbie said she had to get ready. She got her things from her car and took them over to the tubing office.

Chuck and Beau were there. “What were the cops doing here? Beau and I almost had heart attacks. Dory was going mad and almost flushed her stash.”

“Johnny’s buddy kinda borrowed the Tate Band’s equipment without asking. We sorted it all out. Tate Cowell is singing here tonight, maybe.”

“We’ve got to get that on the website, we’ll sell more tickets.”

“Don’t overcrowd the place, a little bird told me the police might come for the show.”

“Good to know!” Said Beau.

“Is there a place I can change?”

“Sure, there’s a big bathroom back there.”

Bobbie closed the door and slipped off her shoes and jeans and put on her jean skirt. She put on the fluffy cotton shirt and tucked the front in. She put on her sandals and combed her hair out teasing it a bit fuller around her face. She put a bit more stage makeup on and applied false eyelashes. She stepped out and went over to the face painter. Can I just get a little flower in this cheek she asked.

She walked behind the booths and met Johnny and Jamie behind the stage. “You look great Bobbie, Let’s do this!”

They went on stage and collected their instruments. Bobbie could see the place was filling. Her Mom and Dean were there. George was with them. Eddie and Charley were there with the kids. Some of the staff had managed to slip away too and Mink and Chase were in the middle of a group of people.

Johnny counted down and they played their songs, they joked around a bit about using stolen equipment. And a little about the Chinese conspiracy and after about an hour they took their bows.

Brose met her at the side of the stage. He hugged her and kissed her and said. “You are incredible and my favourite rock star.”

Trixie leaned over and whispered to Greg. “He’s marking his territory.”

They held hands and moved into the reserved area and found chairs. Jamie sat down too. “That was great Bobbie. Do we have to do 2 sets tonight? One with our stuff and one with Tate Cowell?”

Johnny was still on stage introducing the Crow Harbour Hoppers. Tate moved into the reserved area with everyone and sat down and heard Jamie’s question. “Bobbie and Jamie, I really love the acoustic spin you put on my song. If you have similar arrangements for some of my other material I’d love to hear them.”

“We’ve played a lot of Tate Band songs. I’ll make a list.” Said Jamie.

Bobies sons and families were there now and Clay and Walt Jr. brought Jamie and Bobbie big popsicles. “Cause you guys sang so much. We want to learn to play the guitar and maybe the banjo.”

“Clay, can Nikki and I have a popsicle too?” Asked Laura.

“You come with us and we can get our pictures taken with the dinosaurs.” And they were off.

It looks like they are having fun thought Bobbie. Trixie sat beside her and gave her a coffee cup. Bobbie tasted it and it was rum and coke. “The sun is over the yardarm somewhere and this will be better for your throat said Trixie.”

Trixie leaned over and said I don’t think anyone has noticed you, Minister Hennessy.

“I’m not the big story here; Tate Cowell is.”

Bobbie poked him in the ribs and said. “Remember I told you that in Crow harbour you are my boyfriend not the minister of finance.”

A few people in earshot laughed and Trixie nodded.

Bobbie saw Mink motioning her and went over. “We never knew how talented you were. And you looked fabulous. They showed her a couple pictures.”

Mink was wearing white leggings and a linen oversized pink tunic shirt. They had a large sunhat and a big swoopy almost paisley design on their cheek. Chase was in the background all in white linen and a panama hat.

“Bobbie, you are the very picture of summer festival. How about a selfie for my people?”

Sipho and his little brother Denny were organizing the Chili booth and were close to opening for lunch. Bobbie thought for a moment and went back to the gang.

“I’m going back up to my apartment for a while, I’d like to clean up and maybe get some lunch. Things are going well here, will anyone join me?” Everyone except her sons and their families wanted to go back to Bobbie’s. She went over to the sound booth and asked Tate if he wanted to go back to her apartment with everyone for lunch and then check out his suite.”

They all drove up. George parked in the back as did Bobbie. She had Trixie, Greg, Tate and Brose in the car. George had His Dad and her Mother.

They all got out of their cars and Bobbie said “I’ll run up and send the elevator to you Mom. Trixie and Greg, you can wait or take the stairs. Brose, Bobbie and Tate you may as well come up with me.

“Cool, say aren’t you that politician guy?”

Brose smiled and nodded.

Bobbie sent the elevator down for the others.

Tate said. “This is a sweet place, look at the views! Crow Harbour is small but it’s not too shabby. Nice collection of vinyl, can I pick a few to spin?”

“Help yourself.” said Bobbie.

Ambrose went into Bobbies bedroom to the washroom and Bobbie’s mother, Dean and George came out of the elevator. George hadn’t seen her apartment before. “This is really nice, you got it set up really well. Your kitchen is amazing.”

“You notice this stuff more now that your redesigning your place, eh George?” Said Trixie.

Brose came out of the bathroom and Bobbie asked him to get drink orders. She went into her room and washed her face and changed her clothes. Coming back out she said. “Would anyone object to having one of Mark’s Pizzas? If you’d rather go down to SPOKES to eat you can get something else.” Everyone opted for free pizza. Bobbie ordered and Mark and Mink brought them up. Bobbie said “You should join us.”

Mark declined and Mink said. “We’d love to.” Brose asked Mink what they’d like to drink. “I’ll have one of those lovely spritzers darling.”

They all milled around the kitchen and dining room ate and drank their fill and then moved into the living room and let Tate talk about all the music he was finding in the record collection. “Well guys, thanks for the hospitality but I’d like to see my room now.”

Mink approached him and said. “I can take you to registration, to get your key and show you to your room. I am returning to the restaurant to work the High Tea soon.” They took Tate’s arm and lead him away.

Trixie waved. “Mink just wants a selfie with Tate.”