"NO!!" Lance sat up in his bed and checked the time on the clock on the table in between the two double beds. That damn dream. Lance walked to the window, he looked out across the City and watched the lights. Down below them, he could see cars whiz by on the street. Trucks delivering fresh produce to the upscale restaurants in the neighborhood. At this hour, only in New York, there were people awake. Like him. Lance had hoped that his talk with Dr. Fitzpatrick would somehow help to eliminate this nightmare he kept having. He didn’t know what it would take to finally sleep through the night again, peacefully.
"Whoa. Lance, you okay?" Justin asked.
"Yeah, J. Sorry if I woke you."
Justin turned over onto his side, he wondered if it was possible that Lance really did have that dream every night. Lately, in the evening, Lance seemed to want to avoid getting to sleep. He’d sit up and play cards, sit in front of his laptop, watch the TV or listen to CDs on his headphones until way after everyone else had passed out from exhaustion. Once he had the nightmare, Lance could sleep all day. They were constantly finding Lance late for an appearance or a sound check. That was so unusual for him.
It had only been a few days since Lance was at the Fallbrook Center trying to see Mercedes. But great progress had been made on the recovery front and on the personal front. Mercedes’ sister had asked to have the chance to speak with Lance and, with Lance’s permission, Dr. Fitzpatrick gave her Lance’s cell phone number. Victoria apologized to him and told him that she was grateful that the assumptions she was led to believe were wrong.
"I’m afraid that being Mercedes’ older sister, I have a tendency to be a little overprotective. I have been both Mother and Father to her for so long."
When Victoria had mentioned that Mercedes had a personal computer in her room and she was corresponding with her daily, Lance asked if he might have her e-mail address so he could try and get in touch with her himself.
"Lance, I don’t really know you all that well, but I think that night in Mercedes’ loft really meant something to you, didn’t it?"
"Yes, it meant everything to me."
"Then, I hope if she ever does remember it, that she can see it through your eyes."
"Hasn’t Dr. Fitzpatrick made ANY progress in that area?"
"Dr. Fitzpatrick is of the opinion that her memory is so deeply repressed that it might be very detrimental to reveal the truth. He believes that some day it will come back to her, when she’s stronger."
Lance finally had been able to talk with his family about Mercedes, at length, after dinner the night before. They had a lot of concerns, which Lance acknowledged were born out of their love for him. It was difficult for them to understand why he was admitting he loved this woman who had already been married once, even though the marriage did not end in divorce. His parents felt he should be dating girls his own age. The most difficult part was telling them that Mercedes was suffering from a mental illness, and that he didn’t really know when she might be strong enough to deal with the realities that faced her. As compassionate as his parents always were, it was difficult for them to support Lance’s decision to stick by Mercedes in the hopes that she would recover and eventually they might be able to develop a relationship.
"You don’t owe her anything, Lance. She’s been nothing more than a good friend to you and the other guys in the group. You have this attachment, but what if you spend all this time caring about her, and devoting yourself to her when you find later she never wants anything more than friendship. We don’t want to see you get hurt!"
Lance took his Mother’s hand, and looked over to his Dad. "I know if I were in your place I’d say the same things to my child. I cannot expect you to understand, but I just feel this inside. There’s nothing more I can say or do about it. I’m going to be there for her until she tells me to go away."
Lance‘s Father spoke. "I was afraid something like this was bound to happen. You need to meet someone that is going to be a good wife, and raise children with you. Being famous and on the go all the time, you meet all sorts of people who simply aren’t living the kind of life style that will bring you true happiness down the road, Son. And some beautiful, sexy, married woman can do things to stir up a young man."
Lance let go of his mother’s hand and stood up. Lance’s sister Stacey intervened. "We’ve all met Mercedes. She is a very, very nice person, Dad. Do you remember meeting her, Mom?" Lance and his father backed away from each other for a moment.
Diane Bass looked between the two men she loved, with concern. She acknowledged Stacey’s question with a nod.
"I remember meeting her. She was arm-in-arm with her husband. You were 16 at the time. She was already a married woman," Jim Bass said. Lance threw up his hands.
"What do you want from me, Dad?" Lance said.
"I’ll tell you what I don’t want, Son, I don’t want you to change from the good, God-fearing person you are."
"What makes you think I have? What makes you think I will?" Lance took a moment to stop and calm down to talk with his Dad. "Dad, you know me. You both raised me. Somewhere, inside, you must have a little faith in me. Don’t you? Why can’t you see the simple underlying fact is that all this other stuff doesn’t change the person I know that Mercedes is inside. She’s never done anything but show kindness, gentleness, and compassion. You don’t have to be crazy about it, but I’d like you to show me that you trust me to have some judge of character, here."
Diane and Jim Bass share a glance between each other. "If you’re asking me for my blessing, I can’t do that," said Lance’s Father.
Lance shook his head and looked over at his sister, "Stacey, what more can I say?" Lance turned back to his Father.
"Dad, I’m not asking for permission. I just thought it was about time I shared this information with my family. You can wish me well, or you can give me the silent treatment, either way, my mind’s made up." Stacey sat by her Mother and held her hand.
Justin used his room card key and entered the hotel room at this time.
"Oh, hi guys!" He could sense the tension in the room and gave a nervous laugh.
"Did I come home at a bad time?"
Lance shrugged.
It didn’t take a lot of detective work to figure out that the Bass family had been discussing Mercedes. Lance had told Justin that he thought it was about time he came clean with his parents. For as long as Justin had known Lance, he had never known Lance’s family to have any harsh words for one another. Against his better judgment, Justin spoke up.
"Hey, listen. I know I should go and leave you all to your conversation ‘cause I obviously came in at a bad time. But, I just have to say something. You all remember when Lance collapsed last year back stage. Well, before you guys were able to make it to the hospital that night, it was me, the guys and Mercedes sitting, waiting for some word. It was very comforting to have someone there who would pray and cry along with us. She risked a lot to be there with Lance. I gained a profound new respect for her. She stuck to what she believed in her heart was the right thing, even though she risked her job to do so. Without her support, I don’t know if we would’ve believed in ourselves enough to go ahead with the lawsuit. So take all that for what it’s worth."
"Justin, some day you’ll be a parent and you’ll understand how concerned we are over Lance’s well-being," Jim Bass told him.
"Yes, sir. I’ll want them to meet and fall in love with someone who is capable of deep and lasting love. Someone who will build a solid foundation with them so they can share a lifetime together. As Lance’s friend, I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but if Lance says she’s the bomb. Then, she is."
Before attempting to drift off to sleep that night, Lance commented to Justin about the conversation they had all participated in that evening.
"Ya had them until that last part. The bomb? Yeah, they got that alright."
Lance smiled and shook his head.
Justin keeled over in hysterics. "Oh man."
"Thanks J."
"Sure thing."
'Mercedes-
Hope this message finds you enjoying the first days of Spring.
You’re sister gave me your e-mail address. Joey, Justin, JC and Chris all send along their best. We’re in New York together this week promoting the new CD. Thinking of you. Wishing you good things. Please let me know how you are doing.
-Lance’
‘Lance-
So happy to hear from you. Please tell the guys I send along hugs. (Tea with lemon and honey to Justin, Long Island Iced Tea for Joey.) All of you did a beautiful job on the CD. I loved it. Tell JC, his production job was well done! And my real estate agent is on stand-by waiting for Chris and Dani to pick-up the key to the Barn for their special rendezvous. It needs a very special christening and I’m depending upon them ! (lol) As for you, Mr. Bass, I saw the episode of "7th Heaven" and thought you did a wonderful job. There is no end to your many talents!
My sister tells me that you came up to Fall Brook to see me, but because of some miscommunication, you were unable to. I’m so sorry we weren’t able to see each other. Things are going well for me. Thanks so much for your concern!
I know your so-called "free time" will be severely limited with the tour coming up, but I am buying a farm ("she bought the farm") on Martha’s Vineyard and I seriously hope you will come visit me if ever you have 24 hours to call your own. It was great to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Mercedes
Dear Mercedes,
Passed along your messages. Chris and Dani may actually have a few days at the end of this month or beginning of May to be in Orlando together. They say, "Thank-you. They’ll do their best to make you proud." (That’s a Chris quote, naturally.) From your e-mail, I’m wondering if you’re thinking of moving permanently away from Orlando. I hope not.
It would be hard to think of Orlando as a home base, if you no longer lived there. Congrats on "buying the farm" on Martha’s Vineyard. I hear it’s lovely there, but I’m curious as to why you chose to buy property there. I will definitely find the time to visit. Please tell me when you’ve settled in. The guys and I are leaving for Cannes where we hope to spark interest in a movie project. Johnny has us living in the Ritz at night and on a yacht during the day. Doesn’t sound too bad, I know, but will we actually get out in the water?
Keep the faith.
Lance
Dear Lance,
Hope you’ve brought your lap top with you, because I want to hear all about whatever water adventures you’re having in Cannes.
Thank-you for the sweet comment about Orlando not being a home base if I were no longer living there. That really touched me. I am not selling the house in Orlando. In fact, I just approved plans for adding a recording studio in the Barn. As a child, I spent every summer on the Vineyard with my family. Buying a place here was something I had hoped to do eventually. I have left the Center. I still have out-patient therapy once a week, but otherwise feel I am ready to lead a normal life again. I have lined up some projects which include producing James Taylor’s next CD ( Vineyard neighbor) and possibly producing the next Disney animated flick in Orlando this September.
I want to take this opportunity to apologize to you and the guys for spooking you that morning, and for leaving the project the way I did. I’m really sorry it happened. Now, when you come to the Vineyard, I live in Chilmark and if you ask anyone where the Capt. Flaunder’s House is...they will direct you. (They’ll also tell you all sorts of stories about it being haunted. I’ll let you decide for yourself when you’re here!) The best plan would probably be for me to pick you up at the airport. Air New England flies direct from Boston every day. I wouldn’t recommend the Ferry, too many tourists (you’d have to bring Wesley!)Tell me about Cannes!
Mercedes
Dear Mercedes,
Enjoyed your e-mail immensely!! How did you know I came prepared? Cannes is beautiful and crazy. Joey and I actually did do some jet-skiing yesterday! We’re having a blast! The water is clear and warm. You would like the fact that there are no zebra mussels. (ha) The people here are outrageous. It’s weird because it’s ’business and work’ for most of the people that come here, but how can they get any serious stuff done? Too many distractions! Johnny did the right thing by renting this yacht so we could get away during the day.
I was so very glad that you are not selling the house in Orlando. Please do not apologize for things that were out of your control. We all understood the pressures that led to your leaving the helm of the NSA CD. No one could fault you. I’m just so grateful that you’re doing so well. I am taping a "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" segment for charity the last week of this month to air in May. I’ll be in New York then and might be able to sneak away. Would the first day or two in May be alright to visit ? I will fly; would rather not bring Wes to the Vineyard. Sounds like you’ll be busy with work, too, so let me know if that’s a good time for me to come.
Keep the faith.
Lance
Lance,
Your timing is perfect. I do have some friends that will be here over the Easter holidays, but they will be leaving by the end of April. I have all but completed my work on James’ CD and look forward to seeing you. Let me know about your flight. Glad you enjoyed Cannes. It’s kind of like a super charged Mardi Gras, except the weather is better. (ha) Good luck with Regis!
Sincerely,
Mercedes
Dear Mercedes,
My flight gets into Martha’s Vineyard at 10:25 am Tuesday. I‘ve made some promises to be in Mississippi by Thursday, so that’s the only time constraints I have. I look forward to seeing you after all this time! Keep the faith,
Lance
