Cantrell: The Middle Years, Part Two

Putting on the Brave Face, a Cantrell: The Middle Years, Update-3

To admit he was shaken, was to admit he was insecure. That was one place he hoped never to revisit. Things were swirling around, however that he realized he had little or no power over. This left him feeling small and vulnerable. Scared. So what, if he wasn’t Artist of the Year again, it wasn’t the end of his career. He was being ridiculous. How many times had he wished for someone else to take the mantel. This new kid, Armando Pendleton, was quite the talent. Erik should be more than happy to step aside.

Should Armando pull off the win, Erik was more than prepared to give the youth a standing ovation, even if Erik stood alone.  He climbed down the stairs to his new Music Room, more like a dungeon, but not as crowded as the last basement. This one was cheery. He took a seat at his treasured piano, recently tuned, and sought to bring himself out of this mood. He knew if he didn’t keep himself in balance, he would be in even worse trouble. The last thing his career needed was for him to get sick again and be forced to hide indefinitely, as before.

The other thing that had him vexed, scared, was that his first daughter, Melodie, was becoming a teenager very soon. Already he could see differences in her. His sweet, sweet baby girl would soon find a beau of her own and he would lose her. He truly understood just what Drake was going through when Erik became part of Kayleigh’s life.

Erik decided the only way to tackle these raw emotions was to meet them head on.
He climbed back up the stairs to bake her the best Strawberry cake there ever was.
Upon reaching the living room, he heard a commotion going on. Screams and everybody running out of the front door. “Hey, what’s going on?” he asked as Jamison ran by. “Fire,” the boy said. 
“But, I thought all of that was behind us. This is a brand- new place; the appliances top of the line. What started the fire?”

“Fire’s out,” Kayleigh shouted at those few who ventured into the kitchen. The others were still waiting outside of the front gate.

Glad to know everyone, especially Kayleigh was all right, Erik went to his scheduled concert. “I’ll be back soon,” he promised.

The press was there, and Erik performed like never before. He put himself into it and realized shortly thereafter all of his cares were being washed away. He was having the time of this life, and the audience, too, by measure of their applause. He noticed Image Magazine was on hand, as well as Sim Enquirer. Later he was rather pleased with their covers.

The next day Joseph Cantrell, Sr., came by for a quick visit. “I realize you have a lot to do today, to get ready for Melodie’s birthday party, I just wanted to stop by and tell you I caught your concert last night. You were terrific.”
“Thanks, Dad. I had fun, more fun than I’ve had in awhile.”
“It certainly showed. The audience thought so too, they were eating it up.”

“I’ll see you later, let you get to baking that cake.”
“Thanks for stopping by, Dad. Please, don’t be a stranger.” With that Erik pushed up his sleeves, got himself organized and commenced making the cake batter.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

The party was due to start at four pm. This gave the kids time to get home from school, get settled and ready to party down.  While the minutes ticked away, Kayleigh put the last-minute finishing touches on the room. Finally, Erik was ready to place the cake.  All four young scholars burst into the front door and ran upstairs.  Before long, the party started.  Guests arrived, although some apologized for not being able to make it mid-week, as this was, having taken time off of work for the holidays.

Feeling momentarily wistful, Erik watched as Melodie approached the cake table. The candles all ablaze, others urged her to blow them out, when she appeared to hesitate.

Once the candles were out, Melodie smiled as she twirled into a teen.

Silence filled the room for only a minute or so, each stunned at just how much she resembled her Auntie Bree.  “Kayleigh, honey, you’ve got to have her tone it down a bit. She looks sixteen.”
“Oh, Erik, relax. I looked older at thirteen, too. By the time she’s sixteen, she may very well look younger. It is what it is. We have to trust in ourselves that we have taught our children to respect themselves enough to keep to the straight and narrow.”

“Well, pardon me, if I recruit Jamison and Andrew as her bodyguards for when she starts high school tomorrow. Keep the potential hounds from attempting to turn her head. She’s just too young. And she won’t be prepared for that kind of attention.”

Kayleigh turned to gaze at her husband. “Remind me again, how different you are from Captain Drake Golden. I really need my Erik to come back to his senses. In the meantime, I’m going to clean up this mess and then go to bed. It’s been one busy day.”
Erik, feeling duly chastised, nodded his head. “I’ll help. Doubt if I could sleep now, if I tried.”

“Poor baby, we can cuddle each other to sleep, how’s that?”

All for now, thanks for reading!