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desk and she sat down.
    “What can I do for you, Kate?” Michael asked, starting their conversation.
    “I came to give you my verbal resignation,” Kate said, without preamble. “I’ll have the written one on your desk in the morning.”
    “Resignation?” he echoed, surprised. “Why are you resigning?”
    “I signed on with Nick Marshall this afternoon,” Kate answered.
    “With Empire Records?” Michael asked, thinking she was going there to do the same kind of studio work.
    “No. Nick hired me to replace his keyboard player.”
    “Now I am surprised,” Michael said, raising an eyebrow. “Nick doesn’t audition women. At least he hasn’t in the past.”
    “I think he was desperate,” she replied smiling. “He said he’d been having issues finding a piano player. You and I both know playing keyboards isn’t about playing the piano and he didn’t want simply a keyboard player. One of the reasons he rejected Justin two days ago.”
    “I’ll be sorry to see you go, Kate,” he said seriously. “Artists ask for you by name to work on their records. I’m going to have some very disappointed folks.”
    “I wanted to tell you in person because you were my salvation six years ago when I really needed it. And I also need your help with getting Jason to finish the remaining keyboard tracks this week.”
    “I’ll help, but I’m not looking forward to the conversation,” Michael agreed. “When is Nick leaving?”
    “Three weeks and I want to have a week free for vacation and things, since I will be six months on the road with him for the first tour. I need to get all my personal stuff in line so I can be gone for such a long stretch.”
    Michael stood up and held his hand out to her. Kate took it, shaking his hand. “I wish you the best, Kate,” Michael said sincerely. “And if things don’t work out with Nick, you are welcome back any time.”
    “I appreciate all you’ve done, Michael,” she said smiling. “Good to know I have other options if this doesn’t work out.”

Chapter Two
    A fter two weeks, Kate was getting the hang of being out on the road. Get on the bus – sometimes all night – get to a hotel, stay two or three days and start the cycle anew. In the beginning, she kept track of what city they were in but by the time they got to New York City, at the middle of the tour, Kate had long since given up. It was one city after another, one hotel after another, and the venues were all pretty much the same. Most were large sports arenas which seated over forty-thousand so there were always large crowds on hand. A couple of times an additional show had been added and kept them an extra day which usually meant an all-nighter on the bus going to the next place.
    Kate didn’t mind the all-nighters because the bus was luxurious. It had plush couches in the front with a television, stereo, and six bunk style beds installed in the back. Usually after a long stretch, the beds even started to get comfortable because she was just too tired to care. Kate thought doing studio work had been difficult but she quickly found how out of scope her expectations had been. In spite of the hard work, long hours, and endless stretches of highway, she was enjoying herself. The other band members, Dave, Steve, Andy, and Trent, treated her like one of them instantly – playing practical jokes and including her in some of their escapades. The five of them would go down to the hotel bars after the show sometimes and hang out together, talking and having fun. Nick rarely joined them, as he got recognized easily and didn’t like the crowds which seemed to magically appear. Kate felt like she had found a new home and a new family in the bargain.
    She had been a little wary in the beginning that Nick or one of the guys might come onto her and try to get her into bed, but, surprisingly, they were consistently gentlemen around her. All but Nick and Trent were married. Trent treated her like a kid sister, even though