And so we did.
Chapter 25 : Drake
Our last two weeks in Manhattan were extremely busy as we wrapped up the details of our trip to Monterey and packed our bags.
I had one last gig with Mersey to play, and we had plans for dinner at the O’Riley’s on Sunday before our flight left.
We were lucky that Karen agreed to babysit for us late on Saturday, so Kate could attend the final performance. Karen planned to arrive in time so that Kate could make it to the ten o’clock final show.
I took my car and drove to O’Riley’s for the last gig – maybe forever, and so I felt quite melancholic about the night. I parked and with my guitar in hand, I walked down the street to the restaurant, remembering so many other nights during the past decade that I walked down that same sidewalk, past the same alleys and street corners, all of it so familiar I felt as if I knew every crack in the sidewalk and hole in the pavement.
Dinner service was in the second seating by the time I entered the back door, and the cooks were busy plating food and the dishwasher had built up a good steam as I walked by. I said hello to those staff I knew and made my way to the office to say hello to Mrs. O. She was in her usual spot, going over receipts and smiled when she saw me, removing her reading glasses and standing up so she could give me a big hug.
“We’re going to miss you,” she said, her voice wavering. “You’re like a son to me.”
“You’re like my mother,” I replied, a bit choked up. “The mother I never knew but wished I had.”
She tilted her head to the side, a sad expression on her face when she thought about my being a motherless boy after my parents split. “I’m glad we could be a family for you since you lost your own. Now, you have Kate and Sophie. Plus Ethan.”
“I do,” I said. “Where’s Ken? Is he in the basement?”
“Yes,” she said and pointed to the stairs leading down to the basement. “He’s getting stuff ready.”
I kissed Mrs. O on the cheek and left, making my way down to the basement room where we kept our equipment. I found Ken standing at a bookshelf filled with sheet music. He was thumbing through a book of music and turned when he saw me.
“Drake,” he said and smiled. “You made it. Come here and look at this.”
I went over to stand beside him, affectionately squeezing his shoulder. “What is it?”
“From one of our first gigs,” he said and handed me the book of music. It was the Beatles, music from Revolver.
I flipped through the songs and smiled as I saw Ken’s notation for the guitar on “And I Love Her."
“We have to play this tonight, when Kate’s here,” I said and showed Ken. “It’s her favorite.”
“Sure,” he said and patted me on the back. “Anything to get you laid.” He winked at me.
I laughed out loud at that. “We haven’t practiced it for a while.”
“I think we all know it well enough by now. We’ve been playing songs off that album for a decade.”
We hauled the equipment up and into the bar, set it up and then when the other members of Mersey arrived, we warmed up for our first set. I was glad Kate was coming for the second set, because I was rusty, even if the other members of Mersey had been playing without me and weren’t nearly as out of practice.
The first crowd was sparse and busy talking and drinking, but after a break, the bar was filled. I checked my cell to see if Kate had messaged me and sure enough, there was a text from her.
KATE: I’m on my way. See you soon. Love, me.
DRAKE: I do love you. :)
Finally, I saw Kate arrive, peeking her head in the doorway to the bar. She caught my eye and waved and I waved back, but we were almost ready to start so I watched as she slipped over to the bar.
The room was packed, and so she sat at the bar with Kevin and watched us play.
I felt a pang of sadness that Mersey would be getting a new bass player, but the guys loved the band and it was the only thing that some of them enjoyed. I doubted I’d ever play with anyone else, but decided to keep an open mind. Maybe I’d meet some other guys like those in the band and play again, but I was too focused on my term at UCSF to think too far ahead.
My last gig with the band went off without a hitch. We played all the old favorites – primarily the Beatles and Rolling Stones. When we came to play “And I Love Her,” I took the mic and spoke directly to Kate across the crowd.
“This next song is dedicated to my beautiful wife and the mother of my wonderful daughter, Sophia. Kate, you are my life and my love. I do love you. Now and forever after.”