Chris and Allen had a long discussion when the pair came back. They talked over different ideas, and what each of them wanted to do. At one time Allen took Chris aside and explained their money situation. Chris again smiled and assured him that it wouldn't be a problem. After that was settled Chris told Allen that he wanted to bring Jamie down to Orlando to put down a few tracks, and maybe work on the songs that she had written.
Allen was elated and he was about to ask how they would pay for it, but Chris noted his look of worry and put his fears to rest.
After standing in the parking lot for half an hour the group decided to head out and grab something to eat. The rest of the pending details were discussed over a quaint meal at a small, home owned restaurant. Allen was extremely happy about the deal they had made, after he had checked Chris' credentials making sure he was legitimate.
So it was decided, that Jamie would fly down in a week, and stay to record a few demo tracks, and work with some different people. Jamie was adamant about using some of her own work, and Chris was glad that she wasn't sitting back and letting her father do all the talking. He knew he had found something, and he was determined to do something with her talent. She was going to make it; he could feel it in his bones.
Jamie and her father made the hour long trip back to Ashland in silence. Jamie was writing in her journal, and Allen was dreaming of all the possibilities for his daughter. This Chris fella had said that he wanted to take over management duties, but Allen wasn't sure. He didn't want to place his daughter in the hands of just anyone, but then again, he was allowing her to fly to another state to meet this man. He was opposed to the idea at first, but he glanced over at his daughter during dinner and it hit him for the first time that she was growing up. Although he hadn't wanted to see it, she was getting older, she would be 19 in about 6 months, and he needed to realize that she wasn't his little baby anymore. He sighed and concentrated on the road, they were going to have to have a long talk when they got home, but right now he didn't want to ruin her good mood.
Lance looked up as Chris burst through the door to the conference room with a smile plastered on his face.
"What did you do this time?" JC asked from across the room, noting his impish grin.
"Oh nothing..." He said slyly. They guys rolled their eyes, knowing he had something up his sleeve.
"Chris unless you just had a night of incredible sex, which we all know couldn't happen, you did something. That grin isn't your usual slap-happy grin you wear." JC countered back, causing everyone in the room to laugh, except for Chris.
"Just so you know, Lance you missed out on an opportunity. I found a singer that could blow Mariah and Whitney out of the water. She is amazing...and the sweetest thing you'd ever meet." He laced his last few words with a drawl causing everyone to look at him as if he had 2 heads.
"Chris, what are you talking about?" Lance asked, suddenly wondering if sending him to Tennessee was a good idea.
"I'm bringing a girl down to do some demo tracks, and work with a few people. She's got the voice of and angel guys, and you have to meet her. She's the epitome of Southern Belle. She's got a heavier accent than Justin over there." He chuckled. Justin threw him a dirty look and turned up the volume on his walkman. "I see he hasn't gotten any better." Chris said with a look of pity thrown Justin's way.
"What'd you expect; this is Justin we're talking about here. He's gonna be in that mood for quite some time, you know that." Joey spoke for the first time since Chris had walked in the room. They all shrugged and moved off of the subject of Justin. Getting back to the matter at hand. After Chris had explained what happened and told the story of meeting Jamie, Johnny walked in, and their real meeting started.
Jamie looked in her suit case and sighed. She had this nagging feeling she was missing something so she ran over her check list one more time. "Clothes, underwear, toothbrush, songbook, reading books, shoes....what am I missing?" She said with a frustrated groan.
"Probably nothing. You've been over your check list about twenty times, and it sounds to me like you're ready to go." He father stood grinning in the door way. Jamie threw him a dirty look and glanced around her room. She stood defiantly, with her hands on her hips, as if she were challenging the room to mock her indecision.
"I just have this--"
"...Nagging feeling you're forgetting something. I heard you the first 15 times James." He laughed as she made an animalistic grunt deep in her throat.
"Not funny, Dad." She plopped down on her bed with a defeated sigh. He father walked in the doorway and sat down next to her.
"Do you have your necklace from Grandma?" He asked, trying to help her.
"Yes, on my neck. And I have the old photo too. I never go anywhere without that." She said with a week smile.
"I know. How about Binky."
"Dad!" She whined. "I can't take him, they'll think I'm nuts!" She raised her voice and her father gave her a stern glance.
"You don't have to parade it around, and it's just a doll James, no big deal. You know you'll miss it if you don't have it. That's one aspect of you that hasn't changed a bit since you were little." Jamie blushed at her fathers comment and threw her old stuffed dog in her bag.
"You're right." He chuckled and kissed her forehead.
"I'm always right. Now get some sleep, you have to get to the air port early tomorrow." She nodded and waited until he closed her door before closing her suitcase and throwing herself onto her bed. Of course, she knew that sleep wouldn't come that easily, but it was worth a shot.
