More Than Memories

You Won't Regret This

Stevie stayed up all night listening to the song over and over. She loved it, it definitely had something that the other songs on her album didn't have just yet. She wrote down the lyrics she could catch, but not all were clear. Hopefully Jimmy would have some insight tomorrow...today, at it was in the wee hours of the morning. She made herself a cup of coffee, and sat with her tape player, listening again.

As the sun was coming up, Stevie was crawling into bed putting her notebook and tape player on the floor by her bed. She sighed with satisfaction as exhaustion took over and she fell fast asleep.

Some hours later, Stevie awoke feeling rejuvenated. She would be seeing Jimmy, then Tom in the next few days. She was excited. She hadn't seen him in a long time and she was always looking for an excuse to talk to one of her favorite musicians. She got up and put the kettle on for tea. She made herself a light breakfast of toast and fruit, finishing just as the kettle began to whistle. She poured the hot water in her mug, plopped in a tea bag and let it steep. After breakfast, she went back upstairs to get ready. She fussed with her hair and applied makeup. Nothing too dramatic for today. She dressed up as she and the girls always did. It made work feel a lot more pleasant and special that way. She chose a dress that cinched in at the waist, and paired it with boots and black pantyhose. She looked over her jewelry, carefully choosing a necklace or two and rings. Earrings were last. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She grabbed the tape from the tape player and her notebook, noting the time. For once, she wasn't running that late. She called Jimmy to tell him she was ready and he sounded like he was in a great mood. She needed that today. Sometimes he could be so particular...but she did like the way her record was turning out.

Jimmy arrived soon after and she went out to meet him. "Ready, babe?" he asked, kissing her. "I know you're gonna knock it out of the park."

"Thank you, I'm definitely ready. I spent all night listening to it. I love it more each time."

"See, when I'm right, I'm right. I've got a feeling this is going to be a big hit."

"I trust you." Stevie said with a smile. They cruised down the road, and it would have been silent had Stevie not been humming that song.

"You really like it, don't you?"

"Yeah, of course. I told you I did."

"That's good." Jimmy seemed to become nervous as they made it inside the building and headed right into the studio. He sat down at the mixing board.

"I couldn't get all the lyrics down. I thought maybe you could shed some light on that."

"Yeah, sure." He seemed as if he were looking for something and Stevie watched as he opened drawers and file folders.

"Jimmy?"

"Gimme a minute. I uh...I've misplaced them."

Stevie sat down on the seat next to his, elbows propped up on the edge of the mixer, careful not to hit any buttons. "Is something going on?"

"Going on? No, why would there be?" he asked from hands and knees, looking in a lower cabinet.

"You're just being weird" Stevie commented as he left the room. She sighed, waiting for him to return.

"I found them!" he remarked, holding up a sheet of paper as he strode through the door.

"Good grief!"

"Here, you take these, get in the booth and we'll give it a go." Jimmy fidgeted for a few minutes and he motioned for her to put the headphones on. She did so slowly, watching him sit back down. The music started and she smiled as she heard Tom's familiar guitar playing. She began to sing and Jimmy nodded approvingly.

So you've had a little trouble in town
Now you're keeping some demons down
Stop draggin' my,
Stop draggin' my,
Stop draggin' my heart around

"Yes!" Jimmy shouted. "This is exactly what she needed!"

It's hard to think about what you've wanted
It's hard to think about what you've lost
This doesn't have to be the big get even
This doesn't have to be anything at all

Jimmy listened to her run-through, pleased with what he heard. He cut the music and went inside the booth to talk to her rather than through the intercom.

"Wow! That was great, Stevie!" Jimmy praised.

"Thank you. You really think so?"

"This is just what you needed. This record needed a single and here it is."

"Well, I'll have to thank Tom. It was his generosity."

"Uh, I wouldn't thank him just yet..."

"Why?"

"Well, um, you know, the record..."

"I feel like there's something going on" Stevie said.

"Nah, let's try this one more time. There were a few spots where you slipped into a harmony. I need you to sing the lead."

"Alright." She gave a brief nod and Jimmy went back to the mixer. He started the music and he counted her in on his fingers.

He smiled. "Perfect!" He knew he made the right choice as he listened to Stevie end the song. He pressed the intercom. "Come out for playback. That was...wow!"

Stevie came out and stood at the mixer. Jimmy started to playback her second take and she liked what she heard as well. "I wonder if we could get Mike to play on this, you know, since Tom gave me the song?"

Jimmy looked up at her from his chair, this eyes darting over to the open door.

"What the hell is this?" an angry voice asked.

"Hold on, Tom, let me explain..." Jimmy said, getting up from his chair. He held his hands up in defense. "Listen..."

"I don't need to listen. I gave you a song and you go shopping it around to other artists?!"

"Other artists? I shopped it to Stevie!"

"Hey!" Stevie's brow creased, offended by Jimmy.

"Fine, you gave it to your girlfriend! Figures! I can't trust you as far as I can throw you. That's real low, Jimmy."

"Just listen to it. If you don't like it, we'll can it but Tom, this could be a big hit. You and the Heartbreakers could play on it. Her first hit single is money in your pocket, Tom."

Tom stood, his arms crossed over his chest. Stevie remained silent, not wanting to anger Tom any further. "Just play the damn song."

"You won't regret this" Jimmy told him.

"Yeah...I hope not."

A/N: this does not depict real events.