Let's Jam

By Judy and Keith

Simon didn’t even graduate, but Lacy never forgot him. She followed her dream to become a Cordon Bleu chef. He followed his to become a rock star.

Will fate play a hand?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Nov 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781487413910

Book preview

Never give up on your dreams. Remember the spider and try, try, try again. Otherwise, it’s a guarantee you won’t succeed.

Simon didn’t even graduate, but Lacy never forgot him. She followed her dream to become a Cordon Bleu chef. He followed his to become a rock star.

Will fate play a hand?

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Let’s Jam

Copyright © 2017 Judy and Keith

ISBN: 978-1-4874-1391-0

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc or

Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

Look for us online at:

www.eXtasybooks.com or www.devinedestinies.com

Smashwords Edition

Let’s Jam

By

Judy and Keith

Dedication

This story is dedicated to Judy, Simon, Daniel, and Carole. Without their perseverance and inspiration, this story wouldn’t have blossomed.

Introduction

My name’s Lacy Thomson, and this is my story.

I went to high school in LA. It was a tough school. I had to stand up for myself and quickly became street smart. I wasn’t part of the in-crowd. All I liked and wanted to do was cook. If the topic wasn’t about food, I didn’t participate. Cooking’s my passion.

Simon Brett was popular. We were in the same class at school and good friends. I made him food parcels, and he ate them, but that was it... a platonic relationship. He was a drummer in a band and had his fair share of groupies. They played the pay-for-play venues in Hollywood and thought they’d made it. Then they did. An agent heard them play at a local Battle of the Bands. They went on tour and were signed to a small record label. I laughed. That’s life. They were the only punk group to enter and didn’t even place. A marching band won, but fate was on their side. A group dropped out of the Warped Tour, and destiny beckoned. He didn’t even get his GED but left school in his senior year to go on tour.

I graduated, but culinary college was financially out of reach. Dad had long gone, and Mom had a simple rule—don’t get into debt. If you can’t afford it, tough, and it didn’t just apply to buying stuff. The world’s my oyster. It’s time to go. I left LA with my passport and worked my way east. My goal was to go all the way across the pond to Paris, and train at the world famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.

Chapter One: An Ocean Trip

Lacy

It was a year before I reached New York. I took whatever work was available, saved enough money for the next bus ticket east, and moved on.

I was working as a waitress in Manhattan when I heard an elderly customer talking about sailing to Europe. He looked in his mid-sixties, with silver gray hair, but still buff, and his blue eyes twinkled. He mentioned that their galley was minus a chef.

I interrupted their conversation, I can cook, and I’m looking to go to France—Paris to be exact. My dream’s to graduate from the Paris Institute Le Cordon Bleu.

The older man stared at me for a minute. You’re serious, aren’t you?

Yes, I am.

The crew consists of two teams of two people. There’s one other woman going as far as Calais, and of course, my wife. I like your audacity, and you deserve a chance. I assume you have a passport?

I do.

Good, we sail in two days on a trial run up the coast to Boston then Halifax. Here’s two hundred dollars. Go buy some provisions. If all goes well, we’ll then head east out into the open ocean. It’s thrilling. There’ll be eight adults including you.

Can I see the boat first and check out the galley? How do you know I won’t just pocket your money?

"I don’t. My name’s Fred Stafford. You’ll find the boat at Liberty Harbor Marina. She’s called The Explorer. I’ll leave your name at the office. What is it?"

Lacy Thomson.

You’re provisionally hired.

I’ll be there tomorrow, then I’ll plan a series of menus.

We’ll take it easy and should reach Boston in a couple of days. We’ll continue north to Halifax, then it’s decision time. Once we head out into the Atlantic, you’re committed for two months.

It’ll take us that long to cross the ocean to Europe?

We could do it quicker, but what’s the rush? Our first stop will be the Azores, and depending on the weather, that’ll take us upward of a month.

This is my big chance. To save money for a flight will take forever, and this’ll be an adventure.

I put out my hand, and he shook it.

The next day, I found the marina and stood, looking lost. I’d forgotten how pungent the smell can be. I took a deep breath. Better get used to it. I can’t believe I’m doing this.

An official looking guy approached.

Excuse me, Miss, can I help you?

I suppose they don’t want any riff-raff wandering around.

"Mr. Stafford said I could check out