Bassline

Syl smiled as she entered the beach house. The rumble of the bass guitar welcomed her home, and the house keeper Rita came to greet her in the front hall. Not for the first time, she had to remind herself that this was still her brother's house, though he had been kind enough to let her and the kids stay as long as they needed.

That's what family was for after all.

But that sentiment never stopped her from feeling like she was imposing. She made a mental note to start looking for a place for her and the kids, maybe when preparations for the new tour coming up were done. Not an easy task with the city's current strict zoning laws.

Rita would miss the kids though, Syl realized as they walked together down the hallway. The house keeper joyfully recounted the children's antics for the day; how Cabot had gotten peanut butter in Jet's hair, and Aniela's excitement at the purchase of some new tack for the horses. The thump of the bass followed them like a movie soundtrack.

The scent of something savoury washed over her like an ocean wave as they entered the kitchen. With a proud smile, Rita announced that dinner would be ready soon.

Syl nodded and went to get the kids.

Jake and Valentine were easy enough to find; she followed her ears and tracked the bassline to the living room. They were sitting on the couch by the giant picture window (really just a huge piece of glass that would have been a wall in any other house) that framed the sea and sunset outside.

Valentine looked up and smiled, never missing a beat as her fingers thumped the strings. Syl caught the reggae bounce in an otherwise distinctly rock-style bass riff, and smiled back. Her father would have been proud.

Jake smiled along with them, "Val's awesome, isn't she?"

"Definitely," Syl agreed, chuckling. "And it looks like you're hogging her talent all to yourself."

"Hey, it's not my fault she won't join a band!" The boy protested in his defense. Still chuckling, Syl ruffled his hair to let him know she was just kidding.

"Nothing's come up," Val explained, shrugging nonchalantly while her fingers continued to slide along the strings, as if controlled by a subconscious part of her brain. "But then I really haven't been looking lately."

Syl knew why and gave a worried frown, but said nothing. Val would figure out what to do in her own time.

"Is Aniela out at the stables again?" It wasn't really an question.

"Yeah, Cab and Jet went with her," Jake added, grinning. "They wanted to try teach football to Pedro again."

Val chuckled and her bass music shifted slightly from a little less rock to a little more reggae. Pedro was the pony their father had reluctantly bought for them the first time they had spent Christmas at the beach house.

"Well, you're gonna have to be referee then, Jake, and tell them the game is over. Rita's almost ready with dinner."

"Okay!" He hopped off the couch, and dutifully ran off to play the authority figure to his younger brothers.

"Get your sister too! And don't forget to make sure they wash up!" Syl called after him, but wasn't sure he heard.

She glanced over at Val. The girl stopped playing and lay her bass guitar on the couch, trying not to chuckle at her aunt's worried look. "I have a bad feelling they're all going to show up at dinner smelling like horse."