Chapter 5 #2
Laney nods. “The four guys started playing blackjack in high school and it’s sort of a tradition they’ve kept going.
They try to keep up a monthly game, though they weren’t consistent with it until Fletcher and I got together.
” Sighing, she says, “Anyway, I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say the guys have all been a little rattled lately—with Henley’s sudden fatherhood on top of everything else. ”
“I see.”
Dilynne clears her throat. “Anyway, Laney’s brother is one of the sheriffs in our town and also a single dad.”
I nod in understanding. “Okay, that makes sense. Henley has mentioned that name before.”
“My brother helped him the night that Remy’s mom dropped her off, and he’s the one that suggested Henley hire a nanny.”
“Well, he found one,” I say jokingly, holding my hand in the air, making both of the girls sitting across from me laugh.
“That he did. Which brings us to the last of the four men, Elliot,” Laney says, side-eyeing Dilynne for a beat. “Elliot was supposed to be married earlier this summer, but his fiancée ended up leaving before the wedding started and ran off with her boss.”
I cover my mouth. “Oh my God, that’s terrible.”
“Bitch,” Dilynne mutters under her breath. “I knew she couldn’t be trusted, but no one wanted to listen to me,” she continues.
“So just know that when you meet him, his surly attitude has nothing to do with you, okay?” Laney explains.
“Got it.”
“The boys truly are four of the best guys you’ll ever meet, but Elliot’s wedding and everything that transpired after that sort of shook up their friendship.
” Laney folds her hands in her lap. “Not to mention Henley finding out he was a dad out of nowhere took everyone by surprise and has made all of us worried.”
“What do you mean?”
Laney turns to Dilynne, giving her a small nod.
“My brother and I didn’t exactly have the best upbringing, and he never wanted kids after what we went through.
So, the fact that he was suddenly thrown into parenthood has me worried about him,” Dilynne says, her voice shaking slightly with emotion.
“So do me a favor, and let me know if you notice him struggling, okay? I’ve dealt with most of my shit from our childhood because I refused to walk around with a chip on my shoulder forever, but he hasn’t.
And I doubt he ever will. Whether he wants to face it or not, it’s only a matter of time before all that shit catches up with him. ”
Laney squeezes Dilynne’s shoulder. “He’ll be okay.”
“Yeah, I hope so. At least he has Elodie now. That makes me feel a little better.”
Suddenly a weight comes down on my shoulders. So, not only am I responsible for taking care of Remy, but I’m also on “new dad” watch too? And what does Dilynne mean about their upbringing? Now I have even more questions about the man I’m living with.
“Speaking of meeting everyone, did Henley mention the movie night at the winery next week?” Laney adds.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Nope. Is it at Hart Winery though? That’s the one I remember visiting when I was a kid.”
Laney nods enthusiastically. “It is! That’s my family’s winery. My parents opened it when I was a child, and I’ve been helping my dad run it since my mom passed twelve years ago.”
“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry about your mom,” I say, thinking about how I should probably call mine and let her know that I’m no longer in California.
I’ve been avoiding that call because I just know I’ll get the same criticism as always when the conversation moves to me thinking I could make it as a singer-songwriter.
My parents have never supported this aspiration of mine, and I know the first words out of their mouth will be “I told you so” when I tell them that I’m considering giving up.
I know I have it in me, and I know I have stories to tell through music. But I need that breakout hit, that chorus or melody that resonates with people and makes a music producer say, “We want your song. We want you.”
It sucks to want to be wanted and feel like you’re never going to hear that from someone who matters, like someone that holds the fate of my career and future in their hands.
And the scariest thought I’m refusing to face right now is, if I don’t sing and write songs for a living, what else do I do?
“Thank you,” Laney says, brushing a hand through her hair.
“My mother was the one who started our event series, so we hold movie nights once or twice a month during the summer, and there’s one next week.
You should come. Convince Henley you should go.
You bring a blanket, pick a spot on the grass, and relax.
We have snacks, games, and of course, plenty of wine. ”
The idea of sitting on the grass at a winery on a crisp summer night makes me feel energized. Maybe it will help spark some creativity. If anything, it will give me the opportunity to people watch, which always gives me some kind of inspiration. “With or without Henley, I’ll be there.”
Dilynne rubs her hands together. “Fantastic. Let me give you my number so you can get in contact with us as well.” The three of us exchange numbers, and just as we’re finishing up, Steven comes back into the office.
“Hey, boss. I think I found your problem.” His cheeky grin is brimming with pride.
Dilynne practically launches herself from her chair. “Show me.” Without a backward glance, she follows Steven into the garage, the door slamming shut behind them.
“And we’ve lost her,” Laney says with a sigh before turning back to me. “Anywho, I’m right across the street if you need a mani-pedi, facial, or a trim.” She laughs and tilts her head. “Or, you know…a friend.
“I appreciate that. I came here on a whim to recuperate but haven’t met many people yet.”
“Well, now that you have mine and Dilynne’s numbers, you’re definitely not alone.” Laney tilts her head at me. “Do you mind me asking what brought you here in the first place? Dilynne told me you applied for the seasonal job…”
Sighing, I debate how much I should divulge, but I feel comfortable with Laney, and I can’t avoid discussing my career aspirations forever. “I moved here from Los Angeles. I’m originally from Garnet Valley and went to the University of Tennessee before moving to the West Coast.”
“I know where Garnet Valley is. That place is beautiful—and just as small as Blossom Peak, right?”
“Exactly, but I couldn’t go back home just yet.”
“How come?”
Sighing, I continue. “I went to L.A. to try to make it as a singer-songwriter. I’ve been out there for three years without any luck, and if I go home, my parents are just going to rub it in that I’m delusional for thinking I could actually make a living doing something like that.”
Laney frowns. “I’m so sorry, Elodie. That sucks that your parents don’t believe in you.”
“Thanks.” I shrug, glancing into the stroller really quick to check on Remy.
“I’ve made my peace with it, but I’m just not ready to face them.
I don’t feel like there’s anything left for me back home.
I got my degree in business because the agreement with my parents was that I had to go to college first and get something to fall back on in case music didn’t work out, but I never wanted to do anything else in my life.
Music is a universal language, you know?
Everyone can relate to it. I just want to write something that means something to someone else, words and a melody that can transport you to a moment and allow you to relive a feeling over and over again.
I want to leave behind a legacy, have a purpose in this world, make a difference in someone’s life with a song. Does that make sense?”
Laney practically has tears in her eyes. Brushing her cheeks, she says, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tear up but I’m slightly hormonal at the moment. PMS is a bitch.”
I laugh. “I agree.”
She reaches out and grabs my hand, squeezing it slightly.
“I know we just met, but if you can bring me to tears with just that little speech, I have no doubt that you have it within you to change someone’s life with your music.
Don’t give up on yourself, okay? Speaking from experience, I put a dream of mine on the back burner because I felt it was no longer important.
When Fletcher and I reconnected though, he was the one that pushed me to chase after it again because he believed in me, and didn’t want me to live my life with regrets.
My mom wouldn’t want that for me either. ”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what was it that you pushed aside?”
“Writing a novel.”
“That’s something I’ve always wanted to do too.”
Laney smiles. “See? There are so many ideas I had, but after my mom died and I stayed in town to help my dad, it just became something I forgot about, thought I’d never end up doing because I was needed elsewhere. Fletcher helped me see that it’s still important, so I decided to give it a shot.”
“You’re lucky to have someone like that.”
“And now you do too. Me,” she says effortlessly, like her words didn’t just make my eyes tear up as well.
“Take this time like you said, help Henley because lord knows that he needs it, and then chase your dreams once you’re rested and inspired again.
There’s no timeline for aspirations, right?
That’s what I keep thinking. Who says you have to achieve something by a certain age?
People who were too scared to keep trying, that’s who. ”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you, Laney. I really think I needed to hear that today.” Maybe that’s the reason I walked in here on a whim, to hear the words that would help me feel like it’s okay to breathe and rest.
“My pleasure. But, if you need some sarcasm or tough love, Dilynne and I are more than qualified to offer that as well.”