Chapter 20
Henley
Options & Acceptance
“It looks like the whole town showed up tonight.” My sister stands beside me, holding Remy.
“They usually do.” I lift my water to my lips.
“Yeah, but I also heard that Carolina was bribing people with donuts at Bites & Bliss, so that might have been a factor.”
I direct my gaze in the direction of the bar and see Carolina handing out samples of the blueberry donuts that Elodie loves, bragging about Elodie and her voice, as well as her exceptional taste in baked goods.
It’s the night of Elodie’s performance at Hart Winery, and as my sister pointed out, the place is packed.
Gas heaters are spread throughout the courtyard to ward off the chilly November air, especially after the snow we got earlier this week.
But the people of Blossom Peak aren’t afraid to put on a jacket and bring a few blankets to support one of their own, and in less than an hour, Elodie will have everyone warming up when they start dancing.
I heard her rehearsing in her room when I got home from Elliot’s house last night.
She probably doesn’t know since I didn’t bother her and I was too busy pacing my room after my argument with the boys, but all I could think about is how tonight was going to feel—how watching her perform for the first time would remind me of why she came here in the first place, to make a decision about the role that music still plays in her life.
And I think by her deciding to do this, her choice is clear and I need to accept it—music is still what she wants.
“How are you feeling?” Dilynne asks as Remy blows raspberries in her arms.
“I’m not the one performing.”
She rolls her eyes. “No shit, Sherlock. But I can tell by the scowl on your face that you’ve got something on your mind.”
My eyes scour the crowd again, looking for any sign of the one person I know Elodie wants to be here. “Elodie’s mom said she might come tonight, so I guess I’m on edge.”
“Really? I thought her parents weren’t supportive.”
“Oh, they’re not. I gave them an earful about it, though.”
My sister laughs at me. “God, I knew this girl was having an effect on you, but I didn’t think it would happen this fast.”
“She’s leaving still, Dil.”
Her brow furrows. “Really? Did she tell you that?”
“She didn’t have to. This performance says it all.” I hold my hand out toward the stage Laney is currently checking over, talking to the sound guy to make sure everything is working right. “This is the life she wants.”
“And what do you want?”
I want her, I think to myself. I want to keep her for myself, but I know I’m not the man who gets to keep a woman like her.
“I want her to be happy,” I say instead.
“You and Remy do make her happy,” my sister counters.
“Music is her first love, and it always will be.”
“First loves don’t mean shit,” my sister fires back. “Trust me. Sometimes the person we give our heart to first is the one we think breaks it the hardest, but then we experience true heartbreak and realize we didn’t know shit about love.”
I glance over at her. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
“Yeah, well…lessons learned are important too. But Henley, you can’t deny that there’s something real between you two.”
“I’m not.”
“So why don’t you ask her to stay?”
Remy reaches for me, so I take her from my sister and situate her against my chest. “I knew we were on borrowed time, Dilynne. I’ve known that from the start.”
“Have you considered going back to LA with her?” she suggests, which I can’t deny has crossed my mind. But it’s not that simple.
“I can’t, Dil. I have a business and a daughter now, which means my life is here. And if I ask her to stay, she’d be giving up her dreams for me.” Shaking my head, I clear my throat. “The last thing I would want is for her to hold that over my head, to resent me down the line.”
“Oh, so this is about your baggage.”
“I don’t have baggage,” I lie, knowing damn well that she’s right, and so were my friends last night.
My sister huffs out a laugh. “Oh, so you’re also in denial, got it.”
“Thanks for the support.”
“That’s what I’m here for. But, you know what I keep thinking about? The Charming Bull. She sang a country set that night and owned the place.” She taps her chin, considering her next words. “Nashville isn’t as far as Los Angeles, and honestly, that seems like a better fit for her.”
“What are you saying?”
My sister leans closer to me, eyes wide. “I’m saying, things can change, and if you’re serious about her, maybe she could consider other options.”
Is Dilynne right? Is this something Elodie might be willing to do?
“My point is, you’ve got to stop hiding behind your fears and actually make shit happen. Otherwise, you’re going to be left living with regrets.”
“You act like it’s so simple to just forget what happened to us, how it felt to be forgotten about over and over again,” I say, finally voicing part of my fear to my sister.
Her face softens as she places her hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t forget a thing, Henley. I remember parts you probably never wanted me to, but I do. Those memories still exist, I just choose not to dwell on them. And you know who restored faith in the world for me besides you?”
“Who?”
“Carol and Nick.” She squeezes my upper arm.
“We had an amazing gift of a second chance with them. They loved us like we were their own, and I’ll never take that for granted.
” Sighing, she leans toward Remy and kisses her on the cheek.
“I’ve got to go to the bathroom and check on Laney, but save me a seat, will you? ”
“Sure.”
As I watch my sister walk away, her last few words hit me hard. Have I taken Carol and Nick for granted? Have I been so blinded by anger that I’ve been reluctant to accept all of the good in my life?
Gazing down at my daughter, I feel the sting of tears in my eyes.
Holy shit.
Dilynne is right.
I’m the one who gets to choose if I keep fixating on my past instead of fighting for my future, a future with my daughter that I never imagined having. But I do, and now it has to be my main focus.
God, I’m such a fucking moron, but at least I have the ability to change that.
“You look like you’re having an epiphany,” Fletcher says as he comes up behind me.
I twist to face him head on. “Well, I sort of am.”
“Is it a good epiphany?”
“Yeah, but not for my heart rate.”
Fletcher reaches up and clasps my shoulder. “Look, I wanted to apologize about last night.”
“No. You have nothing to apologize for, man. You were right.”
“I was a little harsh.”
“I needed to hear it, Fletch. In fact, between you and my sister just now, I think something finally clicked.”
“Really?”
My eyes move to the right just in time to see Elodie making her way toward the stage for a sound check. A man hands her a microphone and asks her to say a few words. People instantly start clapping and cheering, even though we still have another half hour before she starts performing.
“Fuck.”
I—I think I’m in love with her, my mind finishes for me.
Fletcher slaps me on the back. “Yeah, it slams into you fast, buddy.”
I turn to face him. “I have to ask her to stay.”
“I know.”
“If I don’t, I’ll—”
“Always regret it.” He nods. “I know the feeling well, my friend.”
And that’s when I decide that it’s time to make this woman mine, come hell or high water.
***
“Blossom Peak! How are y’all doing tonight?” Elodie greets the crowd, and their cheers go on for minutes.
I show Remy how to clap her hands, assisting her with the motion until she attempts to do it on her own. “Say, ‘Go, Elodie!’” Remy squeals when she sees her nanny walking across the stage.
“Well, I’m so honored to be performing for you all tonight, and I hope you like country music.” The crowd cheers in response. “Growing up, my momma always had music playing, so this first song goes out to her. And if you’re here, Mom, I just wanna say thank you.”
A sharp pang of guilt cuts through the center of my chest as I watch Elodie search the crowd for her mom only to come up empty.
I kept trying to hold out hope that her mother would appear, even standing by the entrance to the winery until the very last second and asking Dilynne to save a seat for me and her if she showed up.
Unfortunately, the woman I chastised on the phone the other night is nowhere to be found, at least that I’ve seen for myself.
Laney and Dilynne are seated to my right, Fletcher next to his fiancée, and George Hart next to him.
Rhonan, his nanny Joanne, and daughter Ellis are on my left, followed by Elliot.
Carolina is in the row behind us, smiling from ear to ear as Elodie starts to sing the lyrics to “Somebody’s Hero” by Jamie O’Neal.
Dilynne and I share a look, but I try to just focus on Elodie and not how badly I want to drive to Garnet Valley to tell her parents off for real.
Elodie keeps playing through her set, singing crowd favorites by Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire, and George Strait, and I can’t take my eyes off of her the entire time—her smile, her energy, the way you can tell that she feels the music and lyrics in her soul.
Watching her on that stage is making me fall for her even more.
“Thank you so much,” she says before taking a sip of her water.
“Now, I love singing, but I love writing songs even more and lately, I’ve had a little bit of inspiration.
” Her eyes meet mine. Rhonan shoves me from the side as my grin appears.
“So, if you’re willing, I’d love to play a few new songs I’ve written for you.
” The applause is instant. “Perfect. Well, this first one is inspired by a little girl I’ve had the pleasure of taking care of for the past three months.
She’s brought so much joy to my life, especially at a time when I thought I’d lost all of mine. It’s called, ‘Remember Me.’”