Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
R enic stood in the doorway behind Lizzie and watched with her as his number-one star dazzled another audience. Della Bellamy was back, no question. The anxiety that she’d caused eased, and the load he’d carried the past week lifted. She was back, and his business was going to survive.
The icing on the cake was the woman who stood in front of him. All the years and anger between them had miraculously melted away. He rubbed Lizzie’s shoulders and let the good mood Della created wash over him.
The impromptu concert ended with a standing ovation. Several people in the audience tapped excitedly on their phones. He had no doubt they were sharing videos of the entire thing, which meant not only would Della get a bump of publicity from this, but so would Jacob. The kid didn’t know it yet, but Renic already had plans for him that involved Della and Jacob touring together to promote their new albums.
Della made her way through the small crowd toward the door. Her excitement was infectious, and he found himself beaming at her like a proud father.
“Great job, Della.” He pulled her in for a quick hug. “That was fantastic.”
Della gave him a fierce squeeze and beamed up at him. “That was more fun than I’ve had in a long time.”
Della whirled to throw her arms around Lizzie. “I know you didn’t want anyone to know I was here, but I heard them yelling at you and I saw the poor bride crying and I couldn’t not do something.”
“It’s okay, Dell Bell. You were perfect.” Lizzie hugged her sister tight. “I’m so proud of you.”
Renic waited for the two sisters to end their hug before pushing forward with the one thing he really needed to know. “So, Della, have you decided? Is the tour back on?”
Lizzie glanced at Renic, then away again. He caught a flash of emotion in her eyes that he couldn’t interpret.
Della kept her hands tucked around Lizzie’s arm. “The tour. Yes, but I have conditions.”
He frowned, and noticed Lizzie doing the same. “What do you mean?”
Della lifted her chin. “I realized something while I was singing. Actually, before that, while I was hiding upstairs pretending I didn’t exist.”
Lizzie made a sound as if to argue with her, but Della shook her head. “It’s okay, Lizzie. I can admit when I’m a selfish brat. Anyway, everyone kept asking what went wrong. Why I left. Over and over and over. I didn’t have an answer, but today it hit me. I was at that party, and the Wagner twins were there. You know them, Renic?”
He nodded. “Pink hair, pop vibe. They’re with Standard Records.”
“Yes, them. They were so excited, talking ninety to nothing, almost like they spoke their own language. They’re so close, and they’d had a big night. They were sharing it with each other just like the people at this wedding, and I realized that I’d had a big night too, and…,” Della swallowed, and her voice shook a little when she continued, “I didn’t have anyone to share it with. I didn’t have my sisters. And…I miss that. I miss my sisters.”
“Oh, Del.” Lizzie pulled Della in for another hug. When they pulled apart this time, both of them had tears streaming down their cheeks. “You always have us. You know that. Right?”
“Yeah, maybe. It hasn't felt like it though.” Della sniffed and wiped at her tears. “So I’ll do the tour, Renic, on one condition. We relaunch The Bellamy Sisters.”
Renic sucked in a breath. In true Della fashion, she’d asked for something that might be impossible with the same attitude other people used to order a glass of wine. “I don’t know if I can make that happen, Della. Piper and Mattie have moved on. So have you.”
Della set her jaw in that stubborn way she had whenever she wanted something she thought she might be denied. Renic knew that look well. It was the same one she’d used when she demanded to go solo. “No, they haven’t. Not really. Mattie’s still writing songs just like she always did, which is good because I want us to record her songs, not anybody else’s. I guess I should make that another condition.”
Lizzie crossed her arms as if she were trying to give herself a comforting hug. “What about Piper?”
Della hesitated, then shrugged. “Whatever she has going, we can make time for it too.”
“You think she will make time for you? ” Renic asked softly .
Piano music started up in the ballroom, and people moved onto the dance floor.
Della crossed her arms. “All I know is I’m nowhere near as good on my own as I was when we were together. None of us are. And whatever success we’re having doesn’t mean very much when we can’t share it with each other. We had something magical, and I want it back.”
Renic rubbed his jaw, trying to ease the tension. “I don’t even know if Piper will listen to that idea. I know it hurts to hear, but she’s still really hurt about the way things went down.”
Lizzie reached out to put a soft hand on her sister’s arm. “She needs time, Del.”
Della’s face locked into an expression of determination and defiance. “She’s had enough time. So have I. Look, I’m not asking either of you to talk to Piper for me. I’ll get her back myself.”
“How?” Renic asked. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the idea. The Bellamy Sisters were pure magic on stage, but he knew precisely how angry Piper was at her sister, and letting Della think it would be an easy fix seemed cruel. “How will you convince her to get back together when she won’t even take your phone calls?”
“I’ll start by apologizing, and go from there.” Della sounded confident. “I’ll do the tour, Renic. You were right. I can’t let the fans down, and I can’t do that to my crew. But after that, I’m getting my sisters back.”
The piano music shifted to a slower, softer melody. Della glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, I love this song. I’m going to do another set.”
She gave Lizzie a quick hug. “Don’t worry, Lizzie. It’ll all work out in the end. ”
Della flashed a smile at Renic and bounced back into the ballroom.
Renic stared after her, feeling like he’d just gone ten rounds with someone bigger and stronger than he. On the one hand, it was a better outcome than he’d anticipated. His most prominent name wasn’t going to leave him high and dry immediately. On the other hand, he knew just how serious she was about wanting her sisters back. If that didn’t happen, he wasn’t sure what she’d do.
Still, that was a problem for his future self to deal with. Right now, he’d take the win.
He turned to Lizzie to celebrate Della’s decision, but swallowed the words he’d been about to say when he saw her face. She watched Della with a mixture of pride, anxiety, and sadness.
It was the last part Renic didn’t understand. They both wanted Della back on track. Didn’t they?
“Lizzie? You okay?”
Lizzie nodded, but she wrapped her arms tightly around herself in a gesture that shouted that something was definitely not okay.
He put his arm around her shoulders. “What’s wrong? Are you worried about Della and Piper?”
Lizzie didn’t lean into him as he’d expected. Instead, she pulled away. “I need to check on dessert.”
She started toward the kitchen. He followed after her. “Hang on a second.”
“It’s been a long day, Renic. Don’t worry about it. Go watch over Jacob and Della. I know you want to.”
Her tone was distant and cold, and staring at her back made him feel like she’d just shut him out. He sped up to get in front of her and blocked the doorway. “You Bellamy sisters really have a thing for running, don’t you. ”
Lizzie glared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means tell me what’s wrong instead of walking away from me like I don’t matter.”
“Move. I need to get into the kitchen.” She clenched her jaw and looked ready to shove him out of the way if he didn’t.
He kept his hands firmly planted on the doorframe. “Why does Della doing exactly what we wanted her to do suddenly have you so upset?”
Lizzie crossed her arms. “Get out of the way, Renic. I have work to do.”
From behind him in the kitchen, Carrie called out in an overly cheerful voice, “No, you don’t. But if you’re going to fight, you might want to take it into the office.”
“Stay out of this, Carrie.” Lizzie made a frustrated sound and gestured with one hand for Renic to step aside. “She’s right. We can’t talk about this out here. There are guests.”
Renic relented and moved one arm to allow her to pass, then followed her into the kitchen. Carrie leaned against the counter and watched them with interest. Her apron was covered in flour, and there was a brown smudge on her nose.
Lizzie stalked past Carrie, intending to ignore everything and everyone, but then stopped at the door to her office and glanced back over her shoulder. “The desserts?”
Carrie waved her off. “They’re good to go, and already set up on the buffet. Go on. I’ll make the announcement.”
“Like that?” Lizzie’s voice cracked. “You’re a mess.”
“Never trust a clean cook. It means they don’t love their work. Now shoo. Take your time.” Carrie sauntered to the door, flashed Renic a subtle thumbs-up, and left the room.
Lizzie glared at Renic, then went into the office. He followed her in and shut the door.
The room was more like a closet than an office. It was maybe six feet across, with just one high window that probably didn’t let in enough light during the day. A small desk covered in papers that looked like invoices filled the corner of the room, a small chair crammed in behind it. Another chair huddled in the left corner. Piles of clothes he assumed belonged to the servers lay scattered on the bookshelves, the chairs, and the floor.
Lizzie picked up a few papers from the desk and shuffled them together. “You might as well go enjoy the party. Your work here is done. Della’s going back. You got what you wanted.”
“What we wanted.” He wanted to shake her until the problem spilled out. “I thought we were on the same side on this.”
“We.” She said the word like it was something foreign. “Yes, we got what we wanted. You’re right. And it’s the right thing for Della. For all of them, really. It’ll be good to see them together again.”
“Then what’s your problem?”
She picked up more papers and piled them neatly on top of the others. “Nothing.”
He put a hand on hers to stop her frantic movements. “I know you better than that, Lizzie, even if you don’t think I do. Something is going on in your head and it has nothing to do with Della. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She gave him a stare that could form ice in a desert and pulled her hand away. “We only slept together twice, Renic. It doesn’t give you the right to interrogate me. I have an event going on. Stop making it harder.”
He blinked. “You think what we have is just a fling?”
Lizzie moved the papers from one side of the desk to the other, then stacked pens next to them one at a time. “Isn’t it? You’re leaving on Monday, right? Or are you leaving in the morning now that Della’s back? That’s why you were staying so long, wasn’t it? For Della?”
He clenched his jaw in frustration. Morgan had warned him about this. She’d told him to include Lizzie in his thought process, but with everything else going on he’d forgotten to tell her his plans. She obviously thought he didn’t have any that included her. “I do have to get back for some meetings already on the books, including two sessions in the studio, but I’m coming back.”
Lizzie wiped invisible crumbs off the desk. It was as if she were trying to clean him out of the room and her mind. “I don’t see why you’d come back. It’s the middle of nowhere, and Della won’t be here.”
“This isn’t about Della,” he said, louder than he’d intended.
Lizzie started and looked up at him.
He took a deep breath, forced it out, then counted to five. He locked his gaze on hers. “Della might have given me the excuse I needed to get off my ass and come see you, but that’s it. I’ve wanted to come for a long time. I just didn't have the guts. And it wasn’t just a couple of nights in the sack. Not to me. Are you saying you don’t want me here?”
Lizzie closed her eyes, severing the connection between them. “It was two nice moments. That’s all. They’re over. It’s over.”
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was like a Dear John letter, but out loud and to his face, and it stung his heart like nothing else ever had. “What the hell, Lizzie? Two nice moments ?”
She opened her eyes and lifted her chin, and a calm mask slid over her face. “I’m glad you came, Renic. It’s been good for Della. Please. Just go. I need to finish this event.”
They were brave words, coolly professional and composed, but he knew they were complete crap because a rogue tear spilled out and traveled down her cheek. She impatiently brushed it away and returned her attention to the damn papers.
He ran his hand through his hair, so frustrated he could spit. “This is bullshit. Complete and total bullshit.”
She looked up, fire flashing in her eyes. “Get out.”
Just like that, they were right back where they’d started a few days ago. It was the beginning of a nasty pattern, and he’d had enough. “No. I’m not letting you push me away. Not this time. I want more. A lot more.”
“Like what?” Her jaw tightened, and she spit the words out like each one cost her more money than she could afford to spend. “Phone calls? Texts that gradually taper off when life gets more exciting? Emails that go through Morgan for a spell-check?”
“No, dammit.” He wanted to punch something. Instead, he slammed his hands down on the desk and leaned toward her.
Lizzie started and made a little squeak. One hand fluttered up to her mouth, and she stared at him with wide eyes.
He kept his gaze locked on hers, and this time she didn’t look away. “I want nights on Lookout Point with you. I want to wake up next to you in the Rose Room. I want to go to dive bars and eat burgers and listen to fantastic music with you. I want it all, Lizzie, and I want it with you.”
“No. You don’t. Not really,” Lizzie said. “Your life is the city. It’s travel and lights and music and parties, and there’s no way you’re giving it up for a few vines and an old inn in upstate New York.”
“I’m not giving up anything, and if I was, it wouldn’t be for this inn. It would be for you . Don’t you get it? I’ve waited for you for years, and now that we finally have something started between us, I’m not letting it go. I can run my business from anywhere.”
She looked ready to argue with him. He raised a hand to stop her. “Yes, even from upstate New York. I could run it from this crappy little office right here or the front porch or the backyard. It wouldn’t matter. But it’s not my business I’m talking about here. It’s my life. Our lives. Together.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “There is no our . My life is this inn. I have people here who count on me to keep their legacy alive, and I’m not abandoning this place, or them, to go back to chasing after my sisters or a man the way I did before.”
“I’m not asking you to.” He was shouting now. He couldn’t help it. She was driving him crazy with this slow buildup to something he still didn’t understand. “I want you to share your life with me, Lizzie, not give it up. I want you to give us a chance.”
Lizzie crossed her arms. “How do you see this playing out? You come for a weekend here and there, maybe a week at Christmas when the shows are dark? I suppose I’ll be a convenient layover while you’re on the road to somewhere else. An easy lay to take the edge off, then get back to what really makes you happy.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” He floundered for what to say. He really hadn’t imagined the conversation going in this direction, and he had no idea how to pull it off the ledge.
She turned away from him to stare at the wall instead. “I’ve been there and done that, and I won’t do it again.”
He swept his hand across the papers on her desk and sent them flying. “Dammit, I’m not your ex-husband. What kind of man do you take me for?”
“The kind who has a life that can’t slow down. The kind who doesn’t have time for someone like me.” Her expression hardened, and her voice came out harsh and broken. “Face it, Renic. You and me? It’s not going to work.”
“Why the hell not? Couples make it work every single day. Why should we be any different?”
“Because we are!” Her shout matched his, now. “The world you live in isn’t real. It’s a fantasy. I found that out the hard way. I thought I was in love, but then one day I came home early to find the supposed love of my life playing couch commando with two— two —of Omega's latest starlets, and I realized that love is just a delusion. It’s hormones and tricks of the light, especially when it comes with musical strings attached.”
“I didn’t know he was doing that. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have sent those girls his way. You believe that, right?”
She closed her eyes as if trying to muster up all of her patience. When she opened them again, she looked a little less angry, a little more resigned. “I know you’re not like him. I know you have good intentions. But it doesn’t change reality. You’ve been around long enough to know that the music industry is poison to relationships. And we both know you’re never giving up that side of your life. Nor should you. So let’s not set ourselves up for failure.”
He paced to the wall and back, so full of irritation and frustration that he had to move, had to do something before his head exploded. “So you’re not even going to try ?”
She slumped into the rickety office chair, looking more defeated than he’d ever seen her look. “You’re music, and I can’t sing. You’re spotlights, and I’m backstage. We don’t mesh.”
She put her head in her hands. “I don’t want to fight anymore, Renic. Please stop torturing us both with something that won’t work and just go back to the city. There are plenty of women waiting there for you. You don’t need me.”
Something about the way she said that made him realize that was the very root of the problem. “I love you. Doesn’t that mean anything?”
She didn’t look up. “Not enough.”
“That’s messed up, you know that?” He stared at her, dumbfounded. It wasn’t the reaction he’d expected at all. The fact that she waved his declaration away like a particularly annoying fly tickled a thought. “You know what? I’ve figured it out. I didn’t see it before, but now I do. You’re afraid. You think that because it didn’t work out so great for you last time that it’ll always work the same way, so you’re running from it like a scared jackrabbit. I didn’t take you for a coward, Bellamy.”
She jerked her head up, and anger flared in her eyes. She thrust her chair back and stood up to face him. “I am not a coward, Renic. I’m a realist. I’ve seen what happens behind the curtains, and I don’t need that. Not anymore. I’ve built a new life, one that doesn’t involve stages or sleepless nights or cheating husbands. I don’t need you. And you don’t need me. We had a couple of nice little romps. Let’s just leave it at that.”
He worked his jaw back and forth, nodded once, then strode to the door and left without looking back.