by Kay Correll
The woman didn’t react to his name, which wasn’t that surprising. He’d been half of The Second River Bridge band, but Kimberly Day was the name that most people remembered. She’d been the memorable one with her long blonde hair, charismatic voice, and effervescent personality.
He filled out the registration information, gave her his credit card, and took the offered key. “It’s cabin fifteen, Rustic Haven. We just finished remodeling it. It has a nice view of the lake.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“How did you hear about us?”
“I actually came here with my family when I was a boy.”
Nora smiled at that. “Love to hear that. Something about this lodge calls people back.” She handed him a simple map of the property and showed him where his cabin was.
“Thank you.”
“Have a good stay. The dining room is open if you’re looking for a good meal. Miss Judy, our cook, is fabulous.”
“Might just take you up on that.” He nodded and headed back out to his car.
He parked in front of cabin fifteen, then went inside with his guitar and suitcase. The small cabin had a kitchen that opened to a family room. One small bedroom and a bathroom were off to one side. The cabin had pine-planked ceilings and freshly painted warm white walls. It even had a few pictures and decorations, unlike his own apartment back in Nashville. A huge picture window framed a beautiful view of the lake, just in time for sunset.
It took him all of five minutes to unpack, then he looked around the cabin.
Now what was he supposed to do?
The clock on the wall ticked through the silence.
Sophie stood on Nora’s front porch. Beth’s mom had invited her to dinner, and she never could refuse Nora’s home cooking.
“Come on, Miss Sophie. Won’t you sing for us?” Trevor pleaded with his bright blue eyes shining at her. How could she refuse her best friend’s son?
Sophie smiled and ruffled his blonde hair. “You bet, Trevor. Just a few songs until it’s time for dinner. Go get your mom’s old guitar from the closet.”
Sophie had tried numerous times to teach Beth how to play the guitar over the years, but Beth had finally given up, announcing it wasn’t one of her stronger talents.
No kidding. Beth had been all thumbs. But she’d kept her guitar stashed at her mother’s cabin, and Sophie often used it to sing for the boys. Lullabies when they’d been little, nursery rhyme songs as they’d gotten a bit older, then expanded into many other types of music as they grew up. They were always an appreciative audience.
Beth came out of Nora’s cabin and sank onto the porch swing. “Mom says dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes. I’m not allowed to help her with anything, but she did seem to approve of you keeping the boys occupied while she finishes up.”
Trevor came back out with the guitar with his brother, Connor, close behind. “Here you go.”
The boys settled onto the porch swing, one on each side of their mother. Sophie pulled the guitar from the case and strummed the strings. She adjusted a couple of them until they were back in tune.
“Okay, what do you want me to sing?”
“That song about living down that old dirt road.”
“Chalk Road?”
“That one.” Trevor nodded vigorously.
She’d written that song years ago after visiting Annie’s father at his house on Chalk Road. That was back when he’d been alive and living in the house. She could only imagine growing up in a home like that, and her thoughts had taken wings like they often did when she started to write a song, and the words had poured from her as she’d jotted them down on an old scrap of paper. Years later, it was still one of her favorite songs she’d written.
“Good choice.” Beth nodded and slowly pushed the swing with one foot.
Sophie strummed the guitar and launched into the haunting melody of Living Down Chalk Road.
Chapter 3
Chase should have grabbed the map of the property when he’d left the cabin. He thought the dining room was this way, but now he wasn’t sure…
He stopped dead in the middle of the pathway. The unmistakable strumming of a guitar mixed with the silvery voice of a woman singing threaded its way through the trees. Her voice flowed like a river around him, pulling him in its current. He turned and headed in the direction of the song as if it were sweeping him along with it and he had no choice.
He stopped by a clump of trees and spied a woman sitting on the porch of a cabin at the far end of the property. Another woman and two boys sat listening to her. He edged closer. Her words held them all spellbound, him included.
He stood behind the trees as she finished her song, unable to walk away, unable to interrupt the intimate group.
“Hey, look. Hi, mister.” One of the boys jumped up and waved to him.
Feeling unbelievably guilty at being caught spying on them, he stepped closer into the warm porch light spilling out onto the ground in front of the cabin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was headed over to the dining hall and I heard the music.”
“I hope I didn’t disturb you.” The singer stood, one hand holding the neck of the guitar.
“Not at all. It was quite good.”
“Thank you.”
Chase could swear he could see her blush in the muted glow of the porch light.
“Do you want to join us? Sophie’s going to play some more, aren’t you?” The other woman gestured to him.
“I don’t want to bother you.”
“Not at all. Everyone loves to hear Sophie sing.”
The Sophie woman tossed a what-are-you-doing frown toward the other woman.
He usually wasn’t so uncertain. Should he join them? Would it bother Sophie if he did? Was that what her frown was about? In a split instant decision, in spite of his doubts, he crossed the distance, climbed the stairs to the porch, and leaned against the railing. He wanted nothing more than to hear this woman sing again.
“I’m Beth, this fabulous singer is Sophie, and these rascals are Trevor and Connor, my sons.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Chase.”
“Go ahead, Miss Sophie, sing us another one.” The younger boy piped up.
Sophie settled back on her chair and picked up the guitar. A self-conscious look swept over her face. “I… uh… what should I play?”
“Play the one about the two little girls.” The older boy—whichever name was his had been lost on Chase—urged Sophie.
She sent Chase a quick look, then bent her head over her guitar. After a few opening chords, she started into a delightful, upbeat song about two best friends. Little girls who became lifelong friends. Once again her voice swept around him, enchanting him. The quality of her voice and the clever words held him in her spell. Rarely did music move him like this anymore.
But this woman, this Sophie, her voice… he could listen to her sing all night long.
As the song ended, the younger boy jumped up and clapped. “That’s about you and Momma, right?”
“It is, Trevor.” Sophie nodded.
Ah, the younger boy was Trevor, so the older boy must be Connor.
“That was really great.” Chase turned to Sophie. “Really great. So you wrote that song?”
“I did.” She blushed again. This time it was quite evident, even in the low light.
“Do you sing professionally?”
“Oh, no. Just here and there.”
“She’s wonderful, isn’t she?” Beth bragged on her friend.
“She really is.” He couldn’t argue with that.
A woman opened the door and peeked out. Nora. The woman who owned the lodge. That’s who she was.
Nora looked at him and smiled. “Oh, Mr. Green. Nice to see you. I guess our Sophie’s voice caught your attention.”
Sophie looked up and scanned the man’s face in the warm porch light. Chase. Mr. Green.
Her mouth dropped open. Chase Green.
That Chase Green
?
He’d been listening to her sing.
The heat of a full-on blush flushed through her.
Chase pushed off the railing. “Yes, I admit. I heard her singing and had to come over. I was looking for the path to the dining room but must have gotten lost. Glad I did. Sophie has a wonderful voice.”
“That she does.” Nora agreed. “Would you like to join us for dinner? I have plenty.”
“Oh… I don’t know.” He looked tentative.
“Say yes.” Beth got up from the swing. “Mom always makes enough to feed half the county. We’d love for you to join us.”
“If you’re sure.”
“We’re sure.” Beth smiled at Chase.
Sophie sat like some kind of idiot, frozen in place, unable to move. Chase Green.
“Come on in, then.” Nora beckoned to all of them. “Dinner’s ready.”
The boys rushed inside, and Chase followed after them.
Beth got up, walked over, and shot her a quizzical look. “You okay, Soph?”
“Do you know who he is?” She whispered the words.
“Mr. Green?”
“Chase Green.” She said the words slowly and watched for a spark of recognition to enter Beth’s eyes.
Beth frowned. “Chase Green. Should I know him?”
“He was part of Second River Bridge.”
“Huh?” Beth looked truly confused.
“The group. That country duo. Chase Green and Kimberly Day.”
“That Chase Green?” Beth’s eyes widened.
“That’s what I said.” Sophie got up and grasped the guitar in a tight grip. She’d been singing for Chase Green.
Chapter 4
Beth and Sophie entered Nora’s cabin, and Sophie placed the guitar in the corner. They crossed to the dining table, and Chase flashed her a smile. The smile he was known for. That and his deep, throaty voice. She should have recognized his voice when he first spoke. Distinctive, rich, mesmerizing, with just a hint of southern drawl.
She could still feel the heat on her cheeks and knew she had her telltale blush plastered across her face. Chase was used to listening to professional singers. Accomplished singers. Not just some woman who occasionally sang a song or two to entertain friends or maybe at a local event.
“Hey, everyone. Are we late?” Beth’s brother, Jason, came into the room. Mac McKenna trailed behind him.
Sophie watched as Beth’s face lit up when Mac entered. He crossed over and placed a quick kiss on Beth’s cheek.
“Hey, Mac. You made it.” Trevor pulled out a chair next to him. “Come sit by me.”
She glanced over at Chase, who looked a bit stunned by the sudden swarm of people around the large dining table. She recognized the deer-in-the-headlights expression. She didn’t blame him. It sometimes overwhelmed her to come take a place at Nora’s table, and she was invited often.
“Chase, take that seat. Sophie, why don’t you sit next to him?” Nora pointed to two chairs. “Come on, everyone. Sit down. Don’t want the food to get cold.”
Chase held out a chair for her, and she gave him a tentative smile. Chase Green. Holding a chair for her. She slipped into the chair and grabbed her napkin. The napkin that she promptly dropped on the floor.
She reached for it, and she and Chase bumped heads.
“Oops, sorry.” His voice, that deep voice. He handed her the napkin, looking directly at her with his warm brown eyes.
She dropped it once more like a toddler playing will-you-pick-it-up-again. This time she reached down swiftly and grabbed it herself and carefully, ever so carefully, placed it in her lap.
Chase sat down beside her, and the noisy chaos that was dinner at Nora’s began.
Chase took another helping of the delicious beef stew as well as another thick slice of homemade bread. He hadn’t had a home-cooked meal in… well, he couldn’t remember the last time. His cooking skills were nonexistent, and he usually just grabbed something to eat on his way home from work, which was often very late at night.
The constant laughter and good-natured teasing at the table was like sitting in a foreign country to him. A big family meal. It was all just so unfamiliar to him but tickled at some long-forgotten memories.
But he enjoyed it.
Probably.
But it sure might take some getting used to.
But it didn’t really matter because it was a one-time invitation. He’d happened to stumble upon this family and their friends, and they’d done the neighborly thing by inviting him to their meal.
Sophie intrigued him, though. Not only her voice but the easy way she talked to Beth’s kids and the way she tossed back teasing remarks to Beth’s brother. Everyone at the table seemed so at ease.
Beth smiled at him from across the table. “It’s a bit of a free-for-all when we get together, isn’t it?”
“A bit overwhelming, yes.”
“Mom loves to have a big family dinner with friends, too. Hope we’re not too much for you.”
“Not at all.” Which was a bit of a fib…
The man sitting next to Beth—Mac, wasn’t it—leaned over and said something to Beth. She smiled back at Mac, and he reached over and squeezed her hand. Chase had been watching them during the meal. They were obviously in love and not afraid to show it.
Sophie caught him watching Beth and Mac and leaned close to him. “Don’t mind them. Young love.” She grinned.
“So I see.” He couldn’t take his gaze away from Sophie’s blue eyes. They held him captive almost as tightly as her voice had when she’d been singing.
“I’ve got cake and pie for dessert.” Nora stood up and began to clear away the plates. Sophie jumped up to help, unfortunately taking her eyes with her.
“I’ll help.” He stood.
“Nonsense. You’re company. Sit,” Nora commanded.
He did as he was told, but a momentary pang of loneliness filtered through him. Company. He wondered what it would feel like to actually belong to this group.
After a flurry of activity with clearing the table, dessert was served. Soon he was eating the most delicious slice of apple pie he’d ever had. Or maybe it was the company. Did most families get together like this? Was this a normal thing for most people? He thought meals like this were just on those sentimental holiday movies his mother used to love to watch. The ones that always had a happy ending and ended with a kiss. He quickly dismissed the memory.
“Did you get enough to eat?” Sophie looked at him with those sparkling eyes of hers again.
“More than enough. It was wonderful.” He pushed back slightly from the table.
“No one goes away hungry from one of Nora’s meals.”
Beth stood. “Mom, let me help with the dishes, then I better be getting the boys home. School night.”
“I’ve got dish duty tonight, sis. You go ahead and wrangle these monsters home.” Jason stood and gathered a handful of plates.
“Hey, I’m not a monster,” Trevor insisted.
“It’s just an expression.” Connor rolled his eyes with exaggerated older brother impatience.
Chase stood, unsure whether he should offer to help again or get out of the way and let the family get back to their lives.
“I should go, too.” Sophie got up and grabbed her plate and coffee cup.
Taking a clue, Chase did the same with his. He followed her into the kitchen, placed his dishes on the counter, and turned to Nora. “Thanks so much for having me.”
“My pleasure.”
Beth poked her head in the kitchen. “We’re out of here. Thanks, Mom.”
“I best be heading out, too.” He turned to leave.
“Sophie, why don’t you show Chase out?” Nora gave Sophie a quick hug. “Come back soon. We always love to have you.”
Sophie hugged her back. “Thanks for the invite.” She turned to him. “You ready?”
Sophie grabbed her coat from the hook by the door and was surprised to feel Chase holding it for her as she
slipped into it. “Thanks.”
He opened the door for her, and they slid out into the chilly night air. They walked off the porch, and he looked up at the sky.
“A million stars out here, aren’t there?” She watched as he stared at the dark night surrounding them, broken only by splinters of starlight.
“I sure don’t see skies like this in the city.”
“Where do you live?” Though she was pretty sure he was going to say Nashville. Didn’t all country singers live there?
“Nashville.”
Of course. “Are you just taking a vacation?”
Chase laughed. “You could call it that. It was highly suggested to me to get away for a bit. My manager, Sam—he’s also my friend—thought I was getting a bit… testy.”
“Everyone needs a break every now and then.” Though she couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken any time off or gone on vacation. Not in years. The gallery kept her too busy.
“I guess.” He didn’t sound like he was convinced.
She still couldn’t believe she was standing here, right here, with Chase Green and having a normal conversation. Though it didn’t feel normal.
“Well, I guess I should call it a night.” His deep voice washed over her. She could listen to him talk all night. But of course, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Yes, me, too.” But she just stood there next to him.
He looked up at the stars again, then back at her. “Do you think you’d like to maybe go walk by the lake before you leave? Do you have time?”
“I’ve got time.” Her heart fluttered. She was going to take a walk with Chase Green. The night was unraveling like some kind of romance novel, not that she was complaining.
They wandered down the path from Nora’s cabin to the lake and settled onto a bench beside the water. The moonlight danced across the ripples in the lake.
“This is a mighty fine view.” His deep voice wrapped around her.
“It is.” She looked up at the stars twinkling in the heavens and for the umpteenth time in her life thanked those lucky stars for allowing her to live in such a beautiful place. Though, at times, she wondered what it would be like to travel around. See other towns, other cities. Under these very same stars, but from a different perspective. But Sweet River Falls was where the gallery was, and it was her responsibility to run it.