Again, we were an internet hit. I immediately got a text from Mizironic from Spain. It was early in the morning the next day there, but she was watching the competition from her phone! Girl, you killed that duet. Congratulations, Sage Harris is a dream. So hot! We’ll catch up soon. Proud of you! I melted.
Sage and I sat in the Green Room and tucked ourselves away on the couch. After hushed congratulations were shared by all his bandmates and everyone in the choir, we had to keep our voices low so that the other contestants could play.
“I’d hate to go after them,” I heard one of the choir members comment.
I melted into Sage’s strong embrace, the heat of his body warming my nervous chill.
“You know you’re the craziest human alive,” I commented watching my enormous diamond ring sparkle rainbow colors in the dim light.
“I’d say you are for saying yes,” he teased.
My stomach dropped out; he was right. I was insane for saying yes, and yet I wouldn’t have been happy if I hadn’t. We just held each other. I think we were both too overwhelmed to do more. When the last act played, we were ushered with the rest of his band and the others on to the stage.
The room was hushed for the host’s announcement. “If the Grind Revolution and Melody Harris were still in the competition, they would have tied for first place AND this is after we asked you people not to vote for them. The Band with the second-highest score was Mike Walls and The Strawberry Fungus. Congratulations, your song Mud and other Dumpy Places will be put on the iFM song rotation around the nation! Let’s hear it for Mike Walls and The Strawberry Fungus!” There was an appropriate reaction for the winner, and he and his group of ginger-headed musicians were happy to receive their winnings.
Sage and I wanted to sneak out the back door, but we were apprehended by Sinclair and crew, including his older brother Shelton, which was a shocking surprise.
“There you are, my crazy brother!” Sinclair rushed at Sage with his arms wide open. “Nice marriage proposal, you asshole. You totally showed me up!” He punched his shoulder and laughed.
“Right, I took your midnight engagement in front of a throng of paparazzi and one-upped you! National TV, baby!” Sage’s arm rocketed to the sky, and he made a goofy face.
“And you, silly woman, said yes.” Sinclair scooped me into his arms and squeezed me a little harder than a person should.
He must have thought Sage would never settle down.
“Melly Mel!” Reyna screamed out the nickname she called me in college. It was better than smelly, that’s what kids in grade school used to call me. “You were amazing, and now you’re engaged and, oh my God!” She hugged me after Sinclair had squeezed the wind out of my lungs.
“I know, well he’s the crazy one.” I pointed to Sage. “This is all his fault, and I’m sure it’s going to be a nice long engagement.” I was back-peddling some, having a hard time fathoming that I’d just agreed to be married.
“You take as long as you need, sweetie. I know the feeling.” Reyna winked.
As I turned away from Reyna, I felt bad for Shelton, who stood a few steps back and just watched from the distance.
“You’re Shelton right?” I approached him, making sure my smile was warm and welcoming.
The man couldn’t have been that evil if he came out to a live performance to see Sage play, without a friend anywhere in sight.
“Yes. Congratulations, the songs you wrote are so beautiful and life-affirming … and welcome to the family.” His smile was warm and genuine.
“Thank you for your kind words. It’s all … well.” I was at a loss for what to say.
“You’ll get used to us eventually.” He laughed, and just as he did, Sage came over as if to rescue me.
“I’m surprised you came,” he started.
“Me too,” Shelton confessed. “I just remember you always playing guitar as a little boy and now this … this is so big. You didn’t win, but you will. I’m proud of you.” Wow, the depth of Shelton’s honesty was heartbreaking.
“You didn’t come here to gloat or slap me with some bogus lawsuit?” Sage lashed out.
“I didn’t.” Shelton remained humbled. “I hope someday things will be different between us. This is my first step in that direction.” I started to feel a lot of love for Shelton, it was a massive step.
“Thanks, man.” Sage was gracious.
“Well, enjoy your evening. I just wanted to give you my congratulations.” By that time Sinclair had joined the conversation.
“We’re all going out to dinner you know, to take these two lovebirds someplace fancy to celebrate. You’re welcome to join us.” The ice in Sinclair’s tone belied his words, it was a pretty big concession that he even offered for Shelton to join us.
“I’ll pass for tonight, but maybe another time. Congratulations again.” He nodded his head, turned, and walked away.
“Well, that wasn’t awkward at all,” Charlynn commented, and we all laughed to break the tension.
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand that guy,” Sage said as we made our way out of the theater.
We went to Miyagi’s and had amazing Japanese food, then Sage and I went back to his place and made love all night long. After we had exhausted ourselves, we watched the internet explode with our song being shared all over the place and our Twitter and Facebook account blowing up. It was very surreal.
In the months that followed, we talked about our wedding, but neither of us wanted a big affair. We got so much attention for our songs that both of us signed with Mizironic’s record label and started working on our own projects. I moved into the loft and left a tearful Charlynn alone in the apartment that Reyna, Charlynn, and I once shared together.
“There’s one last Harris man,” I teased as I gathered the last of my things.
“Oh yeah. I get the evil estranged brother.” Charlynn was sad. I could tell she was weary of living alone and perhaps felt like she was being abandoned by her best friends.
“He’s making a comeback; you never know. And you are always welcome at our house anytime.” I knew I couldn’t fix this for her, but I also had to move on with my life.
“I know I’m welcome at your place and at Reyna’s and thanks for you both helping with the rent. I wouldn’t be able to stay here if you didn’t pitch in.” Her face dropped, and she seemed so low.
“But now you have a three-bedroom 1920’s bungalow at the base of the Hollywood Hills all to yourself, party girl. You have a sweet spot with no roomies …” I was really trying to sell it.
“And no one to talk to or hang out with. But, yeah. I’m just feeling sorry for myself. This is so right for you.” She segued into something she didn’t even really believe.
“I know you don’t think it’s totally right, but so far so good, is now my new motto. So far, Sage and I are doing great. It’s been a month, and we haven’t killed each other.” I downplayed the truth for her benefit; it had been a month, and everything was bliss.
“You two will be amazing together. I only discouraged you because he was being a dick. But I know him, Mel. We both do. He’s a good guy; he just needed someone to ground him a little. You’ll be perfect for him, just as you’ve been a rock for Reyna and me when we needed it.”
“I’m not leaving you, Char. I’m just down the road.” I gave her a big hug.
“It’s not like you’ve been here much anyway. And now I can be sure everyone is recycling properly.” She giggled, and I just held her. I was so glad I still had female best friends. We would hold each other up for the rest of our lives.
When I got back to the loft with the last of my stuff, Sage looked a little nervous.
“More?” he asked. Being a minimalist, the adjustment to bright pink beaded curtains from India and hemp floor pillows was a big one.
“It’s all going to ‘my’ room.” I flashed him a flirty smile and hefted it past him to the guest room that was designated as my space.
That room was bigger
than anything I had ever lived in and had an incredible view of downtown. It was one of the three guest rooms the loft had, so it was easy for Sage to give it up. Sage refused to let me keep a bed in there though because he said we’d share his bed until we bought our bed. He didn’t want me having a bed in my room because he didn’t like me having a place to run to.
“If we fight, we’re going to have to work it out. Staying in the same room means we have to face each other.”
He was right. If I had a bed, I’d retreat at the first sign of trouble, so my room had a couch and living area where I could write songs and just hang out. He had his music room which he redecorated to be more of a man cave, and we started reconstructing his bedroom to be ours. We were so busy though I’d never been happier. Planning our wedding was the only real stress in our lives. We enjoyed building our music careers so that wasn’t a problem, but the wedding was hard to figure out. We finally decided just to have a small service and a reception for the family. We’d consider a big reception later when we weren’t so busy with everything else.
We discussed not inviting Shelton, but I made a plea for him saying he’d made a big move when he came to the Battle of the Bands; we had to at least invite him to come. I was happy when Sage reluctantly agreed. We thought giving him a chance would help unify the family, and since we were the weirdo arty ones, it would be good for us to set this example. So, we found the venue, the London Hotel in West Hollywood, and got ready to spend the rest of our lives together.
Epilogue
Sage
We finally agreed on a beautiful venue in West Hollywood for our wedding. It was an intimate gathering of friends and family only. We decided to hold it on Christmas Day, one year after the first time we, well … had sex really, but it was when we started this crazy adventure. The kids opened presents as usual, but instead of having it at Sinclair and Reyna’s house, we decided to take over the West Hollywood hotel and make it a fun family event.
After the kids opened presents, we got ready for the small ceremony and reception. My parents came and were perfectly fine. Unfortunately, no one from Melody’s side of the family attended, but her friends were there, and she was becoming a Harris. I told her she was hands down, my favorite Harris family member. I wanted her to know that while our family was rich and odd, we were all hers.
The biggest surprise of the day was when my brother Shelton showed up bearing not only handfuls of gifts but also a kind and jovial demeanor. I hardly recognized the man.
We hugged him and welcomed him back into our lives. I was still a little skeptical, but I decided to let time be our guide. Later, I saw Shelton and Sinclair talking seriously at the bar. When I approached, they stopped, both smiling at me. I felt like I was the little brother and they had put dog crap in my shoes under the bed or played some other trick on me.
“What’s up, bros?” I asked nervously.
“Nothing that can’t wait,” Shelton said. “This is your day.”
Sinclair stood and said, “It’s all good, little brother. It’s all good.”
Maybe it was.
It definitely was for me. Melody was the most beautiful bride, and I the most grateful man on the planet for not messing it all up and losing her.
In the months after our wedding, we were both so busy with our music we decided to go on tour together; that way we could promote our new songs, have time together, and I could show her the world. We decided to take it at a nice slow pace, so we could actually enjoy what we were experiencing. We joined up with Melody’s friend Mizironic on occasion as she was also touring, and we played a gig or two with her if we were in the same city at the same time. We were having so much fun, just enjoying life and making music together.
After touring for seven months, we were almost at the end of our run. I was looking forward to getting back to Los Angeles, and Melody didn’t seem to be feeling too well. I thought being on the road and in different cities, all the traveling was just wearing her down. She always put her heart and soul into everything she did. The woman had no concept of pacing; it was all or nothing. I loved her for it, but I could see the toll it was taking on her.
“You want to go back to the hotel and lie down, babe?” I asked one night when we were at dinner on the French Rivera.
We had played all of Europe, and Nice was our last big venue before we headed home. We had been all through Europe, Asia, and Australia, and we were heading back to North America to do our last four months there, then back to writing songs and living a more relaxed life … or so I thought.
“No, I’m okay.” She just picked at her food.
“Do you not like the mussels?” I ate every one of mine, but they were quite an acquired taste. I teased her about trying the frog’s legs, and she looked like she was about to turn green and hurl on the table, so I let it go, and we had mussels in white sauce and pasta.
“They are delicious, it’s just um …” She opened her napkin, and I was very intrigued to see her carefully lay it out.
What on earth was she doing? She then dipped down and pulled a handful of white plastic sticks out of her purse. Was she going to do a magic trick?
“What have you got there, hon?” I asked as she placed each stick one after the other side by side on the napkin.
As soon as she placed the second one, I knew what they were. I’d had pregnancy scares a few times with other women, and we were happy to see that there weren’t two little pink lines. As Melody set down seven pregnancy tests on the white linen napkin, I saw fourteen little pink lines, two for each of the tests. I immediately burst out laughing. It was sort of a mix of nervous laughter and elation and joy. Melody was definitely pregnant.
“So um … I think I’m pregnant.” She bit her lip in worry. “I’m sorry. I must have messed up my birth control doses somehow or something.”
I took her hand and laughed, my eyes seeking hers with love and adoration. “Guess we can make more than music.” I squeezed her hand and smiled. “I love you, and I’m gonna love little junior too. Don’t be sorry. I’m so excited for us ... we’re gonna have a baby.”
Her face flushed with relief. “We’re having a baby!” She squealed.
Life was beautiful. She was beautiful, and I was happy I grew up enough to understand giving a person love and letting them in didn’t open a wound or destroy your cool. It made you a richer human with a better life. I’ll always be grateful to Melody for teaching me that.
Melody
Autumn Adele Harris was born a perfect angel weighing five pounds five ounces. She was such an incredible mix of Sage and me with swirls of dark hair and baby blue eyes. Tiny little baby fingers and toes and little soft squishy white skin; she was so adorable. Unless it was three in the morning and she was wailing at the top of her lungs, then she was … loud.
“It’s my turn,” Sage said, hoisting himself out of bed.
We kept Autumn in our room because neither of us wanted to walk to the nursery. We had converted another guest room into a room for our daughter, but she was much too young to use it. On some nights she slept with us, but not all nights. We still made love quite often, vowing never to give up our special time together. We had to be quiet so as not to wake her up, but so far, having her there made everything easier.
Sage gabbed Autumn out of her crib, and I could see such love in his eyes. Sage always gazed at Autumn as if she were his world. He brought her back into bed and gave her to me to breastfeed. She suckled while he stroked her hair. We were a happy little family.
That Christmas marked our first wedding anniversary and our second year as a couple. Autumn was still too little, but we were going to tour with her when she got bigger. We were excited to show her the world. Until then, we played music and lived with her in our downtown loft. Sage did own another house his parents had given him that he rented out, and he planned to sell it and build something for our family in the Hollywood Hills.
Shelton joined us for Christmas that year, and we all lived in
perfect harmony. Only poor Charlynn felt a little lonely at times as Reyna was due to have her third child at any moment and I had Autumn. I felt sorry for her and knew I needed to get cracking on finding her a good man. We all thought it might be Shelton, but Charlynn’s sharp wit and sharper tongue wasn’t a great match for Shelton’s litigious side, but we still hoped.
More than anything in the world I loved the quiet moments with Sage when we had them. With our baby daughter, music, and a hectic life taking us away, I treasured those peaceful moments together when we could just be ourselves, vulnerable, creative, loving, and raw. He was my best friend and my lover, and this had proved there was such a thing as an Ever After, after all.
THE END
Dear reader,
First of all, thank you so much for reading my books! It’s passionate readers like you that allow me to live my dream and do the thing I love most on earth, which is writing books and entertaining people. As a way of saying thank-you, I’ve included a preview of one my favorite stories – Are you up for hot doctor that meets his highschool love… who wants a baby from him?! ;-)
Preview: The Baby Package
Chapter 1
Julia
“Are we going to Provoc?” I asked as we all piled into the cab.
“Oh, my God I love Provocateur,” Teddy said in his usual flamboyant draw.
“Yeah, it’s the only place to be seen right now,” Sarah added. “I’ve got to find a hot stockbroker to give me some tips.”
“Why do they need to be hot?” I teased.
“Technically they don’t, but if I’m going to pretend to be interested in the guy so I can get free financial advice, I’d prefer if they were hot.”
Beautiful Mistake Page 19