by Jill Sanders
Blowing out the sparklers, she took the plate from her mother and glanced around. “Thank you, but… what are y’all going to eat?”
Everyone laughed as she jerked the plate away from her brother’s fingers as he tried to sneak a taste.
“Mine,” she told him with a laugh.
“Presents,” her mother said after a quick hug, “are in the living room.”
“I have presents?” she asked, taking the plate with her into the next room.
Sitting in her dad’s comfy chair, she ate her pancakes in between opening gifts.
“What’s this?” she asked, holding what appeared to be a small wooden ticket. A gift from her brother.
“That,” he said between bites of his own pancakes, which their aunt Haley had made, “is an exclusive invite to a special party tonight.”
She read the ticket; the words etched in the dark wood.
“You are cordially invited to celebrate Emma Laura Graham’s twenty-first birthday at the Rusty Rail, Friday at seven p.m.”
“A party?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes. I figured since you returned my gift last year—”
“You bought me pajamas that were two sizes too big.”
Rick laughed. “Anyway, I decided that the best gift I could give you was to throw you a party. I made these myself”—he tapped the wooden ticket lightly— “then handed them out to all your friends and family.” He glanced around the room.
“It’s perfect.” She hugged her brother.
“I even hired a band, well a one-man band, to play tonight. The guy was passing through town, and Sophia convinced him to stick around for your party,” her brother added. “He’s even good.”
She chuckled. “It’s perfect.” She glanced around the room and wondered what she would ever do without her family. “Thank you, each of you.” She glanced down at her watch and hissed. “But you’ve made me late for work.”
“Nope,” her mother said from her spot across the room. “Mallory’s taken care of your shift at the bookstore today.”
She deflated slightly. She had been looking forward to working. It made her feel closer to her goal of building her dream home.
“Don’t worry.” Aunt Alex smiled over at her.
“We’re taking you shopping,” Alex’s daughter Laura chimed in. Laura was three years older than Emma. Out of all her cousins, she was the closest to Laura. Not only could the cousins pass as sisters, they often acted like it. “We decided a trip into the city was a perfect day outing.”
Later that evening, after a full day of shopping in the nearby town of Tyler, she carefully pulled on her new rose-colored lace dress and added her favorite topaz jewelry set. She was just putting on her dancing boots when her mother walked into her room after a quick knock on the door.
“Oh, you look so…” Her mother reached up and wiped a tear from her eye. Lauren West-Graham hadn’t changed an ounce from her high school pictures. At least Emma didn’t think so. Her long dark hair matched Emma’s, as did her soft green eyes.
“Mom.” She rolled her eyes as her mother sat next to her on her bed. Instead of saying anything, her mother looked around the room.
Emma’s bedroom had gone through many changes over the years. Her mother had grown up in this very room herself.
Of course, Emma had changed the color of the walls from her mother’s favorite to her own, a soft rose color, several years back.
“I can’t believe my baby is twenty-one.” Her mother sighed and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “I remember when we brought you home…”
“Mom,” Emma groaned, and her mother chuckled. “Okay.” She set a small box in her lap.
“What’s this?” she asked, looking down at the simple white box.
“My present to you. My mother wasn’t around… on my twenty-first birthday, but from her journals, we found out that her mother had given her this on her twenty-first birthday.” Her mother reached over and flipped open the box.
A small rose-colored cameo necklace that her mother had often worn sat inside.
“Mom.” Tears started filling her eyes. “I can’t.” She shook her head as her mother removed the topaz beads she’d put on and gently placed the necklace on her.
“You can. It’s a West family tradition.” Her mother smiled down at her. “It will go to your daughter or granddaughter someday on their twenty-first birthday.”
Emma touched the necklace and sighed. “I’ll have to find matching earrings now.”
Her mother laughed and hugged her. “Your dad has a solution to that problem.”
Emma glanced up as her father walked in with a small box. Chase Graham had slight silver streaks in his dark hair, but Emma knew that her father could still out bench press her brother.
She noticed a small box in her father’s hands and smiled.
“Oh god.” She sighed. “This day just keeps getting better and better.” She hugged her dad and put on the earrings he’d purchased for her.
Her mother stood up and took her dad’s hand. “Now let’s go party.”
And party they did. It was almost midnight when she was carried up on the stage and came face to face with the hot guitarist who had been rocking the bar all night.
She’d noticed the sexy cowboy the moment she’d walked into the Rusty Rail. Who hadn’t? Her friends had been talking about him for the past few days, ever since he’d gotten into town.
This, however, was her first time seeing the man herself. Watching how he moved on stage, she wondered why she hadn’t carved out time to stop in to the Rusty Rail and see him play before.
Then she was carried to the stage and, the moment her eyes met his, she felt something she’d only heard others talk about. The spark of attraction was so strong, she almost fell over. Thankfully, he reached out and took hold of her, steadying her. Her heart skipped and beat off kilter for the rest of the night.
Chapter Three
Singing “Happy Birthday” to a very pretty brunette was a far cry from singing into the blinding stage lights and the darkness of the large room beyond. Especially when he could make believe the crowd of people below wasn’t actually there. Still, he muddled through the song well enough and asked the crowd to join in the fun near the end.
After the song ended, he was slightly shocked when the birthday girl, Emma Graham, reached up and hugged him.
How long had it been since someone had hugged him? Too long. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d let someone get close enough to hug him.
The hug was fast enough that he knew it meant nothing more than a thank-you. Still, he stood on the stage for a few moments, shaken to the core by the simple, carefree touch.
Even though he couldn’t see her for his last song of the night, he knew she was out there, in the darkness, enjoying his music. Probably dancing and having fun with the rest of the patrons in the crowded bar.
Near the end of the song, the lights dimmed slightly, and he could see her up front near the edge of the stage. Her pretty pink dress swayed with the beat of his drum machine as he sang along. For a moment, he almost lost track of the words of the song and the beat. Thankfully, he tore his eyes away from the pretty sight of her hips swaying so he could finish the song.
He’d been alone on the road for a few months now as he drove from gig to gig, and he’d been okay with that. Most of the time he ended up sleeping in the van, but when he could afford it, he’d sleep at a dive hotel. He found laundromats to wash the simple black shirts and faded jeans he wore every day. He would jump at the chance for a long shower and a soft bed, not to mention a healthy meal.
He’d probably lost a few pounds since going on the road, but he didn’t care. He knew it was where he belonged and what he was meant to do. At least for now.
Since coming back to the States, he’d only had one flicker of feeling that wasn’t sadness or depression. Here he was, standing in the middle of the stage, looking down at the disappearing crowd, knowing the pr
etty brunette was out there and feeling another one.
“Need any help?” He turned around as the tall dark-haired guy who had hired him to play for his sister’s birthday party stepped up on the stage.
“Rick. Right?” he asked, trying to remember the man’s name.
“Yeah.” The guy smiled and suddenly Trace could see the resemblance between brother and sister. They both had green eyes and the same smile.
“Thanks for the help.” He motioned to the power cables he had been in the process of untangling.
“Thanks again for sticking around town for this,” Rick said easily as he got to work collecting all the cables. “You really helped me out of a bind with this for my sister. I’m terrible at buying gifts.”
“Sure.” He shrugged and set his guitar into the hard carrying case to protect it.
“How long have you been playing?” Rick asked as they worked.
Trace thought about it for a moment. “Since I was five. My dad left me a guitar.” He remembered the one gift his father had given him before taking off and starting a new life. He’d spent most of his childhood learning how to play, his only entertainment as a child. The only toy he’d ever been allowed. He’d never realized how much he’d grown to love it until he couldn’t play daily.
“I tried to teach myself once on a secondhand guitar I’d bought with my birthday money.” Rick laughed. “Emma finally snuck into my room and hid it.” Rick glanced over at him. “You know, I still haven’t found it.” He chuckled.
“You and your sister sound close.” Trace glanced over to where Emma was talking to a small group of people near the bar.
Since he’d stopped playing and the bright lights in the bar had been turned on, the majority of the crowd had left. The staff members cleaned up while a small group of people chatted.
“We are.” Rick chuckled. “Of course, I’ve only been back from college for a few months now.” Trace raised his eyebrows in question, and Rick continued. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been helping my dad out at his veterinary clinic in town.” The guy’s smile grew. “I knew when I was about ten that I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
“What about your sister?” Trace asked, his eyes glued to the pretty brunette across the room.
Rick laughed loudly enough that Emma’s eyes darted across the room and landed on Trace. Once again, he felt that little twinge of emotion, and he frowned. Emma glanced away from him and laughed at something someone in the group said.
“Emma? She passes out at the sight of blood,” Rick answered as he tossed a stack of cables into the black container Trace used to store them. “No, she’s happy burying her face in a book. Which is why she’s completely content working at Holly’s in town.” He sighed. “She did take some business classes online though.” Rick nodded to his amp. “Need help carrying that out?”
“Sure,” Trace answered and bent down to lift the heavy thing. He’d gotten the amp along with all his other music equipment when he’d worked at the pawn shop. He was in dire need of some new cables and equipment, but until he could afford it, he was stuck using the secondhand items.
As Rick followed him out to his van, the guy talked about being back home and how much he’d missed his family.
Trace couldn’t help feeling slightly depressed just hearing the man talk about how close everyone in town was. A part of him wanted to find a place where he could feel the kind of belonging Rick was talking about.
“Where’s your family from?” Rick asked when he’d set the last of the heavy equipment in the back of the van.
“Tulsa,” he answered quickly. The fact was, he didn’t know if his mother still lived in Tulsa or if his father was still in Dallas with his new wife and two young kids. Trace hadn’t spoken to his old man since he was eight.
“Where are you heading next?” Rick asked as they walked back inside for the last of his gear.
He didn’t know. He had been hoping to avoid major cities, since it had been easier to find a bar that was willing to let him set up and play for tips in smaller towns.
“Nashville,” he said after some thought.
Rick held out his hand. “Well, I wish you the best of luck. With talent like yours, it won’t be long before we’ll be hearing you on the radio.”
“Thanks.” Trace shook the man’s hand.
“My folks wanted to make sure I gave you a little something extra.” He pulled a wad of bills from his back pocket. “You made Emma’s birthday.” Rick smiled as Trace took the cash and stuffed it in his pocket. Rick glanced around the room and chuckled. “I think this beat the pajamas I gave her last year,” he said as he walked away.
Trace glanced around and instantly knew that Emma was no longer in the empty place. He took the rest of his stuff out to his van and was so busy wallowing in self-pity that he bumped solidly into someone as he rounded the corner of the building.
“Sorry,” he said automatically, reaching up to steady the person he’d almost knocked over. Upon the light contact, he knew instantly that it was Emma. It was as if his body froze the moment that he touched her.
“There you are.” She laughed up at him. He noticed that her eyes were green and filled with such happiness, the likes of which he’d never seen before.
He dropped his hands from her shoulders and swallowed, hard.
“You were looking for me?” he asked, not liking the gruff sound of his voice.
“Yes.” She sighed and glanced around. “Take a walk with me? It was so hot and stuffy inside.” She motioned behind him.
“Um,” he started. Then she bent down and picked up his bag, which he’d dropped in the process of reaching out to steady her.
“Here.” She handed it back to him and started walking towards his van.
He followed without saying anything. When she stopped next to his van, he tossed the bag full of his personal items inside and then followed her to a small grassy area across the parking lot.
She was right, it had been stuffy inside. Since he’d been inside for most of the evening and night, he hadn’t realized how nice it was outside.
For the past few days since arriving in Fairplay, he’d stayed at a small hotel on the edge of town. The place wasn’t the worst he’d stayed in, but it wasn’t the best either.
He’d already checked out before the gig, which meant that he was either going to sleep in the van or spend another night driving as far as he could before finding someplace to park and sleep a few hours.
Emma leaned against a small wooden fence that overlooked the train tracks that sat next to the bar and took a deep breath. When her eyes closed, he wondered why she’d asked him to take a walk.
Looking at the pretty brunette, he knew that she was the opposite of everything he was. It wasn’t hard to see their differences.
Her clothing was a sign of her and her family’s obvious wealth. Just the way she held herself showed everyone around her that she was happy. Her brother had mentioned that she’d attended business classes and had a job she loved. She had a future. He didn’t. He didn’t even know where he was going to sleep that night.
It wasn’t something he really wanted, but since returning to the States, it was the only option he’d had.
“You’re broken,” she said suddenly.
He hadn’t realized she’d turned around and was running her eyes over him as she leaned back against the fence.
“Pardon?” he asked, totally caught off guard.
Standing straight, she moved a little closer to him. Her eyes met his. “I said, you’re broken.” Her head tilted slightly, sending her dark hair falling over her shoulders. “I have a knack for spotting someone who’s hurting.”
“Broken?” He thought about it and shook his head slightly. “I wouldn’t describe myself quite that way.”
She smiled slightly. “Not everyone who’s broken knows it.” She reached up and touched her own temple. “It’s in their eyes.” Her smile slipped. “And your eyes show pain.” He was si
lent. “It’s one of the reasons your singing is so touching.” She leaned against the railing again. “You can’t hide emotions when you’re singing.”
“I’ll make a note of it.” He felt his entire body start to shake and tucked his hands into his jeans in an attempt to hide it.
Since returning, he hadn’t talked to anyone about what he’d been through. He didn’t even know if he could open up to anyone. It might end up breaking the last thin threads holding him together.
“You’re ex-military?” she asked out of the blue.
“How…” He shook his head and took a deep breath. “Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Army?” She held up a hand and stopped him from answering. “Marines,” she corrected with a nod.
“Yes,” he agreed.
Her head tilted again as she ran her eyes over him. “You were injured.” It wasn’t a question. “You lost someone as well.” He didn’t move. He didn’t even breathe. His head started spinning as he wondered how she could know so much about him by just looking into his eyes. Was she a seer or… looking into those green eyes of hers, almost glowing in the soft moonlight, he thought quickly, a witch?
Chapter Four
Emma watched closely as his face turned a little pale.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” She reached out and touched his arm gently, thankful that he didn’t yank his arm away from her, hurt or angry. Her big mouth often got her in trouble. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged and leaned against the railing next to her.
“It’s nice here,” he said after a moment. “You’re very lucky.” He glanced over at her. “Your brother told me that you work at a bookstore.” He nodded to the two-story building less than a block away. Since it was too dark to see it, she imagined how the two-story building looked.
She smiled quickly. She always did whenever she thought about her job.
“You love singing. That was obvious up there.” She chuckled. “Well, except my birthday song. I can tell that you’d rather sing anything but that song.”