by Brenda Novak
“And Chief Bennett heard?”
“Every word.”
“I wish you’d let me go.”
“I doubt she would’ve done it if you were there. And after today, I’m even more convinced she’s not right in the head. I’ve said that for years, but I didn’t mean it the way I do now. I don’t want you anywhere near her. Ever. For all we know, she’d get it into her head that you were behind my decision to trick her, or that I’d want her if I didn’t care for you, or...whatever. The way she twists things, there’s no telling what she might do with the most harmless detail.”
Taking his hand, she drew him over to the couch. “Have you told Olivia and Brandon?”
“No. My phone’s dead, remember? After Chief Bennett put her in his squad car, I came straight home. But I’m sure they’ve heard. Noelle’s probably called her parents by now, and her parents have called Brandon and Olivia.”
Lourdes tried to imagine what it would be like to hear that one of her sisters had set fire to someone’s business—and couldn’t. “I feel sorry for them. Bad enough finding out she’s guilty of arson, but doing what she did to someone else they know and love? They’re definitely going to have mixed emotions.”
“Brandon won’t. He pegged Noelle for a sociopath from the start. He won’t feel bad to see her get what she deserves. But Olivia? She’s always felt guilty for being popular and well liked when her sister wasn’t. That’s why she’s cut Noelle so much slack and tried to get along with her.”
“Do you think this is the end of it? That Noelle will leave you alone from now on?”
He ran a hand over his face. “Who can say? While I was there, she mentioned how long Phoenix has loved Riley—that Phoenix hung on through all those years in prison—which makes me a little nervous.”
Lourdes smiled ruefully. “I can see why, especially since she won’t have to spend as long behind bars as Phoenix did, will she?”
“No. Chief Bennett said it could be two to six, depending on the judge. But he’s guessing it’ll be at the lower end of that range, because no one got hurt.”
“That means she’ll be back one day.”
“Whoa!” He held up a hand. “Let’s not talk about her coming back. Let’s enjoy the fact that she’ll be gone for a good, long while.”
“Okay.” She snuggled up to him, content just to feel the warmth of his body, to hear the sound of his heart beating so steadily beneath her ear.
They sat like that, in silence, for several minutes. Then he said, “We’re down to one more day.”
Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Let’s not talk about that, either.”
* * *
When Lourdes woke up the next morning, Kyle was gone. Assuming he must’ve had to deal with something connected to the fire or Noelle’s arrest, she clasped her arms around his pillow and relived the tender moments they’d shared during the night.
She’d never been like this, she realized. Never been so head over heels. Given her situation, it didn’t make a lot of sense that she could fall so deeply in love. She’d come to Whiskey Creek firmly believing she was in love with someone else. And yet there was no denying how she felt. She could only hope she’d be so busy in Nashville that her enthusiasm for her work would take some of the sting out of leaving Kyle behind.
Throwing back the blankets, she sat up and searched for her phone. Derrick had texted her several times yesterday. He’d tried to call, too, but she hadn’t answered. That could wait until tomorrow, when she hit Nashville, or later in the week. But her mother had also called, to confirm the time she’d be arriving.
Lourdes spoke to Renate for a few minutes, then propped herself against the headboard as she went through the other texts and emails she’d ignored.
There were a few business items from Derrick. He’d spoken to her old label. They were interested in a demo of the new song. That was encouraging. She never should’ve left Boondock Records to chase the dream of becoming even bigger by switching to pop. Had Taylor Swift not made it look so easy, she probably wouldn’t have.
Anyway, Derrick was putting out a few other feelers and had generated some interest.
Crystal had texted her, too.
I’m so glad you’re coming home. Is there any chance we could have lunch?
Lourdes didn’t like that Derrick had communicated her plans to the woman he’d cheated with, didn’t care for the fact that they were still in close contact. She wasn’t jealous; it just made her feel odd that they were all carrying on as if nothing had happened. But she supposed lunch with Crystal would be smart from a professional standpoint. It would go a long way toward letting people know they weren’t feuding over Derrick, as some might expect.
Sure. I’ll give you a call when I’m settled, she wrote back, then climbed out of bed to wash her face and brush her teeth and hair.
When she was done with that, she picked up her guitar. Kyle’s song was turning out to be even prettier than the one Derrick had purchased for her, and she was eager to finish it.
She worked on it for another hour, until she heard Kyle’s key in the lock. Then she set it aside to meet him at the door.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
He grinned at her. She could tell he hadn’t taken time to shower this morning. He’d thrown on his clothes and a ball cap and left, but she liked him a little scruffy. “I had to pick something up.”
“What?”
He looked slightly embarrassed. “Maybe we should eat first.”
She studied the sack in his hand. It had the Black Gold Coffee emblem. “You bought breakfast?”
“An array of muffins.”
“That sounds delicious but...are you trying to make me fat so I won’t look good onstage?” she teased.
“Would it make you stay?” he asked.
When their eyes met, she knew he was far more serious than he’d sounded. “Kyle, I can’t stay.”
“Even if I give you this?” He reached into the muffin sack and pulled out a small velvet box, which he handed her.
So much for waiting until after breakfast. Apparently, he couldn’t wait. But Lourdes was afraid to take it. She could guess what was inside. “Kyle...”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I had to do something. I had to at least try.”
Hoping she was jumping to the wrong conclusion, that it was just a keepsake necklace or a pair of earrings to remember him by, she opened the lid—and stared down at the very engagement ring she would’ve chosen for herself.
“Eve told me you posted the ring you wanted on Twitter. She sent me pictures of rings similar to the one you liked. They were all yellow gold, so I went with that.”
She could hardly breathe. “I do prefer yellow,” she said. “I’m tired of almost all jewelry being set in white these days.”
“And she said you liked the princess-cut diamond.”
“You got exactly what I would’ve chosen.” And judging by the size of the diamond, he hadn’t been concerned about the price.
“But?” he prompted.
She lifted her gaze. “You know what stands between us.”
“We could make it work.” He cupped his hands around hers, which held the ring. “So what if our lives aren’t as compatible as we are. That might not be what we would’ve chosen, but...it doesn’t change the way I feel. I don’t want to let you go. Will you marry me, Lourdes?”
She felt tears burn her eyes. “You don’t understand.”
“I do understand. All the traveling won’t be easy. You’ll be split between here and there, and I’ll hate having you gone so much. But I can’t let you leave me—not without telling you that I’d give everything I have, everything I am, to make you happy. I’ll support your music. Whatever you want to accomplish.” He rested his foreh
ead against hers. “No one else could love you more,” he whispered.
Tears welled up and slid down her cheeks.
“Say yes,” he coaxed. “Your career is important. So is mine. But what we feel for each other is important, too. This kind of thing...it doesn’t happen every day.”
“Kyle, I need more time,” she said. “This is... This is too fast.”
“I understand. But I had to tell you before you left. You should know what’s waiting for you here—if you want it.”
Struggling to swallow around the lump in her throat, she nodded.
“Would you like to try it on?” he asked, indicating the ring.
A tear dripped from her chin. Of course she’d like to try it on, but she couldn’t. She was afraid it would break her heart when she had to take it off.
He wiped her tears, then put the ring down and raised her chin. “It’s okay. It’s too soon. And it’s a big decision for you. You don’t have to answer now.”
She moved her thumbs over the razor stubble on his jaw. “Don’t let anything ruin this day,” she murmured.
“I won’t,” he said and carried her into the bedroom.
28
She was gone. Kyle had hoped Lourdes would give him an answer to his proposal before she left. He wanted something to cling to. But she hadn’t. To his knowledge, she’d never even tried on the ring. She’d never mentioned it again, either. And the most telling sign, at least in his view, was the fact that when she drove off, she immediately turned around, got out of her car, hugged him fiercely and whispered that she’d never forget him.
There’d be no danger of that, if she was coming back.
“Are you okay?” Morgan asked.
She’d brought over his new office computer and was helping him recover his files, but Kyle’s heart wasn’t in his work today. He kept glancing over at the kitchen drawer where he’d put the velvet box that held the ring. He’d bought it from Hammond & Sons Fine Jewelry, the only high-end jewelry place in town. Yesterday, after he’d roused Eve to get her advice, he’d had to call George Hammond at home and drag him from his bed to open the shop early, but George had been nice about it. Kyle knew him well enough that he could also take the ring back, and he figured he should do that before George assumed the twenty grand Kyle had paid was going to remain in his pocket. Kyle had spent more than he’d ever dreamed he would on any piece of jewelry, but if Lourdes had accepted it, he wouldn’t have cared about the price.
“I’m talking to you.” Morgan snapped her fingers in front of his face.
Kyle blinked and shifted his gaze. “What’d you say?”
“I asked if you were okay.”
“I’m fine. You’ve asked me that twice since you got here.”
“Because you’re not yourself.”
“Let’s stick to business.”
“Fine,” she said. “There’s plenty of that to talk about. The insurance adjuster called. He wants to come out and take a look at the building tomorrow morning. What time should I tell him?”
“The earlier, the better.” Fortunately, Riley had rearranged his schedule as promised, so he’d be able to do the work right away. He was already writing up a bid to keep the insurance adjuster honest in his estimation of the losses.
“I’ll shoot for eight, but he’s coming from Sacramento. I’m guessing it’ll be nine or ten.”
“Whatever time you set up, let Riley know about it, too. I’d like to have him there, if possible.”
“I have no doubt he’ll be there. Your friends would do anything for you.”
“Yeah,” he said, but he realized he’d said it a bit too absently when she nudged him.
“I would, too. So will you cheer up? You make me feel like crying, and I never cry.”
He forced a smile. “I don’t need to cheer up. I’m not sad.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re kidding, right? You’re so devastated I almost feel I should check your house for sleeping pills or anything else you could—”
“Stop it!”
She grinned at him. “Think of the bright side. Maybe Lourdes is gone, but so is Noelle. She’s going to be punished for what she did.”
Punishing Noelle wouldn’t restore his plant. But he was happy that she couldn’t harass him anymore. In that respect, the next few months were going to be heaven... “She almost got away with it.”
“It was a close call. How’d Olivia and Brandon take the news?”
“Brandon wasn’t surprised. Olivia felt bad, but she doesn’t blame me. Noelle got herself in trouble.”
“And tried to frame Genevieve for it! That’s evil!”
“Needless to say, Genevieve’s also happy the truth has come out.”
He fielded several calls from clients who’d heard about the fire and were checking on the status of their order. Then Morgan said, “Are you all set for Riley’s wedding?”
“For the most part.” He needed to put the finishing touches on the speech that Lourdes had helped him write. And the bachelor party was this Friday, only two days before Christmas. All his friends were excited, but he was having trouble feeling much enthusiasm for anything.
* * *
Lourdes was grateful her mother was the one who picked her up from the airport and that Renate hadn’t allowed Derrick to talk her into letting him go instead. Apparently, he’d tried. Her mother had a big bouquet of exotic and expensive flowers she said were from him, but Lourdes wasn’t in a hurry to read the card.
Although she and Derrick needed some time alone to talk, she wasn’t ready for that quite yet. She hadn’t given him any indication that she planned to reconcile, but it was natural, she supposed, for him to think there’d be a chance. She’d been gone only three weeks. A person’s life generally didn’t change that drastically in such a short time.
“I’m so glad you decided to spend the holidays with us,” her mother said, her smile too bright as she persevered in ignoring Lourdes’s dour mood.
Lourdes nodded. It was good to see Renate. They’d always gotten along well. But she’d left the love of her life behind in Whiskey Creek, and she couldn’t get the song she’d written for Kyle out of her head. She’d drafted the rest of the lyrics while she was on the plane and couldn’t wait to finish it. She kept humming those last few bars so she wouldn’t forget them. No matter what happened from here on, she’d dedicate it to him.
“So...how’d it go in California?”
She turned to stare out the window, already missing the quaint little town. “Fine.”
“Did you see anyone we know?”
“You mean from Angel’s Camp? I didn’t get down that way. I wasn’t there long enough.”
“Will you go back after Christmas to finish the album?”
Lourdes felt a crushing sense of loss. She’d wrestled with herself the entire plane ride. She was worried she was making a terrible mistake, closing the door on what she and Kyle had started. But she knew how hard it would be to maintain a long-distance relationship, how different that was from what Kyle wanted to achieve—and how susceptible she’d be to trying to keep him happy if he wasn’t, just as her mother had her father. “No.” She cleared her throat. “Probably not. I’ll finish it here.”
They drove in silence for the next ten minutes. Then her mother shot her a cautious glance. “Will you be getting back together with Derrick?”
“Absolutely not.”
Renate lowered the volume on the radio. “He seems to expect you to.”
She studied the gray sky overhead. “We’ll have to figure out how to deal with the past.”
“Meaning you’re going to try to continue working together.”
“I hope we can.”
“And what about Kyle?”
“What about him?”
“No.”
“Because...”
“Because one of us would get hurt.”
“You’re not hurt now?”
“We haven’t known each other that long, and it’s easier to move on sooner rather than later.”
“You’re that sure it wouldn’t work out.”
“I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t.”
“Okay. I’m happy as long as you’re happy.”
Lourdes managed a smile so her mother wouldn’t know she felt like crying and, thankfully, Renate talked about other, more cheerful things. They had several cousins coming for Christmas dinner. Lourdes’s groundskeeper had done a beautiful job draping her trees and shrubs with Christmas lights. Mindy had an interview at the school district where she wanted to teach, so she might finally be moving on with her life.
As soon as Renate pulled into her drive, Lourdes thanked her mother for the ride and hurried to get her luggage. She was afraid Renate would want to come in. They hadn’t seen each other for several weeks. But her mother obviously realized she needed some privacy; after a brief hug, Renate murmured that she should call if she needed anything and climbed back behind the wheel.
Lourdes rushed inside. She’d thought she’d find solace in the familiar, in her house, bought with her money, from her singing. But the house just felt...empty.
* * *
The following day Lourdes rubbed damp palms against her jeans. She was meeting Derrick for breakfast. She’d refused to see him last night. She’d needed time to adjust to being home, to determine how she wanted to proceed. But she couldn’t put him off indefinitely. They had far too much to discuss.
When he’d asked if he could pick her up, she’d insisted on driving into town on her own—to their favorite crepe place. They came here quite often. So did Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and his wife and many famous people. Some of the other patrons stared but rarely did anyone try to approach or take pictures. She appreciated their restraint and the fact that the owners of The Crepe Café tried to protect her from intrusion—by keeping an eye out for it and, if necessary, asking the offending party to leave. Lourdes especially appreciated knowing they’d look out for her today, when she was so nervous. She would’ve gone to Derrick’s house, or had him come to hers, except that she’d wanted to be on neutral ground, somewhere open and public, where she could walk away if she needed to.