“It’s always you, isn’t it?” Upton’s tone lowered.
“What do you mean?” After taking the cane, he grabbed the Danish.
“You are always there for everyone. When someone needs you, even if they don’t, you are there.”
His friend’s words reminded him of what he once told Petals. At one point in his restless sleep, he pictured her showing up at the clearing and not finding him there. Would her heart ache or would she be glad to be moving on?
Of course, along with that picture came the one of her staring at him in disbelief the night before and running away with tears in her eyes. “Someone has to be.”
“Then just make sure you keep your promises to the ones that matter most.” Upton moved into the hallway, but remained in the shadows. No doubt the man knew every angle in his own home to keep himself hidden.
He broke out into a sweat. What was Petals doing now? Was she off with her fiancé? “I better get going.”
“Hold on a moment.” Upton disappeared.
He waited and glanced around noticing the lack of pictures on the wall, the lack of anything personal to Upton anywhere.
“I don’t use these anymore. Give these to the little rug rat.” Upton thrust a set of drumsticks at him. “Maybe I’ll send the little brat a set of drums when it gets older, a little payback to the leader of the band.”
“Well, you are full of presents today.” Using his cane, he went to his friend and grabbed the gift.
Upton held the sticks fast. “Make sure while you are always taking care of others, you take care of yourself too.”
Nash nodded. “Well maybe every once in a while, make sure you let someone be there for you as well.”
“Take care of the right people.” At last, Upton relinquished the sticks and left.
Nash walked through the mansion and let himself out to a waiting car. He slipped in the back seat. The divider between the front and back seat prevented him from seeing the driver.
“Where to, Nashville?” Geoffrey asked.
“Erik Renevant’s Theatre.” As the car took off, he sat back and his phone rang. “Please take me around the back.”
A quick glance at the screen made his chest tighten, but he answered anyway. “Hello.”
“Nashville.” Stacy crooned into the phone. “You did the right thing.”
“All right.” He tightened his hold on the phone and prepared for whatever came next.
“Nashville. I’m in trouble, I need help.” She sounded breathless.
“What on earth could you need now?” After he did everything she wanted, the woman still had the gall to call him.
“Please. The money isn’t enough. Make it better.” Her voice broke. “This is our family.”
Upton’s words echoed in his ears. It was about time he was there for someone who needed him. “We’re not family Stacy, never were. We are done.”
“But your father.” she screeched into the phone.
“My father!” He raised his voice. “He would have said that I needed to do the right thing for me, and I did because no matter what I have lost in the course of the last twenty-four hours, I have gained my freedom from you. I can do nothing more for you. Goodbye.” With conviction, he hung up.
Strange, when he didn’t want to reveal himself to Petals part of the reason was he didn’t want her to know about the mess with this stepfamily. Now it was over.
The car glided to a stop in the ally behind Erik’s theatre.
“Thanks Geoffrey.” The second he got out of the car, it drove away.
Before he had a chance to knock, Erik opened the door. “Look what the cat dragged over. You look horrible.”
Apparently, everyone from Spectre read from the same script. “Is that really what you want to talk about?”
“Yes, but we’re not supposed to talk about it,” Erik groaned. “You do know that all capitals is considered yelling, don’t you?”
“I am aware of texting etiquette.” He crossed his arms. “I promise I won’t yell around the baby, texting or otherwise. May I come in?”
“I suppose my daughter is ready to meet her first fan.” A smile the likes of which Nash had never seen took over Erik’s face.
“A girl.” With all the icy sensations running through him since last night, a bit of warmth thawed his heart. “Since you invited me here, may I see her?”
“Well, since we’re not talking about the obvious, I suppose I will allow it.” Erik backed up. “She’s taking center stage, of course.”
Nash darted over to the stage where Erik had set up a lounge. Christine sat in silken red robe among a sea of cushions with a little bundle in her arms. “May I?” He made sure to keep his voice low, calm.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Christine motioned him over.
He approached the lounge and knelt down.
Christine held the baby up.
Little face, big blue eyes, perfect little features. No matter what was going on in his life, he had to smile at the little miracle. His best friend never thought he would have anything close to this. “What’s her name?”
“I would like you to meet Madeline Tennessee Renevant,” she whispered.
Her name nearly knocked him over and he cleared his throat. “Tennessee?”
“We wanted her to have a bit of her godfather’s style.” Christine laughed.
Erik came up behind him. “I’m assuming you accept the position.”
Fine, he wiped a tear away from his eye and nodded. “Well, this godfather comes bearing gifts.” First he took his skull ring off his finger and handed it to Christine. “One day this will be a quite a collector’s piece, indeed.”
“No one will ever say she is not the hippest baby in town.” Christine took the offering.
“Also, this is from a friend.” He reached into his tuxedo jacket and pulled out the drumsticks.
“Upton?” Erik gently took the sticks. “He signed them.”
“Our drummer also told me he’s going to send the rug rat over a set a drums just to get back at you.” He glanced over at Erik.
“Your goddaughter wants you to hold her.” Christine moved over and made room for him.
“Something tells me I will never be able to refuse this little one anything.” He took his seat and allowed Christine to hand him his goddaughter. He offered the baby his finger and she instantly grasped it looked up at him. “Well, Miss Renevant, just so you know, I will always be there if you need me, no matter what.”
At hearing himself speak the words again, a fresh wave of nausea overtook him. Did she really get engaged? What if she was telling the truth and didn’t know who he was? Everything she did spoke that she loved him until that last moment. He looked up at Erik. Was it possible she was looking for him now and he wasn’t there for her?
“What is it?” Erik shoved himself on the lounge with the rest of them.
“I told her I would always be there for her, but I left.” He choked out the words. “I didn’t even give her a chance to explain.”
“Nash.” Christine put her hand on his arm.
“Everything is messed up and I said I would be there for her, but I think when she needed me most, I walked away.” He carefully handed Madeline back to Christine and stood.
“If you said you would always be there, then I suggest you go wherever that is and give her a chance.” Erik stood.
“I was told today to make sure I look out for the right people. I need to at least know.” Before he gave up, he had to be there for her one last time.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
One heel broken, the hem of her dress tattered and torn, and her hair hanging down limp and lifeless, Ryane used Nash’s glass walking stick to help drag herself back to the cottage to face everyone with her failure.
Belinda rushed to her first and attempted to brush off her dress. Followed by Bobbie and Bernadette who simply stood there with pity in their eyes.
She waved her assistants away and Patric
k came over.
“I take it this isn’t going how you planned.” He shook his head.
Honestly, she didn’t have any tears left, all she had was the people in front of her, and she needed to let them go get some sleep and live their lives while she tried to put hers back together again. Right before she went to give her state of the union address, one of her father’s assistants raised his hand.
“Miss Windsome.” Holding his cell phone up in the air, he came forward. “Your father would like to speak to you.”
She swallowed, smoothed her hair down and prepared herself to hear how disappointed her father was in her yet again. After taking a breath, she took the phone. “Hello, Daddy.”
“Do you know what I walked in to today in my office?” His commanding voice vibrated through her.
“No, Daddy.” She turned her back to her audience.
“Pink file folders.” He told her. “Do you know what that means?”
Rather than answer, she shrugged and waited for him to continue.
“It means you saw it through.” At last, he sounded like her father.
“Thank you, Daddy.” Her voice cracked.
“Are you still searching for Nash Cinder or have you given up?”
With a huff, she glanced around the forest, the trees, off in the distance was the lake. How could she and Knight have shared the connection they had and he just walked away? She needed to at least talk to him in order to move on. “No, Daddy. I love him and he may not love me, but I need for him to say it to my face and I’m going to keep looking."
“That’s my girl,” her father crooned into the phone. “Then you tell those assistants of yours I’m sending over a couple of addresses he may be at. Go to the one in the Hollywood Hills first, and I’ll meet you there to help. We will find this man if I have to pick up Los Angeles personally and shake him out of it.”
“Daddy.” Her heart swelled, and more tears streamed down her face. “One more thing.” She had one chance to say her peace.
“Yes, Princess.”
“I’m not going to just get married because you want it. I’ll get married when it’s right. In the meantime, may I suggest you hire Patrick and groom him? He can do great things even if we are not a couple.” There would be no better person to help with the business than Patrick.
“Princess, I am quite proud of the woman you are turning out to be,” her father said. “I think we can do some grooming with you as well.”
“I’ll see you at the next stop. I love you, Daddy.” She handed the phone back to the assistant. “If you are all still with me, I’m going to keep trying.”
Her gathered team applauded and they all got into their respective cars.
Patrick resumed his position in the driver’s seat and elbowed her. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you.” Nash’s glass walking stick in her hand she turned on the music and Spectre’s tunes filled the air, another song she knew by heart. How would he ever believe she never truly placed him? No wonder he didn’t believe her.
They drove back to the city and into the Hollywood Hills, and had she had not recognized her father’s limousine and known they were looking for a little private drive, they would have missed the turn off completely.
She and Patrick led the caravan up the small road that would lead her to Upton Mandeville, Spectre’s drummer.
They stopped at a looming iron gate with nothing but a speaker and some video cameras.
Patrick rolled down the window and hit the button.
“Whatever you’re selling be it products, religion or good will, we don’t want any, and we demand you get off this property.” A low male voice spoke to them.
Patrick opened his mouth, but she stopped him. “I’m not selling anything. My name is Ryane Windsome. I’m looking for someone. Is there anyway Mr. Hadaway can help me, please.”
Silence met her, and right before she was ready to get out of the damn car and hop the gate, a different voice spoke.
“All right sugar, I’ll bite, who are you looking for?”
“Please help me, I am looking for Nash Cinder. I have reason to believe he might be here.” She leaned down and watched one of the video cameras tracking her and waved.
“Is that your fiancé sitting next to you?” the man asked.
Fiancé? Why would this man ask that? “No.” Did Nash find out about Patrick’s proposal?
Patrick turned to her and winced.
“I’m not engaged, I’m in love with Knight, I mean Nash. Is he there please?” Instead of facing the speaker, she made her plea right to the camera.
“Sorry sweetness, you missed him, maybe it’s better, maybe it’s not, but if you want to find him, you’ll have to look for a different band member,” the man told her. “I’ll give you five minutes to get off my property. Consider it a gift.”
The speaker clicked off.
Her father came over to her side of the car and she rolled down the window.
“That man was rude.” He shook his head.
“Daddy, he said to go to another band member.” She picked up her tablet computer. There was only one more left.
Her father held up his phone. “Erik Renevant, he lives in a theatre not far from here.”
Patrick typed the address into the navigation system, and once more they were on the road.
As they drove through the streets of Hollywood and closer to her destination, she trembled. The pieces of the night before came together. Nash believed she got engaged, no wonder he left. Maybe, just maybe they did have a future. She had to find him and tell him she loved him. She would do whatever it took to get to him.
Again, the caravan stopped, this time outside a gorgeous renovated art deco theatre.
Her stomach in knots, and praying this was her last stop, she got out of the car and walked to the theatre, where she turned back and held her hand up to stop everyone else before knocking on the door.
After quite a wait, the door shot open and a tall man answered the door, but remained mostly in the shadows. “May I help you?”
She held up Nash’s glass walking stick. “I am looking for the man this belongs to.”
“Petals, I presume.” The man stepped forward, revealing a mask that covered half his face.
“Erik Renevant.” She gasped his name. “You’re married to the singer and you know me.” Nash had to have been here in order for this man to know her name.
“Some would say Christine was married to the singer.” He chuckled.
“Listen.” She stepped closer. “I’m not engaged, I’m in love with Nash, please tell me where he is.”
“I believe he once said if you ever needed him you would know where to find him.” Erik told her.
“I was there, he wasn’t.” Her chest constricted. “I’m not going back.”
Erik shrugged. “The choice is yours.”
A baby began crying in the background.
“I have to go, but you know everything.” He bowed to her and closed the door.
She hugged the walking stick. She had to give Nash once last chance to keep his promise. It would be the last time.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Nash finished the last touches on what would no doubt be his final tribute to Petals.
Unsure what would transpire in the next few hours or days, he visited the cottage one last time, taking only three things he couldn’t bear to leave behind, his parents’ rings, his vintage acoustic guitar and pictures of his family.
As he walked through the rooms, he realized all that he could live without. In fact, without Petals none of it really mattered. When he shut the door to the small cottage his family shared, he said goodbye, let go of the pieces of his past that cut through him, and vowed to keep the good memories in his heart.
Honestly, when he first arrived at the clearing, he was undecided on what action to take. Then he went to his rock, their rock, and found the sign he searched for.
Her bracelet.
She had
been here, she searched for him, and she wanted him.
He only had to pray that she returned. Long ago he told her he would always be here for here. He already betrayed her twice and he swore that whatever else happened in his life, if she had faith in him one last time, he would never let her go.
Yes, he could call her, contact her and find her, but if she showed up to give him a chance, they were meant to be.
At a rustle in the trees, his heart seized, his stomach twisted.
He ground his teeth together when the little squirrel ran across the clearing.
Right before he went to shoo the varmint away or hire an exterminator, the branches parted and his Petals appeared.
Apparently, she never stopped searching for him. Her dress that fit her perfectly the night before was now dirty and torn, her hair was a disaster, her makeup smeared, and still there was never a more glorious sight in all the universe.
She stopped and clutched the glass walking stick he used the night before to her chest.
He held up his hand, put his cane aside and walked to her, for the first time allowing his limp to be apparent. “The walking stick isn’t just for show.”
She kept her focus on him, her eyes darting between his face and his leg. “You can leave the show for the stage. For the record, I never saw you on stage until yesterday. I was more into pop rock.”
“That pains me.” He continued to inch toward her. “Am I the only one?” Even though she was here, he still heard she became engaged yesterday.
“I think you know the answer to that. What you saw or heard wasn’t reality. Remember the day we said no games?” She lifted her chin.
“Do you think its time we enter reality?” Finally, he was mere inches from her.
“Only if you’re there.” She crossed her arms.
At last, he reached and held his arms out. “This is all I am.”
Tears streamed down her face. “That’s all I ever wanted.” Without hesitation, she went to him, lifted her hand and pressed it to his face. “Nash.”
“My beautiful Ryane.” He smiled and wiped her tears away. “I love you, I have since the day you stumbled into my life.”
Fantasy: A Modern Romance Inspired by Cinderella (Seductively Ever After) Page 17