Everything

by Melissa Pearl

  I leaned forward, pressing my breasts against his naked chest. A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes sparking with hunger as he wove his hand around my waist, his feather-light touch traveling up my spine.

  “This is just a very reusable song, because it’s the truth.” His voice was husky as he pressed the screen and placed his phone next to my watch.

  “You Make Me Happy” by Lindsey Ray started playing.

  I grinned, loving the sweet sound. My hips started swaying, my insides trilling. Leo was right; this song was perfect for us. It’s like the writer had read my mind, coming up with the perfect lyrics for our relationship.

  Leo’s eyes drank me in, the pads of his fingers skimming down my naked back. Our smiles kissed, a warm heat swimming through me as his tongue found mine. Cupping my butt, Leo flopped onto the bed, pulling me on top of him and chasing away all my sorrow with his tender kisses. His light caress sent my senses into orbit, and it was easy to believe that as long as we were together, everything would be okay.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Jody

  In spite of all my determined talk and a lovemaking session that turned my mind to custard, I couldn’t shake the fight with my dad. It plagued me, driving me insane as I fought the waves of doubt that crashed over me. The plane tickets were bought. The hotel was booked. We were going to NYC! I didn’t care what got in the way. In three days’ time, we were boarding the plane, and nothing was going to stop me.

  My hands shook as I sat at Leo’s piano. I squeezed my fingers together.

  “Come on, you know this.”

  I didn’t want to let Leo down, but I had been screwing up the tune for “Dream Chaser” repeatedly. It was a song in the middle between the old wise woman and the young protagonist, Aria. It was kind of her light-bulb moment in the story where she finally figures out what she wants, and when she wakes, what dream she’s going to pursue.

  It was a powerful song, and my voice really needed to nail that high note, making it soar right across the audition room so it pierced every soul sitting in front of me.

  I could hear Angel playing in the apartment next door. I didn’t usually leave her out of reach, but she was happy with her blocks, and I wanted to steal ten minutes at the piano while Leo wasn’t home. I’d left both the doors open and blocked off the stairs so she could totter through to me when she was ready.

  Pulling in a breath, I played the notes and sung the old lady’s part first.

  Dream chaser, what are you searching for?

  Which door is the one that you will choose?

  Dream chaser, do not be afraid

  Let the music guide your heart

  Hear what it will say...what it will say...

  My voice crested over her note, rising in volume before Aria’s solo kicked in.

  I know which way to go...I think, yes,

  I know where my love is leading me, I feel it

  I know which way to go.

  But can I get there on my own?

  The keys under my fingers felt like magic as I lost myself in the song, the wise woman assuring me in her next verse that I had the strength to face any odds and that pursuing my dream and listening to my heart would secure me everything I wanted.

  My smile grew as the duet picked up speed, matching the excitement growing inside of me.

  I can make this dream come true

  You can make this dream come true

  Like a light it leads me on to what I’m meant to do

  You will know it in your soul

  I will know it in my soul

  Feelings come alive and you’ll know you have come home...

  I’ve found my home

  You’ve found your home

  I’ve found my soul

  You found your soul

  I let the music guide...

  Guide...

  The music guide...

  Guide...

  I’ve found my home.

  My voice stretched over the final note. It was a high one, and I could feel my vocal cords straining, vibrato kicking in to help see me through the note. I had to hold it for at least twelve beats, if not sixteen. It needed that time to really soar.

  I finished with a triumphant huff. That time had sounded way better. I needed to get out of my own head and just focus on the music. Like the song said, if I let music guide me, I’d find home and everything I wanted.

  Placing my fingers back on the keys, I decided to run through it again. I paused to listen out for Angel, but I couldn’t hear anything. She wasn’t crying, so I figured I had time to work through the song once more before going to check on her.

  Five minutes couldn’t hurt.

  My fingers had stopped shaking and were working with renewed vigor the second time I played over Leo’s piece. He was such a genius. The entire musical was amazing, and my insides were bubbling with pride. My broad smile was hindering my singing, but I couldn’t help it. I was in love with a magical man who was going to sell his play to Broadway...and I was going to be the star of his show.

  Glee bubbled within me as my voice crescendoed, but it was slashed in half by a terrifying thump and a bone-chilling scream.

  I bolted off the stool, nearly tripping over as I raced out of the room and through to my apartment. Angel’s wails were high-pitched and horrifying. I had come to learn her different cries, and I’d never heard anything like this before.

  “Angel!” I glanced into the living area where I’d left her. The blocks were a messy pile on the floor, completely forgotten.

  Surging after her sound, I screeched to a halt in the kitchen, my stomach turning as I took in the sight of my baby girl, face-first on the hard floor with blood pooling around her.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Jody

  “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!” I dropped to my knees, my arms shaking as I tried to lift Angel. Tears blurred my vision while panic clawed up my throat, making me want to wail in time with my daughter.

  Blood was dripping from her face, splashing large red dots all over my shirt. With quivering fingers, I tried to figure out exactly where the blood was coming from. I touched her red-stained chin and she screamed, flinging her arms and legs.

  Bile surged up my throat as I got a proper look at the large gash. Her mouth was bleeding profusely, as well. Every time she wailed, more blood-laced dribble ran out from between her lips. I was soon covered in it, the red dots merging into a large, wet stain on my shirt. Panic was starting to win, taking swift hold and turning my mind to mush. I tried to bob Angel against me and calm her down, but it wasn’t working. She was hysterical...which was making me hysterical.

  “Think, think.” I sobbed the words, my body trembling as I begged my brain to function properly. “Stop the bleeding,” I finally whispered. “Stop the bleeding,” I repeated, my voice sounding a little more sure as I clung to something practical I could actually do.

  Yanking open the bottom drawer, I pulled out a clean towel and pressed it against Angel’s chin. This nearly sent her through the roof, but I had to stem the flow.

  “I’m sorry, baby.”

  She grappled with me, scratching at my hands with her little nails while I scrambled for my phone.

  Leo’s number popped up first. I dialed it and paced impatiently.

  No answer.

  “What the—Are you kidding me!” Who the hell didn’t have their phones on them at ALL TIMES! What was the point of having one if you weren’t going to answer it!

  I nearly threw the device across the room. Last-minute logic stopped me from killing my only form of communication.

  Leo had the car with Angel’s baby seat in it. I knew I had to get her to a doctor, but how?

  “Ambulance?” My fingers shook as I went to dial, but my phone vibrated and started ringing.

  I saw Dad’s number and didn’t hesitate. Arguments be damned, I needed him.

  “Dad,” I answered with a wail, my voice breaking apart as I joined my daughter in an all-out cry-f
est.

  “Jody? What’s the matter?”

  “Angel’s hurt and I don’t know what to do. There’s blood everywhere.” I had to practically shout to be heard over her screaming.

  “I’m on my way.” His voice was clipped but calm, and I needed that right now.

  “Do I call an ambulance?”

  “What are her injuries?”

  “Split chin and maybe a cut in her mouth. I’m not sure, she won’t let me look at it.”

  “Okay, don’t panic. She’s conscious and breathing. I’m ten minutes away. Just sit tight and I’ll drive you guys to the emergency room.”

  I nodded, my head bobbing like a jackhammer as he hung up.

  Sucking in a breath, I sat Angel down on the island.

  “It’s okay, baby. I know it hurts, but Grandpa’s coming, okay? He’s going to look after us.”

  My shaking voice didn’t calm her. She batted at my hands, still trying to pull the towel off her face. I gave in to her request but changed my mind when I noticed the wide gash on her chin was still oozing.

  I lifted her into my arms, squeezing my eyes against her screams.

  “Shhhh, it’s okay. It’s okay.” I kept whispering the words, my body swaying back and forth. I nearly stepped in the blood on the floor, my forehead creasing as I tried to figure out what she’d done.

  The cupboard doors beneath the sink were flung open. It didn’t take me long to work out that she must have climbed up the shelving and gotten up to the countertop before slipping and...

  “I should have been watching you.” My voice squeaked. “I shouldn’t have left. I’m so sorry, baby.”

  I kept on muttering apologies between hiccupping sobs.

  I didn’t even hear Dad walk in.

  “Jody?” He came up behind me.

  I jolted, spinning to face him. He took in the blood-soaked towel against Angel’s face and his expression morphed with horror.

  “What happened?” He lurched toward us.

  “I think she was climbing and she fell.”

  “You think? You weren’t watching her?”

  “Of course I wasn’t! Do you think I would have let her climb onto the counter if I had been!”

  “She’s one! You should be with her at all times. How did she get up there in the first place?”

  I looked to the ceiling, fresh tears filling my eyes as I listened to Dad’s reprimand. I knew he was right. I didn’t need him to spell it out for me.

  “I screwed up, okay! Come on, that’s what you’re used to now, right?”

  His face crested with sorrow.

  I ignored it, my volume increasing with Angel’s cries. “But it doesn’t change the fact that my baby girl is in pain and I need to help her! HELP ME!” I screamed.

  Raising his hands in surrender, I didn’t miss the apology swamping his expression as he came around behind me and laid a hand on my back. “It’s okay, Jo-Jo. I’m here.” He kissed the side of my face. “It’s gonna be okay.”

  *****

  Dad didn’t have a baby seat in his truck, so I sat Angel in my lap in the backseat and prayed she wouldn’t have to endure two accidents in one day. Guilt was a heavy burden, weighing me down and causing fresh waves of tears to swamp me every few minutes. Dad drove at a quick clip, but I never felt unsafe. We pulled into the hospital parking lot and Dad ushered us through the emergency room doors where a nurse dealt with us swiftly.

  Within twenty minutes, Angel was seen by a tender, sweet doctor who reminded me of Sean’s brother, Kip. He was tall and lean, his long, dark fingers precise as he stitched Angel’s gash. His low, soft voice comforted Angel, even when he was trying to inject an anesthetic into her chin. Once she was calm, he examined her mouth and pointed out where she’d bitten her tongue.

  “Those things bleed pretty bad, but they also heal quickly.”

  “Is she going to be okay?” I wrapped my arms around myself.

  “Of course she is.” He smiled, rubbing her back gently. “But she did fall and hit her face, so I’d like to keep her overnight, just to monitor her and make sure there are no hidden injuries lurking where we can’t see ‘em.”

  “Okay,” I whispered, feeling sick as I tried to smile at my baby girl.

  Her blue eyes were so forgiving. I didn’t deserve those chubby arms reaching out for me.

  “Uh, you’ll need to fill out some paperwork, and I’m sorry, standard procedure, but someone from Child Services is going to want to chat to you.”

  “Child Services?” I frowned.

  “We just need to be sure that the baby is in a safe environment.”

  My stomach dropped as I cradled Angel against me.

  “I would never hurt my baby.”

  The doctor’s brown eyes softened with a kind smile. “I can see that, but it’s protocol. I’m sure you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

  I nodded, feeling numb as I followed the doctor out to the waiting room.

  As soon as Dad saw us, he lurched from his chair and came forward with outstretched arms. Another wave of tears crested over me. I seriously didn’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t been there for Angel and me.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Jody

  The Child Services interview was brutal. She questioned me on everything, not letting up until she was sure I wasn’t abusing my daughter. It didn’t stop her from making me feel like a piece of dirt for leaving Angel unchecked for so long, though.

  “I realize being a single mother is hard work. It’s tiring and relentless, but you cannot afford to put your child at risk like this again. If you’re struggling, you need to get yourself some support.”

  I nodded, fear curling through me at the idea of leaving my family support network and flying to the other side of the country. What if Angel fell in New York? Who would I call to help me? If Leo was out of reach, I’d be all alone.

  “Who brought you to the emergency room today?”

  “My father,” I croaked, my forehead crinkling. Why had he been calling me?

  “Good, I’m glad you have family close by. Use them, get their help. Most are more than willing if you’ll just ask.”

  I nodded again, unable to meet her stern gaze.

  “Jody, from what Doctor Johnson told me, you obviously love your daughter. I can see you’re young and she probably wasn’t planned, but you’ve chosen to keep her, and you need to take that seriously. Children must come first until they are able to look after themselves.”

  Her eyebrow peaked high, reminding me of my strict math teacher from twelfth grade. Man, I’d hated her.

  The social worker’s words drove into me, feeling like nettles. My conscience burned, charring my insides and making me feel ill. If I hadn’t been lost in the song, the music... If I hadn’t let my yearning for the stage take hold, Angel never would have gotten hurt.

  “I’ll never play the piano again, I swear.”

  “That’s a little drastic.” She sniffed out a dry laugh. “Look, we all know accidents happen, but you do need to ask yourself what you could have done differently to avoid this one.” The lady patted my arm, her stern reprimand giving way to a sympathetic smile.

  “I know exactly what I could have done differently.” I shook my head, loathing myself, right down to my core.

  She rose from her chair and I followed suit, tugging my bloodstained shirt straight.

  “I won’t ever let it happen again.”

  “I feel confident of that.” She hugged her paperwork to her chest, her smile growing with warmth.

  My lips wobbled when I tried to smile back.

  “Go and see your baby. I’ve arranged to have a bed set up in the room so you can stay with her for the night.”

  “Thank you.”

  She opened the door for me, and I listened to the squeak of my shoes on the hospital floor as I made my way up to Angel’s room. Dad had stayed with her, much to my relief. I hadn’t wanted him sitting in on my shameful interview. The fact I’d ev
en had to have it made me want to curl into a ball and die.

  Popping out from the elevator, I slowed my pace, checking room numbers as I followed the directions I’d been given. The pediatrics floor was filled with sounds of crying babies and bustling nurses. I made my way down to the end of the corridor and found Angel’s room.

  Peeking my head inside, I swallowed back my greeting, too enraptured by the sight before me to speak. Ella and Morgan were leaning against the hospital bed, holding hands and watching my dad.

  He was holding Angel, kissing the tips of her fingers as he gently swayed around the room singing, “The Way You Do The Things You Do.” She gazed up at him, her blue eyes sparkling in spite of the deep bruise marring her milky skin.

  A rush of memories came flooding over me, Dad humming to me as we walked down the street or danced around the kitchen doing the dishes.

  I sucked in a breath, my face bunching. Whenever he’d sung to me like that, I knew without a doubt that he loved me—I’d felt it in my soul.

  And there he was, singing to Angel while my sister and best friend sat waiting for me...waiting to wrap me in their arms and tell me everything would be okay. Waiting to assure me that I was still a good person and they loved me, no matter what I did.

  They loved me.

  And Dad, he loved my baby girl.

  Watching them dance together filled me with such a sense of...

  “Home,” I whispered.

  Closing my eyes, I felt the tears cascading over my cheeks. I knew what I had to do. I knew what my heart was telling me, and all of a sudden it hurt to breathe.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Leo

  I pressed the lift button three times, eager to get upstairs. I’d had such a brilliant day and couldn’t wait to tell Jody all about it. Thanks to Bobby’s contact and his genius sound tech, I now had the full compositions for “I Want the World” and “Dream Chaser” finished. He’d helped me tweak the finer details, and I’d been able to hand over a full score of music for both those songs. I wanted to be as prepared for the audition as possible. I knew they would want to make changes, but I figured the more prepared I was, the more professional I’d look and the greater the chance of actually getting a say in how this musical was presented.