Catch a Fallen Star

by Amy Vastine

  “Are you telling her you two might move to Seattle?”

  Ruby wasn’t ready to show her hand just yet, but apparently Violet had spilled the beans. “I have been thinking about visiting Brittney, and who knows? We might like it out there.”

  “You can’t move out of the state per the custody agreement, Ruby. Don’t think I won’t take you to court if you try to take my kid away.”

  “Maybe I plan to take you to court so I can take your kid away. It’s not like you want her, anyway. When was the last time you had her over for her weekend visit? When was the last time you even saw her in person?”

  “Don’t start with me. I have been really busy. Weekends are the worst for me. I have to ride to pay my child support. Do you want me to quit my job and stop giving you money?”

  Threatening not to pay his child support was one of Levi’s favorite tactics. She couldn’t understand why he wanted to get under Ruby’s skin more than he wanted to take care of Violet.

  He had no idea that Violet would trade all the money in the world for some of his time. She’d have been happy with the same amount of time that he spent on a bull’s back.

  “It’s been a really emotional day,” Ruby said, “and I don’t want to fight with you.”

  “That’s what you always say. But you push my buttons anyway.”

  “I push your buttons? You’re worse than a toddler with a remote control! All you do is push my buttons!”

  Ruby squeezed the bridge of her nose. Fighting with him was always exhausting, and when she was tired, she tended to get mean.

  “I called to find out what’s wrong with Violet, not get into a war with you.”

  “What do you want me to say, Levi? Your daughter is doing everything she can think of to get your attention. She wants a dad so badly, she tried setting me up with Boone Williams the other night.”

  He barked out a laugh. “She wanted to set you up with Boone Williams? The country music star? What did she do, email his fan club or something?”

  His disbelief rubbed Ruby the wrong way. “As a matter of fact, Boone Williams, the country music star, is in town writing a new album for his record company. He’s staying on the same property where Violet takes riding lessons and meets with the social worker.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. And Violet asked him to take her mom out on a date? Did the guy laugh or run away as fast as he could?”

  Ruby’s face heated, and she tightened her grip on the phone. He needed to be put in his place. “We’re actually quite friendly. He came to cheer Violet on at the horse show you missed and plans to be at the next one. Violet set us up on a dinner date, and we had a really nice time. He came back here and we...oh, you don’t want to hear about all this.”

  She didn’t care what kind of assumptions he made. Levi could think whatever he wanted.

  “I don’t believe you,” he said, but the growl in his tone told her he feared it was the truth.

  “Well, like I said, you can see for yourself if you come to the next horse show. But I know you have a life and it might be too hard to fit your daughter in.”

  “Whatever, Ruby. I’m going to call Violet to make sure she doesn’t want me to come get her.”

  “She might not answer you right away, since she’s at the horse farm with Boone. He’s helping her get ready for the show. He’s really great with her,” Ruby said to add salt to the wound.

  “I’ll see you in court if you try to take her out of Tennessee.” He hung up.

  Ruby had hoped for a smug sense of satisfaction, but that feeling didn’t come. Instead, guilt and regret showed up. She wasn’t doing herself any favors making Levi mad. If a judge asked Violet which parent she wanted to live with at the moment, it would most likely not be Ruby. Levi could petition for custody just to spite her.

  Why had she brought Boone into the mix? She was trying to make Levi jealous. Not just of a possible romance but also of his relationship with Violet. Using him like that made her sick, especially after everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours.

  A few hours later, the front door opened and Violet called out, announcing she was home. Boone stood in the foyer when Ruby came out of the kitchen.

  “I’ll see you later, kid. Good job today,” he said to Violet before she took off for the solitude of her room.

  “Did it seem to do any good?” Ruby asked him. Hopefully the ride and some fresh air had a positive effect.

  “She’s super grouchy today. I’m not even sure coming home to a new puppy would have improved her mood.”

  “Thanks for trying. I don’t know what anyone can do to help her.”

  “We could fall madly in love, get married and live happily ever after. I think that might cheer her up.”

  He meant it to be funny. Ruby knew this, but it still did something to her to hear him say those words. It was like being kissed all over again. He had this way of drawing her in when she knew she should put up her walls.

  She tried humor to keep the distance intact. “I’m sure that would do the trick. Too bad that’s impossible. I’m a little out of your league.”

  “That you are,” he said instead of giving it back to her. He reached out and cupped her cheek, setting her skin on fire. “What I wouldn’t give to be what you needed.”

  Booned. She was so completely Booned, she didn’t know what else to do other than lean into his touch. He had awakened feelings inside her that she thought were in permanent hibernation. If she could just get out of her head for a minute, she’d let go and kiss him one more time.

  He dropped his hand and stepped back. His eyes were stormy blue, like he was waging his own war inside his head. “I’ll see you around.”

  She couldn’t manage to push any words to the surface, so she nodded and let him out. He’d see her around, but not for much longer. One month. He’d likely be gone in less than that, and this would be nothing but a memory.

  Violet trudged down the stairs in a clean shirt and her favorite black leggings, which she wore so often they had a hole in both knees. “What’s for dinner?”

  “Leftover pizza,” Ruby answered, but there were more important things to talk about. “Did your dad call you when you were at the farm?”

  Violet frowned as she hit the landing. “No. Why?”

  “He called to find out why you wanted him to pick you up last night.”

  “Oh, he finally got my texts and messages, huh?” She walked toward the kitchen.

  Ruby almost wished Levi had come to get her last night. At least Violet would have felt cared for and important enough for him to drop everything.

  “This is why I think going to live by Auntie Brit could be really good for us. We wouldn’t have to sit around wondering if your dad is going to show up. We would know we were on our own. We would be choosing that.”

  Violet opened the refrigerator and pulled out the leftovers. “What if I don’t want to be on our own?”

  “I know you don’t, but we are.”

  Violet didn’t say anything. She put the pizza slices on some plates and stuck them in the microwave. Another gourmet dinner at the Wynns’.

  “Say something,” Ruby said. She realized the slap of reality wasn’t easy to take. But Levi could say whatever he wanted; he didn’t have it in him to be there when Violet needed him. They had been on their own for a very long time and that was never going to change.

  The microwave beeped and Violet retrieved their dinner, setting both plates on the table. She slid into her seat and took a napkin from the holder.

  Ruby sat across from her, waiting to hear that she understood. In Seattle, Violet would have her aunt and uncle nearby, cousins to hang out with. It was a good plan.

  Violet blew on her slice of pizza and set it back down. She put both elbows on the table and lo
oked her mother right in the eye.

  “I’ve decided that I want to go live with Dad.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  ONCE BOONE HAD the lyrics of his new song cleaned up, the music came easier than it ever did. He had a song for Piper, one that would convince Dean he wasn’t wrong for not giving up on him.

  Wyatt thought it was incredible. He wanted to get some tracks laid immediately. For the past week, they’d worked on the arrangement without Piper, since she didn’t play an instrument. Two days with some musicians, and they had the beginnings of something with real potential.

  “Tomorrow we’ll do vocals,” Wyatt said as they shut things down for the night. “Maybe you and Piper can sing some of it together. I think it will help her to have you here.”

  Tomorrow was Sunday and Boone had plans. “I’m working with Jesse in the morning, but my afternoon is free.”

  “I’ll set it up with Piper. She’s been waiting for us to finish.”

  Piper had no idea what waiting was. Boone had been waiting for this breakthrough for years. He’d finally found his voice again. His career might be resuscitated after all.

  * * *

  JESSE WAS WAITING for him by the smaller paddock behind the barn that Sunday morning after what seemed like the whole town, except for Boone, had gone to church. They had decided to meet for a bit before Ruby brought Violet over to work with Willow. It was their first official counseling session. Boone had pretended long enough that talking to Jesse wasn’t therapy. It was the first therapy that seemed to be working.

  “What do you say we ride instead of work today?” Jesse asked.

  “Sounds good to me. No reason to act like I’m not here to talk.”

  They saddled up Willow and Sassy for a ride around the property. It was time to test the filly and see how she did with someone on her back. Boone believed all their hard work would pay off and she’d do great.

  Grass Lake was surrounded by rolling hills the same color as Ruby’s eyes. There was so much green, Boone sometimes forgot to feel blue. Willow showed no signs of trouble as they headed out.

  “How’s the song coming?” Jesse asked once they hit the trail.

  “Good. I got one song written. I hope the rest will be that easy.”

  “And it felt good? I know you were worried about what emotions were going to come out of you in the process.”

  Terrified was more like it. “It didn’t hurt. I actually channeled a little bit of Violet, so it wasn’t my pain.”

  “Your relationship with Violet is an interesting one.”

  Boone waited for Jesse to ask a question, but he just left it at that. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. I just wonder what it is about her that you relate to. Is it that she’s about the same age as Emmy, or is it that something about her life reminds you of yours?”

  Boone had to think about it. There were a lot of reasons he felt connected to Violet. She was funny and didn’t treat him like anyone else he knew. She was like Emmy, but not. Emmy was blonde and blue-eyed. She loved being a girl and wearing dresses. At least, she had when she was younger.

  “I don’t know. I feel bad for her. She’s hurting, and it’s hard to see someone in that much pain and not want to do something about it.”

  “So you relate to her pain?”

  “That, and my daughter won’t talk to me. She hasn’t answered any of my calls or replied to one text or voice mail. Violet lets me be there for her. She talks to me. She wants to know what I think about things. I would give anything for Emmy to do that.”

  “She fills that space that Emmy refuses to occupy in your life right now.”

  That was it. “Is that bad?”

  Jesse adjusted his hat. “Do you think it’s bad?”

  “I don’t think I’m doing Violet any harm. Except maybe giving her false hope that I’m going to fall in love with her mom.”

  Not that he couldn’t fall in love with Ruby. He knew he shouldn’t, so he wouldn’t. For once, he was going to do what was right instead of what felt good.

  “That’s tough but not surprising. Violet feels connected to you. Wanting to find a way to make the connection more real, more concrete, is pretty normal. It’s like the kid from a broken home who wants his dad to marry his favorite teacher.”

  “I never had a teacher I wanted to bring home. I never got the sweet ones. The school always put me with the strict disciplinarians.”

  “I wonder why,” Jesse said with a laugh.

  “I guess I’ve always been a little opinionated and quick-tempered.”

  Jesse just smiled and held in the sarcastic comment Boone was sure he wanted to make.

  “You came here to make an album, and you’re on your way to doing that. What happens afterward?”

  “Get back in it. Tour, make public appearances, get on the radio, make videos.”

  “What about Emmy?”

  What about Emmy? Boone wasn’t thinking about his personal life, only his professional one. “I don’t know. At what point do I give her what she’s asking for?”

  “What is she asking for?”

  “She doesn’t ask for anything. She doesn’t want anything to do with me. She wants me to leave her alone.”

  “You know that for sure?”

  “Well, no. But that’s the message she’s sending by not responding to any of my attempts to connect.”

  “It sounds like you want to walk away. Focus on your career and let her live her life.”

  Boone took a moment to mull that over. There was something very tempting about that plan. A man could take only so much rejection. Every unanswered call and text broke Boone a little bit more.

  He also knew that no father was better than a bad father. Many times in his life, Boone had wished his own hadn’t been around. His only memories of his dad were of an angry and unhappy man. Chase Williams had been critical and impossible to please. He had torn Boone down every chance he got. When he died, Boone had actually been relieved rather than in mourning.

  Boone wasn’t his father. He also wasn’t the same man he had been a year ago, but he still wasn’t the father Emmy deserved.

  “I’d probably be doing her a favor.”

  “Do you really believe that? After all the work you’ve put in to get sober, to work through your issues, you don’t think you deserve a chance to be in her life?”

  “I can’t be in her life if she won’t let me,” Boone argued.

  “That’s true,” Jesse said. “I guess you need to decide what you want to do about that. How you’re going to solve that problem. You have a lot of options. One of them is to let her go.” He had Sassy speed up to a trot and moved ahead of Boone and Willow. “I’ll be interested to hear if you think of some others.”

  The other option was to spend the rest of his life sending texts to someone who read them and probably deleted them. Soon he wouldn’t even have Violet to make him feel like he was a decent replacement dad. Seattle was too far away for them to have any meaningful relationship in the future.

  Boone’s agitation distracted him as he rode. Something in the long grass alongside the trail spooked the typically anxious horse, and Willow jumped and changed direction so quick, Boone lost his balance. He was thrown to the ground and landed hard on his right shoulder.

  Jesse doubled back to make sure he was all right. He was alive, but the searing pain shooting down his arm made Boone grit his teeth. His shoulder was definitely dislocated. Jesse chased down the scared horse and then helped get Boone on Sassy.

  The ride back to the barn felt significantly longer than the ride out. Every bump in the trail made Boone want to cry out in pain.

  Ruby and Violet pulled into the parking lot as Jesse was helping Boone into his car. They both came over with wo
rried faces.

  “What happened?”

  “Tried riding Willow and she got spooked. Tossed me off and my shoulder’s in bad shape.”

  “Why don’t we take you to the hospital so Jesse doesn’t have to leave work?” Ruby offered.

  Jesse appreciated the help, so Boone got out of his car and into Ruby’s. Violet had a million questions. She was concerned and a little mad that they had tried riding Willow without her there.

  “I thought we were going to try riding her in the arena, where we could control things a little better.”

  The kid was right—that would have been smarter. The pain in his shoulder made Boone wish they had done that instead. “She was doing fine until I lost my focus.”

  “What were you thinking about? Willow is fragile right now. She needs you to guide her, not for you to be distracted by writing the next number-one song with Piper Starling.”

  “Hey,” Ruby snapped. “Lay off him a bit, okay? You can give him a hard time later. Right now he needs to get that arm looked at.”

  Boone was grateful for her intervention. Little did Violet know he’d been thinking about how depressed he was that she and Ruby couldn’t be a permanent part of his life.

  A half-dozen people sat in the ER waiting room, keeping themselves busy in a variety of ways. Boone thought maybe he could use his celebrity to get him to the front of the line, but it was actually Ruby’s connections that got him into a room fast.

  “I’m sorry you have to waste the day here with me,” Boone said. Ruby had enough on her plate. She didn’t need to be babysitting him.

  “It’s fine,” Ruby assured him.

  “Promise you’ll never try something new with Willow without me, and I’ll forgive you,” Violet said from her spot by the door.

  “Violet.” Ruby’s tone was a warning. There seemed to be something going on between them. He guessed they were still trying to get over the whole running away incident.

  “What? We were supposed to be helping Jesse together.”

  Violet felt left out. Boone and Jesse should have thought of that before they saddled Willow up. “I promise that our work with Willow will always include you.”