Songs of the Soul

by Mary Manners

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  What People are Saying

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  Epilogue

  Thank you

  You Can Help!

  God Can Help!

  Free Book Offer

  Songs of the Soul

  Mary Manners

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Songs of the Soul

  COPYRIGHT 2018 by Mary Manners

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  eBook editions are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. eBooks may not be re-sold, copied or given to other people. If you would like to share an eBook edition, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.

  Contact Information: titleadmin@pelicanbookgroup.com

  All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version(R), NIV(R), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

  Cover Art by Nicola Martinez

  White Rose Publishing, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC

  www.pelicanbookgroup.com PO Box 1738 *Aztec, NM * 87410

  White Rose Publishing Circle and Rosebud logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC

  Publishing History

  First White Rose Edition, 2018

  Electronic Edition ISBN 978-1-5223-0093-9

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To Deputy Frank D. David Lamon II...

  Thanks for your unwavering dedication to the protection of children as well as the Sevier County community throughout several decades of service. You are deeply appreciated!

  What People are Saying

  "Love Notions brought fireworks indeed, throughout every chapter. I laughed, I cried. The love and trust that was shared with each of the characters was simply beautiful." ~ Sharon Dean

  "I loved every book in the Lone Creek Ranch series...The characters are so real. I just can't decide what couple is my favorite. I guess, like a kid at the ice cream store, they all are my favorites. I will be reading them again!" ~ Brenda Morgan Weakley

  "[Kate’s Kisses] was a book that I couldn't put down! Loved the sweet story line..." Cheryl Brim

  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self; created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

  ~Ephesians 4:22-24~

  1

  Brooklyn Gannon glanced at her watch as she idly pushed the shopping cart down the grocery store aisle. Only twenty minutes until she was due to pick up Jayden from school. So far, she’d managed to toss a head of lettuce and a loaf of bread into the cart, along with a handful of kiwi. Not exactly the makings of a substantial dinner. She’d better get her act together and get a move on if she planned to feed her son something besides the all-too-normal drive thru junk food. Because Jayden was sure to hit the car claiming starvation and being ready to devour a meal.

  She did an about-face and pointed the cart toward frozen foods. Not the best choice, but certainly a step up from the greasy burgers down the road. Jayden loved pepperoni pizza, and if she paired a few slices with a salad, the meal wouldn’t be a total loss, right?

  Brooklyn paused at the freezer door. As the chiller hummed, she studied her options through the foggy glass. The varieties seemed endless. Stuffed crust, thin crust, rectangular or round. She sighed and tapped her nails along the door trim. Even the simple task of making a selection overwhelmed. Since losing Joe, she couldn’t seem to pull the thoughts in her head together. The past year had flown by shrouded in mist, leaving her numb. Even the anger and bitterness that had been her best friends during those first few months following his death no longer came to visit. She’d flat-lined emotionally, and she couldn’t seem to find the jolt she needed to get back on track.

  She pulled open the freezer case door. A rush of cold air slapped her face. Shivering, she performed a quick Eeeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe with a poke of her finger and then snatched the winning pizza box from the shelf. Relief flooded through. There was only a short window of time between the end of Jayden’s school day and the beginning of his youth group’s praise band practice for the upcoming revival at church.

  Pizza, check. Salad, check. Onward, ho!

  Brooklyn swung back toward the cart and dropped in the pizza box.

  “Is that a done deal?” Asked a person behind her, clearly male. His deep voice resonated southern charm, and rang vaguely familiar. “Because I can say with complete confidence that the one in the red box on the top shelf is better.”

  Brooklyn’s shoulders tensed. She didn’t bother to turn. If she kept their conversation short and not so sweet, maybe he’d take the hint and simply move on. “Excuse me?”

  “Not trying to make your decision any harder, because you seemed to take a lot of time with that choice. Just pointing out a fact. I’ve tried them all, and the store brand is just as good—better, actually—and on sale this week.” He reached over her shoulder and rapped the glass. “See. Here’s the sticker that says so, plain and clear. Buy one get one free.”

  The scent of spearmint and fresh mown grass mixed with a hint of sweat. Brooklyn’s belly tugged at the purely masculine aroma. She swallowed hard as she scooted aside to put a measure of distance between them. “I see. Thanks for the heads-up.”

  “No problem. Just doing my civic duty.”

  “Well that’s…very noble of you.” So much for the short and not so sweet angle. He had her on the hook, and was reeling her in. “My wallet thanks you.”

  “My pleasure.” That voice…smooth as honey with a hint of gravel tossed in for good measure.

  Something clicked in her brain, and Brooklyn swung around to face him. Her breath hitched. “Cade?”

  “It is you.” He grinned at her. “I thought so. I spotted you back in produce, and I—”

  “Wait.” She raised her hand, just as she’d done as a kid in school. “You’ve been watching me?”

  “Not exactly. I was choosing apples, and there you were. Then you headed for the pizza and I thought, excellent idea. It looks good. You, too.” He jammed his hands into the pocket of his jeans and shrugged. “Is that a crime?”

  “I suppose not.” Yet she felt out of sorts in the wake of his scrutiny. “I’m just a little…shocked to see you here. I never imagined…”

  “God works in mysterious ways, right?”

  “You can say that again.”

  “It’s certainly worth repeating, especially in this situation. I’ve missed you.”

  “Wish I could say the same.”

  “Ouch. That stings.”

  “Sorry, but I’m in a hurry, and you’re just a few years—make that a decade-and-a-half—too late.”

  “Double ouch. You wound me, Brooke.” He raked a hand through his hair. “And for someone in a hurry, you sure took your sweet time with the pizza.”

  “So now you’re timing me, too?”

  “
No.” His blue eyes narrowed. “I thought after all this time you might have mellowed a little bit…enough to quit hating me.”

  “Hate’s a strong word, Cade. Let’s use loathe. It’s a better fit.”

  “Right. Loathe.” His laugh bordered on sarcastic. “I’ve got tar and feathers in the car. You want me to run and get them? Then you can have your way with me.”

  “You still think life is just a big party.” Brooklyn gripped the cart handle and gave it a shove, winding her way around him. “Let me get my surprise hat.”

  “People change, Brooke. We’re not bound by our past.” His foot shot out to block the cart wheel. “Even if that past is riddled with mistakes.”

  “In that case, the future begins with an apology.”

  “I’m sorry.” He didn’t miss a beat.

  “That’s music to my ears.” Literally. His voice was melodic, trained by a two-decade climb up the country music charts. “OK, then…welcome to the future.”

  “Thanks. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

  Fourteen years and two months. Not long enough. “Umm…what are you doing back in town?”

  She could hardly focus beneath the search of his gaze. Sun-bleached blond hair spilled over blue eyes in an all too sensual just-rolled-out-of-bed look. He still rocked the surfer-dude vibe, just slightly more refined.

  “I thought you dusted the dirt off your shoes when you left here, vowing never to return.”

  “Well, I’ve had a change of heart.” He took the overpriced pizza from her, replaced it on the freezer shelf, and retrieved the store brand instead. He tossed the box into her cart. “I bought the McMahan place last month, finalized the deal a week ago and moved in.”

  “Oh?” Shock coursed through her. If he’d bought the abandoned, historical home and set up residence, did that mean he planned stay a while? “I’m surprised you funneled your money into that old dump. I thought it had been condemned.”

  “It might masquerade as a dump now, but I have plans to restore it. It’s going to be a showplace when I’m done.”

  “In that case, I hope you have a boatload of money.” Of course he had plenty of money. He’d hit the top of the country charts half-a-dozen times since she’d last seen him. And the concert tours…well, they had to be lucrative. Cade could snap his guitar-strumming fingers and have the work done for him. But he was stubborn and adventurous enough to do it himself.

  Secretly, she was thrilled the historic home had snagged a second chance. She had a fondness for the place, and saw a hint of charm in its peeling paint and sagging shutters. She’d even considered taking the insurance money she’d been awarded following Joe’s death and taking a chance on renovating it. But after much deliberation, she’d deemed the investment too risky. So she’d decided to do the wise thing and fund a college savings plan for Jayden instead.

  “I’m doing OK in the financial department.”

  “I’m sure you are. And it’s a good thing, because you’re going to need every last cent to breathe life into those four walls.”

  “I’ve drafted a fiscal plan.”

  “You’ve drafted a fiscal plan?” Brooklyn choked on the words. “Mr. Fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants?”

  “That was the old Cade Lockridge. I’m new and improved.”

  “Oh, my.” She laughed. A good, old-fashioned belly laugh that felt incredibly delightful. How long had it been since amusement bubbled up?

  A year. Maybe longer.

  Cade’s grin soured. “I hope you’re laughing with me, and not at me, sweetheart. Because that would be really impolite.”

  “Yes, right.” She fanned her flushed cheeks. “Sorry. And I’m not your sweetheart.”

  “Not today, but tomorrow’s a new day.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up.”

  “Just stating the facts. FYI, in addition to cash, I have these, too.” He splayed his hands, palms up, and waggled his fingers. “Never have met a project I shied away from.”

  “Except for one.” Me. Us. Our future together…and everything that went along with it.

  Her thoughts circled back to Jayden, who was waiting to be picked up from school.

  “I’m sorry, Brooke.” Cade’s voice gentled. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. I never meant to.”

  “Sounds like one of your songs. But I’m not buying.” Brooklyn grabbed the handle of her cart. Cades hands, strong, tanned, and callused along the tips, captured her attention like magnets draw steel. The reason for those calluses reminded her of why she hadn’t seen him for nearly fifteen years—and why they’d parted on such unpleasant terms. The fact that he’d loved his music more than he’d loved her. “Are you still cavorting with your posse of band buddies and playing the guitar?”

  “Some.” He shrugged. “But I’ve branched out into other things. No more touring. I’m done with that. You might be surprised by this new and improved version of me.”

  “Unfortunately, I’m done with surprises. So, as fortuitous as this reunion seems”—she had to force the word from her lips—“I have to be going now. My son is expecting me in about ten minutes. I have to hurry.”

  “Wait.” Cade touched her arm. The heat from his fingers nudged her nerve endings to full attention. “You have a son?”

  “Yes. He’s…thirteen.”

  “Ah, a teenager. But you don’t look—” He paused, laughed. “Strike that. You’re the same age as me. But you sure don’t look it. You could pass for a perky twenty-something.”

  “Perky?” Her lips flattened into a thin line. She hadn’t been called perky since…well, not ever. “I turned thirty-four, last I counted.”

  “Right. You look good, Brooke.” He did a slow sweep of her. “Time has been more than kind to you.”

  “I could say the same about you.” Which surprised her, given the high-voltage traveling life he’d chosen. He stood tall and lean, as if he hadn’t missed a day in the gym. His features had matured, wiping away the puffiness she remembered from college. A strong, chiseled jawline accentuated the rugged look of his eyes.

  Something deep in the pit of Brooklyn’s belly stirred and heat unfurled like the flicker of embers. She’d loved Cade once, a long time ago. In another life. But those feelings had run cold, so why this sudden wave of warmth?

  “Wow. You have a teenage son.” He shook his head, as if he couldn’t quite process that information. “I guess that explains the pizza.” Cade reached into the freezer, grabbed a second box. “You’d better take two. Extra rations are good. I remember traversing those growth spurts. They’re brutal.”

  How did he know Jayden had just been hit with one? She watched as he tossed the pizza into the cart. “Thanks.”

  “So, I guess your husband’s waiting for you?”

  “No. He…” Brooklyn pressed the pad of her thumb to the underside of her ring finger, feeling flesh where a band of gold used to rest. “He died last year.”

  “Oh, man. I’m so sorry, Brooke.”

  “Me, too.” She gripped the cart handle. Why did the canned music filtering through the ceiling speakers have to choose just that time to segue to their song—the one Cade had written for her long ago, and only months before their break-up.

  The one that was supposed to be their wedding song.

  Had Cade noticed the song, too? If so, he certainly hid it well.

  “I’d like to take some time to catch up…maybe over dinner? I’ll grill you a steak and show you around the McMahan place—now renamed the Lockridge home.”

  Home…that sounded warm and cheerful. The virtual antithesis of the Cade Lockridge she used to know. The old version—not this self-professed new and improved model.

  “I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Her cellphone buzzed. Jayden. “I really have to go. Thanks for the heads-up on the pizza. I’ll…see you around.”

  Without giving him a chance to object, she gave the cart a shove and booked it out of there, quick.

  “Yeah, I’ll see you soon,” he call
ed after her. “Take care, Brooke.”

  2

  Cade settled his guitar on his lap as he listened to the youth praise band do their final run-through at Cedar Ridge Fellowship Church in preparation for next week’s revival. The melody rang a little shaky, but the kids were young—thirteen and fourteen—and still learning. It would come together in time and with practice.

  Which was what had brought him here this Thursday evening. His work here on the practice was in large part a favor to his best friend Josh, who sat on the committee in charge of infusing high energy into the revival, energy that would hopefully draw a crowd. When he’d learned Cade was returning to Cedar Ridge, Josh had asked Cade to come work with the youth praise band. He couldn’t say no to the request, so here he was, knee deep in it.

  Cade eyed the group of five teens—three boys and two girls—and knew he had his work cut out for him. They were high energy and more than a little rough around the edges. A motley crew, for sure.

  Especially the kid named Jayden. Shaggy brown hair spilled over his forehead to frame dark, sullen eyes. The boy had a chip on his shoulder the size of the Titanic, and Cade had no idea why. But he’d made it his mission to find out. Jayden was tall for his age and on the slim side. Faded jeans slipped low on his hips as he shifted on his stool while strumming the acoustic, and he kept reaching back to tug them into place.

  Which didn’t do much to help his playing.

  As Jayden concentrated on the music, determined wide-set eyes framed by the deep crease across his forehead reminded Cade of someone. The thought niggled at Cade, yet he couldn’t quite make the connection.

  Most likely because his brain was whirling with thoughts of a different sort.

  Thoughts of Brooke.

  Man, she’d looked good standing there in the frozen food aisle, studying the pizza case. Dressed in a navy pencil skirt paired with a flowy cream-colored blouse, she’d nearly brought him to his knees with her petite cuteness. Just as he’d been once before with her. Except then, he’d held a diamond ring in one hand and her fingertips in his other. And the words they’d shared had been sweeter than a chart-topping love song.