“Like it or not, he’s trying to avoid a big public showdown. People in there are starting to take photos. This will be all over the tabloids tomorrow.”
“She said she wants to perform together with him again. Hasn’t she done enough to hurt him? What if he has no say in who his counterpart in a show is?” she asked, but she also cringed to hear how lame she sounded.
“Bullshit! Do you know if it’s even true?” Naomi threw her hands in the air. “You know he’s a celebrity, and he’ll have something to say about who’s performing with him. But you better get used to the idea of people trying to claim him or frame him.”
“What do you want me to do? I can’t go in there and cause a scene.”
“No, because wacko Adrienne took care of it all by herself. But you can put on your big-girl pants and stand up for him. Go send the floozy packing.” Naomi nudged Stella toward the door. “In with you.”
“But all those people…”
“Ignore them. Are you going to live with those people, or do you want to live with the man you love? You’ve got to step it up, missy. Go after what’s yours.”
Stella looked from the tavern to Naomi, squared her shoulders and said, “You’re right. Enough is enough. He’s mine!” She started walking, then stopped and hugged Naomi. “Thank you for helping me focus.”
“Don’t you worry, I’ll be happy to hold the lantern to help you see better. And I’m right behind you if you need reinforcement.” Naomi flexed a muscle.
Stella didn’t pay attention to the other guests, most of whom were watching David and Adrienne. She ignored the flashes going off where people took photos of the spectacle.
Approaching their table with unflinching determination, she stopped behind David and placed both hands on his shoulders. Adding some venom to her voice she said, “We’ve never met, but this is enough. I want you to leave David alone.”
“Who are you?” Adrienne snarled.
“His girlfriend.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Naomi walking closer with a full wine glass in her hand.
“You? Are you serious? You’re nothing,” Adrienne spat out.
“You’re wrong,” David stood up and wrapped Stella in his arms. “This is the woman I love. She’s my everything. Now do yourself a favor and go back to your table. This scene doesn’t help you or me.”
“But… After all we’ve…” she stuttered.
“Goodbye, Adrienne.” He looked around the restaurant. “I apologize for this unexpected show. I’ll gladly pay a round of drinks for all, but please finish your meals and enjoy your own company.”
Then he turned to Stella. “You scared me when you walked out. I was afraid I’d lost you again.”
She snuggled into his arm and replied, “I didn’t mean to scare you, and I’m not going anywhere. I only needed to take a few deep breaths. And now I am hungry.”
Naomi raised her wine and said, “Glad I didn’t have to waste this incredibly good pinot noir on Fakerella. I almost tripped there on a loose floorboard…”
Frank laughed and said, “Sit down, woman. This isn’t your battle to fight.”
“Oh, you! And don’t kiss me again. What’s up with you men?” Naomi rolled her eyes while she sat down.
CHAPTER 42
David—November 2018
“W
hat are you doing down here so early? It’s not even five o’clock.” Stella wandered down the stairs and joined David on the sofa. Her hair was tousled, and she wore one of his T-shirts. What is it about seeing your woman in your shirt?
“Must be the jet lag. I wanted to make myself a cup of tea, but then I made the mistake of sitting down. Did I wake you up when I left the bed?” He pulled her into his lap where she instantly snuggled against him. “I thought about starting a fire. Would you mind?”
“No, you didn’t wake me up, and yes, I’d love a fire. We can have our tea and coffee here. Also, the deli had fresh cranberry-orange scones. I don’t know if they taste like the ones you had in London, but they looked yummy.”
“Sounds good, my love. Do you need help in the kitchen?”
“No, I’ve got it, thanks.”
While Stella busied herself in the kitchen, he stacked logs and some kindling in the fireplace and lit the fire. His eyes fell on a little book and a framed photo on the side table.
“Wow, when did the book make it out of its banishment?” He raised his eyebrows and smiled at her.
“After London, I decided it was time to let the poor thing out. And the photo of us on the Montparnasse Tower has special meaning for me, too.”
He swallowed hard and scratched the stubble on his chin. If he didn’t shave soon, he’d give Stella a nasty case of beard-burn in places only he got close to. Just thinking about how she responded to his teasing tongue a few hours ago made him hard. It was almost embarrassing...but only almost.
He wondered how he should best phrase a question he’d been pondering awhile. Might as well grab the bull by the horns and come out with it! Ugh, not the best phrasing, man…
“Baby, do you still have the letter?” he asked and shifted his stance to hide the growing proof of his arousal.
“Yes, it’s upstairs. It’ll never see the light of day again.”
“I kept a copy of it and burned it after you left London,” he admitted. “Wait a minute...”
Taking two steps at a time, he went upstairs and came back with his book. He opened it and showed her the photo he kept in it. “When I bought your book, I also got one for myself. I kept this in mine.”
“That was taken in 2015, when we first met.” Her eyes got misty.
“Yes, it was. It’s why I put it in the book.”
She rubbed a hand over her eyes. “Now you wait here.”
He heard her rummaging in the bedroom closet, then she returned with her letter. “I want to burn mine, too. Like you did. I want it gone.” She tossed it in the fire, and together, they watched the flames engulf it before the remnants whirled around the fireplace one last time and settled in the grate.
David began to kiss the side of Stella’s neck, and she responded by making the sexy little sounds he loved to hear. He slid his hand up under the T-shirt and cupped her breast, teasing her hardening nipple.
“Doesn’t every fire ceremony need a show of gratitude?” His voice was hoarse.
“Then what are you waiting for?” she asked with a wicked smile—and pulled him to the sofa.
After a long shower and leisurely breakfast—the first one forgotten and grown cold—Stella filled the dishwasher and asked, “What do you want to do today?”
“Why don’t we call your parents and ask if they want to meet us for lunch? I’d like to see them again.”
She beamed at him. “I’m sure they’d love to. Where do you want to go?”
“I like any place you pick.”
“My phone’s still upstairs. I’ll call Mom from there,” she said and ran up the stairs.
He could hear her muffled voice but didn’t listen to the conversation. While he watched the last embers cooling off in the fireplace, his mind went back to the nightmare at City Tavern.
Adrienne had almost managed to ruin one of the best days of his life when she ambushed him. He vowed years ago he would never share a stage with her again. If she ever wormed her way into a performance with him, he’d rather be sued for breach of contract than sing one number with her. He made a mental note to ask Aaron if she had indeed tried to contact him and was grateful to know his friend wouldn’t fall for her tactics.
Then he thought about how Naomi followed Stella out of the restaurant. He knew the two friends always had each other’s backs.
When he contacted Naomi two weeks ago from London, she requested to FaceTime with him. Instead of a polite greeting, she said, “Okay, buddy, I’m glad it’s just you and me. And what I have to tell you I’d rather say face-to-face so there are no misunderstandings. You destroyed my bes
t friend’s life last year. Without giving her feelings a second thought.” He’d never forget how she pointed a finger at him through the small screen.
He told her, “Naomi, you have every right to be mad at me. But you’re wrong if you think I didn’t give her a second thought. I explained to Stella why I panicked, and I’m sure she told you some, if not all of it. I’ve apologized to her and asked her to forgive me, and I hope you will, too.”
Naomi shook her head and said, “Oh, no, David. I don’t care about apologies. We live in a culture where one is expected to accept an apology without batting an eye and to say everything’s fine and dandy. But it isn’t always fine.
“Apologies are like marriage proposals. Not accepting them is almost impossible. To me, a believable explanation is more important. I have forgiven you, David, but I’m not forgetting what you did. You ended things with Stella in a horrible way, but you and I were also friends, and I don’t take friendships lightly. Being adults, we can put the bad memories behind us and move on. You don’t have to prove anything to me, but I sincerely hope you’ll never let Stella down again. Because I can guarantee you there will not be another chance if you do.”
They had talked for a long time, and Naomi was thrilled when he told her how he wanted to surprise Stella by arriving early, and how he needed her help getting Stella to the park where it all began.
He snorted.
“What’s so funny?” Stella asked from the stairs. Her voice brought him back to the present. It was the loveliest sound in the world.
“I just recalled my conversation with Naomi when she first gave me an earful and then told me her conditions to help me.” He reached for her hand and played with her charm bracelet.
“I hope she wasn’t too brutal.”
“She was her usual self, and I welcomed her honesty and bluntness.”
His phone announced an incoming message. “It’s Aaron. Man, social media is a bitch. He’s telling me the photos from last night are all over the internet. People sure don’t waste time bragging about what they witnessed.”
“Did he attach some of the photos?”
“No. I learned long ago it’s best to ignore it all. But, wow, listen to this. He wants me to meet with him in Baltimore next week.”
“What’s going on there? Anything special?”
“He wants us to go to the Hippodrome Theater. I only know it’s an impressive theater with lots of history. I’ll call him later to find out more.” He thought for a moment. “Do you think you can take Friday off? We could stay through Sunday and maybe have dinner with Andrew and Sarah.”
“I’ll put in for the day as soon as I get to work tomorrow. Are you going to take Andrew up on his offer to tour the Center?”
“I’d like to. Let’s call them later, too.” David kissed her again. “Did you notice how we’re making plans like any other old couple? I love it,” he said and nibbled on her neck. “How much time do we have until we meet your parents?”
“Not enough,” Stella laughed.
CHAPTER 43
Stella—December 2018
S
tella listened while David did his voice exercises upstairs. After his arrival seven weeks ago, they set up the second bedroom as his study. Stella loved how they had fallen into a routine so easily, and didn’t want to think about him leaving for France in less than a month.
A gusty wind howled outside, and the sky was full of dark clouds. Stella wondered if they’d get their first snow today.
But it was a lovely day to be decorating their Christmas tree with her collection of ornaments. David wanted to get a fresh tree, so they bought one at a nursery outside of town. She told him he was lucky they didn’t live in an apartment, because Philadelphia’s fire code prohibited natural cut trees in high-rise and multi-unit buildings.
The tree stood tall and proud in front of the French doors, only slightly crooked near the bottom, but—she thought—imperfections were part of life, and it would look magical when they lit the electric lights. The ornaments she chose were the white porcelain stars and bells she had collected for many years, ever since Naomi gave her the first set as a gift.
She reached for the tree topper and stretched to put it on top of the balsam fir.
“Let me help you, love, before you fall onto the poor tree.” David put his hands on her hips and lifted her up. “Good thing you don’t weigh much.”
“Thanks, I guess,” she laughed. “Do you like it?”
“I love it. As you know, my mom always decorates theirs the day after Thanksgiving. I saw it when I was there, and she’s still using some of the ornaments Sabrina and I made as kids, but I like your idea of waiting until closer to Christmas.”
“It’s what my family always did when Luca and I were little, and I have no reason to change the tradition.” She clapped her hands, “All set. Want some tea?”
“No thanks. I have to run out for an hour or two. Do you need me to pick up anything from the store?”
“No, we’re all set. It’ll be fun when everybody’s here tonight for our Christmas Eve dinner.”
“Is Frank coming? He and Naomi seem to be spending a lot of time together.”
“She invited him but wasn’t sure what his plans are. He’s making a lot of spur-of-the-moment decisions, which she says suits her fine. I’ll just include a place setting for him, and if he’s not coming, we can take it away.”
“Sounds good. Okay then, I’m off. Text me if you change your mind and need something. See you later, love you.” He kissed her on her nose and grabbed his warm jacket.
After she carried the empty ornament boxes to the basement, she began to set the table and mused about her earlier comment regarding family traditions. It made her wonder what traditions she and David would create with their children one day.
She was longing to feel his baby growing inside her. But she needed to be patient. At least things were moving in the right direction. Their trip to Baltimore last month had been promising.
David and Aaron had talked to the Board of Directors of the Hippodrome Foundation and been told one of the Foundation’s goals was to introduce touring Broadway artists to students, so the students could learn about career opportunities from professionals.
When they met Andrew later at the Center for Music and Medicine, David was equally impressed with their mission and opportunities. At dinner, the men discussed the different programs of the Center and the Hippodrome Foundation, as well as the benefits and need for music therapy in rehabilitation and in education.
She and Sarah had spent time shopping and catching up over lunch. Sarah took the day off and showed her two of the most outstanding libraries Stella had ever seen. The Enoch Pratt Free Library was opened in 1886, and was one of the oldest free library systems in the United States.
And the George Peabody Library, also nicknamed “Baltimore’s Cathedral of Books,” was widely recognized as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, and an essential space for teaching and research.
She’d been in book heaven at both places.
A few days later, David surprised her when he said, “I can’t stop thinking about our trip, and want to find out more about job opportunities in Baltimore. If you think about it, either place would be a perfect fit. I’d still be surrounded by music, but I’d also be able to pass on my knowledge to the next generation, or help people who are ill.”
“What a wonderful idea. But—won’t you miss being onstage?”
He replied, “I admit it’s a strange thought, since I’ve been doing it for so many years. But I’m also ready to try something different and new.”
Stella inspected the table and made small adjustments here and there. She wanted everything to be perfect.
She went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee. Then she sat down in front of the tree. Lighting up the tree at the twilight hour, when the daylight waned and nighttime tiptoed in, was one of her favorite thin
gs to do.
Nobody was at home. The house was quiet. She listened to Pentatonix Christmas songs and was happy. There was so much to be grateful for.
Frank leaned back in his chair. “Delicious. Thank you for inviting me, guys.”
“Stella is turning into a sweet little housewife. But I agree, the beef filet was yummy. I might have to ask you for the recipe,” Naomi said.
“I’d be happy to give it to you, but since when do you cook?”
“I don’t, silly, but my mom does,” Naomi said and reached for the plates to start the clean-up. When Frank offered his help, she gave him a quick peck on his cheek and said, “You stay right where you are and hang out with the guys. You can do plenty of cleaning up when we’re in Colorado for New Year’s.”
Jo said, “You know, Nam, you might want to start thinking about cooking. One day, when you have your own family, they’ll probably want to eat every now and then. And not just frozen microwave dinners.”
“I don’t eat microwave food. Mom cooks every day.”
“Did you hear what you just said?” Jo grinned.
“Is anybody in the mood for a nice glass of whiskey?” Rev called as he headed to the bar.
While he poured the drinks, he asked, “Jo, what did you say about Nugget having a family? Did I miss something?”
“Not to my knowledge. But some of us are hearing the tick-tock louder than others.”
Revan cupped his hand around his ear, “Nope, I don’t hear anything.”
“Well, it doesn’t concern you anyway, Shutterbug, so drop it,” Naomi called from the kitchen. “But who’s ready to open gifts? I love, love, love gifts!”
Stella chuckled. “Really? Nobody knew!”
Naomi rubbed her hands and almost danced over to the tree, eyeing the spread-out presents. “Do we all open our gifts at the same time, or do we go around and open them one at a time? Who votes for at the same time?” Only her own hand went up. “You guys are mean. Okay, but can I go first?”
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