Geronimo (A Songbird Novel)

by Melissa Pearl

The Way I Want It by Brandy Hiseman.

  Brushing my hand over the cover, I gave the book, then Brandy, a watery smile. “This is amazing. You’re a talented girl.”

  “That’s what Dad said.” She blushed. “I gave him a copy last night. I think he really liked it.”

  “May I?” I went to open the cover.

  “Of course.”

  Flicking through the pages, I skimmed the unfolding story. From the happy beginning surrounded in pulsing red hearts to the dragon fight in the middle where the hearts lay shattered in pieces on the dry earth. The next page the baby dragon was crying. Her tears then turned into a waterfall, which became a river that made the grass grow and created a flower-covered meadow where three dragons rested in the sun, peaceful smiles on their reptile-like faces. The blue and red dragons were no longer sitting together, but the purple dragon sat between them, touching them with her outspread wings. A big heart mended with stitches shone above them like a sun.

  “I don’t think it’s enough to get them back together, but Dad said he’s going to try really hard to stop yelling, and Mom said she’s going to respect him because he’s my father and she loves me.”

  Her genuine smile made my chest swell with pride.

  “You are such a brave kid, and you’re going to do really great.”

  She shrugged, letting out a nervous titter. “Dad said I can keep sending him photos of my drawings, and then he gave me an iPhone so we can keep in touch.”

  “Score.” I grinned.

  “I know, right?” She giggled then bit the edge of her lip, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I’m still scared to leave, but Mom says it’ll be a new adventure and those always make us stronger. I just have to have faith.”

  Dropping the booklet, I came around the desk and wrapped my arms around Brandy, holding her against me as she softly cried. “You’re gonna do just fine. I believe in you.”

  She squeezed back. “I believe in you too, Miss B.”

  Pulling away from me, she gazed up at my face, her eyes glimmering. “Thanks for everything. And tell Harry he’s the best. I’m so grateful that he came into my life, even for just a minute. He made everything better.”

  I couldn’t respond. My throat was too clogged with emotion, so I just bobbed my head and forced a smile.

  Satisfied, she ran for the door and gave me one last wave before disappearing into the corridor. With slow, numb feet, I walked to my desk and picked up the booklet again.

  Like some kind of sign, “It’s Good” started playing on my stereo. I went still, letting the words soak into me. Tears welled in my eyes and I hugged the book to my chest, my thoughts consumed by only one thing…

  Harry.

  My door creaked open again, and I jumped when Principal Rogers cleared his throat.

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  I let out a breathy laugh and waved my hand, jumping over to my stereo and killing the song that was trying to change my mind.

  Placing Brandy’s book down beside it, I forced a smile and turned to him.

  “What’s up, William?”

  His shoes sounded loud on the shiny floor as he crossed the room. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out an envelope while saying, “I’ve arranged cover for you today, tomorrow, and Monday. There’s somewhere I need you to be.”

  “Really?” I took the envelope, my frown only deepening when I read the message on the outside.

  Bombs away.

  I immediately thought of Harry and wondered if the mystery envelope was from him. But I recognized Sarah’s handwriting. I tried to ignore the wave of disappointment cresting through me. A surprise from my bestie was a safer bet anyway.

  Ripping it open, I pulled out the sheets of paper and carefully unfolded them. The top page was a handwritten note.

  It’s time to jump down a rabbit hole.

  Love you xx

  Sparks

  With trembling fingers, I checked the pages below and found an e-ticket for Antigua and a brochure for a luxury resort on a private island. I flicked open the glossy pamphlet, blinking stupidly at the pictures while my brain tried to catch up with what the hell was going on.

  William cleared this throat again, checking his watch quite obviously. “Apparently your best friend thinks you need a girls’ weekend of luxury to talk some sense into you. I’m not exactly clear on what sense needs to be spoken, but your mother is waiting for you at the front entrance with a bag of clothes and your passport.”

  My mouth dropped open a little wider. “I can’t just leave work.”

  “Why not? You’re all planned, and a substitute teacher’s been arranged. You have no excuse to stay.” He gave me a wry smile. “And your friend, Sarah, was very compelling on the phone.”

  “But…” I lifted the pages. “How is this happening?”

  The middle-aged man’s eyes softened with a kind smile as he approached me and gently held my shoulders. “Jane, you’re one of my best teachers. You work harder than any other staff member at this school. In all honesty, it worried me…until you returned from your summer break with a new lease of life.” Stepping back, his lips turned into a sad smile. “But you’re slipping back into your old ways. I’ve watched the light fade from your eyes…so I think giving you a few days to go and relax on a beach with your best friend can only be a good thing.”

  “But…”

  “You need to clear your head. Everyone who cares about you thinks so.” His smile told me he was on that list. “Now, go.” He stepped aside and pointed at the door.

  I still couldn’t quite believe him and just stood there until he started gathering my things.

  “If you don’t get moving, you’ll miss your flight.” He held out my computer bag.

  Taking Brandy’s booklet, I slipped it in the side pocket and hitched the strap over my shoulder. “Are you honestly letting me leave five minutes before first bell?”

  “Like I said, your friend was very compelling.” He winked and walked to the door, opening it wide and encouraging me through.

  I blinked a couple of times then shook my head before murmuring, “Bombs away” and heading out to meet my mother.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Harry

  My father fidgeted with his keys while he stood beside me at the airport. I’d already checked in my bag and was anxiously waiting for my flight time. I’d say goodbye to my old man and head through security then hopefully on to something wonderful.

  Doubts scoured my insides, leaving me raw and tender. Gripping my Starbucks venti cup, I took another sip only to find it empty. I walked away from my twitching father and threw the cup into the recycling bin. I should never have asked him to drive me up. When I’d told the family my intentions, my sister had swooned and hugged me. Mum and Nan were on board, but Dad didn’t say anything. Unfortunately, he’d been the only family member available to drive me to Heathrow. Our trip had been a quiet one.

  Walking back to his side, I hitched my computer bag on my shoulder and considered saying a quick goodbye, but something held me back. Maybe it was the fact I was trying to live a regret-free life, I’m not sure. But instead of doing our standard no-nonsense goodbye, I decided to make my dad spit out whatever he was holding in.

  Pointing at the security checkpoint, I glanced at Dad and said, “I’m walking through that gate in ten minutes, so whatever it is you’re thinking right now, you better hurry up and say it.”

  He slipped his keys into his pocket and sighed. “You sure about this, son? You haven’t even called to tell her you’re coming.”

  “If I do that, she’ll tell me not to. I need an element of surprise if this is going to work.”

  With a dubious smile, he scratched his whiskers and nodded.

  “I know you think I’m reckless and impulsive, but you can’t think I’m all bad if you’re lending me the money to pull this off, right?”

  His head kept bobbing. “Your mother would have my hide if I hadn’t.” />
  I grinned. “She’s a good woman.”

  Dad’s lips bunched, his round cheeks puffing out like he was fighting the words inside him.

  “What, Dad? Just say it.”

  “Marriage can be tough. I thought it’d be this fun adventure, see, and then it turned into a hard slog and I just couldn’t do it anymore.”

  “Was leaving Mum the biggest regret of your life?”

  After a pause, he gave me a slow nod then shrugged. “I had to do it. I had to walk away in order to realize how much I loved her.”

  “You took a bloody long time to figure it out,” I muttered, unable to keep the bitterness from my tone.

  “I know I did wrong by you kids. I hurt you.”

  I scoffed and shook my head. “You know, you’re the reason I didn’t want to marry Tammy. I didn’t want to promise her something and then not deliver. Even though I was sure I could love her for the rest of my life, I was still too scared to go through with it—” I poked Dad lightly in the shoulder. “—because of you.”

  Dad’s expression flooded with regret, his eyes begging for forgiveness as he blinked at me.

  “But I’m not letting you hold me back anymore. I love Jane. I want to be with her. I want to be her husband.”

  Dad took a minute to speak. I decided to wait it out. This was the first deep and meaningful we’d really had, and I couldn’t be a heartless bastard and simply walk away from it.

  Finally he found the ability to choke out, “I never should have left the family. It was selfish and although I figured out who I really was, I ended up destroying something beautiful in order to do it. I was always glad you never married Tammy. I was worried you’d make the same mistakes I did.”

  “I lost her because I was worried I’d make the same mistakes you did.”

  His apologetic smile was weak and fleeting.

  “I’m not going to lose Jane. I know who I am. I know what I want. This may seem impulsive, but if Tammy’s death has taught me anything, it’s that you can’t count on getting a tomorrow, so I have to make the most of today. I love Jane. She’s meant to be mine. Look at all the circumstances surrounding it. You can’t deny that fate has brought us together. I have to convince her that’s true.”

  “You might get fifty years of tomorrows, Harry. Life isn’t always a trip through Europe and romantic dinners by the beach. Sometimes it’s bills and housework…the boring stuff. Do you think you can love her through that too?”

  “Being with her, no matter what we’re doing, makes me happy. It’s as easy as breathing.”

  The wrinkles around Dad’s eyes deepened when he smiled at me. “I know that feeling. I wish I’d realized how precious it was when I had it. I wish I’d figured out that love—slow and comfortable is the best kind there is. If you think you can love Jane for a lifetime, then I’ll support you.”

  My lips tipped into a sad smile. “We can’t guarantee life, Dad. But I can tell you that I will love Jane every day I’m given, and I’ll love her with everything I have.”

  Dad lost his voice as he stared at me, his eyes shining with pride. Lurching forward, he wrapped me in his arms and patted my back. “You tell her just that, son.”

  “I will, Dad.”

  We pounded each other a couple more times on the shoulders then pulled apart. After one more meaningful smile, I stepped away from him and turned for the security checkpoint.

  It was time to go and win back my girl.

  All I could hope was that she’d be willing to listen.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Jane

  I tried to relax on the plane, I really did. But I could barely eat a mouthful of food, and I figured turning up completely drunk to see Sarah wouldn’t fly. So I just stared out my window, worrying that I was making a huge mistake.

  Did I really want an excuse to think some more?

  Sarah loved surprises, and the idea of whisking me off for a girly weekend no doubt thrilled her. But I wasn’t in the frame of mind to hang out, shoot the breeze…chat about Harry and what I was supposed to do.

  It wouldn’t be possible to lie on some exotic beach and relax, not when my heart and mind were in torment. Running my hand over the cover of Brandy’s book, I gazed at the sweet purple dragon and couldn’t help a soft smile.

  Harry awakened that in her.

  Just like he’d awakened life in me.

  I missed him.

  The closer I got to Antigua, the more I realized that I wanted to be on that island with him, experiencing all it had to offer. Sarah too, of course—I mean, she was my bestie—but Harry just brought everything to life.

  So what the hell was I so afraid of?

  Thumping my head back with a sigh, I closed my eyes and willed my brain to stop working.

  Thinking hurt.

  Living hurt.

  *****

  The sun was piping hot on my skin as I walked down the steps and onto the tarmac at the small airport. I was going to burn like a French fry if I wasn’t careful. Tugging my long-sleeve shirt out of the top of my bag, I stopped and pulled it on, covering my pale skin until I could slather on the sunscreen.

  Pushing up my shades, I squinted to the building ahead and noticed Sarah running out the doors to greet me. She jumped up and down, waving wildly and grinning like a cheerleader.

  I had to laugh.

  She was right to be this happy.

  We hadn’t done anything so girly and BFF-ish since before her wedding. It was time to remedy that.

  Running forward, I wrapped my arms around her and spoke into her ear. “You are crazy. Dragging me away from home with this big surprise. What are you up to?”

  She pulled out of my embrace. “Nothing! I just felt like you had to get away, and I couldn’t resist my awesome rabbit hole metaphor. Come on, surprises are fun!”

  I made a face and she laughed at me, threading her arm around mine. “One of my clients has a wedding here this weekend, and I just thought it’d be the perfect chance for you to get away. Your mom agreed with me and paid for your ticket. I got you the room for free.” She winked.

  “This is unbelievable,” I murmured.

  She squeezed my arm and rested her cheek on my shoulder. “You need this, Jane. You need to get out of your own space so you can think clearly. No work distractions, no sad little apartment to wallow in.” Spreading her arm wide, she sniffed the air then sighed. “Beautiful fresh air, stunning blue sky. It’s the perfect place to center yourself and figure out what you want.”

  I forced a nod.

  Man, I was exhausted. The idea of centering myself felt impossible. I’d been running on empty since returning from England, and the flight to Antigua wasn’t helping.

  But holy cow it was beautiful.

  As I walked out of the airport and headed for the docks, I couldn’t help looking around me, smelling that salty sea air, gazing at the stunning palm trees against the blue sky backdrop. Whoever was getting married in this place was insanely lucky. An amazing choice for the couple…if they both made it to the altar.

  I swallowed and closed my eyes against visions from my wedding day. They weren’t as forceful as they once were, but they still stung and lashed my already tender wounds. It was enough to put me off marriage for life.

  Funny how that thought hurt too.

  Harry’s impulsive proposal whistled through my mind as I boarded the boat. A fist squeezed my heart to a mushy pulp when I remembered walking into that pub and saying yes, imagining we’d have a life together.

  I thumped onto the wooden bench, clutching my bag strap and blinking rapidly.

  “You okay?” Sarah touched my arm.

  I nodded then went for a quick distraction so she wouldn’t look too closely at my locked jaw and flaring nostrils. “Justin here?”

  Sarah shook her head but didn’t look at me when she answered. “No, he’s holding up the fort back home. We’ve got another wedding next weekend, which he’s doing last-minute details for.” She whipped
back to face me, a bright smile on her lips. “Besides, I didn’t want him getting in our way.” She winked then squeezed my knee when I didn’t smile back. “This is going to be good for you. It’s a private island with only wedding guests, so it won’t be overcrowded. I do have to work, but when I’m free we can grab a glass of wine and go find a quiet place to hang, and when I’m busy you can just enjoy the luxury of the resort.”

  I forced a tight smile.

  Gazing out across the ocean, I focused on the sound of the waves hitting the boat, the bump and sway as we made our way to the small island. The water was a vibrant turquoise, so clear I could see my toes if I dunked them in.

  Just like the water Harry and I had jumped into.

  The memory was so crystal clear in my mind. His funny muscle-man poses, comparing himself to a demigod and then softly calling me Aphrodite.

  My eyes burned and I turned away from my friend. The wind ruffled tendrils of hair against my cheek. I tucked them behind my ear to stop the tickle.

  Sarah told me all about the resort as we went, no doubt trying to fuel my enthusiasm.

  By the time we pulled into the shore, she’d wrapped up her sales pitch and I was grateful for it. She was making the place sound a little too magical and I was wise enough to know that magic didn’t exist…not in my life anyway.

  “Welcome to Jumby Bay!” A gorgeous attendant with dark eyes and a white smile helped me off the boat.

  I let go of his hand and walked down the pier toward the luxury white buildings with their orange tiled roofs. Perfectly cut lawn, bordered with palm trees, paved the way to a pristine white villa that was obviously the reception and restaurant area. Rooms must have been on the second floor, and I wondered which one I’d be sharing with Sarah. I assumed we were sharing; how else would she get me the room for free?

  “We don’t need to worry about checking you in. I’ve already got the room organized.” Sarah grinned, then asked the valet to take my bags. “Why don’t you follow him and go freshen up. I’ll join you shortly. I just need to check in with the manager about a quick wedding thing.”