Love’s Serenade

by Sheryl Lister

  “Liz, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

  Her friend smiled understandingly. “It’s a good idea, Leigh. What happened to that twenty-one year-old woman who hopped on a train to follow her dreams?” Liz grasped Leigh’s hand. “You’re going to be fine. Promise you’ll write and tell me about all the fabulous places you’ve gone. Who knows, maybe I’ll come visit.”

  She brightened. “That would be wonderful.” She saw passengers starting to board. Though the ship wouldn’t depart for another two hours, Leigh wanted to get there early enough to find her way around. She gave Liz a strong hug.

  “Take care of yourself,” Liz said thickly.

  Leigh joined the line of passengers. She turned back and waved to Liz. The ship was even larger than she realized. She wandered through the huge space and found a smoking room and dining saloon. She returned above deck and stood against the rail looking out over the water. Though she’d never admit it aloud, she had still held out hope that Miles would show up. A searing pain tore through her heart. Never again.

  *

  Saturday, a travel-weary Miles stepped down from the train and walked to the parking area. He’d been in such a hurry to leave that he hadn’t considered that his car might have been stolen. Thankfully, it sat parked right where he left it. They’d buried Mama on Thursday and he’d taken the first train out on Friday to get back. He probably should have gone home first to clean up and rest, but his fatigue took a back seat to seeing Leigh.

  His knock went unanswered and he walked down and around to the restaurant. “Hey, Liz.”

  “Miles.”

  The frost in her voice and eyes confused him. “Is Leigh around?”

  “Why do you care? It’s obvious you had other plans.”

  “What are you talking about? I left her a note explaining where I’d gone.”

  “Oh, that I have to leave, sorry note.”

  His heart started pounding. “Liz, that is not what my note said. I had to leave to see about my grandmother.”

  “What did you say?”

  “My grandmother was sick. I left the note with Belinda.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Liz. What does that mean?” Instead of answering, she left him standing at the bar and went into the back. A moment later, she came back with Belinda. Belinda’s eyes widened with fear when she saw Miles, alarming him. “Would someone tell me what’s going on? Where is Leigh?”

  “The note Leigh had only said that you were leaving,” Liz confessed.

  Miles turned a blazing stare at Belinda. “What did you do?” he shouted.

  The fear in her eyes grew. “I…I…”

  Liz looked stricken. “Leigh thought you’d left. We just dropped her off at the dock. She’s on her way to Paris for a month.”

  He thought he might be sick. “What time does the ship leave?”

  “Four.”

  He checked his watch. He had an hour and a half. Had he been the woman-beating type, he would have strangled Belinda.

  “I’m sorry,” Belinda cried.

  Liz placed a hand on her hip. “Yes, you are. And you’re fired. Collect your things and get out!”

  “Liz, do you know how to drive?”

  “No, but Anthony does.” Anthony was one of the cooks.

  “Have him meet me out front in fifteen minutes.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To pay my rent for the next month and then I’m going to get my woman.” Miles strode out of the restaurant. He accomplished what he needed to do and was back in nine and a half minutes. The first copy of “Love’s Serenade” had been waiting with his mail and he’d stuck it in his bag, but he couldn’t even be happy about it. Not yet. Anthony was waiting and Miles drove straight to the docks. He grabbed his suitcase and satchel out of the back seat and slapped the car key in Anthony’s hand. “Take care of my car until I get back.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And Anthony, it better be in one piece.”

  “It will be, sir. I promise.”

  Miles hurried over to the ticket agent and prayed he’d still be able to purchase passage. There were a few people ahead of him and he anxiously willed them to hurry up. Finally! He walked up to the booth, paid the steep price quoted and boarded. There had to be a few hundred people milling about. How was he going to find Leigh? He saw few members of the race. In his haste, Miles nearly bowled over a man coming around a corner.

  “My apologies, sir.” He took in the man’s attire and noticed he carried a Bible in his hand. He had kind blue eyes.

  “No harm done. You seem to be in quite a hurry.”

  “Yes. I’m looking for someone.” Something in the man’s demeanor had Miles sharing his story of visiting his grandmother and Belinda’s deceit.

  “Sounds like you love this woman very much.”

  “I do. I had planned to ask her to marry me.”

  The man chuckled. “Well, if you find her, I’d be happy to do the honors. I’m traveling to Paris for missionary work. By the way, I’m Rev. Parks.”

  Miles thought that a splendid idea. “Miles Cooper. It’s nice to meet you. How will I find you?”

  “How about we meet over by that rail in, say, two hours. If you’ve found her and she’s agreeable, we’ll conduct the ceremony.”

  “And if I don’t find her?”

  He shrugged. “We try again tomorrow. You have a good six or seven days to make your case.”

  Miles found he liked the friendly minister. “Thank you.”

  “Godspeed.”

  He continued his search and had just about given up when he spotted Leigh leaning against the railing. His heart rate kicked up. He wove his way through the throng of people until he stood at her side. “Leigh.”

  “What are you doing here, Miles?” Leigh asked coldly.

  It was the same question she’d asked almost three months ago at The Magnolia. “Did you actually think I’d leave you?”

  “Oh, your note said everything. I think it would be best if we just moved on. I’m not going to keep—“

  Miles silenced her tirade with a kiss. “My grandmother passed away.”

  She gasped softly. “What? I’m so sorry.”

  “Baby, the note Belinda gave you was not the one I wrote. My note said that I had to go see about my grandmother because she was sick and that I’d be back in a week or so.”

  “She…”

  “Yes. I’m so sorry, Leigh. I wanted to wait for you, but I had to get to her.”

  Leigh faced the water and said nothing.

  He plowed on with his explanation and she still never looked his way. Had he lost her for good? “Leigh, please say something.”

  “All the things I said about you, thought about you. I feel like such a fool.”

  Miles turned her face toward his. “You’re not. She deceived you. I’m not leaving you, sweetheart. Ever.” He touched his mouth to hers. “Ever.”

  “I don’t want you to.”

  “Good. I love you, Leigh and I want to marry you.”

  Leigh’s mouth dropped. “Say that again.”

  He grinned. “I love you and I want to marry you. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she shouted.

  He kissed her soundly, picked her up and swung her around. He set her gently on her feet and took her by the hand. “Come on.”

  Leigh laughed. “Where are we going?”

  “To get married.”

  “Wait! What?” She stopped walking. “We can’t get married. I need a dress, we have to make plans, we’re going to be on this ship for almost a week.”

  “Yes, we can. And you look beautiful.” She had on a lovely gray traveling suit. “We can have a big party or whatever you want when we get back home, but I don’t want to wait another minute to have you as my wife.”

  She studied his face seemingly searching for some hint of guile. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. But how are we going to get married? Don’t we need a minister?”

  �
��I’ve got one,” he said, hurrying to where he and Rev. Parks were supposed to meet.

  “Miles Cooper, you’d better not be pulling my leg.”

  He chuckled. “I’m not.” He spied Rev. Parks a few feet ahead.

  Rev. Parks stood waiting at the designated spot with a broad smile. “Ah, I see you found her. The Lord answers prayers.”

  Yes, He did. “Rev. Parks, this is Leigh Jones.”

  “It’s nice to meet you. It seems you and Miles share quite a history.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, as well.” Leigh smiled up at Miles. “Yes, we do.”

  “He said he wants to marry you. Are you agreeable?”

  “Yes.”

  Rev. Parks opened his Bible.

  Leigh stared. “Just like that?”

  His robust laughter filled the air. “Unless, there’s something else you need. I took the liberty of inviting a few of my missionary brothers and sisters to stand witness. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Miles met the faces of the six people gathered and nodded a greeting, which they returned. “Not at all.”

  “Then, if we’re ready.”

  He looked down at Leigh. “Ready, sweetheart?”

  “Ready.”

  They repeated their vows and when it came time for the ring, Miles extracted his mother’s ring from the small jewelers box and slid it onto Leigh’s finger. “This belonged to my mother.”

  “Oh, Miles. It’s beautiful.”

  Rev. Parks smiled. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Miles, you may kiss your bride.”

  Miles didn’t need any prompting. “You are my heart, Leigh.” Mindful of their audience, he gave her a short, but sweet kiss. “We’ll save the rest for later,” he whispered. He shook the minister’s hand and, after a few congratulatory remarks, Rev. Parks and his group departed, leaving Leigh and Miles alone. “Well, how does it feel?”

  “It feels wonderful, amazing. I still can’t believe it.” Leigh held up her hand and looked at the ring. “Are you sure your mother would approve?”

  “My father left it for me to give to the woman who captured my heart. So, yes, he and my mother would approve.”

  “I love you so much.”

  “And I you.” He gathered her in his embrace. He remembered the record. “I have something to show you.” He reached into his satchel and took out the large envelope.

  Leigh opened it. “Oh, my.” She ran her hand over the label bearing their names. “It’s real,” she said emotionally. She held it against her. “We really did it.”

  “We did.”

  Smiling around her tears, she leaned up and kissed him.

  “So, I hear you’re going to be singing at some festivals. Would you by chance need a piano player?”

  “I don’t need just any piano player. I need you, Miles. Only you.”

  “Baby, you have me for the rest of our lives. Every day when the sun rises, your voice is the first thing on my mind. It’s the music of my heart, a rare and precious find. A beautiful melody sung one note at a time, creating our own love’s serenade,” he sang softly to her. He pulled her closer and reveled in her nearness. He’d found the cure for his restless feet. He’d found love.

  Dear Reader,

  I am so excited to be part of this groundbreaking project. I’m a music lover, so it was an easy choice to set my story in this era. Leigh Jones and Miles Cooper come from different backgrounds, but they have one thing in common—music. It brought them together once and, with a little persistence on the part of Miles, it can, hopefully, do it again. But he has his work cut out for him. I had a ball bringing their story to life and hope you enjoy their journey to finding love again, while savoring a taste of the 1920s Harlem jazz scene.

  Next month, look for The Art of Love (Decades: A Journey of African American Romance Book 4) by my author sister, Suzette Harrison.

  As always, I so appreciate all your love and support. Without you, I couldn’t do this. Let’s keep in touch!

  Much love,

  Sheryl

  Website: www.sheryllister.com

  Email: sheryllister@gmail.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sheryllisterauthor/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/1Slynne

  Acknowledgements

  My Heavenly Father, thank you for my life. You never cease to amaze me with Your blessings!

  To my husband Lance, you continue to show me why you’ll always be my #1 hero!

  To my children, family and friends thank for your continued support. I appreciate and love you!

  To Wayne Jordan, thank you for including me in this special project.

  A special thank you to the readers and authors I’ve met on this journey. You continue to enrich my life.

  A very special thank you to my agent, Sarah E. Younger and Natanya Wheeler, my personal miracle workers. I appreciate you more than words can say.

  Advance Praise

  “Sheryl Lister’s Love’s Serenade is a beautiful tribute to an era when men were gentlemen and ladies were women. You’ll truly savor this step back in time, and becoming lost in a world of music and passion. The second chance at love that it serves is absolutely satisfying.”—Suzette D. Harrison, Author of Taffy & The Art of Love

  Discover More by Sheryl Lister

  Contemporary Romance

  Just To Be With You

  All Of Me

  It’s Only You

  Be Mine For Christmas (Unwrapping The Holidays Anthology)

  Tender Kisses (The Grays of Los Angeles Book 1)

  Places In My Heart (The Grays of Los Angeles Book 2)

  Giving My All To You (The Grays of Los Angeles Book 3)

  Embracing Forever (Book 3 in the ONCE UPON A BRIDESMAID Series) by Sheryl Lister

  Made To Love You

  It’s You That I Need

  Perfect Chemistry

  About the Author

  Sheryl Lister is a multi-award winning author who has enjoyed reading and writing for as long as she can remember. After putting writing on the back burner for several years, she became serious about her craft in 2009. When she’s not reading or writing, Sheryl can be found on a date with her husband or in the kitchen creating appetizers and bite-sized desserts. Sheryl resides in California and is a wife, mother of three and former pediatric occupational therapist. She is a member of RWA, CIMRWA, the Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA, and is represented by Sarah E. Younger of Nancy Yost Literary Agency.