“Wait. A long time ago I had anonymous reports of a child and some blackmail attempts, but they had stopped. I thought it was all a ruse at the time.”
“It was likely him. At the time he was working for you.”
He shook his head. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes, and I’m sorry I missed out on your childhood. You have to be the most beautiful mistake I’ve ever made. I hope we can become better acquainted.”
“I’d like that, Terry.”
“Terry, you should know Jazzy Records was not good to Tia. It was why Specific Gravity broke with your label.”
He frowned. “Really? I had no clue. You had been with us years ago before Johnny’s cancer. Tia, you worked with them then?”
“Yes, under Jim’s management company.”
“He was a loser. Sorry because that doesn’t sound very Christian, but it’s true. I only became a Christian about eight years ago. After that, I started to take more interest in what was happening with our faith-based records and the industry, but must have missed that. It sounds like we have a lot of things to talk about in the coming days and months.”
“Thank you for the gift of your daughter, sir.” Niko reached out his hand.
Terry took it and shook. “Thank you for looking after her so well. Sounds like she found a man worthy of all I would ever wish for a daughter of mine.”
Tia’s eyes welled with tears. “Oh!” She couldn’t keep quiet as her stomach tightened.
“Tia?” Niko asked.
“Just a contraction.”
“Wait. How often are they coming?” Niko asked.
“I don’t know. Six or eight minutes. They’re getting harder.”
Terry smiled. “I recommend you go to the hospital. Keep me informed. I’m in town for a few days and would love to visit and maybe introduce you to my wife, if you wouldn’t mind?” He handed Niko his business card.
Tia nodded. “I’d like that.”
Niko texted the bandmates and rushed out the door to catch a cab to the hospital.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Pleasures are transient—honors are immortal.
Greek proverb
Niko’s body absorbed her pain as he held her. Tia screamed, and the doctor cheered. “We have a…baby!”
“What is it?” Niko asked as he tried to see.
“A boy!”
They put a blanket on top of Tia and placed the baby there, and Niko fell in love. Dark eyes and curly brown fluff on his son’s head gave testament to his heritage. His lusty wail made Niko laugh. “I think he’s singing for his supper.”
“You’ll have to work on voice lessons for him. He’s slightly off pitch.” Tia started to nurse him, and the babe suckled loudly. “He eats like you too.” Tia giggled.
Niko touched the hair and kissed his wife. “You were amazing.”
“It’s a boy. You get to name him.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Do you have any suggestions to offer?”
A little hand wrapped around his finger. “Yeah. Apolo Jon Acton. What do you think?”
“Jon in honor of Johnny?”
“Yeah. He helped bring us together and has been more a friend than cousin.”
“I like it, Niko.” Tia held the baby up to burp him. “Apolo, you will aim for the skies, won’t you?” A loud burp was the response, and the doctor and nurses laughed. She handed off the baby to be weighed, cleaned up, and diapered.
Niko leaned over and kissed his wife on the lips. “I’ve never witnessed anything more amazing…When do we get to do this again?”
Tia slugged his shoulder. “I love you, Niko, but the doctor said you can’t do it for six weeks.”
“No pillow fights for six weeks? Wow, you are rough on a man, doctor.”
* * *
A few hours later, Niko sat in a recliner holding his sleeping son as Tia rested. A slight knock on the door preceded visitors.
“Shhhh!” Niko said as Johnny, Sam, Wayne, Rocco, Marc, and Roger tiptoed in and crowded around him.
“So? You only told us you had a baby. Give us the details,” Rocco insisted.
“Fellas, meet the newest member of Specific Gravity, Apolo Jon Acton.”
Johnny put a hand to chest. “Jon?”
“Yeah, in honor of my best friend.” Niko glanced at Johnny and smiled. He spied a tear well up in his cousin’s eye. “Wanna hold him?”
Johnny nodded. Niko stood, and Johnny sat. The baby was placed in his arms. “You know, because of the cancer, I can’t have children.”
“I didn’t know, Johnny. You never said.” Niko whispered.
“Well, I’m warning you Uncle Johnny is going to be a frequent presence in this little man’s life.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Niko said.
“How’s Tia?” whispered Roger as she continued to sleep behind them.
“Tired but well. She was unbelievable. She’s adapted to being his mom like she was born to it.”
Wayne smiled. “She was.”
Niko nodded. “Yeah. So, guys, we leave in two days, and Tia will be out of here tomorrow afternoon. We’ll have an extra passenger on the bus ride home.”
“Not entirely a surprise, is it? We knew this might happen,” Rocco said.
“She must have been having contractions even when we performed. How did she manage?” Sam asked. “I get a cramp and want to collapse.”
Niko shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Little brown eyes opened, and a hand beat on Johnny’s chest. “Hey, little man. I’m your Uncle Johnny. We’re going to be best buds.”
Apolo’s face scrunched up and turned red as he started to cry.
Johnny’s eyes grew wide. “What do I do?”
“He’s hungry. You bring him to me.” Tia’s weary voice penetrated the wall of men.
Johnny nodded to Niko. “You take him. I’ll probably drop him.”
Niko scooped up his son and took him to Tia. “Guys, since meal time is not a public display, you’ll need to go out in the waiting room or return later.”
“We’ll come by after we get some sleep,” Roger said as they trooped out of the room.
“What time is it?” Tia asked as she started to feed the babe.
“Three in the morning. Did they just get out of the party?” Niko asked.
“Maybe. They were still dressed in their tuxedos.”
Niko shrugged. “Johnny’s infatuated.”
“Isn’t he really a second cousin to Apolo, or something like that?”
He laughed. “He can be Uncle Johnny if he wants to. I’m not going to argue the point.”
Tia smiled. “I love you, Nikolos. You’re a good man.”
“I love you too. You are an amazing woman.”
“You should go back to the hotel and sleep. I’ll need my bags tomorrow to get dressed and to dress our little man for his trip home. Oh, and the car seat carrier too. That would be good.”
“I’ll bring it all, but for now, I want to be here with you and Apolo.”
Tia scooted over in the bed. “Climb in.”
Niko did and fell asleep next to his wife and newborn son.
EPILOGUE
The supreme happiness of life is the conviction we are loved—loved for ourselves, or rather, in spite of ourselves.
Victor Hugo
November 2013
Back home in Menomonee Falls, Niko discovered life was good. The band played out on occasion. The album had exceeded all expectations, and with no royalties shared with a label, the band members benefited. A few times, the entire group would go do a gig, and Tia and Apolo always came along. Niko had begun composing music for a solo album.
Tia had gotten involved in a Mother of Preschoolers group with Stephanie and other women at Orchard Hill. Her panic attacks had diminished, and night terrors were mostly a thing of the past. Apolo had finally started sleeping through the night, much to the relief of both parents.
Tia and her bio
logical father had made steps toward a relationship and were due to visit over the Christmas holidays so she could meet her half-brother and sister.
* * *
Thanksgiving had just passed them by, and Johnny stopped by and sat down to try to feed Apolo his cereal. At six months and a pudgy boy, it was about time. Apolo spat it back out, and Johnny made funny noises. Niko watched with concern. Something different about his cousin today. Niko sat down at the table as Tia bustled around the kitchen to get them lunch.
“What’s up, coz?”
“What makes you think something’s up?” Johnny continued to make funny faces at Apolo.
“Well, um, maybe the fact you won’t look me in the eye.”
Johnny set the spoon down, and Apolo grabbed and banged it on the high chair. “Budding drummer, huh?”
“Johnny?” Niko growled. Even Apolo looked at his dad then.
His cousin let out a deep sigh. “I had my regular cancer checkup and got the results this morning.”
“And?” Tia came around the counter and leaned against it, waiting.
“The cancer is back and has spread.”
“Treatment? Prognosis?”
“It’s hard to say.” Johnny shook his head. “I don’t know what to do.” He sighed, and his shoulders slumped.
“Move in with us. We can move the studio to the basement,” Niko offered as he looked at Tia, who nodded.
“We’re family, Johnny, and family takes care of each other. We’ll help you however we can. You shouldn’t be alone.”
Johnny nodded. “Thanks. I’m scared.”
Niko bowed his head. “Heavenly Father, we know you understand our fears and how hard it is to face the pain of illness. We love Johnny, but You love him even more. Why You’ve allowed this in his life is hard to understand, but we know You have a good plan even when we can’t see it. Help us see You in the midst of this valley, and help us love Johnny in a way that is best for him.”
Tia echoed a soft “amen.”
Johnny looked up as Apolo let out a squeal and tossed a spoonful of cereal, hitting Johnny in the cheek. The baby laughed, and Johnny joined in. “Thanks, buddy. You’ll be the one who reminds me what my real role is, right?” Johnny wrestled the spoon away from the little tyke and tried again to get food in the baby’s mouth.
Niko rose to his wife and held her close. “Nikolos. We’ve been here before. You can’t fire me this time.”
“I wouldn’t dare try. Johnny’d kill me.”
“That would be unfortunate because I’ve kind of grown to like you a lot.”
“Only like?”
“Well, some parts more than others.”
“Really? What parts do you take exception to?” Niko paused and kissed her. “I recant. I don’t think I want to know.”
Tia swatted his behind with a towel as he walked away.
“Children,” Johnny chided. “Behave.”
They laughed as Apolo grabbed the bowl of cereal and proceeded to dump it on his head.
Niko grinned. Life was hard, but it was also good. Having people he loved around him made it all worthwhile. Johnny’s cancer scare was only the latest dark cloud. Niko took a deep breath. God, You’ve got this, don’t You?
He watched Tia wipe the mess off their son. If Tia could do that…what kind of mess could God clean up for Johnny?
Niko would hold out for a miracle. He’d seen plenty to know it was something their God could do.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It would be impossible to thank everyone who has helped me on my journey, so I apologize in advance for those I will miss. It doesn’t mean you are any less valuable, and thankfully God keeps better track of those things than I do, and His “well done, good and faithful servant” has more merit than any thanks written here.
So here it goes. Special thanks to:
Jonah’s Vacation – without our time spent together, I’d have had no clue how to write a story like this. I love you all.
Burlap to Cashmere (especially Steven Delopoulus & Johnny Phillippidis) – I know, another band? Their music was my soundtrack for this book. You inspire me.
Martha Swift and Heather Holland – beta readers for the early version of this manuscript, who gave me valuable insights into how to make it better and encouraged me immensely.
Elisabeth Herman – you amaze me. Thanks for all the ways you’ve invested in me.
Doris Pollard Wichern – another early reader and one of my most faithful cheerleaders in this writing adventure.
Lisa Lickel – thanks for being such a wonderful mentor, friend, and shoulder to cry on when the publishing process throws me curve balls. I don’t think I would have ever taken that first step in this journey to publication without your gentle push.
Andrea Boeshaar – my carpooling buddy, friend, prayer partner, “critter,” and encourager. I’m blessed to know you!
Pastors David Mundt and Ken Nabi – for your love, support, and for believing in me and the calling God has on my life.
Community Church Fond du Lac – for being an inspiration for Orchard Hill. We’re not perfect—but I’ve seen great things in our church family, and I’m proud to be associated with you all.
Sally Shupe – my faithful editor. Thank you for finding all those silly errors!
Joan Alley – my beloved Editor-in-chief, who continually supports my writing while allowing me the joy of helping others on their journey to publication. I’m grateful for our partnership and friendship.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group, specializing in bringing great romance novels and novellas to publication. Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.
Susan speaks, teaches, and encourages others to follow God in being all He has created them to be. With her seminary degree in counseling psychology, a background in the field of mental health, and years serving in church ministry, she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness. She serves behind-the-scenes in various capacities at her church and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and serves on the board of the southeast chapter. Her favorite pastimes are lazy…snuggling with her dog while reading a good book, or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte.
You can learn more by following her blog www.susanbaganz.com, her Twitter feed @susanbaganz, or her fan page www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz.
Please enjoy this sample from Pesto and Potholes by Susan M. Baganz.
Copyright © 2015
September 2009
At last, Renata had the freedom to start life over. A clean slate. The past was dead and buried. She wiped sweaty palms on her skirt as she waited for the pastor’s message to end. He was talking about trusting God, even when times were hard.
She had lived that message, hadn’t she? Had someone forwarded her name and informed him she would be there?
Renata shook her head as she bent in prayer along with the rest of the large congregation.
Help me to trust You on this new journey, Lord.
Renata longed to slip out and go home, but her gregarious roomie, Stephanie, had driven and now held her hostage. Steph brought her a cup of coffee as Renata hid behind a plant in the crowded café where people mingled. Renata held the cup more as a prop. It gave her hands something to do as Stephanie introduced her to friends. She shifted her weight as people gathered close, bumping into each other.
Stephanie grinned at her, and Renata smiled halfheartedly as she took a deep breath. She had just met Gabby and Paul, and their ten-month-old son, Jacob, who was sleeping on his daddy’s shoulder. They were nice enough. Being that close to a baby was agony.
Just don’t look at him.
Some other young men had come to join them as well. Bryan, James, and John were the names she had been told. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck under her long ha
ir as Bryan looked her over like a horse he considered for purchase. The hardness of his eyes reminded her of… No. Don’t go there. She was grateful nothing more was required of her other than “Hello.”
Was it impolite to look at their shoes? She’d heard a person could learn a lot about someone by his shoes. Bryan wore dirty athletic shoes. High priced, but unimpressive indeed.
Dark brown dress shoes entered the circle, and Renata’s gaze came up as a tall man in crisp khakis, a button-down white shirt, and no tie arrested her attention. Stephanie drew him closer to her side with a wide grin.
Was everyone here Steph’s friend? Renata chuckled mentally. Her outgoing, blonde bombshell of a roommate hadn’t changed much since college. Ren took in the details of this man. Tall. Muscular. Hair the color of a dark roast coffee. Deep chocolate eyes. His glance was warm and sincere. He looked...safe.
Hmmm. Isn’t that something?
Her shoulders relaxed as she released a breath of air, and her heartrate slowed. She paid close attention, which was not an easy task in the noisy chaos of the café area of the church after the worship service had ended.
“Tony, I’m glad you are here. I wanted to introduce you to my roomie. Renata. This is Tony, my boss at De Luca’s Cucina and Gabby’s little brother”—she turned to Tony—“and this is Renata Blake, a dear friend of mine who moved here from Oshkosh.”
“Glad to meet you. What’d you do in Oshkosh?” asked Tony.
Renata flinched, sucked in a breath of air, and held it.
“Let’s not talk about the past. Renata is here for a new start in life.” Stephanie gave Renata’s arm a squeeze as she spoke.
Renata exhaled slowly and gave her friend a look of gratitude.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” Tony’s voice was deep and resonant. He sounded sincere.
“Tony, the bonfire on Thursday night would be a great opportunity for Renata to get to know more people here at church.” Gabby jumped in to change the subject.
Blood pounded behind Renata’s eyes.
Other people planning her social life? This couldn’t be good.
She shook her head. She would rather sit at home and read a book. It was too soon.
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