What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 9)

by Kristine Cayne

  Marsha snorted. “Blaine, down to earth? When has she ever been down to earth?” She leaned over, grabbed a magazine and handed it to him. “Read this.”

  He took the magazine from her hand.

  “Close the door! We don’t live in a barn!” Their father’s loud voice boomed from the dining room. Randy pushed the oak door closed with his foot, staring down at the article his sister just handed him. He immediately wanted to crumple it, toss it in the trash and go find this ass of a man and smack him for his malicious words about Blaine.

  He’d put her in a bad light, spouting lies that she slacked on the job and wanted more than a friendly relationship with him. He even denied any claims of a marriage.

  “See? Told you!”

  Randy told her just what he thought of the article when he tore it in half in front of her face. “If you believe every little thing you read in a magazine, or anywhere, then your head must be filled with plenty of bull crap. You’re going to take the word of some guy you don’t know over a woman we’ve known all of our lives?” None of his other sisters had such a problem with Blaine. Why did Marsha?

  Marsha gasped at his outraged response. “You do still have feelings for her!”

  “It has nothing to do with that. What I feel for Blaine doesn’t change the fact that people shouldn’t believe what they read in the tabloids all the time.”

  “Are you fightin’ with your sister, Randy?” Mom rushed in the living room with her apron and a stirring spoon. She shot them a disapproving scowl.

  “I’m not fighting with anyone,” he responded, hating that he got the blame for things again. “We were having a discussion about something.”

  “I heard your voice over all the chaos.” His mother leveled him with an accusatory stare.

  “He wasn’t fighting, Ma. I showed him something that upset him and I said the wrong thing.” Marsha was actually standing up for him?

  “Grandma! Did you hear Uncle Randy’s band on the radio?” Madison ran into the living room, followed by her siblings and cousins.

  “I must have missed it.” Again, the look of disapproval spread across her face before she harrumphed back to the kitchen.

  Randy ignored the brush off. He wasn’t going to let it get to him. He’d already expected this, so what did it matter?

  “Can I go to one of your live shows?” Madison asked, jumping up and down.

  “If you’re going to the fair next week, we’re performing then.” Randy glanced at Marsha. He wasn’t about to make his niece any promises he couldn’t keep.

  Marsha nodded. “I don’t see why not. We were thinking about having an outing at the fair. We’ll just make sure it’s the same day as your performance.” This must be her way of making up for him getting yelled at. Regardless, it made her daughter happy and Randy felt good that Madison wanted to see the band.

  He just wished the rest of his family would at least give his dream half a chance.

  Chapter Eight

  Despite the sour feeling he’d had since yesterday’s family gathering, Randy felt much better as he made it to Jameson’s for band practice. He wasn’t about to let his family bring him down just because they didn’t see music as a solid career. Of course, the whole time during lunch, they wondered when he would settle down, get married and start a family like the rest of his siblings. When would he find a real job, not just something that held him over until his music career took off? He’d worked for them at the newspaper for years but never took any promotions because he wasn’t looking for that kind of career. Question after question. No recognition or congratulations about having a song on the radio.

  Sure, he’d learned to accept it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

  “So there’s been a flood of calls asking about our song on the radio.” Jameson grinned at everyone. “It’s apparently created quite a buzz!”

  Avery nodded. “Well we should definitely put Love In A Small Town in the set then.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. She sat in her usual favorite spot, holding her guitar. Her wedding ring gleamed in the light. “While our demo circulates, Belinda said that if we want more studio time to actually put together an actual CD we could sell at local shows, she’d back us on it.”

  “She’s been real good about staying behind the scenes and respecting your wishes,” Jameson noted.

  “Yes she has. I know she’s taking care of studio costs, and I hope that’s okay with everyone. But she’s definitely not using her name to get us ahead. That was my biggest worry.”

  “Of course it’s okay with us!” Randy assured Avery. “It’s been a great help, that’s for sure. Between you and Lucas, and then Belinda’s help, we had plenty of great time to get the demo made.”

  “Where is Lucas, anyway? Did he decide to stay home with Emily?” Melody wondered.

  “He should be along any minute. Emily is with Belinda since she’s heading back to California tomorrow. We all spent most of the day together. That’s when she offered more studio and CD production time.”

  “It would be neat to have CDs available at concerts,” Melody mused, settling in the chair behind Jameson.

  “What about CDs?” Blaine asked as she walked in. Randy turned at the sound of her voice. He wondered if she’d be here tonight. “Mind if I listen in on your practice?”

  “Get in here! You know you’re welcome.” Avery laughed, gesturing at Blaine. “As for CDs, Belinda offered us more studio time to put together a CD we can sell at shows.”

  “Seriously?” Blaine squealed. “That’s awesome! Baby Stetson is on a roll!”

  “We’ll be sure to send you one when it’s done.” Jameson promised his sister.

  “Yeah, that’d be great.” Blaine quieted down. So she still hadn’t said a thing about staying to anyone else. Randy didn’t understand her need to keep it all in, but he hoped she’d say something soon. He noticed she still avoided looking his way. Great. He really should have shut up the other night. What had he been thinking?

  As they focused on what songs to sing at the fair, Lucas finally arrived. “Did I miss anything?” He kissed Avery’s cheek, settling in beside her.

  “Nope. We’re just going through our song set. I told everyone about Belinda’s offer, and Jameson said ‘Love In A Small Town’ is creating a buzz around the station.”

  “I’m not surprised. You guys rock.” Lucas grinned.

  Randy couldn’t help it, but he felt a tinge of envy looking around at all the band members. Avery’s adoptive parents, birth mother, and now her husband were fully supportive of her dreams. She’d held back for so long, not wanting to leave the only family she’d ever known. Jameson and Melody had bonded over music when she found herself stranded here last year. Blaine and Jameson’s mom wanted the best for him and his music career. Marty was a mystery sometimes, but he was always the kind of guy who didn’t care what people thought. He did his own thing.

  Family was important and Randy understood that, but they all seemed to want him to do what they wanted, not follow his own dream.

  “Randy!” Jameson called.

  Oops, he’d gone off in his own little world. He blinked and focused on Jameson.

  “Ready to play?”

  “I am. Let’s get the music going.” As he got in position behind his keyboard, he met Blaine’s gaze. Her lips curled up in a little smile. She looked exhausted and troubled. What did Frederic do now? He had to find a way to convince her to tell everyone about what happened. Hell, he needed to convince her to not shut him out either.

  Once he got the cue to what song they were playing, Randy flexed his fingers and set them on the keys, prepared to play.

  Throughout the song, he couldn’t keep his eyes off Blaine. She was nervous about something. She kept fidgeting, and every time she’d look over at him and caught him watching her she looked away. Had he blown any chance of getting her to talk when he made the attempt to tell her how he felt? Keeping it all in wasn’t good for her, but she had a strong determ
ination to keep it from everyone. She looked down at her phone and her lips parted as her cheeks turned red. Was she angry? Seconds later, she quietly bolted from the room. Randy had to keep his hands on the correct keys in order to not miss a beat as he wondered what that was all about.

  As they played through a few more songs, it was getting harder to concentrate. Blaine hadn’t come back yet, and no one else said anything, even though he was sure they noticed.

  “Quick break?” Avery asked after she’d belted out a powerful note from the last song. “I could use some water.”

  “Sure thing, Mrs. Bennett.” Lucas kissed his wife’s forehead and handed her a water bottle.

  “Ooh, you’re one step ahead. I think I’ll have to keep you.” Avery giggled as she uncapped the bottle and took a few sips.

  Randy reached for his own bottle, debating on how to go check on Blaine without being too obvious. Apparently he didn’t have to, because she slipped back into the room.

  “Where’d you run off to all of a sudden?” Jameson asked.

  “I had to take care of a call real quick.” Blaine shrugged his question off casually. “As I was coming back, I ran into Mom. She’s going out. I’m guessing with Chet.”

  “Chet?” Avery raised a brow.

  “Blaine and I think she’s dating, but Mom hasn’t come out and said anything directly.” Jameson put his water down and fiddled with his guitar.

  “Ohh.” Avery nodded. She didn’t say anything more.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I want her to be happy, it’s just … weird,” Blaine replied quietly. “I’m not used to seeing her be so warm and friendly over a man other than my dad. I worry maybe she’s not telling us because he’s not good for her. Maybe he’s a recovering alcoholic. Maybe-”

  Avery stood and hugged Blaine. Randy wanted to be right there hugging her.

  “It’ll work out,” Avery whispered. “Of course you’re going to feel conflicted. It would be weird.”

  “Thanks, Avery. Now, go back to performing. Don’t let me interrupt.” Blaine giggled.

  She had that way about her. She’d let someone comfort her for a while, then push them away.

  By the end of their normal two hour practice, everyone felt energized, revved up and ready for the concert next week at the fair. Everyone was content with the set.

  “I guess we’d better go. I want to spend some more time with Belinda before she goes home. Who knows when the next time will be that we get to see her.” Avery hugged everyone before she and Lucas took off. Marty and Sean, the quiet drummer they still had a hard time getting to talk, left next. Randy had a feeling they’d be out of a drummer once again. Why was it so hard to keep someone interested in playing drums?

  “Jameson? Chris wants to know if we want to head over for a late dinner.” Melody had her phone to her ear.

  “I’m okay with that.” He planted a kiss on her neck as she giggled. Jameson looked over at Randy and Blaine. “What are the two of you planning on doing?”

  Randy shrugged, playing it cool. What he wanted to do was talk to Blaine. “I don’t know yet.”

  “Relax a bit, probably,” Blaine said nearly at the same time.

  “I’m sure my brother won’t mind if you two wanted to join us,” Melody offered.

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’m good. I could use a little quiet time.” Blaine waved her hand.

  Randy shook his head no when they turned their attention on him.

  “All right. I guess we’ll see you guys later. Have a good night.” Jameson took Melody’s hand and not too long later, Randy heard the back door close.

  “I guess I’ll head out.” Lame, that was so lame! He was at the door when Blaine called out.

  “Randy?”

  He stopped and faced her.

  “Don’t go.”

  “I thought-”

  Blaine moved closer. The sadness in her eyes nearly tore him up. “I’m sorry for avoiding you. I’m sorry for not letting you speak your mind the other night. You’ve been good to me both times I’ve been back and I was such a-”

  Randy closed the gap between them, took Blaine in his arms and kissed her.

  Well that was unexpected, but most definitely wanted. She enjoyed the feel of Randy’s lips on hers.

  He pulled away just as quickly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  Still reeling from the sudden move, Blaine couldn’t find the right words to say. He left her feeling breathless.

  Randy reached out and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “How are you? I’ve been wondering what’s going on all night.”

  Blaine led him to the dining room, where she pulled out the magazine she’d hid earlier and pointed to the page. “He’s blacklisting me everywhere, claiming I’m a fraud and that I don’t follow through with my commitments. He claims we had a working contract which I broke by coming here.”

  “This man needs a serious ass kicking.” Randy stared down at the words on the page and the photo of Blaine. “Of course, no mention of your relationship and how much of a jerk he is.”

  “I know it’s just trash and I shouldn’t let it get to me, especially since I’m done out there. It pisses me off. I’ve been getting call after call.”

  “Maybe it’s time to tell your side of the story. Everything. From the marriage to the emotional abuse.”

  Her heart thundered against her ribcage. She wished she could erase the last few years of life with Frederic. “I0 I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why not? Why does he get to call the shots? Why does he get to tarnish your good name and he gets away scot-free? Don’t let him win. You may not have a desire to go back there and work, but he shouldn’t get to just slam you in all the papers like this.” Randy was visibly pissed off. “Damn it, Blaine. He didn’t even want to give you time off to be with your family when you needed to be. What kind of husband does that crap?”

  The kind that never should have been. She kept the words to herself.

  Randy tossed the magazine on the table, raising his gaze to her face. “What are you so afraid of? Did he hurt you physically? Did he threaten you?”

  “No!” Blaine said a little too loudly. Frederic never did hurt her in a physical way, unless you counted hours upon hours of work when she was tired and worn down. Or that time she came back last year after her mom and Jameson needed her and they had that fight. He’d shoved her in the heat of the moment She fell and hurt her back. When they rushed her to the hospital, he’d insisted it had been her. She’d been working so hard she fell. Not waiting to cause any more trouble, Blaine went along with it. She just wanted to know how bad off she was and if she’d be able to to dance, or do anything else.

  Randy stood so close. He reached out and touched her face. “Are you being honest with me?” he questioned, his voice low and somber. “Is he the reason you’re always rubbing your back? Did he hurt you?”

  Blaine trembled and looked away.

  “Blaine.”

  She loved the way he said her name. Why was this happening right now? Her feelings for him were changing, and she had a suspicion they’d began when she was out here a few months ago. A new relationship, especially with someone who had their crap together and was about to make his dream a reality, wasn’t a good idea for her. It wasn’t.

  “Baby, look at me,” Randy coaxed.

  With blurred vision, Blaine did as he asked.

  “What happened?” Once again, he touched her face gently.

  “We fought last year. He was pissed that I bailed on him to come home,” she started. By the time she finished the story, Randy was livid.

  “I don’t care how much of an accident it was, that man is responsible for you being hurt! He pushes you away, you fall, and he still pins the blame on you? Back injuries are a big deal, Blaine!”

  “I know! You don’t think I’ve thought of everything? I realize all of my mistakes, okay!” she shouted, pushing away from him.

  “Hey, hey. Come here. I�
��m not blaming you. I’m not.” Randy pulled her in his arms, cradling her against him. “I just don’t like that he gets away with this. And I don’t understand why you feel you can’t tell anyone.” His arms enveloped her, and for the first time in a very long time, Blaine felt safe. Needed. Comforted. Right there in Randy’s embrace.

  “I don’t want anyone to be disappointed in me,” she admitted.

  “Who would be disappointed in you?”

  “Everyone! My family, for one.”

  “Your family would not be disappointed in you. Your mom and Jameson love you.”

  Blaine pulled away. “Would they feel the same if I told them I married and never invited them? I was living the life, so to speak, while my family suffered here. Mom went down the drinking road. Jameson took the brunt of everything.”

  “You have to stop doing this. The past is the past. You’re here now. I’ll be the first to say I’m happy you’re home. Your mom and brother are happy you’re home. We’re all worried about you. We had a feeling something was up from the start.” He planted a kiss in her hair.

  Blaine sighed against him.

  “Want to take a trip down memory lane?” Randy asked, still holding her close.

  She was too content to raise her head and ask him what he meant, so her voice was muffled against the softness of his tee shirt. “What do you mean?”

  “Remember when we used to go bowling, and if we were pissed off at someone, the pins suffered greatly?”

  Blaine laughed. Oh, she remembered all right. She used to do that with Randy, Avery and Jameson when they were in their early teens. It had been a way to get their frustration out without getting into trouble. Images of those days filled her mind. “I’d almost forgotten.”

  “When’s the last time you went bowling?”

  “I don’t think I’ve gone bowling since I moved to California.”

  The realization of the things she’d forgotten came flooding back. Hollywood was a far cry from the small town life she’d lived and enjoyed.

  “You up for a few games? I’m not sure who would win if we both pretend those pins are Frederic.”