Nashville by Heart: A Novel

by Tina Ann Forkner

  He buried his hands in his hair and paced. He hoped Cooper Heart did come back to town soon. As soon as he saw him, he wanted to punch his face. He wanted to throw him across the room and hurt him for hurting Gillian. After pacing for a minute or two, he stopped beside the trophy case, opened it and grabbed the Grammy. He didn’t know if it was because he was angry at himself, or Cooper Heart, but without thinking he flung it across the room, shattering the glass of a gilded picture frame.

  Josie suddenly appeared in the doorway. She saw the Grammy lying on the floor and knelt to rescue it, checking it over to see if it was OK. She looked at Will with a sadness in her eyes that made him feel bad for the second time that day.

  He brushed past her to pick up the mess himself.

  “Don’t worry,” he told Josie. “I’m sorry. I’ll get this.” She left quietly as Will placed shards of glass in the trash can. Afterward, he picked up the phone and dialed a number he knew by heart.

  “Fresh Picked Flowers,” sang the cheerful voice on the other end. “How may we help you?”

  “It’s Will Adams. I need to send flowers.”

  “To your secretary, Josie?” He ordered often enough that they already had his information.

  “She’s my assistant,” he corrected. “But yes, please. And also to one of my clients. Gillian Heart.”

  “She’s new?” the girl asked. He rattled off Gillian’s address.

  “And what are the occasions? Josie first.”

  “For me not appreciating how she puts up with my crap.”

  The lady on the other end snorted. “And the second?”

  “Apology.”

  “So you want the doghouse package times two?”

  He laughed in spite of his frustration. “Is that a thing?”

  “It is, Mr. Adams.”

  “Then yes, because I think I’m in the doghouse with everyone today.”

  “The package comes with roses and chocolate. Is that OK?”

  He thought for a minute. Every woman wants roses, right? But when he thought of flowers for Gillian, he thought of something light, colorful and breezy.

  “Can you do something really nice with daisies for Gillian?”

  “You betcha we can. Something summery and lush?”

  “Sounds perfect.” Just like her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Gillian had always imagined returning to Gold Creek Gap one day in a limousine, surprising everyone in town with her amazing career, but on this day she had the driver avoid Main Street and go straight to Momma’s house.

  “Thank you.” She handed the driver a tip large enough his eyes bugged. When she’d called Will and told him she was going to visit her momma for a few days, he’d come by the apartment and tried to talk her out of it.

  “I need a break,” she said from the doorway. “Will they understand?”

  He’d shrugged. “I guess I’ll have to make them.” Then, he’d handed her a large envelope of cash.

  “What’s this?”

  “Vacation money. Call it an advance.”

  “You can’t buy my love,” she’d said, trying to joke, but when he looked embarrassed, she apologized.

  “Sure you can,” Tasha had said, reaching through the door and grabbing the envelope. She leaned in and stage whispered to Will, “I’ll make sure she gets it.”

  “Gillian,” her mom called. She stepped out on the porch dressed in a pair of blue jeans, flip-flops and an Elvis T-shirt. Gillian could see the younger Louise somewhere inside of that retro outfit and wondered how in the world her dad could’ve ever left such a beautiful woman behind. And how in the world had she managed to stay single? Choice, she knew. Louise had poured all of her energy into raising Gillian, and deep down, she’d never gotten over Cooper Heart.

  Gillian looked around, happy to be home, as humble as it was. It would always be home to her no matter what, and it wasn’t that bad. Many people in Gold Creek Gap and all over the South lived in trailer homes with pretty little yards and a cozy life. Her momma’s lawn was mowed and edged. Petunias spilled out of a half dozen pots sitting around the recently painted deck, and hummingbirds flitted around, leaving a trail of buzzing noises that made her feel giddy. She’d missed the hummingbirds. The house itself was a little run-down, but it had a freshly painted look, and behind it sat Momma’s small bundle of acres overlooking the river. At least she owned it all, one of the only nice things her dad had done for them.

  “Are you gonna come here and gimme a hug or not?” Louise bounced down the steps like she herself was twenty-five.

  Louise embraced her tightly. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d helped pick up Gillian’s broken heart.

  She glanced at the suitcases. “Where’s your guitar?”

  “I need a little break from all of it. Even the music.” Louise cast her a dubious look.

  “Don’t start, Momma.”

  “OK. Whatever you need.” She turned toward the house. “And by the way, I’ll have you know Will has called here three times to see if you made it.”

  Gillian lugged her suitcases up the steps. He’d called her cell phone too.

  “He didn’t want me coming home right now, under the circumstances.”

  “You mean, like you should be in town meeting with your new record label and doing whatever a new star is supposed to do?”

  Gillian laughed. “That, and we got in a tiff, sort of.”

  “What happened, sort of?”

  The floor popped as Gillian followed her mom down the trailer hallway back to her old room. Seeing it, she couldn’t fight back a smile. She’d never taken down the posters of her favorite country singers, and they smiled down at her as she walked in. Frowning again, she gently touched a photograph of herself and her dad in a heart-shaped frame on the dresser, before snapping it face down. Louise made no comment.

  “Will is the one who told the record company about Dad, and that’s why they wanted to sign me.”

  Louise didn’t look at all surprised. “That’s how business works, honey. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt you. He’s in love.”

  “I never told you that.”

  “It was obvious at your big meeting. Even on my little phone screen I could see that the two of you couldn’t take your eyes off each other.”

  Gillian cracked open her suitcase. She wasn’t really surprised it had been that apparent. Her phone buzzed suddenly. Will. She ignored it and continued rifling through her suitcase.

  “I bet he had a good reason for it, and I doubt the only reason they wanted you was because of your dad, honey. You know you have talent.”

  “It doesn’t matter now, Momma. I just need a break. I’m going back, I promise.” She pulled out a string of colorful western beads and handed them to her mom.

  “Thank you, baby. They’re beautiful.”

  Gillian just smiled.

  “Does Will know you’re going back?”

  “Of course.” But even as she said it, she knew he was worried. It happened to some Nashville dream chasers who couldn’t handle the pressure, and they never went back. She, on the other hand, had signed a contract. He shouldn’t be so worried.

  “You hungry? I was about to make dinner.”

  Gillian wasn’t, but she wasn’t about to rob her momma of the opportunity to comfort her by cooking.

  “Can you make me some real macaroni and cheese? I am so sick of orange powder cheese and noodles that come in a box.”

  “You betcha I can, baby.” She leaned over and kissed Gillian on the head. “I’m glad you’re home, but don’t stay too long. Nashville awaits, and I want to hear my daughter on the radio.”

  Gillian grinned in spite of herself. Her momma would urge her to go back to Nashville until she repacked her suitcase, but for now, she needed home. After all the time Gillian and Will had spent talking about their lives, even sharing some of their deepest thoughts, it had been a shock to her that Will would share something so personal with a record company, even to get her a
deal. But Momma was right, it shouldn’t have been.

  Even Dorothy was on Will’s side.

  “I think you’re overreacting to this,” Dorothy had said on their drive back from the contract signing.

  “How? I asked him specifically not to share that story. My dad is a jerk. I don’t want to see my name next to his anywhere in public.”

  Dorothy had shrugged. “Good luck with that. It makes a good story, Gillian. And your dad has written a lot of amazing songs. The connection can only help. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing if I were Will.”

  “It’s just a sad story, not that good.” Gillian’s heart had been heavy with disappointment, even as she was thrilled about her record deal. Why wasn’t anything in her life ever simple?

  “If you didn’t want people to know you were his daughter,” Dorothy had said, “then why use the last name Heart?”

  Gillian hadn’t been able to think of an answer. The truth was, she’d asked herself a dozen times if she should change her last name, but she didn’t want to. It was the only thing she had left of her dad’s, which absolutely conflicted with the very reason she was feeling so frustrated. Dorothy was right. Neither Will the agent nor Will the boyfriend had tried to hurt her. Still, her heart hurt anyway.

  “Momma?” she called, coming up the hall. “Do you have any coffee?”

  She stopped short to see a huge arrangement of cut flowers of several daisy varieties in white, yellow, and purple she hadn’t noticed before.

  “Wow, you have an admirer?”

  Her momma smiled from the tiny kitchen. “No, silly. Daisies are your thing, not mine. Those are for you. I guess you know who from.”

  “But Tasha said he already sent flowers to the apartment.”

  “Well, you can’t thwart love, honey. According to Tasha, when he found out you were already gone, he told her to keep them and sent more here.”

  She plucked the card and opened it. “You talked to Tasha?”

  “Sure did. What’s the card say?”

  “Asks the mom who gives her daughter no privacy.”

  Louise laughed. “You know you want to tell me.”

  Gillian smiled. She did. “It says, ‘Darlin’, I’m sorry. Come back soon.’”

  Her mom’s mouth turned down in the same kind of shape as when she saw a hurt puppy, and so did Gillian’s.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ten days later, Gillian’s mom playfully spanked her rump. “Now those are what I call a pair of jeans, girl. I wish they’d had jeans like that when I was trying to make it in Nashville. Are they new?”

  “Yes, even though I can’t really afford them. Cute, right?”

  “Very glitzy. Shopping’s more fun in Nashville,” Louise said. “I remember.”

  “More expensive too.”

  “Speaking of shopping, I know what we can do today. Let’s go to Caroline’s.”

  “I’m too tired to shop, Momma. I just want to hang out here.” She guzzled a glass of sweet iced tea, its coolness making her wish she could dive into a whole pool of it.

  “In this microwave oven? I don’t think so.” Louise was referring to the fact that the air conditioning unit wasn’t working again. “Get in the car. Caroline’s AC always works.”

  As they were leaving, they were met at the door by the flower delivery guy—again.

  “Hi, Joe,” Louise said. “Thank you.” She handed him a few dollars.

  “No, ma’am. The gentleman took care of the tip.” Already accustomed to the routine, he held the flowers—more daisies—out to Gillian. Her mom looked at her. More puppy dog faces.

  ~~~~

  Caroline’s was one of the little boutique shops on Main Street in downtown Gold Creek Gap. Walking past the simple, but charming, strip of shops on Main Street was the exact opposite of anything in Nashville. The town was humble, maybe even a little run down in places, and there was no music pouring out of the business fronts as they walked past. But it was a cute little street with hanging baskets of flowers spilling over with blues and pinks, spectacular magnolia trees in bloom, and clean sidewalks.

  “I do love this place,” Gillian said. “I miss it.”

  “Well, you’re here now, no matter how many times Will has called to get you to go back.” Her mom looked at her with feeling. “He misses you.”

  “Yes, I know. He calls me a jillion times a day, and I get so many texts I barely have time to read them.”

  “But you do.” Her eyes twinkled.

  “I do,” Gillian conceded. Most of the messages were filled with words like “I’m sorry,” “Forgive me,” and “Baby, come back.” It was only a matter of time before he called to serenade her or something.

  A bell tinkled, and they were met with a wave of cool air. Caroline herself, still working at eighty-five years old if she was a day, came out of the back room and gave Gillian a pat on the arm.

  “Well, if it isn’t Gillian Heart! And Louise.”

  “Caroline. It’s so good to see you. You haven’t changed a bit.”

  “Stop teasing me,” Caroline said. “You have. You look beautiful. Let’s see what we can find to complement those beautiful eyes of yours. Something to impress your boyfriend? Your fans?”

  “My fans?”

  “Well yes. Your momma told us about your record deal. Congratulations.” She motioned toward a rack of clothes. “Now shop. Have fun.” She disappeared again behind the counter.

  Louise giggled as she held a beautiful butterfly print shirt up to her chin.

  “Gorgeous, Momma. It’s on sale.” She glanced at the price tag. “Wow! I’m buying this for you.”

  “Absolutely not.” Louise hung the flowy shirt back on the rack. “You told me you couldn’t afford the jeans you’re wearing.”

  Gillian snatched the shirt back off the rack. “Yes, but you’re my momma. You deserve one nice thing.”

  Her mom touched her cheek. “Baby, I have one nice thing. It’s you.”

  Gillian snorted. “I’m getting it for you. No ifs, ands or buts.”

  “The only problem is,” Louise said, “I have no idea where to wear a snazzy shirt like this. It’s even too shiny for church.”

  “You should definitely wear it to church.”

  Momma handed the shirt to Caroline at the counter. “This one’s for me, and I’m buying it.”

  Gillian shook her head at Caroline, who winked back. She followed Louise over to a rack of dresses.

  “So, when are you going back, honey?” her momma asked.

  “This conversation is never going to end, is it?”

  “No. So when are you?”

  “I don’t know,” Gillian said. “I like hanging out with you.”

  “I love hanging out with you too, sugar, but don’t wait too long. You and Will are hot together, and now you’re like two ice cubes stuck in an ice tray—and in different towns to boot.”

  “Momma!” She wasn’t comfortable with her mom using words like “hot” to describe anything except the temperature of food.

  “Well, it’s true. You two remind me of me and your dad.”

  “Momma, can we not talk about you-know-who? He treated you terribly. Why do you want to keep remembering?”

  “Because, he was the love of my life, Gillian. He was a jerk, yes, and he did cheat, but for a time, we really loved each other.”

  Gillian could have reminded her mom that he obviously hadn’t loved her as much as she loved him, or he wouldn’t have behaved so badly. He certainly couldn’t have loved Gillian.

  “Don’t you regret having him in your life, Momma? Because I do.” She fought the pang of anger in her chest.

  “No.” She grabbed Gillian’s hand and squeezed hard to get her attention. “That’s what I want you to know. I’ll never regret your dad, because that would mean I regret you. I’m glad we dove in like two crazy fools and that we had the best journey up until the part about his leaving. I’m sorry he hurt you, and me, but I don’t regret him.”r />
  Gillian, rightfully stunned, hugged her mom.

  “You’re the best, Momma.”

  “Maybe not.” Louise hung a dress back on the rack. “If I were a good mom, I would’ve gone with you to Nashville, and then you wouldn’t be standing here right now. I would’ve made you stay right there in Nashville and not skip your meetings with your new record label.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m going back, just like I said.” She hoped her label would forgive her. The last several days, the gravity of her snap decision to skip town without any warning had her worried. “You know I can’t stay away from music, Momma.”

  “Or from Will,” Louise said. She squeezed Gillian’s hand. “I don’t want you to regret Will, OK? And I don’t want you to regret your dad.”

  Gillian gave a sad smile. She wasn’t sure the part about her dad was possible, but before she could answer, there was a jingle at the front of the store.

  “Gillian, dear?” It was Caroline. “There seems to be someone here to see you.”

  For a ridiculous moment, Gillian looked up, hoping to see Will, but it was only the delivery man.

  “I was delivering something to Caroline but have something for Gillian,” he said. “I could give it to you right now. It’s in the truck.” He motioned toward the door with his clipboard.

  Gillian handed her purchases and a wad of bills to Caroline. “That cash is for Momma’s clothes too.”

  Louise tut-tutted, but Gillian brushed it off. Her momma deserved some nice things. Ignoring the protests at the counter, she hurried out after the delivery man.

  As soon as he pulled the large rectangular package out of the truck, Gillian knew what it was. The guy gently sat it on the ground beside her and held out his clipboard to sign.

  “Do you want me to carry it to your car?”

  “Oh, no. I can get it. Thanks.”

  “I bet I know what that is,” Louise said, walking up behind her.

  “Do you think he’s sending me a hint?” The more distance Gillian gained from Nashville, the more embarrassed she was for leaving exactly one day after signing the deal. And of course, there was the wasted champagne.