“She’ll survive. The money she inherited was left in trust and untouchable,” India told Morgan when the call finally ended. “Trouble with my parents, they never understood the difference between downsizing and destitute. In their eyes, anything but a private jet and a thirty-room mansion equaled the end of the world.”
When the phone rang again, Morgan rolled his eyes. How much abuse was she supposed to take?
“Don’t answer.”
India looked at the screen, the color draining from her face.
“The nursing home,” she said.
Morgan sat by her side as she listened to the doctor tell what she knew was coming. Lucrecia Curtis, beloved Aunt Lu, had passed away an hour earlier. India listened, nodding, giving one-word answers. The arrangements for what to do were made long ago, thank goodness.
“I’m sorry.” Morgan kissed her cheek. “Cry all you want.”
“Cry? I never cry.” India touched her face. She found tears running freely and started to sob. “She’s gone. I know I should be glad but…”
Morgan held her until she cried herself out and fell asleep in his arms. Until recently, her emotions were bottled up, placed out of reach so she could survive. Now, she felt so much all the time. Eventually, things would level out; now, after such a deluge, she needed to rest.
Covering her with a blanket, Morgan left India on the sofa. They were at his house just for the day before they flew to New York. The death of her aunt meant a delay. He’d call Dionne and let her know.
Morgan picked up Peanut from the floor. The puppy gave his chin a swipe with her tongue before he settled her in the crook of India’s arm.
“Take care of her,” he told the dog. “She needs all the TLC we can muster.”
Eyeing his phone, Morgan touched the screen as he debated with himself what to do. Finally, he took a card from his desk and dialed the number. Voicemail was a possibility. When someone answered after two rings, he froze.
“Hello?” Beck Kramer’s voice, deep and familiar. “Hello? Anyone there?”
“It’s Morgan.”
Silence. Morgan waited, wondering if Beck would give him a chance or hang up.
“What the hell, man. Took you long enough.”
Morgan laughed. The weigh on his chest lifted.
“Been a little busy.”
“I know what you mean,” Beck said. “Heard you’re a gazillionaire.”
“On my way. How about you? Singlehandedly rebuilding Nevada?”
“One house at a time, my friend, one house at a time.”
They fell into a familiar rhythm. Joking, poking at each other in the way only old friends could do. An hour flew by.
“Damn,” Beck chuckled. “We’re worse than a couple of old gossips. I should go.”
Reluctant to say goodbye, Morgan reminded himself Beck was now on speed dial. Neither of them would let another week go by without a call or text, let alone another five years.
“Before you go,” Morgan said. “What’s your take on the reunion?”
“Beats me.” Beck sighed. “Told Joplin no, but the more time goes by, the less awful the idea sounds. How about you?”
“The same. Jax will never agree. And Kane? He always was a wild card.”
“We’ll talk some more,” Beck assured him. “Still have a little while to decide.”
After saying goodbye, Morgan placed his phone on the desk and walked to where India still slept. He sat next to her, smoothing back a fall of dark curly hair.
Morgan’s dreams of rock star glory were a thing of the past. He had his revenge—sweeter than he’d imagined. Now, all he wanted was to spend the rest of his days loving India.
India. Morgan’s true dream come true.
♫~♫~♫
Don’t miss the other books in the Rock & Roll Forever Series
ALMOST PARADISE
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ALMOST BLUE
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ALMOST HOME
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ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE
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