“He’s not my boyfriend.” Nothing had become official between them. Kiara wasn’t willing to admit it was getting serious. He was leaving in days, a few weeks at the most. They hadn’t talked about it last night, but she knew it was a fact and she had to keep reminding herself of that reality. This was temporary.
So why were fingers tingling as she clocked out? Why was her heart racing as she walked slowly to her car? Why was her throat dry as she took a sip from her water bottle when she sat down in her car?
Opening the front door, she was greeted by the opposite of what she asked for from her daughter. There was a basket of unfolded laundry next to the couch and Camille’s homework was spread all over the coffee table, along with a few other things. It was all a mess she’d requested Camille clean up after school.
From upstairs, she could hear music loudly playing and her daughter chatting away on her phone. She tried to keep calm and not see red, but it was getting difficult.
“Camille, get your butt down here now!”
Seconds later she could hear her daughter quickly moving feet and it only took a minute for Camille to run downstairs and into the kitchen where she was faced with her mom, who stood with her hands on her hips.
“Didn’t I ask for the living room to be cleaned when I got home?”
Camille only nodded.
“Get it clean now, Jett is on his way over,” she instructed her daughter, who quickly rushed out of the kitchen and got to work on the living room.
The house looked a million times better before the doorbell rang. Camille opened the door to Jett who stood with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a bottle of root beer, her daughter’s favorite, in the other.
“I think you know which one’s yours,” he joked as an excited Camille took the soda from his arms.
“Yes! Thank you!” She jogged into the kitchen with the bottle of soda.
Kiara grinned at him from the kitchen doorway. He presented her with the flowers and kissed her on the cheek. Kiara would admit it felt amazing to have the attention and someone who also cared for her daughter. He was never empty-handed when it came to Camille.
“Hey, did you have a good day at work?” He asked as she placed the flowers in an empty vase sitting near the kitchen.
“Yes, it was a pretty nice one. We had two babies born, both beautiful births.” She regaled him as he washed his hands at the sink. She was still working on dinner when he’d arrived. “What are you doing?” She asked as she saw him pick up the knife from her cutting board and start on the tomato sitting there.
“Helping you, of course.”
“Can you even cook?” She was skeptical of any skills he might have.
“It’s my favorite pastime. I’ve got this, I promise.” He left a smirk on his lips.
She playfully stuck her tongue out at him. Jett returned her tease. They were incredibly playful, and she loved it.
After they finished eating, she sat on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa and watched Jett and Camille practicing her solo with the help of Camille’s keyboard. He played music while she sang. Kiara enjoyed every moment. She was with her daughter and her daughter was happy.
Kiara took a glance at the clock and noticed it was getting late. She hated to break up the practice session, but it was a school night. She knew the show was only days away, but she also knew Camille needed her sleep.
As they finished the song again, Kiara cleared her throat. They both turned to her as they were ready to do the song again.
“It’s bedtime, Cam.” Kiara reminded her daughter, who grunted in frustration. “Hey, none of that. Upstairs, teeth brushed, pajamas on, and bed.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Anderson,” Camille said as she jumped off the stool she’d been sitting on. “Night, Mama.”
“Goodnight,” Kiara said to her daughter as she jogged up the stairs to get ready for bed as instructed.
Jett joined Kiara on the couch, putting his arm around her shoulder, where she leaned her head against his shoulder.
“You’re doing an excellent job with her,” she said. “I can already hear so much improvement in that song.”
“She’s going to be more than ready.”
Kiara knew he was right. The song sounded beautiful and with the addition of the choir, it was going to be breathtaking.
She relaxed into Jett’s hold, taking a sip of her hot cocoa. Her mind drifted to what a lazy evening had felt like before with Matt. She drew a blank.
They had never had a lazy evening. Not even when they were dating. Still, Matt should witness some of the moments of his daughter’s life.
“What are you thinking?” asked Jett.
“I wish I knew where Camille’s dad was.”
“He travels for work?” asked Jett.
“Yes. And no. He just works a lot. I would have invited him to the show. She’s thrived into a beautiful young woman that he has hardly ever seen since she was only four years old. I’ve always strived to give her anything and everything, but I was always bitter inside about how he practically abandoned us.”
“I think it’s normal,” said Jett. “He broke your heart and your daughter’s heart. I think his actions were spineless and wrong.”
Jett turned to more fully face her, pulling her into his arms.
“I really want to be that person for you. I want you to be able to count on me, both of you. You both deserve it instead of the heartache you’ve received. I would never do that to you.”
But he would. He’d be leaving in just a matter of days, weeks at most. There was no path for a relationship with this man. He was famous, a rock star. He lived a life she could only dream of. He couldn’t really want to be with her.
Moving out of his arms, Kiara looked away. She knew looking him in the eyes would make her cave and she had to be strong. Maybe dating him was a mistake. It all hit her at once and came down on her.
“I don’t think this, us, is a good idea.” She stood from the couch. Refusing to look at him, she heard him stand as well. “Maybe you should go.”
“Why? What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s happened. Yet. But winter break will end soon. And then what?”
His mouth opened but no words came out. Just as she suspected. He had no future plan with her. Only the now. Kiara couldn’t live that way. She would never do it again. She needed a future with someone.
“I think we both know it’s for the best.” She walked over to the door and opened it.
Jett hesitated. But then he picked up his coat. He stood before her in the open doorway. But he said nothing. He only looked down at her.
Finally, he sighed. He placed a light peck on her forehead. And then he was gone.
Chapter Fifteen
Jett stared at the television screen in his hotel room. A new Hallmark Channel Movie blared from the flat screen’s speakers. He’d watched the career woman return to her small-town roots. She’d already reconnected with her first love. The guy was the baker in the small town and also ran the little league team on a parcel of land that her company wanted to develop.
She was now back in her city office and struggling to give her presentation on the new development. Images of the kids and her long-lost love were flashing before her eyes in a montage. The room of suits were all looking up at her expectantly. The music swelled and the heroine dropped her pen and rushed out of the room.
Jett turned off the television. He knew exactly how this movie would end. The girl would give up her career to run the bakery with her love and bring snacks to the little leaguers. It wasn’t real life.
Jett rolled over, looking at his open planner. There were interviews lined up for January. Events he was obligated to attend. And there still was the question of his next tour dates.
He couldn’t drop his pen, or rather his microphone, to open a bakery in St. Judith’s. He was a decent cook, but baking was an exact science that required precise measurements. That wasn’t him.
This wasn’t
a movie. It was real life. And his real life was in the world of music.
Sleep eluded Jett that night. His waking dreams were filled with little piggies looking for a right-sized home. The snow falling in his mind sparkled like fairy dust. Winnie the Pooh kept calling him a silly old bear.
When the sun broke through the blinds, Jett dragged himself out of the bed. He felt like he was sleepwalking through his day, until his lunch period when he looked down at his phone and saw it was his agent.
Jett had put him off the other day. But after last night and seeing that there was no clear path with Kiara, he answered the call.
“I’ve been trying to reach you for days,” huffed Joe, his agent of ten years.
“Sorry, I’ve been busy.”
“Are you still in Maryland?”
“No, Virginia.” Jett walked out of the loud lunch room and down the hall of Kleckly Middle, waving to the young girls who he knew, giving fist daps to young boys.
In just a matter of days, barely two weeks, he’d come to know so many of these kids. Even some who weren’t in his class, came up to talk to him. Very few knew his music. But it appeared they respected that he listened to what they had to say, especially when they learned how he’d let the kids arrange a lot of the music for the performance.
That decision had been a no-brainer for Jett. These kids were far more creative than they were given credit for. They each had a voice, and Jett enjoyed listening to them express themselves.
“Jett, did you hear me?”
Jett turned his attention back to his phone. “Sorry, what was that Joe?”
“I said you got the gig. You’ll be second billing to Mouth Wide Shut.”
Mouth Wide Shut was a band currently at the top of the charts. It was a gig that could land Jett a new record deal where he could produce new music, something he’d been wanting to do for years. Only no one had been interested in new music, just their old favorites.
Jett thought of the song he’d made up on the spot the other night for Kiara. He hadn’t spun a tune like that, spontaneously, in years. Not since his Boy Tide days.
Flashes of his time with Kiara played in his head as he continued down the hall. He remembered the first time he’d seen her, standing in awe in his doorway holding a brown bag lunch, clearly starstruck. His mind flashed forward to the night they spent together in the teacher’s lounge. He saw her wide smile, the way her features relaxed when she slept, the way her eyes had fluttered awake when he’d called her name. Then his mind went to the night of their date and the way she’d thrown her head back in laughter at one of his jokes he knew wasn’t that funny. Then there had been the moment he’d started singing to her.
It had all felt so right, so familiar. Jett stopped walking. He groaned into the phone receiver.
“Jett? Jett, what is it? Did you hurt yourself?”
“No, I’m not hurt,” Jett moaned. “I think I might be in love.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“I just saw a movie montage in my head,” Jett explained. “That’s definitely a sign of being in love, isn’t it?”
“Um, I wouldn’t know buddy. You know I’m a committed bachelor.”
“Well, I’ve been watching a lot of Hallmark movies and I’m sure I’ve got a bad case of love.”
“Congratulations?” Joe said slowly. “I’m happy for you. But we need to get back to the matter at hand; the tour.”
Now Joe was treated to a moment of silence from Jett’s end of the line.
Jett had arrived at the music room. The kids were already inside, lined up and practicing under Camille’s capable direction. Left to their own devices, they sounded okay. Not bad, in fact. But Jett knew that when he directed them, they would surely reach new heights.
“Jett? You’ll be back in Los Angeles in a couple of days to sign the paperwork? Right?”
Jett let out a deep sigh as he prepared to deliver the news to his agent and longtime friend. But the idea he had for this next phase in life could still use a man like Joe if he was interested.
Getting off the phone with his agent, who was not happy, but somewhat intrigued with Jett’s new direction, Jett entered the music room.
“All right guys,” he said. “The concert is in just two days and I want to add one new part.”
Instead of looking fearful or annoyed, the kids looked excited and ready to try something new. It was only Jett’s heart that skipped a beat about what he was planning to do. But he knew he had to do it. In two nights, he’d give the performance of his life.
Chapter Sixteen
The night of the Winter Concert arrived, and Kiara was shaking. She’d avoided phone calls and texts from Jett since he’d left her place days before. She hated that she’d ruined such a perfect moment with her fears that paralyzed her.
That night after she’d closed the door on him and the possibility of a them, she’d tossed and turned in her bed. At the moment, it had felt like the right decision. But the second she saw him walking away, she’d had her doubts.
Jett was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. He was kind and smart. He was funny and attentive. Not only to her but to Camille as well.
He gave not only Camille his full attention, but he’d also given so much of himself to the kids at Kleckley Middle School. For the first time in likely decades, the auditorium was packed. Some people were standing in the back, a sure violation of fire code that the administration was simply overlooking. It seemed the entire community had turned out.
Kiara was sure some of them were there to see the ex-boy band member make his public school debut. But she was sure most of the people were there in support of their children whose eyes were lit with excitement about what they were all about to show off to their loved ones. That was all Jett’s doing.
He’d inspired an entire community with his work in just two weeks. That kind of dedication, that kind of devotion, was very attractive to Kiara. But, she had to remind herself, it was temporary.
He’d be leaving shortly after the performance. Maybe even the next day. And her heart would finish breaking when he did.
Now, she’d have to face him as a volunteer with the PTA. She oversaw the hot cocoa station. She stood in her red sweater dress, wearing a Santa hat at the drinks station that had been set up in the lobby.
She hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him. For that she was thankful. The thought of seeing Jett had her stomach in knots.
He cared about her and she cared about him. Even after only a few days, something had sparked. That spark lit the moment she met him and still burned inside her. Though now, she felt like a fool. She hadn’t seen him tonight, but she could feel his presence.
“Mama, I need your help really quick!” Camille approached frantically in her long, white choral dress.
“Camille, what’s wrong?” She asked her daughter who appeared to be in the middle of a major freak out.
“I’m having issues with my dress. Please come to the dressing room with me to fix it. Please, Mama!” Camille cried.
“Umm, okay.” Kiara sat down the packets of cocoa and turned to the other parent beside her. “Janice, can you watch my station for a moment too? Camille is having a wardrobe malfunction I need to check out. It shouldn’t take too long.”
“Sure,” shrugged Janice. “It’s just hot cocoa. What’s the worst thing that happens? We run out? Go help your daughter.” The older woman laughed as she handed out another cookie.
Getting up from her post, Kiara struggled to follow behind Camille who weaved through students and attendees. Kiara’s attention was diverted. She had to admit to herself that she was on the lookout for a chestnut-haired man with gray eyes. But still, there was no sight of Jett. She and Camille finally arrived in the long hallway that housed the theater’s dressing rooms.
“Slow down,” Kiara hissed at Camille who seemed to have not heard her and carried on at the same rapid pace.
Camille turned into one of the dressing rooms
with Kiara right behind her. As they arrived, she looked her over, noticing instantly nothing looked wrong with her dress. When Kiara opened her mouth to say something, Camille sprinted from the room and slammed the door behind her.
Growling in frustration at whatever game she was playing, Kiara tried to pull the door open but quickly realized Camille had locked it.
“Camille Anita Harper, what has gotten into you?” She growled through the door. “Open this door now!”
“No,” Camille declared from the other side of the wood. “I won’t open it until you and Jett figure out whatever is wrong. You broke up with him. Why?”
“Camille, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
What was this? How did Kiara find herself arguing with a twelve-year-old behind a locked door? She was the parent. And some serious grounding would happen as soon as she got free.
“Camille!”
“He made you happy. I saw you smiling. You liked him. You like him. And he likes you. It was all working. So, what went wrong?”
Kiara sighed, leaning her head against the door. The Santa hat fell off. The cool frame against her forehead leached the anger from her entire body. All her fight was gone.
“I’m not ready,” Kiara admitted. “It’s not the time for me to date. I like him a lot, I really do, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m–”
“Scared?” Camille finished for her mom, laughing when she didn’t respond. “Mom, you’re always telling me to face my fears and never back down. Jett isn’t daddy.”
Kiara gasped at her daughter’s words. Camille rarely spoke about her father, and never in a negative light.
“He really likes you,” Camille continued. “And he’s super cool. I think it’s time you do what you taught me and face your fears.”
Kiara wondered how her daughter got to be so wise. She always gave Camille advice and lectures but figured her words went in one ear and out the other. But that wasn’t the case this time. Camille was wise beyond her years.
“Think about it, Mama.”
Mommy Loves the Rockstar Page 7
