by Jen Gilroy
“Me too.” And that was the problem with wishes. They were meaningless. He crossed his arms over his chest so he wouldn’t take her in his arms again.
“Annie?” The door of the Black Duck banged open. “There you are.” Tara’s voice rang out in the heavy silence. “The buffet’s open, and they’re going to draw raffle prizes. Mom needs us. First up is Quinn’s wedding cake.”
“I have to go.” Annie’s voice was small, and she licked her lips.
“Of course.” Seth’s phone dinged in the pocket of his jeans to signal an incoming text.
“Annie?” Tara’s voice got louder. “We’re waiting for you. Unless you want half the family out here, get your butt in gear.”
“I’ll be right there.” She turned to Seth as the door shut behind her sister. “Thank you for tonight. Helping me with my song, accompanying me, singing with me. I . . . you . . .” An expression that might have been regret flickered in the depths of her eyes. “If things were different . . . if I was different.”
“Yeah.” He swallowed, then she turned away and walked back up the shadowy path. “Annie?”
“What?” The chubby moon gilded her features with silver.
“You write songs from your heart. You sing from your heart. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you lived from your heart?”
She held his gaze for a long moment. “It’s not that simple.”
“Isn’t it? For a woman who’s all about heart, I’d have thought living from your heart would be the simplest thing of all.”
“Then maybe you should do it, too.” Her voice was a whisper in the night before she moved to the door, pulled it open, and disappeared inside.
Seth’s heart slammed in his chest. Annie was right, and why did he think he could judge her for something he wasn’t doing? His phone dinged again, and he fumbled it out of his pocket and stared at the screen. As he read the text, a jolt went through his body.
Dylan had finally reached out. And for the first time in months, his son needed him.
Chapter 14
“Your show was good.” His dark brown hair still bedhead rumpled, Dylan stood outside the open studio door with Dolly by his side. He avoided looking at Seth directly, like he’d done the night before when Seth picked him up five miles outside Irish Falls beside his broken-down car.
“Thanks.” Seth gave his son a cautious smile. “I don’t usually do it on Sunday, but since it’s a long weekend, I gave the regular guy a day off.” At the time, Seth hadn’t had any other plans. “I appreciate you listening.” He checked to make sure he’d pushed the button for the subscription service. Since he was the only one here this weekend, apart from the morning show, there wouldn’t be any live programs.
“No problem.” Dylan glanced at his sweats and wrinkled Drake T-shirt. “You have coffee?”
“There’s a pot in the kitchen down the hall.” Seth gestured. “Grab a mug from the cupboard over the sink.”
Dylan padded to the galley kitchen and crockery clattered.
“Who dressed you up, Dolly?” Seth eyed the red, white, and blue bow tied to the dog’s collar.
“I found it beneath that tree by the waterfall when I took her out earlier.” His son ambled back into the booth and sat in the chair across from Seth’s then put a Peanuts coffee mug on the desk. “The one with pieces of paper and charm things tied to it.” He pulled a lid off a plastic box and took out a cookie.
“That’s the Irish Falls wishing tree. People tie wishes to it because they think the tree makes those wishes come true.”
“Weird.” Dylan slurped coffee. “But it’s the kind of shit Mom would like.”
“Dylan.” Seth stopped. His kid was an adult. The time for correcting his language was gone, along with bedtime stories, kicking around a ball together in the park, and helping with science fair projects.
“Sorry.” Dylan grin was self-conscious. “All I meant is Mom’s as flaky as ever.”
“Have you heard from her lately?” Seth tensed. Was Dylan turning up here with no warning something to do with Amanda?
Dylan shrugged and fiddled with his silver stud earring. “She calls me once a month or so. Last I heard she was singing with a band off the strip in Vegas. She sounded good, I guess. The same as always, anyway.”
Except, she wouldn’t have sounded like a mom. Not like Annie. Seth bit back a sigh. “Your mom loves you.”
“Sure.” Dylan’s voice was expressionless. “I’m bummed I missed your show last night. If my car hadn’t overheated, I’d have made it in time.”
“Thanks for making the effort.” Seth leaned back. Apart from the earring and shaggier hair, Dylan looked the same as he always had, but there was something new in his expression—like life had knocked some of the teenage bravado out of him.
“It’s not a big deal.” Dylan shrugged and gulped a mouthful of coffee, but not before Seth glimpsed the flash of hurt in his son’s brown eyes.
“It is to me.” Seth chose his words with care. “You must have been looking forward to spending the weekend with Mackenzie and her family. The Hamptons are pretty, although the area gets busy—”
“She dumped me.” A pulse worked in Dylan’s jaw. “Go ahead and say it. You were right about her and everything else. Are you happy?”
“Of course not. I’m sorry.” Seth picked up his empty coffee mug and set it down again without seeing it. “You really liked Mackenzie.”
“I did, but it turns out she was two-timing me with a guy I thought was a friend.”
Seth’s heart twisted. “She doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
“Like Mom?” There was a cynical note in his son’s voice. “She sure never missed me.”
And she’d missed all the big milestones in Dylan’s life, too—including this one. “Your mom’s a free spirit and maybe someday—”
“I’m not counting on it.” The anger in Dylan’s expression tore at Seth’s heart. “I wasn’t serious about Mackenzie, but . . .”
“You weren’t expecting her to cheat on you, either.” Seth moved around the broadcast desk and gave Dylan’s shoulder a hesitant pat. “You’ll meet the right woman someday and, when you do, you’ll know it.”
“You never did.” Dylan’s tone was bleak.
“That doesn’t mean you won’t.” Even though Seth tasted bile, he made himself continue. “There are a lot of girls out there who know the meaning of commitment.” Like Annie, except she was all woman. His heartbeat sped up, and his legs trembled. He eased back and sat on the edge of the desk.
“I lost my job, too.” Dylan’s voice caught and he cleared his throat. “Mackenzie’s dad found someone else. My boss at the pizza place said he’d take me back, but . . . I guess I blew it. You tried to tell me to slow down, but I didn’t listen.”
Seth studied his son’s bent head and the red flush that crept across his cheeks. “A man has to make his own mistakes and own them, too. I should have treated you like a man. I was wrong to butt in.” He sucked in a breath. “I wanted to help, but I can see how you thought I was interfering.”
“I should have realized you were looking out for me. And what I said to you . . . I behaved like a spoiled brat, especially when you must have been dealing with crap of your own.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Well. I thought I should come and tell you in person. I can only stay until tomorrow afternoon. I start back at the pizza place on Tuesday, but you’re my dad, and we’ve gone through a lot together and, well, you know.”
“Yeah, I do.” Seth let out a huge breath. It wouldn’t be all easy from now on, but thanks to Annie, he hadn’t made things worse, and he and Dylan had this precious chance to make a fresh start.
“You were right about my car, too.” Dylan’s laugh was rueful. “It’s a pile of junk. What a waste of money.”
“Nope.” His son shook his head. “Apart from college, I’m not taking money from you. If I want to be an adult, I better start acting like one.”
“It’s good you want to be self-sufficient, but not even money for a bus ticket?” Seth grinned. “Maybe you didn’t see the look the tow truck guy gave your car last night, but I did. I don’t think you’re going to be driving it anywhere soon, if ever.”
“It’s okay.” Dylan grinned back. “Mackenzie’s dad must have felt bad about letting me go. He gave me a whole month’s pay.”
“And you took it?” Seth laughed, partly with amusement but more with relief. He had his boy back, and the whole world looked brighter.
“Course I did. He should feel guilty.” Dylan’s mouth narrowed. “I don’t mind about missing the Hamptons, and golf is kind of lame, but I thought Mackenzie really liked me.”
And his son hurt like Seth hurt when Amanda walked out on the two of them, onto a tour bus and into the arms of a rock star wannabe. But unlike him, Dylan had learned his lesson before there was a kid involved or he had a wedding ring on his finger.
“You’ll know better next time.” His chest got tight.
Unlike him, there would be a next time.
“Yeah.” Dylan’s voice was gruff and he bent to scratch Dolly’s ears. “She’s sure cute. Are you taking her back to LA with you?”
“I want to.” Seth tented his fingers on his knees. Condo rules or not, there was no way he’d leave Dolly behind. “But see, the thing is, the terms of Jake’s will mean I have to run this station for six months before I can sell it.” Although that didn’t seem as bad as it had at first, it still wasn’t what Seth would have chosen.
“Downer.” Seth glimpsed Jake in the lines of his son’s jaw and nose.
“Since you’re sticking around today, what do you want to do? There are some trails outside town where we could go hiking, or we could head over to a lake and—”
He stopped as the outside door opened and Annie came into the station. “Oh.” She hovered outside the studio. “I didn’t realize you had company.” She glanced between him and Dylan and her face went pink.
He gestured her to come in. “Annie, my son, Dylan.” As he made the introductions, Dylan got to his feet, brushed cookie crumbs off his sweats, and took Annie’s hand. Seth’s heart swelled. Although he’d made mistakes in raising him, his son was becoming a good man and that was all that mattered.
“Pleased to meet you.” Annie stepped back. “Your dad didn’t mention . . .” She glanced at Seth again.
“It was kind of a surprise.” Dylan gave an uneasy laugh.
“The best kind.” Seth moved to stand beside his son.
Dylan held out the box of cookies to her. “Do you want one? These are great.”
“Cookies?” Annie looked between the box and Dylan. “Maple pecan cookies?”
“I dunno.” Dylan took another one. “They have some kind of nut in them.”
Annie’s mouth twitched, and then her laugh rang out. “I made those cookies for my family’s Memorial Day weekend picnic. Since everyone’s off for the holiday, I left them in the station kitchen so my daughter and her friends wouldn’t find them.”
“How many did you eat?” Seth looked from the half-empty box to the telltale crumbs on Dylan’s face.
“I didn’t count.” Dylan flushed. “I’m sorry. I thought . . . I didn’t think. I can buy you more cookies at a store, but I guess they wouldn’t be the same.”
“I didn’t think, either.” Seth rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Sherri brought cookies for everyone on Friday, and I assumed those were the leftovers.”
Annie laughed again. “No worries. We already have a ton of food for the picnic. If you don’t have plans for today, you two are welcome to join us.” When she looked at Seth, her smile wavered.
He swallowed, still tasting the sweetness of their kiss from the night before, and the imprint of her cheek against his. “If it’s okay with Dylan, it’s good for me.”
“Sure.” His son’s expression turned speculative. Then, as he glanced between Seth and Annie, he gave Seth a knowing smile.
~ ~ ~
On Monday afternoon, Annie set the last of the three cardboard boxes she’d lugged down from the attic on the coffee table in her living room. That kiss with Seth behind the Black Duck on Saturday night had been a one-time thing. She’d been caught up in the emotion of singing, nothing more, and it wouldn’t happen again. Like he said, it was her call, and he’d been a perfect gentleman at her family’s picnic yesterday—friendly, but not too friendly. So why had she felt peculiarly bereft?
Her stomach somersaulted as she eyed the boxes that, except for those months in Nashville, held the songs she’d written over the years. Maybe “My Hometown Heart” was a fluke. Or maybe it wasn’t and she should stop being such a coward. Singing to an audience on Saturday night had been the push she needed, and she wouldn’t falter now.
She straightened her shoulders and pulled the box nearest to her open. It was Memorial Day and all around town—around the country—people were remembering brave soldiers. People like Adam. She gulped at the thought of Tara’s loss. The least she could do was take a look at a few songs. She pulled a sheet of music off the top of a pile and hummed a few bars before adding the lyrics.
She hit a high note and excitement fizzed through her. Todd didn’t have the power to hurt her ever again. She was brave, she was powerful, and, even in her own small way, she was mighty.
Minutes or maybe hours later, the doorbell rang. Still half lost in the music, she went to the front door and tugged on it. “Hang on a second.” She pulled harder, and the door swung inward, taking her with it.
“Oops.” Seth snagged her arm.
Annie righted herself. “Thanks.” She stuttered, almost lightheaded.
“I guess you know there’s a problem with your door.” His eyes twinkled. “Do you need help fixing it? I’ve got a toolbox in my truck.”
“Brendan said he’d do it, but I don’t want to bother him. Duncan’s treatment starts tomorrow, and Brendan will be spending a lot of time driving him to and from the hospital.” And whenever she thought about Duncan’s prostate cancer diagnosis, she got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“I’m happy to help. Hang on.” He jogged to his truck parked at the curb and took out a metal box. Below his shorts, his legs were long and muscular, and she trembled. Within seconds he was back. “You should have asked me before.”
“I didn’t want to bother you, either. I tried to fix it myself, but I’m not very handy with stuff around the house.” And she didn’t like admitting there was something she couldn’t handle on her own. She made herself move away from him to sit on the stairs that led to the second floor. “Did Dylan get away okay?” If she focused on his son, she’d curb those wayward thoughts.
“Yeah. He caught the bus a little while ago.” He set the toolbox on the hall floor and opened it. “That car of his is toast.” His hands stilled. “I owe you. One of the reasons I came by this afternoon was to thank you.”
“For what?” Her thoughts froze.
“If it weren’t for you, I doubt Dylan would have come here. You helped me figure out how to talk to him.”
She hugged herself as desire ebbed. “Thanks to my loud Irish relatives, I know how to talk.” She tried to smile.
“You’re lucky to have a family that cares so much about each other.” Seth picked up a screwdriver and tapped at the door hinge.
“I know.” Except, sometimes all that caring made her want to run, but even if she could have, there was no place for her to run to.
Seth cleared his throat. “Being with your family at the picnic was good for Dylan. Apart from me, he hasn’t had much fa
mily in his life.”
“Everyone liked him.” And she’d breathed a silent prayer of thanks Hannah was too young for him to notice. Her daughter had male friends, sure, but no boyfriends so far, and Annie was happy to keep it that way.
“Dylan’s a good kid. Man, now. I guess.” Seth gave her a half-smile. “When I look at him, I wonder where the years went.”
“He looks a lot like you.” She hesitated. “Did you tell him about Jake?”
“No.” Seth was intent on the door, his expression inscrutable. “I’m still trying to figure things out myself.”
“Hasn’t he ever asked you about your family?”
Seth dumped the screwdriver back into the toolbox. “Not lately. Neither my ex nor I were big on family.” He grimaced. “You need a new part for this door. I’ll pick it up at the hardware store tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I didn’t mean to pry.” She swallowed. “I’ve never not been big on family.” Although her relatives couldn’t make up for the absence of a dad in Hannah’s life, they’d still filled a big gap, her brother especially.
“It’s me. Amanda and I didn’t know how to do family, and that still bugs me, I guess.” Seth’s firm lips turned up into a crooked grin, and Annie’s mouth went dry.
She might not want to, but she remembered every contour of those lips and their warmth against hers—as well as how his kisses had made her feel things she’d thought she couldn’t feel ever feel again.
“Is Hannah home?” He moved to sit on the stairs beside her.
“No. She’s at a friend’s.”
“Good. I wanted to talk to you without her around.”
“What about?” Her stomach fluttered.
What was the matter with her? Seth had taken her at her word. She should be relieved, but she wasn’t, and she didn’t know what to do about it.
