Page 36 of Follow the Rhythm (Fairview City Omegaverse #2)

I relaxed into the rhythm of days with Claire and Deb.

The weather was as perfect as it could be for a London summer.

I ran every morning along the river, helped Claire in the garden, and went with them to the shops.

It felt like I was recovering from an injury or illness with Michael’s mums as my caregivers.

But I suspected they were getting as much comfort from having someone to dote on as I was from their calming presence.

Every night, someone in the neighborhood played classical music on the piano, usually sad songs that made my heart twist for Jess or Michael or my friendship with Ellis. It felt like the universe was composing a soundtrack for my current state of mind.

On my fourth day, I finally felt ready to visit Michael.

I went in the late afternoon. Deb and Claire had offered to come, but they weren’t offended when I said I wanted to go alone.

I made the short walk east to the cemetery, away from the river. The sunny weather held, and it felt almost perverse visiting a grave on such a lovely day. The cemetery itself was lush, dotted with Victorian-era buildings, and a war memorial dominated the far end.

Michael was buried in the shade of a tree overwhelmed by a huge climbing rose bush I recognized from Claire’s patient gardening lessons. Fat white blossoms covered the foliage. A warm breeze shook a few petals loose, and they tumbled gracefully to the grass on top of Michael’s grave.

“Hey mate,” I whispered. “Sorry I didn’t bring you anything, but Deb said the people who caretake here wouldn’t appreciate me leaving a huge Spurs banner for you. They finished third in the league, by the way. Lost in the semis to fucking Liverpool if you can believe it.”

The breeze rustled through the roses again. A man was ambling down the avenue away from me, towards the war memorial, but otherwise the place was deserted.

“Your mums are doing alright. Deb needs a new ladder, and she’s in a feud with the guy who usually does glazing work for her, but you know she loves getting up in arms about something. Claire is spending a lot of time down at the church, in the nursery school, which seems good for her.”

I studied the headstone I’d helped Deb and Claire pick out, simple and classic. The epitaph read, “Beloved son and brother. Now at rest with God.” Michael hadn’t been religious, but I knew it would give Claire comfort. Gravestones were more for the living than the dead, after all.

“I met someone. It didn’t work out, but I guess that’s just how it goes sometimes.

You would have loved her. She’s strong and determined.

Talented. Funny, too. And she loves your songs, says they got her through tough times.

” I paused. “And it was… nice to feel something good after the last year. You know? It’s a bit of a relief to know I still can. ”

I stood quietly for a few more minutes. The man made his way back from the war memorial, and we exchanged a nod.

There was no epiphany, no secret message whispered from beyond the grave. There was just the quiet breeze carrying the scent of roses and freshly mown grass, and the afternoon sunshine hot on the back of my neck.

“I guess you already know all this, since you’re up there fluttering around as an angel or cherub or whatever according to your mum. But we’re a mess without you. Ellis is a wreck. And I know I’m supposed to forgive you and all that. But it’s hard when I just fucking miss you.”

Tears stung my eyes and, rather than wiping them away, I let them fall. Michael didn’t have any answers for me, but that was alright. A bit of that clenched-fist feeling in my chest eased.

“I’ll see you, mate,” I whispered, and made my way back down the path. I walked back to Deb and Claire’s feeling something like peace.

But that peace was short-lived.

Very early on the morning of my fifth day in London, even before I woke for my run, my phone rang. I considered ignoring it, but there were only a few reasons Johnny Fairchild would call me in the middle of the night from Fairview.

My stomach clenched in dread that something had happened to Ellis.

“I can’t imagine you’re calling with good news,” I said instead of a hello.

“Have you not seen it?” Johnny sounded oddly strained.

“No, mate, I’ve been sleeping. I’m in London visiting family. What’s happening?”

“Someone leaked Reward .” His voice was choked, and I detected a note of panic.

The dread solidified. “What? Who?” I demanded, though the list of suspects was very short.

Johnny groaned. “Well, I don’t know, do I? But I know that Karen cow at the label is going to blame me somehow. But what’s worse is you boys don’t own the masters, so they could fucking sue. You need to come back here to do damage control.”

“Fuck. It was Ellis, wasn’t it?” That selfish fuck had outdone himself.

Johnny sighed. “Well, it wasn’t Michael, was it?”

Rage burned through me, bright as a flame. This was insane. If the label sued, it certainly wouldn’t be Ellis; they needed him to be a success. So the axe would fall on Johnny and me. “I’m going to kill him.”

“I might do as well. Just get back here and help me deal with it,” he snapped and rang off.

I packed quickly and made my way downstairs. Deb was already up and eating a piece of toast in the brown coveralls she wore to work. She clocked my suitcase immediately.

“Leaving already? I knew you were eager to get back to your lady. Claire will be disappointed, though.” She looked so hopeful. I dreaded the next few minutes.

I considered how to explain the situation. “There’s been a problem in Fairview, and I need to sort it out.”

“Not a bad one, I hope.”

“Would you mind waking up Claire? I’m on an early flight out, but I want to talk to both of you before I go,” I said carefully.

Deb studied me. “You’re scaring me a bit, son.”

“No, nothing to be scared of,” I assured her.

She nodded before leaving to wake Claire. I put the kettle on to boil.

Claire emerged in her dressing gown, her eyes worried. They were Michael’s, through and through. “What’s wrong, pet?”

They sat across the kitchen table from me. I didn’t have time to sugarcoat things. “I owe you an explanation and an apology. Someone leaked the album we recorded before Michael died. And some things in them might hurt you.”

Claire’s mouth tightened. “Hurt us how?”

“The songs are… dark. Michael said it was just a character, a continuation of the story from the last album. But now that we know how badly he was hurting, they feel much more like cries for help. And I didn’t hear them.

” I wanted to defend myself somehow, but there was no defense.

I was his brother, and I should’ve seen it.

Of course, Michael’s mums knew the overdose wasn’t accidental. But instead of the truth, that I couldn’t bear for the darkest parts of Michael’s soul to be on display for the masses, I’d told them the album wouldn’t release due to label issues. I didn’t want to hurt them.

“And you kept this from us?” Claire demanded into the silence. Deb slid her hand into Claire’s, and they felt like a united front against me.

“Yes, I’m sorry. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have. But I wanted to protect you.”

“Your damned hindsight doesn’t do me any good now, does it?” Claire spat. “Where did it leak? Who leaked it?”

“I don’t know. I just found out myself,” I said, absorbing her anger.

“Who?” she repeated, her voice raised and shaking. With anger or grief, I couldn’t tell.

“It was probably Ellis. I don’t know who else it would be. But I’m heading back to Fairview to take care of things. The label could sue us if they think we leaked it. We don’t own the rights to the songs.”

The kettle whistled, and Claire jumped a little. Deb stood to make tea, as if by reflex. We sat in silence for a few moments.

“How could you hide this from us?” Claire asked quietly.

I didn’t have a sufficient answer. A year ago, when the grief was fresh, it had been unthinkable to let them hear those songs.

And as time went on, it was easier and easier to tell myself I’d made the right choice.

Now, looking at Claire’s expression of betrayal, I wish I could go back. “I thought I was helping. I’m sorry.”

Deb set down two mugs. There was no cup of tea for me. I felt the dismissal.

“I have to go do damage control, try to keep a lid on things as much as possible,” I said into their stony silence. “I’m sorry.”

I made it to the door before Claire caught up with me. She tugged at my elbow until I stopped.

“I’m furious with you right now, but I still love you. And I love Ellis, too. So, whatever you’re going to do, remember that.” She gripped my elbow tightly.

I nodded and gave her one more hug.

I had no idea what to do or if I could fix things. But I had an eight-hour flight to figure it out.