Page 10 of Mic Drop (Passionate Beats #3)

Bennett

W hen we return to Faith’s house, I steel myself to see not the woman I met a few weeks ago, but rather her shell. Jenna plucks one stem from the bouquet and returns the rest to me. “I’m going to check on Ma.” Twirling the flower, Jenna enters the kitchen and stops. “Hi, Ma. We have a visitor.”

I straighten, making sure the bouquet is arranged as nicely as when I bought it.

“Bennett’s here.”

I plaster a smile as I turn toward the kitchen.

Faith stands next to Jenna, almost exactly how I remember her.

She’s maybe lost a few pounds, but still looks pretty vibrant to my untrained eye.

My smile morphs into a real one, and I lumber across the room to kiss her hand.

“So happy to see you again, Faith. These are for you.” I hold out the calla lilies, mentally thanking her daughter for her thoughtful gesture with the flowers.

“Oh, thank you, young man. Can I get you some tea?”

I glance at Jenna, who shrugs. “Sure. Sounds good.”

Jenna pipes up. “I’ll make it. Why don’t you two get comfortable in the living room? ”

Her mother smells my proffered flowers and smiles, causing the rather hovering Jenna to rush over. “Here, let me put them in a vase for you.” Jenna lifts the bouquet to her nose and inhales, her face reflecting pure bliss. Like mother, like daughter.

Faith nods, but I can tell Jenna’s smothering is getting to her. I approach her and bow. Crooking my elbow toward her, I ask, “May I escort you into the living room?”

Jenna’s mother places her hand on my forearm. “You may.”

Together we leave Jenna in the kitchen. Her mother’s relatively steady on her feet, which has to be a good sign. We sit while Jenna prepares the tea.

“Thank you for coming all the way out here, Bennett,” Faith begins. “Jenna’s not been herself with how things ended between you two.”

“It was a stupid misunderstanding,” I reply. “We’ve got it all sorted now.” I pause. “I love your daughter.”

She tips her head. “Glad to hear that.”

“Me too,” Jenna says, leaning against the doorframe.

I’m not embarrassed of my feelings. In fact, I would announce my love for this woman from the top of the Empire State Building if that were allowed. Perhaps Luke can get the words lit up on it?

Nah. Jenna doesn’t need such over-the-top displays. This, right here, is more than enough for her. And me.

I direct my gaze toward the woman who owns me, body and soul. “I never stopped.”

She runs her palm over her arm. “Me neither.”

This conversation needs to happen when we don’t have an audience. Preferably naked. For now, I settle with, “Glad that’s settled.” The whistle for the kettle goes off and Jenna scurries into the kitchen.

Faith leans forward. “Do you promise to take good care of my Sweet Pea?”

“I do.”

“Will you not rush to any judgments where she’s concerned? Make her spell out what’s going on inside her thick skull?” She taps her head.

My lips twitch at her mother’s description. “I’ll pull the truth out of her if need be.” I pause a beat. “Anyway, it’s a gorgeous skull.”

Her hand flips. “Looks fade. What’s inside Jenna is pure devotion for those she loves. Do you think you’re worthy of such a fierce commitment?”

“Yes, and only because that’s what she’s getting from me.

I’ve shared things with her I never tell another person.

She knows all my warts—hell, she’s dealing with the whole Lissa situation better than I am.

I want to make sure she’s protected and knows she’s loved. I want to hold her when she cries.”

Her mother interjects, “Which she’s going to do sooner rather than later, I fear.”

Shocked to feel a wetness behind my eyeballs, I blink. “About that. Are you sure there’s nothing that can be done?”

“If there’s anything I’ve learned from my time on this earth, it’s that quality triumphs quantity any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Would I prefer to stay and watch Jenna’s clinics become huge successes?

Share in Kara’s very full life? Of course.

But that’s not the hand I’ve been dealt. I’m all right with that.”

“I could take you to Europe—see what the doctors there have to say.”

Her head shakes. “I’ve seen the best here and they all say the same thing.” She pats her thigh. “Do you blame me for not wanting to seek out more medical opinions?”

I try to put myself in her shoes. My body sinks into the chair as holding up my weight becomes harder. “I don’t. Like you, I would want to spend as many healthy days with Jenna as I could. Not become a burden wasting time traveling to other doctors for no different results.”

My response tapers as reality hits. Jenna’s fighting against the inevitable.

Faith’s blonde head nods, displaying the thinning of her hair. “You get it.”

“I do,” I repeat my earlier vow but in a very different context.

The need to do something to make her final weeks brighter overwhelms me, but what could it be?

I want Faith to be comfortable, but it seems as if she has everything she needs here.

What could I give her that she doesn’t already have?

My mind searches for a different outlet, one that will provide her peace.

Her daughter putters in the kitchen, obviously buying us time to talk.

It hits me.

The one thing a devoted mother—which leaves my own out—wants for her children. For them to be settled and happy. I can do that for them both.

My hands lower to my knees. “Faith, I know we’ve only met a few times, but it feels as if I’ve known you forever the way Jenna talks about you.”

“Jenna has shared some things about you to me as well.”

I swallow. Am I really about to ask this? I’ve never believed for even a nanosecond I would be in this position. “I would like to ask you a question.”

“Go ahead.”

Does she know what’s on my mind? She seems so even keeled. How can she be, when I’m careening out of control? I glance at her, her gray gaze trained on me. Better spit it out now.

“Would you give your permission for me to ask your daughter to marry me? I’m not sure when, but I need to know you’ll be happy with this decision.

” I consider my selling attributes as if they were UC merch.

My palm covers my heart. “I have a steady job, a good paycheck, and the biggest plus of all—I love her, and she loves me.” What more can I add?

“You travel all the time, and her work is here.”

“Good point.” How can I make her understand the depth of my feelings?

“I can quit the band. Or she can come with us and help out when there are any injuries.” I remember Jeb’s waxing poetic about how she’s handling the crew’s back problems. “There’s a need for physical therapy on tour.

Or we can be together whenever we possibly can.

Any which way, we’ll make it work.” I clear my throat. “I’ll make it work.”

“You two haven’t known each other long.”

“We’ve known each other for years if you count the time when she was with Darren.

” Not the best idea to mention a former, dead boyfriend when asking for the woman’s hand in marriage from her dying mother.

“I know for a fact she’s it for me. I love her.

I’ll do anything to make her happy. I promise. ”

“Have you discussed this with your own mother?”

My head shakes. “No. We’re not close. In truth, she’s not a caring or loving individual, like you are.” I stare at my knees.

Her mother regards me from her chair. I try not to fidget under her scrutiny. When my last nerve is pulled tight, she says, “I would be honored to welcome you into the family, Bennett. You’ve proven yourself honorable. You love my daughter. What more could I ask of you?”

My entire body goes lax when I receive her blessing. Somehow, she probably was the easier Westfield to crack. “Thank you, Faith. I’ll endeavor to live up to your trust in me every single day.”

“Of that I have no doubt.”

Jenna breaks the mood by bringing a tray into the living room, giving her mother a mug before passing one to me.

I sip the calming hot beverage, allowing the tea to soothe my fractured nerves.

I need to figure out how to ask Jenna to marry me.

Before then, though, I need to help her come to grips with her mother’s situation.

The two chatter about the weather and a new store opening up on Main Street, while I ponder what I can do to help the woman I love come to terms with an awful but inevitable result.

I’m pulled from my musings by the ping of a text.

The Swiss doctor will be meeting with us in an hour.

Now to remove Jenna from her mother’s house so we can take this meeting in private.

And I can try to help her come to grips with the end result .

A few minutes later, I finish my tea. “Ladies, I’m beyond thrilled I got to spend this afternoon with you both. Unfortunately, duty calls, and I need to get ready to fly to my next gig.”

“Such a short visit,” Faith notes.

“I would do anything for your daughter.” Standing, we share an unspoken pact regarding her monumental agreement to let me have Jenna’s hand. I bring my empty mug into the kitchen, placing it in the dishwasher.

A giggle floats from behind me. “If only your fans could see you now. The great and mighty Bennett Hardy filling a lowly dishwasher.”

The door clicks shut as I hip check it, then spin to lean my ass against the door. “They’d probably enjoy me kissing the living daylights out of my girlfriend against it more.” I open my arms, into which she steps.

“I would too.” She kisses my lips, but ends our contact way too soon. “Ma’s waiting to say goodbye.”

I play with her hair. “Come with me to Secluded Rest. Luke arranged the Zoom meeting with a Swiss doctor shortly.”

“Oh.”

I tug her in close. “Stick with me, Sweetheart. I’ll make sure you get everything you need.” Even if it’s not what she wants.