Page 11 of Mic Drop (Passionate Beats #3)

We return to the living room. “Ma,” Jenna begins. “Will you be all right if I go with Bennett to his house? He needs to grab his gear before getting on the plane to his next big concert.” She smiles at me. “He is a world-famous rock star, you know.”

“I might have heard rumors,” Faith quips. I’m finding it hard to believe this vibrant woman is sick. Maybe the new doctor will tell us we have the wrong diagnosis. “You two should go. I’ll be fine here. Plus, Kara’s going to stop by when she gets off work later.”

I approach her chair and kiss her forehead. Her skin feels a bit less resilient under my lips. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Her hand grabs mine and tugs me toward her. “Keep her safe. ”

“I will.” I stand to my full height and watch as Jenna kisses her mother.

We walk out of the house and Jenna exhales. “I can’t believe what’s happening. She seems so healthy. Don’t you think she looks good?”

I don’t want to give her false hope. Yet, I can’t find it in myself to crush her. “Let’s see what the Swiss doctor has to say, all right?”

“Yeah.”

“So, I don’t have a car. Do you feel comfortable driving, or do you want me to get a car service?”

“Hmmm. Maybe I should rethink this situation. You don’t have a car, your work isn’t located here, and you have a crazy ex out to get you. What’s in it for me?”

I wiggle my eyebrows. “Me.”

Her shoulders lower. “Guess that’ll have to do.” She tosses me the keys. “You can drive.”

I help her into the car, then lean into her space. “Kiss for the road?”

“What am I going to do with you?” Her lips cover mine.

After we break apart, my hand covers the top of the window. “I messed up. I should’ve copped a feel.”

Her arms cross over her chest. “Get in, Rock Star.”

Chuckling, I round the car to the driver’s side. At least I was able to get her to smile. What a contrast in hours.

We make the trip to Secluded Rest listening to the radio. When the Ukrainian anthem for children Cole Manchester wrote comes on, I sing along.

“I love hearing you sing.”

“Come on tour with me. You’ll hear me sing all the time.”

She reaches over and shuts off the radio. “You do have a good voice. I’m always blown away by it.”

So many people throughout the years have complimented my instrument, but her soft praise means more than all of them combined. “Appreciate it, Sweetheart. ”

“Will you give me a private concert?”

She knows I don’t do this. Mom’s hurtful words about my five-year-old voice are seared into my soul, so I’m not about to start. Even for Jenna. “How about I serenade you at our next concert? Make all the ladies jealous.”

“Some of the men, too.”

“Yeah, well, what can I say?” I appreciate her letting me off the hook.

Despite what some people say, I’ve never felt comfortable being the sole point of attention.

Give me a band as back up, and I’m golden.

I simply don’t do a capella . The few bars to the television show to prove my identity don’t count.

At the gate, I give them my name and we’re allowed to enter. Turning, an excellent idea pops into my head. “Hey, why don’t you and your mother move in here? The paperwork is almost ready for me to sign, and the owners don’t care if I’m here. There’s a security gate. It might make you feel safer.”

“Ma loves her home. I tried to get her to move in with me—Kara, too—but she’s stubborn. She’s not moving anywhere.”

I tap the steering wheel. “Then how about you? You’re dealing with a crazy graffiti artist. Is everyone leaving your home alone?”

Big gray eyes turn toward me. “I went right to Ma’s and we’ve been so busy with doctor appointments, I haven’t been to my house.”

I move my hand on top of hers. “Don’t worry. I stopped by your house this morning before going to your mother’s. Nothing looked awry.”

She blows out air through her mouth. “Thanks.”

The situation with her mother is weighing so heavy on her that she hasn’t even checked on her house. I extend my arm onto her headrest. “I’ll always have your back.”

We pull into the driveway and enter the house. Although there’s no food, the rest of the house is move-in ready. I turn on the tap. “Water?”

“Such a big spender.”

I’ll take that as a “yes.” We sit at the kitchen island, and I open the laptop, clicking on the link Luke sent me. “Remember, I’m right here next to you.”

She swallows. “If I forgot to say it before, thanks for arranging this. I don’t even want to know what Luke had to do to get this meeting.”

Around the rim of the glass, I smile. “You probably don’t. I’ll give him a bonus in his next paycheck.” Seems like I’m giving a lot of them away lately. All for good reasons.

Soon, the Zoom meeting is joined by the foreign doctor, who reviews Faith’s charts and scans with Jenna. I stay off camera, considering I don’t have legal permission to look at the medical records. The doctor asks several questions, for which Jenna has ready answers.

“Given all you have told me and the records I reviewed before we got on here, I’m afraid my diagnosis is the same as the others. Surgery isn’t an option for a cancer that’s metastasized to this degree. You really want to keep her comfortable.”

“I understand.” Jenna’s face has morphed into a study in sadness. “None of the other doctors will answer this question. How long?”

My breath halts.

On screen, the doctor flips through some pages. “Based on everything I see, and what you’ve told me, I’d say she has a few months. Maybe three. At the most.”

I exhale and bow my head. My Jenna doesn’t deserve this.