Page 38 of Mic Drop (Passionate Beats #3)

Bennett

I didn’t know what to expect with meeting Darren’s mother, but I had hoped for something more than this.

“I don’t know why you came all the way out here.

” Her gaze meets my gaze, then Luke’s, holding us to our seats in her family room.

In the house Darren bought her years ago.

Filled with framed photos of Darren playing the keys at various arenas.

“My opinion of that trollop hasn’t changed. And it won’t.”

My body tenses. Instead of going off on her like Luke warned me against, I use measured words. “Mother Hilliard, we’re not asking you to change your opinion of Jenna. Merely, keep it closer to the vest.”

“You went and married her, right from under Darren’s nose. Was his body even cold before you two hooked up?”

How does she really feel? The need to defend my wife obliterates everything else.

“I hadn’t seen Jenna since his funeral until the movie premiere.

You know, UC’s movie that was dedicated to Darren?

” I wait for her to acknowledge my comment, but she doesn’t.

Further annoyed, I add, “At the gig, I got hurt and needed physical therapy. That was how we met. Again.”

Luke hops in, clearly trying to smooth over her ruffled feathers.

“ Mother Hilliard, I know how much Darren loved Jenna. And she him. I can assure you she and Bennett weren’t together for years after his passing.

They were very respectful to your son.” This is something, coming from the man who called Darren an “ass” last night.

“Pfft.” She crosses her arms and looks away from us.

My wife will come around to me. She has to. For her sake, I can’t drop this with Mother Hilliard. “I’m not trying to change your opinion of Jenna. Or me, for that matter. I’m only asking that if a reporter contacts you, that you don’t give them additional fodder.”

“Seems to me they already have enough to grist the mill with her running a prostitution ring out of her physical therapy clinics.”

My head meets my hands. Luke cracks his knuckles and gets serious.

“You and I both know that’s a crock of shit the media created to feed the firestorm raging around these two.

” He touches my shoulder. “Reporters have it out for Jenna because she’s now linked with Bennett, their ‘hot’ ticket of the moment. ”

The front door opens and closes, which Luke ignores. “Your gripe with Jenna goes deeper than Bennett, though. I remember Darren was upset because you didn’t accept her with him.”

Her hand waves. “She wasn’t good enough for my boy.”

A new voice enters the conversation—Darren’s sister Marni. “Just who would’ve been good enough for Darren, Mother?”

Mother Hilliard’s eyes grow round, then narrow. “He had plenty of women to choose from. I didn’t want him to make the wrong choice, which Jenna most certainly was. She reminded me of your father. Flighty, into herself, and using him to bootstrap her pitiful business.”

I offer a small wave to Marni, absorbed in what her mother said.

The Jenna I know isn’t unreliable or self-absorbed.

Well, as long as you discount the fact she’s seeking a divorce from me right now.

Moreover, she didn’t have one clinic opened when she was with Darren, and now she’s working on her fourth, without his help, support, or money.

Somehow, I manage to keep the steam from coming out of my ears. In a low tone, I say, “You have Jenna pegged all wrong. She’s none of those things. She built her business on her own, after Darren’s death.”

His mother is having none of what I’m selling, even if it is the truth. “Riding on his coattails, no doubt.”

“Mother,” Marni snaps. “Jenna’s really sweet. I remember you telling me she was too nice for Darren. That he would eat her up and spit her out.”

I’m taken aback. Luke told me basically the same thing yesterday, in more colorful terms. I remember when Darren insisted I join the band, and how he wouldn’t take my excuses as a no.

Darren was sort of a bulldozer. Yet, Jenna has a spine.

I’ve seen it firsthand. Hell, I’m living it right now.

Maybe she didn’t have one when she was with him?

Maybe she needed to go through his death to find it in herself?

My heart aches for all that my wife’s been through—and what she’s not allowing me to help her with today.

The need to get through to her redoubles.

Starting with Darren’s mother and Lissa.

Something his mother accused Jenna of sticks with me. I do remember Darren saying his mother raised him and his sister by herself since his father took a hike early on. I take a stab in the dark. “Did Darren’s and Marni’s father somehow use you to get ahead in business?”

Her arms cross her body. “That man was a menace. We met at work, and he romanced me. The next thing I knew, I was knocked up, and then he swooped in to do my job while I was on pregnancy leave. I thought he was being nice and looking out for our family. When I came back to work, he made a big show of giving my job back to me.” She takes a breath.

“Then I got pregnant again, left for leave, and came back. This time, he didn’t bow out.

Said he’d made progress at my position, making the department more efficient.

He’d managed to turn my coworkers against me.

I did get a job in the office, but not my job, and for much lower pay.

He stuck with us for a little while, until he found another mark at a competitor, and left. ”

Marni’s mouth hangs open. “I didn’t know any of this. ”

I’d wager Darren never did either.

After a few beats, Luke finds his voice. “Bennett isn’t using Jenna to take her job, nor she him. They’re in love. I truly believe Darren is cheering for them.” He pauses. “From heaven.”

Mother Hilliard’s head turns away from us. What low-life promotes his career ahead of the woman he loves—the mother of his two children? Obviously, a man who wasn’t in love.

“He was scum,” I begin. “I’m sorry this happened to you.

But not all men are like him. At least, I’m not.

I would do anything for Jenna, including leave UC if she asked.

She never has, and she won’t, because she knows the band is important to me.

As are her physical therapy clinics to her.

We each want the other to soar, supported by love all the way. ” If she’ll accept mine.

“Well, I,” Darren’s mother begins. “Fine. I won’t speak with reporters anymore. If they ask, I’ll tell them I only want what’s best for the band.” Her lips clamp shut. “I might even be persuaded that you mean what you’re saying. With time. Lots and lots of time.”

I couldn’t ask for a better outcome. Rubbing my palms over my thighs, I stand. “I appreciate it, more than you know. We’ll see ourselves out.” I kiss her cheek and head toward the front door.

“Mother Hilliard, Río and I are working hard on setting up the scholarship in Darren’s honor.

” Luke gives her another kiss and joins me at the door.

“Please don’t forget that my offer still stands.

You’ll always be a member of UC, and if there’s anything I can ever do for you or Marni, I’m only a phone call away. ”

“Thanks,” Marni replies. Her mother remains quiet.

In the car, both of us exhale. “That was,” I begin.

Luke finishes, “Like being put through a spin cycle that never ends.”

“Definitely.”

Our driver asks, “Where to?”

“How about someplace with burgers and a bar?” I reply. “After that meeting, I need both.”

“You got it.” We pull away from the home Darren bought his mother, a bit more settled than when we arrived.

At least she’s going to stop badmouthing Jenna and me.

If she hears about the divorce, though, all bets will be off.

Which only makes me more determined than ever to waylay my wife’s misguided notion to get one.

Five minutes later, I get a text. Pulling my cell out of my pocket, the name Curtiss greets me. “It’s from Curtiss,” I tell Luke as I open the message.

I found some things. Can you come to my parents’ house? Or where can I meet up with you?

I exchange a look with Luke and instruct the driver to take us to my hometown, not too far from here. Where his parents still live. Maybe today will turn out even better than we hoped?

About an hour later, we pull up in front of my boyhood best friend’s house. The siding color’s changed, but otherwise it’s as I remember it. Same landscaping. Same basketball hoop over the garage. Same mailbox.

“Are you sure you want me with you?”

“I am. If this evidence is as damning as Curtiss believes it is, I’m going to need an unbiased opinion about how best to use it against Lissa. Because make no mistake about it, I want that woman to go down. And take Michelle with her.”

“Then let’s do it, B.”

Tossing fast food wrappers into the bag, we get out of the car. Side by side, we walk up the path to the front door. Before I touch the doorbell, I need his confirmation. “You already know why I want you here with me. Are you sure you want to be here? I don’t want to make things uncomfortable.”

“Believe me, there’s nowhere else I’d prefer to be. I want to bring this chick down. No one makes fake accusations against my friend and gets away with it.”

Friend. The truth settles over my shoulders and gives me pride, lodging deep in my heart.

“Then let’s do it.” I push the button. “Friend.”

Curtiss answers the door like he did so many times when I was growing up. Only now, full size and without a screen between us, the truth hits me. He’s older, balding, and sporting a dad bod. The years haven’t been kind to him.

“Bennett,” he pushes up his glasses and dons a large smile. The one I do remember from when we were kids—the smile, not the glasses. He extends his hand, and I shake it.

“Hey, Curtiss. This is Luke Allen, UC’s manager. I asked him to come with me so we can begin to craft an effective response to Lissa.”