Page 116 of Perfect Composition

“I certainly don’t believe it is. But your mother has been let down by so many people lately, I’m not surprised she thought otherwise.” Ward blows up the photo on his television-sized monitor, looking for something he can use.

That’s when I feel her delicate fingers on the edge of the tattoo near my neck. “When did you do this?”

I turn as red as my shirt. “Not long ago.”

Ward surges out of his seat. “Becks?”

“I…it’s nothing. Okay? I just had some more ink added.”

“When?” “What?” they both ask in unison before shooting the other sheepish looks.

“It was meant to be a surprise for Paige.”

Austyn gasps. Ward curses.

“What? Is there something wrong?”

Ward drops back down in his chair. “No. When did you get it done?”

“Before the Grammys, not that it matters.” Embarrassed, I run my finger over the lower edge of the ink. “It’s why I wore an actual buttoned-up tux and shirts for the rest of the time we were in LA. I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Freaking-ass cravat almost strangled me. Why the hell can’t the paps report on me wearing my shirt buttoned? Why didn’t that make a slow news day?” And it hits me why he’s asking. “The picture doesn’t have my new ink. “Son of a…”

“Yeah, buddy. We’ve got them. At the very least, they’ll be printing a retraction shortly.”

Now, if only getting Paige back were that easy. I don’t realize I’ve spoken aloud until Austyn hugs me. “Leave that up to me. I have an idea.”

I relish the infusion of hope into my heart. But soon I know what it needs to survive.

Its other half.

And I’m not talking about music. I’m talking about the muse I realize I need to make that music. Otherwise, the world might have just heard the last of Beckett Miller.

Even if they don’t know it.

PAIGE

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Making a grocery list each week is key to staying on budget. Don’t believe us? Statistics say you can save up to 25% of your grocery bill by making—and sticking—to a list.

— Fab and Delish

“Great job with those parents, Dr. Kensington,” LaJuan, one of the PAs in the Department of Otolaryngology at Greenwich Hospital, compliments me.

“Thank you. Sometimes they just need a bit of reassurance. It’s a difficult decision to put in ear tubes in an infant.”

“Fourteen ear infections in the first year? Likely the right one.”

“For them. For another family, maybe not. We always have to consider the patient’s medical history,” I remind her.

“Very true. Any big plans this weekend?” she asks.

“My daughter is coming up from the city. We’re spending the weekend decorating my new place, and I’m certain she’s going to eat me out of house and home. You?”

“Mine are on a break from school. We’re planning on hitting the slopes. Do you ski?”

I add some extra drawl to my normal accent. “Not a lick. And as I’ve made it to my midthirties without breaking anything, I’m good.”

We both laugh as we hit the doors back to check on my other patients.