Page 124 of Perfect Composition

Wildcard Records has released a statement regarding the lack of Beckett Miller tour dates. “With full support of his label, Wildcard Records, Beckett Miller is working on a special project in conjunction with the Broadway community. Through the vocal prowess of Evangeline Brogan and Simon Houde, he will be bringing his incomparable talent to new fans of all ages.” Bravo! Now, what we’d like to know is who we have to bargain with for a seat at the debut performance, even if it’s on the floor?

— StellaNova

“I’ve never seen you like this, even when we were trying to determine if Austyn was your daughter,” David remarks in a calm voice, likely trying to not wake up his son, who fell asleep in his arms just a few moments ago.

“It’s some of the best music you’ve written,” Ward agrees.

I wave my hand. They have no idea the songs they heard me practicing are close to twenty years old. They’re ones I wrote for Paige on the dilapidated piano at her family’s original homestead. I’m not surprised they’re the greatest things I’ve ever written; I had the best inspiration ever.

Love.

Feeling a tingle, I reach into my jacket pocket and pull out the tube of H2Ocean moisturizing cream. Moving over to the mirror behind the couch David and Ward are camped out on, I rub it over my neck, taking care to smooth it over every single inch of the sides.

“That ink is sick.” Ward grins.

“Completely badass,” David agrees.

I nod down to the bundle cuddled in David’s arms. “So you won’t mind if I take him for his first ink when he’s older.”

“If you take him before his mother agrees, you’re going to die a slow and painful death. And it won’t be me delivering it.” David’s swift reply is nothing but the truth.

“I debated getting one when I was younger,” Ward admits.

“You didn’t go through with it?” I ask curiously.

“No. There were a lot of things I never did after our parents died. Rebellion never appealed to me much. Who was I going to rebel against? Carrie? For giving up her whole life for me?”

“There’s more reasons than rebellion to do it.” David nods at the ink on my neck. “Becks has shown us that.”

“One of the main reasons is love.”

“How many of yours are because of that?” Ward asks.

I open my mouth to answer him but hear the crunch of gravel on the drive. “I thought they weren’t supposed to be back for hours?” My voice is filled with panic. I race over to the bay window and peek out. Sure enough, Austyn pops out of the back seat. Then Angie and Carys, and finally, my heart thuds heavily as Paige emerges.

Her face twists toward me, as if she knows I’m hiding behind the closed blinds. “What the hell?” I snap.

Ben yawns and stretches in his father’s arms. David murmurs to him, “Mama’s here.”

You would have thought the kid was told Santa was in the room. He snaps awake and immediately scrambles to his little booted feet. “Mama? Where?”

“She’s outside.” But no sooner are the words out of David’s mouth than his son is racing for the door.

Fortunately, Ward catches him on the run because just as he’s about to fly by, the front door opens. And in walks Paige.

My heart feels like my drummer’s smashing against it.Boom. Smash. Crash.

“David? Carys said she’s waiting for you outside. Um, Ward, the same with Angie.” Paige hasn’t met my eyes yet.

Both men push up from the sofa and head in Paige’s direction where she’s corralled Ben against her legs. After slipping on their outerwear, they both exchange quiet words with her. Words I can’t decipher because I can’t hear. I can’t speak. All I can do is absorb the fact she’s near me.

I’m shaken from my reverie when the door closes behind both of my friends. “I…uh…hi.”

“Hi.”

“I was hoping we could talk.”

She steps closer to me. “You went to a lot of trouble for that.”