Page 59 of Perfect Composition

“Mama wouldn’t care about that. She’d tell you to donate it to some charity. It’s what she tells Gramps constantly.”

I smile faintly, remembering she used to do that when she was seventeen. Still, I give Austyn a moment to reason it all out. Her brow forms a V. “But why would they want to hurt her because of you?”

“It’s not necessarily because of me anymore, Austyn.”

Her jaw drops. “No. Just keep your…no. That’s not why…I don’t want your money!” She shoves at me.

I wrap my fingers around hers, still uncertain of my rights to do more. “I…” But I’m not given a chance to say more as we’re interrupted by Mitch. “Kane says you’re clear. Leave the bags; we’ll bring them up. “

I let go of Austyn. “Let’s go find out what’s going on with Paige.”

The moment I say the words, her fingers are on the door handle.

The two of us hurry under the watchful eye of the security Kane coordinated. Austyn unlocks the front door, yelling, “Mama? Mama? Where are you?” as she dashes from room to room.

But my eyes are caught by the kitchen table. Albums of photos are stacked to one side, scissors and glue to another. “What on earth…” I murmur.

“Don’t touch that!” Paige snaps.

My head whips around. Her dark hair is pushed back by a bandana, much like she used to wear it while riding. She’s wearing a ratty UT Medical School T-shirt over a pair of short jean shorts. Her face and feet are bare. And her arms are loaded down with more albums. Her eyes go wide when she spies Austyn. “Honey? What’s wrong? What are you doing here?”

“Mama? How can you ask me that? You haven’t answered your phone indays!”

Confusion puckers Paige’s brow. “What day is it?”

“Thursday,” both Austyn and I answer.

Her bright green eyes widen comically behind her glasses. Shoving the albums in my direction, she races to find her phone. “I was supposed to… Crap, it’s my turn. They’re going to be so upset. We were supposed to talk about what to do about…well, about things.”

“What happened, Mama?” Austyn asks.

Paige ignores her. “They would have called the house if something important changed. They know my head’s still reeling.”

“Paige, are you okay?” I drop the books into one of the dining room chairs.

“I…” For the briefest of moments, our eyes lock. In hers I see agony, grief, and determination.

“That does it.” A few quick strides and I’m standing directly in front of the woman who with a few words made me want to be a better man. Lying in my bed on so many empty nights, I’d have flashbacks to the moments of the two of us before my life went to shit, before I clawed for it to become something Midas himself would envy.

And I still missed the one thing I needed to make it perfect: the love of the woman who built the music in my soul.

“Paige, bird, talk to me, please. What happened?” I cup her cheeks.

She visibly shudders. “He lied. About so, so much. I…”

I hush her. “Carys told me. I hope that’s okay.”

Her bitter laugh echoes the pain rattling around inside her chest. “Of course. I left her everything I had in the event he tried to worm his way out of it and smear your good name.”

I tip her chin up and smile. “We have a daughter, bird. I think we both know my name isn’t entirely good.”

Her body collapses against mine as sobs take it over.

I scoop her up in my arms, holding her high against my chest. Her face burrows against my neck. “Oh, God, Beckett. I’m sorry. I’m so, so, sorry.”

I declare, “Beat it, Austyn. Me and your mama have things to discuss.”

Paige’s head whips up. “No. Wait. We don’t have time. Jesse’s going to be here soon.”