Page 123 of Smoky Mountain Dreams

Christopher paled a little and then blushed. He cleared histhroat, looking down at his glass rather than meeting Jesse or Nova’s eye. Heshrugged. “Well, I do have something I’ve been thinking about lately.” Heglanced up at Jesse and then back down. “I don’t think I’ve got what it takesto be Lash’s permanent replacement if he ever left. I think I could continue onas his replacement’s back-up, but I know Melissa would probably go hunting fora new great talent like Lash. But, recently, I’ve been writing music again forthe first time in a long while, and it’s reminded me of why I started in musicto begin with.” He looked up at Jesse again. “To express myself and makesomething beautiful out of my feelings and experiences. Or as beautiful as mytalent will allow.”

“Now, don’t be self-deprecating,” Nova said. “It’s not goodfor the flow of chi. It’ll back you up.”

Christopher chuckled. “Noted. I don’t want to be backed up.”

“Go on—what would you do with these new songs?”

“Lately I’ve been thinking of starting up a YouTube channelfor my music. I’ve followed some musicians on YouTube for a long time, and somearen’t much better than I am. It’d be a good platform to begin. And maybesomeday, if I could save the money, I’d want a recording studio where I couldput out my own records and record the music of my friends at Smoky MountainDreams too. There are plenty of performers there who do their own music andwould just like to be able to put out MP3s of it. I’d have to learn how to mixmusic, or hire someone else to do it, but—well, that’s all really long term.Way out in the future.”

Jesse didn’t think it needed to be that far out. ProvidedChristopher would take a loan from him. Though, maybe that was something tosave for a year or so from now. Just to make sure this connection between themreally was something that could last and weather storms. He wasn’t sure they’deven had their first fight. Did the misunderstanding about Marcy count?

“Those sound like admirable and realistic goals,” Nova saidand patted Christopher’s hand.

The door from the deck opened and Will tumbled through it atbreakneck speed, cheeks flushed, and hair a tousled mess.

“Mr. Chris!” he said, barreling toward Christopher. “Guesswhat we saw? A bear! In the woods! And Brigid screamed and Grandpa was all, ‘Onlycalmness brings calmness’ or something, I don’t know, but then he said to makea lot of noise as we backed away, onlyslowly, andthe bear climbed up atree!”

Tim and a quietly crying Brigid came through the door,Brigid clinging to Tim’s side with all her might, making it hard for him towalk.

“Now don’t panic,” Tim said to Jesse. “It was just a bear.”

“You okay, B?” Jesse asked, going to her. She shrugged andtransferred her embrace from Tim to Jesse. She clung to him and he rubbed herback.

“It was a beautiful beast,” Tim said as he ran his hand overBrigid’s hair. “Gorgeous.”

“It didn’t seem aggressive?” Jesse asked.

“No. It beat a hasty retreat.”

“S’okay, B. You guys did the right thing by making a lot ofnoise and backing away.”

She nodded and then moved out of his arms. She wiped hereyes with the back of her hand and seemed to suck in a breath of dignity beforestraightening her shoulders and flipping her hair. She went to Christopher. “Wannamake some cranes with me?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said, glancing toward Jesse as he stood. Leavingthe kombucha behind, Christopher followed Brigid into the living room. Willtrailed at their heels, jabbering about the bear and how Tim had been socool-headed.

“She seems to have gotten over her issues with him,” Novasaid, taking a sip of her tea.

Jesse sat back down, watching as Brigid and Christopher gotdown on the floor beside the coffee table and started in on the cranes. TheMcMillan’s Christmas tree was in the corner behind them and the lights glowedagainst Christopher’s pale skin, brightening it softly. Piles of gifts hadgrown under the tree and Jesse wondered when he should address the problem ofwhen they’d all get together to exchange them since he and the kids wouldn’t behere for Christmas day. He ignored the pang.

“Yeah. Things have improved a lot in the last couple ofweeks since Thanksgiving. They seem to have found their way together.”

“That’s good. Glad you didn’t force it.”

Jesse nodded, admiring Christopher’s fingers as they foldedthe sheet of paper into a crane.

“And Will seems taken with him.”

“Will’s liked him from the beginning.”

Tim nodded, dropping into the chair beside Jesse. “He’s aneasy kid.”

“He is.”

Nova sighed. “So, you’re happy?”

Jesse couldn’t stop the smile that broke over his face. “Yeah.I am.”

“Good. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for you, son,” Tim said,gripping Jesse’s arm.