Page 5 of Sweet Music (Sugarville Grove #7)

She wore one of Dad’s old coats with her tall boots and jeans. Her long, brown and silver braid was over one shoulder, and she looked as timelessly beautiful as ever. Even in her work clothes, Mom’s megawatt smile made her prettier than any actress or model in Cash’s eyes.

He jogged for her, and they met in the middle, both of them laughing and panting a little as they embraced, their breath clouding in the sweet, early morning air.

Her solid form felt so small in his arms. When he thought of being hugged by Maggie Lawrence, it was always a memory of when he was tiny and could bury himself in her soft bosom.

But her arms were as strong as ever as she squeezed him tight, and he felt just as safe and comforted, even though it had been ages since he’d grown bigger and taller than she was.

“What a lovely surprise,” she said at last, pulling back so that he could see the tears sparkling in her blue eyes. “What brings you home?”

He opened his mouth, but found he couldn’t answer.

“I missed you,” he said after a moment.

“Well, we missed you too,” she told him with a big smile, clapping him on the shoulder.

He didn’t miss the look in her eye as she led him toward the house, laying out a cheerful rundown on everything currently happening on the farm. She knew something was wrong, but she was giving him space to tell her in his own time.

Together, they headed up the steps of the stone farmhouse that used to belong to Grandma and Grandpa.

Mom and Dad had moved in when Tag and his first wife took the big green Victorian that had been theirs.

He’d heard all about how Dad had hired contractors to remove a wall and put in a beautiful new kitchen that was the setting for all the family dinners these days.

Cash had seen the photos in the family chat now and then. It would be nice to finally sit at that big table and see all those beloved faces again.

“ Shoes ,” voices called out from the back of the house as Mom opened the front door.

Cash had to smile. He hadn’t heard that in so many years.

“Believe it or not, your brother still forgets from time to time,” Mom confided with a smile.

Tripp was the wildest Lawrence brother, and also the one with the biggest appetite.

After a day of working the farm, he had always been happy to just follow his nose back to the kitchen, tracking his muddy, straw-coated boots all the way.

It was to remind him to take them off that the family had started the tradition of yelling out shoes anytime they heard the front door open.

“I’ve got a big surprise,” Mom called out as they stepped in the front door and kicked their boots onto the tray.

As they headed down the hall toward the kitchen, Cash couldn’t help noticing some additions to the photos his grandparents had always kept on the wall.

All the old ones from when they were kids were still there, but now there were plenty more too, with his nieces and nephews, and some young women he’d only seen online.

In the most recent one, a woman with big blue eyes and long blonde hair held Elizabeth, West’s little girl, while a girl who looked like a younger version of the first one stood beside them, laughing.

“That’s Dulcie,” Mom said softly. “And her little sister, Delphine, our sweet princesses. Goodness, but we have so many new people for you to meet. How long are you staying?”

He wasn’t sure, but before he had a chance to answer, his father exploded out of the kitchen to embrace him.

“ Charles Cash?” he bellowed. “You’re home. ”

“Hey, Dad,” Cash said, hugging his dad tightly, and cursing himself for letting so much time pass since his last visit.

In the music business, it seemed like so many artists were just a flash in the pan.

He’d spent a lot of time telling himself he had to make hay while the sun was still kind enough to shine in his direction.

But the weeks had somehow turned to years, and so many of the real things he was missing out on were right here at home.

“What brings you home, boy?” Dad asked, leaving one arm around him as they headed into the kitchen.

Tripp stood by the stove, peeling potatoes into the trash can. His eyes met Cash’s and Cash could tell instantly that his brother knew exactly why he was here.

Mom and Dad might not be on social media, but the rest of the world was.

“Cash,” Tripp said, putting down the potato and peeler and heading over to embrace him. “Good to see you, brother.”

“You too,” Cash told him, meaning it.

“I was going to grab some more wood for the fire,” Tripp said. “Want to help?”

“Oh, Tripp, your brother just got here, sweetheart,” Mom said. “I’m sure he just wants to settle in first.”

“No, no,” Cash said. “I’d love to. I guess I have some chores to make up.”

That tickled Dad, who chuckled hard while Mom watched him fondly.

The love those two shared was everything Cash had always wanted in his life. His heart ached to share the love that bubbled out through his music but had no other place to go.

Not since…

“Come on,” Tripp said. “Let’s go.”

“I’ll just set this here,” Cash said, leaning the guitar in the corner before he followed his brother back to the front door.

To his credit, Tripp didn’t say a word as they pulled on their boots and coats. He waited until they were back outside and halfway to the wood pile before he finally spoke.

“Well, is he yours?” Tripp asked gruffly as they came around the side of the house.

“I don’t know,” Cash said honestly. “But I think so.”

Tripp just nodded and kept walking.

“Listen,” Cash said, stopping in his tracks. “I need your help.”

Tripp turned to him, his eyes flashing with an uncharacteristic anger.

“Do you know who the kid is?” Cash asked, shame coursing through him that he didn’t know himself. “Do you know who his mother is?”

“How would I know?” Tripp asked looking away again.

“Because his profile says he’s from Sugarville Grove,” Cash said patiently. “And last I checked, this place didn’t exactly get big enough that everyone doesn’t still know each other’s business.”

“Apparently, I don’t even know my own brother’s business,” Tripp said.

That stung. But Tripp wasn’t wrong .

“That’s fair,” Cash said, sighing. “And believe me, I’m not proud about this. I want to do right by this boy now that I know about him.”

Tripp met his eyes again, his hard gaze softening, and Cash realized that was what had been troubling him.

He was worried that Cash had knowingly run out on his responsibilities.

Cash had been gone a long time, but it still hurt a lot to think that his brother hadn’t started off giving him the benefit of the doubt.

“I, uh, I don’t make a habit of acting wild like I did with his mother,” Cash assured him. “Not anymore, not for a long time. And if I’d known about the boy, I would have done the right thing from the beginning.”

“I can respect that,” Tripp said, nodding. “And I get what you’re trying to do here. But maybe it’s better to just leave him alone. He’s been through enough.”

Panic shot through Cash’s veins and he felt a flash of what it must be like to be a parent as he imagined all kinds of trials and hardships for his possible son.

“What do you mean?” he demanded. “What’s he been through?”

“His mother got sick last year,” Tripp said. “They were living in Burlington. But her cousin took custody of the boy, and he came back here to live with her after his mom passed.”

“He’s an orphan,” Cash breathed, wishing he could do anything to ease the boy’s pain.

What have I done? I’m a monster.

“He’s got his aunt,” Tripp said firmly. “From what everyone says, she adores him. But yeah, his mom passed.”

“Is he at the high school?” Cash asked, grabbing for his phone to call for another cab.

“Hey,” Tripp said, putting a hand on Cash’s arm. “Hang on, now. Stop and think for a dang minute. You can’t just show up at the kid’s school. Imagine how you would have felt in his shoes. And especially with you being… you. It’s too much.”

“Shoot,” Cash sighed. “Right.”

“Why don’t you wait until the library opens up at nine?” Tripp suggested. “His aunt is the children’s librarian. She’s his guardian, so she’s the right person to help you figure this out.”

Cash thought his blood might just boil out of his veins if he had to wait another minute. But he had to admit that his brother was right.

And he got a funny little feeling just thinking about the library. Back when he was in school, there used to be an old treehouse out back. He would hide out in it with his grandpa’s guitar sometimes when he had a bad day. He’d even written a song or two up there.

“Fine,” he said, nodding. “I can do that.”

“Good,” Tripp told him. “It’s the right thing to do. And besides, Mom and Dad will flip out if they don’t get to feed you a big country breakfast after you just flew all night.”

“Tripp,” Cash said, wishing he could find the words to say what he wanted to say. “I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long. I know this doesn’t seem like the best reason to be back, either…”

“Are you kidding me?” Tripp put in. “If you’re here to give me another nephew, it’s the best reason ever. And the rest of the family will agree, believe me.”

“When did you get so wise, little brother?” Cash asked, giving the big man a gentle shove.

“About the same time you got so weak,” Tripp teased him as he started jogging along the path. “I hope you can still haul wood with those guitar hands, pretty boy.”

Against all odds, Cash heard his own laughter ring out across the snowy field, and he took off beside his brother for the wood pile.

There’s no better news for a kid than that he could be a part of this family, he told himself. He’ll come around to the idea.

Won’t he?