“I just know what my ears like to hear.”
Quinn humbly accepted my compliments before anxious energy got the best of him and he shifted nervously in place. “I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch. I wanted to but you know, the bro code and all.”
“Of course.” I smiled. “I understand.”
And I did. I wouldn’t have wanted my problems to cause issues with Keith and his family and the fact that Quinn stuck with his brothers despite our tight bond said something about his commitment to family – of which I was no longer a part of.
“But believe me, I was so pissed at Keith. I wanted to smack him upside the head for hurting you.”
My smile wilted. Keith hadn’t told him. He’d taken the blame for our breakup. That wasn’t what I’d wanted at all. Did I tell Quinn? Did I not? In the end, I let the decision be Keith’s.
“That song, Quinn, it was beautiful. You should have seen Jake’s face. He was so impressed.”
There was an instant dampening of his mood. “I doubt that. We had it out last night.”
“Uh-oh. What happened?”
“I asked him to help me with my songs, and he basically told me I was looking for handouts. He doesn’t care about my career, Sam. He never will.”
“Then you carve your own path. If Jake can’t see your talent, that’s his loss, but don’t let his indifference deter you. You’re just too talented to walk away.”
Quinn stared off in the distance, then shrugged. “It’s whatever.”
“No, it’s ‘you will show them all.’”
He lifted his eyes. “Sure, Sam. Whatever you say.”
“That’s better. And remember, I get a front row seat to your first show.”
Finally a grin swept over his face. “If I’m doing it right, there won’t be any front row seating.”
* * *
Quinn wasn’t the only McKallister to come calling. Michelle sidled up, her arms wrapping around me in the maternal hug I’d been craving since I’d broken her son’s heart over a year ago. Then it was Scott and Emma and Kyle and Kenzie. And, just like that, I felt welcome and no longer wanting to make the quick exit I’d planned upon entering the reception.
Glancing in Keith’s direction, my heart kept telling me to go to him, but my brain continually talked me out of it. Just because his family seemed okay with me being there didn’t mean Keith would. He didn’t need me popping back into his life and stirring up memories better left buried. He’d moved on, and I’d… um… sort of moved on. I needed to give the poor guy a break.Over is over, Sam.And Keith and I – we were over.
Maybe it was time to leave. There was nothing I could do here that I couldn’t do at home with a good bottle of wine. I’d find Jake and Casey, congratulate them, and be on my way to a nice drunken night of self-loathing.Sounds like a solid plan.
And as fate would have it, Jake nearly stumbled right into me. Obviously the universe wanted me gone too.
“Congratulations,” I said, grabbing his arm to keep him from tumbling on by.
“Sam,” he said, hugging me. Like his family before him, Jake was warm and welcoming. I wanted to hold him a little tighter and soak in his acceptance. Why it meant so much to me I couldn’t say, but it did.
As he pulled back, I caught him staring at my necklace. He looked up, our eyes met, and he smiled. Jake knew. Keith must have told him of its origin, and he’d chosen to give it up – for me. The power of my stone had worked on him. Jake knew that tiny slivers of his strength had come from all those who’d worn it before him: me, Keith, my grandfather, and yes, even Sullivan, who’d held on as long as he could.
“Thank you,” he mouthed.
Sentiment stopped the flow of words I wanted to speak to him, so I simply smiled in reply.
“Samantha Anderson!” Casey squealed, her energy instantly erasing the emotional exchange. Jake stepped back, happily allowing his wife to take the lead. Casey and I hugged it out. “You came, girl.”
“Of course. Like I’d miss this for the world. Jake, you should have seen your face when Casey punked you in the church.”
As the three of us laughed, I’d lost track of Keith in the crowd until he suddenly appeared by Jake’s side, hanging an arm over his brother’s shoulder. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing. We were just making fun of Jake,” Casey said. “Like always.”
