When the final chord played, he finished with, “I wrote this for Mackenzie Bennett. It’s her song. Merry Christmas.”
He opened his eyes. Kenzie stood at the end of the piano, her expression gentle. She moved to where he sat. He didn’t move, afraid she’d get skittish and disappear. He’d lived through that once. There was no way he could do it twice.
“You’re here,” she said, as though trying to believe it herself.
He turned off the microphone and pushed it away so their conversation would be private. “I couldn’t just let you leave. Not after everything.”
“I didn’t think you wanted me home with you anymore.”
He wanted to touch her, but he hadn’t earned that right. Not yet. “Kenzie, you’re my home. Wherever you are, that’s my home.”
She bit at her lower lip, her eyes misting.
“The song is yours to do with whatever you want. Give it to Eileen, whatever you want. It’s yours.”
“Leah let Eileen know I’m not doing the movie. This afternoon, she made a few calls.” Kenzie set her seltzer water on a coaster by the microphone. “I’m not going to let someone like that decide my career for me.”
“The song is still yours.”
“I…I’m going to produce my own screenplay. I thought about what you said. I want to do this, but I want to do it myself. Be in charge for once.”
“Then I’ll be there for you. With whatever you need.” Pride radiated through him. She was taking control of her destiny.
“I just need you, Tucker.” Her voice cracked on his name.
That’s when he stood, ran his hand through her hair, and kissed her.
And she kissed him right back.
Epilogue
Four Years, Three Months Later…
The limousine crept to the red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre. Kenzie looked to Tucker. He stared out the window, elbow on the armrest attached to the door, his fingertip tapping against his chin.
They’d been married for years. And they loved each other more now than the day they’d said their vows.
“Tucker will go first. Then me. Then Clint. Then you.” Kenzie squeezed Lori’s hand. “It’s loud and there are a lot of cameras. If it gets to be too much, tell Tucker. He’ll hurry you through.”
They’d already rehearsed everything, from the limousine exit to the best way to walk the carpet outside the industry’s biggest award show.
Lori still hadn’t taken a breath.
“Breathe or you’re going to pass out,” Clint said to his wife.
Lori sucked in a deep breath.
“Keep doin’ that.” Clint went back to staring out the other window.
He sat next to Tucker. Kenzie sat with Lori.
Kenzie had invited her own mother, but she was on a two-month African safari with her now husband. They’d met the night Tucker sang Kenzie her song.
She was happy, which made Kenzie happy.
Tucker looked over at her and butterflies flitted through her belly. He still managed to do that, even after all the time they’d been together.
She ran a hand over the satin dress at her waist. Her baby bump was more than visible now. This would be their first time officially acknowledging she was pregnant. They’d wanted to keep it to themselves as long as possible.
