She took a bite of her creamy sandwich. Just as good as home. Apparently, Marcus knew pimento cheese spread should never touch whole-wheat bread. “Where is Aunt Dahlia, anyway? We start in five minutes.”
His mouth full, Caleb gestured to the entrance.
Beyond the giant front windows, Aunt Dahlia and Mr. Augo meandered up the old brick walk, despite the sudden wind blowing her hair into her face and shaking the branches of hundred-year-old cedar trees lining the pathway. If those trees blew down in front of them, Ariel wasn’t sure either one would notice. Aunt Dahlia’s entire focus and gaze rested on Augo Kennedy, her arm intertwined with his, her pretty face glowing.
Ariel blew out a long breath. “What are we going to do with those two?”
He laughed. “You and I are in danger of becoming in-laws.”
For pity’s sake. “Your uncle’s the reason she can’t seem to make time to hear my ideas. Caleb, this isn’t like her. I don’t understand what’s going on, and she won’t talk to me. She stayed out late again last night and left before I was up at seven.”
“Love can hit anybody at any age.”
Weren’t people supposed to get wiser as they got older?
“On the bright side, Granddad came an hour early. And he’ll probably shut down the evening.” He pointed in the direction of the food table, where his grandfather gave instructions to Sarah rather than barking orders. “Asking him to help was brilliant. It works better than physical therapy. So I guess he’s our grandfather now, not just mine, since you’ve adopted him.”
It seemed so. Ariel liked it that way. Or would have, if she didn’t sense she was gaining an uncle too.
“What do you think of the parlor setup?” Caleb took a big bite of the corn pudding. “Hey, this is good. I didn’t know what to expect.”
“Most Northerners think it’s a dessert, so they don’t want to try it. And this room—it looks even more beautiful at night. Yesterday, I didn’t notice twinkle lights on the bookcases and around the entrance and windows. Did you put them up?”
“The ambience was Granddad’s idea.”
“You both did a great job. This room couldn’t feel more homey and inviting.” The musicians had finished eating and scattered about the room, alone or in groups, talking and jamming, the sounds of stray notes and riffs punctuated by percussion. Ariel and Caleb stood too, taking in the happy noise and anticipation in the room. “I came by earlier, and your grandfather was in here alone. He gave me a lesson on the upright bass.”
“You’ll be popping that thing onstage in no time.” Caleb stepped closer, deliciously invading her space a little, his dark eyes turning smoky and his voice deep. His nearness and attentiveness felt right, felt safe. At that moment, she wanted nothing but to close the distance between them, to let him take her in his arms, to kiss her.
Which might have been fine if it didn’t take place in full view of their entire team. And if Ariel didn’t have bigger things on her mind. She stepped away and turned her attention to the event, her face heating, sure he could hear her thoughts.
Aunt Dahlia and Mr. Augo made their appearance at last, then wandered from table to table, still shaking hands and making small talk five minutes after the meeting’s starting time. Then Mr. Augo caught sight of Ariel and actually left her aunt’s side, ambling toward them while taking in the sight of the parlor.
Right. As far as she knew, he hadn’t been in this room for twelve years either.
“I heard you turned a fan into a friend, Ariel.” Mr. Augo turned his brown eyes on her, their gentleness startling her. “You’re the first ray of sunshine he’s had since—” He dropped his gaze, visibly swallowing hard. “Since the day our family fell apart.”
Fell apart.Her throat tightened at the words, at this man’s vulnerability. And for the first time, she saw him. The raw, unguarded expression of grief in his eyes. The roughness of his voice as he hinted at the pain of losing his nephew and niece-in-law, who’d probably meant the world to this single, childless man.
Grief he still carried today.
And while Ariel still didn’t feel ready to embrace him as an uncle, she did want to be his friend. So she opened her arms and gave him a quick hug, which he modestly returned.
Wouldn’t you know, he’d touched her heart and complicated her feelings about his budding relationship with Aunt Dahlia. If only Augo Kennedy wasn’t such a handsome, likeable man…
“Time to start.” Her aunt’s peppy, happy voice broke the moment as she called the musicians to the makeshift stage. Which was nothing more than an area the production crew hadcleared near the piano and filled with instruments, speakers, mics, and music stands.
“Pray for me to make it through this meeting,” Ariel whispered to Caleb. “I believe in Earl’s song, but Aunt Dahlia’s gonna reject it.”
“You’ll do great. Look what you’ve accomplished in the last twenty-four hours. You tamed the lion in his suite last night and lured him back to the stage. Without even trying, you succeeded in acquiring the parlor for rehearsals. And now you have some of the best minds in country music right here to help you with your next success.”
“There’s a big difference between securing a venue and leading a band of highly experienced and respected musicians and writers in a new direction. I should have refused this job and let my aunt reimagine her own band.” Because what did Ariel know about image-making? “I came into this agreement completely against my will.”
However, that didn’t mean she could fail.
“You’re up first,” he said. “Nervous?”
“Singing to an audience of five thousand is nothing compared to this.” She glanced around the room, at the musicians, the writers. At Earl, who sat tapping his pencil on the table. Debated for the hundredth time whether to present “Mercy Song.”
