“He hasn’t been caught yet. I left town to get away, regroup, and write some music without having to look over my shoulder every five minutes. I’m back now, and batshit crazy stalker or no, I’m taking my life back.
“Jenni.” His sister went wide-eyed again, seeking out their mother. Mom wasn’t going to interfere now. This was Henri’s finest hour. “I got the impression you’d wanted to be a doctor. I don’t mind being wrong, and I’ll support you in whatever career you decide.” He glared at Margo. “It’s got to be your decision. But don’t be in such a hurry to grow up, and don’t put your faith in beauty and fame. When those go, there’ll be nothing left.”
“Henri, I’m—”
Henri wasn’t done yet. “You’re young, and for the time being you have to live here and follow their rules.” He hiked a thumb toward their parents. “I’ll admit I haven’t been the best role model for you, and I’m sorry. But I’m getting my act together. Finish school. Graduate. Then if you want to, you can come stay with me while you go to college or figure out what you want to do with your life. Just… don’t let anyone else decide for you.”
“I…. I won’t.” She sat up a bit straighter.
He fixed his dad with a glare. Words twenty years in the making bubbled out of his mouth. “For years, you’ve let your wife and son support you, and haven’t lifted a finger to help.”
“But—”
Henri held up a staying hand. “My turn to talk, remember? You have a bad back. Yeah, you’ve told me often enough over the years. Guess what? You’re going to a specialist. I’ve made arrangements. But you’ll either support yourself, or get Mom to. I’m done.” Damn, but Henri should have delivered this speech years ago.
“Last but not least.” Henri turned to face the woman who’d guided his career, and much else of his life. “I guess I should thank you. If you hadn’t turned your back on me, I’d never have picked myself up and started making my own decisions. I’m writing new songs now, better ones. Where once I might have been good, now I’m heading toward. great. And I owe it all to you.”
A pleased smile crossed her face. He wiped it away. “After I’d been drugged and wriggled out of some lunatic’s plans to do God only knows what to me, I asked you for one simple thing. Do you remember what?”
Deer caught in headlights didn’t appear as frightened as she. “I didn’t ask you for money. I didn’t ask you for one damned thing you couldn’t easily give. You could give it, but you wouldn’t. I asked for a hug. And maybe for a little understanding.
“Because you couldn’t be bothered, I found someone who could. Not to gain from me, not to use me, but simply because I needed it.” What he wouldn’t give right now to have Seb standing beside him. “It’s because of my anchor that I’m here. Don’t think for a minute I won’t turn back around and leave. I can. And I will. The choice is yours.” He leaned over the back of an empty chair, bracing against the headrest to hide his trembling. No way would he confess the emotional toll this visit took. He glanced at his watch. Twenty minutes. Ten more and security would come to the door to check on him. Nothing like having a backup plan. “Here’s the part where you get to talk.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what was happening at the party. You have to admit you have a reputation for….” Margo, always ready to spin a deal.
“Don’t apologize and then try to make me feel guilty. Yes, I’ve taken some stupid chances. My irresponsible behavior is behind me. I found a reason to do better.”
“The band wants you back.”
“Say what?” Okay, she’d definitely surprised him. “Why?”
The truck-driver snort belied her dainty appearance. “Have you been to the website lately? Traffic is way down, ticket sales are down. There’re even rumors that I fired you, and a petition to get you back.”
“You did fire me. Sort of.”
“In the heat of the moment I might have said something….”
“You told me if I embarrassed you one more time, you’d wipe your hands of me. I did, you did, the rest is history.” The humiliation and rejection weren’t supposed to burn after all this time. Bile rose in Henri’s throat, the ghost of the horrifying day etching her wooden, halfhearted hugs into his heart. Utterly and completely alone. What the hell had he done in his life to deserve abandonment? Was this how Seb felt? After he finished his business here, Henri ought to hunt down Lucas and kick his ass until he confessed everything to Sebastian. Sebastian wanted a family. He deserved a family.
Now for Henri to lay his cards on the table, much like the family’s skeleton-in-the-closet-card-shark. “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I won’t rejoin the band. Ever. What I said in the interview was true. I’ve grown past them. I’m ready to go in a new direction, expand my horizons. However, I heard you need an opening act. As a gesture of truce, Mismatched Delusions will open for you until you find someone else. Six shows at the max.”
The relief on his mother’s face was short-lived.
“They’d better step up their game, too, if they want to keep up with me. My new manager will be in touch for the necessary evil paperwork. Now, one final thing before I go.” He slowly inhaled, taking a deep breath without appearing to. He’d never show his folks how riled he’d gotten. This next confession would either set the course for future dialogue, or he’d soon find himself as alone as Sebastian.
“What’s that?” Margo demanded. Ah, be careful what you wish for.
“I’m in love with a man. Get over it.”
Three mouths hung open.Oh, Sebastian, wherever you are, you’d be fucking proud of me.
Jenni broke free of whatever magnetic field had held her to the couch. Henri stumbled, barely keeping himself upright from her hug. For such a wisp of a girl, she tackled like a linebacker. Margo could learn a thing or two about hugging from Jenni.
“Oh, Henny,” she murmured, using her childhood nickname for him, “I missed you.”
After a moment he wrapped his arms around her, face pressed to a mass of unruly curls. “I miss you too. One day soon, I promise, you can come stay with me if you want. Okay?”
She gazed down at him with watery eyes and sniffled. “Okay.”
Henri found a genuine smile on his face. “I love you, pipsqueak.”
“Love you too. And Henny?”
“Yes?”
She whispered, “Are you really in love with a guy or did you say that to piss Mom off?”
He met her gaze with his own. “I meant it.”
“Good. You should be happy.”
