Page 69 of Behind the Bars

I gave him a bright smile, trying to ease his sadness over mine. “It’s really okay. Yeah, I wanted to build that relationship, and I tried. I gave it my all, but it wasn’t enough. I’ve come to terms with it. I’mokay.”

“Are you sure?” he asked withhesitation.

“One hundred percentcertain.”

“Well, just know you got me, and I’m in it for the long run. Always andforever.”

“Always and forever,” I murmured, at him. “I cannot thank you enough, ya know, for everything you’ve done for me throughout my whole life. It takes a special kind of person to take on another man’skid.”

“Being related by blood doesn’t make someone family, Snow White. Love doesthat.”

“I love you, Dad,” I whispered, my heart pounding in mychest.

His eyes glassed over, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. “You called meDad.”

“That’s who youare.”

“I love you, too, Daughter. One more thing…” He grimaced as his eyebrows knit, and he clasped his hands together. “I gotta ask you something that’s hard for me, Snow, and I need you to tell me the truth.Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Did anyone ever hurt you? Did anyone in the industry ever take advantage ofyou?”

“Ray, comeon.”

“I’m serious, Jasmine. Did anyone ever…?” His eyes were filled with fear as he asked me thequestion.

I reached out and squeezed his hand. “Only with their words. Sometimes they’d touch my lower back or try to put me in demeaning clothes, but nothing worse thanthat.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

The relief that left his body was intense. “Good, but I swear to God, if I ever come near anyone who made you feel lesser or touched you in any way…I’ll murderthem.”

“My hero.” I laughed. “But really, Ray, I’m okay,” I swore. “I’m homenow.”

We headed over to Café Du Monde down in the French Quarter, and as we sat down, we just kept staring at one another, smiling. “I’m real proud of you, ya know,” Ray told me as a plate of beignets was delivered to our table. Powdered sugar went everywhere as we dived in. “For taking care of yourself, finally, for walking away when you neededto.”

“I should’ve walked yearsago.”

He shrugged. “The timing’s only right when the timing’sright.”

Oh, Dad, how I missedyou.

“So,” he said, shoving more beignets into his mouth. “Tell me everything about you that I’vemissed.”

I chuckled. “We talk all thetime.”

“I know, but it’s different having you here, in person. It’s just…” He leaned back in his chair in awe. “You’re just so grown up. It’s crazy how much I’vemissed.”

He didn’t know the half ofit.

We sat talking and talking over the beignets and coffee. The conversation came effortlessly, and words just rolled off our tongues. Ray was one of those people who made you feel loved just by the way he spoke to you, as if you were the only person he cared about. What I missed most was the way he talked about music, the way his eyes glowed bright when it came to discussing the studio, the fans, and the lyrics of his songs, the way it lit him up inside. Ray’s lover was music, and when he spoke of it, he spoke in the sweetestmelodies.

“Oh, by the way, you have ajob.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

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