Page 116 of Come Back to Me

Elena lets loose a soft, sleepy chuckle as she burrows deeper into the covers, lifting them so high she almost covers her chin. “He never could sing.”

“Why did you cast him, then?”

“Because he paid for the costumes. He was also sleeping with Lorraine Holly.” She sniffs, her derision clear. “Never did like her. She was a terrible mayor. Keep humming, dear. I want to sleep.”

My brows lift at the spilled secrets, but I do as she bids until her eyes close and she falls into a gentle rest.

“You can stop humming,” Jamie mutters around a sigh. “It was… kind of you to help out.”

“She was always sweet to me.” A soft smile curves my lips at the memories, then it fades. Like someone turned off the light. The memories are just that—buried in the past. This,now, is the present, andthatElena is not the one lying here today. “She never gave me crap for being difficult about my musical scores.”

“She recognized talent where she saw it.” He rubs his eyes. “Usedto recognize.”

“I-I’m sorry, Jamie.”

“Why? You didn’t do this to her, did you?”

The bitter words make sense, so I stand and head for the door.

“Thank you,” he rasps. “For helping.”

“You’re welcome.” I clear my throat. “Cody suggested... He said maybe I should give you some of my music. Suggested it might help her relax?”

“I don’t think Beethoven would fix anything.”

Maybe not.

“I have a few original pieces. They’re not polished though.”

“She recognized something in you when you were a child, Christy. I don’t think it matters if it’s not record company quality.”

“Okay. Um.” I snag my phone from my pocket, wondering how a trip to The General Store to pick up some of Zee’s favorite trail mix because I ate half her stash (not that I’d admit to that in a court of law) turned into this. “Do you want to write your email address here?”

Jaw working, he snags my phone. “Fingers crossed she didn’t totally wreck the laptops.”

My brows lift. “She broke your laptops?”

“Anything that could communicate with the outside world, she destroyed.”

“Why?”

“She’s paranoid. Next thing, she’ll be wearing a tinfoil hat.” He chokes down a sob.

For a second, his eyes are closed, then he shores himself up and finishes typing his email.

I reach for it once he’s done, and the urge to tell him that I’m sorry hits me again. But what use is that? Like he said, I didn’t give her whatever the hell it is that’s screwing with Mrs. Frobisher’s beautiful mind.

I purse my lips as I tuck the cell back into my pocket. “Did she mean it? About Barry Ryder?”

“Oh, yeah. Ten years ago is easier for her to recall than what happened this morning.” More bitterness. It’s understandable. Everyone knows that the Frobishers dote on their mom. “No secrets left unturned. Not in this house. Stick around. You’ll probably find out something to share in town.”

I stiffen at the accusation. “I hate gossip.” Because he’s doing that silent crying thing and it’s breaking my heart, I mumble, “If you ever need a friend, Jamie, I’m here.”

“Shit must be bad if you’re extending a hand of friendship. Thought it was you and Susanne McAllister against the world?”

“Oh, it is, but I’m too awesome to keep to myself.” I peep a smile at him, stunned when he lets loose a bark of laughter, one that makes his mom jerk in surprise in her sleep.

“Your big head hasn’t changed.”

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