Page 46 of Sweet Music
Cody looked horrified, and Cash didn’t want to admit that he was speaking from experience on that last part.
“Okay,” Cody said, slipping it into his pocket just as Charlotte returned to the table carrying two chocolate creemees.
“Oh wow, I haven’t had one of these in years,” Cashsaid when she handed him one of the classic Vermont treats and then gave the other to Cody.
Of course you could get soft-serve ice cream just about anywhere, but it just wasn’t the same, and only a flatlander would dare to confuse the two.
Annika was right behind her with a maple creemee for herself and a vanilla one for Bella.
“Enjoy, guys,” Charlotte said as she hurried back to the counter.
“Chocolate is the best,” Cody proclaimed.
“A fellow man of culture, I see,” Cash said, earning him a big smile from the boy.
Before he’d even taken his first taste, Bella came back in with a steaming paper cup of tea, looking her usual calm self, and Cash felt the tension start to drain from his own chest. A moment later, they were all smiling and humming over the thick, heavenly goodness.
Later that evening,they stood in the park for the annual tree lighting.
The snow had slowed back down to a gentle flurry, and the whole place was coated in a layer of fresh powder that reflected the twinkling lights from the surrounding decorations. The church choir was singing in the pavilion, their voices so sweet, it nearly brought tears to his eyes.
Cash spent most of his free time these days trying to come up with new music—fresh guitarriffs, drum rhythms that weren’t overused, and lyrics that were unlike the thousands of songs his fans had heard before.
Yet here was music that was older than anyone listening, sung without instruments or ornamentation. And it was the most beautiful thing in the world.
Well…almostthe most beautiful thing.
His eyes kept being drawn down to the woman by his side. Bella’s dark hair lifted in the breeze, and her eyes were locked on the choir, a dreamy expression on her face.
She wasn’t anything like the women he had spent time with in the past. Bella was beautiful in a way that hid itself until you really looked at her. But once you saw the light in her eyes when she spoke with Cody, and the quiet strength that radiated from her, it was unmistakable.
And there was something about her that felt almostfamiliar, but he couldn’t place it.
Maybe it’s fate. Maybe that’s the feeling I get when she’s near. I don’t know her well yet, but I think I’m supposed to get to know her.
It was hard not to let himself imagine what it would be like to let himself fall for Bella Wood, and share a life with her and with his son.
Maybe he could tour less. Maybe the music he swore was bubbling up inside him again would really come out as soon he was back home permanently again, back around people who cared about him for something other than the fame and the money.
Or maybe the music was supposed to come from Cody now.
He snuck a glance at his son, who was still standing beside the Corbin girl. They both wore expressions of childlike wonder as they listened to the sweet music floating across the park, and Cash felt secretly happy that the boy wasn’t growing up too fast. It was good that he would finish up his young adulthood here in the country where he wouldn’t be rushed.
The mayor came to the podium and began to speak, introducing the town’s Christmas Star of the year, and talking about the donations that would be brought up to the tree, but Cash barely heard a word of it. He was too busy dreaming up a million possible futures.
He came back to himself at the end, as the whole town counted down from ten, and then the big evergreen came to life with the light of a thousand tiny bulbs winking among the dusting of fresh snow.
Everyone sighed at the sight, and Cash found himself reaching for Bella’s hand again.
At first she seemed to freeze, but then he felt it, the sweet pressure of her fingers wrapping around his and squeezing back as they both gazed up at the beautiful tree.
This is it. This is everything.
17
BELLA
The next night, Bella parked in front of the stone farmhouse at the Lawrence place and looked over at Cody.
