Page 116 of Not Another Love Song

“No. His agent said he was out. If he walked, he could never come back.”

Mabel was quiet for a moment as Gwen pulled the cork out of the Pinot. Gwen opened her mouth to beg Mabel to give the Fitzgeralds a chance in the name of Christmas when Mabel called out, “Alexander. I need a mixing bowl. See if you can be useful.”

Turning to look over her shoulder, Gwen saw Alex dutifully move into the kitchen and search the cabinets. She’d never heard anyone call him Alexander.

Gwen snuck away, allowing Alex to work in the kitchen with Mabel for a bit. She sat with Lenny and heard all the things she’d missed at Thanksgiving. Alex chopped vegetables and whispered back and forth with Mabel, and Gwen saw Mabel reach up and squeeze his arm—probably the closest thing to a Mabel Hug she could give him. Ava seemed to be waiting for that exact moment as her cue to move into the kitchen and offer to help. She pulled open cabinets and drawers, knowing exactly where everything was. Ava took over chopping the onion, leaving Alex to come sit on the couch with Gwen and Lenny.

They watched Ava and Mabel speak softly to each other.

“I didn’t know you wanted to keep working on the symphony,” Ava said, finally loud enough for Gwen to overhear. “I thought you were done composing.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to finish it. I just wanted credit for what I did write.” Mabel took the knife from her, frustrated with her chopping skills.

Ava stood silently for a moment. “I couldn’t understand why you didn’t approve of Nathan. It made me want to just choose one of you, instead of try to force everyone together.” Gwen watched as Ava glanced over at Alex. “I think I made that mistake a lot. But I’m not choosing Nathan anymore.”

Mabel peeked at Ava from where she was expertly chopping the parsley and sage. “What does that mean?”

Gwen strained to hear over the conversation happening next to her between Lenny and Alex.

“It means…if he leaves for Berlin, then I’m leaving him. He can’t just drift to whatever orchestra fascinates him at any given time. I should fascinate him.”

Gwen watched as Mabel put down the knife. “You’re Ava Fucking Fitzgerald. You’re the most fascinating person in any room.” Ava sniffed. “Well, except for your son. He’s about to be trouble. Both of them are.”

Mabel nodded over at Gwen and Alex on the couch as Ava laughed. Whatever Ava might have said in response was drowned out by a knock at the front door. Before Gwen could even ask who else they were expecting, the door opened, and Jacob and Declan poked their heads inside.

“Room for two more?”

Gwen jumped up from the couch. “What are you doing here?!”

“Gwen, babe,” Declan said, “I saw you crying in that video last night, and I said to Jake, ‘We gotta get back to New York. Baby girl is spiraling.’”

Jacob hugged her. “I texted Mabel, and we invited ourselves over. Didn’t know it was a full house, though!”

Gwen squeezed him tightly. “I’m fine.” She glanced at Alex, who was saying hello to Declan with a manly handshake. “I’m really fine now.”

They introduced Jacob and Declan to Ava and Lenny. Jacob went to the kitchen and started fighting with Mabel about how to season the meat. Mabel chased him out with a wooden spoon.

Declan sat with Alex at the table and started unpacking the wine they’d brought over. Gwen heard him asking about “Xander Thorne.”

“Will you send me that contract?” Declan asked as he expertly pulled the cork. “I can take a look.”

“I don’t really want to bother,” Alex said. Gwen came to his side. “I’ve had people look at it.”

“But it was like seven years ago,” Declan said, pouring the wine. “My job is literally to find loopholes. ‘Xander Thorne’ belongs to your agent, but what about your orchestrations? The arrangements the band played?”

“He owns the tracks.”

Declan snorted. “Okay, Scooter. But I bet I could find something. Who owns the program you wrote the music in?”

Alex paused, and she watched his mind work.

Gwen wrapped her arms around Alex’s side. “It wouldn’t hurt to send it over.”

Alex nodded. “I won’t hold my breath, but I’d appreciate you looking at it.”

They clinked wineglasses, and Gwen snuggled into Alex’s side, happy.

At Mabel’s small table, the seven of them huddled around a meager dinner and laughed and drank.

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