Page 131 of Unexpected Redemption

“It’s just.Just. A little crush.Crush,” I playfully sing the lyrics to an older song that recently became popular on social media. No clue of the artist or title, but that part of the song is forever branded in my mind.

Stella sent me a link to theTown Criersite a few days ago. Some of the townies—Jennifer Stewart, Dee Abrams, and Kenadhe Simpson—were trying to create a trend by dancing to the tune. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go viral. Probably ’cause Joy Bronn never learned to hold a camera properly. Half the video had her finger partially covering the lens. Bless her heart.

“Damn, girl. Listen to you.” Sammy tries to whistle but fails hilariously, the sound coming out like a fluttered fart.

Mia taps the desk a few times, keeping her eyes on the screens.“We need a Lettie Holt concert.”

My cheeks go rosy, and I blow off their flattery. “Oh, hush. That wasn’t nothing special.”

Seriously, it was barely anything.

Like Mia, Klein doesn’t remove his focus from the team driving to the meeting spot. “But do you know the classics?” he tosses at me, throwing down the gauntlet.

I love a challenge.

“Such as? Patsy Cline? Yes, siree. Tammy Wynette? Hell yes. Hank Williams Jr.andSr.? You’re darn tootin’.”

“I’m sure you can sing their songs, Lettie. However, if you want to impress me, hit me with some Eartha Kitt or Lena Horne. Even one of the boys from the Rat Pack, like Frankie or Dean. Those arethe greats.”

My brows draw in tight, suspicion darting behind my eyes.

Mia glances at me when I don’t respond, noting my reaction. “He’s serious. For as hot as he is, he has the least sexy music taste. He loves the old shit.”

Klein lets his head jut backward and scoffs, “I don’t hear you complaining when I’m spinning you around the kitchen to Neil Diamond.”

She jabs her elbow out to the side, grazing his forearm. “Only because I’m filming it for blackmail material for later use if you should ever cross me.”

“Oh, ifIshould crossyou, huh?” He jabs her back. “That’s rich.”

“Now I know why Tomer calls you children,” Boss Dad deadpans.

Klein appears chagrined, head bowing slightly and cheeks growing pink.

“Since the team isn’t there yet...” Boss Dad rests back in his chair and faces me. “I’ve been trying to remember the song your mother, Abby, was singing the night we met. And it’s been killing me.”

He rubs his forehead, seemingly deep in thought. There’s a slight tug at the corner of his mouth. When his eyes close, the air of wistfulness surrounding him leaps across the room at me.

Suddenly, I’m there. In the bar with them on the night they met.

Her a faceless woman with golden hair singing on the stage. Him a handsome, younger version of the gruff man he’s become. He stared at the stage along with many other suitors. All of them were mesmerized by her enchanting voice.

In my mind, the vision plays out in slow motion.

Their eyes caught across the smoky bar. She twirled the microphone wire around her fingertips, swaying her hips to match the beat. He brought the rim of his beer bottle to his lips and winked at her. She played it coy at first, demurely looking away for the required three seconds before returning his stare.

And in that moment, in the haze and bustle of a crowded bar full of soldiers on leave and ladies looking to let their hair down, they danced, flirted, talked, and laughed.

Some of them would fall in love before the night ended. Some would only fall into bed.

Since it’s my daydream, I decide my parents fell in love. They knew they were meant to be. So they threw caution to the wind, running headfirst into a passionate love affair.

When he woke the next day, he had orders to deploy. He kissed her softly on the cheek as he gazed over her sleeping body, careful not to wake her. He told himself he’d see her again when he got home. He’d return with a shiny diamond ring and flowers, ready to make her his forever.

But when he came home a year later, she was gone.

Yeah. That’s the story I’ll tell myself.

Big Al yanks me out of myDenial-adjacent Daydream Landwhen he says, “All I can remember is something about flying. And the ending repeated until it faded out.”

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