Page 115 of Love is a Harmony
No. But she had to be. For him. Placing her hand in his, she nodded.
The driver opened Noah’s door, and they both slid out. Many people greeted Noah as he passed, and he responded by nodding at each.
Melanie slid her free hand up and down her bare arms until they stepped inside. A grand entryway stretched before them, but Melanie was too nervous to look around. Instead, she focused on the people congregating in doorways.
Noah led her into a massive living room with the most beautiful piano she’d ever seen sitting in one corner. A woman sat on the bench, lost in her music.
Servants walked around carrying trays of appetizers and goblets of wine.
“Noah,” a stern-faced man called across the room. “You must greet our guests.”
Noah sighed. “It’s Carson’s wake, and they use it as a social gathering to show off the family and make business deals. Give me just a moment. Have a seat anywhere, and I’ll come find you.”
As soon as he left her alone in this elaborate house, Melanie wasn’t sure what to do.
“Hey, beautiful,” a voice said over her shoulder.
Relief rushed through her as she turned to find Drew and Ben grinning at her.
Drew draped an arm over her shoulders. “You, Mel, smell like plane.”
She pushed him off. “And you’re mean.”
Ben’s smile was softer. “We didn’t think you were coming. That’s why you sent us, right?”
Drew pulled out his phone and unlocked it. “Doesn’t have anything to do with this, does it?” He showed her an article with the headline “Rockstar Marries Publicist.”
“Let me see that.” Ben snatched the phone, his grin widening. “Says here that Melanie Snyder went on a tirade at a press conference.”
“I did not go on a tirade.” She crossed her arms. “I just… sort of went on a tirade?”
“They have an entire transcript.” Ben’s eyes widened as he read. “Mel, you really think we’re people? I don’t know what to say.”
Drew took his phone back. “I, for one, always thought Ben was an alien, but the rest of us, yeah, I guess you could say we’re people.”
“Are you two making fun of me?”
They shared a look before Drew put a hand to his chest. “Us? Never.”
“It’s a good thing I see someone prettier than you, or I’d respond to that.”
“No one is prettier—” Drew turned. “Okay, yes, she’s prettier than me.”
Stella darted around people as she ran across the room and launched herself at Melanie. Melanie caught her in a fierce hug, holding her as tightly as she could.
Stella squeezed her back. “I knew you’d come.”
“Anything for you, Stell.”
Stella pulled back, not letting go. “And Noah?”
“Anything for him too.”
A sob shook Stella, and Melanie pulled her back to her chest. This girl, mourning her father surrounded by strangers, was braver than she knew. And Melanie would never let go of her.
Melanie looked to Drew. “Can we get her out of here?”
Drew nodded and led them back into the hall to a spiral staircase that reached the upper levels of the house. Melanie carried Stella up and through the door Ben held open to a much smaller sitting room. It still looked uncomfortable, but at least it was quiet.
