Page 32 of Love is a Harmony
“Not you.” Tears welled in his eyes. “It’s Carson.”
Silence.
And then. “Carson?” she whispered.
Noah nodded before realizing she couldn’t see him. “He’s…”
“What, Noah? What is he?”
“Dead.”
Noah thought she’d dropped the phone or lost her words until her quiet sniffles came through the line. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, Nan. I’m here at his house now with his daughter.”
“His daughter?” She hiccupped back a sob. “You listen to me, Noah Clarke. Take care of that girl. She’s the reason Carson left us, and it was a good reason. But don’t let your mother get her hands on her.”
“I won’t, Nan. I promise. Carson left her to me. I just… there were conditions.”
“I don’t care what the conditions are. You do everything in your power to fulfill them. I know how the world sees you, boy, but don’t you ever forget I know the real Noah. I know your heart. Our Carson was the best of us, and his daughter is the best of him.”
“She really is.”
“I’m going to take care of telling your parents. You shouldn’t have to focus on them right now.”
“Thanks, Nan. Can you do one more thing for me?”
“Anything.”
Noah sighed. He’d tried picking up the phone to call Ava, but it hurt too much every time. She didn’t deserve to find out Carson died over the phone. “Ava, she needs you too.”
“I’ll go to her. Don’t worry about anyone except Carson’s girl. Tell Stella her Nan loves her. I love you too, Noah.”
“I love you.”
He hung up, setting the phone on the table. It was done. Soon, his family would know what they’d lost. They’d take a piece of Noah’s grief for themselves. He buried his face in his hands as his back shook.
For Stella, he had to be strong. For Melanie, he had to be what the world told him a man should be.
But here in the darkened kitchen of his dead brother’s house, he let the loss sink into him, reminding him the world would never be the same.
Arms wound around his shoulders, and he leaned against Melanie, letting her hold him up for just a little while. She didn’t say anything—which was very unlike the brutally honest woman he knew.
Instead, she let him break while her arms held the pieces together.
* * *
Noah couldn’t sleep. After emptying himself of all emotion, he’d retreated to his bedroom where he could put some distance between himself and what had happened with Melanie.
There was a persona he’d crafted over the years—the British bad boy. The world loved Noah Clarke for his carelessness, the way he soared through life with smiles and jokes and scandals.
But he hadn’t felt like that man since setting foot in France.
It was three in the morning, and he continued to stare at the ceiling when his phone chimed.
Jo.
He’d avoided the calls and texts from the woman who knew him best, but there’d be a reckoning. There always was with his pregnant best friend.
