Page 33 of Love is a Harmony
“Hey, Joey. You have any idea what time it is here?”
“You have any idea how much I don’t care?” Her typical biting words made him smile.
“Woman, I miss you.”
“Just tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m all right.”
“Liar.”
He gave a tired laugh. “Jo, it’s three in the morning. Is there a point to this call?”
“I just… I’ve been worried. And this baby has been worried.”
“Oh, it has, has it?”
“Yes. He/she/it knows it’s only weeks until Christmas, and you and I have spent every Christmas together for the last five years.” It was tradition. Neither of them had families they wanted to travel to, so they’d done Christmas at the beach, L.A. style. He had so much he wanted to tell Jo, but he needed to do it in person. Or else she’d think he was crazy for taking guardianship of Stella.
“I’ll be home.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” Whatever he had to do, he’d make it happen.
A cry came from the room next to his, and he bolted up in bed. “I have to go.” He’d catch crap for hanging up on Jo eventually, but Stella continued to whimper. He slid from his bed and ran out into the hall, rushing into her room. She thrashed under her blankets.
“Papa,” she whimpered. “No, Papa.”
Noah scrubbed his jaw, not knowing what to do.
“Stell Bell.” He kneeled beside the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light shake.
Her thrashing stopped abruptly, and her eyes slid open. “Noah?”
He nodded. “I’m here. What were you dreaming about?”
“Papa. He was trying to talk to me.”
Carson had been gone almost a month now, but it would take a long time for Stella to move on. And Noah was okay with that. He’d be there for every step.
Taking her hand, he smiled. “Your papa and I were always getting in trouble as kids. Did he ever tell you that?”
She shook her head.
“One time, he released all the horses in the barn.” He leaned in, dropping his voice. “Into the house.”
A giggle escaped Stella.
“Oh, what a mess. Mother was angry, but your papa only ever wanted to have fun. He never meant to hurt anyone. Ever. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body, or a fearful bone. But that day… oh, I do believe he wet his pants he was so scared of our mother.”
“My papa was brave.” She seemed to have ignored the wetting his pants part.
“The bravest.”
“Noah?”
“Hmm?” He met her gaze.
