Page 40 of Love is a Harmony
But it was done now.
Noah couldn’t think of what everyone back home in L.A. would say. He was sure they wouldn’t approve, but on this day, it only mattered that he’d fulfilled his brother’s wishes.
He crossed the room, pushing through the double doors that led out onto a back deck. A hot tub sat off to one side, a dusting of snow covering the lid. He let the door shut behind him and took in the night. What would Carson think of him now?
“We should still be mourning you, brother.” He closed his eyes, soaking in the stillness. The chilly December air permeated his clothing. They’d missed American Thanksgiving, something Noah didn’t really care about, but Melanie had. She didn’t say it, but she’d wanted to be home with her father, not in a foreign country with a client.
But she’d stayed.
She’d treated Stella like her own.
She’d married him.
What kind of woman did that? There was nothing in this entire situation for her.
“She didn’t know you, Carson, but she loves your daughter. I can see it.”
The stiff, professional Melanie with her barren office and no-nonsense attitude was taken down by a little girl.
The thought brought a smile to his face. “You’d like her.”
Carson respected strong people, honest people, those who made the hard choices—like taking a newborn daughter that was left at his doorstep and disappearing.
“Mom is planning a funeral fit for a king. You definitely wouldn’t have liked that.” He lifted his eyes to the stars above. His mom had spent the last week in preparation mode for the event of a funeral that was now scheduled for January. “I think she’s getting ice sculptures. Probably some kind of swan. It’s going to look ridiculous.”
But it was a funeral at least. Before they found him, Mathieu threw a small ceremony for the people of the town to mourn their friend. After, they’d buried Carson’s ashes. “Mom wants me to have your ashes moved to England, but I don’t think you’d want that. You chose this town. I think you’d like to stay.”
“What are you doing out here?” Melanie closed the door behind her.
A smile slid across Noah’s lips. “Just talking to Carson.”
She hugged her arms across her chest, her entire body shaking.
“You should have grabbed your coat. Come here.” He held out an arm, and she inched closer to him, hesitancy in every move. “I don’t bite.” He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer, sharing his heat. “Better?”
She nodded. “Do you talk to Carson much?”
“Sometimes.”
“Does it help you?”
He smiled down at her. “Sometimes.”
She laughed, her body vibrating against his. “I know what you mean.”
“Your mom?” He didn’t know anything about her mom other than that she was gone.
“No.” Her voice dipped. “Someone… else.” There was something she wasn’t saying, but she didn’t owe Noah her secrets. A sigh rattled through her chest. “Sometimes, I wonder if it just makes it hurt more, keeping them alive. Like it prevents us from moving on.”
He squeezed her tighter against his chest. He needed to lighten the conversation, to steer it away from the heavier subjects. “So, tonight is our wedding night.”
She jabbed him in the stomach. “Don’t even think about it.”
He laughed and rubbed the spot she hit, his other hand trailing up and down her back.
She tipped her head back, her hair spilling over his hand. “Noah, you can’t forget this isn’t real. Not ever. You know that, right?”
His hand stilled, and he shifted his eyes from hers, looking out over the darkened fields. His heart beat painfully in his chest, but he couldn’t let her see how her words affected him. Pasting on the patented Noah Clarke charming smile, he let out a humorless laugh. “Don’t worry, love. There’s no chance of that.”
