Page 57 of Love is a Harmony
She looked down at the guitar, images flashing across her mind. Justin on stage, singing only to her. He’d never had a chance to become anything more than a guy singing in coffee shops. “It’s not just a guitar, Noah.” Her shoulders sagged, all anger dropping away. “It was his.”
She set the guitar against the wall and dropped onto the couch, gathering Stella in her arms. “I brought breakfast.” She gestured to the table by the front door.
Noah’s brow scrunched, but he retrieved their food, setting the bag on the coffee table and handing her a cup. “Who owned the guitar, Mel?” His voice didn’t merely hold a note of curiosity, there was true concern in its depth.
Melanie didn’t talk about Justin. Ever. She didn’t need anyone telling her she should have moved on by now. Only her father knew, and he never brought it up.
But Noah looked so earnest, like he actually cared about her. It made her want to share Justin with him, to let someone see who she really was. And Justin was a part of her.
Stella hugged Melanie. “Are you okay, Mel?”
Melanie wiped away a tear and placed a kiss on the top of Stella’s head. “Not really, kiddo.”
Noah took a seat in the chair across from her. “After everything we’ve been through, everything you’ve done for me, Mel, I hope you know you can talk to me. About anything.”
She gave a weak smile, trying to force out the words. “I got married when I was eighteen. Justin had been my best friend, my person since I was in diapers.” Just speaking his name hurt. “We were so in love. I was a different person then. We went to college together, and life was a lot less serious. We were so happy. We didn’t think anything would ever tear us apart.”
Noah’s gaze never left her as he processed her words, words she’d never expected to say to him.
Another tear slipped down her cheek. “I became a widow when I was twenty-four.”
She saw the moment the information registered on Noah’s face. Surprise and then sadness bordering on pity. It was one of the many reasons she didn’t tell anyone.
“How…” Noah didn’t finish his question.
“Heart attack. At twenty-four.” She looked to the guitar. “I know I should be past this, but it hits me at odd times. He’s supposed to be here by my side. I’m not supposed to be…” Alone. She wasn’t supposed to be alone.
Noah slid from the chair and onto the couch next to her. “Mel… grief doesn’t have a timetable. I’ve never been in love, but I imagine if I was, it wouldn’t ever go away. No matter what happens, if you feel that strongly for someone, you can’t unfeel it.”
“Melanie.” Stella looked up at her. “Am I a widow too?”
“Oh, Stell.” Melanie wrapped both arms around her. “No. You aren’t a widow.” She wouldn’t give the kid the true word for what she’d become. An orphan. Though, as long as Noah and Melanie were there, she wouldn’t be parentless.
Long arms wrapped around them both, and she leaned into Noah, surprised at herself for letting the comfort in. She sighed, letting the secret escape out of her.
“Mel.” Noah’s voice was a low rumble in her ear. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
By “us” she knew he meant the Rockstars Anonymous group.
“I think… keeping Justin to myself kept him alive in a way.” She couldn’t tell him about the letters. Not even her dad knew about those.
“But what about in France? I never would have let you marry me if I thought it would hurt you.”
She released Stella and turned in his arms to face him. “No, don’t be sorry for that. Justin would have been proud of me. I know it. And you…” She lifted a hand to touch his face. “It felt good to be needed for more than my skills as a publicist.”
“You’ve never only been our publicist. We all need you.”
“Stay.”
“What?”
Even with Justin still on her mind, she couldn’t stand the thought of Noah and Stella walking out her door right now. “For today. Stay here. I’m not working. We can act like we’re still in France with no one but us.”
He smiled, but this was different from his normal smiles. There was a joy to it, not a joy he thought he should portray, but one he felt. It was the balm to the wound of Melanie’s soul she was never sure would heal.
“What do you say, Stell?” Noah peered around Melanie.
Stella nodded. “I want to stay.”
