Page 66 of Love is a Harmony
“No, before. I had a husband, and I loved him with everything I was.”
Piper had no more words as her eyes widened.
Melanie covered her face in her hands. “He died ten years ago, but I just…”
“I know.” Melanie didn’t realize when Piper moved from the bed to the arm of her chair, but an arm wrapped around her shoulders. “I haven’t been with Ben very long, but if he died, I already know I’d want to go right along with him. I can’t imagine a future without him in it. It must have taken a lot of strength for you to marry Noah.”
She had no idea. “It wasn’t for him.” At least, not entirely for him. He’d needed Stella as much as Stella needed him.
“It doesn’t matter why you did it, Mel. That’s not something they will ever forget. You changed the course of both their lives.” She smoothed Melanie’s hair back. “And maybe yours as well. We aren’t meant to grieve forever. Not when there is so much life left to live. Maybe the bare walls of your office were telling you something. It isn’t their lifelessness that bothered you. It’s your life you haven’t decorated, your life that needs more of you in it.”
“Piper Hayes, how do you know me so well?”
“Because we’re the same, Mel. And whether it means Noah or not, I do believe you’ll get a happy ending just as I did.”
19
Noah
She wasn’t there.
All week, Noah hoped Melanie only needed time. Even if she could never let him in, he wanted her to be a part of his and Stella’s life.
Yet, she’d only contacted him through professionally-worded emails.
And here he was, preparing for the Christmas concert that was Melanie’s idea. Where was she?
“She’s in Chicago.” Jo sounded apologetic on the phone. “I wish I could play with you today.”
“Me too.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d stepped on stage without his drummer.
This concert would be Noah stripped—and that wasn’t as fun as it sounded. Just him and a guitar playing a small venue. The real audience was his YouTube watchers. The label was recording the show. It was a sort of redemption show, a way to make the fans see a softer side of him after the recent scandals.
Another call came in. “Jo, I have to take this.”
“Okay, break a leg out there.”
He switched over to the other call, knowing he’d avoided talking to her long enough. “Ava.”
“Hey.” Her voice was more subdued than normal, and he hated the sadness he heard. It matched his own. Other than Stella, Ava was the one person who’d feel Carson’s death as deeply as Noah.
“It’s been a while.”
“That’s sort of my fault. I saw you called.”
He had. A few times. But as the phone rang, he’d prayed she wouldn’t answer and then hated himself for it. “I wasn’t ready either.”
She blew out a loud breath. “Am I bothering you right now?”
He looked out at the people sitting around tables in the small bar. In about five minutes, he had to go on. “Never.” Turning, he re-entered the storage room they’d set up as a dressing room for him. The bar wasn’t used to having big acts perform instead of struggling musicians trying to make it. But Melanie chose it specifically for its size and their willingness to let Noah’s crew film.
“Good. Your nan has been coming by. I think it’s her excuse to get out of your parents’ house.”
He leaned back against the door and smiled. Nan would take care of Ava even through her own grief.
“I loved him, you know,” she whispered.
“I’ve always known.”
