Page 81 of Love is a Harmony
Her dad was just like her. He spent more time at the office than home, letting the job become his entire life. He too had lost the love of his life and never moved on.
He lived in this giant house alone, and she wondered if that would be her one day.
Thoughts of Noah came to her, but she’d told him the truth. They weren’t a love song. She couldn’t give forever to him when it belonged to someone else. But kissing him… it was like coming up for air after so long under water.
“What’s that smile for?” Her dad reached into the oven to retrieve the pancakes and turkey bacon he’d been keeping warm.
She focused on the omelet in front of her, sprinkling onions and mushrooms into it. “It’s Christmas, Dad.”
“Sorry, I won’t pry.” He turned away. “It’s just nice is all.”
He wouldn’t think that if he knew she’d had Noah on her mind.
“Mel?”
She tipped the skillet to let the omelet fall onto a plate. “Yeah?”
“Why is one of your clients calling you on Christmas?”
She whipped around and tore her phone from the counter, afraid it was Noah. They’d spent every moment outside of work together the last few days, but she’d told him not to call when she was with her dad today.
Relief flooded through her when Jo’s name flashed on the screen. “Go out to the deck, Dad. I’ll be right out.”
He took his plate and walked out.
Melanie answered the phone. “Hey, Jo.”
“Mel, thank God. You need to get to Noah’s house. It’s an emergency.”
Melanie’s heart rate kicked up. “What’s wrong?” Her mind ran through so many scenarios. Did something happen to Noah? Stella?
“Dax. He’s what’s wrong.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He’s. So. Awkward. Honestly, I don’t know what to say to him when the rest of you aren’t around. Noah, the traitor, is busy with Stella. She’s kind of sad today.”
Hearing that sent a pang through Melanie. It probably wasn’t an easy day for either Noah or Stella, the first Christmas without Carson. And she wasn’t there.
“Is Stella okay?”
“Yeah. Mel, this phone call is about me. I need a buffer, and since Ben and Drew justhadto go be with their families—”
“Well, yeah, it’s Christmas.”
“—No one is here to talk to him.”
“You, Jo. You’re there.”
“What am I supposed to say to him? He keeps looking sideways at me like he’s scared this baby will explode out of me at any moment. I am not a fascination. I’m a grumpy woman who can’t even sit at her drum set right now. I’m going insane, Mel.”
Melanie shook her head with a laugh. “You’re a big girl. Dax isn’t awkward when the rest of us are together. He’s just quiet. You’re both musicians. Talk about that. I have to go. Merry Christmas, Jo.”
“Mel—”
Melanie hung up and carried her plate out to join her dad. The morning sun warmed the deck, her favorite place in the house. It overlooked rolling hills, sparse but beautiful. Out here, no one felt so alone.
Her dad shook his head when she sat. “I thought Christmas was a day of no work.”
