Page 82 of Love is a Harmony
“Jo takes a bit of special handling.”
“I wish she’d let us release her pregnancy to the press, get ahead of the story and the questions. They’ll find out eventually, and right now it seems she’s hiding it. That’s not a good look.”
“Sheishiding it. I don’t think she’s ashamed exactly, just… confused.”
“Do you know who the father is?”
“I do.” She took a bite. It wasn’t her secret to tell. Blake Coleman, a guy who’d never do the right thing. She thanked her stars she’d had the foresight never to invite him to Rockstars Anonymous.
“Is the truth going to come back to bite us?”
“Dad,wearen’t pregnant. Jo is.”
“You know what I meant. How does it look from a PR perspective?”
She sighed. “Not good, Dad. Not good.” But Jo was more than a potential PR disaster. She was a scared almost-mother who would need support from the people she trusted most. “But no more work.”
“You’re right. Work doesn’t bring that smile to your face, and I want to see it again.”
23
Noah
Christmas took on an entirely new meaning when there was a kid around, even if said kid couldn’t muster up the Christmas spirit.
Stella had unwrapped her presents as if on autopilot, unable to take joy in them. It wasn’t that she was ungrateful. That wasn’t Stella at all.
The loss of Carson was more pronounced on a day like this.
The sun had started sinking on the horizon as Noah sat beside Stella in front of the bonfire they’d started on the beach.
Jo and Dax sat on opposite sides. Noah was surprised Dax had stayed this long, but he was thankful too. Having his friends around helped.
Draping an arm around Stella’s shoulders, Noah pulled her closer.
“Noah.” She looked up. “Where’s Melanie?”
Noah both loved and hated how attached his niece had become to Melanie. He loved it because he figured it helped both Melanie and Stella.
He hated it because he worried Stella would end up hurt in the end.
Just like him.
“We aren’t a love song.”
Melanie had already planned her escape from whatever they’d started, her out clause.
“She’s with her dad, Stell. We have to share her sometimes.”
Stella went quiet as her eyes fixed on the flames.
Noah met Jo’s gaze, a sad understanding passing between them. They’d all seen Stella refuse to smile, to laugh today.
“Hey, Stell.” Dax shot her a smile. The guy seemed much more comfortable with Stella than he did with Jo, a fact Noah found highly amusing. “Want to walk down along the water with me?”
“Okay.” Stella tucked hair behind her ears and got to her feet.
Dax took her hand, and they stopped at the edge of the water.
