Page 5 of The Omega's Surprise Baby
“For real? You want me to host a celebrity in my humble abode?”
“Yes, and um, please don’t google him.”
Now I was intrigued. “Sounds like there’s some dirt you don’t want me to find.” Honestly, was there a better way to ensure that Iwouldgoogle?
“He’s had some shit flung at him, but my brother assures me he’s a really nice person and I’d like you to welcome him with an open mind.”
I sighed theatrically, as if my cousin was asking a huge favor of me. “Okay, I get it.”
“I’m also asking you because I know you’re the least likely to make a pass at him.”
I had to laugh at that. “You give me too much credit.”
“Please, I know you won’t try anything around the kids.”
The kids, right. My lips tugged up slightly because of how considerate my cousin was being, not saying what we both knew was the truth—I simply wasn’t ready to make a pass at anyone. I had tried dating once or twice since Ron had passed, but it still feltwrongsomehow. Like I was betraying him. I knew he would have wanted me to be happy and maybe I was going to get there someday, but it was still a ways off. Of that I was sure.
* * *
That night, after the kids went to bed, I started up my laptop and opened the browser. Dean had said not to google, but my curiosity was killing me. What was it that he didn't want me to find? What kind of shit had been flung at Kade?
I typed his name into the search bar without hitting enter. Some search suggestions popped up.
>>Kade Ashtonscandal
>>Kade Ashton quitting music
>>Kade Ashton Make Me Free
The ideathat there was some sort of scandal intrigued me, but not enough to unglue my eyes from the last line.Make Me Free. I remembered that song. I hadn't realized it was by him, but I'd listened to it a lot when it came out.
Google told me it was his most popular song. That didn't surprise me. I had the beautiful melody in my head even now. It was haunting, and Kade's voice only elevated the whole song to a different level. It struck a chord with me and a lot of other people, it seemed.
I clicked on a link to a YouTube video of Kade performing the song at a festival in New York a year ago.
As I watched him take the audience captive, I couldn't believe that I was going to have him in my house in a few weeks. And I was so transported by the music that I didn't notice my daughter coming into the living room until she stood beside me, tugging on my sleeve.
“What is it, darling?” I asked, turning to her. “You should be in bed.”
“I can't sleep. What are you watching?” She pointed at the video. I pulled her up on my lap so she could see the screen a little better. “It's someone singing a song. Do you like it?”
She tilted her head to the side, as if considering this carefully. “Yes,” she said then. “He's pretty.”
I had to laugh at that, but it was true. My girl had good taste. “Yes, he is. Very pretty.”
The song ended, and so did the video.
“Again!” Mary demanded.
“We can watch it again tomorrow if you go back to bed now.” I stood, carrying her in my arms, and started to walk her back to her room. “You can watch it as many times as you want.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. Now be a good girl.” I entered her room and put her down on the bed.
“I'm a good girl,” she said proudly. Then she reached up and gave me a kiss. “Goodnight!”
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” I said, turning off the light as I left the room.
