Heartless (21 page)

She slept most of
the flight, after putting ear buds in her ears to block out the drone of
passengers chatting around her. When the plane landed and others were waiting
to retrieve their carry-ons, she texted her sons to let them know she was
visiting their grandparents. Jay responded right away, telling her to have fun
and give Nana and Pops his love. Mike replied a few minutes later, telling her
to be safe and that he loved her.

Ashley knew Mike
was probably still feeling guilty about his outburst at the party. They hadn’t
spoken since, though he left a voicemail message to apologize for his behavior.
She wasn’t angry with her son; she was angry with herself for believing that she
could go back in time to reclaim a lost love that had clearly run its course.

She would be lying
if she said it didn’t feel incredible to be back in Derek’s arms again, but she
was foolish to think they could turn back time and pick up where they left off
all those years ago. They were two different people, living very different
lives. She was a mother with grown children. She would soon be looking forward
to grandchildren, while he had never even known the pleasure of being a father.
He deserved that. He’d been wonderful with her children, and she knew he would
be incredible with his own someday.

Her heart was
painfully heavy by the time she stepped outside of the airport terminal to
search for her mother’s gray Lincoln. When she called to tell them she was
coming for a short visit, her mother had been thrilled and assured her that her
father would be too. Apparently the judge was on the golf course and wouldn’t
be joining them until later. According to her mother, that would give them some
much needed ‘girl time.’ She loved her mother dearly, but Ruth Munroe was relentless
when she wanted information. Ashley had no doubt that she’d take one look at
her and know she was trying to conceal a broken heart.

Her mother pulled
up to the curb and rolled the window down to wave at her.

Ashley smiled as
she reached for the door handle. This was exactly what she needed right now, a
change of pace and scenery, surrounded by people who loved her and wouldn’t
judge her.

As soon as her
luggage was stowed and she was seated in the passenger’s seat, she reached over
the gearshift to put her arm around her mother. “Hi, Mama.”

“It’s so good to
see you, honey.” Her mother kissed her cheek as she stroked her hair. “It’s
been too long. Your daddy and I were hoping you’d make it out here this
summer.”

She pulled back
and fastened her seat belt. “Sorry about the short notice.”

“Nonsense. You’re
always welcome; you know that.”

Her parents had
retired to Arizona six years ago, and they seemed to be enjoying the climate as
much as the new friends they were making. She admired them for having the
courage to pick up and move at that stage in their lives. She couldn’t find the
courage to move to a new house down the street, much less dig up stakes and
move to a new state. Maybe it was easier for her parents because they had each
other to lean on for support.

Her mother reached
for her hand. “How are you, really?”

Ashley knew it
wouldn’t take long before the inquisition started. She cracked a window, hoping
some fresh air would make her feel better than the recirculated air filtering
through the car. “I’m fine, Mama. Work is good. The boys are good…”

“Tell me about my
grandsons. Do either of them have serious girlfriends yet?”

Ashley felt a
modicum of guilt for shifting the attention to her sons’ love lives, but at
least it would take the heat off her for a while. Her mother made no secret of
the fact that she thought she should have remarried years ago. According to
Ruth, the longer a woman waited, the harder it was to compete. After meeting
Derek’s ex-girlfriend today, Ashley couldn’t disagree. Dating was definitely a
younger woman’s game.

“They’re not
seeing anyone special.” She rolled her eyes. “Not that they’d tell me if they
were.”

Her mother laughed
as she navigated the traffic. “Your brother was the same way. Remember, he
didn’t bring Carolyn home until he was ready to pop the question?”

“I remember.” Her
older brother Jack was one of the lucky ones. He got it right the first time.
He married his best friend and soul mate. After twenty-five years of marriage,
they still acted like teenagers. “How are Jack and Carolyn?”

“Oh, they’re doing
fine. They’re planning a visit out here for Christmas. You and the boys should
come, too. It would be so nice to have the whole family together again.”

“Does that mean
Ellen is going to be able to make the trip?” Her younger sister was a
pediatrician. She and her husband and their three young children lived in
Boston. Now that her parents were retired, it was easier for them to travel to
visit their daughter and her family.

“We hope so, but
you know how busy they are.”

Ellen’s husband,
Howard, was a gynecologist and they co-owned a medical building in the downtown
core. “Yeah, I was talking to Ellen last week. She was saying that Hope is
starting school full time in the fall. Time sure does fly, doesn’t it?” She
could remember when her own boys were starting school. It seemed like only
yesterday, instead of a lifetime ago.

“You want to tell
me why you were coming in from Little Rock and not Nashville?”

Ashley winced.
She’d forgotten that she gave her mother the flight number in case she was
going to be late. Of course she would’ve checked it and learned that she wasn’t
coming from home. “I was just visiting a friend.”

Her mother raised
an eyebrow. “It must be some friend for you to travel so far to see them.
Anyone I know?”

There was no way
to avoid telling her mother the truth. Besides, she’d always tried to
discourage her boys from lying; she couldn’t very well lie to her own mother
without feeling like a hypocrite. “I was visiting Derek… McCall.”

“My goodness, I
didn’t even know you two were still friends. I thought you lost touch when he
moved out there.”

“We did, but he
came back home for his brother’s funeral and we sort of reconnected.”

“His brother’s funeral?
Oh dear, you didn’t mention that. What happened?”

Ashley and her
mother spoke at least once a week, but she hadn’t had time to fill her in since
Dave’s funeral. “His older brother Dave was killed.”

“Oh no. He was the
one in the military, right?”

Ashley nodded.
“Yeah, they’re all taking it pretty hard. Dave was a great guy.”

Ruth smiled. “I’m
sure he was. It takes an exceptional man or woman to make that kind of
sacrifice for their country.”

Ashley’s father
was enlisted when her parents met, so her mother knew firsthand how difficult
it was to wait by the phone and worry about the man you loved. “Derek’s been
offered a job in Nashville.”

Ruth couldn’t hide
her smile even if she wanted to. Ashley’s parents
loved
Derek.
Fortunately, they didn’t know about their indiscretion years ago. If they did,
she was fairly certain that would color their opinion of him and their
daughter.

“So, Derek’s
finally moving back home, is he?” Ruth turned down the tree-lined street
leading to their luxurious penthouse apartment.

“It would seem
so.”

“What do you mean?
You don’t know for sure?” She swiped a key card to gain access to the
underground parking garage.

“I didn’t actually
see him when I went to his place.” She cleared her throat, wishing there was an
easy way to tell her mother that Derek was involved with someone else. She knew
she would be disappointed. “His… um… girlfriend was there.”

“His girlfriend?”
Ruth parked the car and pushed the button to turn off the engine before
shifting in her seat to look at her daughter. “He has a girlfriend? Is she
moving to Nashville with him?”

Ashley tried to
pretend the thought didn’t affect her, but she knew her smile must appear fake
to the woman who knew her so well. “I don’t know what his plans are.” She got
out of the car and reached for the piece of luggage she’d stowed in the backseat.
“I guess I’ll find out when I get home.” Ashley led the way to the entry door,
praying her mother would see that she needed to change the subject before she
succumbed to the tears threatening to overcome her.

When they were
finally alone on the elevator, her mother pulled her into her arms and stroked
her hair. “Everything’s going to be fine, honey.”

She wanted to
believe that, more than anything, but she feared it may be a long time before
she felt ‘fine’ again.

Derek was cursing
life by the time his plane touched down in Nashville. He’d been trying to reach
Ashley since he got word that she came to see him, but her phone went directly
to voicemail every damn time. He thought about texting, but he had no idea what
to say.

Ty was supposed to
pick him up at the airport, but he told him to park in the pick-up area so he
wouldn’t be mobbed by overzealous fans. Ty may be a household name, but he
would never forget where he came from. He was grateful to have legions of
supportive fans, but Derek knew he would be just as happy to forgo the
attention as long as he was able to play the music he loved.

Derek spotted his
silver truck parked amidst other family members and friends who were patiently
waiting for weary travelers. He opened the back and stowed the suitcase he’d
brought with him. The rest of his belongings were being shipped next week.

“Hey, man,” Ty
said, grinning. “Good to see you.” He offered his hand and Derek took it before
fastening his seatbelt. “How was the flight?”

“Uneventful, just
the way I like it.” One of Ty’s songs was playing on the radio, and Derek
reached for the knob to turn the volume down. “Man, you have lousy taste in
music.”

Ty chuckled as he
pulled the truck out of the crowded parking lot. “You love bustin’ my chops,
don’t ya?”

“Who else will if
I don’t, kid?” A beat of silence passed as they glanced at each other. Each
knew the other was thinking about their older brother. He was the one who used
to enjoy giving them grief at every opportunity.

“We’re goin’ out
to do a few shows for the troops next week, before we hit the road again.”

Derek smiled. He
wasn’t surprised his younger brother would’ve thought to organize something
like that. He was always the first one to help a friend or neighbor in need,
doing anything he could to make their lives a little easier. “Who’s we?”

“Me, Trey, Nikki,
and Tory.”

Derek raised an
eyebrow. “Tory’s goin’ with you? How’d that happen?” Tory Warner had been one
of the hottest names in country music since she won a TV singing competition a
few years back. She was only sixteen when she won, and Derek couldn’t imagine
how she went from being a normal high school student to a superstar virtually
overnight.

“Luc just signed
her to his label.”

“Wow,” Derek said,
smiling. “That’s quite a feat. He must be stoked.”

Ty laughed. “You
could say that. He’s been walkin’ around with a smug smile on his face all
goddamn week.” He rolled his eyes. “As if he wasn’t cocky enough already.”

Derek laughed. He
knew Luc and his brother had developed a close friendship in the years since he
signed Ty to his label, so any disparaging remarks were undoubtedly payback.
“Seriously, it’s great that you’re doin’ that. Dave would’ve loved it.”

“Yeah, you know
we’ve made it out there a couple of times before, right? Dave was definitely
the top dog that day, knowin’ all these big country singers.” Ty chuckled. “It
didn’t stop him from givin’ me grief, though.”

“He was your older
brother. It was his job to give you grief.”

Ty smiled at his
brother. “Guess you’re gonna have to take his place now, huh?”

Derek shook his
head, feeling the significance of Ty’s words settle over him. He was the eldest
McCall brother now. They would all be looking up to him the way they used to
rely on Dave. “Those are mighty big shoes to fill, kid.”

“If anyone’s up to
the challenge, you are.”

Derek shook his
head. “I don’t think so. Dave was a better man than I could ever hope to be.”
Dave would never have considered sleeping with his best friend’s wife or
abandoning a couple of kids who were counting on him.

“Don’t sell
yourself short. Dave wasn’t the only hero in this family.”

Derek rolled his
eyes. “It takes more than steppin’ in front of a bullet to make you a hero, Ty.
The way I’ve lived my life… let’s just say I’ve done a lot of things I’m not
proud of.”

Ty scoffed. “Who
hasn’t? I think that’s makes you human, doesn’t it?”

The kind of
mistakes Ty, Derek, and even J.T. had made in their lives paled in comparison
to the burden Derek had to shoulder.

“Listen, if you’re
talkin’ about what happened with Ashley back in the day, I think you need to
let it go. Josh has obviously forgiven you. I think it’s time for you to
forgive yourself.”