Every Heart Sings (Serenity Island Series) (5 page)

The suggestive purr in her voice probably had something to do with the amount of alcohol she’d already consumed, and not entirely his unexpected presence.

Josh had seen her type a million times on the road. Creatures of opportunity. A pleasure-seeking rock star groupie. A woman after sex and what he could do for her—or what she could do for him.

She arched her back, leaning a little further over the railing. Josh was afraid she was going to fall, pop out of her shirt, or crawl over to his rooftop somehow.

“Hi, Audrey. I’m Josh.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Same.” He stood and walked to the railing opposite Audrey so she’d stop straining against her own railing to see him, and hopefully not tumble off the roof. The rooftops were separated by a narrow alley between the two buildings. “Drinking alone?”

She looked down as if she’d forgotten the drink in her hand. She swirled it and took a sip. “A pre-dinner aperitif. My daughter is cooking. My ex-husband is coming to dinner. The woes of co-parenting in the modern age. We need to play nice. Even though the rat-bastard cheated on me with a woman half my age.” She took another big gulp of her drink and rolled her eyes. “I’m helpless in the kitchen.”

Josh laughed, liking this woman. “I somehow doubt that.”

She smiled, her full lips opening wide over white, even teeth. “I like the sound of that.”

Josh cleared his throat. “How old is your daughter?”

“Sixteen-going-on-thirty. Thinks she knows more than her mom.”

“Yeah, I remember those days.”

“You were a know-it-all, too?”

“Yep. One of the biggest. My mom couldn’t tell me anything. I was a handful. My grandfather had to step in several times. Set me straight. Until I was even too much for him.”

“What about your dad?” She pushed her long flax-colored hair out of her eyes, holding it at the crown of her head with one hand so she could see him.

“By then my dad had been gone two years.” The sadness in his voice must have indicated that he didn’t really want to talk about it, because she didn’t ask the inevitable question. And he didn’t offer.

“Oh.” She turned to look at the ocean. “Great view from up here, huh?”

“God, I love it here already.”

“You just get here?” She studied him. “It’s quiet. But sometimes quiet is good, especially when you’re a little beat up.”

“Yeah, I arrived on today’s ferry.” Josh didn’t know how this woman could see that he felt beaten-up and a little trodden-down by life, but he didn’t ask, either. He looked a little more tired than usual. Yet he hadn’t realized others could see it.

“Well you look like you could use a little Serenity magic.”

“What do you mean?”

She paused, pursing her lips, her eyes still on the horizon. “This place works its magic on people. It’s special. A close-knit community. People take care of each other here. It’s a slower pace of life. Time seems to take a step back and let you savor it.”

Josh liked the sound of that sentiment. He needed to savor life a little right now. Hell, he’d be happy just to feel like he was living for a change instead of like an automaton going through the motions, performing the same tasks, the same songs, the same performances every day.

“You’re a native?”

She giggled. Maybe from the influence of the big-ass margarita she was drinking or from a hidden joke. “Nah. I’m from Louisiana originally. Moved here about fifteen years ago, when my daughter was a baby. But my folks are from here. Guess I’m as close as many come to being native. Not many of us left now, but most of us who stay have some ties to the island community, to the founders. The island isn’t as thriving as it once was.”

“Seems kind of quiet for an east coast island in summer, but I’ve lived in California for almost twenty years, so what do I know? I’d think tourists would be pouring in for these pristine beaches, the ocean views. People are always looking for a little piece of heaven these days.”

“You’d think. But not so much. The economy’s bad. People aren’t vacationing. It’s too quiet. Not enough activity for the yuppie urban types. Serenity has been dying a slow death for the last five years, ever since the cannery closed down. Most of the men here were employed there. No one put much money into tourism. Now we’re kind of stuck in limbo. Older and a little worn around the edges, no one wants us.”

Josh couldn’t help thinking she was talking about more than the town.

“I find it beautiful and charming.” And he meant it—about the island and about her. Audrey was lovely, if a little wounded. And that called out to something in Josh. Some kind of urge to protect.

Audrey perked up and preened just a little. “Yes, you would. You’re a sweet boy.” She smiled kindly at him. “Thank you for saying so.”

Now he knew for certain they’d been talking about more than the island. Josh laughed. “I’m no boy.”

“No. You’re sure not. But you’re, what? Thirty years old.”

“Thirty-six.”

“See. Almost fifteen years younger than me. A mere boy.” She chugged the last of her drink. “Well, I should go downstairs. I’m sure Tom will be here soon. Hopefully he doesn’t bring his girlfriend this time. Woo-whee. That will be fun if he does. Maybe I should invite you over to run interference.”

“Ah—I don’t think—”

“Don’t worry. I won’t throw you to the wolves yet.” She crossed her arm under her chest and swirled her drink with the hand still holding the margarita glass while she considered him. “Although, Tom would be jealous as hell.” A dimple in her cheek peeped out at her obvious delight.

“Well, give me a few days to settle in. Then if you need help, I’m your man.”

Audrey giggled. “Yes, you are. Thank you. I appreciate the offer. You’re a good guy, Josh.”

Josh tilted his chin forward, taking the praise even though most days he didn’t feel like a good man. He wanted to be a better man. To remember who he was. That was the point of being here in Serenity. Get back to his roots. Remember how to connect with people so he could write songs that would speak to them, move them.

“All right. Hannah will need a hand downstairs. It sure was nice talking to you.”

“You, too.”

She blew him a kiss. “Welcome to Serenity, Josh. I hope you find everything you came here looking for.”

“Me, too.”

“See you around, darling.” She waved and then disappeared down the stairs to her place.

Chapter 4

Sisters & Destiny

“Oh my God, I can’t believe you did it.” Grace plopped down on the outdoor loveseat in the garden. “You actually sold the café?”

“What did you expect? I had a
For Sale
sign on it. Seriously, Grace.”

“Yeah, but that sign has been up for, what? A year? I didn’t think it would ever sell.”

“Well, it did.” Jordan used her trowel to dig around the blue hydrangea she was replanting. She lifted it by the base, roots and all, and settled it gently into the fragrant earth. She scooped the dirt with her hands, patting and working it around the plant.

“Now what are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll figure that out. Now I have a little room to breathe, take care of you and Tony. I don’t need to rush.”

“Hell, Jordan, you don’t rush a damned thing these days. You live the life of a sixty-year-old retiree.” Her sister kicked off her purple clogs and propped her feet on the arm of the loveseat, settling back. She still wore her bright printed top and solid purple scrubs from the hospital.

“Hey, don’t knock it. I like my Jimmy Buffet lifestyle.”

“Right.” Grace tucked a lock of her curly brown hair behind her ear. “Margaritaville. Not.”

“No, I had enough crazy in my misspent youth.”

“Don’t I know it.” Grace breathed a long sigh. “So, what will you do now? Devote more of your time to the kids at the PIC-U?” She pursed her lips and studied the canopy of trees above them. “You love acting so much, I don’t know why you won’t give it a chance again. You act for those kids once, sometimes, twice a month.”

“That’s different. Those kids have no expectations of me. They’re just trying to survive cancer. I give them a few minutes to forget their troubles and how hard it all is just for them to survive from day to day.”

“Yes, and that’s what all entertainers do. You could make a difference for millions of people. Not just a few.”

“No. That’s not for me. It’s a destructive lifestyle. It stole too much from me. I won’t do it again. It could destroy me next time. Besides, I love what I do for these kids. Acting on a local level is different. I like the slower speed here on the island. I’ve found my Nirvana here. I enjoy the consistency. Every day is like the other.”

“Yeah, you crave that because we never had it growing up.”

Jordan shrugged. She didn’t always know why she did what she did, she only knew why she didn’t do things based on her past.

“Aren’t you tired of hiding here?” Grace said.

“Who says I’m hiding?” Jordan scooped more dirt around the plant.

Grace turned her head, lifting her brow, and gave her a get-real look. “Me. Tony. Your friends, Delilah and Salty. Mom. Sidewinder. The whole damned village. Should I go on naming names?”

“Okay, knock it off. It is not pick-on-Jordan night, okay? So I’ve got issues. We all do. And Mom only says I’m hiding because she wants me to get back into acting. Jump back into the Hollywood scene. Boost her own career.”

Her mom, Helene Drake, a Hollywood actress and model back in the day, never let go of her Drama Queen ways. Jordan always understood that her mother loved Hollywood more than she loved anything or anyone else, including her daughters.

“Maybe. But maybe she’s not quite the villain you’ve cast her, either. Maybe she’s changed.”

Jordan grunted. “Yeah, that’s why I had to file for emancipation at sixteen. Why I was a party-girl by fourteen. Thanks, dear mom, for introducing me to nightclubs at five. Who the hell does that?” She tasted the bitterness on her tongue and was tempted to spit. Instead she swallowed and squared her shoulders, glaring at her sister.

“A single mom desperate to make it in the biz.” Grace folded her hands on her flat stomach. The shade dappled light onto her sister and if Jordan could paint, she’d capture this moment with her sister forever. Grace had always been a bright spot in her life. She lived up to her namesake and always offered Jordan grace.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Jordan knew it was a cop out. But she didn’t care.

“You need to forgive her.”

Jordan brushed the dirt from her hands and stood up, stretching her back.

Grace continued when Jordan didn’t respond. “Yes, but most of us work through our problems instead of burying them and pretending they’re not there.”

Jordan pulled her phone out of her back pocket and took a picture of Grace.

“Hey. I’m all grubby. Stop.” She lifted a hand to shield the picture.

“Too late. I already got it.” Jordan smiled. “Tony would like a copy of this one.” She shoved the phone in her back pocket again.

“Yeah, like he wants a picture of his mom. He only wants pics of famous rock stars these days. He’s plastered his room with that band, what’s it called? It’s the one that sounds so much like the last band he liked, Imagine Dragons. Nickelodeon, or something.”

“Ah, no. I don’t think that’s it. That’s the kids’ television network. Even I know that . . . and I’ve been virtually unplugged for years.” Jordan laughed at her sister. “And no respectable sixteen-year-old boy admits to liking anything on Nickelodeon.”

“I’m so bad. I can’t remember these bands for shit. Tony gets so upset with me. Music is his life, not mine. If Luke were here, he’d know.” Grace’s voice snagged in her throat on the last word. “God I miss him.” She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath, rubbing her chest.

Jordan squatted next to her sister. She brushed Grace’s bangs aside, laid her hand over hers and squeezed, and rested her cheek on Grace’s shoulder. “I know, sweetie.”

“It’s been seven years. You’d think I could move on.”

“Like I said, we all have issues. And we need to take our time. Work through them at our own pace.”

“My heart still aches.” Grace continued to rub circles on her sternum.

“I know. You’re so young, Gracie. You’ll find love again. I know you will.”

“I don’t want another love. I want Luke.”

“I know.” Jordan’s heart broke for her sister. She closed her eyes and they stayed that way in silence for long moments. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, trailing down her cheek.

Jordan didn’t understand a love like Grace and Luke had had because she’d never even remotely experienced it. And her parents certainly never exemplified it. Theirs had been a firestorm of constant passion—passion so hot and fiery it destroyed everything and everyone in its path.

She’d thought she’d been in love a few times over the years, but it had only been prolonged bouts of lust. Certainly nothing compared to the love Luke and Grace had shared.

Could be Jordan wasn’t willing to open up like that to a man. Her past brush with fame, or infamy, made it hard. And she wasn’t sure she wanted to experience a love like this if it left you so devastated when the other one left. She’d experienced enough heartbreak in her life. She didn’t need to add something like this, too.

“J.D., Sidewinder told me—” Tony came barreling around the corner of the house talking. When he saw the scene before him, he pulled up short. “Everything okay? Mom? You all right?”

Grace kicked her feet down and smiled brightly at her son. “Yeah, we’re good. Just getting a little mopey. You know, girl stuff.”

Jordan stood and grabbed Tony in a side hug. “Yeah, you want to stay far away from us, or we’ll suck you in and make you talk about . . .” She paused for dramatic effect. “Your feelings.”

“Ewww.” Tony pulled away. “No, I’m good. Really.” He lifted his hands, backing away from Jordan.

“Just kidding, handsome.” Jordan chucked him on the chin. “What’s up, kiddo?”

“Sidewinder just told me Nicodemus is in town.”

“That’s the band he’s so crazy about right now.” Grace snapped her fingers. “Nicodemus.”

“Oh.” Jordan rubbed her forehead. “Right. I should have guessed that earlier, since he was in the café today.”

“Josh Nicodemus? The Nicodemus? In your café?” Tony’s voice hitched with excitement. “Really? You’re not shitting me?”

“Tony!” His mom scowled. “What did I tell you about that language?”

“Sorry, Mom.” He looked sheepish, glancing at Grace, then pinned Jordan down with his next question. “But, dude. Seriously? Josh is here?”

“Dudette, remember.” Jordan gave him a squinty-eye look.

“Stop messing with me, J.D. This is important.” Tony lifted his chin, squared his broadening shoulders, and braced his hands on his narrow hips. He looked more like his dad every day.

Something pinged inside of Jordan, a feeling laced with sadness and regret. Tony’s formative years had slipped by her.

He was all grown up, becoming a man. His little boy days were numbered, if not already gone. And she’d missed most of it, hiding away here on the island, while Grace and Tony lived sixteen hours away in Chicago.

Not anymore. Now they were here with her.

Jordan planned to enjoy the time she had with Tony this summer. She wasn’t sure he’d want to stay when school started, but she was going to try to convince him and Grace they’d be better off here in Serenity than in Chicago.

“Yes, Josh Nicodemus is in town.” She didn’t say anything more.

“Well?” Tony moved his hand in a rolling motion. Like, get on with it. “And?”

“And, what? He bought the café. He’s going to live in the apartment above it.”

“Holy shit.” He held his head as if it might explode and turned in tight circles.

“Tony,” Grace warned, using her most motherly tone.

“Sorry. Dude. This is awesome. Did he say how long he’s staying?” Tony lifted his arms in the air. “Man. This is huge. Huge.”

Jordan laughed at the kid. She reached out and touched his shoulder. “Calm down, Tony. He said he would be here a couple of months.”

“Wow. Okay. A couple of months. Is that two? Or three? It doesn’t matter. As long as we’re going to be here. Good. I can work with that.”

Jordan lifted a hand. “Wait. What do you mean you can work with that? He’s here to write his next album, Tony. You need to leave the poor man alone.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” Tony had tuned her out already. He picked up his phone and started to thumb something in.

“No. Stop.” Jordan grabbed for his phone. Desperation clutched at her, making her frantic. Tony fumbled the smart phone. “J.D., knock it off.”

He gained control of the phone and held it out of her reach. Tony was almost a head taller than her and Grace now. Apparently, he’d gotten Luke’s height.

“What are you doing?”

“I was going to let my friends know Josh is here. It’s so cool.”

“No. You can’t do that. I promised him we’d keep it a secret. He doesn’t want anyone to know.”

“Why?” Tony narrowed his eyes, and his tone became hostile. “What’s up with you people? Enough with the celebrity hide-and-seek.” His jaw became tight. “This isn’t about you, J.D.”

Anger flared in her and she narrowed her eyes at the kid. “No, it’s not about me. It’s about this island and what we offer outsiders. We offer them safety. Quiet. Anonymity if they want it. And Josh Nicodemus made it perfectly clear he wants to be anonymous here. He doesn’t want his fans to find him.”

“Okay, calm down.” Tony tucked the phone in his front pocket. “I won’t Facebook it. And I won’t tell anyone until I talk to Josh. Can I go see him now?”

“No, Tony. He just got here. Give him a chance to settle in. Tomorrow is soon enough.”

Tony hung his head and traced the toe of his Converse tennis shoe across the stone patio, following the pattern with his foot. “All right. If you insist. I’ll wait until tomorrow. But I’m getting there early.”

Jordan laughed. Tony didn’t do early mornings. Most days he wanted to sleep until noon. This
was
an occasion.

“Good for you,” she said before Tony huffed off, a chip still weighing down one of those almost-man shoulders.

She breathed a sigh of relief. God. She’d almost had a heart attack. She calmed her breathing, practicing the Zen techniques Lucy, her friend and the resident island therapist, had taught her to employ over the years to rid herself of anxiety. It usually worked.

She knew this wasn’t about her. However, Josh Nicodemus being here in Serenity threatened her in a big way. And she was beginning to think the threat wasn’t just to her closely guarded anonymity, but also to her very equilibrium.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

The next morning Josh woke at six o’clock. He brewed a cup of coffee and grabbed his guitar, notebook, and audio recorder and headed to the rooftop patio to watch the sunrise over the ocean. There was no better way to start a day than coffee, music, and a bitchin’ view of the ocean.

He did have an album to start.

Since he was already up. No point delaying.

He didn’t bother to comb his hair or grab a T-shirt. His plaid pajama bottoms rode low on his hips, but he hoped Audrey had had enough margaritas last night that she’d still be sleeping heavily.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he settled onto the patio chair, guitar cradled in his lap, and propped his feet on the railing. He sipped his hot coffee for a few minutes as he watched the sun crest over the water, a fiery orange ball that grew by the minute until it was no longer anchored to the deep blue horizon, but flew free, rising like a hot air balloon in the sky.

He pushed the play button on the recorder and started to strum. A quiet tune. Full of angst and heart. He plucked the notes, guitar pick between his teeth as he watched a gull soar and dive, pipers pecked at the sand for crabs, and a pelican out in the distance flew low to the water and scooped up its silvery catch.

The primitive struggle for survival hit him full in the gut, winding him.