“Not many kids get their wish that their parents get back together.”

“True. I know this sounds bad, but sometimes I think the best thing to happen to us all was Mom’s cancer.”

“It brought you all together.”

Christian looked at the ring again and began to laugh. “I remember coming home from school and you could hear laughing from the bathroom. And there was Mom with her head shaved and she was shaving Dad’s head.”

Warner smiled. “That’s commitment.”

“Oh, his fiancée was mad. But he did it to comfort Mom. Then Ed sat down and shaved his head too.”

“What about you?”

The smile left Christian’s face. “Nah, I was too scared back then. I was afraid of everything, especially losing Mom. Clara and I ran the opposite direction when he offered to shave our heads.”

That made Warner laugh again. Just the image in his head of the two of them turning tail.

Christian took the ring out of the box and rolled it between his fingers. “There are nights I lie awake wishing I’d joined them. I was selfish not to.”

“You can’t regret it.”

“I know. But think about it, if it happened now, both Clara and I would be first in line.”

Warner widened his stare at his brother-in-law. “Damn, she totally would too.”

Christian laughed. “I know, right?”

The back door opened and Clara walked in looking more than a little frazzled.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Warner said as he walked to her and pulled her into him tightly.

“Hey.” She set her keys next to his on the counter and dropped her purse on the floor. “What are you boys doing?”

“Christian was asking for fashion advice,” Warner grinned.

“Fashion advice? Are you over the basketball shorts and T-shirt stage?”

“Ha, ha very funny,” Christian stood and walked toward her. “This guy’s opinion on this was exactly what I needed. But I’ll show you too.”

He opened the box in his hand and showed her the ring.

Clara cupped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, Chris, it’s beautiful.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“You’re going to ask her? You’re really going to do this?”

“I didn’t expect my little sister to beat me to the altar.” He winked at her when she gave him an irritated sister look. “I’m ready. I have the house. I have the ring. I almost have all the time in the world since I’m not going to play next year.”

“She’s a lucky girl.”

“I know.”

Clara laughed and slapped Christian on the arm. “I’m lucky too. Tori and Darcy for sisters. I won the lottery.”

“I’ll tell her you said that.” He ran his hand over his unshaven chin. “I guess I’d better go get a shower. She’s having me over for dinner with her parents. Her sister and Dave will be there with their kids. I guess if the mood hits me I’ll ask her to marry me. If I’m scared to death I’ll come home with this ring.”

Clara moved in and hugged her brother. “You deserve this. Don’t back out.”

“I’ll let you know how it goes.” He gave them both a nod and left the kitchen.

Clara dropped her shoulders and turned to Warner. “Long day, huh?”

“Sure was,” he said pulling her to him. “Congratulations.”

“To you too.”

“So what is she like? Savannah. I hear she’s the biggest country diva we have.”

Clara laughed as she rested her hands on her husband’s chest. “I’m not even sure she’s country. One minute she’s Shania Twain and the next she’s Lady GaGa.”

He laughed at that. “That’s what I’ve heard.”

Clara turned and walked toward the table. She didn’t sit down, but stood behind a chair with her hands on the back. “But why me? None of this makes sense.”

“Because this is how the industry works.”

“No. Not like this.” She pulled her hair through her hands and let it fall. “I found out she did hear me when I played with Randy. The night I sang your song.”

“That makes me feel better about it.”

“But other than on stage, I’m backup. C’mon you’re not going to sign someone who spent the last two month singing West Side Story.”

“But they did.”

“And they want me to sing your songs.”

He smiled. “That was the point right? You’d sing my songs and we’d sell them?”

“Right, but,” she gritted her teeth, “it still doesn’t make sense.”

Warner walked to her and put his hands on her hips, making her turn toward him. “Somewhere, someone is trying to see what kind of trouble we can get into. We’ve only fueled the fire by running off and getting married. The odds are against us.”

“What are you saying?”

Warner pulled out his phone and clicked on the browser. He enlarged the screen. “I did some digging at the stoplight on my way home.”

He handed her the phone.

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Our Savannah is signed by Jordan Farr.”

“Master Records.”

“Patricia Little’s newest financial gain.”

She handed him the phone back. “I don’t understand any of this. Why does a woman who left your father and you after two years still hold this grudge?”

Warner stepped back and ran his fingers through his hair. He turned and looked out the window.

“Warner,” she said with her voice quivering.

“Clara, everything in my life has been ugly until you came along. You know that? Everything.”

“Warner, what is it you’re not telling me?”

He paced the kitchen floor and Clara’s heart began to race. What secrets did he have? Who was this man she’d married?

Warner paced some more and Clara finally stepped in front of him. “You are hiding something from me. Now spill it or get the hell out of my house.”

He stopped pacing and she could see the vein at his temple pulse.

“You’re like everyone else, huh? Warner needs a moment and you turn on him?”

“I don’t do secrets.”