Amber appeared beside me, hooking her arm with mine. “He’s been looking for you.”
I laughed. “It was activity day at the library. I had glitter and glue in my hair. I needed to shower and change.” I shook my head. “How can he still be nervous? He’s up there a lot. The stage is a second home to him.”
“He’s humble that way.”
“I’ll go see him.”
Sebastian was leaning across the bar, talking to Finn. The sight of him made my heart flutter. Tall and strong, his shirt stretched across his biceps, hard and thick from his manual labor, he was incredibly sexy. I knew all the single women, and most of the married ones, in town agreed with me. He and Chris were known as the dynamic duo of handymen, and their services were in great demand. He packed the bar on Saturday nights, plus any other time he stepped onstage. But as Amber said, he was still humble.
He turned, spotting me, his face breaking out into a wide smile. His pleasure at seeing me did something to my chest, warming me instantly. There was no doubt of his feelings for me—they were on full display for anyone to witness. They filled his music, his lyrics humming with emotion.
He crossed the bar, moving through the crowd to get to me, sliding his arm around my waist and tugging me close.
“Hey, Angel. I was hoping you’d get here soon.”
Then he kissed me, ignoring the catcalls and whoops—the loudest from Patrick. Sebastian grinned, dropping another kiss to my cheek.
“I love, after all this time, you still blush for me,” he murmured.
“Everyone is looking.”
He chuckled. “Let them look. I’m proud to show off my love for my girl.” He tugged me over to the table. “I’ve got some news.”
I sat down, looking at Patrick and Eleanor. They were as curious as I was, so he obviously hadn’t shared yet.
I pulled off my coat. “What?”
“Remember the guy who was in here last week? The suit I thought looked out of place?”
I nodded. He had rich businessman written all over him—not the sort you found in Riverstoke on a Saturday night, sitting in a bar having a beer.
“He represents a singer.” Sebastian’s eyes danced as he named a well-known artist. “He wants to buy some of my songs and sing them.”
I flung my arms around his neck. “That is amazing!”
He looked excited. “I met with both of them today via Zoom. I would still own my stuff, but he would sing it. I get paid up front, plus royalties.”
He glanced at Patrick. “I’m going to need a lawyer. I know nothing about this stuff.”
Patrick grinned. “I can help you there. I know several.”
“Great.” Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, looking unusually flustered. “I mean, it might go nowhere—”
I cut him off. “It won’t. He’s huge. He’ll want more of your songs.” I frowned. “Will you have to leave?”
“Only for a day or two at a time, if anything. To meet him. Help with musical arrangements.” He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “This could be the break I wanted. I can write my music and hear it on the radio. Perform other stuff here. Live my life—with you. The best of both worlds.”
“Is it enough?” I asked, worried. He had dreamed of bigger things.
He looked shocked at my question, but before he could answer, Finn called him to the stage. He stood, cupped my face, and kissed me. He met my worried gaze. “Yes,” he said firmly. “It is enough. As long as you’re part of the equation, it will always be enough.”
Then he strode to the stage, smiling and happy. Patrick leaned over, meeting my eyes.
“He has everything he wants here, Maggie. Never doubt that. He loves you beyond reason. He’s happy—something I don’t think he’s been for a very long time. Trust that. Trust him.”
I met Sebastian’s eyes. As usual, they were focused on me. I smiled at him, blowing him a kiss. Patrick was right. Sebastian was happy. His light had been dimmed when I met him, as he searched for his place, lost and alone. Now, he burned bright, his creativity high. He wrote at all hours, often making Chris laugh when he would scribble lyrics on a wall or a piece of wood that was handy. His phone was full of pictures of lyrics, notes, jotted ideas. His customers had no idea of the imaginative works hidden under their paint or moldings. I loved the fact that I was often the inspiration, but he found ideas everywhere. The sound of the wind, a word or scent that stirred a memory for him. He was filled with music. With love and a zest for life. He filled me with the same passion.
Together, we were strong.
We walked home from the bar, the cool of the autumn air beginning to close in around us. I shivered, and Sebastian tugged me closer. He paused as we reached the house, looking at it from the road. The porch no longer leaned, and the roofline was once again straight and even, with new shingles and no leaks. He and Chris had pulled down the porch and rebuilt it, adding cedar columns, railings, and a swing for me to sit in. We had painted the faded siding a deep blue and added black shutters. It looked updated, clean, and homey. Eleanor and I planned on working on the garden next year, and I was excited thinking about decorating the house for Christmas. Putting up lights outside, a tree in the living room.