The Black Sheep's Secret Child

“I came in a few hours ago. Kyle and Nate are both in Las Vegas, so I thought I’d take some time off and come visit you.”

“I’m so glad. I have to be at the theater at ten. We’re making some minor changes to one of the scenes.” The play had opened a week before to mixed but mostly positive reviews. His mother was a perfectionist, always taking her craft up a notch. “You can take me to lunch and tell me all of what’s going on in your life.”

“I’ll be there.”

Trent hung up and headed for the lobby. His favorite thing to do when he came to New York was to walk the streets and absorb the energy. The city’s pace was just as hectic as Las Vegas’s, but here people moved with purpose, the vibe oriented toward both business and artistic pursuits.

At five minutes before ten, he met his mother on the sidewalk in front of the theater. She wore a long gray sweater belted over black leggings and a slouchy black trench coat. Bright red lipstick emphasized her broad smile. These days she was always happy. It hadn’t been that way when he was young. Sometimes when Siggy hadn’t been home she would sing with Trent and Melody, but even then her eyes had carried shadows.

“How wonderful to see you.” His mother trapped his face between her hands and brought his head down so she could kiss his cheek. Then she peered at him. “You look tired.”

“I flew the red-eye and didn’t sleep.”

“With all the crazy hours you work at that club of yours, I would think you’d be used to it.” She linked her arm through his and drew him into the theater. “I hear Melody’s back in the studio. Is she ever going to finish her album?”

“Nate has given her a deadline and threatened to pick the songs himself if she doesn’t start making some decisions.”

“Is she happy?”

Trent gave his mother’s question serious consideration. It wouldn’t do to fire off a hasty answer. “Yes and no.”

“Why, yes?”

“I think she’s glad to be done with the tour. The traveling and performing are not her cup of tea. And she’s having fun playing in the studio. It’s what she loves. It wouldn’t surprise me if one day she stopped singing and went into production full-time.”

“It’s too bad Siggy can’t appreciate musical genius. She would’ve been a great asset to West Coast Records.” His mother slipped off her coat and draped it over her arm. “So would you.”

Trent shrugged. He’d given up on pleasing his father before he’d become a teenager. “Siggy didn’t want me within a mile of his company, and he only sees Melody as a little girl.”

Naomi shook her head. “So why is my daughter unhappy?”

“I don’t know for sure, because neither of them is confiding in me, but I think Melody and Kyle are having problems. Right now they are both in Las Vegas, but from what I can tell they haven’t seen each other yet.”

“That’s the feeling I get, as well,” his mother said, her sigh speaking volumes. “She stopped talking about him three months ago. I think something happened when she broke from the tour to visit him in LA.”

“They’ll figure it out.”

His mother regarded Trent with surprise. “That’s very optimistic of you.”

“You don’t think I’m right?”

“No, I think you’re right.” Her eyes narrowed and she seemed to be searching for something in his expression. “I’m just surprised that your opinion is so upbeat.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You aren’t exactly a believer when it comes to romance and relationships. Do you remember saying that your brother’s marriage wouldn’t last a year?”

And it hadn’t. Just not for the reason Trent had thought.

“I didn’t think Rafe and Savannah were meant for each other.”

“Because she was your girlfriend first?”

Two years ago he’d never imagined he would lose her. By the time he figured out that he didn’t want to live without her, she’d been engaged to his brother.

“I had my chance.”

And he’d blown it. But he couldn’t say the words out loud. His regrets were private.