Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train, #4)

“I really hope you mean that.”


Mom reached back to pat my leg. “We do.” After I gave her a small smile, she turned back in her seat. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about what happened with your Uncle Sam.” She then began rattling on again like nothing had happened at all. Leaning back against the seat, I closed my eyes and willed the car to get us home faster.





BRAYDEN


THE PAST


As I turned onto the familiar road, an agonizing ache tightened in my chest. If I had closed my eyes, I could have found the way there by heart. The two greatest loves of my life had called this road home—my grandparents and Lily. And I had lost them all.

Before I reached the familiar driveway, my foot eased up on the accelerator, and I found myself pulling over. Rolling down the window, I stuck my head out and took a long look at what once had been my beacon in the storm.

More than anything in the world, I wanted to see my Nana shuffling along the front porch, outfitted in one of her house dresses with a green water pitcher in her hand. As she hummed a gospel tune, she would give nourishment to the plants she loved. With a chaw of tobacco in his mouth, Granddad would be sprawled out in a rocker, watching Nana’s every move with lazy, hooded eyes, which were drifting between being alert or slipping into a nap. Of course, the moment he heard Nana squeal, “Brayden Michael, get yourself on up here and give me some sugar!” he’d be out of the rocking chair in a flash.

Tears welled in my eyes as I surveyed the empty porch. Only the ghosts of happy memories resided there now. If I stopped by the personal care home, Granddad wouldn’t know me. After Nana’s sudden death from a stroke two years ago, he had lost his mind. Once the light of his world had been extinguished, he gave up the will to live and retreated into his own shadowy existence where he didn’t have to live without his love.

Even though I was only twenty four, I realized more than ever that you could never truly go back home—at least not literally. Sometimes home had to simply reside in your heart.

Easing down on the accelerator, I passed my grandparents’ house and headed on to Lily’s. Cars lined both sides of the road, and I had to park on the curb a few houses down. I drew in a deep breath to try to prepare me for what I was about to face. I had to worry not only about the suffocating panic that always filled me around death and grief, but also, the fact that I might be met with open hostility by Lily and her family.

I started up the hillside. Even though the funeral wasn’t until tomorrow, people still were all outfitted in black. While conversation filled the air, it was silently muted and reverent. I made my way across the yard and pounded up the porch steps.

Craning my neck, I searched the crowd for Lily. As I walked down the length of the porch, my skin burned from the stares of people I’d once known. When I dared to meet some of their expectant gazes, I simply bobbed my head and gave a tight smile. At the moment, I didn’t give a fuck if they were thinking I was some sellout for leaving town and not looking back. All that mattered at the moment was finding Lily.

“Brayden?” a voice questioned behind me. I whirled around to see Lily’s younger sister, Kylie, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I replied lamely.

“I didn’t expect to see you. I mean, with the way things were left with you and Lily, I didn’t think you’d have any reason to come…” She shook her head. “Shit, that came out all wrong.”

“It’s okay.” As I cleared my throat, I desperately tried to find the right words. “I had to come if just for Paul. He was...” My voice choked off with emotion. “Paul was a good man. I loved him very much.”

Tears shimmered in Kylie’s blue eyes—eyes that were so much like her sister’s. She reached out for me, and I wrapped my arms around her. “Thank you,” she murmured into my ear. After I pulled away, she gave me a sad smile. “He loved you, too. I don’t think he ever gave up hope that you would patch things up with Lily.”

Kylie’s words caused the ache in my chest to grow. The memory of going to him and asking his permission to marry Lily flickered through my mind. The emotions were so strong that I staggered back from the pain. To try and get a hold of my emotions, I asked, “How’s Lily?”

Kylie grimaced. “Not well. She hasn’t slept or eaten since we got the news. She’s refused to see or talk to anyone.”

The enormity of Lily’s grief didn’t surprise me. “Where is she?”

“Holed up on the back porch in Daddy’s favorite rocking chair.”

“I need to talk to her.”