“Hi.”
I don’t know if I’ve ever been hugged this tightly. I might lose all lung capacity if she doesn’t let go soon.
“I’m Melody,” she says when she finally pulls away. “And this is my husband, Linus.”
“You’re the birthday boy,” I say when I reach out to shake his hand, but I’m pulled in for another hug. This one is gentle. Linus is a big man, like his sons. But where Levi has salt-and-pepper hair, Linus’s is all white.
“That’s me,” he says with a kind smile.
“What can I do to help?” I glance around and stop cold. Levi’s mom isn’t cooking.
“Absolutely nothing,” Melody says. “As you can see, Linus requested pizza for dinner.”
“Cheeseburger pizza,” Linus says with a wink. “But there’s other stuff here if you’d rather.”
“Are you kidding? Cheeseburger pizza is my jam.”
And just like that, all of my nerves are gone. Levi’s parents are warm. Kind. Much like their son.
When we all have full plates, we settle into the informal family dining room. The boys are chatting, drinking beer and giving each other shit about nearly everything.
“I’m Mom’s favorite,” Jace says with a simple shrug. “It’s really that easy.”
“In your dreams.” Wyatt glares at his brother. “She tolerates you at best.”
“I love all of my children equally,” Melody says with a sigh. “Every time. We go through this every time.”
“No one ever argues over my love,” Linus says, and I smile at him.
“I think I’m your favorite,” I tell him, and laugh when he winks and holds his fist out for a bump.
“That you are, darling.”
I think I might have a little crush on Levi’s dad. Not in a weird, fetishy way. But in a he’s-a-cool-dad way.
I smile smugly at Levi just as my phone rings.
“I’m sorry, everyone. This is Donald.” I turn to Levi. “I have to take it.”
“Absolutely,” he says as I accept the call and step away from the table and into the living room. “Hi, Donald.”
“How’s my favorite girl?”
I smile, thinking of the conversation happening at the table.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m great. Just calling to let you know that 20/20 wants to do a show with you. It’ll be Diane Dobson doing the interview. This is big, baby. Primetime TV.”
“Sounds like fun, actually.”
“Perfect. They want to do the interview at your home in LA on Friday.”
“Of this week? That’s fast.”
“That’s what they want. So get your sexy ass to LA by Friday.”
“Uh, Donald, I’m not coming to LA right now.” I bite my lip, seeing the look Donald gives me whenever I dare to tell him no.
“Did you not hear the part about Primetime TV?”
“I did, and I’m happy to do it, it’ll just have to be in Seattle.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Please.”
“I’ll see to it, and email you with the specifics.”
“Here, let me give you my new email address.” I rattle it off to him.
“Why the new address?”
“Too much spam in the other one,” I lie easily.
“Okay. I’ll be in touch.”
He hangs up, and I sigh. I hope Nat and Luke don’t mind me having the interview in their house. I know Luke is intensely private. I’ll have to talk with them about it.
When I return to the dining room, everyone is pretty much done with their pizza, and there’s a cake sitting in front of Linus with six candles lit.
“Now, we can sing,” Melody says, leading the birthday song. When we’re finished, Linus squeezes his eyes shut as if he’s making a wish, and then blows out the candles.
“What did you wish for?” Joy asks.
“For Starla to sing with me in the living room after we eat this cake.”
All eyes turn to me. “Really?”
“If you’re up for it,” Linus replies.
“Sure, that would be fun.”
Linus shocks the hell out of me.
After dessert, we’re in the living room, and Linus has an old guitar on his knee. He begins playing the opening notes of Fire and Rain by James Taylor, and I join him, singing harmony to his melody.
“How did you know that’s one of my favorite songs?” I ask when we’re finished.
“Because you’re my favorite,” he says with a wink.~Starla~
I don’t know why I’m nervous.
Nat and Luke have been my friends for a long time. Luke is in the business. They’ll understand.
Or, if they don’t, I’ll just rent a suite at a hotel for the interview. Either way, it’ll work out.
I knock on the door, and Natalie answers it, holding a baby on her shoulder.
“Hey, Starla, come on in.”
“Thanks.” I close the door behind me and follow Nat to the large living room off the kitchen.
“Livvy’s in school, and the others are napping. I just finished feeding this little one, and she should be asleep soon.”
“Can I hold her?”
Nat looks at me in surprise but then smiles. “Of course, you can.”
She carefully lays the sleepy baby in my arms, and I sit in the rocking chair, looking down into green eyes. The girl’s little fist closes around one of my fingers, as sure as if it was directly around my heart.