Music of the Heart (10 page)

              Oh my Lord.  They threw me a surprise birthday party.  How did I not see this happening?  Shit, they can’t ever keep secrets.  I’m impressed no one told me.

              I think the sheer shock on my face is praise enough for them.  The girls come running up to give me hugs and then start hugging my family.  My niece, Greer, has her favorites who just happen to be all the guys.  She loves Dixon and Reed and goes darting towards them.

              “I can’t believe y’all did this.  How in the world did you manage to pull off this party without me knowing anything?”  I glance at my parents, “Y’all were all in on it, weren’t you?”

              My level of embarrassment is pretty high right now.  I can sing in front of thousands of people every night but this, this type of surprise I don’t like and they know it. 

              Everyone at the party starts to go back to mingling and the band starts back up.  I look around at all my friends and family including all the girl’s families as well as all the guy’s families.  I love every single one of these people and know how much time they put into this party.  There is one face that’s missing.  Cross.  I don’t see him anywhere but I can feel him and I know he’s around here somewhere.  I need to talk to him tonight.

              I begin to mingle and thank everyone for coming but still don’t see Cross anywhere.  I go to ask Dixon where he is but think otherwise.  I’ll see him eventually.  Between drinking, dancing, mingling and taking turns giving candy to trick-or-treaters, I am having a blast.  After about an hour, I head to the porch off of the kitchen for a small break from everyone. 

              I grab a beer from the refrigerator and sit outside for a few minutes.  I really need to talk to Cross and apologize for how I acted at the benefit as well as thank him for the flowers. 

              As I’m standing on the kitchen porch, the air around me changes instantly and I know at that moment that Cross has found me. 

CROSS

              I kept my distance when Ashleigh arrived with her family.  From the minute she walked in and I saw her in her costume, I was a goner.  She is beautiful normally but all dressed up like she is, she’s on a whole other level.

              I stay hidden from her for the first part of the night.  It’s not that I don’t want her to see me at all, I just don’t know how she will act towards me.  I always have her in my sights though and when I see her walk towards to kitchen alone, I take the chance and follow her.

              I give her a few minutes alone and then make my way to the porch.  I finally speak up, “Happy Birthday Ashleigh.” 

              “Holy shit Cross.  You scared me.  I didn’t hear you walk up.”

              I can’t read her at the moment.  Is she pissed I came out here or is she happy to see me?  I hope it’s the latter because I am actually happy to see her.

              She looks at me and starts talking, “I haven’t seen you all night.  Did you just get here?”

              Grinning I ask her, “Why?  Have you been looking for me or did you just miss me that much?  I mean our costumes do totally match.  Did someone tell you I was coming as a doctor so you dressed like a nurse to match me?”

              I actually get a smile and a laugh out of her.  And her smile is beautiful.  I haven’t seen it much since we met but I hope I get to see it a lot more. 

              “Don’t flatter yourself.  I definitely did not dress like this to match you.  Sorry to burst your bubble.  And I can’t say I’ve been missing you but I have been looking for you.  I need to talk to you actually.  First, I need to thank you for the flowers.  They are beautiful and there are so many of them.  Did someone tell you tulips are my favorite or was it just a coincidence?”

              “I cannot give away my secrets Ashleigh but I am glad you like the flowers.  Now what else did you need to talk about?”

              She takes a deep breath and I get worried about what she needs to say.

              “I need to apologize to you.  I was pretty rude at the benefit and that is not who I am.  I don’t usually act like that towards anymore, especially someone I don’t know well.”

              “If anyone should apologize, it should be me.  I had no right to question anything about your voice or your career when we don’t really know each other well.  I was outline and I’m sorry.  Do you think we could start over?”

              She looks at me with a questioning glare.  I think she’s trying to figure out if I’m being genuine or not.  One thing I have learned is she is not the type of girl who will take much crap from people nor is she the type of girl I normally go for.  All of a sudden, she gets this small smile on her face.

              “Hi.  My name is Ashleigh Kennedy.  It’s nice to meet you.”

              It takes me a minute and then I realize we are starting over. “Hey Ashleigh, I’m Cross Hamilton.  It’s very nice to meet you as well.”

              And just like that, it feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I may have a shot with her.  Wait a minute.  Do I want to have a shot with her?  That would mean my whole philosophy on dating would go out the door.  Because if there is one thing Ashleigh Kennedy is not, she is not a one-night stand type of girl.

              All of a sudden, a little voice starts heading towards us yelling for Aunt Ashleigh.  I look back and see the cutest little girl coming straight for us.  Ashleigh grabs her up and starts giving her hugs and kisses all over.  The little girl starts belly laughing at her aunt.

              “Cross, I would like you to meet my niece, Greer.  Greer, this is my new friend, Cross.”

All of a sudden, Greer basically jumps from Ashleigh’s arms to mine.  It gives us both a small scare but I catch her in the process.  She truly is one of the cutest kids I have ever seen – white blonde curls, bright blue eyes and two dimples in her cheeks.

              “Hey Cwoss!  My name is Gweer Nicole Anderson.  What’s youwa whole name?  Where you wurk at?”

              I start chuckling because I could easily keep talking to this child all night long and be happy.

              “Well, my whole name is Cross Timothy Hamilton and I own a big company here in Atlanta.”

              “It’s nice to meet ya.  Can youwa take me to get a cupcake and to dance?”

              “Greer!  Don’t bother Cross with that.  I can take you to get a cupcake.  We can go find Ava and get you a special one from her.  Then we’ll get all the girls and hit the dance floor.”

              I look down at Greer and can see a very unhappy look on her face.  I’m not so sure she likes Ashleigh’s plan.  Then, she let’s her know it.

“No!  I want Cwoss to take me, not you.  He’s my new fwiend and I want to dance with him and Dixon.”

              I look at Ashleigh.  “I don’t mind taking her in for cupcakes and dancing.  I also wouldn’t mind if you wanted to join us also.”

              Laughing, she looks at me and tells me to take Greer back in and she’ll be back in soon.  I sure hope so because I find myself wanting to spend more time with her.

Chapter Eleven

ASHLEIGH

              The night goes on and after another hour, my family leaves to let my sister put Greer to bed.  That is, if she’ll ever go to sleep after all the cupcakes and cookies Cross and Dixon kept sneaking her.

              After about another hour, the house is clear of everyone except my girls and the guys.  We all go sit down in the den and just relax for a few minutes.

              “I want to thank y’all so much for this party.  It was amazing and you actually surprised me which is a hard thing to do.”

              Merritt looks tired but very pleased.  “Sweetie, you know we love you and would do anything for you.  We miss you when you’re on tour so we wanted to make sure you had the best 25
th
birthday ever.”

              Ava looks over at me, “please tell me you’re going to open all of your gifts now?  I want to see what everyone got you!”

              “Gifts?!  What gifts?  Oh I hate when people buy me things.  I always feel bad when people spend their money on me.”

              I look over by the fireplace and see several huge stacks of wrapped gifts.  I definitely don’t feel like opening anything right now.  It’s after midnight and I just want to go home and go to bed.

              “Sorry Ava.  I’m not going to open them tonight.”  She gives me a pouty face.  “Y’all can come over for lunch tomorrow and we can order in and you can help me open all the presents.  We can have a girl’s day in.”

That makes her happy so we start helping Merritt clean up all the food and most of the decorations.  She’ll have a cleaning crew over Monday morning to clean the rest of it.

              We say our goodbyes and I head out to my car.  I hear someone running up behind me and then Cross calls out to me.

              “Ashleigh, wait up!”  He catches up to me and I stop to see what he needs.  “Hey, I was wondering if maybe you would want to grab dinner sometime with me.  I’m leaving on Tuesday for Canada for a business trip but I’ll be back on Friday.”

              “Oh Cross, I wish I could.  Honestly, I would like to get to know you better but I leave Tuesday also to head back on tour.  I’ll only be back for a day after Thanksgiving to do ‘Friendsgiving” with everyone and then I’m gone again until the week of Christmas.”

              “Well, damn.  I would say let’s meet up before but I have plans and meetings up until I leave.”

              We talk a few more minutes with promises to get together as soon as I get home.  He walks me to the car and then decides to surprise me with a gentle kiss to my forehead.  It feels so intimate and nice.  I give him a gentle wave as I pull out onto the road.

              Once I get to my house, I bring in all my gifts.  I can’t believe everyone brought me something.  I know I told Ava I wasn’t going to open them tonight but there is one gift in particular that keeps catching my eye.  I grab the box and look for a card but there doesn’t seem to be one.  Opening the box, my mouth drops when I see what’s inside.  Who in the world would give me a brand new Louis Vuitton purse, wallet and keychain?  I notice a note in the bottom of the box and the only thing written on it is ‘Hope you enjoy.  From your new friend.’  Cross.  It’s got to be from him.  But why would he give me such an extravagant gift when up until three hours ago, we couldn’t stand each other?

CROSS

              Well, it’s Monday, it’s November 2
nd
and it’s my 32
nd
birthday.  How am I spending it?  I am holed up in my office hammering down last minute details for this Canada deal.  I have two of my right hand men in here helping me out who will be making the trip with me.  Before I realize it, we’ve been hard at work for four straight hours without a break.  A knock on my door breaks my concentration. 

Barbara steps in my office, “Cross, you need to eat something. Also, I have a special delivery for you.”

              I look at Neal and Blake and tell them to go grab some lunch and to be back up here in an hour to finish up the paperwork to take with us.  Barbara walks over with a big bag from the Sweet Peach and sets in on my desk.