Things Lost In The Fire (18 page)

S
UMMER AIR breezed in from the open window, bringing the scent of freshly cut grass and jasmine. Sadie breathed it in as her fingers trailed over the keys of her father’s piano, enchanted by the sunny view outside of Los Angeles.

Her father’s old music room was more spacious and well-lit than her own back home in Lake Tahoe. And much like she’d felt while playing her mother’s piano, she sensed so much of his emotions here. His music had always run deep, such a contrast to the cool persona he reflected on the outside. Also like her mother, he was such a mystery to her. Who was the man behind the mask he wore, the man who poured his soul into music that made him a legend? She wondered if she would ever truly know.

She practiced a new song she was working on, even though she had no idea if she’d perform again or not. Even if she didn’t, she still had her YouTube channel. This would make a nice, light-hearted addition to her collection of music, something bright and summery just in time for the season.

She smiled to herself as her thoughts shifted to Brody. It’d been less than a day since their lunch date and she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Not for lack of trying, though. She’d done all she could to distract herself. Grocery shopping, a long jog around the neighborhood, a pathetic attempt at baking brownies that turned out burnt and crispy. All of it failed miserably so she’d done the only thing she knew she wouldn’t suck at—she sat down at the piano and wrote music.

And oh, how the music flowed. Despite everything with her mother, she felt so alive. So
inspired
. For the first time in so long, the music within her came from a place that wasn’t dark and damaged. It came from a place of joy.

She was back in L.A., bright and shiny and scary as it was. She’d performed for an audience that adored her. She reunited with an old friend who made her laugh and brought back memories of what life was like before
it
happened.

Her mother was still dying, but that was completely out of her control. Everything else brought a tiny glimmer of hope to her heart that did wonders for her mood.

She heard the front door slam shut and smiled. “I’m in here, Tess!”

Moments later her friend came into the room, out of breath and harried. Sadie looked at her, confused. “Is everything okay?”

Tess’s mouth fell open, no words following. She shook her head and leaned against the door frame, as if struggling to get her bearings. “Honey, don’t panic, but I have some bad news.”

“My mom?” Sadie asked, rising to her feet in alarm. She was already halfway to the door before Tess stopped her.

“No, it’s not that,” Tess replied. Her hands dove into her hair, then fell to her sides. “Not really, anyway.”

“So what, then?”

Tess sighed. “Someone told the press that you’re Piper Gray.”

Sadie paled, her knees giving out. She sat back down on the piano bench and fought to control her breathing. “Oh, God.”

Tess rushed to sit by her side and rubbed her back. “I know. I’m so sorry. It gets worse.”

“How could it get worse?” Sadie asked, meeting her friend’s eyes in desperation.

“Everyone knows Valerie’s dying.”

Sadie sucked in a breath, stunned. No, it couldn’t be. Did he?

Tears formed in her eyes as she buried her face in her hands, unable to stop the anger from rushing through her. There was only one person who knew about Valerie other than Tess and the band. One person who she’d just told the day before…

“This is all my fault,” she whispered, mortified. Betrayed.

Tess held her close. “It’s going to be okay, honey. We’ll figure it out.”

“No.” Sadie rose to her feet and began to pace the room, unable to face her friend. Her hands began to shake. “No, it won’t be. It’s all over. I can’t perform anymore. I have to take down my videos, stop singing. My parents will find out. God, they’re going to kill me. I shouldn’t have told—”

She froze, the name on the tip of her tongue. Guilt and shame prevented her from uttering it, even though the truth tore her to pieces inside. How could he? Damnit, she’d trusted him…

Tess stood and grabbed her shoulders, forcing their eyes to meet. “Sadie, what did you do?”

“I had lunch with Brody yesterday. I told him everything.”

Tess closed her eyes, her hands falling back to her sides. She turned away and sat down on the piano bench. “Well, that explains it, then.”

“He said he wouldn’t say anything. I believed him,” Sadie stammered.

“Yeah, well, I told you he was trouble, didn’t I?” Tess snapped.

When Sadie only turned away, Tess let out a huff of breath and went to her. “I’m sorry, honey. I’m just so angry for you. But hey, lesson learned, right? Now you know and we can move past this. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Sadie nodded. “Yeah. You’re right.”

“I know I am.” Tess pulled her in for a tight hug, then released her. “Why don’t I go get us some man-bashing wine and we can drink to his early death?”

Sadie managed a weak smile. “Okay. I’ll just go lie down…”

“You do that. I’ll be right back.”

Sadie watched Tess leave, all her earlier optimism shattered. She went to the window and shut it, drawing the blinds closed and closeting the room in darkness. There was no place left for light now. She couldn’t stand it.

“I’M SORRY I didn’t tell you,” Sadie said with a sigh. She lay curled up in bed, her cell phone to her ear and the man who might as well have been her father on the other line.

“
I’m just shocked, kiddo. I mean, this is a big deal,
” Tommy told her, kindness in his voice. “
I watched all your videos. They’re incredible
.”

Sadie smiled sadly, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Thanks. God, I feel so stupid.”

“
Why? You have real talent. You should be proud.
”

“I’m stupid for thinking I could remain Piper Gray forever. Eventually it was going to fall apart. Maybe if I’d stayed in Tahoe—”

“
You know I’m not a fan of the what-ifs, Sadie-bug. You did what you did and that’s the end of it. Make this work for you. If you haven’t been watching the news, this story is huge. People are really excited.
”

“I’m sure he got a nice big paycheck, then,” Sadie blurted out bitterly, only to wince at her own carelessness. Tommy grew quiet for a second.

“
He? I thought you didn’t know who leaked it.
”

“I have a pretty good idea.” She sighed again, hating herself. “Brody Odell.”

“
Oh. Well, that makes sense. What’d he hide in the bushes and catch you talking about it or something?
”

“No, I knew him in school. You wouldn’t remember that…” Sadie explained. She rolled onto her back and closed her eyes. “When I performed the other night at The L.A. Rock Lounge, he was there. He recognized me. So we had lunch and I kind of spilled the beans. It’s my fault.”

“
It’ll be okay. Everyone in the family knows and we’re all rooting for you, kid.
”

“Everyone?” Sadie asked, thinking of her parents.

“
I haven’t heard from Val, but Ben’s excited about it.
”

Sadie chuckled. “Liar.”

“
What?
”

“Stop trying to protect me from him. He probably just shrugged it off like everything else that involves me.”

“
Maybe he did. But I caught a hint of excitement on his face, I promise.
”

“Sure. Whatever, what does it matter now, anyway? The secret’s out. I’m exposed. Piper Gray is no more.”

“
But Sadie McRae has one hell of a future
,” Tommy said proudly. “
I mean it.
”

“Thanks, Tommy.” Sadie smiled, feeling a little better. “I’m gonna go drown in a bottle of wine. I’ll talk to you later.”

“
Okay. Love you, kid.
”

“Love you too.” She hung up and climbed out of bed, wandering into the living room. She spotted Tess pacing the kitchen, arguing with someone on the phone. Before she had a chance to listen in, Tess hung up and tossed the phone aside.

“Bastards,” Tess muttered. When she spotted Sadie, she sighed.

“What now?” Sadie asked.

“I got a hold of the original tabloid who published the story. I tried to tell them it wasn’t true and that they need to rescind it, but they say their source is very reliable. They won’t pull it.”

“They trust Brody.” Sadie shrugged, feeling bitter. “They have no reason to doubt what he tells them.”

“I guess. But for them to ignore our denial flat-out seems fishy to me.” Tess shook her head and reached for a bottle of Cabernet sitting on the counter. “Anyway, it’s done. I did get a call from Leon, though. He said he’ll give you his first born son if you perform your first Sadie McRae show at his place.”

Sadie managed a weak laugh and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. There won’t be any more shows.”

Tess busied herself uncorking the wine. “You sure? Don’t lie to me and say you didn’t get a kick out of performing the other night.”

“I did…” Sadie began, resting her hip against the kitchen counter. She crossed her arms and chewed on her lower lip. “I don’t want the fame, Tess. The very thought of it terrifies me. I just want to make music and still have my private life.”

“I know, honey. But you can’t have everything. There’s got to be some give and take,” Tess reasoned, grabbing two glasses and pouring the wine. She handed one to Sadie with a smile. “Look, I know this all still new and scary for you. Just take it one day at a time, okay? No one’s forcing you to decide your whole future right now.”

Sadie stared at her glass of wine, swirling the red liquid around in the glass. “The future I wanted is no longer possible. Thanks to Brody.”

“He’s a man. Men are assholes.” Tess clicked her glass against Sadie’s and took a long drink. She then set it down and poured more wine into it. “He’s only looking out for himself. That’s what assholes do.”

Anger swelled inside of Sadie. “I should have known better, but I let my old feelings for him get in the way.”

“He’s not the same person he was.”

Sadie nodded, then took a sip of her wine. “I see that now. He doesn’t care about me. Everything we once had is gone.”

“I’m sorry, honey.” Tess tried to touch her, but Sadie pulled away.

“I need some time alone. Give me an hour?”

“Sure. Why don’t you go take a nice hot bath and I’ll make dinner?” Tess suggested. “Then we’ll put on
Kill Bill
and watch men get their asses kicked.”

“Stupid men. I hate them.” Sadie poured more wine into her glass and met her friend’s eyes. “Next time I start to fall for one, punch me in the face, okay?”

Tess smiled and raised her glass in a toast. “Will do.”

B
RODY SQUINTED at the screen of his laptop, reading through one of the witness testimonies from the night Sadie was attacked. It read like a murder mystery novel. The witness, one-time singer and occasional porn star Shelly Harlow, had the imagination of a ten-year-old. Either that, or she was high as a kite at the time of the interview.