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“I wouldn’t mind.”
“I understand your girl won’t be behind the bar too much longer. Now I’ve got to break in another bartender.” Naomi gave a dramatic sigh with a hand to her forehead.
“Change is inevitable.” Even in his life.
Carolina did a handoff of whatever bartenders needed to do. Ella came back and they finished their drinks and headed to Fitzgerald House.
“I forgot to show you the picture of the piano.” Ella pulled out her phone.
Carolina smiled. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“But this is the first piano I’ve gotten to choose for performing. I’ve played so many baaad ones.” She dragged out the word. “Ones that would make the baby grand here sound like it was ready for a concert pianist.”
Carolina leaned over and looked at the photo. “It looks perfect.”
“It will be. And we will wow Abby and the audiences. And record producers will hear about us and come flocking to listen. And they’ll whisk us away to Nashville or New York or LA!”
Take them away? Was that Carolina’s dream? Sage’s breath caught in his throat.
Carolina glanced at him. Was that guilt crossing her face? “You know I can’t think of anything like that right now.”
Ella put her arm around Carolina’s shoulders. “I know. But…”
“No. No buts.”
So Savannah wasn’t permanent? He wanted a future with Carolina, but hadn’t counted on needing to worry about travel logistics and career expectations. The thought was like taking a kick to his chest from a horse.
“How was your mother?” He opened the door to the Fitzgerald House kitchen.
“Another seizure.” Her face twisted in pain. “Her stress is causing them.”
“What’s she worried about?”
A bleak look filled Carolina’s face. She swallowed. “There are…things she wants me to do. I just can’t do them fast enough for her.”
“Anything I can help with?” he asked.
“Or me?” Ella asked.
Carolina rubbed her temples. “Some of her requests are the tumors making her…”
He’d seen her mother’s behaviors. “Irrational.”
“Yes,” Carolina said.
“Hey, guys,” Abby called. “Grab something to drink from the wine tasting and bring it back. Dinner’s almost ready. Sage, you’re our token male tonight.”
“I can deal,” Sage said. “Carolina, sit. I’ll get a glass of wine for you.”
She nodded, her body curling in on itself.
He and Ella followed Abby’s directions to a library filled with guests. He checked out the wine selections and poured two glasses.
“She looks so beaten,” Ella said as they headed back to the kitchen.
“I know.” Sage grimaced. “I don’t know how to help her.”
Ella straightened her shoulders. “We’ll figure out something.”
“We will.” But he wanted to be Carolina’s hero.
Carolina was sitting with the three Fitzgerald sisters in the sitting area. And Abby was giving Carolina a hug.
Abby said, “I’m so sorry this is happening to you and your mother. I know I’ve said it before, but anything I can do…”
“Thank you.” Carolina’s eyes glistened with tears.
He hurried over and handed her a glass. “It’s prosecco.”
“Thank you.” Carolina swallowed. “Everyone, thank you.”
During dinner the sisters kept the conversation lively, asking Ella questions about music and Nashville. Carolina barely said a word.
Sage squeezed her shoulder as he cleared their dishes. “Do you want me to take you back to the apartment?”
“No.” Carolina held his hand as they headed up to the Fitzgerald House music room.
“But you’re so quiet.” The sadness hadn’t left her face.
“Ella wants to run through a couple of songs. It will take my mind off my mother.”
The Fitzgeralds sat on facing sofas across the room. Ella was at the piano.
Carolina headed to the piano, but stared at something above Ella’s head.
He frowned. It was a small globe.
While they discussed what to sing, he moved to the bookshelf and picked up the globe. There was a plaque on the base.
“‘Así que siempre puede encontrar su camino a casa.’” He’d probably butchered the Spanish.
“So you can always find your way home,” Carolina whispered.
“What?”
“So you can always find your way home.” Carolina swallowed. “That’s what it…you said.”
“I always wondered.” Bess took the globe. “I kept forgetting to look it up.”
