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A hand pressed against her back. She turned.
Abby stood behind her with a plate. Worry had her brows mashing together. “Heard we had an emergency. Are you okay?”
“I… I—”
“She forgot to eat,” Sage interrupted.
“Hope this helps.” Abby handed her the plate and turned away. But she turned back. “Will you be able to finish your sets?”
She nodded, hating the coolness in Abby’s voice.
When had Carolina’s feelings changed about her half sister? It wasn’t that long ago she’d resented asking Abby for a job. Now she longed for the closeness they’d had yesterday.
That was over.
“That last song.” Abby held up her hands. “Amazing. You could have heard a pin drop in the restaurant. The staff stopped working.”
“Sorry.”
“Sorry? You’re pulling in crowds. It’s standing-room only at the bar. And we’ve filled the balcony.”
“You have?” Carolina looked around. People waved and smiled at her. A crowd stood by the patio doors and up in the balcony.
“Word of mouth and our website. And there was a food critic here last night who raved about our food and your singing.”
Sage put an arm around Carolina’s shoulders. “You make a good team.”
Abby stared at Sage. “You might be right.”
Carolina’s mouth dropped open.
“You’d better eat. There’s not much time left and I don’t want the crowd to get ugly.” Abby spun around and headed to the kitchen.
“That was…interesting.” Sage turned her so she faced the food.
“We’re not a team, Sage.”
“More than you know. Or maybe interdependent?”
Carolina didn’t want to analyze their relationship. She dug into a chicken, mushroom and noodle dish that was delicious. “Mmm.”
He massaged her shoulders. “You could share.”
“Mmm-hmm.” But she kept shoveling in the tender chicken in an incredible gravy.
“You’re as tight as new cowboy boots.” He dug his fingers into her muscles. “You’ve given me tons of back rubs. I need to reciprocate.”
She pushed the plate away, knowing she didn’t sing her best on a full stomach. “You can finish that.”
“I will.” He kissed the back of her neck and slid so they were side by side in the tight space. “Can you come home with me tonight?”
With all the drama in the last two days, she should sleep in her own bed. Alone.
But that wasn’t what she wanted. “Yes.”
* * *
“MAMÁ, HOW ARE YOU feeling?” Carolina asked on Tuesday, setting her tote on the chair next to the hospital bed.
Mamá’s hair had been fixed and she looked good. “I want to go home.”
“Let’s ask Dr. Laster when we meet with her.”
“How did your sets go last night?” her mother asked. “You were so good when I saw you. You should be recording. Why aren’t you recording?”
Mamá was caught in a time warp believing it was Sunday and not Tuesday. She’d learned not to tell her mother that it had been a few days since she’d sung. And no way would she tell her the Fitzgeralds knew her true identity. “Ella thinks my rendition of ‘Somewhere’ was the best she’d ever heard.”
“I love that song!” Mamá started singing.
Carolina sang with her, harmonizing when she could. Her mother’s voice was deeper, but they blended and meshed.
She fumbled with her phone, trying to record their duet, but the song ended too soon. She needed to record her mother before it was too late.
Applause sounded from the doorway. “That was beautiful,” Dr. Laster said.
“My daughter’s singing here in town.”
The doctor nodded. “I heard her sing that song Saturday.”
“You were there?” Carolina asked.
“Upstairs. I couldn’t see you, but I could hear.” Dr. Laster touched her shoulder. “I’m so glad I went.”
“She’s wonderful, isn’t she?” Mamá smiled.
“She sure is.” The doctor pulled up the extra chair. “But let’s talk about you, Rosa. I’ve met with your neurologist. If you can make it through the end of this week seizure-free, we’ll release you next week. You might be home for Halloween. If you feel strong enough, you could see Carolina sing again.”
“Home?” Mamá clasped her hands on her chest. “Finally.”
“Home.” Carolina wanted it for Mamá, but the logistics of caring for her mother at home were daunting.
“There are some things to consider,” Dr. Laster said.
