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Chapter 19

Ginny tried her best to listen as she interviewed The Colonel, but her mind was too full with the Should-I-Show-This-Man-The-Picture-I-Have-In-My-Purse pro/con list. Up until she had spoken to Chase an hour ago, she’d decided not to approach the man she believed to be her paternal grandfather. After seeing him surrounded by his family and friends, she truly believed in her heart of hearts that it would be best to just leave well enough alone.

But then, this morning happened. Yesterday was…there were no words to explain how amazing yesterday had been. She and Dax had spent the day having sex, watching shows, eating and repeating. She’d been blessed with a lot of amazing opportunities and honors. She’d had over ten number-one singles, won AMAs, CMAs, and Grammys, she’d performed sold out shows for over fifty thousand people and even collaborated with the legendary Stevie Wonder but none had compared to spending the day with Dax. It showed her what really mattered weren’t awards, shows, or accolades. She would trade all of those things, if every day could be like yesterday. Not that she would trade her music, that was different, that was her soul. But the success, the fame, the money—none of that compared to someone who saw the real her and made her feel so safe, protected, cherished and loved.

When she went to bed last night her world couldn’t have been more perfect. But then she’d woken up this morning to the shit hitting the fan and she’d figured it might be karma. Not that she really believed in that, but maybe her going along with a media relationship was coming back to bite her. She’d tried to justify her actions by telling herself that she’d never confirmed or denied her and Derek’s relationship. And if people took pictures of them kissing and drew conclusions from that, well, that was their prerogative. But that was just semantics. She’d lied by omission and allowed misleading affectionate photos to tell a story that wasn’t true.

As far as the music being leaked, she’d reasoned that it was just the universe’s way of evening things out. There was no way she could have what she had with Dax and have her professional life going well.

When she first talked to her mom, she’d definitely freaked out on the inside. But Capone had helped her calm down. The more she petted him, the calmer she got. And once the initial panic had passed she’d resigned herself to the turn of events fairly quickly.

Until The Colonel had called.

When she’d interviewed Sophie Sloan the week before, Sophie had mentioned that her grandpa had asked about the project after he heard “the kids” talking about it and he’d said it sounded like fun. Sophie had asked if Ginny might want to interview him. She’d said sure, fully intending not to bring up the picture. She figured at least this would give her a chance to talk to him one-on-one and get to know him a little bit. She’d taken his number and told Sophie to pass hers along to him.

Honestly, she’d planned on contacting him but then Dax’s mom and sister had shown up and everything else kind of got put on the back burner.

But then, this morning when she was sitting on Dax’s lap and she’d seen his number something inside her had snapped. In an instant she realized that Dax was here now, but she’d be leaving in a week. As amazing as he was, he wasn’t hers. She had her mom, who was the best support system ever, but she was one person and she had a husband now. In a flash, Ginny felt alone. Really alone.

And she didn’t want to be. She wanted family.

When she answered the call and heard his voice, it was all she could do not to cry and tell him who she was. She’d managed to keep it together then and now that she was here she was trying to decide what to do.

There was so much chaos in her life right now. Was this the right time to add something else to it? Was this the right time to invite someone else into it? Talk about not being able to put the cat back in the bag, once she opened this can of worms there was no going back.

As he finished telling her about the moment he knew that his Marie was the one, Ginny knew her time was running out. She had one more question to ask him and then she was due at the studio to try to figure out her next move with Chase. Logically, she knew even if she didn’t broach the subject today she could do it at a later date, but her intuition was telling her that if she walked out that door without showing him the picture she never would.

“Okay, and my last question is what is love to you?”

He sat quietly for a moment and then smiled, it was the kind of smile that had hidden depths. It revealed his wisdom and knowledge and at the same time, his spirit and heart. “Well now, that’s quite a question. For such a little word it sure can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, can’t it? The Bible has a pretty darn good definition of it in First Corinthians that covers love in general, but I’m guessing you mean romantic love?”

“Yes, sir. I do.” Ginny smiled.

“Well, I suppose to some people love is a feeling. But, I know better than that. Sure, when you love someone, it can feel good. It can be the best feeling in the world, but that’s just a side effect. A symptom.

“And now, I guess some people think that love is something you fall in. That you’re just walking around, minding your p’s and q’s and you stumble right into it. But I’ve never quite agreed with that theory because the flip side to that coin is that you can fall out of love just as easy as you can fall into it.

“I think when folks think love is just a feeling or something that you can fall in and out of, well that’s a darn shame, because that means you’re gonna miss out on the best part of what love is. You want to know what I think love is, young lady?”

Ginny nodded, with bated breath, hanging on his every word.

“Love is work.”

Oh. That’s not where she saw it going.

“Love is something that you choose to work on every day. And yes, some days you’re gonna feel like you can fly to the moon and back just when your special fella or lady looks at you and smiles. And you’re gonna feel like there’s nothing that could ever take that feeling away, but let me tell you, when you love someone, life doesn’t give you a pass and everything comes out smelling like roses.

“When you love someone, truly love someone, there are going to be times that you might not like them very much. And that’s where the true meaning of love comes in. That’s when the work comes in. That’s when you remind yourself what that person really means to you. That’s when you gotta do something extra-special for that person, because let me tell you somethin’, as frustrated or disappointed or upset at that person you might be, you’re no peach yourself, and they’ve had to put up with you too.

“I remember when me and my Marie used to disagree, usually over small things, but sometimes over big ones, I would always bring flowers home, or leave her a special note telling her how beautiful she was, or that her laugh was my favorite sound in the world, or that when she walked into a room everyone else faded to the background, or how my heart never truly beat until it found her, or how just thinking her name made me grin like a fool. Or one of the hundred other things that she was, that she meant to me just to remind both of us how much I loved her.

“And when I would be a knucklehead and upset her, she would do things like pack me an extra dessert in my lunch, or buy a round of golf for me and my buddies, or make my favorite dinner, or be wearing my favorite dress that showed off her legs when I got home.” Grandpa J wagged his brows. “Now did she really want to get gussied up for me when I was being bullheaded about somethin’ or other, probably not, but she did it because that’s what love, true love is, it’s work. I had the best job for over sixty years with my Marie and I miss it, miss her every second of every day. So if you’re lucky enough to get that job, hold onto it with everything you have and don’t let go. Don’t call in sick. Don’t take a vacation. Show up every day and put in the work, that’s love.”

Ginny felt tears filling her eyes. She tried to hold them back. To sniff and inconspicuously wipe them away, but she failed. They were falling down her cheeks before she could help it. She wasn’t sure if she was crying because of how sweet Grandpa J’s definition of love was, or if she was crying because she wished she had that with Dax, or if she was crying because she’d been robbed of having a man this great in her life. Or if it was all three. One thing was sure, after hearing him tell that story, there was no way she was walking out of this house without telling him who she was.

“Now, now, don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Grandpa J, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. It was so soft and it smelled exactly how she’d always imagined a grandpa would smell, which was a little like Old Spice. “I heard on the computer that some people stole your songs and that you were having a little trouble with your beau. But let me tell you something, if you listen to anything this old man tells you today, hear this. It will all work out. Even if it’s not the way you wanted or how you wanted it to be, what will be will be and you will be okay. I promise.”

“Thank you,” Ginny’s throat was so tight her voice was barely audible. She tried to relax and she took a deep breath as she dug into her pocket. “I appreciate you saying that, but those things aren’t why I’m upset.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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