“Those weren’t from her. I typed those to you. I knew exactly what she would have wanted to say to you—but she was already too far gone to say them herself. And as I wrote them, I believed them. I finally understood this dream of yours, and why youarecut out to fight for it. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I’ll try to do better at being more open and honest with you.”
It took Sadie a couple of moments to absorb her mom’s words, but she soon accepted that Lynn had only done what any loving mother would do. That Gran would likely have approved, too. That Sadie had needed to believe she was getting a final goodbye—and that nothing was ever going to change the fact that her gran was gone. “It’s okay, Mom. Really. Come on, let’s just go upstairs. We can talk more and soon you’ll understand exactly why I can’t stay here.”
—
Even after Sadie had told her mom everything, every painful detail, all the ways in which she had been broken by the music industry—she didn’t have the reaction Sadie expected her to have.
“No damn way!” she said. “You are not letting that damn Cruz McNeil steal this dream from you. As your mother, I haveto tell you—you are not making the right choice here. First off, Cruz deserves to be charged for what he did.”
“No way. I am not going through that.”
“So you’ll just let him act however he wants? Do those things to anyone else he pleases?”
This did give Sadie pause, but she also knew that she alone was no match for someone as influential as Cruz. “I’ll find ways to heal,” she said. “Possibly with therapy. I promise, I won’t just sweep it under the rug. But right now, I just hope I never have to see him again.”
“I understand. I’ll always support you however I can, Sadie. I just don’t want to see you throw away your dreams because of someone like Cruz. Your gran would be livid with me if I did. And she wouldn’t want you to forget how much you love music.” Lynn paused. “Play that song for me. The one you said you wrote for Max at the Song Sparrow earlier.”
Sadie got out the keyboard she kept at her apartment. She had to admit, despite everything, it felt pretty fantastic to play the song. She didn’t realize until she was finished that Lynn was holding up Sadie’s phone as she did. “Hey, were you recording me?”
Lynn shook her head and handed the phone to Sadie. “I may have gone ahead and made a phone call...”
It was Amalia. “Holy crap, Vanilla Twist! That song wasincredible!” she shouted. “And you have got to stop disappearing on me, girl.”
“Things have been tough, Amalia. I needed some time to think.”
Amalia’s voice was stern. “I heard from Cruz’s team. Apparently you fired him? Why wouldn’t you talk to me first?”
“Listen,” Sadie said, her voice equally grim. “I don’t want a career where I have to be near someone like Cruz ever again.” She took a bolstering breath and explained to Amalia what had happened at the studio. After Sadie was finished speaking, Amalia was silent. Was she going to believe her?
“I’m sorry,” Amalia said, and her voice was different now. In fact, her indomitable manager had never sounded so shaken up. “I’ve heard things like this about Cruz before. I even told you his handsiness was something that could be managed, but it’s more than that, isn’t it? I’ve chosen to turn a blind eye because he paints himself as so instrumental in building careers. But he’s not—he’s just a creep. I’m ashamed, Sadie. You did the right thing. But it would sicken me to see you walk away from what I know is going to be an incredible career because of something like this.”
“Cruz said he would destroy me. I can’t help but want to give up.”
“You can, of course, make your own choices, and I’ll support you. But I’m also your manager and advisor, which means it’s still my job to tell you when I think you’re wrong. That song isgorgeous.The world needs to hear it. You are talented—and it would be a crime to allow someone like Cruz to force you to give up on your dreams.”
“But how? Cruz won’t ever let me get ahead now that I’ve crossed him, and you know it.”
“Maybe you’re giving him too much power,” Amalia said. “Cruz has created a persona, and everyone believes he is who he says he is—but you’ve seen differently, haven’t you? He doesn’t deserve to be in charge of anyone’s fate, least of all yours. Don’t you agree?”
“It’s hard not to when you put it like that,” Sadie allowed.
“Youhave a contract withStarmakerto sing at the Grand Ole Opry tomorrow nightwithMax Brody,” Amalia continued. “I think the only logical next step is to make sure Max knows you are going to be there with a perfect song. It’s got a simple melody he could pick up after just a run-through or two. I’ll call Bobbi and explain that all he needs to do is show up for rehearsal tomorrow, and that I know you can get through the live performance together. You two have that off-the-charts chemistry to work with. I doubt that’s gone anywhere, even with all the drama. Let me work on it, okay?”
Sadie hesitated, but her mom was nodding and giving a thumbs-up—with a twinkle in her eye Sadie recognized: she looked just like Gran. If Gran had been there, she would have told Sadie she had no choice but to give Max—and her dreams—one last chance.
And that, Sadie decided, was exactly what she was going to do. Life was too short for regret.
25
Max
Nashville, Tennessee
December 22
Max, you need to come to the house.Right now.”
It had been only seconds since his sister had told him this over the phone, but it felt like an eternity, especially because he couldn’t hear her anymore.
