He remembered that night well. He and his mother had been backstage watching Holden on a monitor. Becca had said she was going to the washroom. And all twelve-year-old Max had been thinking about was getting an ice cream sundae once his dad’s set was finished.
“I’m so sorry, Becks,” Max said. “I’m sorry you went through that.”
Becca gave him a hug, and he held her tight. “I’m okay, Max. And I think Sadie will be, too.”
“Dad, I hope you hit him hard.”
Holden nodded his confirmation.
“I wish I could do something now, to give him what he deserves,” Max said.
“Oh, don’t you worry about that,” Becca replied. “I’ve taken care of it.”
Max glanced at Becca, then at Holden, who now sported a Cheshire cat grin. “How?”
“Let’s just say my story about that night on Dad’s tour was of great interest to a certain journalist who is doing a gig atRolling Stone. The story is set to run right after Christmas, and Cruz won’t be able to slither away this time.”
“He’s finished,” Holden added, giving Max a serious look. “Mark my word, son.”
—
Max tried Sadie again, but again it went to voicemail. He hadn’t left a message because he wasn’t sure what to say.Sorryseemed too little, too late. So he was getting ready tohead back to the studio when Holden knocked on his bedroom door. “I thought you might want to talk about Sadie.”
“I’m glad you helped out with the Cruz thing, and I appreciate the effort here, but we don’t dothis, okay? I don’t expect fatherly advice from you. Nor do I need it.”
“I’d say you sure as hell do,” Holden replied with a guffaw.
“As if I’d take relationship advice from my philandering father,” Max said, almost instantly regretting it.
“When it comes to my relationship with your mother, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, son.”
“Oh, I don’t?I was here, Dad. After Becca left, it was just me and the two of you. I saw everything. I heard everything.”
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Maximillian. That’s always been your greatest downfall—believing too much in your own horseshit.”
Max gave a sharp laugh. “You really are unbelievable, you know that?”
“I’ve never said anything to you about this because I wasn’t surehowto say anything that you wouldn’t bite my head off for. I know you have this idea that I destroyed my marriage. That I made your mother unhappy and was responsible for how things turned out. But you couldn’t be more wrong.”
Max sighed wearily. “Fine. I’m wrong. Can I go now?”
“Please, Max. I know you need to get to the studio, so I’ll make it brief. But there are some things you need to know.” Holden gestured to the chair nearest to him.
Max glanced at his watch, but sat down. “You have five minutes.”
“Maren was my best friend. The love of my life. Damn, I adored that woman.”
“You sure had a special way of showing it.”
Holden ignored his son’s jab. “I’m not innocent, and Lord knows I’ve made mistakes. But your mother was my best friend. And I miss her every damn day. Truth is, we fell out of love somewhere between the first day we met and the day she died, but it wasn’t some ‘big thing’ that happened between us. And you should know, it was your momma who wanted out of the marriage. She was brave enough to admit it wasn’t working long before I did.”
Max looked up at his dad then.
“Good Lord, she was smart, Max. Like, plumb brilliant. And that voice... honey on a hot summer’s day. Reminds me a lot of your girl, Sadie.”
She could have been my girl,Max thought,if I hadn’t blown it.
“Your momma and I loved each other, son, but we were no longerin lovewith one another. But, bless her, she stuck around. She chose this family, and our history, over getting a divorce and her freedom. Raised you kids. Supported me the way she always had, with so much love in her heart. But in those last few years we led different lives. The both of us.”
