Music of the Heart, page 18
I look up at him and he is grinding his teeth together and he looks pissed.
“What in the hell were you thinking? You aren’t supposed to be singing and you know that. You know when the Jamie and your doctor hear about this, they will be so mad.”
I rear my hand back and slap him hard across his face. I’ve about had enough and I couldn’t take anything else he had to say.
“You son of a bitch. Do you really think I would get up there after everything that has happened in the last week without calling the label or my doctor first?”
I see the shocked expression on his face and love that I can rub in to him that he was wrong about something for once.
“By the look on your face, you must not have thought I was smart enough for that. Well guess what? I called both of them and they are the ones who told me I could sing two songs but no more. So there, you asshole. I’m not in the wrong and for once you can’t go tattle on me to anyone.”
I storm off and go grab a glass of wine. This reception cannot get over fast enough for me. Unfortunately, I know how Merritt plans weddings and there is still plenty left to do – first toast, cutting the cake, wedding party dance, speeches, garter toss and ugh, of course, the bouquet toss. We’re going to be here forever.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I was wondering if you would please have this next dance with me.”
I look up to see Preston standing in front of me with his hand extended. A smile forms on my face and I take his hand as he leads me to the dance floor. A beautiful slow song comes on and we begin moving across the floor.
“Ashleigh, I’m sorry my son is such an idiot. He needs to get his head out of his ass and understand he doesn’t rule he world. I warned him that interfering with your life was a bad idea. But what do I know? I’ve only been happily married for almost forty years.”
I laugh and we continue our dance. When the song comes to an end, he excuses himself to find Elizabeth and I go to grab another glass of wine. While I stand at the bar, Dixon walks toward me. Leaning down, he gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey Ash. How’s your night going?”
“Well, honestly Dixon? It could be a little better but for the most part, it’s been amazing. The wedding was beautiful and this reception is just perfect.”
“Thank you for singing for us. I know with everything that’s gone on, it was a pretty big deal. I’m just glad the label okayed it for one night.”
I give him a hug and send him back to find his bride. As the night goes on, I mingle with friends, watch the cutting of the cake, drink more wine and watch my four best friends crazy in love with the most amazing men I know. I catch myself getting teary eyed because for the first time, I really want that and I thought I had that up until a week ago.
CROSS
As creepy as it may sound, I’ve been watching Ashleigh all night long. She won’t give me the time of day and when she got up on the stage and sang, I lost it. Of course, she quickly let me know after she slapped me that she had cleared it with the doctor and the label.
The reception is coming to an end and all that is left is the garter and bouquet toss and the send off for the bride and groom. All of a sudden, I hear Merritt’s voice.
“Okay everyone… it’s almost time to say good-bye to the bride and groom. Bur first, I need all you single ladies to come to the middle of the dance floor so Ava can toss her bouquet!”
I turn towards the dance floor and see about 10 girls walk to the middle. Noticeably, Ashleigh is not amongst them. It doesn’t take long before Ellis and Laken are practically dragging Ashleigh out there. Between all five of the girls, Ashleigh is the only single one. Well, I say single but she’s mine and I will make sure we are back together very soon.
Ava walks up to the front and tossing the flowers behind her. It’s hard to tell who catches the bouquet at first but when the girls part, I see Ashleigh standing there with flowers in her hand. The look on her face says it all – she’s not too thrilled. I can’t help but laugh to myself.
“Okay, it’s the guys turn. All you single guys come on and let’s see who’s skilled enough to catch the garter.”
Dixon makes quite the show of removing Ava’s garter and then he flings it through the air. I throw my hand up in the air and easily grab it before anyone else. I immediately glance towards Ashleigh and her eyes get huge when she sees me holding the garter.
“All right, Ashleigh and Cross, would you please take your spot on the dance floor?”
I’m already there and as I look over at Ashleigh, she is very slowly headed my way. I know dancing with me is the last thing she wants to do right now but it’s a wedding tradition and Merritt would never let us skip the dance.
“Look Cross, the last thing I want to do is dance with you but I don’t want to ruin their reception or hurt their feelings. Let’s just get this over with, please.”
“Ashleigh, I…”
“Please Cross. Just dancing. No talking.”
I honored her request and didn’t say anything else. We did our duty of dancing and took our picture and then she couldn’t get away from me fast enough. I go to the bar for another beer and my brothers are both there as well.
“So, have you two made up yet?”
I look at Elliott and just give him an eat shit look. I love my little brother but would like to smack him sometimes.
“No, asswipe. We haven’t made up yet. She won’t fucking talk to me. Basically told me to shut up while we danced.”
“That sucks man. You two really were good together. You better kiss a lot of ass and find a way to win her back.”
Elliott is right. I’ve got a lot of ass kissing to do but before I can do that I’ve got to give her time and space to clear her mind. Yes, I need to win her back but I want her to want me also.
ASHLEIGH
“Wake up sleepy head. It’s time to go to the hospital and wait on your new baby brother to arrive!”
It’s June 3 and my sister, Kristen, is scheduled to have my nephew today. I’ve been back in Alabama visiting for a couple of weeks and Greer is staying with me while my sister has the baby and is in the hospital.
“Aunt Ashweigh! I am so excited! Are ewe excited too?”
“I am super excited! We get to meet baby Jackson today! Let’s get up and get dressed and we’ll stop by McDonald’s on our way to the hospital.”
After everything that happened a few weeks ago, I packed up the day after the wedding and came straight home to Alabama. My family already knew about my permanent break so me visiting wasn’t a surprise. I did decide not to tell them about what Cross did though. They really like him and I don’t have the heart to tell them what an asshole he is right now.
Greer and I get dressed in our special new outfits I bought us yesterday. We both have on pretty blue and white in honor of her baby brother.
We load up her toy bag with stuff to keep her occupied at the hospital and hop in the car. We swing through the drive-thru at McDonald’s and head straight for Brookmont Hospital.
I made sure to get there in time so she can see her mom one last time before the baby arrives. My sister is having a c-section so it shouldn’t be too long until they start.
“Meme! Wook. Aunt Ashweigh went to Mickey D’s and got me a biscuit. Can I go see Mommy now?”
I sent a quick text to my brother-in-law to let him know Greer is here and wants to see them. He lets me know he is on his way out to take her really quick.
Two hours later, Jackson Smith Anderson was born at 9:48 a.m. and he is perfect.
By the time they are taken to a private room, it is close to lunch time. I was going to take Greer somewhere to eat but before I had a chance to ask her, Merritt, Laken, Ellis and Ava come walking in with enough food to feed us and the entire staff on the floor along with the other patients.
“Aunt Mewwitt! Aunt Ava! Aunt Ewwis! Aunt Waken! Yea!! Youwa all hewe to see me!”
Of course, we all laugh and Merritt picks her up.
“Of course we’re here to see you squirt but we also came to see your new baby brother. We did happen to stop at a toy store on our way here though and I think you may have a surprise or two over there.”
Very quickly, Greer jumps out of her arms and ran to all the bags the girls brought her. I help the them set out all the sandwiches, salads and chips they brought for everyone.
After a couple of hours, we all decided to leave and let them get some rest. My mom and dad took Greer home with them to spend the night and she will come back with me tomorrow.
The girls and I decide to go shopping for a while and thankfully none of them have brought up Cross to me. After a couple of hours, we run everything home and freshen up for an early dinner. I call the car service I use here in Birmingham so we can have a few drinks.
We head to my favorite Mexican restaurant and eat our weight in chips and salsa while we have a few margaritas. Merritt is the first one to break the ice and I knew it had to be coming.
“So, have you talked to Cross?”
“Seriously Merritt? Don’t ask me that question. You talk to me every single day. Don’t you think I might mention talking to him if I had? Besides, why in the hell would I talk to him? I’m done with him. He really hurt me.”
Ava is the quietest one out of our group yet she’s the one who presses the issue with me about Cross.
“Ashleigh, he is miserable too. Reed has seen him a lot lately and says he is awful. He also said he’s become a dick to everyone especially at work. Apparently, he’s back to his tyrant ways. I heard he’s going out of the country for a few weeks for work.”
“Seriously, I don’t want to talk about him. Please! Let me just say this. I don’t know if things will ever be normal again for us but I don’t want that to affect your relationship with him. Y’all have known him longer than me anyways.”
Merritt looks at me because she knows I am done with this conversation. Thankfully, she changes the subject.
“So, what are you plans for the summer? I know you said you’re avoiding Atlanta for a while which totally sucks. Besides the beach with your family, any other trips?”
“Yeah, I’m actually leaving next week for Hilton Head. Laura Dean asked me to come film an episode of her home cooking show with her. She’s doing a college football tailgating special and wanted me to be a part of it. I decided to make a vacation of it and plan on staying a couple of weeks. You know, I’m really close to her sons and their wives so I’m excited about spending time with them.”
“That sounds like fun. We’ll miss you though. Thankfully, it’s a busy time for us at Bello. So I can’t mope around too much without my BFF there.”
The girls go back home the next day and the next week flies by as I get ready to head to Hilton Head. I spent the week shopping for new summer clothes and new Auburn clothes to wear for the tailgating special. I had to pick out a few recipes too since she asked me to bring my most tried and true tailgating food recipes.
Flying out on Friday morning, the Dean brothers are waiting for me at the airport when I arrive. They take me to my hotel and then we all go to dinner together. I’ve got two days to have some fun before we film the show so I make the most of it with my friends.
CROSS
“Barbara, my plane lands in about an hour and I need the contracts for the restaurant and hotel in Hilton Head ready because I leave tomorrow to head that way. Oh, can you also get a few Auburn t-shirts sent to my office sometime today? While I’m down there, I’m going to film a tailgating special with Laura Dean and her family. Thanks. I’ll see you soon.”
My plane lands and Thomas takes me straight to the office. I have so much to do before I leave again tomorrow.
“Barbara! Get in here please!”
“Yes, Cross. What do you need?”
“Where in the hell are my shirts? I asked for them to be here so I could pick what to take with me. I leave tomorrow. Get them here. Oh, get me lunch too. I’m starving.”
Barbara walks out and I start looking over the contracts.
“Seriously Cross. Do you have to be such an asshole to everyone? Especially Barbara. She puts up with enough shit from you. Be nice to her.”
Merritt comes walking into my office with lunch in her hands. She grabs my phone and punches in Barbara’s extension. What the hell?
“Hey Barbara. It’s Merritt. Don’t worry about ordering lunch. I brought the asshole something to eat already.”
“Nice Merritt. And thanks you by the way. I just got in from Chicago and I’m starving.”
“So, I saw Ashleigh last week. The girls and I went to see her sister when she had the baby.”
I looked up from my sandwich when Merritt mentioned seeing Ashleigh. It still kills me to not be able to see her or to hold her or just to talk to her.
“Um, how is she doing? Is she doing well?”
“How do you think she’s doing Cross? She puts up a good front but she’s still shitty just like you. I honestly don’t know what’s going through her mind but she is still so hurt by what you did.”
“Fuck. You think I don’t know that Merritt? But what I did, was done because I love her and I know how much she loves her work. I didn’t want to see her damage her voice anymore and never be able to sing again. I did what I thought was right.”
“Okay. Enough about this. Let’s be happy today! Did I hear you mention leaving again tomorrow? Where are you going?”
I finish chewing up my sandwich and grab a sip of my tea before I speak.
“I’m actually headed to Hilton Head tomorrow. I have some contracts on a hotel and a restaurant down there and then I’m going to film a tailgating special with the Dean family.”
I look up and Merritt’s eyes are huge. She looks like I just said something that freaked her out.
“What’s wrong Merritt? What did I say wrong?”
“Oh nothing. Sorry. I was just thinking about something for a wedding and I think I forgot to place an order this morning. I really need to get back to the shop. Have a great trip.”
She bolts out of my office and I know something is wrong. I know her and there is no way she forgot anything involving one of her weddings.
The morning rolls around and I am back up and off to the airport once again. Thankfully, this trip, I get to have a little fun too.
Once I arrive, I am taken straight to my meetings where I spend most of the afternoon. Thankfully lunch was provided because it’s 4:30 before I ever get to the hotel. Deciding to have a relaxing night, I order in room service and actually sit and watch a movie in my hotel room.
Chapter Thirty-One
ASHLEIGH
I wake up bright and early to head over to Laura Dean’s house where her show is filmed. I grab my make-up bag, hair products and clothes and throw them in a duffel bag so I can get ready over there. Filming is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. so I have four hours until it’s time.
I rented a car once I got to Hilton Head so I drive over to the Dean house where she has breakfast waiting on us. I walk in and her daughters-in-law, Brooklyn and Paige, are already there.
“Hey ladies! It is so good to see you Laura! I wish you could have met us for dinner last night.”
“I know sweetie. I wish I could have too but I had a book signing. How are you? You don’t look good. I can tell something is off with you.”
I had filled Brooklyn and Paige in on what has been happening with me last night. I decided not to mention any names though. I’m getting ready to tell Laura that nothing is wrong when Brooklyn speaks up.
“Ashleigh, you better just tell her the truth. You know she always finds out.”
So while we eat breakfast, I fill her in on everything. Immediately, she wants to know his name.
“No. That’s one thing I won’t tell you right now. No names mentioned.”
“Okay, I wont push you… for now. I’ll get this mess cleaned up while y’all go get dressed. The boys should be here soon.”
We head to her guest room and get dressed. I throw my hair up in a high ponytail because it’s hot as hell outside. Throwing on some light make-up, I am finished. We walk back out to the kitchen where the crew is going over all the ingredients with Laura.
“Ashleigh, look and make sure everything you need is right here while I make sure things are all good out back.”
As I’m letting the crew know everything is good, I hear voices and know that the guys have arrived. I’m talking to Brooklyn and Paige when Robby and Jason walk in with their mom. I glance up and notice someone else is with them and then I gasp so loud, everyone turns to stare.
