Hard times were ahead.

When Jeremy Smith finished his drink he shook Warner’s hand again and said he’d be in touch in a few days. He strode out of the bar as if he owned the whole town and Warner turned and walked toward the Keller’s table.

Darcy jumped out of her chair and ran toward him throwing her arms around his neck. He had no choice but to grab hold and let her hug him.

“Oh-my-God! You were amazing. Just amazing. And you wrote all those songs. Oh-my-God!”

He laughed as he set her back on her feet and she smiled up at him.

“Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the set,” Warner said as Ed walked up and shook his hand.

“Enjoyed it? She was screaming like you were Dierks Bently or something.”

“That’s quite an honor to be compared.”

Darcy smacked Ed on the arm. “You were wonderful. And we saw who was here. Isn’t that exciting?”

“Very exciting.” Warner tried to keep a calm in his voice.

It was then he noticed Carlos stand and move toward him. His mouth went dry.

Carlos held his hand out and shook Warner’s. “That was a fine show you put on.”

“Thank you, sir. I couldn’t do it without Clara and Randy.”

Carlos nodded. “Oh, I think you could.” He placed his hand on Warner’s shoulder turning him slightly. “How about we step outside and get some air?”

He started for the door and Warner was sure he could feel his knees grow weaker. He turned to look at Clara, but she was deep in conversation with her mother.

Carlos was outside and already leaned up against the building when Warner made it through the crowd by the bar.

“Starting to get colder,” Carlos said looking up at the sky.

“Sure is.”

Carlos had his feet crossed at his ankles and his thumbs tucked into the front pockets of his jeans.

Warner stood there in the awkward silence and prayed for mercy.

“This kinda takes Clara out of her normal line of performing.”

“Yes, sir, it does. She was doing me a great favor by being here tonight.”

He nodded. “Must have meant a great deal to her to give up her last night on stage.”

“I never asked her to do that, sir. She said it was planned and she’d be here. I’d never ask her to give up anything for me.”

Carlos stood up straight, his thumbs still tucked into his pockets. “She’s a smart woman.”

“Yes, sir, she is.”

“She wouldn’t fall into the wrong crowd or follow something she didn’t have a passion for.”

“I agree.”

“She seems to have fallen for you and that scares me to death.”

The pain in Warner’s chest felt as if Carlos had shoved a knife into his heart.

“Sir, I don’t mean her…”

Carlos held his hand up. “I’m her father. It’s supposed to scare me to death.” He rested his hand on Warner’s shoulder. “Clara is thirty years old. She’s old enough to make her own decisions.”

Warner had no more words. He only nodded.

“I want her happy and taken care of.”

“Sir, I have every intention of taking care of her and making her happy forever.”

Carlos dropped his hand. “Forever, huh?”

“Yes, sir. I have no intention of just being someone in passing. I would like to spend the rest of my life with Clara.”

Carlos bit down on his lip and looked out to the street. “You’re saying you plan on a lifetime?” he asked and then looked back at Warner.

“Yes, sir. I do. And if I may, I know it’s only been a few weeks, but I’d love to have your blessing on that lifetime.”

Carlos rubbed the back of his neck. “It sounds like you’ve given this some thought.”

“I have.”

“I thought you moving in was a little fast. This seems even faster.”

“I wouldn’t have moved in had I thought it was short term.”

“That Little woman on TV doesn’t have anything nice to say about you.”

Of all the times for Patty’s opinions of him to affect his life, this wasn’t the time.

“Those are her own opinions, sir. I don’t have anything to do with her.”

Carlos smiled. “I know. You handle her criticisms very well.”

“Again, those are her own opinions. I continue to do what I can to build my career.”

“Warner, I think you’re going to do just great, career wise. And if Clara sees something in you then I know Ms. Little is wrong about you.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

“As for that lifetime thing,” Carlos blew out a breath. “It scares me to death.”

“Me too.”

Carlos laughed. “It should. Women are strange creatures, but worth it.”

“I think so too.”

“If Clara chooses you then you have my blessing.”

His limps went numb. “Thank you. Thank you very much.”

He wanted to hug him, but at this point he’d probably start to cry.

Carlos nodded. “Do you fish?”

“I haven’t fished since I was a young boy in Memphis.”

“Curtis and I are planning a trip in a few weeks before it gets too cold. I think we convinced Ed to come along. Why don’t you join us?”

“I’d like that.”

Carlos placed his hand back on Warner’s shoulder as they turned back for the bar. “We can have this discussion again when there is running water to throw you in,” he said with a laugh, but Warner wondered if secretly he already knew their plan.

Chapter Thirteen

Clara opened the back door to the house and turned on the kitchen lights as Warner cleared the last step.

“I’m not home for three days and you move a man in the house?” Christian’s voice rang out from the living room.

“Hey, my name is on the lease now, not yours.”

Christian limped into the kitchen, a bag of peas wrapped to his knee with an ace bandage. “Just saying it would have been nice to have been told.”

Warner walked through the door and shut it behind him. “Sorry. Did I interrupt?”

“No, man. I’m just busting her chops. How was your show?”

“It was good,” Warner said walking up to Clara, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Your sister was phenomenal.”