“And then she left me on a yacht,” Curtis said as he slipped in behind his wife. “We got pregnant though.” He narrowed his eyes on Warner.

“Oh, we just got married.” He tried to smile though the fear that must have resonated in his voice.

Curtis laughed. “Congratulations.”

He hadn’t seen Clara in almost a half hour, by the time he was hugged and congratulated by the entire family. But it hadn’t gone unnoticed that Madeline was the last to walk up to him.

“Congratulations, Warner.” She kissed him hesitantly on the cheek.

“Thank you.” He made sure to catch her eye as she nervously looked around the room. “I love her very much. I’m going to take good care of her.”

Madeline let out a weak laugh. “Oh, honey, I think you’re in for a shock if you think she needs taking care of.”

“I didn’t mean that she did. I mean that I will love her and comfort and protect her for the rest of my life. I hope I didn’t offend you by getting married alone.”

Madeline shook her head. “I mean, she is my only daughter, I won’t lie that it stung a little.”

“I understand. I do have something for you though.”

He reached into his back pocket and pulled the CD case out. “I had this made for you and Mr. Keller. She was so beautiful and the night was so magical I knew she’d want to share it with you.”

Madeline tucked in her lips and batted away the tears that were threatening to fall. “I saw her on TV. I know that the wedding was leaked out by someone, but I agree. She looked beautiful.”

Warner pulled his new mother-in-law in for a hug and saw his wife smiling at him from across the room.

“Excuse me,” he said softly to Madeline. “I have a gift for my beautiful wife.”

He kissed his mother-in-law on the cheek and walked toward Clara.

“She’s sad, isn’t she?” Clara asked him.

“You’re her only daughter.”

“Damnit. I don’t want her sad.”

He caressed her cheek. “She’s fine. Listen I have something for you.”

Warner pulled the small box out of his pocket and handed it to her.

“What is this?”

“Open it.”

Clara opened the small box and inside was a gold band etched with musical notes and a treble clef.

He took the ring out of the box. “I saw it when we landed in Nashville and since I didn’t buy you a ring, I thought this would be a good starter for now.”

He slid it on her finger and noticed that the room had gone silent.

“Warner, it’s perfect.”

“We make beautiful music together and I don’t just mean when we sing.”

Clara wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re right. And no matter what we will always be in tune.”

Warner kissed her softly. Who would have thought Warner Wright would have fallen into such a perfect moment in his life?

His phone buzzed in his pocket again, this time a text message.

Interesting move WW. Did you knock her up? Just like your daddy aren’t you?

Clara held on to him, as she looked at her ring. “Who was that?”

“No one.” And he truly meant it.

Chapter Fifteen

Clara had taken her time rolling out of bed. Warner had already left for his meeting with Jeremy Smith. Arianna had told Clara to take the week and enjoy her time as a newlywed, but she did expect her back as soon as the set was taken down. They had work to do. They always did a new talent showcase in November and that was coming up. And Clara had helped put the cast together for their next production, she had to be part of getting rehearsals together.

It was old hat, but a part of her longed to just follow Warner around and write songs with him. In time.

At ten-thirty her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the phone number, but she never was one to let a call be missed.

“Hello.”

“Clara Keller?” the man on the other end of the line asked.

“Yes.”

“My name is Tom Wheeler. I represent Savannah.”

Clara’s hands shook. This was the call. This was Warner’s turn at the big time. She’d heard his songs and now she wanted him. Why he was calling her, she had no clue. Perhaps he thought she represented him. In a way she did.

“Yes, sir. How are you?”

“I’m well thank you. I know this is short notice, but I was wondering if it would be possible to meet with you over lunch.”

“I could make arrangements for that. What day are you looking at?” She was trying to sound as professional as she possibly could.

“Today at twelve. The Tavern on Broadway.”

“Today?” She looked down at herself still in her lounge pants and tank top. “Sir, that would be fine. I’ll be there at noon, but Warner is in a meeting today. I won’t be able to bring him with me.”

“Yes, we know. We want to meet with you.”

The line went dead and Clara stood there and stared at the phone.

She was his wife and as such she would represent him the best she could. He was about to have his dreams come true.

***

Warner sat in Jeremy Smith’s office with the other people that were featured on the TV show. There were two performers looking for recording contracts, and three song writers looking to sell their music, and then there was Warner. They had made it clear they had wanted him for his writing talent, but now that they’d heard him they thought that perhaps he would be perfect to spotlight with his performing too.

He’d cringed when he’d heard the name Patricia Little come up more than once, but he was going to keep his cool. Not one foul word was going to come from his lips in regards to the woman.

“We’re going to get preliminary interviews done today with you all. You’ll go into the studio and we will film you talking about your career and what you’re looking to do here,” Jeremy said from behind his massive desk. “We’re going to embed you into the Nashville music scene and people are going to know who you are.”

“Great. Are any of us going to get air time next to the step-child of Cruella DeVille?”

Warner’s spine grew straighter, but Jeremy’s hand came up. “Mr. Wright here is a very accomplished performer and song writer. Ms. Little’s characterization on him is a little off balance.”