CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CASH

As I sit on the back porch, I can’t help but think of Brenda and the way she laughed, and made me laugh, while we were having pie and coffee the evening before. Her smile flashed in my mind like a beacon, and I couldn’t help but feel myself relaxing, falling into her more and more, as the sun marched across the sky. I looked down and noticed my notebook was still open, the pen resting just inches from the blank page.

Words come to my mind and I dash them down. I don’t think about it too hard, I just write what I see in my head, what I feel deep inside, as I think about her. I write about the way her laugh sounds like music to my ears, the way she looks into my eyes when she talks, not away like so many people do when they meet me. She treats me like I’m a real person and that makes me feel so…alive.

The words flow out and I write about the way her hair falls in soft waves down her back, the way her eyes sparkle when she’s happy. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest while I write, my thoughts consumed by Brenda. I imagine what it would be like to have her in my arms, to kiss her bare lips and taste her sweetness.

My hand moves across the page, the words pouring out of me like a river. I don’t even notice the time passing as I write, my mind consumed by the thought of the possibilities, what the future might hold, if I took a chance on her. But would I?

Hm, should I name it that, I wonder, looking down at the page. Should I? That might be a better title. Should I do it? Should I take the plunge, should I let rivers of gold hair that feel like silk distract me, consume me this way? Should I put it all on the line for lips that taste like cherry pie in the moonlight?

I wrote it all down and didn’t worry about whether it made sense. The words were flowing and that was what mattered at the moment.

“Cash? You going to sit out here all day? I thought you were going into town at 3?” Mom called from the back door. I looked at her and then at my watch.

Dang it. I got so wrapped up in writing that I forgot to pay attention to the time. It was 2:45, and I needed to get downtown.

“Thanks for the reminder, Mom. I’ll see you some time this evening.” I said as I whipped by her, dropping a kiss on her cheek as I did so. She smiled in a pleased way, even though I hadn’t told her why I was going downtown. I’m sure she knew, seeing as it was a small town, I’m sure she already knew I’d been at the diner with Brenda.

I grab the keys to Dad’s car and head out, making it to Pic & String with minutes to spare. I didn’t want to be late for our…date? I’m not sure if it was a date, but I kind of wanted it to be. The thought of being with her again made the day so much brighter and for the first time in a while, I was actually looking forward to spending time with someone. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt like that about someone that wasn’t family.

Even back in LA, everyone I met up with brought some problem with them. My PA didn’t have enough stuff to put on my social media and wanted more pictures of me, more music clips, little tidbits about what I was working on. My manager wanted to know about the album, when they could plan tour dates, when I was coming back to LA. As for anyone else, there was always the issue of money and what they needed. Nobody ever asked me what I needed, it was always what I had to give them.

Which was something I like about Brenda, she asked me how I was, what I wanted, what I needed. I did the same with her, of course, but it was nice to have it reciprocated. I sat on a bench on the sidewalk in front of the shop along Main Street, starting to wonder if she’d bailed on me as time slipped by. Fifteen minutes after we’d said we’d meet, I finally saw her little car pulling up and smiled in relief. She hadn’t ditched me after all.

“Hey, I’m so sorry,” she said as she rushed up to me, her face downcast. “We had trouble with one of the kids getting on the wrong bus and had to convince her that the one we were putting her on was the right one. Kids get the strangest notions in their heads sometimes.”

Brenda swiped a hand over her hair and I noticed little strands of hair sticking out of the braid that went down her back. She looked so frazzled that it made me want to hold her close and help her calm down. I didn’t know her well enough to do that, however, so I offered her a smile and a hand. She surprised me when she took it. I squeezed her warm, slim fingers, as I looked into her eyes.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind waiting for you.” I said it softly, and I wondered if I was saying something else entirely.

The way her head tilted to the right and her bottom lip curved up made me wonder if she’d heard that too. She looked pleased for a second, then dropped my hand. “I’m glad you understand. I’d have called, but we never exchanged numbers.”

“Oh, right, give me your phone.” I held out my hand and waited for her to put the device in my hand. I quickly added a name and my number then gave it back to her.

“Stacey’s brother? I could have just your name in,” Brenda questioned with a laugh. Our eyes caught, and it was another one of those moments where awareness bloomed to life, even though we weren’t touching. For the hundredth time in the last hour, I wondered what it would be like to hold her in my arms, to kiss those firm lips of hers. As I thought about it, I must have given her a deep look because she blushed and looked away, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. I’d noticed she messed with her hair when she was nervous, as if touching the strands reassured her that everything was okay.

It was something else I found endearing about her. I cleared my face and nodded towards the shop. “Shall we?”

Brenda nodded and we went into the store, empty except for the owner, a man that was dear to my heart. Brett came rushing over as soon as he saw my face. At first, the man that taught me all I know about playing music got this awestruck look on his face that made me chuckle to myself, but then he exploded into motion to run over and hug me.

“Cash, how are you my boy?” The round fella asked me, his cheeks red with happiness.

“I’m doing alright, Brett, how about you, buddy?” I asked in my best country boy voice, teasing him. “Still picking and a singing?”

“Oh yes, my boy. Always. Even if it is a little harder to reach my guitar these days,” Brett said with a delighted chuckle. “I see you brought Brenda in with you. Nice to see you again, ma’am.”

Brenda nodded from where she stood behind me, letting me exchange pleasantries with my old music teacher.

“You know Brenda, then?” I asked, a little surprised, but then, I guess I shouldn’t be. She wasn’t new to town, after all.

“Oh yes, I’ve seen her in here a few times. Sheet music for violins, isn’t it?” Brett asked, his eyes up and his right finger against his chin as he thought it over.

“Yes, that’s right.” Brenda smiled brightly, as if he’d made her day by remembering her.

“Well, come on in. What are you looking for today?” Brett turned to look at the store, as if wondering what I could possibly want.

“Brenda wants something new, something she hasn’t played before, I think,” I wagered a guess and knew I was right when she looked at me in surprise.

“How did you know?” She asked as we walked in that direction.

“Educated guess, really. Let’s see.” We both went quiet as we looked over the music sheets on offer. I found something modern and contemporary, that I really liked and handed it to her.

“Oh, I don’t play music that contemporary. Besides, this is sheet music for guitars.”

“I know, but I could convert it for you, it wouldn’t be too hard, and bring it to you tomorrow.” I offered, hearing myself add more work to my day but not caring if it made her smile.

“It’s a challenge, but alright. I accept. Although, I don’t think it’ll convert easily, the guitar is a bit harder for my fingers. But if you think you can do it, I’ll give it a try. What’s the catch?”

“You have dinner with me tomorrow?” I waited for her answer, holding my breath, knowing she could say no at any moment. How much would it break my heart to see this all end so soon?