I understand why Zayne and the others felt content with the decision to end Violet Wonders the first time. Maybe I thought getting back together would somehow heal old wounds by bonding like we used to, but it’s obvious since we started touring and working on new music again that we’ve all wanted different things.
My solo career was doing fine, better than ever even, before I decided to focus on the band again. Zayne was happy working on cars and saving for his own garage, Jax was off traveling to the few countries we’d never been able to go to like he’d always wanted to do, and Manning and Cal did whatever the hell they wanted. Those two never kept any of us up to date, rarely posting anything online or answering group messages if one of us reached out except to confirm they were alive.
We were all living our lives before I disrupted them. Again.
Zayne was right.
I’m a selfish friend.
Clicking off the radio and driving with only the sounds of city life wrapping around each of my thoughts, I pull into my neighborhood and wave at a few neighbors who’ve always been friendly with me. A few in the industry, but mostly retired actors and actresses with their families. It’s a peaceful area unless people like me cause a scene in the media. I’ve apologized to a couple close neighbors who’ve been in the crossfire that I doubt will be inviting me over in the future considering they barely give me a second look whenever we pass one another now.
I roll up to my gate and smile at Raymond who Mum hired a few months ago after the break in. “Everything okay while I was gone?”
The dark-skinned man nods once. “Yes, sir. Only one person came by, but he didn’t stay long. An hour max. And your wife has company that showed up only half an hour ago.”
Company?
Punching in the gate code, I park in front of the closed garage and smile at the red Volkswagen beside me. There’s a Violet Wonders bumper sticker that Mum’s had on the outdated car since she first purchased it from us. She was our first customer to buy merchandise and a CD and has the pictures to prove it.
When I walk inside, I’m not sure what I’ll find. But what I do has me cracking the biggest smile as I keep my distance and watch Mum listen attentively to Rylee as she shows her how to pot a plant. There’s plastic covering the floor with a large ceramic pot that I bought per my wife’s request sitting in the center of it, along with dirt and the remanence of an old plastic pot that I imagine the green plant came from that’s being tended to by the two women kneeling beside it.
Mum used to garden way back, but her job didn’t let her keep it up because she was always busy. Yasmin would always hound her about letting the plants die, but Mum’s green thumb is as about as vibrant as mine in its lack of existence. Her priorities were Chase, me, and keeping her boss happy with the extra hours she always put in.
Leaning my shoulder against the wall, I cross my arms over my chest and say, “Looks like you two have been busy.”
They both look up at me, Mum smiling, Rylee startled. My wife says, “I didn’t hear you come in.”
I push off the wall and set my things down on the couch before crouching beside her and pressing a kiss to her temple. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a bitch.”
Mum says, “I heard there was an accident near Gables that backed everything up. It took Yasmin an extra 45 minutes to get home.”
Rylee frowns. “Wasn’t her daughter’s ballet recital today?” The nod Mum gives her in reply deepens her frown. “I hope she got there on time. She was excited.”
I rub her back. “I’m sure it worked out, love. Shauna’s recitals usually don’t start until six and her school isn’t far from their home.”
Relief floods her eyes.
I turn to the plant. “What is this anyway?”
“It’s a peace lily,” Rylee explains, touching the large white petal. “They’re easy to maintain, so I thought it might be fun to give to your mom since she’s been wanting to try keeping houseplants again.”
My brows go up in doubt, but Mum cuts in with, “Rylee said that they’re hard to kill, so it’s the perfect plant for me.”
I roll my eyes. “Remember what happened to that succulent Yasmin gave you years ago when you told her you wanted to start collecting houseplants?”
Mum sighs. “She never told me I had to water it every two weeks. I thought they didn’t need to be watered that often. And the only reason she gave me that was because it was called an Old Lady Cactus.”
I snort. “I just wanted to hear you say it.”
She smacks my arm. “Be nice to your mother. I birthed your big ten-pound body naturally. You owe me.”
Rylee makes a choking sound. “Ten pounds?”
Mum’s nod is grave. “Afraid so. I’d be prepared for when you two decide to have some of your own. His father’s side has been known to produce large babies.”
I try to ignore the ashen look on Rylee’s face as I pat her hand. “Try not to scare my wife, yeah?”
The shrug I get doesn’t tell me she won’t be bringing it up again anytime soon. But she relents with a subject change. “Speaking of the Australian devil, have you heard from him?”
Her nickname for my father still makes me laugh. “Not since the other day. He mentioned possibly coming here to visit.”
That gets a reaction. “Did he now?”
I know they still
