Part 40 (1/2)
Her mother stood and ran over to her, clasped her hands around Jenna's face. ”My darling girl. You have an amazing gift.” She kissed her cheek. ”And you asked for those singing lessons when you were a little girl. I just thought it was a pa.s.sing fancy. I had no idea.”
She saw the tears welling in her mother's eyes.
”I'm so sorry, Jenna. I didn't know. Why didn't you tell us?”
Jenna wiped the tears from her mom's cheeks. ”It's okay, Mom.”
”No, it's not. I'll never forgive myself for not giving you what you needed then.”
”Oh, Mom. It's really okay.” She hugged her mother.
Gavin came over, picked her up, and hugged her. ”You're a superstar, Jen. Always knew you would be someday.”
Her dad just sat there, tears streaming down his face.
”What song is that?” her mother asked.
”I wrote it.”
”She writes a lot of music,” Liz said.
She looked at her dad, who shook his head.
”Dad?”
”My baby. I had no idea.” He broke down and sobbed. Jenna laid the guitar down and went to him and hugged him.
”Don't cry, Daddy.”
”You sing like an angel. I'm so proud of you. But your mother is right. We should have paid more attention to you and what you needed. We didn't give you those singing lessons.”
”She wanted singing lessons?” Gavin asked with a frown.
”Yes.” Her mother swiped at the tears. ”When she was younger.”
”So you've had this inside you all these years and you never told anyone?” Mick asked.
Jenna shook her head.
”You are such a dumba.s.s,” Gavin said. ”The only way you get what you want is to keep asking for it and keep pus.h.i.+ng. You know how this family is. The loudest wins.”
Jenna laughed. ”Yeah, I realize that now.”
”So what can we do to make sure your voice is heard?” her mother asked She inhaled, let it out, and looked at her parents. ”I want to open another Riley's bar. A music club where people can come in and sing. And I want to sing there.”
Her dad c.o.c.ked his head to the side. ”Another bar?”
”Yes. I've done the feasibility study and we can afford it. But it means I wouldn't run the original Riley's anymore. I'd want to manage the new bar.”
”Do it,” her mother said. ”You belong in a place where you can use the talent that G.o.d gave you.”
”How long have you been wanting to do this?” her dad asked her.
”Just...my whole life.”
”Why didn't you ever say anything before now?”
”Because Riley's was your dream. And after your heart attack I had to make sure your dream stayed alive.”
”Aww, my little girl.” He made room on his chair for her to sit next to him, then tipped her chin with his fingers like he used to do when she was little. ”Never live someone else's dream for them. It's not your job to chase my dream. I can do that. I'll admit I got a little lazy and complacent, hanging out here with your mom. And knowing you were holding things down at Riley's made it easier for me.
”I'm mad at you for not coming to us and telling us what you wanted to do, for wasting this amazing talent of yours for so long.”
”It's not your fault. It's mine, for not speaking up sooner. I was afraid I'd fail, afraid I wasn't good enough.”
Her mother snorted. ”You are definitely good enough.”
”She's good enough for a record contract if you ask me,” Liz said.
”Maybe,” Jenna said. ”Maybe not. All I want right now is to have a club where musicians and singers can come and try out their stuff. That would fulfill my dream. Anything more than that...we'll see.”
Her mother pulled her from the chair and took her hands. ”All we've ever wanted for any of our children is to follow their dreams and be happy. We'd be delighted for you to open up another Riley's. We'll make it work.”
It was like the world had opened for her, and all she could see was endless possibilities. She hugged and kissed them all.
”Thank you. You have no idea what your support means to me. But first I have to go find the man I love and see if I can repair the damage I caused. I'm afraid I might have lost him forever.”
JENNA GOT LIZ TO GET HER TICKETS TO THE FIRST playoff game tonight. She could have gotten club seats, but she wanted to be in the front row, right where the action was. She wanted Tyler to know she was there supporting him.
”These seats are freakin' cold, you know,” Liz said. ”We could be in a heated club house, with all the food and drink we want for free.”
”b.i.t.c.h, b.i.t.c.h, b.i.t.c.h,” Jenna said. ”You're the one who got us seats here before, if you recall.”
”Yeah, yeah. There was a method to my madness for that game. But now? It's just f.u.c.king cold down here.”
”You are so high maintenance. It's a wonder my brother puts up with you.”
”The things I do for love. And your brother adores me from the tips of my expertly painted toenails to the top of my gorgeous natural red hair.”
”Don't make me gag.”
Liz laughed. ”I never much liked the thought of having to deal with family. After all, I did my best to get the h.e.l.l away from my own. But you Rileys? You're all right.”
”You love me and you know it.”
”I do. I totally do.”
The door opened and the players started filing out. Jenna froze, not sure whether to turn and look for Ty or not. In fact, the thought of slinking down in her seat sounded appealing.
Liz elbowed her. ”Your coward days are over, sweet pea. Time to woman-up and let your man know you're here for him.”