Lost and Found (29 page)

Warner sat back down in his seat and
listened as they finished the rest of the show.

To say he was moved would be an
understatement. A piano and a dozen voices could do amazing
things.

When the group stood up, they all
began to talk. This was a family, a musical family. One brought
together by a common love and the current show they produced
together.

It had been years since Warner was in
musical theater, but you never forgot the feeling.

The woman he’d followed walked away
from the group and was headed toward him. Her thumbs were tucked
into the front pockets of her cutoff jeans.

The eyes that had hid behind the shiny
aviators, which were now hung from the front of her tank top, were
dark brown.

Warner quickly stood.

“You followed me all the way in here
and listened to rehearsal?” Her accent was drawn out.

“Yes. I have to say, you’re
amazing.”

The woman nodded slowly, just as her
uncle had done. “You’ve said that, but thank you.” She looked down
at her bare toes in the sandals she wore and wiggled them. The
middle ones had rings on them. “Is that all you wanted to tell
me?”

“Yes. No. I—is there somewhere we can
talk?”

She looked around. “What’s wrong with
here?”

“Right. Listen, I’m a songwriter, and
I’m looking for a voice to demo my work.”

“And you’re looking for
lessons?”

Warner raked his fingers
through his hair. It was getting much too long. He looked down at
his attire.
God, she must think I’m a
hobo.

“No. I’m not looking for lessons. I’m
looking for someone to do the vocals.”

“And you want me to do
that?”

He smiled. Finally they were on the
same page. “Yes.”

“I see. Mr. Wright, I’m very busy with
the theater right now. I just don’t…”

“Would you just look at them?” He was
so desperate that he was hunting down strangers to sing his songs.
This was embarrassing. “Please. Maybe just a few hours with me, and
you could see what you think.”

“You don’t even know my
name.”

He dropped his shoulders. He was
desperate.

He held out his hand to shake hers.
“Again, I’m Warner Wright.”

She smiled and took his hand. Her grip
was firm. There was no messing around with this one. “Clara
Keller.”

“Ms. Keller, I would appreciate a
moment of your time to show you my work.”

She pulled her hand back, tucked it
into her back pocket, and gave him a regarding look.

“Do you know where the Riverside
Building is?”

He raised his eyebrow. “Doesn’t
everyone? This is Nashville.”

She chuckled. “There is a Starbucks on
the main floor. I’ll meet you there tomorrow at ten.”

“Tomorrow at ten. Starbucks. Riverside
Building.”

“Will that work?”

He nodded. “Thank you. Can I take you
out for a drink tonight? No business, just get to know
you?”

Clara pulled her phone out of her back
pocket. “Thanks, but I have one guilty pleasure and it’s on TV
tonight.”

A bead of sweat rolled down the back
of his neck. He forced a smile. “What might that be?”

“Reality TV at its worst. Ever heard
of Nashville Ex-wives Club?”

He knew the blood had just drained out
of his head. Damn, if he fainted, this would be over.

“I’ve heard of it.”

“Never miss a one. That Little woman
is such trash that she makes me laugh. But I’ll see you tomorrow.
Ten.”

He only nodded as Clara left the
theater.

Well, this was over. Once Clara found
out about his connection with Patricia Little, she too would exit
stage left.

Warner left the theater just in time
to see a tow truck drive away with his pickup.

It was official—Nashville hated
him.

Bernadette Marie has been an avid writer
since the early age of 13, when she’d fill notebook after notebook
with stories that she’d share with her friends.  Her journey
into novel writing started the summer before eighth grade when her
father gave her an old typewriter.  At all times of the day
and night you would find her on the back porch penning her first
work, which she would continue to write for the next 22
years. 

In 2007 – after marriage, filling her
chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children –
Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being
published.  That year she wrote 12 books.  In 2009
 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published
author was born.  In 2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she
is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, and has
released contemporary titles and began the process of taking on
other authors in other genres. 

In 2012 Bernadette Marie found herself on
the bestsellers lists of iTunes and Amazon to name a few.  Her
office wall is lined with colorful PostIt notes with the titles of
books she will be releasing in the very near future, with hope that
they too will grace the bestsellers lists.

Bernadette spends most of her free time
driving her kids to their many events—usually hockey.  She is
also an accomplished martial artist with a second degree black belt
in Tang Soo Do.  An avid reader, she enjoys contemporary
romances with humor and happily ever afters.