One
BILLY
“No more!” Kate cried, raising the Veuve Clicquot to her lips. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to get me drunk.”
Billy grinned and brandished the bottle in a triumphant toast. They didn’t normally keep alcohol in the house, but his magnificent wife deserved to be feted. The ribbon-cutting had included light fare, but he was determined that her efforts deserved the best, even if she’d all but given up drinking in solidarity with his sobriety.
“C’mon, Mom,” Devin said. “You earned it.”
Kate scrunched her shoulders and gave a little shiver, clearly embarrassed by the attention.
Billy slipped his arm around her slim waist and drew her closer. She’d done it—she’d turned the old storefront they’d purchased in downtown Portland into a counseling and after-school center for disadvantaged youths and temporary shelter for runaways. If there was any way he could be more proud of her at this moment, he didn’t know how. What she’d accomplished in a year was astonishing.
“Because of you,”—Devin tipped his glass in Billy’s direction—“and Dad, kids in Portland have a shot at getting help.” He slipped Charlie a piece of cheddar from the tray on the coffee table and gave the yellow Lab a scratch behind the ears. “You know, when you guys came up with this idea and held that first benefit concert last Thanksgiving, I never thought you’d be able to make it happen so quickly. I’m proud of you—both of you.”
Billy set down the champagne and raised his glass of sparkling cider. The others followed his lead: Devin, Rhiannon, and Doug, as well as Tom, and Billy’s manager, C.J. It was a salute to the love of his life, the woman who’d not only made him a better man but brought opportunities to kids struggling to overcome the same kind of crappy start in life that he himself had once moved past.
“To my wife,” he said, “who sows seeds of love in everything she does. May the young people who come to Joey’s Place be nurtured and encouraged, and may they blossom and grow under the warmest, brightest sunshine—my Katie.”
Kate’s cheeks pinked from the smattering of applause, cheers, and shouts of “Bravo” and “Speech!” or perhaps from the champagne. Didn’t matter what caused it. It was as adorable as when they’d first met more than twenty-five years ago.
“Go ahead, babe, say something,” he said.
After a fortifying gulp of champagne, she tucked a strand of dark, shoulder-length hair behind her ear and braced herself. “Okay, but only because I want to thank all of you again. Without your help, we couldn’t have made this happen. Being able to create a safe place for these kids and get them the help they need is a dream come true for me, and for that, and for helping keep Joey’s memory alive, I’m so very grateful.”
She lifted her glass before continuing. “And to Joey, who I love as much today as I did before he left us. I’d give anything for him to be standing here with us tonight, but in my heart, in this house, I can feel him the same as always. So please join me in raising your glasses and toasting our dear friend, Joey Bucca-CHEEE-no!”
A loud chorus of Bucca-CHEEE-no rang out, followed by peels of laughter. Joey would’ve loved it.
Her eyes filled and damn it, so did Billy’s. Joey’s Place had become a dream of his too. While he’d begun by facilitating a somewhat steady revenue stream for the burgeoning center by hosting concerts and calling on friends in the music industry to join him, working beside her on the project had become almost cathartic. How could he not think about the past? The thought of any kid suffering at the hands of one of their parents made him want to hurt someone. No amount of counseling or anger management classes would ever change that.
But thanks to Katie, kids who were abused, neglected, abandoned, or disowned by the people who were supposed to love them would get the support they needed. It was a miracle his pride hadn’t sent the buttons of his shirt flying, his chest had puffed out so far.
Pressing an open palm to her heart, Kate continued. “Rhiannon and Doug, you guys have been beyond generous with your donations, and Ree, the fashion show helped us not only meet our goal but exceed it. Without that extra boost, it would’ve been another six months before we opened.”
She turned to Tommy, and Billy gave her a little pat of encouragement as tears spilled over her smile at her late friend’s lover.
“And Tommy, I know this testament to Joey means as much to you as it does to us, so while I understand you’re not interested in or expecting any thanks, I’m saying it anyway. Thank you. If we’d had to pay an attorney for the billable hours you’ve dedicated, we wouldn’t be open yet.”
She next set her sights on C.J. “And Gavin McManus? Really?” Pressing the back of her hand to her forehead, she faked a swoon.
Billy pretended to push her away in disgust. “Okay, okay, we know you love Rogue.” Kate was a devoted fan of the Irish rock icon.
She wrapped her arms around his waist but focused on his manager. “I’m still pinching myself that you convinced the lead singer from one of my favorite bands to come to Portland for a benefit concert for Joey’s Place. You are the absolute best.”
C.J. lapped up the accolades. “Eh, I’m friends with Rogue’s manager. They were coming to Boston—it was worth a shot. As soon as Gavin heard all the proceeds would benefit the kids, he was eager to help. I think if we’d had a bigger venue, he would’ve brought the whole band.”
Billy groaned. “Awww, C.J., don’t tell her that. If she thinks she might get to meet Conor Quinn too—well, there’s no telling what she might do.” He smiled down at Katie. “She claims I’m her favorite lead guitarist, but I’m pretty sure it’s Quinn.”
“Pretty sure?”
He clutched his chest. “Baby, why you gotta be so cold?”
“I can only deal with one lead-guitarist-sized ego in my life.” She gave him a consoling pat on the chest. “You’re it for me, babe.”
“Well, thank god for that.”
“And on that note,” Tom said, setting his glass on the coffee table, “I think C.J. and I should be heading back to our hotel. It’s late, and we have an early flight in the morning. We’ll see you in New York next month, right?”
Billy raised his eyebrows. “New York?”
“I forgot to tell you,” Kate said. “Tom’s having a cocktail party at the loft in Tribeca the Sunday before Christmas. Since we’re already heading to Rhiannon and Doug’s, I figured we’d spend a night in the city, go to Rockefeller Plaza and see the tree. Do some last-minute shopping.”
“We’re going too,” Rhiannon said. “The party’s mainly for execs and a few others from Pizzazz.”
“C.J.’s coming,” Tom added.
C.J. snatched up Tom’s discarded flute. “Um, right. We should be going.” He carried the glasses into the kitchen.
C.J. was usually a regular ballbuster, sarcastic as hell. This was the first time Billy had seen him flustered. He glanced at Kate, who arched an eyebrow as she pulled their coats from the hall closet. Clearly, he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed.