Free Holiday Homecoming by Cheryl Douglas

the
world.”
    “I can
imagine.”
    “It’s the
music I love. It’s always been a part of me. I know that now.” He
sighed. “But the truth is, I’m getting’ tired, baby. Tired of
tourin’, tired of spendin’ hours and hours in the studio. I think
it’s time…”
    Sierra
couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d never heard her
husband talk about retiring before. She never thought she’d live to
see the day when he didn’t look forward to going out on the road
and entertaining his legions of fans.
    “I’ll still
write music, but I gotta face facts. This is a young man’s game,
and I’m not young anymore. I wanna take time to slow down and enjoy
life before it’s too late.”
    “You really
think you can be happy without the crowds and excitement?” Sierra
would love to have more time with her husband, but not if it meant
he was sacrificing his happiness to give her something he thought
she needed. She’d learned a long time ago to love Trey exactly as
he was, and she learned to embrace the music that completed
him.
    “I do.” He
rubbed his thumb back and forth across her hand. “I can write music
from anywhere in the world. I’ll still get the pleasure of hearin’
my songs on the radio, knowin’ my words are touchin’ people. It
just won’t be my voice behind the words anymore, and I’m okay with
that.”
    “Are you sure
about this? I don’t want you to do this because of me. Because you
think it’s something I want or need. I’m happy with our life the
way it is.”
    “No, I need to
do this for me. It’s time to move on to a new chapter. I’m excited
when I think about all the free time I’ll have to spend with you
and our grandbaby.” He winked. “Hell, I may even take up golf.”
    She laughed as
he leaned in for a kiss. “Now that I’d like to see.”

Chapter
Eight
    The sun was
just starting to rise by the time Brianna pulled Ryan’s car into
his driveway.
    “You know, you
didn’t have to drive me home,” he said, shifting in his seat to
face her as she cut the engine. “I haven’t had a drop to drink in
hours.”
    “I don’t care.
It’s not worth the risk, especially not with snow on the road,” she
said, dropping his keys into his hand. “I’ll just catch a ride back
to Trey and Sierra’s house with my parents later. It’s no big
deal.”
    “I hope it’s
not too much for Alisa, havin’ a big family dinner so soon
after...”
    Brianna
smiled. “Liam won’t let her lift a finger. Besides, they all
thought it would be easier if they spent the first night or two
with Trey and Sierra.”
    Ryan tipped
his head back against the leather seat and closed his eyes. “Man,
it’s been one hell of a night, hasn’t it?”
    Brianna
giggled. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had a pancake breakfast at
four in the morning before.”
    “You don’t
know what you’re missin’. I’m usually just rollin’ in around this
time. I can’t tell you how many times my buddies and I have found
an all-night diner so we could have bacon and eggs before we hit
the sheets.”
    “Don’t you
ever get tired of keeping up that pace? I get tired just thinking
about it. Of course, you and I have always been as different as two
people could be.”
    It bothered
him that she didn’t see all of the things they had in common. They
loved the same music, laughed like a couple of kids on
rollercoasters, and played video games like their lives were on the
line. “We’re not really so different, Bri.”
    “Oh, please,”
she said, hiding a yawn behind her hand. “You live for the party
while I always seem to have my nose buried in some book.”
    “Yeah, but
you’re gonna be a lawyer in a few short months, so I’d say your
dedication paid off.” At the risk of getting too serious, something
he rarely did, he said, “I’m really proud of you.”
    She blushed
and dipped her head. “Thanks, Ry.”
    A figure at
his front door drew his attention and he muttered a curse.
    “Looks