"Well, have fun tonight, Brynn. I can't wait to see you. When are you coming home?"

"I'm not sure yet. I might travel for a week or so while I'm in Europe."

"You sound so carefree."

"I feel that way," I said with a happy smile. "I'll be in touch. Love you."

"Love you, too."

As I put my phone away, I stiffened as a man came out of the shadows. He wore slacks and a black wool blazer over a dark-gray shirt. His brown hair was thick and wavy, his jaw strong, his dark eyes gleaming with a sexy smile that flipped my stomach over. My wariness turned into pure joy.

"Kade! What are you doing in Paris?"

"I thought I'd catch a New Year's Eve concert," he said.

"You heard the orchestra?"

"I heard you, Brynn."

"I was just one of many." My body tingled under his hot gaze.

"Really? I could have sworn you were the only one playing, and it was…magical."

"It felt magical," I whispered. "You being here feels magical, too. Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you. I wanted to see where your road had taken you. How has it been?"

"Everything I dreamed of and more."

"I'm glad. The dream doesn't always match up to reality."

"This one did. I found myself, Kade, and I like this version of me. I'm so happy I took the risk."

"Has Dani been supporting you in your new endeavor?"

"Very much so. We talk almost every day. She sends me reviews of our shows. She's trying to be very supportive."

"And her pregnancy is going well?"

"Yes. She's going to have a son in five weeks, so there will be a lot of change, but all good change. What about you? What have you been doing?"

"Well, I had an amazing show in San Francisco. Then I went down to Los Angeles and created some art by the beach. I made a trip back to New York to see my mom and talk over everything."

"How did she respond?"

"She was okay. She didn’t really want to talk about it."

"Did you see my mom while you were in San Francisco?"

"Yes. Laura came to the show. We went out for a drink afterward. She said you had texted with her a few times. She hoped that someday you'd be able to have a relationship. I don't think she had heard from Dani."

"Dani holds a grudge longer than I do, but she told me tonight that she wished Mom and Rachel a Happy New Year. So, there's progress."

"How is your father doing?"

"He's keeping in touch with us more frequently. He and Vicky seem to be happy again. I think in some ways the ghost of my mom was always hanging over them. Now, that ghost has been exorcised."

"And Rachel?"