He heard her sigh. “I see you’re still being difficult. Micah, I’ve told you the solution. Come back to LA where you belong. I know the house in Malibu has too many memories, so I’ll help you sell it. You can buy something else in Venice or Hermosa Beach. If you don’t want to be by the water, you can find something amazing up in the Hollywood Hills.”

“Did you call me to talk about real estate?”

“No. I called to talk about the variety show. I want to make sure you’re not backing out. You’ve been in a mood lately, and you’re unpredictable.”

A mood? He’d lost his family. That wasn’t a mood. But he knew better than to state the obvious. Electra would turn it around to be about her, and he would end up apologizing for something he hadn’t done because she was simply better at manipulating people.

“I’ll be there,” he told her. “I’m doing the show.”

“And you’re singing ‘Moonlight for Christmas’?”

“Yes.”

“People love that song so much. I’ve been talking to Billy about releasing a new version of it. Maybe we can get into the studio in the next few days and make that happen.”

“I’m not coming back until the show.”

“Why not? After we recorded the new version, we could go somewhere and write together. I know you’re not writing on your own, Micah. You need me.”

He needed a lot of things these days—he needed to start living again and he needed to sleep. He needed to find his inner voice, the one that whispered lyrics and suggested melodies, but he didn’t need to spend even five minutes with his ex-wife.

“No, thanks,” he said, trying to keep his voice friendly rather than curt. “I’ll get there on my own.”

“You’re so stubborn. Fine. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

“You will.”

She hung up without saying goodbye, because that was Electra’s way. He put his phone back in his pocket and started for the B and B, his good mood squashed by their conversation. Electra had a gift for sucking the joy out of any moment. Funny how twenty years ago, she’d been the most exciting creature he’d ever met. Of course, he’d been a kid and hadn’t known better.

He took Grand Avenue to Jolly Drive and turned right. The B and B stood in a row with other Victorian houses, although the B and B was by far the biggest. At the last second, he went into the main building, thinking he might get another cup of coffee and see if there were any scones left from breakfast.