Holland Richmond had wanted nothing more in life then to meet Reggie, the brother she never got to know. Although born 8 years after his untimely death, Holland grew up on her mother's stories of the brother she never knew, propelling her into a lif...
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"Reggie...I just want to make sure you're ready. That this is...everything you want to say,"
Holland bit her lip as she waited for her brother's answer the night after the club show. She sat on her bed, clutching the letter he had apparently worked all day on for their mom. The boys stood at Reggie's side as moral support as he nodded his head.
"Yes. Yeah, I'm ready,"
Holland pulled Luke's sweatshirt tighter around herself as she turned the corner into the kitchen. Their mother sat at the island counter, laughing at a video that her dad was showing her on his phone. She smiled at how happy they were, clutching the note in her hand as her dad looked up, noticing her presence.
"Hey songbird," she smiled at her dad as she sat across from them at the island counter, placing the note in front of her. "Whatcha got there?"
Holland waited a second as Reggie sat down beside her, Alex and Luke standing off to the side to give the family some space but still be there for their friend.
"You know my friend Julie?" Holland's mom nodded, confusion on her face as she tried to figure out what was happening. "We learned something the other day, actually. The house that she lives in...it's the house that Reggie's band used...for practice."
A small 'oh' fell from their mother's lips, an unreadable emotion of her face as she looked at her daughter. Holland cleared her throat, opening the letter on the table in front of her.
"I was helping her clean out her mom's studio, the same place where they rehearsed. Turns out, a lot of their old stuff was still there," Holland completely opened the letter, already feeling the tears prick the back of her eyes. "Reggie...he wrote a note for you, mom. For you and for his dad."
Holland's mother brought a hand up to her mouth as he dad slid an arm around her, watching his wife carefully. Tear's already pricked at her mother's eyes as she looked at her daughter.
"Can you...can you read it for me?"
Holland nodded, clearing her throat as she shakily picked up the letter.
Hey Mom!
I know you were busy tonight and couldn't make it, but that's okay! There will be plenty of times to come watch us play at the Orpheum. Well, that's presuming that all goes well tonight.
Honestly, I'm just feeling sentimental. None of us thought we would ever make it this far, that Sunset Curve would ever reach the places that it has reached, and to play the Orpheum is SICK! Man, I wish you could be here tonight to see it. Dad too, but I know he's out of town on business. Since I'm in the sentimental mood, I just want to say thank you for supporting me, mom. You've always been so supportive of this band, of my dream, of all of the guys not just me. It means the world to all of us, it really does.
I tried to convince Luke that we should add in one of my country songs to the set list but I got out voted. I know you love them so I'm trying here, they just need to expand their horizons! We don't have to be just a pop band, we can work in multiple fields! Maybe one day Luke will give in to my country songs.
We just finished soundcheck, so I think we're going to go grab something to eat. I just want you to know that I love you mom, more than anything.
Oh! I've also been thinking ahead, and I'm really thinking that it's time I get a sibling. Having a little sister seems pretty cool.
Reggie x
Holland couldn't help the small laugh as she finished reading the letter for the first time, wiping the tears from her eyes. She stole a glance at Reggie, seeing the tears on his own cheeks as he watched the way their mother cried. She smiled down at the letter, at the little add-ins that only she would understand.
She looked back up to her mother as she silently cried, Holland father holding her tight. She smiled, though, her daughter reaching out and taking her hand in her own as she looked at her.
"All I have wanted, all my life, was to meet Reggie and his friends," Holland started, taking in a deep breath as she smiled at her mom. "I have dedicated my life and my music to them, to the boys that didn't get to live their dream. But mom...he was happy. He might be gone, but he was happy, they all were. They were doing the thing they loved most in this world, and that was music. But he loved you, and he loved his dad, no matter how bad things were back then. He loved you so much, mom."
Her mother burst into sobs as Holland made her way around the counter, pulling her mother into a hug as her father hugged her as well. Reggie slowly made his way over, sitting down beside his mom. He placed his hand on top of hers, watching it go right through. But their mother felt something, even if she didn't know what it truly was.
"This was a gift," she spoke, cupping her daughter's face in her hands as she smiled through her tears. "This is the greatest gift I've ever been given, besides you, Holly. God, he would've loved you so much."
Her mother pulled her back in, crying into her shoulder as Holland held her tightly, soothing her just as he father was.
"I do mom," Reggie spoke softly with a smile, wiping the tears from his cheeks. Luke and Alex took seats beside Reggie, pulling him into a hug themselves as he stared at his family. "I do love her so much."
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Four updates in one day? Man, I must love you guys and this book that much! I figured we'd kind of do a filler chapter here, something that focused more on Reggie, Holland and their mother instead of on Holland and Luke for a moment. If you've read any of my other books you what I love even more than writing the romance is writing the side relationships, and I think Reggie and Holland's is just adorable.
