No Shelter Left novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: The Second Verse

The Starling Records charity dinner was held in a restored train depot, with white tablecloths and a stage lit pink.

Aisling walked in on the guest list under the name Mae Lark.

Jude had put it there. He had not told her until the day before, and he had not said why.

She wore the only dress she owned, black and plain, with her canvas bag swapped for a clutch Brodie had borrowed from someone.

Her number read 283.

She found a table near the back and sat with her hands folded.

Across the room, Colby stood by the bar with two label vice presidents, laughing at something one of them said.

He had not seen her yet.

At nine the host called Kaitlyn to the stage.

She came out in a silver gown with long sleeves, and the room stood up for her.

"This is a brand-new song," Kaitlyn said into the microphone, soft and shy. "I wrote it this summer. It's called Borrowed Rooms."

Aisling's hands tightened in her lap.

She had written it at four in the morning, on the floor of her room in the Larkin house, with a pillow over her guitar to keep from waking anyone.

Kaitlyn began to sing.

The first verse was beautiful. The chorus was even better.

The room swayed with it. Somebody near the front wiped her eyes.

Then the first verse ended, and Kaitlyn's voice faltered.

The band played the turn, and she missed the entrance.

She smiled at the audience and went on humming, with her eyes drifting toward the wings where Colby stood.

Colby gave a tiny shake of his head.

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