Warner put his guitar on the stand and walked out into the hallway. Walking through the door were a lot of Keller men. Ed, Christian, Spencer, John, Zach, and even Carlos.
“Hey guys,” he said and he hoped they didn’t hear the fear in his voice. Had she sent her hit men to take him out?
Ed stepped forward. “Rumor has it you have the night free.”
“I do?”
Christian laughed. “Your wife said so.”
“Oh.” Again he was sure they wouldn’t beat him, but help throw his stuff in the truck—yeah.
Ed stepped closer to him. “See, there’s only one problem with running off and getting married so quickly.”
“Only one?”
Ed smiled as he rested his hand on Warner’s shoulder. “You didn’t get a bachelor party.”
His breath of relief must have been so audible that even Carlos had smiled. Family—he was going to have to get used to it.
As bachelor parties went, Warner figured this one to be tame. They ended up at a sports bar on Music Row. He too wondered how planned that was.
There was a huge table by the bar reserved for them. Someone had already ordered platters of wings and fries and pitchers of soda. Obviously word had gotten out about his past—or so he would assume, otherwise he had to figure those pitchers would have been full of beer.
It didn’t matter. These men were there to take him out and accept him as one of their own. This was a blessing. If he made it home without any of them beating him in the parking lot and his wife was there he figured they’d be okay—forever.
Carlos was the first to fill his plate with wings. “So, Warner, tell us about this TV show you’re on.”
“Oh, well, it will be interesting. I think he’s thinking of me more as a performer than a song writer. But now with Clara performing my songs, I really don’t know what they will be doing with me. I mean the purpose was to get the artists and their music found.”
“It certainly sounds interesting. And Clara will be traveling?”
“Ten cities."
“My baby is a performer." He smiled. "We're pretty proud.”
“I'm proud of her too.”
Zach was the next to fill his plate. “I heard a new recording company is starting up soon. We were just approached for a bid to design. New building with studios.”
That had Warner's attention. “Who’s heading that up?”
“It was a group, can't say I know any specific names.”
At least it was promising, he thought. If Patty owned part in another company maybe this would leave him with some options.
The conversation was good and that was what Warner needed most. There was no doubt these men knew his story but not one of them seem to judge him. As the evening progressed, one by one each man left after giving Warner a pat on the back and their own words of congratulations. Eventually it was Carlos and Warner left at the table. Warner was sure this was by design.
The waitress approached the table and told Carlos that the bill has been taken care of by Zach. Carlos shook his head and laughed. “That man never ceases to amaze me. He's taken care of a lot of us over the years.” Carlos took a sip of his drink and set it back on the table. “He knew I set this up and was going to pay for it I don't know why he does that. He's just that kind of a guy.”
Warner shifted in his chair. “You set this up?”
Carlos nodded. “Yes. You needed a night out with the guys, and we needed to celebrate your marriage, like men.”
Warner laughed. “I appreciate it more than you know.”
“It sounds like things haven't been easy for you. I know that's hard. Clara won't give up on you. She's not made like that.”
“I hope you're right. I love her more than I thought I could love anybody. And I'm not just saying that because you're her father. It's true. Fate stepped in at the right time. Though I have to admit I didn't expect any of this. The marriage. The show. Her singing my music. Or gaining a family.”
Carlos leaned on the table with his elbows. The look on his face said that he was contemplating his next phrase. “I didn't know I was giving my blessing for a wedding when you and I last spoke. But I think she did good with you. Not everybody gets to choose how they start life. We get to choose how we live our life. You seem to have made the right choices.”
Warner wasn't the kind of man to cry, especially in front of another man. But he could feel the tears well in his eyes and sting in his throat. “I just wish mistakes from your childhood didn't have to follow you into adulthood. I'm more than what I was when I was a teenager. Things would be different had that have been different.”
“You can't change that. It's time to move on. And something tells me things are going to go your way very soon.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You're married to my daughter. She gets what she wants out of life. And she wants you and your success. Like I said, everything is going to be fine.”
Warner bit down on his lip. The tears were stinging harder in his eyes. “I think you're right. As a team I think we can conquer anything. We will just have to get past these few weeks, even months, until we can move forward together.”
“Let me ask, because it wouldn't be a fatherly thing if I didn't, what are your plans if your music doesn't take off?”
“I would go back into teaching,” Warner said without hesitation. “I enjoyed the kids and seeing what they could learn. I truly think that's where my calling is, aside from writing music.”
Carlos smiled wide. “I totally understand that. I don't know what I would have done all those years had I not been teaching. The administrative side was a whole lot different. The magic is in the classroom. Those kids are yours to mold, to shape the future. I think you'd be a fine teacher.”
Warner cleared his throat. “Thank you for that. That means a lot.”
“You'd better get home to your wife then. She'll be looking for you soon.”
“Thank you for the night out. It was unexpected and very nice.”
“You're one of us now. We're a support system for each other. The women in this family, well, they come with a support group.”
Warner laughed. He supposed that was true enough. From what he could tell already the Keller women were a strong breed. And those other women who joined the clan, well they were just as strong. The men in this family would have to be a good alliance for their women and for themselves. But he was part of a family now. And families stuck together—especially this one.