As soon as they entered the welcoming interior of the Barron’s home, the sound of a baby crying met their ears.

“Oh, she’s up, Tanner. If you’ll go get her, I’ll warm her bottle.”

“Gladly.” Tanner headed to the stairs. “Our daughter is a demanding little soul.”

“You two come with me, like Tanner said, I’m hungry for company. I’ve been experiencing this amazing influx of inspiration. I can’t seem to write down the lyrics and melody of one song before another is clamoring for attention.”

She led them into a cozy kitchen with a big, comfortable table with cushioned bench seating. “Just find yourself a spot, while I put on the coffee. Tanner likes me to brew it, he can’t stand those little cup thingys.”

“Those K-cups don’t seem to make the coffee hot enough for me,” Judah agreed with her. “You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Holt.”

“Thank you. Please call me Desiree, Judah.” She got busy in the kitchen.

He laughed. “All right, Desiree, but I have to tell you I find it hard to do. You’re like my idol. I grew up watching you sing.”

“Watch it.” She shook her finger at him, giving Judah a mock frown. “I’ll be straight up-front with you, I’m sensitive about my age.”

“I don’t know why, you just keep getting more beautiful to me.” Tanner arrived carrying a little girl with a halo of blonde curls standing straight up on her head.

“Aww, you always know the right thing to say, sweetheart.” Desiree gave Tanner a kiss, then took her daughter from his arms. “Everyone, meet Mary Celeste, the boss of this joint.”

Pepper’s eyes brightened and she reached for the baby. “Oh, please, let me hold her. I love babies.”

“Sure!” Desiree deposited the little girl in Pepper’s arms. “Judah, how do you take your coffee?”

“Black, but Pepper takes three sugars and two creams.”

Tanner laughed. “Oh, she takes a little coffee with her sugar, does she?”

Judah winked at Pepper. “That’s why she’s so sweet.”

While Desiree poured up the coffee, Tanner sliced the pie. “So, I have the cabin down by the creek all fixed up for you,” Tanner said as he handed them both a big slice of the blackberry pastry. “It’s fully stocked with everything you’ll need. There’s wood for the fireplace, but I think it’s too warm for a fire. We have horses when you’re ready for a trail ride, or you could hike, and if you decide to fish, I have plenty of extra gear.”

“Sounds heavenly,” Pepper said as she smiled at Mary Celeste who was blowing bubbles and grinning at her like she was the funniest thing she’d ever seen. “Ten told me about your plans for the Wilderness Camp, I think that’s a great idea, Tanner.”

“I agree. So many young people are hungry to get out of the city. I think we’ll be able to do a lot of good.” They settled down to have pie and coffee. “We’re thinking about bringing Bowie Travis Malone and Beau LeBlanc in on the deal.”

“That’s a good idea, Bowie can do anything from cave diving to fly fishing and Beau can teach them target shooting and how to use a bow and arrow.” Pepper took a bite of the pie. “This is fabulous, Desiree!”

“Thank you.” She beamed with happiness. “I tell you, I’ve never been happier than I have this past year and a half. I’m so glad to get off the road. Touring is great, but there’s no place like home.”

Judah nodded. “I thought I would enjoy touring more than I did, it gets old fast.”

“Exactly,” Desiree agreed, rising to pour her husband another cup of coffee. “Anyone else?” Judah and Pepper passed as she continued to speak. “I find that in the age of music videos, You-Tube, and live concert streaming, I can keep my music in front of my fans as easily as taking the music to their hometown.”

“What label are you with now?” Judah asked.

Desiree rejoined them, placing Tanner’s coffee by his plate. “My own. Yellow Rose Recording.” She cut a bite of pie, but her arm froze before she got it to her mouth. “You’re with Ace, aren’t you?”

Judah sighed. “Yea, sorry to say.”

“I’ve heard about their problems. There was a new report on the news this morning.”

“Oh, no,” Judah said. “I haven’t heard. Have they declared bankruptcy or something?”

“No.” Desiree shook her head. “They announced it was Ivana Paul’s record that was boosted, not yours.”

Judah felt an immense sense of relief. “Thank goodness for that.” At least that was one less thing he had to worry about.

“You know…” Desiree looked between them with a happy, conspiratorial expression on her face. “You ought to sign with me. I have connections out the ying-yang.”

“Really?” Judah was surprised. “I’m not really a country singer, Desiree.”

She waved her hand. “Neither is Heartland, but I just signed them.”

Judah’s eyes widened at the name of the hot rock band. “Oh, wow. Reese and I would love to discuss the possibility with you.”

“Excellent!”

“You two are so busy, what with Desiree’s career and Lost Pines, not to mention Tanner’s tracking and the new camp.” Pepper was hit anew by her lack of a plan, a goal. Judah was her prime focus, but she also needed some type of project or career to call her own.

“Speaking of the camp.” Tanner threw down his napkin. “Would you like to see the blue prints?”

“I would!” Pepper rose and looked at Judah.

Before he could rise to join them, Desiree held out her arms for the baby and looked from Pepper to Judah. “You two go on, Pepper. I’d like to speak with Judah about a few things.”

Knowing they had business to discuss, Pepper didn’t mind at all. “Of course, sure.”

“The plans are in the den,” Tanner said. “We’ll be right back.”

When they were gone, Judah placed his fork across the back of his clean pie plate. “Desiree, before we talk serious business, you are aware of my…problem, aren’t you?”

The country singer bounced her baby on her knee. “I saw the news, yes. I’ve also been the victim of an expose, so I can relate.” At his confused expression, she giggled. “How did you miss it? When word got out that Tanner and I were dating, the music world went crazy because I was robbing the cradle. They called him Cougar Bait.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. You two are perfect together, what do they know?”

She smiled in agreement. “Yea, but couple that with my near mental breakdown and the gossipmongers had more fodder than they knew what to do with.”

“Your what?” Judah couldn’t have heard her right.

“My therapist called it PTSD, I’d survived two assaults and a surgery where I had a bad reaction to anesthesia.” She kissed Mary Celeste on the cheek. “I almost lost my mind. I couldn’t sit still, I couldn’t ride on a plane, I had to sleep outdoors, I couldn’t stand the dark.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I was a certifiable mess.” Desiree heard her husband’s voice in the other room. “Tanner saved me.” Looking out the window at Lost Pines, she muttered softly, “This place saved me.”

Judah thought a minute. “I don’t think my situation is comparable to yours. I’ve been diagnosed with schizophrenia.” He pointed to the toaster. “Any minute, I could get an important message from that toaster over there.”

Desiree laughed. “Well, if you do, let me know. The damn thing burns my toast every morning. I’d love to give it a piece of my mind.”

“No, I’m serous. I see things. I hear things. I have conversations with people who aren’t there, I get lyrics from oak trees. Hell, I saw a hitchhiker on the way here. A woman. Doesn’t sound odd, but I saw the same exact hitchhiker three times. Somehow, she kept getting ahead of the car.” He tapped his forehead. “I’m the one that’s certifiable. Literally.”

“Yet, you’re a success. You’re talented.” She pointed to the door that Tanner and Pepper had left through. “And one of the most beautiful women in Texas is in love with you.” She drained her coffee cup. “You get music from trees, you say?”

“Yea, some good songs.”

Desiree gazed out at the surrounding forest. “I’ll have to have a word with my pines, they’re falling down on the job.” She grinned when Judah chuckled. “And if it’s any consolation, that hitchhiker you saw wasn’t a hallucination. Belladonna has been haunting that highway for years.”

Judah’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t get a chance to reply. Tanner and Pepper returned. “If you’re ready, I’ll show you the cabin,” Tanner offered.

“Sounds good.” Pepper retrieved her purse and stole a kiss from the baby. “I want six just like you.”

“Six?” Judah asked in mock surprise.

“At least.” Pepper teased.

“Just follow me down there,” Tanner told them. “I’ll help you with your bags.”  

“And Judah,” Desiree spoke behind them. “Think about what I said. The Yellow Rose would make a fine home for your music.”

“Thank you.” He hugged her. “I will certainly think about it.”

…Once they were alone, Judah stood out on the porch looking over the landscape. “Would you like to have a place like this someday?”

Pepper hugged him from behind. “The place you live isn’t nearly as important as the people you live with.”

He covered her hands with his, pressing them into his chest. “I agree, wholeheartedly. Where would you be happiest, all other things being equal?”

She kissed his back. “If I could take my family with me, I would choose a country lifestyle. I love having flower gardens and a place to roam.”

“Good to know.” He turned his head to kiss her over his shoulder. “Are you ready to explore?”

For the next few hours, they took Lost Pines in. After a long hike through the woods, they cooled off by the creek and enjoyed a picnic lunch Pepper had packed from the supplies in the cabin’s larder. After lunch, they mounted up and rode horseback around the entire perimeter of the ranch. When they returned to the cabin, they cleaned up and sacked out in a rustic four-poster on the screened in porch, wearing nothing more than towels.

“What do you think about Desiree’s offer to sign you with her record label?”

“I think it’s well worth consideration. I intend to look into it closely.”

“Good. Maybe you can get away from Ivana. She’s bad news.”

“Amen to that.” He held her right hand in his left one, their heads resting on the same pillow. “I just wish I could combat some of the gossip going around. People need to know I’m not dangerous or frothing at the mouth or something. I hate to even look at my sales figures.”

“This will work out. You’ll get a chance to say your piece and once you sign with a new record label and get a new song out there, everything will get back to normal. You’re too talented to keep down, it’s just not going to happen.”

Her confidence in him was heartening. “You’re so good for me. I wish I could give you the same amount of support that you give me.”

“You do,” Pepper asserted. “I love my family, but you’re my happiness. Of course, if you think of any worthwhile contribution I can make to society, please let me know.”

Her tone was teasing, but he could hear an underlying concern. “Pepper, the whole world is at your fingertips. You just need to figure out what your greatest dream is and go for it. I’ve always known music was mine, but there’s something out there amazing, just waiting for you.” He smiled into her eyes.

Rolling to face her, Judah kissed her, long and deep. One kiss flowed into another, until the warmth between them flashed into a fire. He responded to her sweet taste, to the spark of skin on skin, to the exquisite pressure of her soft, sweet body against his.

When his fingers confirmed she was ready for him, he covered her, moaning as he sank deep into the silken heat of her feminine core. Wanting to convey his love, he moved slowly and rhythmically, slowing when she flew near the edge, teasing her, soaring with her on a rising wind until they were panting and Pepper was writhing beneath him in ecstasy, calling out his name.

When he felt the bite of her fingernails on his lower back, when he felt her pussy began to milk him and felt himself hovering on the brink of ultimate release, only then did he relinquish the little bit of control he was holding onto and drive into her with an urgent, powerful need. When she arched up against him, crying out her pleasure, he surrendered to the rapture and let himself explode within her.

Afterward, she rested in his arms and they lay listening to a summer storm that had blown in on a Gulf breeze. They were just about to fall asleep when Judah’s phone buzzed.

“I shouldn’t answer, but it could be my mom.”

Rising, he grabbed his cell and saw that it was Reese.

“What’s up?”

“I just got a call from NBC, I just booked you on a late-night talk show tonight. They had a cancellation. Can you meet me at the airport in forty-five minutes?”

Judah looked at Pepper, who could hear both sides of the conversation. She nodded.

“I’ll be there.”

 

* * *

 Pepper didn’t quibble about not getting to go with Judah. She knew he needed to spend the time with his manager on the way there to discuss what he was going to say on the late-night talk show. They went straight to the airport from Lost Pines, only taking time to say goodbye to the Barrons. Since the airport was located on 79, they stopped on the way to let Judah off. “Call me when you get there, okay?” She held on to him so tight, he could barely answer.

“I will. You’re going to wait at the loft, aren’t you?”

“I think I need to return to Highlands and reconcile with my family. I’ll be watching and be there with you in spirit. Call me when you know your return flight and I’ll be here to pick you up.”

He nodded. “That’s a good idea, I’m glad you’re going.” Judah hugged her tight. “Just drive the Challenger on to the ranch, don’t waste time going downtown.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” He framed her face and kissed her hard. “I love you so much, Penelope Elizabeth.”

“I love you too. Be safe.”

“You too. I’ll call you when I land to make sure you made it to the ranch okay.”

“Okay. I wish you all the luck in the world,” she called as he started off. Pepper stood as long as she could, watching him walk toward the loading gate, until one of the airport cops told her to move the car.

Once she was out of the city and on the road north toward Lake Buchanan, Pepper’s thoughts were all over the place. She missed her brothers and sister and hated the way she’d stormed out and how they’d argued over her seeing Judah. Pepper knew she’d have to make sure they realized that just because she was returning home, this didn’t mean she was turning her back on Judah. This was her reaching out to her family. Still…she dreaded another inevitable confrontation. Pepper knew her brothers and she knew they wouldn’t be backing down as easily as she might hope.

Squaring her shoulders, she sat up straighter in the driver’s seat and set her mind to do her part in making this visit go as smoothly as possible.

…Onboard the plane, Judah sat next to Reese. “So, how much time will I have?”

“You’ll be spending about a half-hour onstage, but they’ll air only fifteen minutes after it’s edited.”

“I’m nervous,” Judah admitted. “This is a make or break moment for me.”

Reese reached into his pocket. “I have a list of the questions you’ll be asked.”

“Thank God.” He reached for them. To his amusement, several of them reminded him of the psychological exam he’d been given. Thankfully, there were also questions about his recordings, his plans, and his band. “I think I can handle this.”

“Just keep your cool and everything will be fine.”

They were riding in first class, so Judah had a little room to stretch out. He rested his head back against the seat, mentally rehearsing what he wanted to say. His eye was drawn to the clouds they were flying through. As he stared past the wing of the plane, he imagined how horrid it would be if he saw one of those gremlins tearing up the airplane engine like he’d seen on that old Twilight Zone movie. He quickly shut his eyes and turned his head, afraid his crazy brain would manufacture one. This thought caused him to remember the hitchhiker he’d seen earlier, on the way to Lost Pines. Desiree had laughed off his hallucination, saying it was a local ghost of some kind. What if it was? What if his mother was right and he was, somehow, connecting to the spirit world? He shook his head, putting the idea out of his mind. Either way, he had to address his problem before the whole world in a matter of hours.

…This was the first time Pepper could remember lingering outside her own front door, practicing what she was about to say. For her whole life, she’d been the good girl, the baby, the one who could do no wrong in her parents’ or brothers’ estimation. She knew in their eyes her return would be a walk of shame. She’d openly spent the night in a man’s apartment, all of them would correctly assume that she’d had sex with Judah. Pepper felt her cheeks go pink at the thought. “Oh, shoot,” she whispered as she paced the length of the verandah for the fourth time.

“Are you going to come in or you going to wear a hole in the welcome rug?”

Pepper jumped when she heard Jaxson’s dry drawl.

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she looked at him squarely. “Well, am I welcome?”

“Of course, you are.” He opened the door and pulled her inside. After holding her in his arms for a few seconds, he announced her arrival to the rest of the household.

“Everybody! Pepper’s home!”

Jaxson even took his phone and sent out a text, presumably to Ryder, Pepper thought. “Hey, I do still live here. This isn’t a big deal.”

She moved on in the house, past the foyer, and into the kitchen. “How is everyone?”

“Fine,” Jaxson said, following her. “Worried about you.”

“You shouldn’t be.” She made her way to the refrigerator to find a bottle of water. A few seconds later, she could hear footsteps coming from every part of the house and the opening and closing of the front door as her family began to gather. When she turned around, it was to find herself surrounded. Cato and Molly came forward to hug her, as did Philip and Ten. Ryder came running into the room and joined the group hug.

Only Heath hung back.

Pepper stood in front of her big brother and the rest of the family watched to see what would happened. After a few tense moments, he opened his arms and she ran into them. “That’s my Pepper.” He kissed her on the top of the head. “Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

Pepper sighed. She loved this man, but sometimes he seemed to be deliberately difficult. “I’m perfectly okay, Judah would never harm me. We’re in love.”

A grumbling growl rose in Heath’s chest. Pepper could feel the vibrations as he held her. “You’re too young to be thinking about such things.”

“No, I’m not.” She backed out of his arms. “I came home to check on everyone, pack a bag, and watch Judah on television before I head back to Austin. He flew to New York to be on a live late-night talk show to discuss the news and rumors that are swirling around about him.”

Philip looked at the clock. “What time is this show?”

“Eleven,” she answered. The clock showed the hour to be just after six pm.

“Good,” Molly spoke up. “We have time for a nice family dinner before we watch it with you.”

…Once the plane landed at JFK, they were met by a cab sent by the network. Reese arranged for him to have time to change clothes and freshen up before heading to the studio. The first thing he did when he found himself alone was to call Pepper. He held his breath until she answered the phone. He’d spent a good part of the flight worrying if she’d had any car trouble or if her family was giving her a hard time.

“Judah?”

He let out a long breath. “Pepper, did you have any trouble on the road?”

“No, I made it fine. How was your flight?”

“Boring. I just went over with Reese what I’ll be covering tonight on the show. How’s your family?”

“Good.” She paused. “They’re all right here with me. We’re about to eat, then watch the show to support you.”

Judah groaned, “Great. My biggest fans.”

“They will be, Judah, just give them time.”

“I won’t hold my breath.” He glanced at his watch. “We’re on our way to a room so I can clean up. I’ll call once this is all over, okay?”

“Okay, and don’t worry, you’re going to do great.”

He blew out a harsh breath. “I hope so. Think about me, will you?”

“Every minute,” she whispered. “I love you, Judah James.”

“I love you, Penelope Elizabeth.”

… “Pass me them yams.” Heath motioned to the dish at the end of the table. “This is an excellent pork roast, Molly.”

“Thanks, the rotisserie Ten gave me works great.”

Pepper picked at her food, her eye on the clock on the wall. Another hour and Judah would be interviewed on live television. She felt antsy and fidgety, she couldn’t be still.

“Pepper, do you want a roll?” Jaxson held out the basket of bread.

“No, thanks, I’m really not hungry.”

“You need to eat.” Ten pushed a bowl of broccoli toward her. “This has lots of cheese, just the way you like it.”

To appease her brother, she took a spoon or two and put it on her plate. “Thank you.” Her attention was drawn to the two high chairs holding the baby carriers that sat between Ten and Molly. “Ella and Ava can sleep through anything, can’t they?”

“Yes, but if we took them upstairs and left them in their cribs, they’d wake up every few seconds and no one would have any peace.” She reached over and pulled Ava’s pacifier from her lips and laid it on her chest. The baby just sighed in contentment.

“Guess who I got a phone call from today?” Ryder asked from the far end of the table. She was alone, her husbands were in Florida for another rocket launch.

“Who?” Pepper asked. “Is your mother-in-law coming to visit again?” She wasn’t being funny or sarcastic. Pepper was truly fascinated with the elegant Hawaiian woman. “I adore listening to that woman talk about her life.”

“No, she and my fathers-in-law are supposed to visit this fall when it’s not so hot.” Ryder took her napkin from her lap and placed it by her plate. “Our cousin Colleen called. She’s planning on being in Austin in about a week and a half for a photo shoot and wondered if she could take the four of us girls to lunch.”

“Oh, I like that idea.” Cato grinned mischievously. “We can shake her down for information on the rest of her family.”

Heath chuckled. “Do you think you’re going to have to shake her down, baby? She’s a woman, she loves to talk.”

Cato elbowed him. “Nobody gossips more than you and Dushku. I heard him telling you all about Judah the other night.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she looked guiltily between Heath and Pepper. “It wasn’t bad,” she whispered to Pepper.

“What were you two saying about Judah?” Pepper asked her brother.

“Oh, you know, industry talk.” Heath looked uncomfortable. “Jimmy knows all the movers and shakers in town. He hears things.”

“Well, if you want to know anything about Judah, why don’t you ask me?” Pepper declared. “I know him better than anyone.”

Jaxson bristled. “And you have no idea how that news rankles us.”

“Rankles?” Pepper repeated. “Why can’t my family be happy for me?”

“We are happy for you,” Ryder assured her.

“We don’t know anything about him,” Ten said at the same time.

“I think we need to withhold judgment and trust our sister,” Philip spoke up, ever the voice of reason.

“Thank you, Philip.” Pepper met her brother’s kind eyes. “Judah is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Heath groaned in dismay at her statement. “I think you’re as deluded as your boyfriend.”

“Heath!” Cato, Molly, and Ryder all exclaimed at once.

Pepper arose from her chair. “I’m going to go pack a bag, because just as soon as the show is over, he’s catching a plane home and I’m going to be at the airport to pick him up.”

“I wish you’d stay here at the ranch so we could look out for you,” Ten stated, pushing his chair back from the table and getting to his feet.

“I can’t do that, Judah needs me right now.” Pepper looked at Cato and Molly. “I’ll be back down in a few minutes and help you clean the kitchen.” She pushed her chair under the table. “The food was excellent. Thank you.”

…Judah stood in the green room at the NBC Studio, waiting for a signal to go onstage. He debated calling Pepper again, but decided against it. He’d taken his meds that morning, but he could tell he was wound up. Probably just nerves, he thought. God, he hoped he didn’t get out there and make a fool of himself. Judah knew he’d be asked some tough question, that was why he was here. His intent was to get the message to his fans that the musician they loved wasn’t a stark raving lunatic.

“But you are, aren’t you?” A microwave sneered at him from across the room. “You are a stark raving lunatic.”

Anger flooded Judah’s mind. “Stop it,” he whispered. “One, two, three…” He shut his eyes, telling himself that this was just his way of projecting his own thoughts and aiming them back at himself. “I’m as sane as you, you flimsy, low-wattage piece of junk.”

“You’re on in five, Mr. James,” someone said behind him and Judah whirled, finding a man with a headset and a clipboard.

“Thanks.” He nodded, studying the man to make sure he was real. “I’ll be right out.”

With one last glance in the mirror, Judah steeled himself and rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ll get through this, you’ll get through this. And then you can go home to Pepper.”

…Back at Highlands, Pepper and her family sat in the den, all facing Heath’s monster flat-screen. The big television filled the wall.

“It’s starting!” Jaxson yelled. “Where’s the popcorn?”

Pepper bristled. “You all aren’t going to eat popcorn while my boyfriend is going through one of the toughest moments of his life!”

The familiar music sounded and the well-known host of the show came out.

“I’ve always liked him, he has such a friendly face,” Molly observed, sitting next to her husband on the large leather sectional.

Her family chattered until Pepper grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. “They just introduced him,” she announced with a worried note in her voice.

With a flurry of music Judah came onstage. The song they were playing was one of his and Pepper was relieved to see that he wore his signature cocky grin on his face.

“He looks fine to me,” Cato noted. “I don’t know what the big fuss is about.”

“Shhhh.” Heath patted her knee. “We don’t want to miss anything.”

…Judah took his seat next to the well-known television personality. “Hello, Jimmy, thanks for having me.”

“Judah James! Welcome to New York! How was your flight?”

“Great, no problems at all.” No turbulence. No gremlins. “How’ve you been?”

“Oh, I’m good, can’t complain.” Jimmy looked at the camera. “So, I’m just going to get to the point. We’ve all seen the expose, we’ve heard all the rumors, and what I want to know is…are you crazy or not?”

Judah couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, yes and no. I’m a musician and we’re all a little strange. I’m from Austin, a town that takes pride in its weirdness. I live. I love. I sing. I deal with daily life…but I also deal with schizophrenia.”

There was a collective gasp that went through the live audience. Judah couldn’t see any individual faces, not with the glare of the lights. He could tell a hush had fallen over the studio. This was his opportunity. His chance to set the record straight. “I think the term is misunderstood. There’s no one pattern it follows with everybody. I take meds to control it. I’ve had symptoms since I was a senior in high school. They gradually grew worse until I stopped ignoring them and sought some help. Now, everything is…under control.”

“Really? Well, good. Does this mean you have a split personality or multiple personalities? Isn’t that what it means to be schizophrenic?”

Judah shook his head. “Well, no, not in every case and not in my situation. I only have one, not so perfect, personality.” There was laughter from the audience and Judah rubbed his hands on his thighs. They were shaking and a bit damp.

“Okay, good to know. Do you hear voices?” Jimmy pushed for more information.

Judah nodded. “Yea, I do, that’s one way the condition manifests in me.” He didn’t intend to explain about the talking appliances or whatever, he sought to normalize his behavior as much as he could. “I think everyone hears voices in their head. Whether they think it’s their conscience, or God, or something else, depends on their cultural beliefs. My voices are just a bit more insistent. I don’t know what they are or why I have them, but sometimes they’re helpful, sometimes they serve as my muse.”

“Interesting. Do your voices ever tell you to hurt someone?”

There was another collective gasp in the room and Judah found himself turning red under the hot lights. He didn’t know if it was anger, embarrassment, or heat stroke – some of all three, he imagined. “No, never.” He stated without hesitation or pause. “My voices are sometimes critical, but always of me, not other people. Mental well-being is not a one-size fits all, it’s not the same for everybody. We all have to learn how to live with the voices in our heads, the demons that haunt us, whatever form they may take.”

“You’ve given us something to think about, Judah. Now, tell inquiring minds what they want to know about you and Ivana Paul. Are you an item? Are you a couple?”

Judah shook his head. “No, we never were. Ivana’s a good kid, she was going through some stuff and I let myself get talked into being a shield, of a sort.”

“So, the marriage was never real.”

Judah was careful not to outright confirm or deny the allegation. “Gossip can get out of hand quickly.”

 “You’re right about that.” The host leaned closer as if they were sharing secrets. “So, tell us something else, who’s the hot blonde?”

… Pepper smiled and slid to the edge of her seat.

“Hot blonde,” Heath grumbled. “How disrespectful.”

“Shhhh,” Pepper waved a hand toward her brother, listening for Judah’s response.

Judah smiled proudly. “The hot blonde is my girlfriend and the love of my life, Penelope Elizabeth McCoy. Everyone calls her Pepper.”

“Pepper, what a cute name. How does she feel about all of this hullabaloo?”

“Pepper supports me. Completely,” Judah said, gazing straight into the camera. “As I do her.”

“That’s right, baby,” Pepper whispered, oblivious to the pointed stares she was receiving from her brothers.

“Oh, for crying out loud,” Heath fumed. “What a crock of…”

His next words were cut off by Cato quelling her husband’s outburst with a kiss. This tactic worked and amused Ten and Jaxson.

Pepper’s attention never moved from the television.

Judah was speaking. “What I do want to make clear to my fans, is that I haven’t changed. I am still writing music, singing songs, and performing. I still hold my fans in the highest esteem and I will work tirelessly to bring them the music they want and deserve.”

“Well, great. Would you sing a song for us before you go?”

Pepper could tell this was a surprise to Judah, but he took it in stride.

“Sure, I’d love to.” He walked over to the in-house orchestra and in a few moments, he faced the camera. “Pepper, sweetheart, this one’s for you.”