Page 173 of Broken Lines

“I wanted to be a drummer, like dad, but…” Eleanor shrugs.

“Yeah, I get it.” I wink at her. “Guitar iswaymore fun, isn't it?”

She beams at me. “Totally.”

Alice slides off her stool, walking past me to pull Eleanor into a hug and kiss the top of her head.

“Hon, can I talk to Jackson alone for a second?”

“Sure, I actually need to finish up for my lessons tomorrow.”

Her gaze shifts to me.

“I’m glad you’re not dead.”

“Me too.”

She disappears up the stairs again. A few seconds later, my jaw drops as I hear her launch into the intro of a Joe Satriani song that someone three times her age should have trouble playing. I turn to shake my head at Alice.

“Holyfuck, she's incredible.”

Her mom grins with pride. But then, her face falls a little.

“Have you seen her?”

“Who?”

She gives me a look.

“Melody, Jackson.”

I take a long sip of my tea as I shake my head.

“No.”

“Have you figured it out yet?”

“Christ, Alice, I'm not her fucking father. I mean, I've had some interesting times, but I never once touched Judy—”

“I know, Jackson—”

“I mean for fuck’s sake, Ally, I had a vasectomy over twenty fucking years ago!”

“Jackson,” she sighs. “I know you're not her father.”

She frowns curiously.

“Fuck, you didn't connect it yet, did you?”

“Riddles are a bit lost on me these days. She's not mine.”

“Well, Jackson, of course she's not.”

She stares at me in a way that begins to unnerve me.

“Alice,what?”

“Oh, my God, you don’t…” She shakes her head. “You don't see it?”