Chapter 201: Mourning Studio Prep

Emiliana immediately volunteered to carry Ruby’s bag—which, thanks to our earlier driveway intervention, was thankfully down to just one manageable suitcase. Since Patricia and Chloe had light luggage and I could easily handle my own gear, we made quick work of bringing everything inside the spacious ranch house.

Once we set the bags down in the warm, wood-accented living room, Emiliana wiped her hands on her apron and turned to me, her curiosity finally winning out.

"So... why did you all come back out to the country so suddenly?" she asked, looking around at the stacks of sleek audio equipment sitting against the rustic walls.

"We’re here to record Ruby’s new album," I explained, leaning back against the wooden kitchen counter. "We wanted a raw, authentic environment away from the city noise and crazy media attention."

Emiliana fell completely silent for a moment, her eyes drifting toward Ruby, who was stretching on the sofa. A look of quiet determination settled over the younger girl’s face.

"I... I want to help," Emiliana said softly, looking back up at us. "Whatever you guys need while you’re recording—I want to be part of it."

Ruby beamed, leaning over the back of the sofa with a warm, encouraging grin. "Sure you can, darling! We can always use an extra pair of hands, especially from someone who knows the area."

Emiliana’s face lit up with a shy, excited smile. "Thank you! Well... it’s really late, so I’ll leave you all to get some rest. Goodnight, everyone!"

"Goodnight, Emiliana," we called out as she slipped out the front door, leaving the house in a cozy, peaceful quiet as the four of us finally settled in for the night.

We all crowded into the large ranch bed that night, the four of us tangled up in the soft blankets after the long drive.

I woke up earlier than everyone else while the morning sun was just starting to peek through the blinds. I slipped quietly out of bed, threw on a shirt, and went straight to work in the living room—unpacking the gear, setting up the studio microphone stands, running the thick audio cables, and getting the primary recording rig connected to my phone.

As I was adjusting the boom arm for the main vocal mic, two thin arms wrapped gently around my waist from behind.

Ruby pressed her body against my back, wrapped in a thin, silky white robe that barely kept out the morning chill. She rested her chin right against my shoulder blade, letting out a soft, sleepy sigh that warmed my skin.

"Morning, farmer boy..." she murmured, her voice raspy and thick with sleep. "How was your night?"

"Pretty good," I chuckled, resting my hands over hers and leaning back into her embrace. " Slept like a rock."

"Me too," she mumbled, tightening her grip around me as she closed her eyes against my back. "I actually woke up super early, but it felt so warm in that bed with everyone that I just lay there watching you sleep for a bit..."

She let out another quiet, contented hum, completely unbothered by the cold room as long as she was holding onto me.

A sudden, crisp knock at the front door echoed through the rustic living room, breaking the quiet morning warmth.

Ruby loosened her grip with a sleepy giggle, stepping back to tighten the sash of her thin robe while I walked over to unlock the heavy wooden door.

It was Emiliana. She was standing on the porch, looking bright-eyed and full of early-morning energy. In her hands, she held a warm, cloth-covered basket that gave off an incredible aroma of fresh butter, cinnamon, and baked pastry.

"Good morning!" Emiliana beamed, lifting the basket slightly. "My mom woke up early and baked some fresh berry pastries for everyone. I brought them over so you guys wouldn’t have to start the day on an empty stomach."

"You’re a lifesaver, Emiliana," I smiled, taking the heavy basket from her. "Come on in."

She stepped across the threshold, wiping her boots on the mat, and her eyes instantly widened as she took in the living room setup. The sleek, professional studio gear—the high-end condenser mic on its heavy boom arm, the clean cable runs, and the portable mixing console hooked up to my device—transformed the rustic ranch into a full-fledged mobile recording studio.

"Woah..." Emiliana whispered, walking around the perimeter of the room in sheer awe, careful not to step on any audio lines. "It looks like a real studio!"

Ruby leaned against the doorframe, a proud, amused smirk on her face as she smoothed down her robe. "Told you we were serious, darling. Ready to help us lay down some tracks today?"

Emiliana dove right into helping Ruby, organizing her lyric sheets and double-checking cable paths while the two of them giggled like old friends. Seeing them totally in sync, I stepped back to let them have their fun.

Not long after, Patricia padded out of the bedroom, still softly rubbing her eyes. The second she saw me, she glided over and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head against my chest. I hugged her back tight—standing there in the warm morning light, surrounded by these incredible, beautiful women, I couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest guy alive.

Patricia noticed the basket on the table and picked up one of the fresh pastries. Taking a small bite, her eyes instantly widened in pure shock.

"Wow... Ethan, this is amazing!" she gasped, looking at the pastry like it was a piece of art. "The lamination on this crust is incredible. Honestly, I’ve been looking for a real pastry expert to help run the bakery back at Lumen, and this is top-tier professional quality! Who made this?"

"Emiliana’s mom baked them, and Emiliana brought them over," I replied.

Patricia’s eyes lit up with excitement. "I want to hire her!" Then her face fell slightly as she pondered the logistics. "Wait... relocating a talented baker all the way to Lumen, setting up housing, and covering moving costs is going to take a ton of capital..."

"Don’t worry about the money—leave that side of it to me," I smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Just focus on finding out if she’s open to the idea."

"I’ll ask her right now!" Patricia said eagerly. "I’m going to take Emiliana back to her place for a bit so I can meet her mom and chat about the recipe."

Ruby overheard from the mic setup and gave a cheerful wave. "Go for it, girl! No objections here!"

As Patricia walked out with Emiliana, Ruby threw me a devilish, mischievous smirk, her eyes glinting with dirty ideas now that Patricia was gone. "That just leaves... a lot more quality time for us," she purred, taking a step toward me.

Before she could close the distance, the bathroom door swung open, and Chloe stepped out. She was already completely showered, her dark hair neatly styled, and wearing a sharp, effortlessly stylish outfit that made her look like a million bucks.

I held up a hand, chuckling as I backed toward the bedroom. "I’ve got to get dressed—I have a date to prepare for."

Chloe halted in her tracks, raising an eyebrow with a cool, dangerous smile. "A date? With who?"

"With you," I grinned, winking at her from the doorway. "I promised you a proper date—just you and me."