Epilogue
Elle stood in front of the crowd at the Steel Guitar in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This was the last show of her US tour. They’d have a little more than a month off to spend the holidays at home, and then they’d be off to Europe for the next leg.
It had been close to a year since she’d rebooted her career and she was thankful every day that she had.
“I wanted to take this moment to thank all of you for sticking by me while I found my voice again. Your love and support mean more to me than you can possibly imagine. You guys are the best fans a girl could possibly ask for, give yourselves a big hand.”
Applause and whistles followed and it took a while before it died down again.
Elle was enjoying herself. This was what she loved about performing.
“We’ve traveled back and forth across the country to just about every state, I think.
” She looked back at her brother for confirmation and he nodded his head in agreement.
“My whole family is here with me tonight. Of course, you already know my brothers, Matt on guitar and Luis on bass.”
The crowd cheered as both brothers waved to them.
“And right over here in front, as usual, is the rest of my clan. Everyone please make them feel welcome.”
The crowd erupted in cheers once again as her parents, Tina, J.J. and Kate stood and waved.
“How many times have you guys seen my show, Mom?” she called to Bobby.
“Six,” her mother shouted back.
“Six times, can you believe that? I love that they come to see me when I’m on tour. I love you guys!”
As the crowd cheered again, a huge smile spread across her face.
She’d found a way to have it all. A successful career and all the people she loved.
“I’m going to need some help with this next song.
Please help me welcome to the stage my incredible husband and song writing partner, Hamish MacBeown. ”
The crowd cheered as Hamish joined her on stage. He smiled and waved at them before kissing Elle and taking the guitar Matt offered him.
As he played the intro to their newest song, Elle couldn’t help but feel blessed to have him in her life.
With his help, she was writing her best music ever, and it showed in album sales and sold out shows.
The tour dates had been scheduled so they could actually explore the cities they stopped in.
Everything was so new to him and she loved seeing it all through his eyes.
Seeing it all with Hamish was so much fun and in fact, she was seeing much of it for the first time.
Getting her nose out of her phone was the best thing she ever did.
She no longer jumped to answer every text or call because the most important people in her life, both personally and professionally, were usually right beside her.
There was so much more in her life than that little screen.
When the show was over, Elle, Hamish and her brothers went out into the crowd to say hello and sign autographs. She loved meeting fans and watching them swoon over her handsome husband.
“Elle, that was amazing!” Bobby pulled her in for a hug, then did the same to Hamish, who wrapped her in a bear hug.
Elle loved how her mother, and the entire family for that matter, had accepted Hamish as one of their own.
“No matter how many times I see you all perform it brings tears of joy to my eyes.”
“And I’ve got the wet hankies to prove it,” Joe added.
“Oh, Mom! That’s so sweet,” Elle said, kissing Bobby’s cheek. “How’s everything back home?”
“Well, Boggle misses Hamish terribly. He’s been hanging around outside of Aylwen’s stall. Those two are so cute together. They’ve really bonded.”
“I’m happy we’re going home tomorrow. I’ve missed them both, as well,” Hamish said.
“I’m starving,” Tina said. “Let’s go eat.” She hooked arms with Elle, then Hamish, and led the way. Elle’s relationship with Tina was back to the way it was when they were younger. Sure they still argued with one another, but the love they felt was never a question.
“We’ll meet you there,” Matt said. “Luis and I are going to make sure the equipment makes it onto the bus.”
“I’ll stay with ye,” Hamish offered.
“No. You go with them. I’ve got this.”
They walked down the street to a small Creole restaurant that was open late. They got a large table in the back that would fit everyone and ordered more than enough food to feed them all.
“The construction on the house was just about finished when we left to come here,” Joe said as they sat down.
“You’ll have a beautiful new home to relax in before you head out again.”
The small cabin they’d started off with had been turned into a much larger home.
She loved that Hamish had built it for her, for them, so she had insisted that it be their master bedroom.
It was their special place. The rest of the house was designed around it.
The inside had all the modern conveniences, but the outside had a decidedly old world feel to it.
“And don’t think we won’t come see you in Europe. Your Dad and I have already been looking at travel brochures. We might take a nice long vacation.”
“Well, you certainly deserve one,” Elle said.
“I’m excited to visit Scotland,” Hamish said. “We plan on visiting with Edna to thank her for knowing we needed each other even before we did.”
“I can’t wait to meet her in person.” During those nights alone in her room at Breaghacraig, Elle had thought that if she ever met Edna she’d be giving her a piece of her mind, but all of that had changed. She owed her a debt of gratitude she would never be able to repay.
“Yer brothers have arrived,” Hamish noted as Matt and Luis made their way to the table.
Once they were seated and everyone had a drink in front of them, Hamish stood and raised his glass.
“For many years, I thought me life was to be the same day in and out. Then I met Elle. She’s taken me on an adventure that I never would have believed possible, but yet here I am in New Orleans with me beautiful wife and family.
” He cleared his throat of the emotion he was obviously feeling.
“I have a family now … brothers, sisters, a niece and nephew, with another on the way,” he winked at JJ and Kate.
“I’ve also a mother and father, something that’s been lacking in me life for many years. I love ye all. Slàinte.”
“Slàinte,” they all repeated, clinking their glasses.
“That was beautiful, babe,” Elle said, leaning into him. “I love you.”
He smiled and her heart melted. She was one lucky lady. She would never take for granted the wealth of love she had in her life. And after the European tour, she planned on adding to that love with a wee bairn of her own. Hopefully a little red-haired boy, just like his dad.