Chapter 19
FINN
Sunday, the final day of the festival
I slid my phone back into my pocket. “Drake was checking on you.”
Charlie rolled his eyes, but he smiled. “I’m fine.”
“That’s what I told him.” I glanced over at Kirk, who was occupied talking to his parents. We were sitting on the hill behind the amphitheater’s rows of built-in seats. “Listen, I asked Drake if he would stay in Maplewood after the festival.”
He whipped his head around to stare at me. “He already said he’d stay for a couple of weeks. You mean he’ll be here longer?”
I nodded, my smile breaking through despite my best efforts. “He wants to give our relationship a shot.”
Charlie’s grin was everything. I was already over the moon about Drake staying, but to see Charlie’s happiness about it? I was floating with joy.
He threw his arms around me, which was slightly awkward due to our seated position, but I wasn’t complaining. “He should come live with us.”
I chuckled. “That’s what I said. But he feels like he’d be intruding on our time together.”
He gave me another eye roll, then released me from the hug. “We’ll wear him down.”
I was still laughing when Roy walked onto the stage and asked for everyone’s attention.
“Welcome to this year’s Maplewood Amateur Music Competition!
” We all clapped, and I felt Charlie stirring beside me, like he wanted to jump up and cheer.
“If this is your first time joining us, I’ll just go over the rules very quickly.
Participation is limited to people who live within fifty miles of Maplewood as their primary residence and who have either never been a professional musician or who make less than a certain dollar amount per year as a professional musician.
You can see our website for details. All proceeds over and above the operating costs for next year’s festival will be donated to the Maplewood Foundation and the Vermont Bee Conservancy.
Now let me introduce our panel of judges. ”
I leaned forward, waiting for Drake’s name to be announced. We were a good distance from the stage, but he was readily identifiable by his hat, seated at one end of the judges’ table.
“Our first judge is Zeke Knight, founder of the Maplewood Music Festival.” He paused for the applause to die down, then he introduced the lead singer from Hall of Fame, who’d apparently asked to be a judge so he’d been added to the panel at the last minute.
Next was Dmitri Fairchild, who I knew from way back.
Then he called out Pan MacLeod from Satyr’s Kiss.
Roy again waited for the applause to fade.
“We have another surprise addition to the judging panel.
Please welcome singer-songwriter Mona Derry!
Charlie and I exchanged a shocked glance.
Drake’s sister was here? He’d told me their relationship was cordial but not terribly close.
It was wonderful that she’d come to support him.
I tried to make out her face when she turned around to wave at the audience, but all I could see was her long hair, which was dyed blue, green, pink, and purple.
Charlie nudged me. “Bet you didn’t think you’d be meeting the family so soon.”
I nudged him back, smirking. “I’m not the only one.”
“Oh, fuck.”
Roy held up his hand for silence. “And also please welcome Drake Derry, songwriter and musician.” Everyone clapped and cheered, Charlie and I loudest of all.
Drake turned around and lifted his hat to the audience.
Roy chuckled. “Drake arrived last week and has been helping Zeke with the details of putting the festival on. We’re all hoping you come back next year, Drake. ”
More cheering. Drake shouted something at Roy, but I couldn’t make it out.
Roy laughed, and when he could be heard again, he said, “Drake wants us to show him the money.” Everyone laughed.
“But, according to Maplewood Matters, you might stay for other reasons.” The crowd roared and whistled, and I ducked my head, though Kirk and Charlie were pointing at me, so it probably didn’t do any good.
Roy clapped his hands together. “Okay, that’s enough, people. Young love has to bloom in its own time, or some such claptrap.” My face burned as everyone chuckled. “Let’s welcome our first act, Ever King and Kian Lass.”
We all applauded, and Ever and Kian came out with their cello and guitar. While they played, I kept half my attention on Charlie, but he seemed relatively calm. We had over two hours before he was to perform. I hoped he could keep from overthinking and freaking himself out.
An hour or so later, Kirk’s parents offered us some of the sandwiches and snacks they’d brought, but Charlie refused, saying he didn’t think he could eat.
At last it was time to head down to the stage.
Kirk’s mom kissed Charlie on the cheek for luck, and Kirk gave him a bro hug.
Charlie picked up his guitar case, and I carried his amp.
We made our way down the hill to the right side of the stage.
The current act, the Rocktogenarians, would finish in a few minutes, and then it would be Charlie’s turn.
Luckily the festival provided a roadie-type person who helped everyone get set up with their mics and other equipment if they had it, so all Charlie had to worry about was playing his song.
The Rocktogenarians were indeed playing “Uptown Funk”. And they were playing the hell out of it. Charlie had said he didn’t expect to win, but I hoped the ladies didn’t intimidate him. Not that I’d ever ask. Right now my job was to look confident and proud of him.
Charlie’s spine was straight and his walk was steady as we went down the final steps to the area next to the stage. Fuck, those women were loud. Charlie’s acoustic guitar would be a welcome relief after this.
Roy greeted Charlie and handed him off to the roadie, who I didn’t recognize.
He was around Zeke’s age, so maybe they were buddies from back in the day.
Charlie told him he just wanted a microphone for his singing, and his acoustic amp would do the rest. He took his guitar out of the case, and I traded him his amp for the case.
“You’ll be amazing, Charlie. I’m so proud of you.” I gave him a quick half-hug, since his arms were full.
“Thanks, Finn.” He smiled at me until his eyes went over my shoulder, and his face went pale and slack.
I turned. From this angle, the crowd appeared to extend to the horizon. Only the darkening sky was visible beyond the people sitting at the top of the hill. I had no idea how many attendees there were, but the number was at least equivalent to a high school football game.
Charlie looked like he might be sick. His eyes kept scanning the crowd, who were getting to their feet and singing along with the Rocktogenarians’ final chorus. The noise was deafening.
“Charlie?” I put my hand on his shoulder, since there was no possible way he could’ve heard me.
He met my eyes and shook his head. “I can’t do it.” I had no trouble reading his lips. He closed his eyes for a long moment, then he opened them again and extended his hand for the guitar case.
The Rocktogenarians finished their song and were bowing their way through a standing ovation.
Charlie grabbed for the guitar case, but I pulled it away. “Charlie, you were so excited about this.” I was yelling to be heard over the applause. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
He glared at me. “I’ll throw up all over the stage. That’s the worst that could happen.” He seemed to decide I wasn’t going to hand him the guitar case, so he started walking toward the steps with his guitar on its strap over his shoulder and his amp tucked under one arm.
Oh, shit. “Charlie, wait!” The crowd was quieter now, and the Rocktogenarians were removing their equipment from the stage.
I put my hand on his arm to stop him. “Are you sure? Did you try visualizing how you’ll feel tomorrow if you don’t play tonight?”
He gave me an incredulous look. “I don’t need to visualize it! I’ll feel fucking relieved.”
Dammit, he’d been so excited. Everything in my gut said Charlie would regret not performing, but I wouldn’t force him to do it.
Though that didn’t mean I wouldn’t try to change his mind.
Roy appeared. “What’s going on?”
Thank fuck. Roy was his teacher. He’d have some magical words to bolster Charlie’s confidence.
Charlie firmed up his quivering lips and jerked his head at the crowd. “I’m sorry, Mr. Griffin, but I can’t do it. I can’t be onstage with all those people staring at me. It’s too much.”
Roy nodded sympathetically. “I understand, Charlie. Public performance isn’t for everyone.”
Okay, so Roy was not interested in changing Charlie’s mind. I ran my hand through my hair and spun around, searching for someone, anyone to help.
I didn’t have to look very far; Drake was right there. He smiled reassuringly and patted my arm. “I’ve got this, Finn. You can leave it to me.”
I blinked. When was the last time someone had told me that?
I’d felt so alone since Charlie had come to live with me.
Floundering along without a clue as to whether I was doing things right or making them worse.
And maybe Charlie wouldn’t listen to Drake either, but even having him take over, having him try, was such a comfort.
I put the guitar case down and rubbed my watering eyes.
Drake, having zero idea that not only was I falling in love with him, but he’d just cemented his place in my life forever, edged in front of me to speak to Charlie.
“What if you weren’t alone?” He reached out and rubbed Charlie’s shoulder.
“Crowds are fucking scary. I get it. But it’s easier if somebody’s up there with you. ”
Charlie hesitated, seeming conflicted. “You’d do that?”
“Of course. Remember how much fun it is to play together? It’ll be like that, only with people dancing in their seats at the same time.”
Zeke and the other judges, including Drake’s sister, crowded around.
Roy looked between Drake, Charlie, and the others.
“Charlie is apprehensive about playing in front of such a large audience. Drake has volunteered to go on stage with him, but he doesn’t meet the qualifications for being an amateur musician, and he’s not a Maplewood resident. ”
Charlie and Drake’s faces were identical in their disappointment.
Dmitri cleared his throat. “While rules are important, so is being supportive of our friends and neighbors. It’s not like we’re hosting American Idol here.
What if we let everyone know that because Drake’s a professional musician, Charlie’s not eligible to win, but we’re still allowing him to perform? ”
Zeke nodded. “I like it. And we’ve got the resident thing taken care of too.”
I frowned. Had Drake already told Zeke he was staying? Nope, not based on the way he was raising his eyebrows.
Zeke waved his hand toward Drake. “I’m retiring this year.
Movin’ to the beach where it’s warm. Jake and I—Drake’s friends with Jake Lord.
” This was an aside to the other judges.
“Jake helped me get you here so’s I could see if you’d be a good fit to take over the festival, and you are.
You’ll take over the compound too, so there you go. ” He made a ta-da gesture. “Resident.”