CHAPTER 29 #3
As the singalong carried on, Nolan pulled Jamie aside.
He was planning a surprise party for Ruth’s birthday—the Fourth of July—and needed Jamie to keep her busy that day.
Birdie had taken care of everything back at the ranch.
Jamie readily agreed. If there was one thing Ruth loved, it was celebrating her birthday .
Before the night was over Sue brought out a cake with candles already lit.
“Happy birthday!” she said, setting it in front of Ruth. “I know it’s a bit early.”
Everyone sang, Clayton the loudest of all.
By the end of the night Clayton had signed something for nearly everyone in the family. It irked Jamie how easily he became the center of attention, but he was so generous with his time she couldn’t hold it against him.
As they were getting ready to leave Ruth turned to her parents. “I have something to tell you,” she said. “I’m moving to Franklin.” She cleared her throat. “With Nolan.”
Her mother gasped and her father’s brows lifted, but before they could say anything Nolan quickly added, “She’ll have her own room, of course.”
That seemed to ease their concerns. “Well, now,” Levi said, nodding. “That’ll put you closer to home.”
“It’s still a nine-hour drive,” Sue pointed out.
“Doable,” Levi countered.
Nolan hugged them both. “Thank you for understanding.”
Levi patted his back. “Thank you for taking care of our daughter.”
The night ended on a high note, with Clayton inviting Ruth’s family to the show the next night in Oklahoma City—VIP passes included. As the musicians and crew headed back to the buses Jamie overheard someone saying it was the best night they’d had on tour.
And she agreed wholeheartedly.
After incredible shows in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Little Rock, they were now bound for Nashville.
Shorty had purposely stacked the schedule with back-to-back dates, knowing a day off at home would only throw off the tour’s rhythm. Too many distractions. Too many temptations. So he’d laid down the law—no one was leaving their buses until the tour was over.
The moment they crossed into Nashville’s city limits Jamie’s emotions tangled.
She was relieved the tour was ending—of course she was—no more being trapped on Clayton’s bus, no more tension thick enough to choke on.
But as much as she’d been counting down the days, now that it was here she wasn’t sure she was ready.
She would miss this.
Not the long nights or the constant motion, but the feeling of being part of something bigger than herself. The girls and late-night giggles, stolen moments of normalcy in the chaos. And Clayton.
Damn him.
Despite everything, the thought of not seeing him every day left a hollow feeling in her chest.
She shook it off. There were more pressing things to worry about. She had to figure out where to live. Her exams were in two days. And she still had to record the Osmonds’ song.
At least there was one thing she could look forward to: Poppy.
But for now she’d crash at Shorty’s penthouse, focus on her exams, and get through the recording session. Everything else—where she’d live, what came next—she’d figure out later.
At least that’s what she told herself.
When it was time for soundcheck Buddy and a security guard boarded the bus and escorted Jamie and Clayton inside the Bridgestone Arena. It was maybe a thirty-second walk, and the whole thing felt ridiculous. Were they expecting a mob to appear out of nowhere?
Backstage Shorty tipped his hat. “Last show of the tour.”
“Going to miss it,” Clayton said, his gaze locked on her.
Jamie forced a shrug. “I won’t,” she lied, then turned and headed for the stage.
Soundcheck was uneventful, just the way she liked it. Hometown shows were stressful enough without technical problems, and while Nashville wasn’t her home, the guest list tonight was extensive. Even Birdie and Doc were coming, which Clayton said was unusual.
After dinner Jamie started getting ready in her dressing room. She’d refused a glam squad for the tour, preferring to do her hair and makeup herself—well, with Ruth’s help. But her assistant was nowhere to be found so she started without her.
A familiar knock sounded at the door—Clayton. He had a habit of stopping by before her shows, always pretending he had something urgent to tell her, but it was always something completely irrelevant.
“Enter,” she called, dabbing highlighter onto her cheekbones.
“Look who I brought,” Clayton said.
She turned and smiled at the Langleys.
“Hi, sugar.” Birdie walked in first, arms open.
Jamie stood to hug her. “I’ve missed you.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
“We’ve missed you too.” Birdie squeezed her before stepping back.
Doc followed, offering a half-hug. “Has this guy”—he jabbed a thumb at Clayton—“been giving you any trouble?”
“All the trouble,” Jamie said, rolling her eyes.
Doc chuckled. “That’s what I thought. ”
“He better not be,” Birdie warned, eyeing her son. “Or I’ll whoop his ass.”
Jamie laughed, momentarily stunned. “Did you just say ass?”
Before Birdie could reply Charlotte and Emily burst into the room, Ruth and Nolan trailing behind.
“Granny!” Charlotte flung her arms around her waist while Emily hugged Doc.
Birdie rested her hands on her hips. “You girls been behaving?”
“Yes, ma’am,” they said together.
Birdie turned to Jamie. “Tell me the truth, now.”
Jamie grinned. “Good as gold.”
Charlotte reached for Jamie’s hand, her small fingers warm and sure as they laced through hers. Birdie noticed—of course she did. That woman didn’t miss a thing, not with those sharp eyes and that steel-trap memory.
“We’ve been singing with Miss Jamie,” Charlotte said, her voice soft but proud as she looked up at her grandparents.
“‘The Sweetest Gift,’” Emily chimed in, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“We saw the video,” Doc said, nodding with approval. “It’s a mighty fine rendition.”
“I thought it was called ‘The Sourest Gift,’“ Clayton said with a grin, nudging Emily gently with his elbow.
The girls groaned in unison.
“No, Daddy,” Emily said, arms crossed. “It’s not.”
Birdie gave a patient smile and directed Doc toward the door with a press of her hand on his back. “We don’t want to be a bother. We’ll see y’all after the show.”
“Break a leg,” Clayton called, backing out with a wave.
Jamie smirked. “You wish. ”
Birdie caught Jamie’s eye on her way out and winked—subtle, conspiratorial—before vanishing into the hallway with the faint click of her shoes against the polished floor.
The show was incredible, better than Jamie had hoped for. She’d tried not to glance at the side stage where Clayton’s parents stood, but every time she caught Birdie’s eye the woman was grinning from ear to ear.
But the real test was coming: her encore. Just her, a guitar, and the twins. The song was catching on with fans and people were asking for it.
Jamie brought the girls onstage and they took their seats on the stools. Exchanging a quick glance they started singing “The Sweetest Gift” one last time on this tour. The soft, heartfelt melody settled over the arena, holding the crowd in a spellbound hush. You could have heard a pin drop.
When the song ended they took their bows as the audience erupted into cheers. The twins hugged Jamie and raced toward their grandparents, bouncing with excitement.
Jamie handed her guitar to Deaner and followed, only to find both Birdie and Doc with tears in their eyes. That threw her a little. Sure, it was an emotional song, but still . . .
Before she could say anything Birdie pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank you, dear,” she whispered.
Jamie frowned. “For what?”
Birdie pulled back, eyes shining. “Everything.”
Clayton’s set was without a doubt the best of his tour—not that Jamie was about to tell him.
The sold-out crowd sang every word, at times drowning him out.
The band was flawless, hitting every note with precision.
As much as she hated to admit it, they were the best musicians she’d ever played with.
When she joined Clayton on stage for his encore they fell into their usual routine, trading playful jabs that had the audience laughing.
It was all part of the show, a familiar rhythm between them.
As the opening chords of the Osmonds’ song rang out the venue erupted, voices merging in a chorus that filled every corner of the arena.
They took their final bow and the weight of the moment hit her. The end of the tour. The end of this. A lump formed in her throat but she bit her tongue, refusing to let her emotions get the better of her.
It was over.
Backstage Jamie met up with the crew and band, who introduced their girlfriends and wives. She shared a few stories about the pranks that had gone down on tour, sparking laughter all around—except from Shorty, who still didn’t find it funny.
The afterparty took place in Clayton’s dressing room, where hugs were exchanged, drinks were poured, and the end of the tour was celebrated.
Jamie half-expected Clayton to indulge now the tour was over, but he didn’t.
She wasn’t drinking either, too focused on her upcoming exams to risk a distraction.
When it was time to head out Birdie and Doc offered the girls a ride back to Franklin, but the twins refused. They wanted to see the tour through to its final stop. So Birdie and Doc took Ruth and Nolan home while the rest stayed behind, ready for one last ride.
“Bye, sugar.” Birdie pulled Jamie into a warm hug. “Don’t be a stranger, now. We expect you for dinner tomorrow.”
Jamie hesitated. “I have to study for my exams.”
Birdie waved a hand. “Oh, I know all about that—Clayton told us.”
“He’s been helping me.”
Birdie took Jamie’s hands in hers, gently squeezing them before shifting her gaze to Clayton. A knowing smile played on her lips. “Reckon you’re helping him more than he’s helping you.”
The bus ride to Franklin was eerily quiet, more like a transport to prison than a homecoming.
Jamie kept her eyes on her language arts book, though the words blurred together.
Clayton tied his knots. The twins fought to keep their eyes open.
No one spoke much. Maybe none of them were ready for the tour to be over.
When the bus finally pulled into the Langley driveway, Jamie’s stomach tensed. It hardly seemed real. Life on the road had felt endless, but now they were back.
At least she was going to see her dog.
“Poppy,” she whispered, already scanning the driveway.
Outside Nolan’s house, Ruth stood holding her dog while Nolan cradled a red puppy in his arms.
The bus doors hissed open. Jamie leaned over and gently rubbed the twins’ backs.
“You’re home, girls,” she told them.
Charlotte stretched and yawned. “Do we have to leave, Miss Jamie?”
“Can’t we stay on the bus?” Emily pleaded, pressing her hands together in prayer.
Jamie grinned. “Don’t you want to see Heathcliff?”
Charlotte’s eyes snapped open. Within seconds both girls were on their feet, racing toward Nolan.
They dropped to their knees as Nolan passed Heathcliff over, smothering the puppy in kisses as his tail wagged wildly .
Jamie followed slowly, heart swelling as she reached for Poppy. “Oh, baby,” she murmured, lifting the squirming dog from Ruth’s arms. Poppy licked her face eagerly, her body wriggling in excitement.
Poppy smelled like a barn. The first order of business in Nashville: a dog bath.
Clayton came up beside her, watching the girls with their dog. He knelt and picked up Heathcliff, running a hand over his fur. “He’s huge now.”
The puppy licked his beard and Clayton laughed, kissing the top of his head. “Where’s Duke?”
Nolan opened the front door and the yellow Lab bolted outside. He skidded to a stop in front of Clayton and started circling him, tail whipping the air.
When Duke spotted Poppy in Jamie’s arms, he jumped onto her thighs.
“Down, Duke,” Jamie instructed, and he listened.
Maybe some time with Doc had been good for him.
Jamie shifted Poppy to her other arm. “I need to head into town. I have to hit the books tomorrow.”
Clayton turned to her, brow furrowed. “You’re going to do great, darlin’. You’ve been studying for months.”
She nodded, appreciating the reassurance.
“Can you stay over tonight, Miss Jamie?” Charlotte asked sweetly. “You can go home tomorrow.”
Emily’s lower lip trembled. “Please?”
Jamie’s heart squeezed. “I wish I could, sweetie.” She brushed Charlotte’s hair behind her ear. “But I promise I’ll see you soon. ”
“I’ll drive you back,” Clayton offered. Before she could respond a car pulled into the driveway. Clayton squinted toward the headlights. “Who’s that?”
Jamie exhaled. “I had Ruth call a car.”
Gus stepped out and started loading her bags into the trunk. Charlotte clung to her hand, her small fingers gripping with all their might. “Please don’t go.”
Jamie swallowed the lump in her throat.
“I have to, girls.”
Even though she’d be back for Ruth’s party in two days, saying goodbye to them felt unbearable.
She knelt, wrapping her arms around them as they trembled against her ribs. Their love was so pure and unconditional that it left her breathless.
“You’re all set,” Gus said, shutting the trunk.
Jamie forced a smile. “Thanks, Gus.”
She stood, hesitating before finally releasing the girls’ hands.
Charlotte hung her head, swiping her sleeve across her nose. “I’ll miss you, Miss Jamie.”
Jamie touched her chin gently. “I’ll miss you more.”
“Let her be,” Clayton said softly, prying Charlotte away.
To Jamie’s surprise he pulled her into a hug. His breath warmed her ear as he whispered, “I’m going to miss you too.”
She nodded against his chest, unwilling to say more. If she did she might not leave at all. With one last look at the girls she stepped into the car, Poppy curled in her lap.
As they pulled away she watched through the rearview mirror until the ranch disappeared from view.
Finally, she let the tears fall.