39. The High Notes
THE HIGH NOTES
CHLOE
The house is packed. The lights are dimmed.
From stage right, I play a few notes of a Gershwin medley as Saffron strides toward the apron to mega applause.
The spotlight above illuminates her, and she looks stunning in a silver dress that hugs to her curves.
Her brunette hair falls in long, lush waves.
“Welcome to the Darling Springs Community Cabaret Theater Fundraiser,” she says.
“We’re so thrilled you’re here, and we’re thrilled to be raising money for science research.
Here’s what I’d like science to research—how can firefighters be so hot and sing at the same time?
Let’s research that now as the a cappella group The Hot Shots kicks off the night. ”
I finish the Gershwin tune, then take a breath.
I focus on The Hot Shots as they perform “I’m on Fire,” swaying onstage in a doo-wop manner to the sexy song. I focus on them—not on how I couldn’t stop thinking about Sawyer the last time I watched them rehearse this number.
When they leave to cheers and invitations to meet up later, Saffron strides back onstage, fanning her face. “Is it hot in here or what?”
I return to the Gershwin, playing interlude music in my simple black evening dress—long and silky, hitting at the knees—as she talks more about the mission and how important science is for all communities—including arts communities—and how we can come together to support research for all.
“And we should do it nonstop,” she says, which leads into Josiah singing a Nirvana tune.
Next, we roll through Delilah’s take on “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones, then my dad and his boyfriend perform “Dancing Through Life” as they sing in dapper leisure suits about how life is more painless when you’re brainless.
When they leave, a troupe of shirtless men twirling umbrellas—Angelo’s cousins—strides onstage singing “It’s Raining Men. ”
And I tap out that tune too, then slide into “It Don’t Mean a Thing” as Linus the mayor tap-dances his way into the spotlight, wearing a fedora. He’s adorable, and the whole set list is feeding my soul, making me think…maybe I can talk to Sawyer later.
But later. First, I need to make it through our number.
I play the piano for a few more songs, including Salma doing “The Man” by Taylor Swift and Esmeralda singing Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love.”
It’s almost time for ours.
My heart beats faster. Nerves rise. But I steel myself. I can handle this. I can dance with him for thirty seconds, then finish the show.
It’ll be fine. Totally fine.
Besides, I need to focus on backing up my mom and Angelo.
Mom is dressed to the nines tonight in a plum-colored sequined dress that shows off her strong arms, and after Saffron’s intro, she comes onstage belting Dolly’s lines in the iconic duet, while Angelo, done up in tails and a tux, strides toward her, crooning Kenny’s parts.
He’s so enchanted with her, it’s infectious—and it makes me so happy for her.
But as we near the end of the song, my eyes pop—Angelo gets down on one knee and stops singing.
“Marry me, Karenina. You’re the love of my life,” he says in front of the whole town.
Oh god.
Poor Angelo.
He’s already asked her twice.
But she flings her arms around him and says, “Third time’s a charm.”
My heart’s lodged in my throat as I tap out a few notes of “Here Comes the Bride” impromptu, then return to their song, letting them finish it before heading offstage arm-in-arm.
When they leave, I draw a deep breath, trying to reset my nerves as Saffron comes back onstage to introduce the closing act.
“And now, here’s our newest Darling Springs business owner—Sawyer Dumont. And it turns out Mister Serious Boss can sing,” she says.
And that’s not what was in the script when we rehearsed—Mister Serious Boss?
She never said that.
But I guess she’s ad-libbing.
And I now have two-thirds of a song to get ready to dance like my heart isn’t shattered into pieces.
I can’t believe I’m doing this number broken up. But I’m stronger than I was in the spring when I was fired. Maybe in part because of Sawyer.
The man who’s walking across the stage right now.
He’s wearing a gray T-shirt and a sports coat. And jeans. It’s not an outfit I’ve ever seen him in before, or a style I’ve seen him wear, and it’s a little incongruous. But there’s no time to linger on that, since it’s time for him to nightclub-sing to the whole town.
This can’t be easy for him. Not the singing. But the reveal of it.
And yet, he looks…ready, as he launches into the opening lines, and my fingers fly across the ivories. He’s crooning a love song to the entire audience, and they’re cheering him on, and my heart is aching.
I wish he were singing it to me. But I don’t look up. I don’t let on about my longing. I keep my head down and play the piano, my pulse spiking higher and higher.
Then it’s nearly through the roof when he strides over to the piano, right as the recorded music takes over.
Like we rehearsed, he offers me a hand. I act all Who, me? but happily take it. He leads me to the middle of the stage, the spotlight on us, the entire auditorium bursting with people I know as he sets his right hand on my left shoulder blade.
I tremble.
His touch feels so good.
Were my friends right? Should I have told him? Should I have said something? But something inside me still hurts from the other day.
And as we dance, I keep my mouth shut. But when he lets go of my shoulder and spins me in a swing move, something hits me.
This—dancing—is easy for me.
But it’s hard for him, and he did it anyway.
When he tugs me back, he pulls me against his chest and locks eyes with me. “I have something for you,” he whispers.
“What is it?” I ask quietly.
He spins me once more, tugs me back to him again, then says, “I’ve missed you.”
My heart lodges in my throat. “You have?”
“And I’m going to show you how much,” he says as he leads me back to the piano, dips me, and hovers his lips inches from mine.
He sets me down on the bench.
I’m thrown off, but my fingers operate on muscle memory, playing the closing notes as he belts out the end of the love song.
And the crowd cheers louder than they ever did for Noah.
A smile takes over my face. I can’t help it. We pulled this off. He pinch-hit for the town’s star and nailed it.
And this is when he should sweep out his arm and bring me to center stage to curtsy—but instead, he lifts the mic once more.
“Anyone in the mood for an encore?”
That’s not in the script. Across the wings, my mother looks…surprised. But then—wait. Is that performed surprise?
I don’t know, but I shift my gaze back to Sawyer.
“Because I have one for you,” he says, then dips his hand into the inside pocket of his sports coat and takes out his…aviator shades.
Oh. Oh.
He tosses his coat to the wings. “But this one requires a little help from my…team.”
He puts on the shades and takes his time rolling up his sleeves, and holy shit—he’s wearing his rose tattoo.
It’s fresh and bright. Newly applied.
He shoves a hand through his hair, messes it up, all while the stage crew carries something to the side of the stage.
Only it’s not the stage crew. It’s Levi and Hazel hauling…a karaoke machine.
Oh. My. God.
“Thanks, everyone,” he says—to them, then to the audience. “Anyone like karaoke?”
The shouts are loud and booming. And I’m just stunned.
“Then we have one more act for you.”
And the sound of heels clicking across the stage echoes. It’s Saffron again. “And now, ladies and gentlemen, we’re thrilled to present our very own…Sam Silversmith, with a special karaoke tune.”
I have chills.
He just revealed himself to the whole town. After the pool fiasco and his retreat into Super Boss, I never imagined he’d do this.
As the music begins, my chills multiply. They magnify. They exponentialize.
Sawyer strides over to the piano, sets an arm on it, and locks eyes with me. “Chloe, you want to play along too? Do a little karaoke with me. There’s a tune I want to sing called…”
But I already know the name. Because I know the music. And I heard him sing it the first time I discovered him.
At the same time he sings the first line, I play the notes to “I’ve Got a Crush on You.”
Unlike at Pour Decisions, he sings the song to me.
The entire time.
Every line.
Every word.
Every breath of passion, promise, and heart is all mine.
The man is wearing his heart on his sleeve beside his temporary tattoo and serving up his deepest, most private world to the entire town—
To tell me how he feels.
My heart is beating outside my body.
No—it’s beating so loudly they can hear it in San Francisco.
It’s like bubbles flow through my veins, wonder comprises my cells, and hope lives in every molecule in me.
When he finishes the song, he says into the mic, “In other words, I love you.”
My throat tightens with emotion, and I’m about to say I love you too when he walks away, toward center stage.
Then he lifts a hand to his forehead, blocking out the bright light, peering out at the theater.
What is he doing? He’s staring all the way up the aisle, where Levi and Hazel are standing.
They must have rushed over there from backstage, and I’m guessing Zuri and Nisha are at Dog Tails with all the pups, including Captain, who’s there tonight.
Except—wait. I think I see a familiar tail thumping.
Then Sawyer says into the mic, “Captain, bring it.”
And my dog trots down the aisle, one red rose held delicately in his teeth.
My eyes well with happy tears.
I fling a hand to my mouth. I’m a hot mess all over again—of tears, of excitement, of surprise. Complete and utter surprise as my dog trots up the steps and across the stage, then drops the rose at my feet.
“For you,” Sawyer says.
I bend and take it as I try to find words. But none of the I was hurt, I felt discarded, I felt unimportant matter anymore. Not when he’s saying he’s sorry and telling me he loves me in the biggest, boldest way possible.
So I do the only thing I can. I cup his cheek and press a kiss to those soft lips in front of the whole town. A shiver races down my back.
When I let go, I say, “I love you too.”
Then I turn to the audience, take his mic, and say, “Sam Silversmith makes me hit the high notes.”
Laughter carries across the theater.
And then my world tips upside down when Sawyer hoists me up, tosses me over his shoulder, and carries me offstage.