Epilogue
Caleb
The years have flown by, and somehow we’ve come full circle.
After everything that happened with Annie and her birth mother, the band took some time away from the spotlight. During those years, I also found myself stepping into the role of big brother and sometimes a father figure for Chad when he needed it most.
But now…
We’re back.
Another headline tour.
Another chance to stand on stage and do what we love.
This time, though, Indi’s coming with me.
She left nursing after Aria was born and has embraced motherhood with the same heart she gives to everything else. Watching her with our daughter has only made me fall more in love with her.
Aria is three now.
Somehow.
It feels like yesterday I was pacing a bathroom floor waiting for a pregnancy test to tell us our lives were about to change forever.
Now she’s running circles around us.
Being a dad changed everything.
Not because I needed someone to live for…
But because I never knew it was possible to love another person the way I love that little girl.
My girls are my home.
My reason.
My everything.
And in just two months, our family will grow again.
This time it’s a boy, and we are calling him Coda. We figured if we were starting a musical theme, we might as well commit.
Tonight, Staked is playing to a sold-out Wembley Stadium.
And after all these years…
I’m finally going to do what I promised Indi when we were twelve—I’m going to perform for her.
The buzz backstage is electric.
It’s been too long since we’ve played together, and every nerve ending in my body is alive with anticipation.
I make a beeline for Indi, who’s balancing Aria on her hip when I lean in to steal a kiss.
Before our lips meet—
Smack.
A tiny hand lands square across my face.
“Bad Daddy.”
I pull back and raise an eyebrow at my daughter. “I can’t kiss Mummy?”
Aria shakes her head very seriously.
“Why not?”
She shrugs before hugging Indi around the neck. “ ’Cause I wuv Mummy more dan you do, Daddy.” She plants an exaggerated kiss on Indi’s cheek.
Indi laughs as she gently untangles Aria’s arms from around her neck. “Well, that might be true,” she says. “But do you love Daddy too?”
Aria wrinkles her tiny button nose and studies me for a moment. “Maybe today.” She immediately reaches both arms towards me, and Indi nearly loses her balance as I scoop Aria into my arms.
She squeezes me tightly. “Are you gonna swing to me, Daddy?”
I laugh. She still can’t say sing. “Yep.” I tap her little nose.
“I’m going to sing for you and Mummy.” I point toward the enormous stage.
“See that?” She nods so enthusiastically I almost drop her.
“That’s where Daddy’s going to be. It’ll be really loud, but don’t be scared, okay?
Mummy’s got special earmuffs for you. It’s just music. And we’re going to have lots of fun.”
She squeals directly into my ear, and I wince dramatically.
At this rate, I’ll be deaf before I’m forty…
And it won’t be because I’m in a rock band.
“I wike fun!” She immediately reaches back towards Indi.
I hand her over before gently resting my hand on Indi’s belly. “You sure you’re okay carrying her? She’s getting heavy, and you’re seven months pregnant.”
Indi rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. I’ve dealt with much worse than a sore back and a cheeky three-year-old.”
I hold up my hands. “Just checking.”
“I think they’re ready for you.” She beams. “Go kick some arse.”
“Yeah!”
Aria cheers. “Kick some arse!”
Indi and I exchange a look, then we both burst out laughing.
“Looks like we need to start watching what we say,” I whisper before kissing Indi softly.
I ruffle Aria’s soft blonde curls and kiss her forehead. To which she immediately swats my face again.
“Go get ‘em, Rock God,” Indi says.
I turn to leave.
A second later… smack. She slaps me on the arse, and I spin around.
Aria is giggling so hard she can barely breathe. “Silly Mummy!”
Shaking my head, I head over to Annie, who is currently making out with Aston.
Honestly… nothing changes.
“Come on, you two.” I clap Annie on the shoulder. “You can snog like an old married couple after the show.”
She laughs as Aston reluctantly lets her go.
Together we join Ella and Chad.
Our hands stack in the center, and I look around the circle.
My band.
My family.
Home.
I nod once.
And together… we begin the chant.
The music flows for all to hear,
You cannot help, but stop and cheer,
The walls will tremble, shudder, and break,
‘Cause no one can handle the sound of Staked.
One, two, three…
STAKED!
We all throw our heads back and laugh.
God, I’ve missed this.
Performing is part of who we are, and stepping away from it left a hole none of us could ignore. But now we’re back, another platinum album behind us and another headline tour ahead of us.
Staked is home.
Doing what we all love to do.
We break apart, and I glance over my shoulder. Indi is singing quietly to Aria, who joins in with complete confidence despite not knowing half the words.
They both look up at the same time and wave.
I grin, blow them a kiss, and, just like always, they both pretend to catch it before pressing it dramatically against their hearts.
My chest feels full.
I’m ready.
“Let’s go.”
Annie, Aston, and Ella sling their guitars into place while Chad twirls his drumsticks between his fingers, and I look around at my band.
“We’ve got this.”
A few chuckles ripple around the circle.
“You’re on!” a stage manager shouts, waving his clipboard.
Annie heads out first.
The roar from Wembley crashes backstage like a wave.
Goose bumps race across my skin.
Aston follows her onto the stage, and the cheers somehow grow even louder.
Chad takes his place behind the kit, and the bass drum thunders to life.
Ella follows, and the opening music begins.
I glance back one last time.
Indi smiles at me, Aria waves both arms so enthusiastically that she nearly topples off Indi’s hip.
And that’s all the encouragement I need.
I bounce once on the balls of my feet before sprinting onto the stage, and the crowd erupts. “How the hell are we, London?”
The stadium explodes with cheers and stomping feet.
“Get ready to wet yourselves with excitement… because we’re back…” The anticipation builds. “And you’re about to be Staked!”
The opening riff of “Don’t Mess With The Best” tears through the stadium, and I launch into the first verse.
When the song ends, I pace the front of the stage, feeding off the crowd’s energy. “You still with us, Wembley?” A deafening roar answers me. “Are you ready to get loud?” The cheers swell. “Are you ready to get crazy?” Even louder.
I glance across at Annie, who’s already laughing.
“Are you ready for some chaos?” I thrust the microphone toward the audience, and the response is almost loud enough to shake the stadium. “Then let’s get this party started, Wembley!”
The next few songs blur into one incredible rush.
Music.
Lights.
Adrenaline.
Everything I’ve ever loved.
Between songs, my eyes drift toward the wings. Indi stands there with Aria in her arms, both of them completely captivated.
My girls.
My whole world.
This… this is the moment I’ve been waiting for since I was twelve years old.
As the crowd settles after the final song, I step back up to the microphone. “London…” The stadium quietens. “Thank you. You’ve been incredible tonight.” I jump around. “But before we go…” I glance towards the wings, “… I’ve got one more promise to keep.”
I point to Indi. “When I was twelve years old, I promised that one day, if I ever made it to Wembley Stadium…” I laugh softly, “… I’d sing a song for the girl I loved.
” Emotion tightens my throat. “Well… I finally get to keep that promise tonight.” I turn fully toward her.
“So this one’s for you, my beautiful wife… Indi McCormack-Slade.”
From where I stand, I can see tears running down her cheeks as Dee slips an arm around her shoulders.
Our eyes meet, and mine brighten.
Annie plays the opening chords.
And I begin to sing “Saving Grace.”
Indi
I’m sitting on the couch in the spacious living room of our beautiful six-bedroom home, both dogs sprawled beside me as I spin the Twister dial. “Right hand green.”
Caleb groans while Aria and Coda burst into giggles.
He carefully inches his hand toward the green circle. For a second, I think he’s going to topple over, but somehow he manages to keep his balance.
“Ha! Made it. Suck that, kids!”
Both children laugh.
“Okay, Mummy, my turn,” six-year-old Aria calls.
“Okay, sweetheart.”
I spin the dial. “Left foot red.”
She twists herself around her little brother before planting her foot directly in front of Caleb’s face. “Smell my feet, Daddy.”
I burst out laughing as Caleb screws up his nose dramatically. “Phew! Aria, have you had a shower in… like, ever?”
“Silly Daddy.”
Coda laughs so hard his whole body shakes.
Watching Caleb with our children still melts my heart. He’s a better father than I ever dreamed he would be.
Patient.
Playful.
Completely devoted.
Totally present.
Our children absolutely adore him, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better husband or father.
“Coda… right foot blue.”
He somehow manages to twist himself between Caleb and Aria before planting his foot squarely on the blue circle.
“How is that even possible?” Caleb asks.
I shrug.
“I think Coda’s an alien,” Aria declares.
“I think you’re right.” Caleb laughs.
“My turn?” Caleb asks.
I spin again. “Left foot red.”
He groans dramatically before attempting the impossible, and halfway there, he wobbles… tries to recover… and collapses, taking both children down with him. Thankfully, he lands on the bottom of the pile.
I tense, waiting for tears.
Instead… I am greeted with a room full of laughter. Thank goodness.
“I’m getting too old for this shit.” Caleb sits up while the kids immediately climb all over him.
“Again, Daddy?” three-year-old Coda begs.
Caleb laughs as he untangles himself. “You two keep playing.” He looks over at me. “Mummy needs some attention.”
Aria races over, grabs the spinner from me, then sprints straight back to the mat before Caleb even reaches the couch. He stops in front of the Labradoodles he’d surprised me with a few years ago—Razzle and Dazzle. Aria proudly chose both names.
“Razzle. Dazzle. Down.”
Both dogs lazily look at him… neither moves.
He gives them his best authoritative stare.
Nothing.
I laugh and say, “Down.” Immediately, they both hop off the couch and curl up together on the floor.
Caleb sighs. “You know I hate that they listen to you and not me.”
I giggle as he finally sits beside me, then curl into his side, draping my legs across his lap, although my growing belly makes it harder every week.
He wraps an arm around me and kisses my temple. “You won’t be able to do this much longer.”
I rest my hand over my stomach. “I know. Little Treble will be here before we know it.” I laugh softly. “She’s already proving she’s going to live up to her name.”
Caleb chuckles. “Between the morning sickness and everything else…” He grins. “I’d say Treble’s definitely living up to the trouble part.”
I lean over and kiss him.
Behind us, the kids erupt into another fit of squealing laughter.
The house is noisy.
Chaotic.
Messy.
And absolutely perfect.
As I sit curled against my rockstar, I honestly can’t imagine my life turning out any other way.
Sometimes I think back to that day in the coffee shop. What if Caleb had never walked through those doors? Would I have stayed with Mick? Would I ever have known what real love felt like?
But I don’t dwell on those questions for long.
Because I already know the answers.
This…
Everything around me is exactly where I’m meant to be. Caleb and I were always destined to find our way back to each other.
Our journey wasn’t easy.
It was messy.
Painful.
But every wrong turn…
Every heartbreak…
Every fight…
Led us to here.
To this home.
To this family.
To this life.
And as I watch my husband laughing with our children while two ridiculous Labradoodles chase each other around the living room, I realize something.
This isn’t just our happily-ever-after.
It’s our forever.