Chapter 25
Raleigh
THE CONTINUOUS droning of wheels on the blacktop provides the background noise for me to get a little work done. It’s finally leg one of the tour. Tonight, everything the crew has been working for will pay off. Glancing up from my laptop, I look over the space once more.
Mae has her hair in curlers, doing a live stream Q&A with fans while she does her makeup. Her frilly outfit for the night is hung up neatly to the side, sparkly boots set beneath it. Theresa sits across from me, earbuds in, watching a movie.
It’s quaint and quiet without the men around, a setting the three of us thrive in pre-show.
The energy brought on by the calm has me smiling as Mae’s voice breaks through the relaxing haze.
“I should give my voice a break before the show, but I’m so glad you all joined me for this pre-show bus tour.
Stay golden, lovelies!” She waves and then reaches forward to end the stream.
“How was that?” I ask, turning to face her.
“Good.” She shrugs. “Not as many comments about the song.”
Since the days following the release of the newest single, we’ve had to pivot hard.
The label released the original as the “pop version” and the stripped back “country version” followed suit soon after.
The versions have battled each other on streaming services, but the pop version is dominating the radio.
Mae picks up her phone and starts tapping away.
The band and I had encouraged Mae to ride separately from Trenton so she could focus and do her pre-show routine.
While it has worked for the first few shows, she’s been slowly reaching back for his companionship.
With the way she’s been sulking and texting her fiancé so often on this long stretch of road, I think it’s going to be very hard to keep them apart much longer.
He is, after all, in the bus behind us. It doesn’t make sense in any other capacity than just for the band’s peace of mind.
Keeping the couple calm and not at war with each other for as long as possible is the goal.
Distracting me from my thoughts, my phone buzzes.
Dalton: How’s it going up there? Surviving this very long excruciating drive?
Raleigh: You mean the three hours to Memphis? If this is beating you, I don’t know how you’ll survive those 10 hour days.
Dalton: Easy for you to say, you’re not crowded into an SUV with 8 tough guys who all want to be in command of the wheel.
I glance out the window and try to catch his vehicle in the side view mirror. Sure enough, two men I don’t recognize sit in the front, both with dark shades.
Raleigh: I’m sure you could ride with us for a couple legs.
Dalton: I caught some of the livestream. Mae doing alright being so far from the love of her life?
I try not to laugh at that. Some people would see Mae’s attachment to Trenton as dangerous or pathetic, but I know the root of it is simply wanting to be loved. I know Dalton was just making a joke, but I’d rather not focus on it.
Raleigh: Hey, I gotta take a few photos for socials before we arrive. Talk to you tonight?
Dalton: Looking forward to it.
I ignore the smile the text evokes and get to work taking a few candids of Mae and Theresa. The two girls have begun a game of cards, though the game really isn’t being played as they’re mostly just chatting.
When Mae notices me taking pictures, she scoots back against the wall and pats the bed.
I kick off my shoes and hop up next to the girls.
The card game is abandoned and the three of us converse about our favorite Emmy Tenny albums and which songs the girls should perform for their acoustic set. It’s almost like old times.
Mae’s phone rings, and she doesn’t even excuse herself before answering. Theresa and I look at each other, wanting to actually go back to the true old days in the back of a van on the way to nowhere.
“Ladies, we’re pulling through the side gate now.” The driver reminds us that we have a final destination and a show to put on. Together, Theresa and I slip back into our shoes and start gathering up outfits and makeup for the night.
One glance out the large bus window, and I know that this crowd is going to be wild. Fans line up, pumping signs and chanting Mae’s name. It’s hours before the show, and Mae’s just the guest act.
***
“I want to thank you all for coming to this stop on the All the Miles In Between Tour!” Trenton calls into his mic, flashing his white teeth and draping an arm around Mae’s shoulders.
“If it’s alright with y’all,” Mae flicks her eyes up to her man and doesn’t break the contact as she continues, “we’d like to invite both of our bands out here for one last song.”
The crowd boos when they realize the show is nearly over, but only until Theresa steps from the shadows and begins playing a few long somber notes with Trenton’s guitarist. The crowd recognizes the Trenton Travers hit immediately.
Just as planned, the rest of Mae’s band joins the ensemble and they begin.
“The Long Goodbye” was Trenton’s first monstrous hit, and since then, it’s become an anthem for his fans and a killer closing track for his shows. Even from backstage, I can see the ebb and flow of the crowd as they bounce up and down in excitement.
A clap on my back startles me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.
” Dalton comes up next to me and has struck his signature pose.
Chin tucked, arms crossed, stance wide. I look him up and down and realize he’s standing in the same position that I am.
He hasn’t done it on purpose, we’re just similar like that.
“Didn’t scare me,” I say, looking back out onto the stage as the long guitar break takes over and the two stars head out onto the extended stage to sign things and shake hands. “Just ready for this to be over.”
“You can’t be talking about the fourth night of the 50 show tour?” I know he’s mocking me in the same way I texted him earlier.
“Ha, ha,” I say sarcastically. “Just happy that everything is going so well. Ready to celebrate.”
“Are you?”
I raise my eyebrows in question.
“Are you going to celebrate?”
“Maybe I will.”
“Can I join you?” he asks, teeth playing with his bottom lip.
I look back out at the stage before patting the man on the shoulder once. “Oh, contrare. You get to party with the big kids. They’ll be out ‘til the bars close.”
“You mean we’ll be out ‘til the bars close?” For a moment I consider it.
I have one post to schedule for the morning, and one hug to give, but other than that…
The timeline takes the forefront of my mind.
Tomorrow, down to Birmingham, then to Jackson, then New Orleans.
Lord, let us get through New Orleans. I’ll allow myself a drink or two if we can get past Mae’s home town.
The state that holds all of Mae’s demons.
“Raleigh?” I’ve completely zoned out on Dalton, an embarrassing thought.
I could explain getting caught on the thought of New Orleans, but not without Mae’s okay.
“Sorry, I got distracted,” I whisper, raising a finger toward Mae and Trenton sharing a mic to finish off the song. “Maybe another time.”
Turning to go, Dalton catches my hand. I let myself indulge in the soft caress of his thumb, but soon, reality catches up to me.
One hard look from his face down to our linked fingers and he lets go.
“Call me if you or Mae need anything. I’ll wait up,” I tease, before breaking completely away from him and heading toward the bus.
I beat the rush and am able to give myself a head start.
Thinking about New Orleans has me downright spooked.
The shows up to this point have gone off without a hitch, but now that the early jitters are out of the way, Mae will be content looking forward and I fear she’ll balk at the sight of Louisiana.
As these scary thoughts grow, I absentmindedly reach for my phone.
Scrolling for the contact I’m looking for, I hit the call button despite the late hour. “Hey, this is Raleigh Davis. Is Bill available?”
The sweet voice of Bill’s wife greets me. “Hey, Raleigh dear. Is Mae alright?”
“Yes, yes, we’re fine. Listen, I hate calling to ask you something this late, but we’re coming down to New Orleans for a show soon, and I know Mae is going to ask to visit.”
“They keep sharing about the tour on the news. Everyone is real excited, though I’m not sure many could get tickets.” The woman on the other end of the line hums as the phone rustles with movement.
“This is Bill.” The sweet, soft voice of the southern woman is replaced by the voice of a man hardened by law enforcement.
I take a deep breath, thinking of Mae’s small hometown and how everyone there supported her through all the issues with her family. With Bill, I know I can skip the pleasantries. “I’m calling to ask about—”
“Maggie,” he says flatly.
“Yes. I’m worried Mae will want to go see her, and I need to know if that would be a good idea or not so I can plan accordingly.”
Bill clears his throat. “I would never forcefully keep that girl away now that she’s an adult, but if she were still her young self, I wouldn’t let her within 50 miles.” Bill has a bit of a bite to him as he confesses.
“Alright,” I begin. “Thank you.”
“If she does come around, will you call me? I’ll go with her if you think that would help the situation.”
I nod and then remember that he can’t see me. “I will, sir. Thanks again.” For everything.
“Take care, and tell Mae that Lily still expects that signed guitar she was promised.” I take a mental note and bid another goodbye before hanging up.
Knowing how uncomfortable Bill would be with a visit has me on edge even more so than before. The knowledge will haunt me until that tour stop is long gone from the rearview.