70 CARTER
C ARTER
The front door of a house opens, and there before me, I see a little girl with long brown hair, looking up at me with hazel eyes that are mirrors of my own. Behind her, Evie beams as I look down into the face of my daughter.
“Hello,” she says simply.
“Hello there,” I say.
I’m standing in place, barely breathing as I watch her, in awe, utterly charmed.
“Are you here for my mom?” she asks. “We’re just about to go on a picnic.”
I smile wider at the sound of her delicate voice as tears fill both my eyes and Evie’s. “A picnic,” I reply. “Well, that sounds very nice. I used to go for picnics with my mum, as well. We used to go at night sometimes so we could see the stars.”
“I like that. That sounds fun.” I look up again at Evie, at the surreal sight of the two of them, standing side by side in front of me.
“I’m Lainey.”
I lean down and extend a hand. In turn, she places her small hand in mine. “So lovely to meet you, Lainey. My name is Carter.”
The scene changes, and I’m onstage at a show.
The crowd has been singing along with the lyrics of a song that I once scratched on a napkin or a piece of scrap paper.
They’ve just done this now, and it still amazes me every time it happens.
I’ve finished the verse while Alex does his thing, playing the interlude.
I take the opportunity to run to the side of the stage, where Evie and my daughter have been standing and watching, cloaked in shadowy purple light.
“How are my girls?” I ask when I reach them.
“Happy to be here,” Evie replies, and I can’t help but smile as she reaches up to kiss me. Lainey smiles widely, dangling her legs from where she sits, perched on a road case.
Behind me, the music begins to change, telling me our quick moment is up.
I brush Evie’s lips with a kiss and then lean down and kiss the top of our daughter’s head.
I turn around and glance at the stage, watching the lights change, flashing, and know it’s time to go.
The music swells, I kiss her once more, and a moment later, I’m gone.