Chapter 30 #2
“Have a good show,” Kelly says a second after we are announced, and she waves us up the stairs.
The band file ahead. and I find Chase and touch his arm. When he pauses to turn to me, I raise up on my tiptoes and kiss his lips. “This is how it’s supposed to be,” I whisper into his ear. He presses another kiss to my lips and leads me out.
The crowd roars as I walk across the stage, waving and taking it all in.
Lights flash in front of me. People yell out and clap.
I get to the center and take the silver mic from the stand and raise a hand.
“Thank y’all for being here!” I look out as far as I can see into the darkness where I know the bleachers are.
“We’re here for a cause which is close to my heart, and that is to raise money for drought relief here in Sweetgum Valley. Who wants to raise some money?”
As the applause and cheers continue, I can’t help but marvel at how loud the noise is in this small venue. “You guys are amazing! Your energy is infectious!”
I strut around the stage, making eye contact with members of the audience in the front row. I want each and every one of them to know that I see them and appreciate their support.
“It’s been a while since I’ve performed, but I’m back now and ready to give it my all tonight. And so is my band.” I introduce them one by one. “And many of you may already know Chase Tutton on guitar, our newest member. We’re thrilled to have him join us for this show.”
Someone in the crowd hoots and calls out, “Yeah, Chase!”
Then, I signal to Cassie to count us in, and the crowd roars as we start our set with my most famous song.
Being on stage feels like home; music is where I come alive.
And judging by the way the audience is singing along and dancing, they feel it too.
Each song we play has a different tone—some are about forgiveness, others about finding inner peace, and of course there are plenty about love.
With every note and lyric, I pour my heart into the performance, losing myself in the music.
This is where I belong, under the spotlight, sharing my passion with the world.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this is where I’m meant to be.
When we get to our song, I look at Chase and he joins me at the front of the stage. The lights shine brightly on us. The crowd is quiet with anticipation.
I lower my mic and look at him. “Are you ready?”
He looks at me with a smile. “Are you?”
I nod and watch as he sets the guitar low on his hip and begins to play, strumming each individual chord over and over again. I keep my eye on the crowd, encouraging him to continue to play while I prepare them.
“This is a new song,” I address the audience.
“I started writing it many years ago when I lived here, and with Chase’s help, I finally finished it this week.
It’s a very special song that means a lot to both of us.
” I lower the mic and glance up at the dark sky above us.
“Harper, this is for you.” I whisper into the night.
Closing my eyes, I can feel her presence beside us as Chase’s chords blend seamlessly with my voice.
The lyrics flow from me effortlessly, almost as if they’d been ingrained in my mind all along.
As I sing, I envision my sweet, innocent, beautiful little sister standing onstage beside us, just like she had been when we performed at our last show together.
Every chord Chase plays and every breath I take, it feels like Harper is right here with us. A tear runs down my cheek, but I embrace the emotion and pour it into the music.
I unleash all the feelings I’ve held back for years and channel them into my performance.
I hold the last note and let it linger. Then there’s a brief moment of silence before the audience erupts in applause, snapping me back to reality.
I jump slightly when Chase places his hand on my back, but then I melt into his touch as I see every emotion I feel mirrored in his eyes.
Without hesitation, I wrap my arms around him and hold on tight.
In that moment, I know he is my anchor, my safe haven, my rock.
As much as I need to spread my wings and fly, I also need a place to come back to when I get tired.
He is that place for me—my home, my love.
* * *
“That was incredible! You killed it tonight!” Kelly exclaims, giving me a tight hug as I step off the stage. We didn’t even bother finishing the last two songs in our set—nothing could top the standing ovation we received after our duet.
“That was the best performance of your career!” Kelly continues. “People may have come to see Matthew Butler, but they’ll never forget you.”
It’s hard to gauge the size of the audience when you’re on stage with bright lights shining in your eyes, but the energy and noise were unlike they’ve been at any other show I’ve played.
Everyone was captivated by our performance, and I could hear many people singing along to our duet even though it was the first time we’d played it.
It’s beyond anything I ever imagined, to have a crowd singing words that I wrote.
Our voices intertwined perfectly, reaching deep into my soul. This is what I’ve been missing all this time. Chase has filled a void that I’d thought would be empty forever.
I take a deep breath, trying to ground myself and savor this high from such an amazing performance.
“Way to go, Bayleigh. I knew you could do it!” Matthew says with a grin as he passes me on his way to the stage. I smile broadly. This night couldn’t get any better, and I want to remember every precious moment of it.
Chase spots me in the midst of the crowd and comes over to me, lifting me up by my waist and twirling me around as I laugh with joy. His embrace is so comforting, making me never want to let go. When he sets me down, I wrap my arms around his neck and press my lips against his warm skin.
“That was beyond amazing,” I gush.
“It was more than I could have ever imagined,” he whispers, and kisses the tip of my nose sweetly.
“And you are even more than I could have ever dreamed of,” I reply, standing on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. I don’t care if anyone sees us or if my lipstick smudges; I just need him to know how much I love him and want him in my life, even if I can’t say it out loud.
He pulls back from the kiss and nuzzles his face against my ear. “I love you, Bayleigh. And I really want to make this work between us.”
His words fill my heart with happiness, but I need to make sure we’re on the same page. “But what about Nashville?”
“I’ll come out for your show and give it a shot,” he promises. “If you want me to.”
“Of course I do,” I assure him, before sealing our words with another kiss.
“And like they say in AA, let’s take it one day at a time,” he suggests while brushing away a strand of hair from my face.
“One day at a time,” I repeat.
“Let’s go. The after-party is waiting.” Kelly beckons us to follow her.
She knows better than to schedule one after every show, but for some gigs, it’s a necessary part of the job. Especially tonight, when fans and VIPs have paid top dollar to celebrate with us.
Chase holds my hand as we make our way through the bustling corridors. The energy around us is contagious as the band discusses their performance, the highlights, and how the audience responded.
“This is going to open up new opportunities for all of us,” Andy remarks, and he’s right.
Even if they don’t stick with me, they could easily join another band after tonight’s stellar show.
But I hope they’ll stay. Having a reliable team is crucial when performing; they enhance my sound and help me deliver the best show possible to the audience.
We enter the room to a thunderous round of applause, and I gasp at the sight of everyone there cheering for us. Kelly stays by my side and guides me towards the VIPs I need to greet. I am grateful for everyone’s kind words of encouragement and gratitude.
“I feel bad for Matt, having to follow that performance!” Someone says, and I smile to myself.
This night couldn’t get any better. I’ve done what I set out to do—I’ve proven that I’m not washed up after all, that there are still plenty of miles left in my tank, and I’m going to keep going.
This time I’m going to stay focused and sober and with Chase by my side. Who knows how high I can soar?
I hold on to his hand tightly as I feel him slipping away. Our gazes lock, and I am grateful for another chance with him. He is still the same kind and talented man I’ve known since childhood. Being with him inspires me to be a better person, and I love him for that.
I hear someone calling my name and turn to see a stunning blonde navigating her way through the crowd towards me.
Max, who is always on guard, steps in front of her to block her path.
But I know everyone has been screened before entering this room, so I place my hand on his shoulder and tell him it’s fine. “I’m sure she means no harm.”
Her big blue eyes give her an innocent appearance. She’s tall and strikingly beautiful with wavy blonde hair—it’s like she could be a model.
“Hi, I’m Bayleigh,” I say, extending my hand. She just stares at me, and something about her seems familiar. I furrow my brow, trying to figure out where I’ve seen her before.
“Are you alright?” Chase’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I turn to see him standing next to me. My heart sinks as I glance from the girl, who couldn’t be more than eighteen years old.
My stomach drops as I face the girl once again. Her blue eyes, so familiar to me, meet my gaze without any hesitation. “My name’s Chloe,” she says, taking a deep breath before delivering the rest of her statement. “I’m your daughter.”
* * *
Thank you for reading Songbird.