Epilogue #2
The evening is going well, and I can actually relax now everything is in place.
We have a fully stocked paying bar. A bit stingy, you might think, but less hassle in the long run.
A few of the guests can go a little overboard if everything is free, so making them think twice about paying for their drinks is a good thing.
It also comes with bar staff. We’ve instructed them to add a shot or two more of soda water or ice to spirits if anyone gets out of hand.
We might be the wrong side of twenty, but maturity hasn’t reached many of our old classmates just yet.
They are convinced they’re still teenagers and we can do without injuries.
There’s bound to be someone trying to crowd surf by jumping off the stage and onto a waiting dance floor.
That can’t happen. Not on my watch. The other bonus of having a paying bar is we can afford catering staff.
Apart from the bucket load of nibbles made by Angie, the food is all taken care of.
A three-course dinner with coffee and waiting staff comes as part of the package, which is handy as it means us organisers get to enjoy the event.
I catch up with old faces and reel at how grown up some of us have become.
Stories of home, family, successful businesses fill the conversations.
Of course, everyone wants to know about Ash and if he’s coming tonight.
I’m about to explain to one group how he’s on tour in the States, but I’m whisked away by Scott, who swirls me onto the dance floor.
He’s always been a mover, and I love dancing with him.
It’s not long before Angie joins us and I’m just the right amount of relaxed to swish my royal blue cocktail dress around the dance floor.
My dark hair flies around my face as I now spin in Angie’s arms, and we act out the lyrics to We Are Family.
More familiar faces join our expanding group while the music changes to Black Eyed Peas, I got a feeling.
We carry on into Jump Around by House of Pain, but I find the jumping part just too hard.
The lights flash, music pumps, people laugh. Everything is going brilliantly until our little dancing crowd slows, then stops. There’s a change in the atmosphere as a familiar energy surrounds us.
Some kind of distraction is happening by the main doors, but I’m unable to see what’s going on. The music continues as the poor DJ optimistically continues his set, although everyone is leaving the dance floor.
My first thought is a fight. There’s bound to be some old grudge resurrected by a couple of idiots who should know better.
I barge my way to the front of the crowd, excusing myself between bodies.
Finally, I get past the last line of mainly female spectators.
My eyes fall to the one person I didn’t expect to see tonight as my heart skips a beat.
His eyes gaze across the now gathered crowd like some kind of Grecian God with the body to match.
A body so familiar and committed to my memory.
A simple white t-shirt enhances his athletic frame and his faded blue jeans cling to the bulge of his upper thighs and muscular legs.
I capture his full slim physique, yet his eyes are the biggest distraction.
Nobody else I know has such captivating ice blues.
They are unmistakable and belonged to the man I fell for in this very building, too many years ago.
He should be entertaining twenty thousand people at one of LA’s most iconic music venues, but he’s here, right in front of me.
“What the hell?” I breathe out and shake myself too.
“I can’t believe you’re actually here.” My legs still turn to jelly at the sight of him, even after so much time together.
I’d jump into his arms, but I might knock him off his feet.
I’ve put on a little weight recently. He sweeps me up regardless, not seeming to notice.
“Hey baby. Surprise.” His deep, calm tone sends a spark of electricity down my spine before his lips take mine, and I’m lost in their soft caress.
It’s not until a forced cough brings me back down to earth and the realisation that there are around three hundred pairs of eyes staring at us right now.
We break apart and Ash sets me down, clearly not taking notice of the surrounding crowd.
“I’ve missed those lips,” he says, and the female spectators openly gasp at his words.
“Hey ladies,” Ash waves.
I playfully push his chest. “Oh please,” then turn to the crowd with his arm still firmly around me.
“Give it a rest, you lot,” I joke while Ash turns a lighter shade of pink.
My man might get on stage and perform in front of thousands of people, but he’s still the shy boy I met at school underneath it all.
Scott strides forward and takes his outstretched hand. “How are you, mate? You made it at last.” Ash immediately brings him in for a man hug while Scott continues, “I told you, I could have met you at the airport.”
“You knew he was coming home?” I question Scott.
“He swore me to secrecy.” Scott shrugs. “Why do you think I’ve kept you busy all day? The last night of their tour being cancelled has been all over the news.”
“It was cancelled. What happened?” I ask, turning to Ash.
“They made an announcement yesterday morning. There was some kind of technical fault so we couldn’t go ahead.”
“What about the fans? They’ll be so disappointed,” I say to Ash and he smiles.
“Typical Cal, always worrying about others.” He hugs me closer. “But it will be okay. We’re re-organising the last gig to go ahead in a month or so, just for the current ticket holders. It will be one hell of a party.”
“I’m just so happy you got here.” I beam with happiness. My man is finally with me.
“You don’t have to tell me twice to get on a plane and come home.” Ash holds me closer still. “Where’s the harm in wanting to surprise my girl?”
I’m about to get another kiss from my man when Angie interrupts.
“How you doing hot stuff. Great surprise, by the way, even if it was a nightmare to keep it quiet.”
“Hey Angie.” He leans forward to kiss her on the cheek while I give her the evil eye.
“You knew too? And there was I, thinking we didn’t keep secrets anymore. At least not after the whole, finding out Scott was my brother thing and then finding out you two were at it.”
“This was a good secret,” Angie says, rolling her lips together. “We’re allowed to keep those.”
I look back to Ash. “Zoe will flip when she sees you. She’s missed her daddy so much.”
“Oh, about that.” He pulls his lips together in a straight line, then reveals, “I’ve already seen her.”
“You have? When? She’s at home in bed—Oh, you’ve been home already.”
“I had to drop my luggage home and she happened to hear me.”
“Really. Are you sure you didn’t go in and wake our little princess up?”
He looks a little sheepish. “Maybe,” he answers. I can’t complain. I’d be desperate to see her too if the tables were turned.
A slightly older, but quite glamorous woman appears from nowhere.
“Mr Chambers,” she swoons. “We haven't had the pleasure. I’m Mrs Wooton, current head here at Braebeach Secondary. Please, let me get you a drink.”
“Thank you, a beer would be great.” He winks at me, trying to hold back his cheeky smile. I know he finds the funny side to all this hero-worship stuff.
“Andrea!” she shouts in her bossiest voice. “A beer for Mr Chambers.”
“Ash, please.”
“Ash,” she melts once again, “of course.” Then she takes his arm, leading him through the parting crowd and into the hall. “Would you mind if I introduce you to my husband, he’s a huge fan.”
Ash turns to me. “Are you alright for a minute?” he asks, squeezing my hand.
“Yeah, better now you’re here,” I tell him. “You go, meet your adoring fans.”
“Let’s go get a drink,” Angie suggests. “I’m parched.”
“Great idea.” Scott smiles, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
“Coming, Calla?” Scott asks.
“I’ll just pop to the loo and catch you up in a minute.” If I’m honest, I need a breather from the excitement. I’m not feeling so great.
I take a walk down the familiar corridors of my youth.
My legs are weak, and I need a moment. I find the nearest bench in the hallway and sit before my legs give way.
With my palms flat against my eyes, I sniff, trying to keep in my initial tears.
My emotions are all over the place, and the tears run down my cheeks, faster than I can deal with.
I swipe one away, and another appears, then another and another until I can’t catch them quick enough.
My throat dries, feeling raw as I swallow and there’s some kind of gymnastic display going on inside my stomach.
I don’t have a tissue, I can’t wipe my nose or see properly through the glassy lens of my tears, but I feel something.
It’s a presence returning. The fresh, familiar smell of sandalwood and the fire that burns my heart when Ash is near.
It’s an overwhelming desire to be in his arms, to feel safe and loved.
One that reassures me, I’ll get what I want and more.
Instinctively, I look up and stare down the corridor, spotting his familiar frame.
He can see I’m upset, so his pace picks up then quickens until he’s running towards me at one-hundred miles an hour.
Ash Chambers, international rock God and love of my life, is heading right this way, knowing my hormones are all over the place.
We’ve kept our own secret together for the past few weeks, and my Rockstar daddy is looking forward to becoming a father for the second time.
What Ash doesn’t know is I’m about to drop a bombshell which will change the course of our lives.
I’ve yet to tell him his third child will arrive at the same time.
THE END