The ceremony seemed to drag on forever as I waited for Damaged to take the stage. I got to hear a lot of bands perform songs that I loved, and we danced and cheered along for all of the award winners. It was surreal. Donna was backstage, and I was relieved that I wouldn’t have to put up with her, but I wished I could see Tucker before he took the stage. He insisted I sit in the crowd and enjoy the show. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he didn’t want me to miss anything. I wondered who he was meeting backstage and if he had gotten to shake hands with some of the musicians who had influenced his career. As much as Donna and I clashed, I knew he and the rest of the band were in good hands with her. She had taken their career to a level Tucker dreamed of since he was a boy, and after tonight, their star was destined to rise even higher.
There was a brief remembrance for all those in the music business who had passed away this year. They played a video of the stars as sad music played in the background. I teared up as I thought of all those who I had lost, my father included. But at least his reappearance had brought me some closure; I was no longer wondering what had become of him and if he ever tried to contact me. Now I knew, and I could move on with my new family, one that I’d created for myself.
By the time the video stopped, fog started rolling out over the performance stage. Tucker’s voice began to sing, and the crowd hushed as he sang a slow love song that I had never heard, and I realized it was a mix of some of the lines I had written interwoven with ones he had added himself. The fog began to clear, and all I could see was Tucker, gripping the microphone in his hand. Sarah and I stood and swayed to the music, his voice haunting as he closed his eyes and sang about losing someone he loved. I knew he was singing about our child, and I wanted to rush the stage and wrap my arms around him.
It was amazing to see him take something so tragic and make it into something beautiful. He continued to sing about his heart being full and finding the love of his life. Even in the darkened room, I’m sure it was obvious I was blushing.
If you give your love to me, I will fly with broken wings
Let me fill these empty sheets, show you how love is supposed to be
As the last note faded, the crowd erupted in applause and the women screamed.
“Thank you so much. It means a lot to us to get up here and sing for you all, and we appreciated the warm welcome.” The crowd grew loud again and he waited to continue speaking. “Life is short, and it is important to tell those we love how much they mean to us every chance we get, so, Cass Daniels, I want you to know that I love you more than life itself. That song was for you.”
The sound of the audience was deafening. It almost drowned out the sound of my heart thumping in my ears. I was in shock. Tucker had not only professed his love for me in front of a crowd of thousands but also to everyone who was watching on television. My fingers absentmindedly went to the locket necklace he had given me when we first met.
“I need to see him,” I shouted over the crowd to Sarah. She grinned and pulled me out to the aisle. We made our way between the rows toward the back of the room.
“This is the wrong way. The stage is over there.” I stopped. She tugged on my arm to encourage me to keep walking.
“They have a back entrance,” she said as we slipped through the doors.
“How do you know this?” I asked.
She sighed loudly as she pushed open the next set of doors flanked by security.
“Trust me.”
I walked by her and outside the doors, stopping dead in my tracks as I came face-to-face with Tucker who was surrounded by the rest of the band. There were all sweating and out of breath, fresh from the stage. They must have run around the building to reach us.
“What are you doing out here?” I asked as I stepped toward him. “That song . . . it was incredible. . . .”
“We make beautiful music together, and I don’t ever want to write another song alone.” He sunk down on his knee and my hands flew over my mouth as I gasped. He pulled a chain from around his neck that had been tucked inside of his T-shirt. Dangling from the chain was a ring. He took it off and dropped the ring in the palm of his hand.
“From the moment I met you I had everything I ever wanted in life. All of this is just a bonus. Without you in my life the music has no heart, because I gave it to you the moment we met. Will you marry me?”
I couldn’t even speak, I was so overwhelmed with emotion. All I could do was nod my head as he slipped the ring onto my finger and stood, wrapping his arms around me and lifting me from the ground. We had left out of the side exit, but it didn’t take long for the paparazzi to discover something was going on and flashes went off around us like lightning.
I grabbed his face on either side and pressed my lips against his and everything else faded into the background. For the first time, Tucker didn’t try to hide our relationship from the world. Instead, he was flaunting it. Our friends all clapped and cheered, shouting their congratulations.
When I used to try to picture what the future held for me, I could barely see past the trailer park. My only goal was to survive. But now, for the first time, I had a reason to live.
Acknowledgments
ALEXANDRA LEWIS: One of the best editors in the business.
Kimberly Whalen: An amazing agent who has helped me through every step of this amazing journey.
Lauren McKenna: For taking a chance on my books. She is not only a great editor but an amazing person.
Simon & Schuster: For helping me live my dream.
I am forever grateful.
AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSHUA MUMMERT
TERESA MUMMERT is an army wife and mother who has lived in small towns in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Georgia. Visit her website at www.TeresaMummert.com.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: authors.simonandschuster.com/Teresa-Mummert
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