Last One to Know

by Sharon Coady

  Leona was glad the lights were up, and she couldn’t see the faces of the audience. She could almost pretend they were back in Abilene, playing a small hometown crowd. Almost was the key word.

  She took a moment to catch her breath and allow the audience to settle down a little. “I’d like to introduce my partner, Alastair Wilson!” She stood still while Alastair took a bow. I’m Leona McCoy and I want to thank y’all for coming out tonight to listen to us play. Sit back, and we’ll get this show really moving!”

  She moved around the small stage, singing her heart out, feeding off the energy of Alastair and the crowd. Now, she understood when the other musicians talked about performing. Being on the stage with a crowd like this, nothing else could compare.

  Suddenly, she realized they were almost to the end of their forty-five minute set, and they would perform her song next. She said a silent prayer that it would be as well received as the ones they had covered. As she finished the final song, she took a deep breath and glanced back at Alastair. He gave her his lop-sided grin and the thumbs up as he waited for her to introduce her work.

  “Again, I want to thank y’all for this great welcome. We would like to do one of our own songs now. We’ve never done this song before, so if we screw up just bear with us. This song is special to me, and I hope you like it. It’s called ‘Don’t Move On.’”

  She nodded to Alastair, and he started the slow chords of the song she had written for Johnny. She said a little prayer that he was in the audience and would know it was for him.

  We’ve never been this far apart,

  even though we’re face to face.

  Maybe I should have said this from the start,

  but you know those fears I live with day to day.

  Now you’re saying it’s time to move on,

  don’t walk away until you hear what I have to

  say.

  Don’t move, don’t blink.

  I need to tell you what I think.

  I’ve been afraid of change,

  but I can’t hide it anymore.

  I know you’re walking out the door.

  You really want to know the truth,

  I’ve always been in love with you

  So please, don’t move on.

  I wish I’d had a sign as to how you felt,

  when your hand is on mine, I seem to melt.

  You’ve been my best friend for the longest time,

  How could I have guessed your heart was mine?

  I never meant to make you think I didn’t feel the

  same, you aren’t invisible to me now.

  I’ll let you see.

  Don’t move, don’t blink.

  I need to tell you what I think.

  I’ve been afraid of change,

  but I can’t hide it anymore.

  I know you’re walking out the door.

  You really want to know the truth

  I’ve always been in love with you

  So please, don’t move on.

  If there’s still a chance, I want to take it.

  If you walk away with my heart, you’ll break it.

  You really want to know the truth

  I’ve always been in love with you

  so don’t move on.

  We’ve never been this far apart,

  even though we’re face to face

  Maybe I should have said this from the start.

  I never meant for you to be the last one to

  know so please, don’t move on.”

  As the last of her words faded and the last chord was strummed, she held her breath, waiting to hear the reaction from the crowd. The seconds stretched on as her heart pounded in her chest. Did they not like it? She felt little beads of sweat start to form on her forehead. As she drew a breath and glanced out at the audience, the room erupted with cheers and applause.

  Leona felt Alastair’s hand slip into hers as they took their bow. Hark moved onto the stage.

  “How about that folks? Did I tell you this would be a night you wouldn’t forget? McCoy and Wilson!” His hand swept to them as they bowed again. “Great show guys. They’ll be back next Friday. Spread the word and enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  As they made their way off stage, Leona felt the adrenaline from the night’s performance rush through her. She threw her hands into the air and spun in a circle. “Oh my God, what a rush! Can you believe tonight?”

  “We nailed it Leona! And that song! Holy crap was that song something else! Deep, soulful, moving, hell I could go on and on.” He stashed his guitar in the case as Hark walked up, smiling like the Cheshire cat.

  “Damn, you guys are amazing. The house was packed tonight, and I think next Friday is going to be even better. You guys have an energy that explodes out there. You need to write some more of your own stuff. That last song was freaking mind blowing. Rene is set up in my office to do the interview. I’ll leave you to it. Can’t wait for next Friday.”

  ~~~

  John couldn’t move. Leo and Alastair were mesmerizing. He knew they were amazing but watching them tonight onstage blew him away. They hit every song dead on, and the crowd was feeling it. Then the song she wrote. It was overwhelming. She wrote it about him. The tone, the sorrow, the hope, all was breathtakingly, overwhelmingly about him. His heart soared because he knew she still loved him. She had come back after facing her mother. She came back to live her dream, and she came back to him.

  He ran his hands through his hair and made his way to the monitor that Rene had placed in the second room where they were observing the interview. He stood out of the way and watched his beautiful Leo being fussed over as she sat on the stool, beaming from the high of their performance.

  He was so proud of both of them. They just may be the next big name in country music. They were born for it. Rene was ready to start, and he sat back to listen to the interview.

  “That was one of the best performances I have seen in years. Now I know what all the hype has been about. I had the pleasure to be at the Cove this evening to watch this new duo, McCoy and Wilson. If you weren’t here tonight, you don’t want to miss them next Friday.”

  John felt pride flow through him. He knew his friends deserved the praise.

  “So Alastair, let’s start with you. How long have you two been performing together?”

  “Since we were kids. Every chance we got, we would get together and practice songs by artists we loved.”

  “Leona, have you always loved music?”

  “Yes! I grew up with a father who loved it. When he was home, we were either listening to blues or country music. And when Alastair got his guitar, my father taught him some chords and encouraged us to learn and practice.”

  “It shows! Did you take voice lessons? You have a voice that is very unique.”

  Leo laughed and shook her head. “Oh no, no voice lessons. I think I sang before I talked. Daddy always encouraged it.”

  “Can I ask you a question about the last song you sang?”

  John watched as Leo nodded.

  “Did you write that one together? It was a moving song.”

  “No, I wrote that one myself, including the music.” Leona smiled shyly

  “You made the comment on stage that you two had never done this song together before. Is that true? I mean you had to have practiced it, right?”

  Alastair laughed. “Nope, she wouldn’t let me hear the lyrics. She just told me what she was looking for so I practiced my part. Tonight, when we did the song, it was the first time together. I hadn’t even heard the lyrics before tonight. I’ve been telling her for years, she should be writing her own songs.”

  “I have to agree with you, Alastair. What has kept you from writing anything before?”

  “I write all the time. I have a book full of lyrics.” She bit her bottom lip. “I just never had the courage to perform anything in front of anyone before.” Leona sat back as a corner of her mouth lifted. “My friends always encouraged me though. I guess I just
felt they were never good enough.”

  John watched as the blush spread over her face.

  “I finally got the courage to perform one tonight and I’m glad I did.”

  “May I ask what gave you the courage this time?” Rene leaned forward in her chair.

  “A very special person told me to follow my dreams and my heart, to not let anyone keep me from doing it.” She shrugged her shoulders. “So tonight, I decided to do just that.”

  “Well, you’re an incredible duo, and I look forward to seeing where you end up. There you have it folks. If you didn’t see McCoy and Wilson tonight, I highly suggest you try to make it out to see their next performance. ” With that, the cameras were turned off and the blinding light disappeared. Rene turned back to them. “You two really were amazing. I’ll be watching, and I’m definitely holding John to his agreement of getting an exclusive when you guys hit it big. And judging by tonight’s performance, you will.”

  The three of them stood and shook hands, Alastair and Leona both sporting a huge smile. Leona turned and started toward the door when she saw John standing there watching them.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Leona couldn’t believe how Johnny was dressed. There he stood in his tight jeans, a T-shirt snug across his broad chest, boots, and a cowboy hat. He was every bit like the boy she fell in love with back in Texas. He looked so handsome that she hadn’t realized, until that moment, how much she had missed seeing him like that. Her cowboy, she had always thought of him as her cowboy.

  Alastair smiled when he saw John. “You two have some figuring out to do. I’ll just let you get to it.” He grabbed his guitar case and walked out of the room.

  “Hello, Johnny.” She lowered her eyes and shuffled her feet. Did he hear the song she had sung? Did he know it was written for him? Glancing up, she saw understanding flash through his eyes.

  “Hello, Leo. So...” He moved closer. “Is that how you really feel about me?” he whispered. “Do I dare hope you wrote that song for me?”

  Leona glanced up into his eyes. “I did write it for you. I’m so sorry I left even when you asked me not to. I was so afraid something was wrong with my father, and I just had to see for myself.”

  John placed a finger against her lips. “Leo, you don’t owe me an apology. I owe you one. I walked out on you when you needed me the most. I didn’t trust you’d come back. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me.”

  “I’ll always need you, Johnny. I’ve learned a lot about myself in the last couple of days. I have dreams, hopes, and desires and there is nothing wrong with that. I can live my dreams. I can live my dreams and I can love you.”

  John smiled. She looked at him and saw the hope he held that things would be better for them now.

  “I promise you, if you give me the chance to show you, we never have to be apart again. I love you so much, and I almost destroyed that. When I came back and you were gone, I was devastated. But then we both made things worse, and I didn’t know how to fix it.”

  “Why did you turn your back on me?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “I couldn’t look at you because it hurt too much. If I would have seen your eyes, I would never have been able to let you go like that. I didn’t want you to see the hurt in my eyes or the need in them either. I wanted you to come back to me because you loved me not because I begged you.”

  “Leo, you almost killed me. I thought you stopped loving me, and you wouldn’t forgive me for being such a fool. Look, can we get out of here?”

  “Sure. Where are we going?” She watched his face, unsure of what she saw there. “Are we joining the others?”

  “No. We need to talk. Come on.” He took her hand and moved her out of the room and out the back door of the club.

  “Won’t everyone be worried? We didn’t tell them we were leaving.”

  John sighed. “They’ll figure it out. Just come with me.” He led her to his rental car and helped her inside.

  She glanced at him when he slid into the driver’s seat; he was smiling slightly. Leona sat back and turned to look out the window, curiosity filling her.

  ~~~

  John couldn’t believe he was so lucky. She seemed to forgive him, and she wanted him back. Time to make his big move. He knew exactly where he was taking her for this special moment. It had to be perfect.

  When he pulled into the drive of the beach cottage, she turned and looked at him. “Johnny?”

  “No talking yet,” he whispered. He got out of the car, opened her door open, and offered her his hand.

  “Come on,” he urged, pulling her with him around the side of the cottage onto the moonlit path that led down to the beach. Before they made it very far, he stopped and pulled her into his arms as his lips crashed into hers. He kissed her as if his very life depended on it.

  “Johnny, you’re crushing me. What are you doing?” She laughed when he finally broke the kiss to move down to her neck. Leo grabbed his head, knocking his hat off as she leaned her head back to give him more room. He moaned, knowing how much she loved to be kissed in the crook of her neck just below her ear.

  “I don’t ever want to let go of you.” He pulled back and watched her face. Swallowing hard, he untangled himself from her and took her hand instead. “Let’s keep walking.”

  “What’s wrong?” She tugged at his hand, and her voice shook as he saw doubt flash in her eyes.

  “Nothing’s wrong, baby. I, uh, I just have to ask you something.” They kept walking until they made it to the part of the beach where he had been surfing that first day. He dropped her hand, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a box. John knelt down in front of her as her eyes grew wide, and her jaw went slack.

  “Johnny, what are you doing?” Her hand went to her chest, just over her heart.

  “Leo, I’ve loved you for most of my life, since that first day I saw you riding your horse across that field. You are my best friend, my lover, my everything. To know you love me back is the most amazing feeling I could ever have.” He pulled the lid of the box open, lifting it upwards. “I would be deeply moved if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife. Leo McCoy, will you marry me?” He looked up into her beautiful eyes as they filled with tears. His heart felt like it was going to pound out of his chest; it beat so loud and fast.

  Leona looked from the ring back to Johnny’s face. She reached out and touched his cheek softly. “I will marry you. I’ve loved you forever. Nothing would make me happier than to marry you. But...”

  John stood quickly, his heart stuttering in his chest. “There’s a but?”

  “Yes, there is.” She stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck while looking him in the eyes. “You have to promise me, no matter what happens in our lives, you will never run again. We’ll work it out together.” She held her hand out so he could slide the diamond and emerald ring onto her finger.

  “I promise you this is forever. I’ll never run again, no matter what.” He pulled her to him and kissed her softly before lifting her into his arms and swinging her in a circle. “I’m the luckiest damn man on this earth right now!” He drew his bottom lip between his teeth. “And you, Leona McCoy, are the luckiest woman on earth,” he said as he sat her back on her feet.

  “You think so, do you, Johnny Montgomery?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

  “I know so.”

  “Why is that?” She kissed the corner of his mouth.

  “Because you have someone who will worship and love you forever, that’s why.” He smiled at her. “And I will show you every day of my life just how much.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that, sir.” She sighed as he kissed her neck again. “I love you, and you couldn’t have picked a better spot to do this.”

  “I figured what better place to propose to you but here on the beach where you finally noticed me.”

  “Johnny, I’ve always noticed you. Like I said, I just worked very hard at trying to hide it from
everyone.

  “I love you,” he responded, a huge grin on his face.

  “I guess we had better give someone a call so they know where we are. You know how Hope is. She’ll have the guys out searching for us.”

  “Too late.” John looked past her. “Search party is already here heading this way and grinning like the Cheshire cat.”

  “Leona!” Alistair called as he hurried towards them.

  Leo turned, tears running down her cheeks as she put her left hand out. “He wants to marry me!” she squealed. “I said yes!”

  Author’s Note

  I hope you enjoyed the story of Leona and John. I had fun writing this one. Two of my characters from this book want me to write their story. I hope you will check back and find out which two characters will reveal more of their lives next. Happy reading dear friends!

  ~ Sharon

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