Fireflies and Magnolias

by Ava Miles

  “Thank you for coming tonight,” he said in a more sober tone when the crowd noise died down. “This concert has been one of the most special of my life. I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, and one of those things is all of you. This is the last song of the night, and it’s a new one. You’re the first to hear it. I want to dedicate it to my sister, Tammy. I hope you like it. It’s called ‘Tell Me.’”

  His band started playing a simple melody, not Rye’s usual background accompaniment. Amelia Ann knew immediately it was one of his rare ballads.

  Susannah’s collage appeared behind Rye, who sank into a metal bar chair and strummed his guitar. The power of the pictures on the big screen stole her breath away. The beauty of those women finding their strength after so much hardship was unparalleled. And paired with Rye’s music, the effect was… Amelia Ann heard the people around her gasp as well. She peered over her shoulder at Susannah and smiled into her friend’s beaming face.

  Rye’s strong voice echoed across the arena as he started to sing lyrics Amelia Ann had never heard before.

  Tell me the truth.

  Tell me what’s bothering you.

  Why are there bruises and cuts on your skin?

  It’s not like you to be clumsy like that.

  When did you become so accident prone?

  In my eyes, you always stood firmly on your feet.

  Is there something else that’s happening?

  It’s okay.

  You can tell me anything.

  Don’t be afraid.

  Don’t shy away from the truth.

  I have your back.

  No one will ever hurt you.

  I’ll keep you safe.

  Don’t worry your mind.

  He’s not worth it.

  He’s not worthy of you.

  He’ll only keep hurting you.

  Love doesn’t hurt.

  Love makes you fly.

  Tell me the truth.

  Go ahead.

  Tell me.

  As he came to the end, the band’s accompaniment faded away. Only the sound of Rye strumming the guitar could be heard.

  Tell me the truth.

  This time…

  I’ll help you fly.

  His lone voice drew out the last note, and then his fingers halted on the guitar. When he looked at the audience, his eyes shone brightly.

  “Thank you,” he said in a hoarse voice. “Thank you so very much for coming. Drive home safe and Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.”

  The whole audience was pretty much crying buckets as they shot to their feet and applauded and cheered. Her brother’s new song, which had touched her heart and so many others, echoed in her ears. As the crowd started to disperse, she sought out Martha, Winnie, and Hazel and met their families along with the McGuiness sisters.

  Daddy and Mama stayed with her and met everyone too, her mama being especially kind to the women’s families, Amelia Ann noticed. Their group stayed and talked for a long time, and she was glad for it. Tonight was going to be a treasured memory, like a special item a child kept stored in a keepsake box. She said goodbye to everyone, promising to see them at the party, and dashed away to find her boss.

  When she finally found Felicia, her boss was standing with a distinguished man with silvering black hair and black-rimmed glasses. She introduced him as her husband, Adam. Amelia Ann had heard plenty about him, of course, but they’d never met before.

  “My wife has been telling me wonderful things about you,” he said, giving her hand a gentle but firm shake.

  “I’m glad to hear it. It’s wonderful to meet you too.” She signaled for her parents, who were standing nearby waiting for her to join them. “Felicia and Adam, I’d like you to meet my daddy and mama.”

  They greeted each other, and she was delighted when Daddy embraced Felicia. She was even more shocked when Mama hugged her boss too. Mama had never been a hugger, even with family. Well, it looked like she was changing that pattern too.

  “Your daughter has been a great help to our clinic,” Felicia told them.

  “We’re proud of all her efforts,” Daddy said.

  “Thank you for showing her the ropes,” Mama added.

  Felicia laughed. “She’s a fast learner. The concert was amazing. I’ve never seen anything so seamlessly integrate a sensitive subject like domestic violence with pop culture. You can tell your brother I’m a fan for life.”

  “He’ll be happy to hear it.” As she smiled, she caught sight of Jasinda, Calvin, and Kylie standing off to the side, waiting for her. Her heart swelled. Outside of their normal legal discussions with Felicia, she had taken to stopping by the shelter to visit Jasinda and her family once a week, but she hadn’t known they were coming tonight.

  “Did you bring them?” she asked Felicia.

  “Adam and I picked them up, yes, since they didn’t have a ride. The man who gave me the tickets asked if I could bring them tonight as a surprise. He wanted them to be here for you.”

  Everything in her lungs seemed to collapse, and she was unable to breathe for a moment. Rye didn’t know about Jasinda.

  Only Clayton did.

  “When was this?” she asked a little breathlessly.

  “A few weeks ago. He said he was Rye’s manager. Clayton Chandler.” There was a knowing look in her eye. “He stopped by tonight to introduce himself and make sure we found our seats. Nice man. He gave me a personal check for a million dollars to help the clinic. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

  A million dollars of his own money? Her lungs seized. It took a moment for her brain to form sensible words in a sentence. “No…I had nothing to do with it.”

  Her narrowed look said otherwise. “He said he was a lawyer, although not a practicing one, and he knew about the work we do at the clinic because of you. He said he wanted to contribute to our efforts and that we could expect a donation from your brother’s concert proceeds as well. You could have knocked me over with a feather. We’ll be able to expand our services, Amelia Ann, more than I’ve ever imagined.”

  Daddy glanced at her, giving her the same stunned look she expected was on her face. “That’s mighty generous of Clayton.”

  Felicia gave that reserved smile of hers. “I guess it’s a good thing you forced me to make you a part of the team.”

  “I guess it was,” she responded, working to regain her composure.

  All her brain could bandy about like a ball in a racquetball court was the million dollar donation. A million dollars!

  Mama had her brow raised like she was considering something better left unsaid, and Amelia Ann was grateful she chose to hold her tongue. Who knew how Mama would choose to interpret this?

  Good heavens, she felt like she was being sucked into a sinkhole right now. “Well, that will make everyone at the clinic happy, but please keep my name out of it. I really didn’t have anything to do with it. Now, how about we ask Jasinda, Calvin, and Kylie to come and join us? I think they’re a bit…out of their element.”

  She could try and process what his donation meant later.

  Jasinda was fidgeting something fierce by the time Amelia Ann reached her. Calvin and Kylie were clutching at her waist. They already had their coats on, even though the arena was warm. After she greeted them all with hugs, she brought them over to their group.

  “Mama and Daddy, I want you to meet some people who are very special to me. This is Jasinda and her two children, Calvin and Kylie.”

  “It’s good to meet y’all,” Jasinda said hesitantly. “Your daughter…well, she and Felicia here have pretty much saved my life.”

  Her mama surprised her by reaching for Jasinda’s hand. “It’s wonderful to meet y’all, and I'm so happy to hear you’re doing better now.”

  “We’re living at a shelter for the moment, and it’s hard…all the changes, but being here tonight…” She stopped as fresh tears washed down her face. “Well…it gives me hope.”

  Amelia Ann felt her
own tears rise, and when she looked at her boss, she saw Felicia’s eyes were shining too.

  “I pray everything continues to work out for you and your lovely children,” her mama said graciously, affording Amelia Ann a new view of her mama’s compassion for others, especially ones outside her socio-economic class.

  It was like watching an earthquake change the landscape you’d grown to know. But this earthquake made Amelia Ann happy, and she gave Mama a smile to communicate how much her attention to Jasinda and the kids meant.

  Daddy gave the family a soft smile. “We’re so happy to meet y’all and have you with us tonight.”

  Jasinda gave a quick nod, unable to speak, so Daddy squatted down until he was level with Calvin and Kylie. When he started telling them about Rory and Annabelle, their little hands loosened their too-tight grip on Jasinda, she was glad to see. Soon they were speaking back to him in hushed tones. Daddy had a way about him.

  “We won’t be able to come to the after-party,” Felicia said, “since it’s so late for the kids. We had to ask for a special pass to break the shelter’s curfew. Y’all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I have a lot to be grateful for this year.”

  “I do too,” Amelia Ann said, and they hugged.

  “I didn’t know about your sister,” Jasinda said softly when they embraced. “I’m glad to hear she’s okay now.”

  Amelia Ann squeezed her eyes shut. “You will be too. Someday, maybe your story will be the one inspiring others.”

  She was shaking her head as she pulled back. “Nah, no one would pay any mind to my story. I just want to get us all back on our feet.”

  “You already are,” she told her, knowing it would take time for Jasinda to recover her sense of self-worth. “Have a Happy Thanksgiving, y’all. I’ll see you soon.”

  The group left, and with the arena almost empty now, they walked to the side entrance that would take them backstage.

  Beside her, Mama grabbed her hand. “Isn’t that something about Clayton’s donation?”

  “Yes,” was all she could manage even though she could hear the speculation in her mama’s voice.

  Back in Rye’s dressing room, everything was crazy in the best way possible. Rye greeted them at the door.

  “Hey, sugar,” he said, lifting her off her feet. “You done good.”

  She gave him a rare bear hug. “You too, Rye. I was so proud of you.”

  He set her down and hugged Daddy, who said something she couldn’t hear, making Rye nod.

  When they separated, Mama reached out a hand. Rye looked at it as if he were unsure of what to do.

  “Rye,” she said softly, “I’ve never heard anything more beautiful than your songs tonight. It was…an honor to finally hear them in person. I'm sorry I stayed so stubborn for so long.”

  Her hand was lowering by the time Rye reached for it. That first connection held for a few moments as they looked each other in the eye.

  Then Rye inclined his chin. “Thank you, Mama.”

  It was a beginning.

  Amelia Ann had to turn away as more tears burned her eyes. Heavens, the truth she’d shared had torn her family apart again, but they were being re-knit into something more loving, more compassionate, more beautiful. It was a miracle, and she said a prayer of thanksgiving as the conversation swirled around her.

  After taking her moment to just soak everything in, she joined Tory and the McGuiness sisters, who were clustered around Tammy.

  “We did it,” Tammy said as they hugged.

  “No, you did it!” Amelia Ann responded. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Who’s ready to celebrate?” Rye asked, shouting over the crowd noise. “Let’s take this party back to my house. I’ll see y’all there.”

  As she made her way to the door, Amelia Ann received more compliments from Rye’s band members and Georgia, who were now squeezed into the room with them.

  Clayton was standing in the hallway, directing people with the same efficient manner in which he handled everything. Hadn’t he handled her with that same efficient manner after learning she was the leak?

  His head turned, and seeing her, he stopped talking. The hand holding the clipboard lowered. The gray eyes that had looked into her own with such love a few weeks ago seemed to reach into her now, filling her with his sorrow, throwing her further off balance.

  She thought of what he’d done, arranging for Jasinda and her children to attend the concert with Felicia and her husband. And the million-dollar donation? Good heavens. She still didn’t know how to process that. Was he trying to tell her something, or had he only done what he knew to be right?

  He turned away from her before she could decide.

  Daddy took her hand as they made their way out of the stadium to the parking lot. “You okay, honey?”

  Mama walked beside her, and Amelia Ann could tell both of them were trying to assess her mood.

  “Of course, Daddy,” she answered with a half truth. “Tonight has been one of the best nights of my life.”

  Only she needed to know how much she wished she and Clayton had been together to celebrate what they’d begun together with this concert.

  Chapter 44

  Susannah wished her mama and Dale could have shared the concert experience with them, but she was glad they were with Rory and Annabelle. Soon after arriving at Rye’s massive house, she found a quiet place to call her mama and tell her about the concert. Her family still had a hard time contemplating what it must be like for those two precious children to know their daddy had hurt their mama on purpose, and they wanted to do everything they could to shower them with love and kindness.

  Tammy was handling the healing process beautifully, taking the children to see a family therapist her mama frequently recommended to her church members. Susannah was relieved to hear the kids had gone to bed without a fuss after her mama introduced them to one of the McGuiness family favorites, Mary Poppins.

  She was just leaving Rye’s studio when she ran into Jake. His muscles were like a hard wall, and she tried not to think about how badly she wanted to skim a hand down them. He’d changed clothes, she realized, likely because he’d been sweating under the stage lights. His green button-down shirt was tucked into dark jeans with a leather belt. The only ornamentation was a silver belt buckle of a four-point deer. On a smaller man, the buckle would have looked crazy, but Jake could carry it off with his six-foot-four frame. He’d shed his cowboy hat, and his sandy blond hair was still wet at the ends from his shower. The scent of cloves and pine reached her nose.

  If she hadn’t already been off-balance, the sexy smile he gave her would have done the trick. Her pulse sped up. For the love of Pete, did he have any smiles that weren’t sexy?

  “Your sisters told me I could find you down here,” he told her.

  The thought of him asking after her was delightful. Then she wondered how her sisters had reacted. If she found Shelby in a faint upstairs, it wouldn’t surprise her one bit.

  “I was calling my mama to tell her how the concert went. They’re taking care of Rory and Annabelle tonight, or they would be here.”

  He tucked his thumbs into his jeans. “They’re sweet kids. I’m glad someone can look after them. It must have made Tammy feel a whole heck of a lot better, telling her story like that. She did incredible, didn’t she? I can’t remember the last time I saw someone do something so brave.”

  Given what she knew about his military background, his comment moved her. “Yes, she’s amazing. You were too, tonight. I especially loved the statistic you gave about more women being killed from domestic violence than in battle in Afghanistan and Iraq. Did Clayton find you that quote at the last minute? It wasn’t in your run-down at rehearsal.”

  “No, I found it in an article on The Huffington Post last night when I was doing some research on domestic violence. I have to admit how much it shocked me. I’ve seen a fair share of men die in combat, and it…well, it’s hard to imagine. It’s even more horrible to thin
k a man could do something like that to a woman.”

  Everything around her slowed down as she saw the shadows in his eyes. She wanted to reach for his hand like he had hers the first time they’d watched the media features—to comfort him, to restore his inner light.

  “Don’t mind me,” he said, lowering his chin and kicking out with his cowboy boot. “I can be a bit maudlin.”

  Maudlin? “No one expects you to water down what you experienced in combat. My mama has a lot of vets in her church, and she’s always encouraging us to be open to hearing what they truly need to say. And telling them to share their stories when they’re ready.”

  “I’ll have to meet your mama,” he said. “J.P. has told me I can talk to him about…my experiences. It’s helped…me express…some of what I want to convey in my music.”

  She’d listened to all of his music over the past weeks, wanting to better understand him. The song he and her brother had written together called “Man Down” told the story of one of his buddies being shot clean through, and of Jake’s desolation when he realized he couldn’t save him. It gave her chills every time she heard it.

  “So,” he drew out, the syllables as alive as the notes he played on his guitar. “I was in the wings when I saw the fans’ reaction to your collage. They looked as tongue-tied as I felt when I saw it. You did something important tonight to help people see a difficult topic in a new way.”

  He was an artist himself, so it didn’t surprise her one bit that he understood the power of artistic expression, and it sure made her smile. Her nerves were all gone now so her joy knew no bounds.

  “Thank you. It’s no different than you choosing the right words and notes for a song.”

  His brow winged up. “Still, you have a gift. I was actually hoping you could help me out.”

  “With what?”