Carly wriggles onto Hannah’s lap and commandeers the phone. “Mae, we sounded so good! I want to write another song!”
I stare down at my sister as Mae answers. Hannah leans toward me and whispers, “Mae’s been facetiming her for like 30 minutes a day to work on songs with her. Carly’s been taking guitar lessons, but Mae is working with her on other aspects of performing.”
I had no idea.
Mae’s voice breaks through my haze of praise, “Bye everyone! Talk to you soon!”
She blows a kiss and everyone else waves as the call ends.
“What an amazing woman,” I say a little louder than I intended.
“I hope you tell her that all the time,” Ben says, reaching down for his little girl and launching her into the air. Carly giggles as she soars.
***
I’ve never been nervous to talk to Mae, and while I wouldn’t necessarily use that word now, I am feeling a bit out of my league. No girlfriend, no woman, no person has ever gone so far as to hang out with my niece once a week. As busy as Mae is, it’s just altogether too much. She’s too perfect.
These are the thoughts running through my head as I lay back on my bed and the call connects. Mae answers on the second ring. Fresh from a shower, her hair is soaked, leaving the shoulders of her t-shirt wet as she tosses her hair back.
I thought she would be tucked away in bed by now as she’s two hours ahead in Nashville, but she’s fully awake in what looks likeher music room again. “You caught me about to run through my song one more time,” she says with a sweet smile.
“The one about me?” I tease.
I watch her cheeks redden, and I suddenly wish I hadn’t brought it up. “Yes, that one.”
“Nervous?” I ask. I want to know how she handles her pregame jitters. Does she put her head down and blast music like I do? Probably not.
“Usually I wouldn’t be.” She takes a deep breath and takes a seat on what I guess is her piano bench. She avoids her camera as she explains, “This is my most vulnerable song I’ve ever put out there. The production is soft and full of sweetness.” Another deep breath. “I’m proud of it,” she says, finally looking back at me. “So, so proud of it. I just don’t know how it will be received.”
“I’m sure everyone will love it.”
“I shouldn’t be worried about it,” she says with a laugh. “I used to not care at all, but now …” She glances down for a moment before finding the courage to look at me. “Now I have my fans and you.”
“Me?” I ask, stunned at how I could be so far up her list that she would care about my opinions.
“I want to do good for you,” she blurts. “I want tobe goodfor you.”
If only I could tell her that I’ve held the same sentiment for her since the moment I saw her. “You are good for me, Mae. Thebestfor me.”
She smiles at that. “You’re good for me, too.” She throws her head back with an annoyed groan. “Gosh, I wish we could have this conversation in person.”
“Me too, but I’m glad we’re having it regardless.”
“Well, then I won’t divulge all my deepest secrets just yet.” She gives me a sly smile before biting her lip, unsure. “Or I could just play this damn song for you and lay it all out on the table?”
“Only if you want to,” I say, echoing her statement in Baton Rouge.
“Yes, Wyatt,” she says, her smile returning. “It’s exactly what I want to do.”
She doesn’t tell me the title. She doesn’t have to. The piano ballad that spills from the tiny speaker on my phone is a story of revival. It tells the tale of a woman, frayed and dulled by the bad in the world, who gets a chance at happiness and, rather than feeling sorry for herself, grabs it and doesn’t let go. It alleges that the happiness she’s found is from a new relationship. If that’s the truth, I could not be more honored to bring her a semblance of the joy she’s written about.
Even from this angle, I can see that her cheeks are wet with moisture. “Why are you crying, darling?” I ask in a whisper, though, to be honest, I’m on the verge of tears myself.
“I’m just so happy for the first time in a long time,” she whispers back as the echo of the piano fades to nothing.
Chapter 24
Mae
