Mae takes her time backstage but finally emerges about 45 minutes after the end of the show. She’s seemingly not speaking to me either. She holds out her bag, which I take knowing I won’t get a thank you or an apology.
When we make it to the back door of the auditorium, the rest of my team reaches us and forms a semicircle around Mae, who has her eyes glued to her screen. Trenton skirted out of here before a single attendee could reach their car in the parking lot. He’s heading for the bars and that’s where I assume we will be heading to next.
When the door to the running car is opened, Mae ducks her head inside. Raleigh’s waiting across the cab. My fists tighten at the sight of her tear stained face, but I close the door and climb into the passenger seat as Mitch puts the car into drive. I pray that Mitch was at least here to lend her an ear and it wasn’t too awkward for either of them. Glancing over shoulder, I watch as Raleigh wipes away her tears once more and glances over at Mae. It’s a stalemate that fills the car with a frigid chill.
It’s not long before Mae senses the gaze on her. She drops her phone into her lap and whips her head over to Raleigh. “What are you looking at Raleigh? What could you possibly have to say?”
“Umm, Ms. Evans? Where is it that we’re going?” Poor Mitch has slipped at the worst time, but we can’t drive around in circles forever.
“My mother’s.” Silence follows, each of us waiting for the other to tackle Mae’s request.
I can tell that Raleigh has had all but enough of fighting her on it, so I clear my throat and try my damndest to find the right words. I know whatever I come up with won’t be good enough for Mae, but I feel like I’ve got to try.
“Maybe we should just head back to the hotel for the night,” I start. “We can stop by tomorrow morning? You do have a few days before the next show, I’m sure we can adjust the schedule—”
“I want to go now!” Mae bursts, slipping to the front of her seat.
“Take me back first,” Raleigh hisses. It seems timid Raleigh has finally taken a back seat, because when she speaks again, it is all annoyance and no grace. “If you want to go risk your reputation, then so be it. When something inevitably happens and I’m not around to fix it for you, like I have for years, then do not find me.”
In two seconds, she’s pushed open her car door—thank God we haven’t pulled away from the curb—and escaped into the night.
Mitch and I can do nothing but hold our tongues as Mae slides across the back seat and follows her out of the vehicle, all sorts of words that will be regretted later flow from her lips.
Mitch and I awkwardly watch on as everything comes to a head.
Chapter 27
Raleigh
I HAVE EVERY BELIEF that Mae won’t follow me out into the night, but when she does so with the force of a summer storm, I have no choice but to turn back to meet her head on.
“What do you want from me, Raleigh?” she calls. I flinch at the pain in her voice and try to remain calm. There are so many fans just around the corner, some are surely pressed to the fence somewhere behind the car, listening to every word of this. Taking a deep breath, I try to find it within myself to defuse the situation, but Mae has reached her limit. “I go out after a show and I get berated,” she says, taking a step forward. “I want to go visit my mother, you disagree.” Another step forward. “I want to go back to the hotel and hang out until the early morning hours, and I’m irresponsible.”
I try not to let my shoulders slump at her plea. I’ve been hard on her, yes, but would she be where she is today without my advice? No, I don’t believe she would be.
When she leaves me the space to speak, I find that my voice comes out much calmer than I thought it might. “I have protected you and guided you through so much, Mae.” Sighing loudly, I realize that now is the time to speak my mind. “Sometimes it feels like you’re throwing all my hard work in my face. Trenton isn’t good for you more times than not, and I will not apologize for keeping you away from your mom.” I hold strong, even at her grotesque wince. “Everything I have done since you hired me has been for you.”
“Your hard work, Raleigh?” She stamps her foot. “Does it ever occur to you what I go through to keep up this, this charade.” She tosses her curled hair into the air and pulls at the plaid skirt that’s layered in tulle to high heavens. “I grew up on the edge, God forbid I keep that part of me.”
I shake my head, refusing to compare the two. Remembering the attention behind us, I lower my voice. “Living on the edge is one thing, but your relationship with Trenton is another. He put his hands on you for Christ’s sake!”
Mae’s horror turns to a fury. “I have listened to your bitching and complaining about your mother and Grant since the day we met!”
The face of the man who ruined it all for me flashes before my eyes, swiftly followed by the faces of my family and their reactions the day I told them I was moving to Nashville. When the horrors reside, the only face in front of me is Mae, the woman who gets to live my dream every single day.
“Okay, Mae. You win. Call your boyfriend and his manager and have them babysit you tonight.” Turning on my heel, I intend on combing back through the venue until the whole thing is packed up. I find the back door, and when I step back inside, my whole body releases its tension. I’m free of the situation. I stood up for myself—and so did Mae. I can only hope she’ll takewhat I’ve said to heart and won’t barrel into a situation with her mother without a plan.
“Raleigh?” The voice that meets me as the heavy door slams behind me isn’t Mae’s. “Mae sent me to bring you back.”
Dalton stands in front of me, looking horrified.
“I’m not getting in a car with her.” Dalton opens his mouth to counter, but the distraction of my phone ringing takes my attention.
It’s a number I don’t recognize, which I usually wouldn’t answer on the first ring, but with everything happening, I need a distraction. A phone call will do.
“Hello,” I start, turning away from Dalton and the mess outside. “Who am I speaking to?”
“This is Officer McMillan. I got your number from the department in Nashville. We’ve apprehended an individual that was found loitering around your client’s hotel room downtown here.” My heart sinks, thinking back to the day outside Mae’s apartment. “We understand he is a prior offender and has violated his restraining order. Would Ms. Evans be available to come down and identify the individual?”
