Coming to a stop in the gravel lot backstage, Mae practically leaps from the car. It seems the mere sight of a stage has lifted her spirit. I’m slow to follow, seeing Raleigh wave from the stage wing causes me to pause and just watch. Mae greets her, and Raleigh hoists her up. I lean back against the car as I watch the two embrace.
I should go to Raleigh and confess what I wanted over the phone, but I restrain myself. The brief look over her shoulder as Mae whisks her away is enough for now. She seems conflicted but smiles when I give her a nod. Her grin is filled with the promise of conversing later in the day. It’s enough for now.
When the rest of the band and crew arrive midway through the morning, Raleigh finally has the opportunity to break away. She leaves Mae sprawled out on the stage where Theresa has joined her for an impromptu jam on the floor. It’s nice to see them share that time together.
I’m so enamored by the vision of a happy and laughing Mae, that I don’t register Raleigh until she’s stepped up beside me.
“Wow,” she begins, reaching up toward my tie. “You’re out of my supervision for two days and you fall apart on me.” She tightens the knot but leaves her hand there.
“Three days,” I correct, moving my fingers to loosen it back to where it was. “And I always wear it like this.”
She just grins before retreating with her hands up. I have half a mind to snag her by the waist and bring her against me, but thankfully, a yelling stage hand reminds me where I am. Clearing my throat, I maneuver the subject. “Enjoying home?”
“Oh, yes. It’s been three days of seeing the sights and sounds of a place I spent far too many years in.” She raises her fingers and studies her nails, something I’ve noticed she does when she wants to act like she doesn’t care but truly does deep down.
“Do I get to at least meet your parents?” Her eyes widen at me, then shift over my shoulder.
Something escapes her lips that I think is a laugh, but comes out more like a snarled yelp. “Quicker than you think.”
No sooner has she teased a grand meeting than a woman’s high pitched crooning fills the space around us, which I thought wouldn’t be possible since we are, in fact, outside. Two SUVs have pulled up into the lot behind us.
“I haven’t told them about you,” she blurts. Her face is full of regret, but I could hardly be mad at her for that.
I take a gentle step toward her and reach to take her hand in mine, but it’s already too late. Mrs. Davis has somehow transported herself from the car to the ramp beside us before any of the other occupants can disembark.
“Raleigh, darling!” She practically bounds up the ramp. “Why on earth weren’t you there to greet us? You know how much we appreciate you showing us where we’re allowed to go.” The older woman does not even glance my way, and after a brief hug with her daughter, she’s gone on stage where Mae lets out a shriek and launches herself at the mother she never had. From what Raleigh’s mentioned of her mother it seems that she views her as more of a caregiver than a mother. Mother-daughter issues are not something that Mae or Raleigh have easily navigated in the past. The three of them getting along is a nice thing to imagine though.
A pat on my shoulder takes me away from the scene out on the floor. “Sorry about her, my good sir.” A towering man, who I can only guess to be Raleigh’s father, has stepped up beside me with a head shaking back and forth with incognito admiration for his wife.
“Dad, this is Dalton.”
“Ah,” Mr. Davis says, reaching to shake my hand. “The gentleman you’ve been chatting all night with.”
For the first time in our entire time knowing each other, I see Raleigh’s face redden with embarrassment. I quickly take the brunt of the conversation. “Yes, but let’s not let Mrs. Davis know that,” I say with a laugh. Mr. Davis laughs too before clapping me on the back.
“I need to go say hi to my other daughter, but Dalton, don’t be a stranger.” With that, the man has moved on to Mae, who embraces him in a hug equal to that of the woman before him. Idon’t get to gauge Raleigh’s reaction to the affection before more voices rise behind us.
“Wow this is surreal!” A blonde woman, practically wearing a man on her arm, has her mouth hung open in awe as she approaches. The man connected to her is unremarkable—shaggy hair, plain jeans and t-shirt. I’m about to inquire as to who they are, but when the man’s eyes look past me to Raleigh, I understand who they are immediately.
“I’m going to have to ask you to show some ID,” I say, stepping in front of Raleigh.
Grant’s eyes widen and he fumbles for his wallet. His fiancé merely strides forward. “It’s okay, tough guy, Raleigh gave us exclusive access.”
“Exclusive show access,” I hear Raleigh mumble through gritted teeth.
“Raleigh,” Grant starts, stepping to the side so I no longer block his eyeline. “I’m sorry, but Tobin and your parents insisted.”
Raleigh’s gentleness washes over me as her hand graces mine when she steps by. “I’m sure they did.” There’s ice in her voice, but not nearly as much as I was expecting. She has her professionalism on. Somehow I doubt she was as cordial as she is now at dinner the other night.
“Listen, we won’t be any trouble. Tobin’s intrigued by all of this, I just thought I could show her this part of my life.”
Raleigh’s fingers clamp down on mine. I can feel the hurt radiating through her. “Well, I’m sure you still remember your way around.” With that jab, she disappears onto the stage, leaving all of us behind in an awkward silence.
I take a moment to take in the man in front of me. On one hand, I hate his very bones for what he did all those years ago and how he did it, how he continues to handle it. On the other hand, if things hadn’t happened the way they did, would Raleighbe in my life in any way? Would Mae and the band even exist in the form they do now?
I think I know the answer to the questions I’ve asked, and as much as it hurts me to see Raleigh with the pain of what-could-haves and should-have-beens, I’m damn glad we found each other in the way that we did.
***
