Page 10 of A Love Lost & Found

I played the chords and got lost in my happy place. For the next hour, I sing and we talk. Then it’s time to leave for the concert. Both of us are more relaxed than we’ve been in a while. Two more shows and then a break, a long one if I have anything to say about it.

I take a deep breath and let it out. Nerves always hit me hard just before walking out on stage. But then the crowd cheers, and when it’s a full house of almost twenty-thousand people, it blows me away. Ten years ago, broken, poor, living on the wrong side of the tracks, I had no hopes for the future.

Even if the record company doesn’t want to renew my contract, I’ll be fine. I know it, and so does Oakley if she thinks about it. None of that is important at this moment. Only the fans, the performance.

I run through the playlist in my mind one more time as the stage manager gives me the signal. After stepping out onto center stage, the spotlights come on, and the applause is almost deafening. The thrill raises goosebumps on my skin, and I turn to nod at my band.

“Hello, Orlando! I’m so happy to be here with you. How’s it going?”

The rumble of the audience rolls through the venue, and I feel the vibration on the stage. This is what it’s all about.

“I’m gonna start with an oldie. Sing along if you know the words.”

five

. . .

Becky

six

. . .

Jason

epilogue

. . .

Becky