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I crush my lips to hers. Avery—she’s my destiny. There are too many times fate has brought us together, and I can no longer deny that she is my dream and this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
THREE YEARS LATER . . .
AVERY
Sitting offstage with Maddie while she watches her daddy’s every move on stage is always the best seat in the house. When Tyler first told me he was giving up music to be with me and Maddie, I was scared. It worried me that he would miss this business and crave it to the point where he would leave us behind to find it again, but now I know that I shouldn’t have been afraid. I had nothing to fear.
Tyler did just what he promised. He’s made Maddie and me a part of his everyday life.
The day that Ace White was found, Tyler had to go back to California to officially quit and see if he could get out of his contract. It was surprisingly easy for Tyler to get out of the band since they only utilized his talents as a drummer and the band went through a bit of restructuring. There was an industry executive at Mopar Records who took a special interest in Tyler and his reasons for wanting to quit. He saw something in Tyler—something he thought would resonate with fans—and when he asked Tyler what genre of music really called to him, Tyler, of course, said country music—the stuff he was born and raised on.
Now, three years later we’re sitting at his sold-out tour for promoting his first solo record. Tyler Mercer has made it to the big time on his own terms.
He flew out to a studio in California for a couple weeks to finish his album, so he wasn’t gone long. He’s made it a point to tell the record label that he’ll only tour during the summer months once Maddie starts school next year because he likes having his family on the road with him.
It’s funny how sometimes in life if you step out and take a chance, things have a way of working themselves out.
“This next song goes out to my little girl, Maddie.” Tyler’s voice cuts through the arena. “If it’s all right with you all, I’d like to bring her out here on stage so I can sing it to her. It’s called ‘Daddy’s Angel.’”
The crowd erupts in applause. This particular song was number one on the charts for nearly six weeks. It really resonates with people because the lyrics are a heartfelt story about the love a father has for his daughter. People can connect with something that’s true.
Tyler walks over to us and picks Maddie up, and then he wraps his arm around me and kisses my lips. “I’ll bring her right back, Mom.”
I giggle and shake my head at his silliness as Tyler leads our daughter out on stage with him. She’s five now, and growing so fast. I’m glad Tyler’s been in her life the last few years. He was right. If he’d been out on the road a lot during these last three years, he would’ve missed so much in her life. The two of them are inseparable now. Her daddy is her world and she’s the apple of Tyler’s eye.
A collective sound of awww comes from the crowd as they spot Tyler holding Maddie. He walks up to the microphone and asks Maddie if she’s going to help him sing this time.
“Of course I will, Daddy. It’s my favorite song since it’s about me.”
That gives the crowd a good chuckle. Kids say the darndest things and they are always so brutally honest.
Tyler turns toward his band. “Start us off, guys.”
The music plays and Tyler comes in on cue and sings the first verse of the song. It’s basically the story of our life. How we met, and how we have the most perfect little girl in the world, and how once he found her he decided he wasn’t going to let her go.
The chorus comes into play and Maddie and Tyler lean in and sing into the microphone together. Her little voice rings around the arena and her bravery makes me smile.
It’s the most precious thing I’ve ever seen—the two greatest loves of my life just being together—and I thank God every day for blessing me with them.
Had it not been for Maddie coming into my life when she did, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I was in a dark place, but she gave me hope—a reason to keep being strong and fight my way back into the light.
The last few beats of the song play out and then the crowd erupts in another round of applause. Maddie has a smile on her face that stretches from ear to ear. I can see her loving this life just as much as Tyler does, and it wouldn’t surprise me that when she grows up, she’ll want to be a singer just like him.
“Everyone give it up for my baby girl, Maddie!” Tyler calls for another round of applause and then whispers in her ear and she immediately waves to the crowd as he sets her down. Tyler points toward me and she comes barreling back in my direction.
“Hey, sweetie! That was great!” I praise her.
“Thanks, Mommy. I love it when Daddy lets me sing with him.” The smile she’s still wearing is infectious.
“He loves it too,” I tell her. “He thinks you’ve got a great voice.”
“I know,” she says. “He already told me that.”
I chuckle, and Maddie and I stand there and wait for Tyler to finish his set.
He plays a couple more songs and then he thanks his fans for coming out to see his show before he runs off stage and into my waiting arms. “That was so great, babe.”
“Thanks! I think the real star of the show tonight was a certain little lady,” Tyler says as he bends down and scoops Maddie back up into his arms.
