“Then leave it until next week,” I say, then bend to kiss her cheek. She doesn’t move away but she doesn’t return the kiss either. “I’ll pick up the girls at seven tomorrow and bring them home afterward.”
“Thank you, Mike,” she says softly, sounding a little lost. I can’t figure it out but I wait and she doesn’t say anything more, so I go.
I look in the mirror just before I round the bend and Sylvia’s standing there, arms wrapped around herself, looking all alone.
There has to be something I can do. Something.
In the end,I find inspiration in the most unexpected of places.
I’m not entirely comfortable with the prospect of escorting two teenage girls to a concert, but I’ve promised. Maybe I’m just not into the dad groove yet, but I’m worried that people will get ideas.
I pick up the girls at the trailer and they’ve dressed up for the occasion. Lila proves to be a quiet girl, all dark eyes and dark hair, but Sierra talks enough for both of them. They look like a pair of exotic birds with their jewellery and make-up, and one wolf whistle on Queen Street is proof positive that it’s good I’m escorting them.
Downtown is crowded and the theatre even more so. By the time we get into the lobby, I’m worried about losing track of one or both of the girls. I put a hand on Sierra’s shoulder and she grabs Lila’s hand. We’re packed in like sardines in the foyer, slowly inching our way toward the seating. I’m thinking appreciative thoughts about Glen’s demands for better egress. I’m also glad I’m not claustrophobic.
Maybe my self-consciousness is a variable, because we’re almost at the theatre doors when a woman gives me a look that could cut glass. She puts an arm around the shoulder of the girl who must be her daughter and pulls her aside protectively.
I don’t know how to defend myself.
Sierra must notice, because she turns to me and speaks in a loud voice. “Dad, do you think forty dollars is too much for a T-shirt?”
The woman’s expression softens immediately.
“I guess it depends how badly you want it,” I say. “Or who’s paying.”
That makes the woman smile before she moves on. Sierra grins up at me, eyes sparkling, and I shake my head at her.
“What?” she says quietly. “I’m supposed to just let people think trash about my dad?”
I give her shoulder a squeeze and usher us all into the theatre. The place is glittering and I have to admire the restoration. Far down below us, I spot my sister Abbie. I didn’t realize she was in town. She’s with Daphne, which isn’t a surprise as they were always close. They both wave at someone else in the balcony and I spot Willow and Mackenzie waving back.
I send Abbie a text saying we should have lunch before she heads home and she turns around, searching the crowd for me. I wave and see her wave back, then she texts me a thumbs-up. Lila and Sierra are perched on the edge of their seats, and even I have to admit that the excitement in the air is infectious.
The lights go down. A hush falls, then the band erupts onto the stage. I stay in my seat so I don’t block anyone’s view but several thousand fans bounce to their feet. They shout, they applaud, they scream Luke’s name – and he is singing his heart out.
I’m impressed. He’s one of the most entertaining andenergetic front men I’ve ever seen. He gives his all to the performance and, even from the balcony, I can see the sweat pouring off him. I had no idea that he was so talented, that his voice had such range, that he was such a great performer. He’s holding the audience in the palm of his hand and there’s nowhere else they want to be.
I get to my feet at the end of the show, applauding with everyone else as the band members embrace each other and bras are flung onto the stage. I expect the band to take a bow and call it a night, but a crew member brings Luke a different guitar, an acoustic one. He perches on a stool, plucking the strings and addresses the crowd.
They listen so avidly that you could hear a pin drop in this place.
Luke is talking about his friend, the band member who died, because this is a tribute concert to his memory.
“The thing about Taylor is that he was all about following your heart, taking a chance on what you believe. Taking a risk instead of playing it safe. He used to say ‘jump and the net will appear’ which is easier advice to give than to take. But inspired by him and his conviction that love would always conquer all obstacles, I’m going to take a chance tonight. Instead of singing to someone I don’t know, I’m going to sing to someone I love.”
Sierra and Lila clutch each other’s hands in anticipation.
Luke continues. “I think that follows Taylor’s legacy. And what I’m going to sing to her is the first song I’ve written in almost a year and a half. Taylor taught me a lot about composition, when we wrote songs together and when I learned to play his songs, so this song, in a way, is another tribute to him. I could never have written this love song without his mentorship. And I wouldn’t have been in the right place to fall in love, without him giving me a good hard nudge.”
A ripple of laughter passes through the audience.
“We haven’t charted a path forward for the band yet, but this will be our new single. It might be our last single, but we’ll see. Either way, the studio version drops at midnight. Again, if I get it right, there will be an alternate live version available soon.”
Luke exhales, and I’m surprised that he sounds nervous. His confidence always seems boundless to me, so I wonder what he’s going to sing.
And to who.
“You know, this is the first time I’ve ever brought this guitar on stage. It’s my favorite guitar, the one I like to use when I compose, the one I reach for at home. I composed this song on it, so I couldn’t play it on any other guitar.” He looks up. “This is the first time I’ve sung this new song before an audience, and the first time we’ve ever performed it as a band. So, be merciful.”
