Christmas Connection

“Thank you.”

Mac continued. “You guys are on for the rest of the week.”

Jackson's eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Did you see the crowd's response tonight? Keep performing like that and I‘ll need a bigger building,” Mac said.

Jackson looked over at Bailey. “You know she's not—”

Mac waved away his comment. “Doesn't matter. As long as she's here, she can sing can't she?”

“You don't mind do you?” Tommy asked Bailey as he put down his guitar.

Bailey swallowed. “You will give me a minute won't you?”

She walked off the stage to the ladies' room. Women laughed and giggled as they fixed their make-up and hair. Bailey grabbed the sink with both hands as she stared into the mirror. The smell of soap filled her nose, so she washed her hands to give herself something to do.

Sing in a band? That wasn’t realistic. Bailey quickly learned that her life wasn't a fairy tale, although her family always made her feel special. How would they react to her singing? Mia and Kenya would want to be her personal stylists. Her mother wouldn't understand—at all.

She wouldn't say it in so many words, but Bailey knew how her mother felt about music. She recalled the stories as a girl. Her father's band and how traveling almost broke up their marriage. Could her mother not support his dream? Why didn't he fight for it? Didn't her mother want him to be happy?

Bailey shook her head. This was not happening again. She dried her hands and exited the restroom, only to see Jackson at the end of the hall. He wrung his hands together. Then he faced her.

Bailey wal

ked over. “Thanks for giving me a moment.”

“Are you okay? I know that was... a lot.”

Bailey gave a small smile. “No kidding.”

He took her hand in his. “Tonight was incredible. You looked so... happy.”

“I was.”

“Mac would like for you to continue to sing with us. Piper is our lead singer, but if you could stand in for her until she gets back.”

Bailey peeled her hand from his. “And what about when she comes back?” She rubbed at her shoulder. “Jackson we've only known each other a couple of weeks, and this is a big step for me. Going out with you? Singing in a band?”

He adopted a softer tone. “I'm sorry. It is a lot in one night.”

Bailey dropped her hand from her shoulder. “I... um... think I need to go home. I'm not feeling too well.”

Jackson raised an eyebrow. “Do you need anything?”

She shook her head. “Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure.” She moved past him but then turned back to face him. “Thank you for tonight. I'll always remember that.”

“Goodnight, Bailey,” he said.

“Goodnight, Jackson.”

****

“She agreed?” Tommy asked.

Jackson stuffed his hands in his pockets. “She wants to think about it.”

Tommy nodded. “That's something. She was amazing. I mean... wow.”