“Didn’t he knock you up?” someone yelled.
Her head whipped around to her next heckler.
“Ryder Simms gave me love and a baby when I don’t deserve either.” She glanced at me again. “I hope to have a chance to earn both back again. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ryder and the Storm.”
The crowd clapped as me and my bandmates stepped out onto the stage. I wanted to ask her what she meant. Was I reading the signs right? Or was this just to make peace because of the baby? I wanted to think it meant she wanted me back. Afterall, public speaking wasn’t something she would sign up to do. Was this a grand gesture? With that said, maybe she was just wanting to make peace. Perhaps even she was simply paying her debt to Sinclair for losing the bet.
She stepped back from the microphone as I reached it. I watched her for a moment but I needed to play my set. I couldn’t stop to ask her what she meant by everything she said.
“Happy Harvest Festival Salvation,”
I drawled into the mic. “You ready for some music?”
I got some yells, but I’d played enough in Salvation to know the audience wasn’t as enthusiastic as it used to be when we played. It had to be because of the Stark gig. I hoped I’d be able to win them back.
“I know I’ve done you all wrong, but I’ve got a special song just for you. It’s my tribute to Salvation and my apology to my sister, Deputy Mayor Sinclair Jones, and to you, Salvation.” I counted out the beat and me and my band began the upbeat song I’d written for the town. At first people were a little slow to get into it, but by the time I was done, they were clapping, dancing, and even singing the chorus.
I turned to Sinclair, who with Trina was standing at the side of the stage. “If you like to take it as a campaign song, it’s yours, Deputy Mayor.”
She grinned and gave me a thumbs up. Trina looked to me and then Sinclair and I saw awe and maybe a little envy. I’d remembered seeing that in her when we were kids and she stayed at our house for a week or so. It was the first time I realized that her home life wasn’t as good as mine and Sinclair’s. Not just that her parents had disappeared, but she seemed surprised by all the free time and little responsibility me and Sinclair had. At first it took her a while to join in when we joked and laughed as a family, as if it was something she’d never experienced before.
After that first song, the set went as usual with the audience singing the old songs we’d often played before and having a good time. I’d often look over to the side of the stage, wondering if I’d hallucinated Trina’s speaking in public and saying things that made me wonder if she wanted to be with me. Each time I glanced over, she was watching me. She didn’t smile, but she didn’t look mad. Mostly it appeared she was studying me, as if she was trying to gauge me and how I was feeling.
We were on the last song of the set, but when we finished, I turned to the band. “Let’s do Baby Love.” I was going to find out once and for all if she was with me or not.
My bandmates shrugged. “Why not.”
I stepped up to the mic. “The last time I played this song in public, I nearly got my ass kicked.” I glanced at Trina, who looked away. Shit, maybe I shouldn’t do this. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t get why. The words of this song talk of love and why would someone be mad about that? The lyrics were written for my sister and her unborn child, and I was so moved by them, I put them to music. I’m going to play it again, and yes, Trina Lados, I’m going to sing your words, but this time, listen and know that they are now sung for you and the child you’re carrying.”
Her hands covered her mouth as if she was trying not to cry. She wasn’t mad. Good.
I started the song and sang the words, “My heart beats for you, my breath breathes for you…”
She was crying and my heart beat faster that she was finally hearing me. Each word I sang, I sang to her. Sinclair nudged her out on the stage. She seemed reluctant, and knowing she didn’t like being in public, I didn’t urge her to come to me. Instead, I broke the rule of performing and sang only to her.
As I went the last time through the chorus, I looked into her eyes as I sang, “Trina, my heart beats for you, my breath breathes for you, my life I give to you.”
As the words stopped and just the last part of the music played, I walked over to her. I pushed my guitar around to my back and slipped my arm around her, tugging her close.
“Does this mean you’re giving me a second chance?” I asked.
“No.”
My heart stopped in my chest. How had I misread all this? Stunned, I started to withdraw my arm, but she gripped my shirt.
“I’m hoping it means you’re giving me a second chance.”
Joy blossomed throughout my chest. I pulled her to me and kissed her, firm and sure. Around us the crowd erupted, but for me, the world had gotten very small. It was just me and Trina, and the life we’d made growing inside her.
When I pulled back, I looked into her lovely gray eyes and saw what I’d been looking for from her for so long; love. She hadn’t said it, but I was sure I saw it.
The band finished the song, and exited the stage, with my bassist saying goodbye as I was preoccupied.
“I need to pack up, but then I’m all yours,” I said, giving a slight tug on a curl of her hair.
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ll need to take my stuff home…will you come with me? I have some things I never got to show you.”