Crescendo

by Laurie Larsen

  His blessings were complete. She loved him.

  He yearned to jump and whoop and holler and hold her in his arms. But under the circumstances, he simply put a hand under her bruised chin and gazed into her eyes.

  She closed her eyes, and as the seconds stretched into minutes, he wondered if she was going to nap. Suddenly, she jarred herself awake again and said, "Will you call my parents?"

  "Of course I will."

  And she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  HALEY AWOKE TO THE sound of her mother's voice. Didn't the woman own an inside voice? Was her mother yelling, or was that Haley's imagination?

  Keeping her eyes shut, she listened. Blake's voice, "Yes, Mrs. Witherspoon, she was in an explosion last night at The Bowery and got injured when a bunch of heavy debris fell on her."

  "What? What is this? The Bowery? That's here in Myrtle Beach, isn't it?"

  "Yes."

  "I thought she was out of town. I thought she was on tour with you, young man. What is going on here?"

  Her mother's volume was increasing and someone needed to calm her or who knew what would happen? She was about to wrench her eyes open and do it herself when she heard her dad's voice.

  "Ruth, stop it. Don't interrogate him. Let's focus on Haley. We can work out the details later."

  "Yes. Of course, you're right, dear. I am just so caught by surprise. I had no idea she was even in town, no idea she was in danger, and now I see she's unconscious in a hospital bed, all bruised and battered." Her mother let out a dramatic sob.

  This isn't about you, Mom. Her silent thought must've come with a smile because her mother said, "Look! Oh, praise the Lord. She's coming out of her coma! She must've heard my voice and she pulled back from the light. I'm here, honey. Come this way."

  Haley opened her eyes and connected gazes with her mother. "I wasn't in a coma, Mom. I was napping."

  "Oh. Well. Thank the Lord anyway! I'm so glad you're okay."

  Her father stepped closer to the bed and rested his warm hand on her forehead. "Looks like you've been through an ordeal, cupcake."

  Her heart flooded with warmth at his term of endearment. She hadn't heard it in a while. "Yeah. Long story, which I'll tell you more later. But a crazed fan with a grudge plotted this attack."

  "And," Blake interrupted her, "Haley was one step ahead of her the entire way. She's been investigating and knew exactly where to be to prevent disaster. If Haley hadn't been so on top of things, I shudder to think of the tragic loss of life at The Bowery."

  She let her gaze linger on him for a moment and winked her appreciation. He was laying it on thick but it wouldn't hurt for her parents to believe it.

  Her mother's mouth dropped. "Oh my. Sounds so dangerous. Why didn't you call in the professionals instead of trying to handle it yourself?"

  Blake was quick with a response. "She did. She had a whole team of professionals there working. It's why the massive crowd filed out of the building with order and relatively few incidents. But unfortunately, Haley got the worst of it. Just shows how brave and loyal and dedicated she is." He sniffed. "We wouldn't be where we are today without her."

  While her mother let that news sink in, her dad cleared his throat. "I never had a doubt that you had it in you, sugar-pie. You've got the heart of a lion, and the fierceness, too. We're proud of you, aren't we Ruth?"

  Her mother blinked. "Yes. Yes, of course, we are."

  "So, ..." Haley said, and let the syllable hang there. She didn't want to squash the praise her parents were giving her, or ruin a proud moment. But she had to be sure. "I'm back in the family?"

  Her mother let out a scoff. "What are you talking about, dear? Of course you're in the family. You've always been a member of our family. Maybe that concussion is giving you crazy thoughts."

  Her father leaned in close. "You are obviously a very savvy manager with a line of unprecedented success behind you. What's more, I foresee an endless future of more successes. You're dedicated and committed and brave and intelligent. You get results and you make the world around you better." He winked with a broad smile. "Sounds like a Witherspoon to me!"

  Haley let loose a hearty laugh as relief flowed through her body. Coming from her dad, it was more of an apology than she could ever hope for.

  The door opened and two men wearing suits came in. "Excuse me, folks. We're Detectives Hart and Salisbury of the Myrtle Beach Police Department. We need to speak to Ms. Witherspoon about her experiences with the perpetrator last night. Could you all clear out momentarily please?"

  Her dad stood first. "We'll leave you be. But call us when you're getting released. You'll move into your old bedroom at our house and your mother can spoil you while you're recovering. No arguments!" He tapped her head gently with an index finger. "Gotta heal that ole noggin!" He dropped a kiss on her forehead.

  Her mother was next. She brushed away a tear. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart. I'm so glad you're okay. We'll have a good time. Swim at the pool, get pedicures. Mother-daughter time." She placed a short kiss on her lips, then waved as she left.

  Blake stood. "I'll head to the cafeteria for some awful coffee. Text me when you're done and I'll come right back." He leaned in close and she hoped for a minute he'd lay a really good kiss on her, but he didn't. Not in front of the police officers. But he did give her a heartfelt, "I love you, Haley" before he left the room.

  Epilogue

  Three Months Later

  THE NIGHT OF THE BOWERY Grand Re-opening had arrived, a highly anticipated Myrtle Beach event, advertised to the hilt on TV, radio and print. The popular bar and grill had financed an accelerated timeline for repairing the extensive damage from the "Firecracker Incident"—as the advertisements widely proclaimed. Crews worked around the clock for months, replacing the roof, building a completely modernized backstage series of green rooms for the comfort of their performers, and cosmetic touch-ups needed in the main room caused by damage from the explosion, the fire or the sprinklers.

  Ace in the Hole was headlining tonight, a fact that was also highly touted in the ad campaign: "Can't keep a good band down!" with a graphic of a huge cartoon firecracker exploding.

  Doug, the bar manager, had given them all a tour of the renovations, his pride at the finished design obvious. Now, they were all gathered in the green room, beautifully remodeled with new carpet, walls, furniture.

  Haley hovered in the doorway, then entered the room cautiously. She took slow steps through it, her hand trailing over the gleaming surfaces. Blake noticed and came over to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His strength exuded from him. "It's weird being here. Almost like it never happened."

  He nodded. "All this new stuff could make you think it never happened. But we know what you went through. You doing okay?"

  She sniffed and nodded. No way would she allow sad memories to alter this big night. When Doug had called her with the idea of Ace in the Hole appearing as their first headliner after their remodel, she'd loved the idea. She made room in their schedule and was glad they were making it happen. "It'll never happen again," she said softly and Blake squeezed her shoulder.

  "That's right," he said. "Lindsay's in jail, awaiting her trial. But the prosecutor's case is strong. With you as the star witness, she'll be put away for a long time."

  "And get the help she needs," Haley added softly. The time to mourn was over. Tonight was not a time to mourn. Tonight they would celebrate. She shook off her melancholy by shaking out her arms. "Big night!" she said to Blake with a smile.

  The moment to take the stage was drawing near, and Haley moved to the middle of the room. She'd instituted a tradition since Blake had returned to Ace in the Hole, and she was managing them full-time again. They all gathered in a circle—Blake, Jake, Robbie and her—and took hands. They bowed their heads and took a moment for silent prayer. Then, Haley said aloud, "Lord, be with us tonight. Help us play our very best. Help our audience to be safe and have a great time. Watch
over all of us. We thank you for all the blessings and we welcome you to be with us. Amen."

  Haley checked the time. "Five minutes," she announced and they all walked into the hallway, where they could see the stage, hear their announcement but not be seen by the audience. Blake leaned close to her face and she inhaled his scent ... soap, mint and cotton ... before he placed his lips warmly on hers. Then her mind forgot everything except the sensation of his soft, warm lips working their magic on hers while adrenaline pumped through her body.

  Doug climbed up onto the stage and took the microphone out of its stand, holding it comfortably in his hand. "Ladies and gentlemen."

  That's all he had to say for the crowd, two thousand strong, to let loose a crescendo of sound in the big room, created by their whooping and hollering. He paused and seemed to soak in the moment. He laughed and finally lifted his hands. "Thank you. Thank you very much. Appreciate it." The noise subsided and he went on. "You are here on a significant night in The Bowery history. Three months ago, while Ace in the Hole was rocking the house, a little bit of evil did her best to destroy us here. To stop the music and send us all home. But guess what. It didn't work, now did it?"

  Each and every fan in the house clapped and used their voices to show their support and approval of Doug's words.

  "We don't do evil here at The Bowery! We have fun and we celebrate and laugh and dance and sing. We know some of you suffered injuries from the night of the Firecracker Incident. And we suffered with you and we grieved for your pain. But everybody recovered! Thank God for that!" Another explosion of sound from the receptive crowd.

  "So, enjoy your night, make your way around to see all the interior renovations, and the bars are open!" He waited for the noise to dim. "And now, I have the honor of introducing Ace in the Hole, the legendary country band who was performing right here on the night of the Firecracker Incident, and lived to tell about it! You can't keep a good band down! Please welcome ... Ace in the Hole!"

  The three band members ran onto the stage, waving to the masses of country music fans. Blake swung his acoustic guitar onto his chest, stood behind the microphone and waited, soaking in the wall of approval and support formed by thousands of yelling fans. He took a moment to absorb it, a happy smile on his face.

  Then he turned and nodded at Jake and Robbie and yelled into the microphone, "We're Ace in the Hole. Let's let it roll!" And off they went with their set opener, a rowdy popular hit from a decade ago by Brook Garthson.

  Haley's heart was happy. The Frontier Fire tour was over for them now, but the memories and the experience Blake had gained was invaluable. They were both back where they belonged, with Ace in the Hole, clawing up the ladder of success in country music. All the guys were writing their own music, and the band was dropping originals into their line up each night they performed. Gradually making the switch from cover band to original was Haley's strategy.

  Meanwhile, she'd leveraged her partnership with Randall to make contacts with several recording studios in Nashville. Their goal was to get a recording contract and launch Ace into the country music stratosphere. Why couldn't it happen? Their path had been miraculously successful in a very short time.

  Tonight, she'd just relax, sip on a Coke, listen to some great music, maybe dance a little, and talk to those around her who loved Ace in the Hole. What could be better?

  As she made her way around the crowded, loud bar, she felt a tug on her arm. She whipped around and saw a most welcome sight. "Carly!" she yelled and pulled her best friend into her arms.

  "Long time no see!" Carly yelled and then tugged her husband into Haley's line of sight too. "You remember Ryan?"

  Haley gave his shoulder a pretend-punch and said, "Of course I remember Ryan. That tall hunk of a man. How's married life going?"

  Carly swung her head, back and forth, her beaming smile giving Haley the answer she wanted. "So much to tell you. We need to have a girls catch up night. Can we schedule one?"

  "Absolutely."

  "I'll babysit," Ryan offered, "so you guys can have a Grace-free night."

  Haley gave him a thumbs up. "So what are you guys doing here?"

  Carly leaned close to her ear. "I wouldn't miss this night for you, sweetie. I've been keeping in touch with the whole saga through the papers. This is a huge night for celebration. But hey," Carly gestured to encompass the whole big room, "this is no place for talking. You enjoy yourself, and I'll call you tomorrow to set up our girls night."

  "Deal. I love you, Carly." Traveling with the band left little free time at home, but Haley promised herself she'd make time for her best friend in the world.

  Knowing their set list by heart like she did, she knew the first set was about to wrap up. She started moving toward the hallway that led to the green rooms backstage. Blake wrapped up the final song and instead of announcing their break, he said, "Thank you for being here for this special night, everyone. And now, I have an announcement. A very special and life-changing one. Well, for two particular people, at least."

  Haley's forehead creased. What was he doing? This was off-script. What was his announcement about? She stood just in front of the stage for a better view.

  "Ah, there she is," Blake said, holding his hand out to her. "Could you come up here please, Haley? Yes, you." He chuckled.

  She stared up at him, eyes wide, heart pounding. She swallowed her nerves and reached for his hand so he could pull her up onto the stage. Everyone applauded politely.

  "Everyone," Blake said, "this is our band manager, Haley."

  Haley turned toward the audience and waved awkwardly. She leaned into the microphone and said, "Hi y'all. I never get on stage. Ever."

  They all laughed. To get through this, whatever it was, she turned to face Blake and stared into his eyes.

  "Haley is the best manager Ace in the Hole has ever had. But more than that, she's the best person I know. She's not only beautiful, obviously." He chuckled and the cheers from the crowd rose up. "But she's beautiful inside. She's smart and ambitious and innovative and creative. We love working with her, and she's brought us a long way." He let go of her hand to dig something out of his jeans pocket. "But I'm the lucky one. Because I'm the only one who can say, I'm in love with her."

  Haley's eyes flew wide open. This had just transformed from an acknowledgement of her contributions to the band, to ... something else entirely.

  "She's helped me to recognize how to be a better man, a better person. She has made me grow, in many ways. And the luckiest thing in my life is that she loves me too. So tonight, I want to show Haley how special I think she is, and how committed I am to taking this thing to the next level."

  When he dropped down to one knee, Haley gasped. Now she knew what was coming next. And she had absolutely no doubt in her mind what her response would be. She concentrated on the handsome, loving face of the one she loved most in the world, determined to soak in every moment.

  "Haley, I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. We've been through a lot in a short time. Success, failure, challenges, mountaintop highs, and some lows. But through it all I've come to realize. I don't want to do any of it without you by my side. Forever, baby."

  He flattened his palm and revealed a little velvet box. He opened it and she caught the glow of a big, sparkly solitaire diamond inside. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth and her heart pounded a rhythm of her love and acceptance.

  "Haley, will you agree to stay by my side for the rest of our lives? To lead me, to follow me, to be beside me for whatever comes next?"

  "Yes!" She pulled him to his feet, and then into her arms for a tight hug. She kissed his neck, then his cheeks, then pulling his face into place, she gave him the happiest, most passionate, most communicative kiss she could manage when standing on a stage in front of thousands of people. "Yes, Blake Scott, I will marry you!"

  He chuckled. "Ladies and gentlemen, I didn't even get to ask her that, but she knew exactly what I meant." He pulled the ring out of the b
ox and guided it onto her finger. He beamed at her and they joined again for the first kiss of the rest of their lives.

  T H E E N D

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  Laurie’s Letter to Readers

  Dear Awesome Reader,

  Hello! By now you’ve read CRESCENDO, Book 3 of my Murrells Inlet Miracles series and I hope you loved it as much as I did. I’m thrilled to bring you this book, that I call a rags-to-riches tale in the world of country music, because I was able to delve deeply into one of my favorite things in the world ... modern country music! I’m an avid fan. I attend at least a couple major concerts a year, and the headlining artists are always kind enough to include a couple opening acts, so that means I get to see about a half dozen live country performers each year. And I love it.

  As I’m writing this (mid-August, 2018) life could not be any more exciting. I was able to retire from my day job earlier this year which was a blessing straight from God. Don’t get me wrong. I was blessed to have such a long-lasting, successful, challenging and lucrative career with such a great company for such a long time! But for several years now, I was having trouble keeping up with the drain and the demand and the intense hours, while still maintaining what time I could on my writing career. I prayed and prayed for a way I could still support my family and our future while devoting full-time to my writing.

  And God made it happen! An unexpected, but very welcome chance at an early retirement from my corporation with a pension; to leave the demanding world of Information Technology behind, and focus as much time on writing as I want. My timelines, my deadlines. While still having fun ... going to the beach, visiting friends and family. It’s a dream come true.