Rock and a Hard Place

by Angie Stanton

  Peter watched the stage manager and his crew process the information and waffle. Libby was going to be here and he’d be damned if a little rain would keep them apart.

  “All right, but I want it on the record I don’t like this decision.”

  “Thank you,” his mom said. “We appreciate your flexibility to solve this problem. Let us know what we can do to help.”

  “You can have your crew cover the equipment and make sure everyone from your team is safely backstage when this storm hits.”

  # # #

  And hit it did. Twenty minutes after the conversation a few big fat raindrops pelted Peter. Seconds later the menacing clouds produced high winds. The crowd as well as the band and crew took cover. Red Rocks suffered a severe thunderstorm complete with spectacular lightening and quarter-sized hail. Peter hoped Libby was safe. He listened as the storm blazed through and left a trail of toppled souvenir tents and turned over trash receptacles. But other than a lot of water and quick melting hail, no major damage occurred. The stage equipment stayed intact and the fans eagerly came out from hiding, like children on Christmas morning, they celebrated that the show would go on.

  While the Jamieson team prepped the stage, Peter’s thoughts returned to finding Libby. “I know she’s here,” he said to Garrett. “She’s had plenty of time to drive from Georgia.” He watched the monitor set up back stage. It showed each girl as she filled out the questionnaire. No Libby.

  “So far the security detail covering the contest area hasn’t had anyone answer the final question correctly.” Garrett looked worried.

  “Where is she?” Peter said, staring at the security monitor.

  # # #

  “Come on you miserable rust bucket, just one more mountain to climb.” DarLynn gripped the steering wheel and concentrated on the gauges of the ancient pick-up.

  Libby chewed her lower lip as the engine groaned in protest. They were halfway up the steep entrance road to Red Rocks. Even though they left Georgia two days earlier, they arrived late. The truck caused problems the entire trip. First, an oil leak and then the engine over heated outside of Wichita.

  She hoped the deluge of rain was a sign of cleansing and would bring her good fortune and not an omen of bad luck. Libby could barely stay seated. She wanted to run the rest of the way.

  A loud pop sounded from the engine and steam hissed out from under the hood, confirming her bad omen theory.

  “Sweet baby Jesus, give us a break!” DarLynn pounded the steering wheel.

  A parking attendant wearing an orange vest walked up. “Ma’am, you need to move your vehicle off the drive. You’re blocking traffic.”

  “Does it look like I can move this beast? If you haven’t noticed, we’re having a little trouble here,” DarLynn barked.

  The man tried to hide his smirk. Apparently he found their dying truck, spewing steam and oil, entertaining.

  “Tell you what. If you can back your vehicle down to that service lot, you should be able to pull it in before it, ah, blows up.” He grinned.

  Despite her nerves over seeing Peter again, Libby smiled at the odds the truck would indeed explode.

  “Stay with your vehicle, Miss, and I’ll get a tow truck on it’s way to help you out.”

  “But I have to get to the concert, I’m already late!” Libby peered out the window at him.

  “That’s right,” DarLynn said. “She’s Libby, the girl from the contest. They’re looking for her.”

  “Right.” The parking guy looked at them in doubt. “I heard something about a contest.”

  “Well, she’s the one.” DarLynn pointed at Libby. “We’ve driven halfway across the country to get her here and we’re not giving up. Libby, you hop out and walk the rest of the way. I’ll stay here and deal with the truck.”

  “Are you sure?” She wanted to go so badly, but hated to abandon DarLynn after everything she’d done for her.

  “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be waiting for you after the concert. Now go on.”

  Libby hugged her friend then jumped out of the truck, ticket in hand. She showed it to the parking guy. “Do you know where Gate 3A is?”

  His eyes widened as he recognized the VIP entrance. “All the way up. There are gold signs to direct you.”

  “Thank you.” She began her long trek up the hill.

  “Hey kid,” he called after her. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled and ran around the bend in the road.

  Out of breath after what seemed like a marathon trek, Libby arrived at the gate and joined the line under a gold banner that read “Search for Libby Contest Winners”. Her nerves taut, she waited her turn.

  “Ladies, patience please. We’ll get you all back in. It’s only a storm delay. Please show your ticket and hand stamp as you reenter.” A tall, dark haired security guy said.

  Thankfully, the line moved quickly. Libby sighed in relief that the concert hadn’t begun yet, but she felt annoyed at all the girls around her who pretended to be “Peter’s Libby.” How could they have possibly answered all the contest questions right?

  “Hand please,” the security guard said.

  “Excuse me?” Confused, Libby hesitated next to the turnstile with a black light set up.

  “Your hand. Put it under the light so I can verify your hand stamp from exiting.”

  “I just got here.”

  “Oh,” he grabbed the radio from his belt and spoke into it. “I’ve got a new arrival here, what do I do?” He turned back to Libby. “Sorry, since we had to evacuate the amphitheater there’s been a lot of confusion. We’re all manning different stations now.

  The radio blared back. “Go to the contest table and have her complete the final question.”

  “This way,” he said, stepping away from the main crush of fans reentering and over to a long table with questionnaires, pens and a surveillance camera set up in the corner. “Let’s see, looks like you answer the question on this sheet and . . .” His radio blared again. “Hang on a sec.” He took the radio and stepped away to listen.

  Libby picked up the slip of paper and a pen. So this was how they would determine the real Libby? If all these girls could figure out the answers to the other questions, certainly they would know the answer to this one too. She read the question.

  “In the song ‘Angel Kisses,’ what is Peter referring to?”

  She hugged the sheet to her and began to laugh. No one could possibly know the answer, but her. She wrote the words on the paper. Her heart filled with joy at the memory of that autumn day when Peter traced her scarred hands with his finger tips and kissed her pain away.

  She waited for the security guard but he wouldn’t return. Her adrenaline ran high now that she was about to see Peter again. Suddenly music filled the air. The concert started and she was missing it! Anxious to find Peter, she waved to the get the security man’s attention. He still spoke on his radio, but held up his index finger and signaled he would be another minute. The crowd’s roar filled her ears. She couldn’t bear it. When he still didn’t return, she waved again indicating that she left her answer sheet on the table. She turned and dashed away and into the seating area to see Peter.

  # # #

  “Roger, you’ve got to speak up, I can’t hear you over the music.” The security guard held the radio tight to his ear and strained to hear what the head of Jamieson’s security said.

  “What is the status of the crowd at your entrance?” The voice crackled over the radio.

  “We’ve got just about everyone back inside, but I still need to know about the contest procedure. I’ve got a girl who hasn’t been processed yet, and no one else is here.” He looked up to see the blond girl at the table wave to get his attention again. She pointed at the sheet on the table and then disappeared.

  “Have her fill out the questionnaire and let me know her answer,” Roger said.

  “Got it.” He spoke into the radio. “Hang on, while I grab it and see what she wrote.” He returne
d to the contest table, picked up her paper and read the neatly printed words.

  “The scars on my hands. That’s what she wrote. Does it mean anything to you?”

  “That’s her! You found her! Bring her back stage!”

  “Shit. I can’t. She just entered the amphitheater. I’ll never find her now.”

  Chapter 25

  Libby couldn’t believe her eyes. Nestled between the massive red rocks, lay an amazing amphitheater. Before her danced a sea of people. The stage lay at the bottom. Row after row of seats filled the hillside, all with a perfect view of Peter performing center stage. She nearly burst with excitement.

  Several people brushed past as they returned to their seats. An usher approached and yelled something, but Libby couldn’t hear a word over the pounding music. The woman shined a flashlight on the ticket in Libby’s hand and gestured towards the audience. Did Libby know where her seat was?

  “No,” Libby yelled back, but knew her words were lost as the deafening sounds of Jamieson pumped through the speakers.

  The woman read Libby’s ticket and indicated she should follow. About fifteen rows from the stage, she illuminated the ticket for Libby and pointed out the seat number. Libby pressed her way into the row, but after she bumped and jostled past several people, she gave up and stayed where she was.

  At this close distance she could feel the energy glowing off Peter. She screamed inside at the thrill of being so close and knowing he wanted to find her.

  # # #

  Peter couldn’t see a damned thing. The intense stage lights limited his vision to about four feet past the stage. All he could do now is hope Roger would catch a glimpse of her on the monitor as she came through. He’d given up believing in the security personnel. They were more worried about kids sneaking in booze than finding a lone girl in the crowd.

  They finished their first five songs. The energy in the amphitheater would have shot through the ceiling had there been one. Now that the storm passed, the sky shone crystal clear, and stars dotted the heavens. Peter signaled Adam to start the next number, then noticed his parents next to a waving Roger at stage right.

  Peter ran to them, his heart pumping in anticipation, while Adam and Garrett vamped the opening of their next song. Please let this be good news. He looked hopefully at Roger, not daring to ask.

  “She’s here!” Roger shouted.

  “Yes!” Peter shouted.

  “But we don’t know where,” he continued. “Security didn’t get her seat number and she disappeared into the audience.”

  “Yeah, but she’s here!” He could dance on air.

  Roger shook his head. He wasn’t having nearly as much fun as Peter.

  “So how do we find her? Any bright ideas, Romeo?” Roger crossed his arms over his chest.

  Garrett kept vamping on stage as Adam joked with the crowd. He could always count on Adam in a pinch. His Dad looked frustrated that Peter delayed the show.

  “Yeah, actually I do. All the ticket winners had seats from row ten to row forty. Get a couple of spotlights and start shining them on the crowd. See if you can spot her. If you don’t find her in the next two songs, we’ll send Adam and Garrett out while I do my solo. The crowd will never expect to see them roaming the aisles. They’ve both seen Libby up close and might find her.”

  Roger looked doubtful, but Peter spun away, ran across the stage and slid into place between his brothers. Adam hit the chord and the next chart topping song erupted from the speakers. Now that he knew Libby was in the house, he could barely contain himself. He gave it his all. He could see the spotlights roam over the crowd but the stage lights made it impossible for him to see anyone clearly. He wasn’t worried though. She was here and they’d find her.

  Between songs, he called Adam and Garrett over and explained the plan. Garrett smacked him on the back. Adam gave a thumbs up. Oh how the brotherly love flowed.

  # # #

  Peter performed on stage like the magnificent god she remembered. His tall lithe body moved with amazing power and grace. She’d almost forgotten his impossible good looks. Giant screens illuminated his every step. She nearly cried as she watched his familiar movement. How could she get to him? Maybe if she waited until after the concert?

  The song ended and the lights softened. Garrett and Adam left the stage. A single light shone on Peter. He picked up a guitar and softly strummed. The audience cheered as they recognized the song.

  He looked introspective as he spoke to the crowd.

  “You may have heard that I’ve been trying to find a special someone from my past.”

  Her heart beat wildly. He was talking about her. She wanted to yell ‘I’m right here!’ but the fans roared. They all knew about his search.

  A huge smile filled his face. “Well, she’s here tonight.”

  The masses thundered their approval.

  “Libby, I know you’re out there. I can feel it. Where are you?”

  The sound of Peter speaking her name nearly brought her to tears. She wanted to shout out, but the cheering audience made it pointless. Peter laughed at the crowd’s response, the sparkle in his eyes clear even from where she stood.

  “I had a feeling that wasn’t going to work.” He continued to strum his guitar. “Tell you what, while I try to figure out how to find her in this huge audience, you sit, oops I forgot about the wet seats. Okay, stand and enjoy this next song. It’s called Angel Kisses, and I wrote it for Libby.”

  As the hoard of admirers delivered another deafening roar, Libby watched transfixed. She didn’t realize he wrote a song for her. Her love for him skyrocketed as she watched. His beautiful baritone voice caressed each word. She remembered that day so long ago at Parfrey’s Glen. Goosebumps covered her arms as he sang of a tender love that no one understood, and how Angel Kisses could wash away the scars of life.

  Spotlights continued to wander over the crowd, but to Libby, she and Peter stood alone among the red rocks. The thousands of onlookers evaporated into the night.

  Oblivious to her surroundings, Libby was surprised when halfway through the song someone tapped her on the arm. A young guy wearing a baseball hat and hoodie peered at her.

  “Libby?”

  He knew her name? She looked closer at his face. “Adam?!” She couldn’t believe it. He’d changed so much. He stood taller and looked older. He responded with his familiar shit eating grin. Perhaps he hadn’t changed much after all. He took her by the arm and pulled her toward the aisle.

  “Excuse me, pardon me.” When they reached the aisle he waved to a couple of techies. “Clear the way boys.”

  “So, you’re Libby?” one asked.

  She nodded, embarrassed at the attention. The tech guys lead a path through the fans who stood in the aisle. Adam took Libby by the arm and guided her as they approached the stage.

  Suddenly a wave of fear struck her. The moment was here. Her reunion with Peter was about to happen in front of this mass of fans. As they walked down the final steps, she glanced up and saw the image of her and Adam appear on the screens. A camera followed their progress toward the stage. The crowd caught on. She was the girl in the pictures. After all the promotion and news of Peter’s ‘search for Libby’, his fans knew she and Peter were about to be reunited and they would all enjoy front row tickets. Before her pulse simply raced, now it beat a staccato rhythm faster than a snare drum.

  The tech guys pulled out a set of steps from under the stage and hoisted her up. She glanced back to Adam, scared.

  “It’s okay,” he said, a relaxed, happy expression on his face.

  She climbed the last stairs alone. Excited. And terrified. She stepped onto the stage. Peter stood at the other end, singing with his heart and soul.

  Peter looked across the stage and saw her. He stopped singing and froze. Emotion clouded his eyes. He seemed to move in slow motion as he set down the guitar and walked toward her. The spectators erupted in cheers.

  Libby’s legs felt weak. She feared she might faint.<
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  He searched her face and as he came closer. Anguish filled his eyes. She could see all the pain and heartbreak they both had suffered. He rushed to her.

  Her surroundings forgotten, she ran into his arms, oblivious to the roar of the audience, the lights and the cameras. He pulled her into a tight embrace and swung her in the air. Finally. Her world felt whole again. He held her as if he may never let her go and she wasn’t sure she would let him. He moved with her and rocked her to the beat of the back up music. She remembered his strong solid body and reveled in the joy of feeling it once again. Their eyes met and spoke volumes of love and longing. The past hadn’t changed. They were back in Wisconsin alone at Parfrey’s Glen. Tears trailed down her cheeks. He held her face and kissed her in front of all those people and with the concert at a stand still. He kissed her for the long months they’d been apart and the promise of a future together.

  Chapter 26

  Peter wouldn’t let her out of his sight. She’d never felt so pampered in all her life. Everyone was so nice. Suddenly she turned into a VIP on the Jamieson tour. The biggest surprise was Peter’s mother. After being introduced, she welcomed Libby with open arms and hugged her close.

  Security brought DarLynn back stage. The parking attendant eventually believed their story about Libby being “the girl” and he got DarLynn inside to see the concert. Together they left Red Rocks in the Jamieson tour bus.

  Libby had never seen anything so fancy in her life. Plush carpet covered the floors. The back of the bus featured a large screen TV and comfy seating for a small crowd. Guitars were secured to the walls as décor and for easy access. The rolling reunion bus took them to an upscale hotel in downtown Denver. Jamieson occupied the entire executive floor. Peter’s parents were kind enough to give a suite to Libby and DarLynn.