Thank yous: Dawn and May, thank you so much for all your time over the past two years. I can never repay either of you. Thank you to Cheryl, who not only kept encouraging me during my bouts of depression like my prereaders but supplied me with a computer so I could actually write. Thank you to Denise, my co-writer on Scars, who talked me through some points here and there. Thank you Monica for your language skills for an angry Ma. Thank you to my readers who stick with my stories even when it gets rough.
This has been three years in the making. From the planning to the outlining to the writing. To the smooth posting for the first part then the rough disjointed posting when COVID hit personally and took people from me. When suicide took someone from me. Thank you all for understanding.
I will be working on Scars and a new story for NaNoWriMo. So expect something from me first of the year.
The noise is deafening, the air is cooler than it was this morning when we rehearsed. It's dark out here at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater but seemed fitting for the kick off of the BAM tour featuring Leah Clearwater, Jasper Hale and Masen Whitlock and The Idle Rich. This past year and a half has been amazing.
Five videos, four albums, three individual tours, three marriages- it's been a whirlwind to say the least. After we got back from our honeymoon, Edward hit the ground running, deciding to use our wedding footage for a video for Never Stop (The Wedding Version). Jasper followed by using footage from his wedding to Alice and our wedding for She's Somebody's Daughter. Both went viral.
Yes, Jasper and Alice married and so did Emmett and Rose, though they eloped. I can't say I blame them. Oh, and Leah is dating Riley so we have an eightsome. Our group is tighter than ever with even Emmett and Edward becoming close, especially once Emmett took over as CEO of Cullen, Inc, after Mr. C had a stroke. He's fine but retired for good.
Leah went on first and was phenomenal. Her new single, Wildest Dreams, was dominating the airwaves and she just received her first AMA nomination, while Jasper received three. We are looking at expanding our artist line but after this tour.
As far as Edward goes, his album Rock 'N Roll Boots and White Collar Roots has gone platinum and I'm awaiting the Grammy nods this year.
As if he knows I'm thinking about him, he hugs me from behind, his hand automatically caressing my burgeoning stomach.
"How's she doing?"
"She's dancing to the music. Jasper always gets her riled up."
Pregnancy wasn't in our immediate goals but timing had other plans. Two lines appeared six months ago and Brooklyn Elizabeth would be joining us in early July. Edward doted on me, to the point I would get snippy but he was just protecting his family. We were taking a year break after her birth to just be and I was thrilled with that. We had moved out of the cottage and into a home we built complete with a mother-in-law suite for my parents to come and stay which they would be once she came.
"It's almost time for me to go on. I'll see you later."
"See ya." I kiss him as Jasper exits the stage and the crew get the other set ready to go.
"You did great!" I tell Jasper as I hand him a towel.
"Did Babygirl enjoy it?"
"You know she did. You gotta knock that off. You know she's runnin' out of room."
He laughs and goes to find his wife.
In less than half an hour, my husband is on stage.
"Hello Denver!" The crowd roars in response. "This place holds a very special place in my heart. I proposed to my wife here- the first time anyway. Before I met her, I was looking for something I could never find. I had the wrong career, the wrong life. I stuck to my roots but one night, in a hotel bar, I met my Bella and everything I thought I knew, shifted. And I'm happy to say, it's been topsy-turvy ever since. This song and every song is for my Bella."
He goes to the piano and kicks off his show.
I don't wanna be found out
I don't wanna leave this town tonight
And I don't wanna be back where I started from
'Cause my roots won't keep me warm
They won't keep me warm
I only just realised now
It only just dawned on me
That I have always been lonely
And I needed this, to feel comfort and complete
I never thought we'd meet
But they said I was always gonna be that way
Until I saw you, I believed them everyday
And then you came my way
Oh, let me love, oh, let me love you, until we're old
Oh, let me love, oh, let me love you, until we're grown
'Cause my roots won't keep me warm
I guess I made it here somehow
I made it this far and I am proud
I've seen my whole world just change
Nothing stays the same
And I for one am glad
I never knew I wanted you so bad
But they said I was always gonna be that way
Until I saw you, I believed them everyday
Then you came my way
Oh, let me love, oh, let me love you, until we're old
Oh, let me love, oh, let me love you, until we're grown
'Cause my roots won't keep me warm
And they said I was always gonna be that way
Until I saw you, I believed them everyday
And then you came my way
Oh, let me love, oh, let me love you, until we're old
Oh, let me love, oh, let me love you
'Cause my roots won't keep me warm
My roots won't keep me warm
Oh, my roots won't keep me warm
My roots won't keep me warm
I swipe away a stray tear and feel myself being flanked by my partners.
"Look at what we've built." Alice says in awe as she looks out over the crowd.
I look at her then at Rose. "I'm so lucky I have you both. What a wonderful family we've created."
"Enough of this sappy bullshit." Rose leaves but I know it's cause she's emotional.
"She loves us." Alice declares.
"She does."
Alice also wanders off as I watch Edward finish his show to much success. He grabs me and swings me around, though gently. I kiss his sweaty forehead and hand him a towel and some water.
"You were amazing."
"You are amazing."
The crowd is shouting for an encore which the three will give together.
"To think this all started at a bar." He chuckles.
"No, it started with me and my set of brass balls."
He winks and joins the other two but not before calling me a smartass.
I feel Brooklyn kick and I rub my stomach.
"Babygirl, I hope you're ready for this life cause it's gonna be a one hell of a ride." I whisper. "But it will be the ride of your life."
THE END.
Playlist: Roots- Grace Davies X Factor edition
Wildest Dreams- Taylor Swift (Taylor's version)