Nora lifts her glass toward the camera, grinning bigger than I’ve seen her. It’s rare that she’s able to get all her sons on a call at the same time, but to have her sister, brother-in-law, her nephews and niece show up too? The woman must be in heaven.
“I need to hear everything from everyone,” she says. “All the stories about what happened in your lives. Let’s start with Perth. How’s the tour? You have a show tonight and then you’re traveling again, right?”
“Yeah, we have to leave for the stadium in about an hour, and then we’ll load out tonight.” Nash grins, shoulders loosening. “But it’s good, Mom. Really good. Busy, but… good.”
I settle against him, letting his arm fall naturally around me. The change in him has been measurable. He’s calmer. More open. He’s building relationships with the dancers and crew and is really invested in their care. And, oddly enough, has formed a solid friendship with none other than Sandro René himself. Gone is the hard edge in his eyes, the quiet observer, the grumpy demeanor and in its place, there’s joy and openness. Instead of isolation, Nash is making friends. His heart is open and it’s wonderful.
“We’re happy,” I say to the camera. “Really, really happy.”
A chorus ofawwsrises from Nora’s table like a flock of delighted birds.
“And you’ll never believe what happened in rehearsal the other day,” Nash says to the camera.
I elbow him. “You keep making such a big deal about this.”
“That’s because it is a big deal.” He clears his throat dramatically. “Okay. So during rehearsal, one of the backup dancers tripped coming offstage?—”
“Someone left a costume in the wing,” I add.
“—and she went down,” Nash continues. “Like, full pancake. The entire backstage went silent. And before I even got to her, Lucy was already next to her, checking her knee, not just making sure she was okay, but actually checking the right ligaments and tendons, going through head injury protocol.”
Bennett makes a surprised face while Nora bobs her head like this is totally expected.
“I’ve been reading a lot of medical texts and paying attention when Nash works with the dancers. It’s not that big of a deal though.”
“What Lucy’s not saying,” Nash adds, “is that she handled it like she’s been doing this for years. She calmed the girl down, stabilized the joint, got her breathing under control. Everyone was staring at her like she’d descended from the heavens.”
I nudge him again. “You’re exaggerating.”
“Not remotely,” he says.
Nora beams so brightly I swear I can feel it. “That’s my girl.”
My chest warms. She started calling me that shortly after Nash joined the tour and I have to admit, I love it.
Bennett wipes a fake tear. “Our little Lucy. Saving dancers. Changing lives.”
Grayson’s mouth curves into the faintest smirk. “I bet she has a better bedside manner than Nash.”
“Hey,” Nash protests while Gideon grunts in agreement with his twin. “I’m getting better about that.”
“And yet there’s still miles to go,” Bennett quips, lifting a glass to his lips with a smile while laughter bubbles up from all sides.
Once it settles, Nora leans close to her camera. “All joking aside… you two look peaceful.”
“We are,” I say softly.
“Do you think you’ve found a new calling?” Bennett asks. “Touring as a doctor?”
Nash squeezes my shoulder. “We’ve been talking a lot about what happens after the tour.”
Nash glances at me. It’s a small look. A soft one. The kind that makes my heart rise into my throat.
“Honestly,” I say. “For as much as we’ve loved this experience, we’re planning on coming home. Back to Stillwater Bay.”
The table goes silent. Even Beau stops thumping.
Nash continues, voice steady. “The tour’s been incredible. And the med team’s great. But… being around the dancers, helping them with the small stuff, the major stuff… it’s made me realize how much I miss actually caring for people. Not in a system that burns you out. Not in a hospital that eats your soul. Just… helping. For real.”
