“Thanks, you guys. Can’t wait to see you!”
“We’ll be there soon!”
We say our goodbyes, and I hang up to call Nikki, making the rounds to share the good news with everyone in my life.
25
Kara
Gettingready for this show has been the most stressful, thrilling, and exhausting time of my life. Every detail has to be perfect, but since I’ve never done anything like this, it feels like putting on an amazing show is next to impossible at times.
Silas and Nikki have been huge helps, and even Lana and Katy have put in their two cents when I share ideas—after they have their homework done. I know asking young kids for advice is not the best business move, but it’s been a huge motivating factor in getting their homework done faster, and I love seeing their excitement about ideas I share.
When Heather told me she bought the whole family tickets to see the concert, I was over the moon, and the girls are counting down the days until the show on their big calendar on the wall.
My parents arrive today, and Silas has a big dinner planned at his place, but first, I need to head to the amphitheater to check on any last-minute changes or details for tomorrow night.
When I arrive, Mike from Sweetwater is standing on the stage, directing others to move some of the equipment to the side so he has more room. He sees me and heads my way.
“Kara, glad you’re here.” He gives me a hug hello.
I’ve worked closely with him and the other band members, and I’m still in awe of the bond we’ve created. They have truly opened their world to me and guided me through things I never would have thought of.
“We’re setting up the stage, and we just want to make sure if we leave these things here, you’ll have enough room to do what you want?” he asks.
I let out a small laugh and shrug my shoulders. “It’s just me until your guys come out, so as long as their equipment is correct, then I’ll be just fine.”
Just the mention of his guys coming out tightens my chest with excitement that I can barely contain. When they offered to play with me, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It’s always just been me and my guitar. I didn’t know anyone I could form a full band with when I arrived in Tennessee, and I figured I’d have to prove myself as a singer first. Hearing they believed in me and wanted to show the crowd what I could do with a full band was a moment I will never forget.
We are going to do two songs, one cover and one original. They’ve been so gracious to me as we worked through the original song to get it just right. Their collaboration really added to the song, and we went back and forth, adding key notes they could provide.
The other guys in the band come join us where we’re standing and all give me hugs as their hellos.
“You ready for tomorrow night?” Kurt, the drummer, asks.
My eyes open wide as I inhale a big breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be!”
“You got this,” he responds. “The crowd is going to be eating out of your hands. Don’t you worry.”
“Lord, I hope so.”
“You’ll do just fine,” Marcus, the lead guitarist, says as he nudges me with his arm playfully.
We go over a few more details, and then I leave with a nauseous stomach, full of nerves and anticipation. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it through this without throwing up. I’ve never been this nervous before.
I head to Silas’s place to help him get ready for my parents’ arrival.
“Hey, beautiful,” Silas says from the kitchen as I walk through the front door that he left open for me.
“Smells amazing in here,” I say as I walk up to give him a kiss hello.
“Mmm,” he says when I linger a little longer than a quick peck. “Don’t get me all riled up. Your parents will be here shortly.”
“They’re still an hour out. We have time.”
He laughs out loud. “I really don’t want to meet your dad for the first time when all I can think about is how I was just inside his daughter”—he pulls me closer to him—“no matter how tempting that sounds.”
“Yeah, not something I want to think about with my parents here.” I giggle as I push him away. “How can I help?”
