“Hasn’t my beautiful wife done an amazing job?” another louder cheer rips through the fair and MrsHamilton’s cheeks burn red as she is shown on the screen. Iris’s whistle being heard throughout the cheering crowd.
“Now, unfortunately, Little Creek had to cancel rather last minute for the warmup act to our very own Jake Bennett,” Mrs Hamilton starts through the speaker, leading to a few moans and cheers at the mention of Jake’s upcoming performance.
“But fear not, I found a last-minute replacement,” she says as I look towards my mom, confusion etched onto our faces at the thought of who it could be.
“This one’s going to be more of a welcome home to him, so please without anymore waiting, lets welcome to the stage-” she pauses as she looks at her husband.
“Mr Maverick Bennett!” They both shout together, as I watch in disbelief as Mav’ and the boys walk onto the stage, instruments firmly in their grasp as they take their places.
“I- uhm, found them,” Hope says, and I throw my head back in a fit of laughter.
“Those cheeky little shits,” Kay shouts as my eyes stay firmly locked on Maverick. I rise to my feet as if on impulse, hands clapped over my mouth in disbelief that we’re about to relive some history.
“Howdy, y’all!” Maverick shouts down the microphone and the crowd erupts. “Well, it’s been a while,” he lets his boyish grin show once again.
“Hope y’all don’t mind, but we’re going to play you a few songs, before my brother really kicks off this Fourth of July celebrations.” Maverick looks back at his brother, who’s to his left on the stage, my brother on his right.
I haven’t seen my brother pick his guitar up since Maverick left. I feel a tear forming and my smile wide at the man I’ve called my rock on many occasions.
“Who knew they could keep a secret?” Rhett laughs to himself, taking hold of his wife’s hand, both of them beaming with pride at both of their boys being back on one stage once again.
I keep my eyes locked forward.
The breath I sucked in as soon as my man walked onto the stage, still holding strong.
The stage lights hit the boys and as if done on purpose, the boys fire their instruments up and the introduction toDawson Anderson’s – At the end of the dayfills the speakers and across the fair. Maverick takes a breath and sings the song like he belongs on that stage.
His eyes meet mine, even from as far away from the stage as we are;I still see them.
I see him.
He changes the lyrics only so slightly, wishing thathewould have stayed.
My cheeks burn, as he sings directly to me and the whole town knows it. Just like he did in McCoy’s not that long ago.
This time, my heart burns for more.
In this moment, I feel seventeen again, like I’ve gone back in time.
I feel alive again.
Finishing the song, the boys look proudly at each other as the crowd erupts, but I stand still, scared to move a muscle in case I awake from this dream.
I hear Ellie screaming and cheering at her uncles and the man who has always had my heart.
“Thank you, everyone,” Maverick says as he leans back into the microphone.
“This song is dedicated to someone who I’m lucky enough to call mine,” his cheeks flush pink, as I watch as the crowds of town people turn their heads and look at me with smiles on their faces.
“Well, I guess that’s if she’ll have me?” Maverick laughs, following the crowds heads and finds my eyes. I look straight at him, cheeks burning from the heat returning inside mewhenever I look at him and his grand gesture.
The instruments start to play and Maverick leans back into the microphone as he strums heavily on his guitar.
Chris Bandi – Man enough nowblares through the huge speakers Mrs Hamilton hires every year, and he sings directly to me.
With this song in particular, the realisation hits of what he’s doing up there on that stage. Aside from entertaining the few thousand people here, he’s apologising tome.
The songs chosen so far are releasing his true feelings and deepest thoughts in relation to me, and now to my daughter.
