Birdie turned to Jamie. “Tell me the truth, now.”
Jamie grinned. “Good as gold.”
Charlotte reached for Jamie’s hand, her small fingers warm and sure as they laced through hers. Birdie noticed—of course she did. That woman didn’t miss a thing, not with those sharp eyes and that steel-trap memory.
“We’ve been singing with Miss Jamie,” Charlotte said, her voice soft but proud as she looked up at her grandparents.
“‘The Sweetest Gift,’” Emily chimed in, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“We saw the video,” Doc said, nodding with approval. “It’s a mighty fine rendition.”
“I thought it was called ‘TheSourestGift,’“ Clayton said with a grin, nudging Emily gently with his elbow.
The girls groaned in unison.
“No, Daddy,” Emily said, arms crossed. “It’s not.”
Birdie gave a patient smile and directed Doc toward the door with a press of her hand on his back. “We don’t want to be a bother. We’ll see y’all after the show.”
“Break a leg,” Clayton called, backing out with a wave.
Jamie smirked. “You wish.”
Birdie caught Jamie’s eye on her way out and winked—subtle, conspiratorial—before vanishing into the hallway with the faint click of her shoes against the polished floor.
The show was incredible, better than Jamie had hoped for. She’d tried not to glance at the side stage where Clayton’s parents stood, but every time she caught Birdie’s eye the woman was grinning from ear to ear.
But the real test was coming: her encore. Just her, a guitar, and the twins. The song was catching on with fans and people were asking for it.
Jamie brought the girls onstage and they took their seats on the stools. Exchanging a quick glance they started singing “The Sweetest Gift” one last time on this tour. The soft, heartfelt melody settled over the arena, holding the crowd in a spellbound hush. You could have heard a pin drop.
When the song ended they took their bows as the audience erupted into cheers. The twins hugged Jamie and raced toward their grandparents, bouncing with excitement.
Jamie handed her guitar to Deaner and followed, only to find both Birdie and Doc with tears in their eyes. That threw her a little. Sure, it was an emotional song, but still . . .
Before she could say anything Birdie pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank you, dear,” she whispered.
Jamie frowned. “For what?”
Birdie pulled back, eyes shining. “Everything.”
Clayton’s set was without a doubt the best of his tour—not that Jamie was about to tell him. The sold-out crowd sang every word, attimes drowning him out. The band was flawless, hitting every note with precision. As much as she hated to admit it, they were the best musicians she’d ever played with.
When she joined Clayton on stage for his encore they fell into their usual routine, trading playful jabs that had the audience laughing. It was all part of the show, a familiar rhythm between them. As the opening chords of the Osmonds’ song rang out the venue erupted, voices merging in a chorus that filled every corner of the arena.
They took their final bow and the weight of the moment hit her. The end of the tour. The end of this. A lump formed in her throat but she bit her tongue, refusing to let her emotions get the better of her.
It was over.
Backstage Jamie met up with the crew and band, who introduced their girlfriends and wives. She shared a few stories about the pranks that had gone down on tour, sparking laughter all around—except from Shorty, who still didn’t find it funny.
The afterparty took place in Clayton’s dressing room, where hugs were exchanged, drinks were poured, and the end of the tour was celebrated. Jamie half-expected Clayton to indulge now the tour was over, but he didn’t. She wasn’t drinking either, too focused on her upcoming exams to risk a distraction.
When it was time to head out Birdie and Doc offered the girls a ride back to Franklin, but the twins refused. They wanted to see the tour through to its final stop. So Birdie and Doc took Ruth and Nolan home while the rest stayed behind, ready for one last ride.
“Bye, sugar.” Birdie pulled Jamie into a warm hug. “Don’t be a stranger, now. We expect you for dinner tomorrow.”
