The first measure started weak, hesitant, other than Nevaeh’s strong soprano voice.
Ariel sang along with them, raising one hand in a gesture for more volume. By measure twelve, they sang out with confidence.
The choir finished strong, and the crowd stood and showed grace and appreciation for the everyday teens who’d found themselves terrified on a professional stage.
A night for them to remember.
When they’d exited the stage, another round of applause rang out from the audience. She spun to see what the fuss was about and caught sight of Caleb’s grandfather shuffling toward the bass, holding Caleb’s arm.
The older man caught her gaze and smiled tentatively, as if unsure of his welcome on “her” stage.
She ran to him in time to take his other arm and walk the rest of the way across the stage with her two men. Granddad took his place, picked up the bow, and planted a kiss on her cheek. Caleb grinned and shrugged for the audience, then gave her a more lingering kiss on the other, drawing another roar of applause.
With his grandfather settled at his instrument, Caleb took his place beside Ariel, where she’d positioned both his guitar and a tenor sax. She reached for her own guitar and started the first song—their own arrangement of the old jazz song “Misty.” Caleb played through the verse, then set down his guitar at the chorus and alternated tenor sax with his strong bass, sometimes gravelly voice.
After a few old and new jazzy songs, Caleb played the intro to “Mercy Song.” As they played and worshiped the Lord through the music, a holy hush fell, the presence of the Lord strong and sweet.
The presence lingered as they transitioned to a different key and played Ariel’s new song, “You Come to Me at Night.” Then they sang a few old and new worship songs, inviting the audience to sing and praise with them.
When the music wound down and the band started their signature ending song, Caleb moved so close she could see the nuances of change in his eyes as she sang the first lines of “Amazing Grace.”
He added a little vocal harmony here and there. His voice captured her mind and heart so completely she wanted to hear only him.
Only Caleb. Forever.
“‘And grace will lead me home.’”
She let the last chord ring, then played the chorus again, clicked off her mic and turned to him, her voice low. “I found my home when I found you, Caleb.”
In a near-whisper, speaking to her alone, he leaned close then clicked off his mic. “You’re my home too. I love you, Ariel. I’ll always love you.”
“Caleb, I’ve loved you since that night at the Doves. Maybe even back when I was a girl, when you welcomed me into your home.”
She loved him, and he loved her. Everything would be okay.
He took her hand. “Let’s form something new. Just you and me. A new band. A new life.”
“And a new home.” She drew a slow breath of relief, of contentment.
Her eyes took on a sparkle and her smile turned into a mischievous grin. “What about my promise never to date a musician?”
He leaned closer, so close she could feel his breath on her cheek.
“I’m not askin’ you to date him, darlin’,” he said, imitating Miss Dahlia’s Tennessee drawl. “I’m askin’ you to marry him.”
“And I’m sayin’ yes.”
And just like that, alone in the crowd, their futures settled and their pasts redeemed, she knew they’d roll with the details just as they’d always rolled with the uncertainties of the stage.
Chapter Eighteen
The curtains closed on the beachside stage, and the familiar sinking feeling hit Ariel as it always did at a concert’s end, born of the pouring out of her heart, her personality, her giftings. And, as she realized now, her calling. Because the worship, both on the stage and in front of it, had come from hearts that sought the Lord. And the Lord had shown up.
She set her guitar on its stand and started backstage with Caleb when she heard a familiar voice shouting her name.
“Aunt Ariel!” She turned toward the sound.
Sam?
