She scanned the crowd that remained, looking for one slender redheaded nephew who could melt hearts with a glance. At least, he used to, before his recent change.
Then she saw him, calling her name as he came her way with his slow, slightly awkward gait, Mama following close.
“Caleb, it’s my nephew. Come and meet him.” Ariel hurried down the stage stairs with Caleb, their security guards moving in close. Sam held out his arms. “Only one hug, ’cause I’m mad.”
She wrapped him in a hug, whether he wanted it or not. “What are you mad at, buddy?”
“Dad made me leave my friends at school.” He sat on the ground in front of her.
“Yes, I heard. The farm is here, and that’s your dad’s job.” Ariel glanced at Caleb, then crouched down to Sam’s level. “Sam, stand up and meet Caleb. We’re going to get married, and you can be in the wedding.”
“I wanna go back.”
Mama walked up then and gave her a “let it go” look. “We convinced him to come at the last minute. We wanted to see you more—lots more. But we’ll try to come to Nashville soon.”
From the looks of sullen Sam, that wouldn’t happen. Ethan couldn’t handle him alone on the farm.
Then she spotted her brother and father in the distance, pushing toward her against the tide of the exiting crowd. Farther beyond them, she thought she saw Dani’s parents.
That couldn’t be. “Mama, look over there, behind Dad and Ethan. It looks like Uncle Daniel and Aunt Becky.”
Mama turned in the direction Ariel indicated. “That’s them.”
“I thought their marriage was over.”
“Believe it or not, they’re speaking again. Your cousins decided to play matchmaker.”
“They should have enlisted Caleb’s matchmaker aunt.”
Just then, her father and Ethan caught up to them. For once, Dad’s eyes didn’t hold their usual expression after her concerts—a mixture of guilt and wistfulness and nostalgia. “That was your best concert ever.”
Of course Daddy thought she sounded better without Aunt Dahlia. Since their talk at the spring, she understood her father’s resentment. Now she breathed a prayer that he could give it up.
“I’m happy, Daddy. Even though I don’t live on island anymore.”
And never would—at least, not permanently. As much as she loved her family and her Jonathon Island heritage, her worldhad changed. Now she had a chance at true love and a new direction in music. Or to leave music behind, if she chose.
She’d pray for her father to understand.
Just then, the production manager called Caleb’s and Ariel’s names. “Rolling Stoneis here and wants pictures.”
“Gotta go, Mama. Come to Nashville.” She hugged her parents and Ethan and bent down to Sam, who swatted her away.
“Sorry. Sam’s having a difficult time,” Daddy said as she waved then strode toward the photographer.
Later, she walked back to the Grand with Caleb. As they sat in a secluded spot on the hotel’s long porch facing the lake, Caleb took her hand. “I meant what I said tonight. I want to fly to the mainland and look at rings. If you didn’t feel pressured into saying yes.”
Wasn’t that just like Caleb? “I meant it. I want to get married as soon as we can.”
She remembered she’d silenced her phone before the concert, and she checked to see if Aunt Dahlia called. It rang immediately.
“It’s Paxton. Why would he call at midnight?” She answered and turned on the speaker so Caleb could hear.
“Big news. Ned Overton just called me.”
“Our record producer,” she whispered to Caleb. “Paxton, Caleb Kennedy is on the call with me.”
“Yeah, congrats. Caleb, that was the best marriage proposal I’ve ever heard.”
