“So, I did. I gave up football, my girlfriend, who thankfully took my sorry ass back and became my wife, and my friends. I built a new life and one that I’m proud of. It’s why you’re listening tonight.
“Not long after I moved to California, my grandma died. It was horrible and the first time I had dealt with death. The person who had opened my eyes to a whole other world, was gone, and I was now the owner of this big white house, with all its Hollywood memorabilia. You see, my grandma was the forgiving kind and when Charlie got sick, she let him move backinto their home. He’d been divorced from my grandma since my mom was five, but my grandma never stopped loving him. And from all accounts, he always loved my grandma.”
I turn my water glass a slow quarter turn on the desk.
“Here’s the part that matters. In the little time that I knew her, she taught me to pick my own life. Just as she had. All she wanted was her daughter back in her life and to know her grandson. When she couldn’t have the former because of my father, she sought the latter once I was away from him. I will always be thankful that she did. You see, my father had a different life picked out for me before I could even walk. What sports I’d play, which one I’d excel at, the man I’d be, who I’d date. I almost stayed in it because it was all part of the all-American dream. Growing up, I was the golden boy, the kid people flocked to see. I loved it, until I didn’t.” I look, for a second, right into the camera on top of Paige’s phone. “The reason I became Liam Page is because my grandma took a chance, she followed her heart, her dreams and set out to meet her only grandson. She told me the life my father built wasn’t mine, and to go find my own. So, I did. It cost me people. It cost me years. The thing is, I’d do it again tomorrow. There are things I’d change for sure, but I wouldn’t give up the life I created and the friends I met along the way.
“Nor would I give up the time with my grandma.” I look at my daughter. “I honored her the best way possible when my wife and I welcomed our daughter, Betty Paige, into the world. She knows her great grandma, thanks to everything that was left to me, and to my mother. The three of them are spitting images of each other, and there’s a rebellious streak inside my daughter. I see it. My mom had it. And so did my grandma.”
Paige wipes at her face. I smile at her and clear my throat. “I don’t know why I told you about Betty, but I’m glad I did. She deserves all the recognition for me becoming Liam Page. Lookher movies up, watch them, laugh. Listen to Charlie’s music, fall asleep to the slow jazz and the sound of his trumpet. Most of all, just remember kindness.”
My line goes quiet. I sit there for a minute until Paige tells me the live feed is closed. “Daddy . . .” she comes over to me and launches herself into my arms. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too my sweet girl.”
We stay like that until the overhead lights come on. I know Bex is shutting her station down and giving us the space and time we need.
“I wish I had known her.”
I nod because I do as well and I wish I had more time with her. “You get the next best thing in your grandma.” Paige and Noah, along with the triplets are damn lucky they get this version of Bianca because mine sucked ass.
Paige goes to her phone and mutters, “Holy shit.”
“What is it?”
“You’re trending. Locally, but still. Number two in the whole metro right now. Dad. This is WORKING!” she throws her hands in the air. “Every night.”
“No.”
“Daddy . . .”
I groan. “Thirty minutes. Not the entire night.”
“I’ll take it! You won’t regret it.” She rushes from the studio and through the door. I’m assuming to show Bex, but something already tells me she knows.
My phone vibrates. It’s a text from my mother.
Mother
Thank you for talking about my mom tonight. I followed your advice. I’m with my grandbabies while their parents are out having dinner. Miss Junie and I are listening to my dad while mom’s movie is playing. Thank you, son.
SIXTEEN
In the morning, Paige asks if I’ll take her to school. I don’t bother asking why she doesn’t want to drive her car or why Mack isn’t picking her up, even though I do want the gossip, I want to spend quality time with her. Our days are numbered with her leaving for college soon and I’d give anything to have my little girl back—the one that used to crawl onto my lap for naptime while we were on tour—instead of sleeping in her own bunk.
On our way to the café for breakfast, Paige sits there, with her thumbs moving rapidly over her screen. She’s a wiz with that thing where I can barely text. She reads off numbers that I’m supposed to understand. The live video from last night, is still playing in the algorithm even though it ended. I nod and pretend I get it.
I don’t.
“There are hundreds of thousands of comments,” she says and I wonder how she and Bex will answer all of them. “Bex will pick a few to answer or feature. I’ll do the same, but mine are focused on band stuff.”
“Band stuff?”
Out of my peripheral, I see her nod. “We got a good number of questions about the band. Like whether you’re breaking up, when the next album is coming out or when the next tour is. Those I can answer easily, and it gives me an opportunity to push them toward the band’s website and socials.”
“Make sure you check with Mira if you’re unsure about anything.”
“I know. By the way, the replay has over a million views on YouTube.”
