“Anything for you, darling.”
With a plan formed, I walk up on thestage, my knees audibly knocking. The lights are bright and hot. I shield myeyes and realize that a restaurant full of people are staring at me. I grab themicrophone stand before I pass out from shock and fright. Okay, Kate, you cando this. I just have to get through the first verse, and I’ll be home free.What’s the saying about ways to calm your nerves on stage? Picture the audiencenaked? Ewe, yuck, no. Maybe it’s in their underwear, but that image doesn’thelp either. I just need to pretend I’m standing in front of the bathroommirror with a brush in my hand. Okay yeah, that’ll work. I reach for themicrophone, but it’s too high, so I bend it down a little and it makes ascreeching noise.
“Sorry,” I whisper into the mic. I tryadjusting the stand, my hands are sweaty and the pole slips through them,sliding all the way to the bottom with a thud and another screech. I standthere and stare at it, not wanting to touch it for fear of making themicrophone whine again.
The MC comes up on stage and fixes themic for me, so it’s the right height. “Thanks,” I whisper to him. He winks atme, then walks off the stage.
“Um—okay.” I hold my hands out to thesides. “I promise not to touch the microphone again.” The audience gives asmall laugh and a few people clap. “I’m really nervous, so hopefully I can makeit through this song without passing out or throwing up.” I cringe, beratingmyself for the puke comment. These people are trying to eat. “Sorry, I guessthat wasn’t a very good metaphor to use in a restaurant where everyone’s tryingto eat.” This gets another chuckle out of the audience and I give a little sighof relief. “I’m going to apologize in advance for my lack of talent. But todayis an anniversary for me of sorts. It hasn’t been that long ago that I met theman of my dreams, and I want to show him how much he means to me with thissong. So Cole, even though he’s not here, at least I don’t think he’s here.Maybe he is.” Oh jeez, I’m rambling. “Sorry, okay, this is for my husband,Cole.”
The song starts up, and thankfully thewords are on a small screen in front of me. The first words light up, and I’mlate, so I rush through them, and my voice comes out screechy. This was aterrible idea. I should have backed out. What was I thinking? Oh, yeah—Iwasn’t—Jill did that for me. But then the melody of the song starts and I singthe words, “that’s the wonder…the wonder of you.” And my heart fillswith the love I feel for Cole. He’s a wonder the way he loves me and tearsstreak down my face. I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to find Colestanding there. He’s on stage with me. I stop singing, but my Elvis in shiningsequins is behind me and he picks up without hesitation, andour Elvis preachersings the song of my heart.
The tears come down a little harder. Ireach out a finger, not sure Cole’s real, but he grabs my hand, pulling me tohim, wrapping me in his arms. I sigh into his chest. “Hi.”
“Kate.” Cole cups my face in his hands.
“Please don’t be upset.”
“How could I be upset, baby. You didsomething scary as hell, and you did it for me.” Cole covers his lips withmine. I sigh with a mixtureof love and relief.
The audience claps. “Ladies andgentlemen, Mrs. Kate Holt, and her husband Coulter Holt. The owners of LasVegas’s very own luxurious Prescott Upper House hotel. Let’s give Kate anotherround of applause for her bravery and how about a standing ovation for herdeclaration of love for Coulter.”
I’m amazed when the audience stands. Ipush into Cole, embarrassed, but Cole holds me at arm’s length. “Give a bow,Cookie.”
So I give a small curtsy and anotherwave. I hear bellows and whistles from the direction of our table and bowagain. “Okay, now can you please get me off this stage?”
“My pleasure.” Cole sweeps me into hisarms, carrying me off the stage.
“Oh Cole.” I kiss his cheek. He gives mehis tooth-paste-ad smile, sitting me down. Taking my hand, he leads us over toour table. The booth looks like it’s been cut in half and a piece from themiddle is missing to make another entrance into it. Col leads me around theback.
“Kate,” Kit’s sitting on the end andstands. “I had no idea you could sing. That was beautiful.”
“Kit, did you forget to clean out yourears today? I sounded like a cat in pain.”
“Ouch, so harsh.”
“Kit’s right, Kate,” Cole lightly scolds,sitting next to me. “It was beautiful because it came from your heart.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Kit.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Kate, it’s nice to see you thisevening.” Preston holds a wine glass up, saluting me.
“Hello Preston. Have you been introducedto my mother?”
“Yes, we’ve made introductions. I hearyou’re planning a ring ceremony and reception in Idaho.”
“Yes we are.”
“How lovely.” He smiles, not reallytelling me what he thinks about the whole idea.
“Oh Kate.”
Oh, how I love my mother. “Yes, mom.”
“You should invite Olivia to come with usshopping for a wedding dress tomorrow.”
I glance at Olivia and know she doesn’twant to come. I really don’t want her there, but we both know how this is goingto go play out. I can tell by the look on her face. I’m going to ask. Becausemy mother told me to in front of Olivia and an audience, no less. And we bothknow she’s going to say yes, so she doesn’t come off a callous, uncaring bitch.Which I’m still not certain she really is. “Would you like to come help me pickout my wedding dress tomorrow, Olivia?” My mouth seems suddenly parched, and Itake a sip of water.
