“Excuse me, ladies.” Vaughn Brooks, the band director, seemed reluctant to interrupt them. “Is everything OK?”
Doreen stood, leading the way out of the row of auditorium seats. “I’m so sorry. I’m monopolizing Audra’s time.”
Audra pulled her sheet music from her tote bag. She hoisted the bag onto her shoulder before following Doreen.
Vaughn’s brown eyes were dark with concern. “Do you want to cancel today’s rehearsal?”
This was the final week before the Founders Day Celebration. The band was performing four pieces: “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” “Happy Birthday,” and the Electra Day song “Lifting Me Up.” They knew the music and were playing together well, but Audra didn’t want to cancel today’s practice.
She offered the sheet music to Vaughn. “No, I’d like the students to learn this song for the concert.” Audra turned to Doreen. “Is it OK to add another song?”
Doreen’s eyebrows lifted toward her hairline. “Absolutely.”
“Thanks.” Audra nodded toward the papers Vaughn was studying. “It’s an original piece. I wrote it for myself. Can your students learn it in a week?”
“Of course.” He returned to his musicians.
“Tell me about the song.” Doreen’s voice bounced with excitement. “Is it a ballad or a dance song?”
“It’s a dance song.” Audra shifted her gaze from Vaughn and his students to Doreen.
“What’s it called?”
“‘Prince Charming.’” Audra tugged her right earlobe. “I titled it before this morning.”
Concern returned to Doreen’s eyes. “Did you write it for Jack?”
Audra looked away. “Jack was the inspiration—before our breakup.”
Doreen squeezed Audra’s shoulder. “We’ll see what next week brings.”
“I suppose we will.” But Audra didn’t imagine next week would be any different from this morning.
CHAPTER 24
A week later, Jack stood at the podium on the makeshift stage at the entrance to Freedom Park. It was August ninth, Trinity Falls’s one hundred and fiftieth birthday. The noon sun was warm. The breeze was gentle and the air was still with expectation. A sea of faces—residents and guests—separated him from the Trinity Falls Town Center.
Jack gripped the edges of the podium and glanced down at his prepared notes. “Thank you for coming.”
He hesitated. Ramona, Doreen, and Isaac Green had said the same thing when they’d addressed the expectant crowd. His speech was sucking before he’d even begun. Jack looked up. Ean, Megan, Quincy, Darius, and Ms. Helen sat together toward the front of the audience. Benita Hawkins, Ms. Helen’s cousin and Audra’s business manager, had joined them. Members of the Trinity Falls Town Center Business Owners Association—Belinda, Tilda, Grady, and Vern
on—were scattered throughout the crowd. Simon and Ethel were in opposite ends of the area. They’d all been a part of his life for years, some since his birth. They’d helped him celebrate his joys and grieved his sorrows. And they’d waited patiently for his return when he’d shut them out after Zoey’s death. They deserved better than his prepared speech. They deserved his heart.
Jack released the podium. He folded his notes and slipped the paper into the front right pocket of his black Dockers. “One hundred and fifty years ago, my great-great-grandfather, Ezekiel Sansbury, founded Trinity Falls. But this place is more than a town. It’s one big extended family.” He smiled at Ms. Helen. “Complete with overprotective parents.” He glanced at Darius. “And annoying siblings.”
Laughter interrupted him. Jack let his eyes roam the crowd, tensing at the sight of Opal Gutierrez, the Monitor’s junior reporter, taking notes on his presentation. “We have our family feuds and sibling rivalries, but running through it all is a lot of love. The type of encouragement that makes our successes even more special, and the support that carries us through our disappointments.”
The people in front of him nodded and smiled in agreement. Jack continued. “My great-great-grandfather would be proud of the fact that he’d founded a family. I know this, because that’s why I’m most proud of Trinity Falls.”
The applause was enthusiastic. Jack turned back to his seat.
Ramona touched his arm. “Great job.”
He nodded, acknowledging her words and the applause of the other people on stage with him.
Ramona took the podium. “That was a beautiful speech. Thank you, Jack.” She led the crowd in one more round of applause before advancing the event’s agenda. “I now have the great pleasure of introducing our next entertainment.” She gestured toward the musicians on stage right. “Our own Trinity Falls University concert band will perform its final two songs. This time, they’re accompanied by our new best friend, Grammy-winning songwriter, Audra Lane.”
Jack joined the applause. He felt a slice of jealousy as Vaughn escorted Audra and her guitar onto the stage. Audra glanced briefly at him as she acknowledged Doreen and State Representative Isaac Green. She continued to the front of the stage, her hand outstretched to shake Ramona’s.