It was their last morning in New York. Trevor loved the city, but he was getting antsy to move on. He had never been away from his home base in Chicago this much, and it took some getting used to. They were talking about moving to LA as soon as the tour was over, an idea he was getting on board with. This tour was the test he needed to be able to break free.

He looked down at himself, worried he wasn’t dressed up enough, or maybe was overdressed for today’s event. Emelia was sound asleep in his bed when he had left, so he hadn’t gotten a chance to run his outfit past her. He huffed — what a relationship thing to do. They weren’t even dating, and he was seeking out her approval. He had left a note with the address of where he’d be this morning, and the cell phone for his driver, in case she wanted to join them.

He got in the car with Asher and Roman in tow. They’d just finished breakfast and were both heading with him downtown to where a charity event was to take place. He’d been asked to give a speech for a local foster group. It was a charity near and dear to his heart, having been a foster kid himself. 

Roman enjoyed helping him with the charity, Kid Cove, who provided resources and financial aid all over the country. Kid Cove worked to place foster children in either permanent homes or with adoptive parents who are otherwise both willing or physically and financially able to provide a decent home for the kids.

Roman had a soft spot for the foster kids muddled up in the tangled world of the foster system. No doubt because he had seen what Trevor had gone through. Roman’s mom and dad had graciously signed up to be foster parents after they’d seen Trevor struggle. They had wanted to do anything they could to help. In their eyes, he had been just a kid with so many prospective dreams for the future. His talent for strumming the guitar and vocals was undeniable. They didn’t want to see him slip through the cracks.

They’d gone through all the measures, steps and paperwork to become foster parents. Once they had their green light, they didn’t hesitate to take Trevor in. He felt like he would be eternally in their debt. The best way to repay Roman’s family for their humble and unconditional kindness to him was to give back. The best way Trevor knew how to give back was to be as charitable as time would allow him to be. He had even thought about becoming a foster dad himself, but it wasn’t in the cards quite yet.

This tour offered a grueling lifestyle unfit for a child. He couldn’t imagine how exhausting that would be for a frightened kid who already felt displaced in the world and in lack of roots or a home.

“Thanks for tagging along,” Trevor mentioned to Asher as they slammed the door to the Escalade shut. “Means a lot to me.”

“No problem man.” Asher ran a hand through his rustically red hair. “I’m all for charity that helps the kids in need.”

“That’s the goal,” Roman nodded as he gave a sideways glance to Trevor. “As soon as we heard about this event, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity for press coverage and giving back.”

“It’s not just about impressing the cameras,” Trevor reminded Roman. “I do it for the kids.”

“Of course.”

A few minutes later, the driver pulled them up to the curb and let the trio out of the car. A few paparazzi cameras clicked as they made their way inside of the hotel that was housing the event in a conference room.

“Trevor Jameson, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” Tony Abernathy, the founder, and director of Kids Cove walked up to Trevor with a proud smile and beaming brown eyes.

Tony was in his mid-fifties, but he was as physically fit glowed with athletic health. He enthusiastically pumped Trevor’s hand and gave him a fond slap on the back as if reuniting himself with his long-lost son.

It was a fitting greeting. Trevor had shelled out hundreds of thousands over the past several years to the charity, especially now that he had more money in his pockets to spend.

Trevor wasn’t able to spend as much time volunteering because of how the music industry had sucked him into the world of fame and fortune. He felt like he could compensate in other ways by shelling out a hefty check to them every so often. Trevor didn’t mind. It was his money, and he could spend it how he damn well pleased. If it meant giving back to a wonderful cause, he was all over the opportunities.

“It’s good to see you, Tony,” Trevor smiled. “We’re thrilled to be here today, showing up for the children who don’t have a voice and need the representation.”

“Thank you,” Tony nodded and placed his hands on his hips. “We are truly honored to have you here.”

“It was great timing that we just so happened to be in town touring,” Roman mentioned. “The very same time you were planning this event.”

“You mean that was just a coincidence?” Tony cackled and slapped Trevor on the back again as he continued to laugh at his own joke.

“A great coincidence,” Trevor laughed along with him.

“Are you still making a speech?” Tony asked as he eyed Trevor with hope.

“Absolutely,” Trevor nodded. Trevor wasn’t shy when it came to public speaking. He sang and performed in front of hundreds and thousands night after night, and he was used to the attention.

“Great.” Tony slapped his palms together with excitement. “If you guys just want to follow me behind the little curtain on the stage, I’ll be more than happy to make introductions for you before you walk out there to speak your praise to the masses.”

“I don’t know if I want to call it that, but sure.” Trevor nodded with amusement. “That all sounds great man.” 

It was a charity brunch, and people were sitting at round tables enjoying croissants and mimosas, scones and eggs. The people attending the event were also involved in both the charity and the foster system as a whole. Many were shareholders who wrote checks to the cause on a quarterly basis.

Trevor listened to Tony as the introductions were made. His heart raced as he walked out onto the little makeshift stage in the banquet room. Everyone clapped politely. All eyes were on him.

“Good morning and thank you for coming,” Trevor began and cleared his throat. He adjusted the microphone attached to the podium and scanned the crowd.

That’s when his eyes trailed to Emelia. He found her, among the sea of faces staring back curiously at him. His heart skipped a beat. His palms were sweaty, and he wiped them subtly across the wood podium.

Her eyes glistened with interest as she stared at him with a genuine smile of warmth displayed across her face. Her chin rested gently in her hand, and her hair was feathery like silk from an eagle, only a beautiful chestnut color that reminded him of being by a cozy fire at Christmas time.

Trevor cleared his throat again. “As some of you may be aware, this charity cuts deep for me. I was in the foster care system as a child, and I know how difficult it might be for a child going through the same obstacles I faced growing up. If anyone can relate to those kids, it’s me.”

He stared back out into the audience until his eyes landed back on Emelia. For some reason, he needed to look at her in order to get through the remainder of his speech. His voice was disconnected from the rest of his mind and body. It was as if he were floating up out of himself, but all he could see on the drift into the sky and the clouds was Emelia and her painfully beautiful face.

After he made his speech, the crowd gave enthusiastic applause. A few people stood up to give him a standing ovation, and the rest of the place followed suit.

Trevor rushed off the stage, feeling like he might become emotional. He didn’t even get a chance to find Emelia again in the crowd.

“That was terrific,” Tony beamed as he greeted Trevor again behind the curtain. “I can just tell by the way you talk about the charity; it really means the world to you.”

“I lived through the hell,” Trevor said. “I can’t help but have the system wired and ingrained in the way I am now. It will always be a part of me, like a battle scar.”

Tony smiled. “That’s a fantastic way to view the negativity that happened to you with a positive set of eyes.”

“Hey, can you guys excuse me for a moment?” Trevor looked at Asher and Roman, along with Tony. I just need to mingle a bit.”

“Absolutely.” Tony politely moved out of the way to let Trevor pass. He wanted to find Emelia and thank her for coming. More importantly, he wanted to inhale the scent of her flowery, coconutty perfume and be inches from her, not across an entire banquet hall.

He walked through the crowd, saying hello to various people who approached him or posing for a photo op. He shook a few people’s hands as he humbly grazed past.

And there she was in a red sundress that made her the brightest flower in the room. She smiled warmly, looking healthy and refreshed and so damn beautiful it made his chest ache.

Trevor scooped her up into his arms, holding her close. He never wanted to let go.