Eight months later…

Chelsea rushed around the kitchen, making coffee and splashing milk into a microwaved bowl of oatmeal while Cole calmly sipped his coffee and watched her. Chelsea was always in a hurry, even on a Friday which was a more laid back day than most. She joined him at the kitchen table and ate quickly while he gazed at the morning paper.

“So what will you be up to this weekend while I’m gone?” he asked as she took her last bite. He’d reminded her earlier in the week that he was going to Nashville for the weekend, but she’d barely acknowledged it. It seemed to have slipped her mind completely, or maybe it just never registered as being important.

“This weekend?” She hesitated for a moment and then laughed as she dropped her spoon into her empty bowl. “No plans, really. Maybe I’ll go out with people for an after work drink.”

“Oh? With your co-workers?” Cole hadn’t met any of them but knew she occasionally went out for drinks with some of them after work.

She nodded. “Maybe. Depends how I feel. I’m sure you’ll have more fun than I will.” She dropped her empty dish and coffee mug in the sink and gave him a quick peck on the lips to say goodbye. “I have to run. See you on Sunday.” And then she was gone. Her car pulled out of the driveway a moment later. He felt a little blue as he took his last sip of coffee.

Chelsea was so busy lately, and seemed distant and preoccupied all the time. He knew that she was under a lot of stress with her job, but he also knew that she loved it. Her job was all-consuming. By the time she got home at night she was exhausted. Lately, he’d been feeling like they were more roommates than anything else. The romance in their relationship had definitely cooled. He asked her about it once. She'd just laughed it off and said they were a normal married couple. It didn’t feel normal to Cole, though. Not for the first time, he wondered how it would have been if he and Laura had never been in that accident. If they’d gotten married, had their baby and lived their lives.

He rinsed out his coffee mug and Chelsea’s dishes, too, and put everything in the dishwasher. Fifteen minutes later, he was on the road toward Nashville. He had a room booked for the night at an inexpensive hotel. He was looking forward to relaxing once he got there and checking out some local spots that often featured new artists. It wouldn’t be a late night, though.

He needed to get a good night’s sleep as tomorrow was going to be a long day. He’d been invited by one of the junior producers of the hit show New Voices to come in for an audition. They’d seen a few of his YouTube clips. Cole was over the moon excited when he got the call, but the producer was quick to explain that it was far from a sure thing. He’d be one of many new artists that were invited to audition.

He mentioned it to Chelsea when he got the call but she didn’t really share his excitement. Her nose had wrinkled as if she’d smelled something unpleasant.

“You’re going to audition for a reality TV show? Are you sure that’s a good idea? Did you tell Dalton?”

As if he needed to ask his father’s permission. He had no intention of telling him unless he was chosen for the show and he’d cross that bridge if it happened. The guys in his band had seemed thrilled for him, and maybe just a little envious. They weren’t playing as many gigs as he’d hoped. They all had other jobs that were their focus now and Cole was still busy with his last year of law school. Just getting the call felt like a big step to him. A validation that someone out there recognized that he had talent. So, it was a disappointment that his wife didn’t get how important it was. Instead, she was concerned with appearances, as usual.

Cole sighed as he reached the exit for I 26W and turned onto the highway. He zoned out as he drove, listening to the current country hits. Hours later, as he reached the outskirts of Nashville, the radio announcer introduced a new song and artist. He didn’t catch her name as he wasn’t paying close enough attention, but something about her sound seemed familiar. She was good, really good, and there was a haunting rasp to her voice as she sang about her first love. It was a bittersweet song and it gave him chills. He didn’t know who she was, but he had a sense the song would be a hit. He knew how difficult it was to get airtime with a major station as a new artist, so they likely recognized it, too. As the song ended, he waited to hear her name mentioned again, and when it came, he nearly drove off the road.

* * *

Cole checked into his hotel in a daze. He picked up a newspaper in the lobby that had listings of which bands were playing at all the local clubs and brought it up to his room. His original plan had been to just check out a few of his favorite places. But now, he was looking for one artist in particular. Laura.

He still couldn’t believe it was his Laura on the radio. It didn’t make any sense. She’d never shown any interest in music before, other than to support him. He’d never heard her sing before which is why he didn’t recognize her at first. He thought back and couldn’t remember her so much as even humming along to a song.

He found what he was looking for on the second page of the listings. Laura Scott was going to be singing at one of the bigger clubs. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten all day and it was suppertime. He’d take a quick shower, grab a burger somewhere and then make his way over to the bar. He was curious to hear what else she had for songs and to see her, maybe catch up. He wondered if she was married now. If she ever thought of him.

Since his wedding day, Cole hadn’t thought of Laura at all, until recently. She’d crossed his mind a few times lately as Chelsea was spending more time at the office, and she’d been distant and short with him. She always apologized and blamed it on lack of sleep and long hours. They didn’t spend as much time together as they used to. And so, more than once Laura had crossed his mind.

He still missed the easy and sweet friendship that he’d shared with Laura. He’d loved her, but she was also his best friend. But, he reminded himself that it was her choice to go. To take his father’s money and leave town. It still didn’t seem like the Laura he knew. But it was hard to refute what he knew to be true. Still, it would be nice to see her.

* * *

There was a good crowd at the bar when he arrived. He settled into an empty seat that had a good view of the stage and ordered a beer. A few minutes later the opening band came on, and they were pretty good. The crowd gave them an enthusiastic round of applause when they finished their set. Cole ordered a second beer during the brief break between acts. When the lights flashed to indicate the band was about to come on, he noticed a shift in the room’s energy. There was a sense of anticipation.

Laura and her band were introduced and took their places on the stage. Cole watched, mesmerized. She looked as good as he remembered, yet she seemed a stranger as she confidently welcomed the crowd and introduced the guys in the band. They launched into a song Laura said was called Magic. It was the perfect name. Whoever wrote her songs was gifted. The melody was catchy, and the lyrics were haunting. And Laura’s voice, with its soft, raspy quality, was addicting.

The next hour flew as they sang song after song, all of them wonderful in their own way. Cole felt goosebumps several times when she started a new song, and he recognized how good it was. How good she was. He’d never been one to predict the future, but he knew in his bones that Laura was going to go far. It wouldn’t be long before Laura Scott was a household name. He was thrilled for her and perplexed at the same time. He was also full of questions. How did this happen? How long had she been singing? Why had she never told him that she shared the same dream?

Laura closed the night with the song he’d heard on the radio. Listening to it again, he realized with a shock that Laura was singing about him and their love. Her voice broke with emotion as she sang the final note and Cole had to fight the urge to run to her and pull her into his arms. Because of course, he couldn’t do that. Shouldn’t even be thinking that way. He felt guilty as he thought of Chelsea, his wife. He had to talk to Laura, though, to ask his questions.

When she finished singing, the band all bowed. The guy on guitar put his arm around Laura’s shoulders, and she smiled up at him. They kissed briefly and it was clear to Cole that they were together. He felt himself frowning as he saw it and when he noticed that neither of them was wearing a wedding ring, he felt a sense of relief. Which was ridiculous, of course. He knew that. He felt like a confused teenager again, being so close to Laura and so full of questions.

Fifteen minutes later, Laura and the guitar player walked toward the bar. When they were about a foot away from him, Laura caught his eye and smiled as Dylan got the bartender’s attention.

“Hi, Laura,” Cole said. “You guys were great.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the show,” she said politely. It was as if she was talking to a stranger.

“It’s nice to see you. I didn’t realize you’d gotten into singing.”

A look of confusion crossed Laura’s face, and Cole realized that she was trying to place him. Finally, she spoke.

“I’m so sorry, have we met?”

“We went to school together, in Charleston. I’m Cole, Cole Dalton.”

Laura looked even more confused. “I think you may have me confused with someone else. I never went to school in Charleston. I’m from Montana.”

Cole almost dropped the beer that he was holding.

“Is this guy bothering you?” Dylan said as he handed Laura a beer.

“Oh, no. Not at all.” Laura sounded flustered.

“Good. It looks like the guys found a table, let’s head over.” He walked off, expecting Laura to follow.

“Have a good night, Cole,” she said as she turned to follow Dylan.

Cole watched her walk off before asking the bartender for a shot of whiskey and his tab. He rarely drank the hard stuff, but it seemed appropriate. He also realized that he’d be paying his father a visit on the way home tomorrow. Dalton Dawson had some explaining to do.

* * *

 

Laura slid into the chair that Dylan pulled out for her when they reached the roundtable where the rest of the band was sitting. She took a sip of her beer and found herself yawning a moment later. The night had caught up with her. It had gone well, though. She glanced over at the bar where the handsome blonde guy had been sitting, Cole something. He was gone now, his seat empty.

Funny how he seemed so sure that he knew her. He was a good-looking guy, and while there was something vaguely familiar about him, she was sure that she’d never met him before. She’d also been surprised by the wave of attraction that had hit her when he turned her way and spoke. If they had met before, she wouldn’t have forgotten that.

“That’s probably going to start happening to you more often, you know.” Dylan looked at her protectively.

“People thinking they know me?” She smiled. “I think he just got me mixed up with someone else.”

“Maybe. But people are going to want to meet you, get close to you. You have to be on guard more. That’s all I’m saying.” He reached over and took one of her hands, squeezing it reassuringly. They’d been together for three months now. It had just sort of happened. The band spent so much time together, and Dylan was good company. Besides, she had to admit, his interest was flattering. He was a good-looking guy, though a little more possessive than she was used to.

He was ten years older than her, too, and though it wasn’t a big difference, sometimes she felt the gap in their ages. Dylan could be bossy, though whenever she complained about it, he explained that he was just looking out for her. Lately, she sensed that he wanted to get more serious and she found herself pulling back a little. She wasn’t ready for that, with anyone. She had too much going on in her life and singing had to be her number one focus.

The past two weeks, since her CD officially released, had been a whirlwind. They were actually playing her music on the radio now, which was surreal. Dylan was sure that she was going to make the top ten on the Billboard chart. But Laura didn’t dare dream that big. Top 100 would be mind-blowing. They’d know in a few days. Billboard updated the lists every Tuesday.

“So, Laura, I have a question for you.” Dylan’s voice snapped Laura’s attention back. She looked his way and then froze. All the other guys in the band were leaning forward and smiling expectantly. Dylan was on his knees, in front of her, holding a small black velvet box. Her throat and chest suddenly felt tight. He couldn’t be doing what it looked like he was doing, in front of everyone?

Dylan grinned as he opened the box and Laura gasped. Inside sat a gorgeous emerald-cut diamond, surrounded by a delicate row of tiny diamonds. It was a beautiful ring—if someone wanted to get engaged.

“So, what do you think? Will you do me the honor of saying yes? I love you, Laura Scott. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Laura swallowed nervously. There was a long silence, and she knew she had to speak, to say something before it became uncomfortable. She forced herself to smile.

“I love you, too. Of course I’ll marry you.” What else was she supposed to say? She couldn’t very well say no in front of all his friends. But they were going to talk later.