Fireflies and Magnolias (38 page)

Well, that was all in the past now, and she’d best forget it.

In the wings, she gripped her hands together tightly at the sight of the gathered crowd. The buzz of conversation competed with the blaring recording of Rye’s recent hit. Then the lights fell, and the music stopped abruptly.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a bass voice said as the crowd went silent. “Bridgestone Arena welcomes you tonight.”

As the announcer continued with his brief introduction, she felt Clayton’s hand on her arm. “Go on out there, darlin’.”

Her eyes flew to his at the touch, which she’d only felt in her dreams these last few weeks. His eyes darkened, and he gave her skin a gentle caress.

“You’re going to do great.”

“Clayton!” Georgia called from a few yards away. “Get her onstage.”

He shook himself. “That’s your cue.”

Right, her cue. She’d forgotten. Her legs seemed to be heavier than usual as she walked to the microphone.

Then the spotlight came on, illuminating her while leaving the rest of the stage in darkness, as Rye had requested.

“Hi, y’all. I’m Rye Crenshaw’s sister, Amelia Ann, and tonight it’s my honor to welcome you to a very special concert.”

Applause swelled, and some people even hooted and whistled. She knew to wait for the noise to die down. Rye had told her not to rush.

“As you know,” she continued, trying not to think about her image being broadcast on the jumbo TV in the arena, “tonight’s event is raising money and awareness for a topic near and dear to our family’s heart. Domestic violence is an epidemic in our country, I’m sad to say, and it doesn’t receive a lot of attention because it makes people very uncomfortable. I should know. Someone in our family was affected by it, and for a long time, I didn’t know what to do to help.”

There were a few shocked gasps, and she sought out her Daddy in the front row to keep herself grounded. He was staring at her with pride in his eyes.

“And I’m not alone in that. Some of you out there tonight might suspect someone in your own family is experiencing domestic violence. Or maybe it’s happening to you. Tonight, we’re going to hear the stories of four brave women who have overcome their own nightmares while we listen to some really wonderful music. I hope their stories touch your heart like they have mine. It’s my privilege to introduce you to the amazing Martha Freeman, who is seated in the audience with her family tonight. Her story is one of triumph. I hope you enjoy it.”

The light on her faded, causing her to blink at the change in her vision. The feature began to play, and she watched the audience as Martha told her story. By the end of it, after listening to the amazing transformation Martha had made from the victim of horrific abuse into the strong, successful businesswoman she was today, people were brushing tears from their eyes.

Even though Amelia Ann was prepared for it, when the spotlight returned to her, she had to force herself not to squint. “Isn’t Martha amazing? Let’s give her a round of applause. Martha, please stand up so everyone can see you.”

The woman was in the front, next to where Amelia Ann would be sitting, and the rest of her family sat next to her. On the jumbo screen, Amelia Ann watched her rise and press a hand to her heart, silent tears streaming down her face. She kept mouthing the words,
thank you,
and Amelia Ann felt her own eyes grow wet with tears.

When the applause died out, she smiled. “Now, please help me welcome one of country music’s hottest stars and one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet, Jake Lassiter.”

He strode out onto the stage, holding his guitar, as the stage lights went up. When he reached her, he kissed her cheek again. “Great job, honey.”

“Good show,” she told him and walked off the stage.

“How are y’all doing tonight?” he shouted over the crowd’s screams. “As Amelia Ann said, I’m Jake Lassiter, and it’s an honor for me to be here tonight. Even more so to support this cause. As y’all know, I served in the army and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

People were cheering and shouting at the top of their lungs by the time she reached the wings. Clayton reached out a hand to her before dropping it.

“You did wonderful,” he said, and the light in his eyes made her swallow.

She could only nod and force herself to turn her attention back to Jake.

“Now I didn’t tell you about my service to make a big deal of it,” he continued when the applause died down, “but to tell you a shocking fact I learned recently. Did you know the number of women killed by a male partner in a ten-year span is greater than all of our brave troops’ casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan put together? I mean, can you
believe
that?”

Even Amelia Ann was shocked. She’d never heard that statistic before, so Jake must have gone out of his way to discover it himself. He hadn’t mentioned it in rehearsal.

He paused on stage, holding his guitar close. “Growing up, I knew a few women who came to church with bruises on their faces, saying they’d slipped. I want to dedicate my first song to those women and to any of you out there who have experienced something like that. This is called, ‘Survivor.’”

Clayton touched her arm again. “Kendra will show you to your seat.”

His hand stayed longer than needed, and it hurt, oh so bad, to have him reach for her like that again. With one last glance at him, she strode off. It was over. Touching wasn’t allowed between them. She’d have to tell him if he did it again.

Kendra led her to where her parents were seated in the first row. The McGuiness sisters were sitting behind them with Winnie and Hazel’s families. Having decided she was too nervous to watch the concert before sharing her story, Tammy was backstage with J.P. Tory was in the wings with Rye, her favorite place to watch the concert.

When she took her seat beside Daddy, he clutched her hand and leaned over to shout in her ear, “Honey, there are not enough words in the English language to say how proud I am of you tonight.”

Mama leaned across him and patted their joined hands, her eyes suspiciously moist as well, making Amelia Ann give her a watery smile.

Once she’d greeted her parents, she turned to Martha, and they shared a knowing glance. Both of them hoped this concert would change lives. If it touched even one person, they would have accomplished something beautiful.

Everything continued to run like clockwork. Susannah did a wonderful job introducing the second spot, and all around her, people wiped their eyes as they listened to Winnie’s story.

Then Jake introduced Rye, and the two kicked off his set with a duet.

Her brother continued on alone and sang his heart out. When he finished “Cracks in the Glass House,” Amelia Ann sent up a prayer for Tammy, knowing she was up next.

Rye set his guitar aside as someone brought a stationary microphone out to the stage. When he reached it, he took off his hat and said, “How are y’all doing so far?”

Her eardrums nearly burst at the response, and it took a while for the crowd to settle down.

“Tonight, you’ve heard some remarkable stories. The next woman who’s going to share her story is one of the most special people in the world to me, and I hope you’ll give her a whole lot of love and support as she tells her story. Please welcome my brave sister, Tammy.”

He scrubbed his face as she emerged. A hush settled over the crowd as Tammy walked across the stage. She’d chosen a powder blue dress and worn Grandmamma Crenshaw’s pearls. Amelia Ann was happy to see her calm aura and the light radiating from her face.

She had to wipe the tears streaming down her face as she watched her siblings clutch each other for a long beat. When they finally separated, Rye stepped back and Tammy took her place at the microphone. Daddy took Amelia Ann’s hand in his and squeezed it tonight.

“Good evening. I’m Tammy, and I was the victim of domestic violence. This is the first time I’ve ever talked about it outside the family because I was so ashamed something like that had happened to me. That I had
let
it happen. I didn’t tell Rye or anyone in our family it was going on for a really long time. As you’ve heard Martha and Winnie say, domestic violence is a cycle of abuse. When my kids started getting older, I was afraid my ex-husband would start to raise his hand to them too.”

A few people gasped in the audience, and Amelia Ann gripped Daddy’s hand even harder.

“With the help of Rye and the rest of my family, I was finally able to break away. Now, the kids and I are safe, and I have been blessed to find the most wonderful man in the world, a man who not only makes me feel safe but loved. I’ve also managed to discover my passion in life and open my own business, which I’m happy to say is growing by leaps and bounds. If any of you are going through the same thing I did, know you aren’t alone and that there are people to help you. You can change your life.” Then she gave a radiant smile as the first tear slid down her face. “I did.”

Amelia Ann pressed her free hand to her mouth as she softly cried in her seat. Her sister had done it, and somehow seeing Tammy’s act of bravery had set her free as well.

Then Rye pulled Tammy into a hug onstage, and the crowd went wild. Everyone rose to their feet, and the crowd’s spontaneous standing ovation made Amelia Ann’s heart fit to burst. When Tammy finally kissed Rye and walked off the stage, Rye knuckled away tears and stepped up to the mike.

“Isn’t she something? I can’t rightly speak right now, so I’m just going to start singing. Here’s an old favorite. ‘Country Heaven.’ This one is for my wife, Tory, who taught me what love truly is. I couldn’t imagine my life without you, darlin’.”

Then he began the song. He seemed to get his composure back as he continued through his set, whipping the crowd into the frenzy he always generated. When he finished and the time came for Hazel’s spot, he held out his hand to the audience.

“Don’t move a muscle. You’re about ready to hear the last story of the night. Then I have something special planned for y’all.”

He strode off the stage as the curtain fell, and Hazel’s story started to play.

No matter how well she knew the women’s stories, Amelia Ann cried during them all. She turned in her chair to smile at Hazel, who was seated behind her. The older woman gave her a wink in return.

When Rye strode back onto the stage, he was clapping his hands. “Let’s hear it for Hazel! Isn’t she amazing?”

The crowd hooted and hollered, chanting his name. All the lights on the stage dimmed except for the spotlight on her brother, and Amelia Ann knew Susannah’s work of art was about to appear behind him. She couldn’t wait to hear the song Rye had chosen to pair with it. He’d refused to share his plans with anyone beyond those directly involved with the production of the concert.

“Thank you for coming tonight,” he said in a more sober tone when the crowd noise died down. “This concert has been one of the most special of my life. I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, and one of those things is all of you. This is the last song of the night, and it’s a new one. You’re the first to hear it. I want to dedicate it to my sister, Tammy. I hope you like it. It’s called ‘Tell Me.’”

His band started playing a simple melody, not Rye’s usual background accompaniment. Amelia Ann knew immediately it was one of his rare ballads.

Susannah’s collage appeared behind Rye, who sank into a metal bar chair and strummed his guitar. The power of the pictures on the big screen stole her breath away. The beauty of those women finding their strength after so much hardship was unparalleled. And paired with Rye’s music, the effect was… Amelia Ann heard the people around her gasp as well. She peered over her shoulder at Susannah and smiled into her friend’s beaming face.

Rye’s strong voice echoed across the arena as he started to sing lyrics Amelia Ann had never heard before.

Tell me the truth.

Tell me what’s bothering you.

Why are there bruises and cuts on your skin?

It’s not like you to be clumsy like that.

When did you become so accident prone?

In my eyes, you always stood firmly on your feet.

Is there something else that’s happening?

It’s okay.

You can tell me anything.

Don’t be afraid.

Don’t shy away from the truth.

I have your back.

No one will ever hurt you.

I’ll keep you safe.

Don’t worry your mind.

He’s not worth it.

He’s not worthy of you.

He’ll only keep hurting you.

Love doesn’t hurt.

Love makes you fly.

Tell me the truth.

Go ahead.

Tell me.

As he came to the end, the band’s accompaniment faded away. Only the sound of Rye strumming the guitar could be heard.

Tell me the truth.

This time…

I’ll help you fly.

His lone voice drew out the last note, and then his fingers halted on the guitar. When he looked at the audience, his eyes shone brightly.

“Thank you,” he said in a hoarse voice. “Thank you so very much for coming. Drive home safe and Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.”

The whole audience was pretty much crying buckets as they shot to their feet and applauded and cheered. Her brother’s new song, which had touched her heart and so many others, echoed in her ears. As the crowd started to disperse, she sought out Martha, Winnie, and Hazel and met their families along with the McGuiness sisters.

Daddy and Mama stayed with her and met everyone too, her mama being especially kind to the women’s families, Amelia Ann noticed. Their group stayed and talked for a long time, and she was glad for it. Tonight was going to be a treasured memory, like a special item a child kept stored in a keepsake box. She said goodbye to everyone, promising to see them at the party, and dashed away to find her boss.

When she finally found Felicia, her boss was standing with a distinguished man with silvering black hair and black-rimmed glasses. She introduced him as her husband, Adam. Amelia Ann had heard plenty about him, of course, but they’d never met before.