Page 157 of Fire and Icing

“He’s just Dustin,” but even as I say it, I know he’s not just Dustin.

He’s so much more than I ever thought a man could be. And the world deserves their piece of his awesomeness.

The show starts and the host does an introduction, and then the cameras move to the spot where Dustin’s standing alone in front of a microphone with his guitar strap slung over his neck.

He talks into the mic. “Hey, everyone. I’m Dustin. I’m gonna sing a song for you. This one's for someone special back home.”

I think he’s going to sing the song he wrote for me, but when he starts in, the first line is different.

Instead of“You’re sunlight through a screen door, barefoot dancing on the kitchen floor,”

He sings a different song entirely.

I dreamed of bright lights, a crowd that knew my name

Chasin’ songs and stages, thought I’d play the game

But all these miles just feel like I’m running in place

Now I’d trade it all to put a smile on her face.

He’s staring into the camera, and I swear he sees me. A tear comes to my eyes. I wipe it away.

Syd nudges me. “He’s singing about you.”

I smile at her. I’m glad she’s here, watching this with me. I would have felt her absence if I wouldn’t have let her come over. We may have a tear to mend in the fabric of our friendship, but the quilt is still intact. All the squares we’ve patched together over the years can still be a comfort despite our recent snag.

Dustin keeps singing, looking straight at me. He might be singing for the masses, but in his heart, he’s singing for me.

Give me dirt roads and a front porch light

A small house with her and the stars at night

Two kids runnin’ barefoot in the yard we mow

And a floppy-eared dog we named Toad,

He pauses, shrugs, grins and says,I don’t know.

Then he sings the rest of the chorus.

How I ever thought the spotlight could compare

To Sunday morning pancakes and her mess of tousled hair

If chasing dreams means leaving love, I wouldn’t dare

Then it’s not the dream I want, no sir

I’d trade it all to stay right there

I’m tearing up, ready to hop in my car and drive to Nashville before the song even ends.

She keeps me grounded like roots in this quiet little town

I was fire and thunder ‘til she slowed me down

She believes in me more than I ever could

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