Page 121 of Fire and Icing

“I want to thank you all for having me out here tonight. It’s always a privilege to sing for people. I want to start out with one everyone knows. You’re welcome to sing along if you want.”

“Except you, Clint,” someone shouts.

I chuckle. “Okay, everyone but Clint.”

The crowd laughs.

I start in with the finger picking of the intro and then I sing the first line ofCountry Roadsby John Denver.

People sing along a little in the verse, but when I hit the chorus, nearly the whole room joins in—even Emberleigh.

My eyes keep traveling to her, but I know I’m here to do a job, so I force myself to look around the room and connect with other people.

I’m wrapping up the last verse when I spot the guy Syd was with at a back table. Evan? Yeah. Evan. I glance over at Emberleigh’s table, Syd’s turned sideways so she can either look at me or toward the back of the restaurant. And she’s staring at that guy, Evan, and smiling. Evan’s smiling back at her. They’re definitely having a moment. Syd looks away and starts chatting with one of the women at her table.

I sing three more songs, one of them,Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yoursby Stevie Wonder. Another two songs, and then I close out the set with one last song.

“This song, well, I wrote it,” I say, staring at Emberleigh. “For someone who stole my heart.” I look out into the crowd. “Did anyone ever steal your heart? Maybe they didn’t know you’d have given it freely to them? And you don’t ever want it back.”

A few people say, “Yes.” Others just smile at me or at one another.

“Well, this woman is the best of thieves. And this song is for her.”

The crowd, now fully tuned in and on board with me after a few sing-alongs and some fun banter, whistles and cheers.

“Here’s to all the special people in our lives. Especially those who steal our hearts.”

I strum my guitar and on a whim, I move closer to her table, away from the mic. The room’s not all that huge. People can hear me. I take a seat on the edge of the stage. That puts me nearly eye-level with my girlfriend.

My girlfriend.

And I sing this song, the one I wrote about Emberleigh, right into her eyes, and hopefully straight to her heart.

“You’re sunlight through a screen door,

Barefoot dancing on the kitchen floor,

Laughin’ like I’m the reason for your smile.

Hopin’ you'll let me stay awhile.

’Cause I’m just a wishful dreamer,

Truck cab two-seat believer.

And you’re everything I can see for miles and miles.”

She smiles at me, never taking her eyes off mine. I strum a few chords and keep singing. She wipes just below her eyes and my voice hitches before the next line. We almost didn’t get here. But she took a risk and now she’s mine.

“Red hair blowing with the window down

Driving dirt roads on the outskirts of town

Not a care in the world, feet up on the dash,

I’m wonderin’ how to make this last.

Stealin’ glances I hope you won’t see,

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