Page 12 of Free to Breathe
I think about what I didn’t share with Jack with respect to what really went on backstage. Partially because I’m ashamed of myself, and he’d never accept why I was so affected by it.
My focus last night was locked on Corinna, and not the mega country star holding court with the rest of the Freeman family. I remember Brendan’s girlfriend making her way over to Corinna. The two women engaged in a staring contest. What I didn’t expect was for the world-famous fashion model, Danielle Madison, to grab Corinna into her arms and rock her back and forth like they were old friends.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder from behind. I turned to find Keene giving me his know-it-all smirk. “Give them a little privacy in this madhouse. They haven’t had a chance to meet with Brendan being on tour and then trying to be there for his nephew’s treatments.”
“Treatments?” I’d replied almost dumbly, letting Keene guide me away from where the two women were talking animatedly.
“No one told you the story?” Keene had stopped, surprised. His tone wasn’t condescending, which is almost a miracle for Keene. After running his hand over his dark hair, he’d inhaled sharply. “Wow. Okay. So, Cori was tagged to appear on an episode ofCaketasticon the Food Network. It was a celebrity episode for charity. Her partner happened to be Brendan, who I might add is a horrible cook by his own admission. The rumor mill is that he went on the show to provide a spotlight for the University of Washington. He was never expected to win. I’m still not certain what happened, but I know that woman there”—he nodded toward Corinna—“doesn’t give up. Ever. On anyone. She knew what buttons to push to get them through the finals. They whipped the pants off everyone. Brendan matched Food Network’s $50,000 donation live on the air. I know Corinna’s trying to do the same by refusing to take money for any cake she makes for children under the age of eighteen. She was really affected by the whole experience.” Keene took a swig of the beer he was holding.
“From there, Brendan and Cori remained friends. She started sending cupcakes once a week to Seattle. First to the kids and then to the entire floor where Joey Blake is based.” Keene finished his beer. While he looked around for a place to dispose of the bottle, it gave me a chance to process his words.
Corinna was on the Food Network? At one point, I was so close to the Freemans, someone within the family would have called and told me so I could have watched it. At the very least, taped it. Now? Nothing.
“All because someone got sick?” I’d murmured.
Keene nodded. “Bet your ass. We’re so proud of not only her beating the pants off some major stars, but all the hard work she’s put in since then at the office. Ali told me today that Phil double booked her for all of next week. She hasn’t had a day off in six months since she appeared on TV.” Keene looked over to where Dani, Cori, and Brendan were all standing. “Cori’s been amazing. She’s so fucking loyal to those she loves without asking for more than their respect.” He shook his head. “Anyway, what did you think was going on?” Keene’s a perceptive son of a bitch.
I shifted uncomfortably. “I just knew what I saw from the stage.”
Keene’s patented smirk appeared. “Cori and Brendan Blake?” He started laughing before he realized I hadn’t joined in. His expression hardened. “You might have known her before, but did you ever really get her?” Keene brushed past me before I could speak a word in my own defense.
Taking a pull from my own beer, I felt like the odd man out. Everyone was chatting in small little groups either about the concert or genially about nothing at all. I was about to move over toward Jason and Phil, when I heard a whistle from the center of the room from the man of the night.
Brendan Blake.
“Hey, Cori! If my woman is done yakking your ear off, how about y’all come on down here for a moment,” Brendan called out from where he was now sitting with an acoustic guitar in his lap.
Funny, she had no problem getting up on stage, but Dani had to drag a protesting Corinna to the center of the room to the empty chair next to Brendan, who was ignoring the shenanigans while he tuned his guitar. Something special was about to happen underneath the twinkling lights of the tent.
When the room went silent, Brendan started speaking. “It’s rare when you find someone who makes magic just by existing. A person who brightens your day with just a smile.”
Corinna blushed next to him. “Brendan, please. This isn’t necessary.”
“It is for me so, hush your mouth.”
Corinna bit her lower lip, a habit she never used to have, I absently noted. Brendan continued. “The woman sitting next to me wasn’t born into a family that appreciated her, but she found one that did.” His eyes left Corinna’s and swept the room, locking on each of the Freemans. They all nodded. Ali was wiping her eyes as she mouthed to Corinna, “Love you.”
Corinna’s eyes started to fill, and her head dropped before she nodded.
“Hey, none of that. You hold your head up high, girl.” Brendan’s voice got tight for a minute. He was having a conversation with Corinna alone in a roomful of people.
“Okay,” she said shakily.
“You tell her, Brendan!” Ali shouted from the cradle of Keene’s arms. Brendan’s smile widened.
“I plan on doing better than that, Ali.” He strummed his guitar. The room inhaled collectively, me included. “Anyone here ever hear of an amazing songwriter named Toby Lightman?”
“Oh God,” Corinna whimpered. Dani squeezed her shoulders, keeping her in place.
“Before a compassionate hand drags you out of the hardest moments of your life, you sometimes forget how to do this.” And without further words, Brendan Blake, mega country star, faced Corinna and started singing the song “Breathe In” from the depth of his soul.
The only sound around the room was the sound of sobbing from various people, namely the Freemans. The song wasn’t just about love; it was about hope. It was about finding the last hand in the darkness who was unwilling to let you go and that pulled you back into the light. When the song ended, the room burst into cheers. But it was Cori’s reaction I’d never forget.
Even as tears fell down her perfect cheeks, the light emanating from Corinna gutted me. Her golden eyes were incandescent, not the muddy brown color I see when she looks at me. I was about to escape, knowing I had no right to be in that tent, when Corinna said, “Brendan, this is possibly the most beautiful gift I’ve ever been given.” I turned slightly to see him lean forward and rub his cheek against hers.
It was like a punch directly to the gut. Years ago, she’d looked at me the same way when I handed her the keys to my dorm. I remember her saying something similar to me back when I felt like she was my sunrise and I was her moon—when we lit the corner of each other’s days and nights. When I told her I’d keep her safe no matter what. Now, I’m lucky if I get a cryptic message like the one I got from her yesterday if she speaks to me at all.
The years we spent together mean less to her than a few months she’s known a stranger she’s done no more than cook and chatted with. How could the laughter we shared mean less than that? How could the secrets we told each other not be remembered? How could the nights I held her not have pumped her heart faster the way it did mine?
