Jim nodded again, “So where do you see you two going?”
“I’m not sure honestly, and that scares me because I’ve always been a planner. We’ve known each other a month, and at the risk of cliche, it feels longer. She is one of the easiest people to talk to I have ever met. If she didn’t want to be a librarian, I’d be suggesting that she look into being a counselor or therapist because she just puts people at ease, and people open up to her, I’m one of those people. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited to find out.”
Jim took a step towards Brandon, “You’re alright kid, just treat her good and we will be good.”
“Of course sir.”
Jim laughed, slapped Brandon on the back, “Stop calling me sir, now let’s go watch the show.”
Jim and Brandon made their way back to the stage, as they approached Sarah’s mom let out a sigh, “Thank goodness, you didn’t scare him off.”
Jim and Brandon both laughed and Jim said, “Nope, just had to make sure we were on the same page.”
Ch. 7
Over the next half hour, they all enjoyed the show, seeing Sarah and Amanda back in their home element made the show even more energetic than normal. Numerous times they would get off stage, interacting with fans and people they knew who were on the front row. As the show began to hit the last few songs on the set list, Sarah announced that they wanted to bring a few people on stage to thank them. Amanda started first, introducing her mom, dad, older brother and his wife. They jointly thanked the tour staff and road crew, they brought Morgan out and thanked her.
After Morgan walked off stage, Sarah said, “Lastly I can’t forget my family who is here tonight. My brother Jackson and sister Mia!”
Jackson picked Mia up and walked her out onto stage. Mia just ate it up, waving and smiling for everyone as the crowd cheered. Sarah took Mia from her brother, and walked her around the front of the stage so she could wave to everyone.
Setting Mia down, “Finally, I can’t forget my parents Jim and Susan who have supported me and us from day one of this little adventure.”
Jim and Susan walked out onto stage holding hands waving to the crowd, leaving Brandon standing in his usual spot from the previous shows, he had been making sure he stayed in the shadows so Sarah couldn’t see him. As Jim and Susan reached center stage, Susan hugged Sarah, followed by Jim, who gave her a kiss on her cheek, and then whispered something in her ear. Brandon could see the confused look on her face. Next thing he knew Morgan was standing beside him.
Through giggles, Sarah stepped back to her mic, “My dad says that there is someone else in the shadows that came to see me perform. I don’t know who it is honestly, mystery person, can you step out of the shadows?”
Brando looked at Morgan, she said, “Okay lover boy, that’s you.”
Brandon protested as he heard Sarah over the mic, “Seriously who is it?”
Amanda added while grinning, “Come on mysterious person, get out here!”
Brandon saw one of the onstage camera guys moving around the drum set coming towards him. He took a final swig from his cup, set it on the tour box, and stepped into the light that had been shining on the wing entrance. He couldn’t see much because of the blinding light in his eyes, but he could hear murmurs from the crowd and maybe some cheers of encouragement.
As he took another step onto the stage he heard Sarah through her mic, “Oh my god.”
As he cleared the speaker stack that obscured the crowd, he caught sight of Sarah as she put her hands over her mouth. He smiled and continued to walk towards her. She began to walk towards him and met him halfway between the edge of the stage and her mic stand. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tighter than he had ever been hugged before. She pulled back as he wrapped his arms around her waist, “What are you doing here?!”
He smiled back at her, “Thought I’d surprise you.”
She hugged him again, kissing his cheek, laughed and let go, keeping a hold of his hand as she pulled him towards her mic stand. As they reached it, she said, “Folks to put rumors to rest, I’d like to introduce you to Brandon, my boyfriend.” The crowd erupted as he waved to the crowd. He turned and nodded at Jim who along with the rest of Sarah’s family were clapping.
As the crowd died down, Amanda said, “Alright folks, we’ve got one more for you!”
Sarah said to Brandon as he turned to walk off stage with her parents, “Thanks for coming, I can’t believe you’re here.”
He smiled back, “Thanks for having me, even if you didn’t know.” She laughed as he exited the stage and as the chords from the first single they released were strummed.
The final song ended, but rather than take a break, the band played three more songs for an encore. As the final notes were hit, Sarah said into the mic, “Crew come take a bow, we couldn’t have done this without you!” The entire crew walked onto stage, formed a line, and bowed to the cheers of the audience. As they exited and the house lights came on, Sarah and Amanda stuck around for the next half hour signing autographs and talking to people who had come to see them.
Brandon stood out of the way as the road crew began to pack up the set, talking with Morgan and Sarah’s older brother. As the crowd began to thin out a little bit more, he heard, “Brandon, can you come out here?”
Brandon walked out on stage and found Sarah down on the floor talking to 2 women and 2 guys. He hopped off the stage, walked over to the group. As he got to Sarah, she grabbed him, kissing him passionately to the “Ooooos” of the group.
After the kiss ended, Sarah giggled, “Sorry, I wanted to do that on stage, but I was too shocked that you were here.”
Brandon laughed, “That’s fine, that occurring on stage may have given your dad a coronary.”
The entire group laughed, before Sarah said, “Brandon, I’d like you to meet Lauren, her husband Mark, and Beth and her fiancé Eric. I’ve known Lauren and Beth since we were in kindergarten.”
Brandon shook hands with the guys, and hugged the two women. They all wanted to know how they met and the details of Brandon’s life. They all talked and laughed for the next 20 minutes.
The conversation ended when George appeared, shaking Brandon’s hand and said, “Sarah, it’s been a pleasure to drive you this year, but I’d like to get on the road to get back to Nashville in the morning. I think everything but your overnight bag with the rest of your clothes has already been packed up and will be dropped at your parent’s tomorrow. Where would you like it put?”
With a hug, Sarah said, “George, you have been great and made our lives so comfortable, are you sure I can’t convince you to stay for Daddy’s cookout for everyone?”
“As much as I’d like to, I can’t wait to see my wife.”
“I understand. As for my bag, Brandon, I’m assuming you got a rental car? I think my parents left me to get Mia home to bed.”
“Yeah, it’s the Ford Bronco beside the bus, and your mom made me cancel my hotel reservation so I’m staying with you all.”
“Really, a Bronco?”
Brandon through his arms up, “It was a fitting coincidence”