Chapter Twelve

Taking the scarf off, he glides his warm hands over his neck. For four straight days, he hasn't spoken a single word. Per his doctor's orders, rest and relaxing his vocals is the only cure to his problem. And to continue with the lemon and honey. He isn't the first person to lose their voice before a big performance, and he certainly won't be the last.

"Don't say anything, just nod your head yes or no," the director of the show tells him during their meeting to assess the situation.

"Are you comfortable singing one of your previous songs?"

Edwin shrugs. "I—"

"Nooo! Don't open your mouth. You haven't had much time to practice this week. If we allow you to sing a song you've already performed, will that be okay?"

Edwin blinks before nodding his head. While he'd wanted to capture the audience one last time singing two new songs, if he has to sing one from an earlier week, then so be it. They simply don't want him to strain his voice any further than it already is. What they don't understand is that he's been singing these songs for years. Even when he didn't know the words, he was making up stuff that he thought sounded right.

"Friday morning, be here at nine sharp. We'll see what happens."

With his head lowered, Edwin walks out of the room. This isn't the outcome he'd hoped for, but what more can he do?

Peeping his head around the doorway, Edwin surprises everyone by stopping by to visit the Coffee Loft before heading home. Deanna is the first one to come running up to him, her arms stretched as wide as they'll go.

"We've missed you around here," she says.

"I've missed you guys, too," he whispers.

"Just so you know, we're planning a celebration party right here after the show. Coffee Loft will be open for family and friends and all drinks are on the house."

"We don't even know the outcome," he mouths, shaking his head in disbelief.

"It doesn't matter. We're still celebrating. You're already a winner to everyone single one of us."

By now, there isn't a sole in the room that doesn't know he's present. They begin to clap and chant, cheering him on.

"Can you hang out with us for a while?" Deanna asks, looping her arm through his.

Even though he's supposed to be resting, seeing so many of his fans, there's no way he can tell her no. A smile lights up on his face and he grabs an apron from the hook.

Word quickly spreads in a small town and before they know it, the line of patrons extends out the door, wrapping around the corner. An hour turns in two and before he realizes it, three hours has passed. Way longer than he'd originally planned.

"I had a feeling you might be here." Charlotte sneaks up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and giving him a big squeeze.

"Why would you think that?" he teases, planting a quick kiss on the side of her cheek. "I'm assuming the line was a dead giveaway, huh?"

"How long are you planning to stick around?" she asks.

"He's leaving right now," Deanna says, interrupting their conversation. "Our hometown hero needs his rest for the big day tomorrow."

Edwin looks around, the room suddenly becoming a blur. Hometown hero? Is that what people are calling him? If anyone should be called a hero, it should be Vivian and Ronald Wesley. They're the ones who deserve all the credit. He's just a young man following his dream and figuring out what he wants to do with his life.