Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

NOLAN

O nce Teddy and Amber agreed to sing together, they moved directly into planning mode. They had a heated debate of potential songs with each being suggested and soundly rejected until Teddy hesitantly offered to play Amber something he wrote that he thought might work.

They disappeared inside the house and didn't reappear for hours. By the time they emerged, it was dark outside, and I was inside sorting laundry. Amber found me, climbed into my lap, wrapped her arms around my hips, and tucked her face into my shoulder.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

They didn't play me the song, and now I'm right next to the stage, inside the barriers, watching Amber dazzle the crowd and waiting for the moment Teddy will join her onstage. The crowd knows he's here, and there's a tangible sense of anticipation hovering in the air. It's like they know they're waiting for something, but they're not sure exactly what it is.

My upper body flashes on the big screens behind Amber. They've been showing glimpses of me since the show started. It's weird to be in the audience and not backstage with Maddy, but if the increase in screaming is any indication, the crowd seems to be enjoying the fact that I'm here.

I smile for the camera and give a little wave as the music fades. I'm surprised to discover that I don't completely hate being more visible. Especially if it's purposeful.

Over the cheering, Amber says, "You might have noticed a special someone in the audience tonight." She looks coyly over the crowd. "My boyfriend doesn't usually see very much of the show because he's generally backstage with Maddy and she's quite underwhelmed by my performances." She laughs lightly. "But tonight, I asked him if he could be in the crowd so you could see what he means to me."

The cheering is so loud I can almost feel it.

"You might also be aware that someone else is here tonight. Someone I haven't sung with in a very long time. Someone I wasn't sure I'd ever sing with again." She pauses, and the crowd goes silent as they wait. "Please welcome, Teddy Lance."

The fans erupt. The noise is stunning. It's impossible to tell if they're happy or outraged, but they are insanely loud as Teddy sashays onto the stage with his guitar slung over his back.

"I know what you're thinking," he says, coming to a stop a few feet away from Amber. "Hell has frozen over." The audience laughs. "And you're not wrong." More laughter. "The truth is, I'll share a stage with Amber every time she asks because she has gifted me with forgiveness, and friendship, and a daughter. She's also given me a new friend."

And there I am on the screen again. Just my face this time, smiling widely and trying to convey without words that he's telling the truth, that we are friends, and that he accepts me as Amber's partner.

I must succeed because the crowd keeps screaming.

Amber smiles, and suddenly all three of us are on the screen, side by side. It's crazy, but even though I'm not dressed like a pop star, I don't look out of place. Probably because of our ridiculously large grins.

"Teddy and I are going to sing a song for you. You've never heard it before. Until yesterday, I had never heard it before." Her eyes get a bit glassy. "Teddy wrote it for me. And for Nolan. It's not meant to be a duet, so we had to tweak it a bit because we wanted to sing it together. This might be a one-time thing, and it's been a long time coming, but we wanted to honor where we are today, and we wanted to share it with you."

The music starts, and it's the kind of melody that immediately makes me want to weep. Amber's gaze meets mine, and the connection flows between us as she comes closer to me. Teddy moves in the opposite direction, toward the other side of the stage. When she reaches me, she lowers herself to sit directly in front of me.

She sways a bit with the music. I can feel her joy and it combines with my own.

The truth is, there are a host of people who'll question whether this moment is a ruse or an act. They'll wonder whether we're pretending, and they'll take their pondering to the internet. They'll make jokes and try to cheapen what we have, but we aren't going to let them win. I love Amber Hope and I'm going to do everything in my power so she can always shine.

Tears appear in the corner of her eyes as Teddy starts to sing. He makes you happier than I ever could…