Epilogue

Silas

Six Years Later…

“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy.” Emily starts running when she sees her mom backstage at Ascend Amphitheater.

The show doesn’t start for another hour. I kept Emily at home, so Kara could focus on getting ready. But Kara’s been texting, asking where we were, so I brought Emily down earlier than I expected.

“There’s my baby girl!” Kara says, picking up Emily and hugging her tightly. “I’ve been asking where you guys were.”

Emily looks back at me. “Dad wouldn’t let me come earlier.”

“Mean old dad!” Kara says with a laugh as I put my arm around her.

“Glad to see I’m so loved around here,” I reply.

“You are, Daddy. I’m not mad anymore,” Emily says in the sweetest voice.

“Glad to hear, sweetie,” I respond, rubbing my palm down her arm.

I bring them both in for a hug, the two girls in my life who have made me the happiest I’ve ever been.

The opening band begins to play, and Emily’s eyes light up.

“It’s starting! It’s starting!” She wiggles out of her mom’s arms. “Can we go watch?”

Once she’s down on the ground, she grabs both of our hands and pulls us toward the door that leads to the stage, and we follow her. Kara has played this venue so many times now that Emily knows her way around this entire place.

It’s funny to think how Kara’s career took off after she played here, and the next day, we found out about Emily.

I might have been scared at first at the thought of having a child, but it’s hands down the best thing that has ever happened to us. Kara was scared at first when it came to her music, but I vowed we would do everything in our power to make sure she was able to still follow her dreams.

And that she did.

She signed her first record deal when Emily was just one year old, and that record soared all the way to the top. I decided to quit the fire station so I could be a full-time dad, especially when Kara is on the road. The guys still allow me to come down to hang out, and I’m officially a volunteer firefighter now, so when we are in town and they need help, I’m happy to lend a hand.

Life couldn’t be better, and I have Kara to thank for everything.

We sit as a family and watch the opening acts, dancing with Emily the entire time. When a slow song comes on, I pick Emily up, then wrap my arms around Kara and dance with the two loves of my life.

Once the opening acts are finished, we race back to Kara’s dressing room for any final touches needed, and then Emily and I go to our spot again to get ready for her to take the stage.

When the curtains open up and the crowd goes wild, Emily jumps from her seat, her hands in the air, cheering her mom on like everyone else in the amphitheater.

As the show goes on, Emily sings every word with her mom and never sits in her seat while she dances around our little area backstage.

“Thank you, everyone, for being here,” Kara says into the microphone. “Do you guys mind if I do something different tonight?”

The crowd goes wild, and I squint my eyes in question, as she didn’t mention doing anything different to me.

“You see, I have my little girl here, and I know you guys can’t see her, but she has been singing and dancing this entire time, and I think it’s time she come onstage with me and sing a little song. What do you guys think?”

Emily looks at me with so much excitement that I laugh out loud.

When Kara motions for her to come out onstage, I nudge her that way, and she takes off running, jumping into her mom’s arms again.

“Everyone, this is my baby girl, Emily. Emily, this is everyone,” Kara says.

Emily waves her cute little hand as she leans over into the microphone and says, “Hi, everyone.”

The crowd eats her up and cheers for her, which makes her jump up and down in Kara’s arms.

“There’s one song that has meant so much to me my entire life that I sing it at every show, and I thought I’d have Emily sing it with me tonight. Are you guys okay with that?”

Applause erupts throughout the stadium as Kara looks at Emily, making sure she’s up for the task.

Emily nods her head, and Kara sings, “ They say … ”

Emily leans into the microphone and sings, “ This town …”

Kara then chimes in, “ The stars stay up all night …”

They go back and forth in their own special version of “Baby Girl” by Sugarland. I’ve heard them sing it a hundred times, but never thought they’d sing it onstage together like this.

When the song is over, Kara motions for me to join them, so I do.

“And this is my amazing husband, Silas,” Kara announces.

I wave at the crowd as I take Emily into my arms and give Kara a kiss, then whisper, “You’re so amazing.”

She smiles, then waves at Emily as I take her back to our spot so she can finish the show.

“Daddy, did you hear me?” Emily says with so much excitement that I can’t help but laugh.

“You did so good out there!” I hug her tightly.

“I’m going to be just like Mommy one day!”

“That you will, baby. That you will.”

I hug her again, so thankful that Kara walked into my life on a night I thought I needed to drink away my problems. I guess God knew exactly what I needed, and he brought her to me in the form of a true angel.