Epilogue - One Year Later
“So now ladies and gentleman...one more time...Cody Blue!”
The arena erupted with cheers. “Cody! Cody! Cody!” they chanted, then broke into screams and applause as Cody Blue Smith took the stage for his encore. A single white spotlight followed him as he strutted to the microphone in dark blue jeans and his signature starched white button down shirt.
“Thank you, Los Angeles!”
The crowd went wild. He took in the applause and adoration...loving every minute of it. After all, he’d worked very hard for it.
When Alex left the band the other guys decided to go their separate ways. Bobby and Harper felt the magic was gone without their friend who helped to start it all.
Cody refused to quit. As a band they had made it to the edge of fame. Success was in his grasp. He couldn’t give up his dream now.
Then came Dana. For her he wrote the song, “Love you, Love me.”
She loved it.
So did all of America.
The song shot up the chart to number one and after years and years of small gigs in cities he couldn’t name, Cody Blue Smith was an overnight success.
The lights dimmed and the band began to play the first strains of his hit song. The crowd erupted again. He was in his glory.
Cody scanned the crowd. In the front row were Jonny and Sharon. Jonny waved at Cody and took Sharon’s hand. His divorce went through months ago. It was a giant wake-up call to him. He realized he was acting like an immature child, hurting not just the people he loved, but himself. So he eased off on his ego and stopped looking so hard for perfection. Taking a step back helped him see a person close to him.
Sharon.
Their friendship blossomed into romance. They worked in different departments so the boss was okay with their relationship. Jonny snickered to himself, hating that he needed anyone’s approval to date...but, at least he had it. Jonny now was all about playing by the rules. He was still doing afternoon drive, live, every afternoon, and had found some peace in his life.
Cody began to sing, “And love is yours for always.” He looked to the side of the stage at Dana. She looked gorgeous tonight in a short black dress. Her ebony hair was shiny and piled atop her head. She beamed back at Cody. It had been a crazy year. After her rescue she spent a few days recovering in the hospital from the drugs Larry had given her and from the concussion she sustained from the fall. It was a harrowing time. She was distraught over the kidnapping and her injuries. She had been taken so easily...it was terrifying. But Cody was there with her through it all. He gave her happiness. He gave her hope. He changed her life.
Larry Carter was promptly arrested by the police who arrived shortly after the takedown. He declared his undying love for Dana as he was handcuffed and taken away. He was now spending his days and nights behind bars at the state penitentiary.
That offered Dana some comfort.
Cody started the last verse of his signature song, his deep voice warm, emotion dripping from every word. When he got to the last chorus, he had the band stop playing so the crowd could sing it with him.
Love you, love me
Always we will be
Forever...
Forever...with you
He sang the last words to Dana.
His manager.
His wife.
And soon to be mother of their child.