It was easy to sing a song about holding on and not letting go. About love and putting down roots. She felt the lyrics in every bone in her body.
After the song ended and she absorbed the applause, Chance took her hand with a squeeze and they walked offstage together.
“I think that went well,” she said, pleased.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “It definitely did. You sounded fantastic, baby.”
“So did you.” She brushed past a technician, following the handler to the dressing room she’d been assigned to. She needed a makeup check before she went back and took a seat, then on the endless round of parties. No question, she enjoyed being glammed up and out socializing. But she enjoyed going home with Chance even more.
She wanted to take her heels off for three minutes to let her feet rest, but she was afraid if she took them off, she’d never get them back on, so she gingerly eased into her dressing room chair. “Lord, it’s hard to sit in this dress.” It was heavy and tight and very glitzy. Though she loved it, it was not meant for a ton of bending.
“But your legs look amazing.” Chance stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders, watching her in the mirror. “And I’ll rub your feet at home.”
“Ooh, I’m holding you to that.” She gave him a smile, then reached for her lipstick. What she found instead made her heart swell. A napkin propped up on her makeup case.
Will you marry me?
—C
Chance wanted to marry her. Tears filled her eyes. Lord, she loved this man, and she loved watching him grow and evolve, and she loved how she had changed with him. She nodded. “Mama didn’t raise no fool,” she said, meeting his gaze. “So, hell yes, I’m saying yes.”
He shot her a grin. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God, because this diamond is burning a hole in my pocket.”
He pulled out a ring and put it on her finger, and Jolene eyed its sparkling splendor in awe, holding her hand up for him to see. “This is the second best thing you’ve given me from your pants.”
“That’s my JoJo.”
When he leaned down to take her mouth with his, she didn’t even fuss about him ruining her lipstick.
“We’ve come a long way, kid,” she told him, amused. Somewhere inside her, that little girl watching the CMAs on the old TV, wearing pants that were too short, still existed, the big-eyed, big-haired dreamer. This moment was for her.
“And the best is yet to come.”