Noelle was my sister.”
She inadvertently noticed one of the Jumbotrons to the side of the stage at an angle. There was a giant blowup of the photo of Noelle that Trina had taped to her planning folder so many weeks ago. It threw Rachel off for a second that felt like an hour. She swallowed hard and glanced at Cale. He winked at her and smiled...that smile. She could do just about anything when that smile was aimed at her.
“My twin sister,” she continued. “Identical, believe it or not, but I recently flipped out a little bit and now I look like this.”
There was a respectful din of laughter and several hoots and hollers from a section of guys close to the stage.
“Thank you,” she said to the guys, smiling, trying to lighten her own mood. “Do you have an extra ticket for me?”
They answered by throwing both hands up helplessly, as if to say she had the better seat already.
“So,” Rachel said, glancing down at her notecards, her heart racing. She looked back out at the crowd and abruptly shoved the cards back into her pocket, deciding to ad-lib it instead, because there was no way she could have prepared for what she saw, what she was feeling. “Wow. This is unbelievable. I came up here with the intention of thanking you for buying tickets to tonight’s show, as all the profits are going to research the disease that killed my sister when she was only twenty-nine years old. You can see on the big screens how much was generated already just through ticket sales. That’s huge, people. Thank you.”
The audience erupted in cheers, and as it died down, someone yelled out, “We love you, Noelle!”
Rachel had been about to speak again, but that comment got to her. She lowered the microphone and took in a few deep breaths, staving off the mix of emotions. When she thought she could speak without losing it again, she lifted the mic. “I was also going to plead with you to buy a T-shirt to support the cause, but...” She indicated her own shirt and shook her head in disbelief as she gazed out at the multitudes. “It looks like seventy-five percent of you already did! As I look out, I see a rainbow of Noelle shirts. It’s...” She shook her head again, momentarily speechless. “This is amazing. In fact, don’t mind me. I want a picture.” From her other back pocket, she removed her cell phone, pushed the button for the camera, held it up and clicked. She had to cover the audience a strip at a time because it was too big to fit in one photo, and each time she moved the camera, the new section went wild.
When she’d covered the whole place, she stuck her phone back in her pocket and continued her impromptu speech. “Anyway, the only thing I wanted to say besides ‘thank you’ is this. My sister was a free spirit. The kind of person who enjoys pretty much every moment. I was always the serious twin, and her carefree ways sometimes used to drive me a little crazy, but now I admire her so much for that ability to go with the flow....” Her throat swelled painfully and her temples throbbed, but she was determined to get this out. “So tonight, I hope you’ll let loose and love your life, love the moment especially for Noelle, since she isn’t here. She would have loved this concert so much. Thank you.” She rushed the end bit out before she was overcome completely.
She’d never been so glad to see her mother, who came out as planned to introduce Tim Bowman and his band. After a quick hug, Rachel hurried off the stage...and straight into Cale’s arms. He held her there without saying anything, for several minutes—as the band was introduced, as the guys rushed past them toward the stage, as the first song started. He just held her. And she let herself be held, soaking up every second of it. Loving it. Savoring him. And when the emotion from her time onstage had passed, she still didn’t immediately move. She just...was. For once, she took the advice she’d given to the crowd and went with the flow.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
GOING WITH THE FLOW, it turned out, made for an amazing night when you were by the man you loved, listening to excellent live music, on the beach under the stars.
Though Rachel hadn’t had any more of her wine,