Page 12 of Love Me Tender, Love Me Brew
“You’ve come too far to give up now,” she encourages.
“I miss being here and seeing my customers. I miss seeing you.” Edwin reaches up to caress the side of her cheek. “I miss spending time together. Laughing, singing to you.”
“I miss you, too, Edwin. My dorm has pictures of you plastered everywhere. They’re all rooting so hard for you.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. I have a few tickets for Friday night’s show in my car. Luckily, I was able to get a few extras so if anyone wants to come, you can pass them out.”
“They’d love that.”
“I know Deanna gets a few passes too, but these seats are in the lower section. I should add, if they don’t mind sittingbeside my mom. I swear, when I’m backstage, I can hear her screaming above everyone else.”
“That’s what moms are for. She’s so proud of you.” Charlotte knew from the first time she met Vivian Wesley that she was going to like her. Experiencing the talent show together has brought them closer than she ever imagined.
Lifting the mug to his mouth, Edwin finishes the last of his tea. “That was really good.”
“Do you want me to fix you another one?” Charlotte asks, standing up from her seat.
“Sure, if you don’t mind.”
A couple of customers recognize Edwin and stop by the table to wish him words of encouragement. Someone even asks if he’d mind signing their son’s cast. While he misses his customers, the experience has been far more rewarding than he ever imagined. Even if he doesn’t advance after Friday night’s show, he’s learned so much.
“Thanks so much,” the little boy says when Edwin is done adding his name to the light blue plaster. “I will treasure this forever.”
Edwin can’t help beaming even though he knows it’s silly of the kid to say such a thing. He scratches him on the top of his head.
“Do you mind taking a picture together?” the father of the little boy asks.
“Not at all,” Edwin beams. Despite the way he feels, he’d never turn down the chance for a photo with a fan. “Come here, buddy.”
The kid stands next to Edwin, the smile on his face stretching from one ear to his other.
“I’ll be rooting for you,” he says and Edwin gives him a high-five.
“Thanks, man.”
“You bet’cha.”
Edwin strolls over to the jukebox, selects a song, and casually makes his way back to the counter to wait for Charlotte.
“…well, since my voice has left me, I found a new drink to try, down at the end of Highway 50, at the Coffee Loft shop…”
He mimics the words of the ever popularHeartbreak Hotel, then laughs at his own pitiful version. It doesn’t exactly rhyme, but the girls behind the counter get a good laugh.
“I put it into a to-go cup for you.” Charlotte hands him the steaming hot cup of tea a few minutes later. “Now get home and get some sleep. You’ve got a big performance ahead of you.”
Taking her hand in his, he stares intently into her eyes. “Thank you.”
On Friday morning, Edwin rushes to meet with the costume coordinator to pick up his attire for the group’s performance during the show tonight. The choreographer decided at the last minute to change their song, so it was well after midnight before he got home.
“Hmm,” he says, stepping out from the dressing room, his arm stretched over his head exposing a two inch hole in the fabric. “I don’t think this is going to work.”
“Gracious. How did that happen?”
“Is there time to fix it?” he asks.
“Of course. I just need to add a couple of stitches. I’ll have it fixed in no time.”
“Do you want me to wait? Or should I come back?” Edwin checks the time on his phone before changing back into his regular clothes.
