Page 14 of Love Me Tender, Love Me Brew
Charlotte, Vivian, and Ronald take turns hugging one another. “He did it!” Ronald boasts proudly. “Our boy is moving on.”
The three of them are escorted through one of the side doors where they find Edwin gathered with the other contestants celebrating. The moment he sees them, he excuses himself and walks over to give them all a hug.
“One more week,” he mouths. “One more.”
Edwin is waiting outside in his car when Charlotte gets off from work the next night. As much as he’d like to visit with everyone, he’d much rather spend some quality time with his girlfriend.
That had a nice sound to it. Though they’d never officially declared themselves a couple, he needed to let Charlotte know where things stood between them. Not that she ever doubted anything, but he knew women were funny about that sort of stuff.
Instead of going home, Edwin drives them down to the lake again. He leaves the car running, since it’s much too cold to shut it off.
“How was work today?”
Resting her head against the back of the seat, Charlotte sighs. “Wild. I think a lot of people thought you might make an appearance. I had several ask me what time you were coming in.”
“Oh yeah?” he asks.
“In case you were wondering, you’re famous, you know.”
Edwin can’t help chuckling. “I’m still the same Edwin Wesley I’ve always been. Nothing about me has changed. Nor will it ever.” Taking her hand in his, he begins to sing softly, “Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear.”
Charlotte curls her legs up in the seat as tears threaten to spill from her eyes. “I’ve never had anyone sing to me before,” she says as soon as he’s finished.
“I don’t know how much more my vocals can take,” he admits, a hint of nervousness to his tone. “I’m scared my voice is going to let me down.”
“And if it does, so what? I’m still going to love you the same.”
Chapter
Twelve
Taking the scarf off, he glides his warm hands over his neck. For four straight days, he hasn’t spoken a single word. Per his doctor’s orders, rest and relaxing his vocals is the only cure to his problem. And to continue with the lemon and honey. He isn’t the first person to lose their voice before a big performance, and he certainly won’t be the last.
“Don’t say anything, just nod your head yes or no,” the director of the show tells him during their meeting to assess the situation.
“Are you comfortable singing one of your previous songs?”
Edwin shrugs. “I—”
“Nooo! Don’t open your mouth. You haven’t had much time to practice this week. If we allow you to sing a song you’ve already performed, will that be okay?”
Edwin blinks before nodding his head. While he’d wanted to capture the audience one last time singing two new songs, if he has to sing one from an earlier week, then so be it. They simply don’t want him to strain his voice any further than it already is. What they don’t understand is that he’s been singing these songs for years. Even when he didn’t know the words, he was making up stuff that he thought sounded right.
“Friday morning, be here at nine sharp. We’ll see what happens.”
With his head lowered, Edwin walks out of the room. This isn’t the outcome he’d hoped for, but what more can he do?
Peeping his head around the doorway, Edwin surprises everyone by stopping by to visit the Coffee Loft before heading home. Deanna is the first one to come running up to him, her arms stretched as wide as they’ll go.
“We’ve missed you around here,” she says.
“I’ve missed you guys, too,” he whispers.
“Just so you know, we’re planning a celebration party right here after the show. Coffee Loft will be open for family and friends and all drinks are on the house.”
“We don’t even know the outcome,” he mouths, shaking his head in disbelief.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re still celebrating. You’re already a winner to everyone single one of us.”
