Page 146 of Never Over
“I want to convey,” he recalls her saying a few days ago when they started drafting up a speech together, “how much it means to me, to have these songs resonate with so many people, so fast. And I want to thank my cowriters, and their labels and publishers, and my Belmont teachers and classmates, and Paul Friedman, and my family, and the other nominees, because WOW, I love their songs so much, and—how much time do I get again? I mean, if I win, that is?”
Liam’s lips quirk when he sees Paige glancing at the timer on the teleprompter. He knows how relieved she is that this portion of the ceremony isn’t televised. His girl changes all the time, and in some ways, she never alters.
“And to Liam,” she says at last, finding him in the crowd of Grammy guests. His eyes water when hers do, and she smiles down at him with all the love in the world. “Words aren’t going to cut it this time. But I know thatyouknow what you’ve done for me.”
He does know.
Just like he knows what she’s done for him.
But here are a few things neither of them will ever know:
They’ll never know that a tired woman who thought she had no options finally leaves a bad relationship because of one line in one song.
They’ll never know that Maren Lancaster, lonely in her own way, hears a song about hometowns she has no idea her sister cowrote, andthat’s what makes her break down, what makes her finally admit she’s finished with this life chapter. She moves home to Bristol, opens a law practice, falls in love with a quiet man who owns the coffeehouse next door.
They’ll never know a few lyrics overheard on the radio are what make a mother who thought her children didn’t need her realize: maybe, possibly, they do.
They’ll never know that someone goes to the doctor because of a song, that it gives them courage to ask for the meds they need.
That someone decides to go back to school for that one thing they really love.
That someone else decides it’s okay they couldn’t afford college or never found the perfect time; they’re more than enough without it.
They will never know that because of Liam’s steadfastness, Paige’s melodies and words, they saved one singer’s fledgling career. Launched another’s.
They’ll never know that one song inspires a novel, which lands in the inbox of Paige’s sister Zara, a newly promoted book editor. When she reads the manuscript, she cries her eyes out and can’t totally make sense of why. She only knows that it’s a beautiful story and deserves to be shared with as many people as she can reach.
Someone gets a tattoo of the novel’s last three lines. Another person recommends it on social media, makes a playlist as a reading companion. It’s got Etta Girls and Penelope Parker on it, and at least ten other artists.
Somebody sets boundaries with their best friend.
Somebody apologizes early enough.
Somebody is brave, admits they’re lonely, and asks to be kept close.
All of this, and so much more, because on a warm, rainy day, on a sidewalk in downtown Knoxville, the college pitcher saw a girl out of the corner of his eye.
And the greatest force in the world whispered,Go to her.
