Page 104 of Shadow of Doubt
Brooklyn wasn’t familiar with the song, but as Mia sang it, she learned it was a song of hope and love, joy and family.
She watched Ryan, the tough guy, tear up as he listened. He kept clearing his throat. Mia stepped down, and he jumped up to envelop her and his son in a hug.
“Looks like a sweet family,” Brooklyn’s mom said.
“They do,” Brooklyn said as she hadn’t spent any time with them but the vibe was obvious.
Jessie raced up on stage, Ella right behind her.
Jessie passed the mic to Ella, who stubbed her toe and looked down. “We choseI Will Be Here,by Steven Curtis Chapman.”
Jessie took the mic and slung her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Ella’s a little shy, but she sings really good. Better than me. And she loves my dad a whole bunch, and I know he loves her too. We’re adopting her. Dadandme, and then we’ll be official sisters.”
Jessie hugged Ella, whose happiness beamed from her adorable little face, and the crowd clapped.
The music started, and for the first time, Brooklyn noticed Reid’s wife, Megan, operating a sound system from just off stage. She proudly beamed at the girls as she started the music.
The lyrics told of our Father being there for everything and in every time. Always. In all ages.
Reid had a similar reaction to Ryan, except the moment the last word was sung, he raced to the stage and grabbed the girls up in a hug.
“I love you both.” His voice came over the speaker.
“Ouch, Dad,” Jessie said, still holding the mic. “You’re squishing me.”
“You should’ve thought of that before you sang me such a pretty song.” He laughed and released them.
Jessie stepped back. “Zach and Nikki are next, but Zach says singing stupid songs is for girls, so it’s just gonna be Nikki.”
Russ flashed a surprised look at Nikki, then knuckled Zach on the head. “Didn’t I say he was my Mini Me I?”
Zach looked up at his dad. “You’re not mad?”
“’Course not. I don’t need a song. I just need to have you here with me.”
“Hey, thanks, Dad. You’re the coolest.”
“Don’t I know it.” Russ blew on his fingers then brushed them against his chest.
The crowd groaned and laughed.
Not Nikki. She dragged herself up on the stage as if she were going to her execution and took the mic. “I didn’t really want to do this either. I mean, you’re not my dad, Russ. Not at all. You’re just married to my sister, but you’ve been cool. Like a dad. Helping me out. Kicking my butt, too, but that’s okay. I usually deserve it. Okay, you only do when I do deserve it.” She eyed the crowd from eyes lined with heavy liner and thick mascara on her lashes. “And if anyone speaks of this again or tells other people, I’ll get all up in your face.”
Sydney groaned and blushed, but Russ puffed out his chest. “If I could have a Mini Me daughter, this girl would be it.”
Nikki lifted her shoulders a fraction. “So I chosePlace in This World,by Michael W. Smith. He talks about finding his place in the world, and Russ is helping me do that. You know, like a dadwould do.” She looked down at her feet. “So, yeah, I love you. Now let me get this song over with.”
Russ’s smile evaporated, and he swallowed hard as he took Sydney’s hand.
Tears formed in Brooklyn’s eyes. She’d been so blessed to have such an amazing dad when Nikki didn’t have one at all. He’d taken off when Sydney was a teenager and Nikki a little girl. Then their mother turned to booze to drown her sorrows, and Sydney ended up raising her little sister.
Despite Nikki’s angst, she sang with enthusiasm. When she sang about needing his light to help her find her place in this world, her voice broke, and she swiped the back of her hand over her eyes.
The song ended, and she almost tossed the mic at Jessie, then marched back to her table. Russ got up and held out his fist for her to bump. “Love you too, kid.”
She awkwardly threw her arms around his neck and held on tight. Sydney smiled up at them and was bawling openly.
Nikki jerked back and pointed at her sister. “Now see what we did. She’s pretty much been crying over nothing almost nonstop since getting pregnant. Man, I don’t know if I can survive another four months.”
