Final Encore (6 page)

McGraw singing “Live Like You Were Dying.”

Jean laid a hand on his arm and whispered his

name.

Startled, Ian said, “Yeah?”

“You seemed to be a milion miles away, honey.

Are you okay?”

“I was just thinking about the first time I walked

through these doors. You and Jules were my first real

friends in Nashvile, and I owe you so much. You gave

me a roof over my head and a job—not just a job, but

in the end, a career that I love. A great many wonderful

things have happened to me since that first night, and

every time I walk through your front doors, I’m

reminded of how lucky I am to have you both in my life.

It seemed, at the time, that I had lost everything, but in

reality, I’d found everything.”

“You are a good, honest man, a hard worker,

and a hel of a son,” Jean said.

Although Jean and Jules had always treated him

like a son, they had never realy referred to him that

way. Ian suddenly filed up with emotion, took Jean by

the hand, and squeezed it tight. “I love you.”

Jean squeezed back and said, “I love you too,

Ian. Now, enough trips down memory lane. I’ve got a

man for you to turn into a star.”

“So tel me about this kid’s first three nights.”

“I haven’t seen the entire package in a long time,

honey. In my humble opinion, this type of talent doesn’t

come along very often.”

“I’ve never known your opinion to ever be

humble,” Ian said with a chuckle.

“It’s so different now,” Jean replied. “The music

business is not about the talent anymore, it’s mostly

about the marketability. The labels want to make money

and make it fast. With al the studio capabilities these

days, you can make a pig sound like Patsy Cline. I feel

terrible for the young people who sound great in the

studio and on records but sound terrible in a live

concert. Just for kickers, when was the last time you

heard an entertainer sound great at the CMAs? It just

breaks my heart. But I digress. Back to Bily.”

“I know what you mean about the talent,” Ian

said, “but we’re here to change that. So when do I get

to see this guy?”

Ian and Jean were so into their conversation that

they didn’t notice the place had filed to capacity and

the crowd seemed electrified. The dance floor was

packed, and it was standing room only. So Jean stood

and said, “Let’s get this show on the road.” Ian

watched as Jean stuck her head behind the stage to

make sure that Bily and the band were ready. At a nod

from Jean, the house lights went down, the spotlight hit

Jean, and she began, “Welcome to Jean’s Magnolia

Saloon. Tonight we have a very special night for you. In

addition to Jed Strong and the Renegades—” The

crowd went wild, and Jean waited for them to quiet

before she continued, “we have a newcomer. For those

of you who weren’t here for open mic night this week,

you’l be blown away by this Cajun boy right out of

New Orleans. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

Mr. Bily Eagan.”

Ian wasn’t sure what he expected, but his heart

skipped a beat when he saw Bily take the stage. Bily

was tal, inches taler than Ian’s own five-foot-ten-inch

frame, and his close-cut coal-black hair, accented by

the stage lights, shone like velvet. Ian took note of the

long black eyelashes that shaded his deep-set crystal-

blue eyes. Below his baby blues was a nose that looked

like it was perfectly designed for his masculine face. His

lips were ful, his jaw was firm and slightly squared, and

he was sporting just a hint of a five o’clock shadow. He

was carrying a black felt Stetson hat with a rhinestone

and black onyx band, wearing a hip-length black leather

jacket, revealing a shiny silk shirt tucked into place by a

tasteful sterling silver belt buckle big enough to bring

attention to his slim yet muscular frame. Black

Wranglers and beautifuly polished black Justin Ropers

completed the outfit.

When Bily slipped the black Stetson onto his

head, Ian could feel the man’s charisma as clearly as he

could see his strikingly handsome face beneath the hat.

His sharp features and tal muscular frame worked

perfectly onstage and, as Ian alowed himself to imagine

for a minute, offstage as wel.
It’s been so long since

I’ve felt even a flutter of an attraction to someone.

Why now?
Was he just looking at Bily as a potential

new artist for Capitol, or was it something else?

Ian hadn’t been a saint, of course. In his early

years in Nashvile, when the pain of Todd had receded

a little, and at Jean’s encouragement, he’d tried to get

back out there. He’d had a one-night stand or two but

never even as much as a quick or casual relationship

and nothing at al in the last few years. Fear of the

slightest connection to anyone left him cold and closed

off emotionaly. He’d adjusted to the fact that his head

would never alow it, or was it his heart? He no longer

knew, and he’d given up trying to figure it out a long

time ago.

Bily opened with “Find Out Who Your Friends

Are” by Tracy Lawrence. As Ian watched Bily and the

crowd’s reaction, he instantly noticed that in addition to

Bily’s physical appearance, he had that star quality very

seldom seen in today’s entertainers. He was able to

connect with the audience with an ease that Ian seldom

felt from the stage.

Ian was stunned. Bily’s voice was strong and

easy, his transition from upper to lower registers was as

smooth as velvet, and Ian could hear just a hint of R&B

in his rich tone. He sang effortlessly, and the lyrics

flowed like a slow, lazy river.

Bily ended his set with the entire house, including

Ian, on its feet. The crowd was screaming for more.

Bily looked off to the wings and saw Jed nod, so he

knew it was okay to do an encore. Bily hadn’t

rehearsed the song he had in mind with the band, so he

wasn’t sure if the time was right to do an original song.

It was a risk, but he went for it. “Ladies and gentlemen,

thank you so much for the warm reception. I would

realy love to end my set with the first song I ever

wrote. It’s caled ‘The Love of a Man’. It was inspired

by my mother, who always said she wouldn’t have had

a life without my father’s love.” Bily reached for his

guitar, took the stool at center stage, and the spotlight

found him as he hit the first note.

The song was a balad, and the dance floor soon

filed up with couples doing a very slow two-step.

Before long, the dancing stopped and the crowd stood

there quietly watching, couples holding their dance

partners and rocking back and forth with looks of

approval and understanding.

Bily hit every note every time and sang the song

with an ease that Ian had rarely seen. When the song

was over, the crowd again went wild. He had realy

struck a chord with the ladies, and there wasn’t a dry

eye in the house. Ian thought about his parents, and a

tear slid down his face as wel, but for much different

reasons. Ian had seen crowds react similarly to various

singers, but never at Jean’s and never for a guy who

had just arrived in Nashvile. The room was electric, but

besides that, Ian suspected he would never forget that

night for far more reasons than he was wiling to admit,

even to himself.

It was Bily’s turn to introduce Jed. “Folks, I’ve

taken up enough of your time. Let’s bring out the guy

you realy came here to see. Please put your hands

together for Capitol Records recording artists Jed

Strong and the Renegades.” With that, Bily headed

offstage and met Jed midway. They shook hands, and

Bily continued to exit the stage as Jed thanked Bily and

began his set.

When Bily reached the wings, he couldn’t believe

what had just happened. He felt like he was floating on

air. After four nights, they stil liked him! Jean was

heading his way, and he sure hoped she was equaly

happy with his performance. In reality, he had no

reasons for concern; she was thriled and told him so.

She also said she had someone she wanted him to

meet.

“Now Bily, I didn’t want to make you nervous,

but I invited a very good friend of mine who just

happens to be a talent scout for a Nashvile record

label, and he wants to meet you.”

“What? No way!” Bily couldn’t believe his ears.

“Are you serious? Where is he?”

“He’s sitting over in the corner at my table, and

he’s waiting for you. Take a minute, calm down, and

don’t be too anxious. He’s a great guy, and I think you

two wil hit it off perfectly. I’l be over shortly.”

Bily went to the men’s room, freshened up a bit,

took a deep breath, and headed into the crowd. He

was stopped at least ten times by wel wishers with

words of encouragement. When he finaly made it to

Jean’s table, he instantly recognized the guy Jean had

been hugging at the door earlier.

Ian stood and said, “You’re a pretty popular guy

right about now.”

“Oh, man, I can’t believe it,” Bily replied with a

smile.

Ian stuck out his hand and said, “Ian Dilon.”

Bily returned the handshake and said, “Bily

Eagan. Nice to meet you.” They looked into each

other’s eyes, and al at once Bily saw nothing else. The

place was empty except for Ian.

Bily couldn’t let go of Ian’s hand, and Ian didn’t

seem to want to let go either. For a brief moment, Bily

felt like time stood stil. He couldn’t believe the warmth

he felt simply by shaking this man’s hand, something he

had never experienced with a simple handshake before.

Suddenly Bily was aware of Jean speaking.

“I see you two boys have met. Can I get you

something to drink?”

Ian said, “No, ma’am, thanks. I’ve already had

two beers and I’m driving, so I’l pass.”

Bily said, “Nothing for me, Jean, I’m stil high

from the crowd.”

“Then I’l let you chat and I’l see you in a little

while.”

“I’l walk you back to the bar. Wil you please

excuse me for a minute, Ian?” Bily asked as he took

Jean’s hand.

Just as they were leaving, Ian kissed Jean’s cheek

and said, “I’l see you in a bit.”

As Bily walked Jean back to the bar, he was

grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s with this guy? I shook his hand and al of

a sudden I’m seeing stars.”

“Honey, he’s the one seeing a star, and you’re it!”

Jean said.

“Is he realy a talent scout? How did you meet

him? What label is he with? Does he like boys?”

Jean laughed and said, “Yes, he likes boys, but

the rest of your questions wil have to wait; you better

get back over there and charm him before someone

else moves in on him.”

“I’m on my way, but I want answers to my

questions and soon!” Bily said as he headed back to

the table.

Ian watched Bily walk away with Jean and

couldn’t believe what had just happened. The guy

seemed to be as genuine as he was good-looking and

talented, and that was a hard combination to find. He

took another glance in Bily’s direction. He couldn’t

remember the last time he’d had this type of reaction to

anyone and was stunned by his admission.
Stop it
, he

told himself.
This is a business meeting
. Jean hadn’t

realy told him anything about Bily except how talented

she thought he was. Could he be gay? Surely not, but

then he remembered Jean saying that she thought the

two of them would hit it off nicely.
What did she mean

by that?
Ian told himself it didn’t matter. He was long

past the point of ever thinking he could be happy in a

relationship. His time for that had passed, and he was

happy being alone.

Just as Ian was contemplating how he should

handle the situation, Bily walked back and took a seat.

“Sorry about that. I’ve only known Jean for a short

while, but I feel so damn protective of her, I hate to see

her walk across the bar unescorted.”

“Chivalry is not dead,” Ian said with a chuckle.

“Not while I’m stil alive,” Bily responded.

“Jean is very lucky to have someone like you

looking out for her.”

“Are you kidding? She and Jules are the only real