From the Embers

One decision in the middle of the unimaginable and the world as we knew it was irrevocably changed.

“I, um, have made a living for the past decade writing lyrics. But I was too worried I’d jinx it if I wrote anything down for tonight.” I rubbed my sweaty palms together, not having the first damn clue what to do with my hands without an instrument to fill them. “I’m kinda regretting that now.”

The crowd laughed and I took the moment to clear my throat.

“I want to start out by thanking my wife. I know a lot of you have heard bits and pieces of our story, but for those who haven’t, I’ll give you the abridged version. Some years back, there was a fire at my house. It was horrific. Lives were lost. Paths were forever changed. But the media reported that I saved the life of that beautiful woman over there.” I locked my eyes on Bree, pouring every ounce of love into my words. “But the truth is: She saved me.”

Tears filled her eyes as she blew me a kiss.

“Without that woman, there would be no Eason Maxwell.” I smiled and swayed my head from side to side. “There might be an Easton Maxwell, but that’s a story for a different day.”

The tears finally escaped her eyes as she laughed.

“I guess I just want to say thank you. To my old record label, who shall remain nameless, for dropping me all those years ago. To Levee and the entire Downside Up team for taking a chance on me. To Asher, Madison, and Luna, you three are the biggest dream I’ve ever had. Thank you for letting me be your daddy. It has been a wild ride, and now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s about to get a whole lot crazier. My wonderful, supportive wife neglected to mention that she’s been having contractions all day. I should probably get her to the hospital.”

My producer handed the award back to me and I hefted it into the air and finished my totally unscripted-but-straight-from-the-depths-of-my-heart speech. “So, thank you. Also, I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but it’s a girl.” I grinned and shot a wink at Bree, and even though she was glaring, the smile on her lips told me I wasn’t in too much trouble.

The crowd roared, everyone standing on their feet, all eyes aimed at Bree. Just as they should be.

I might have been the one who created the music.

But Bree would forever be the star of our show.

Eight hours later, Ava Grace Maxwell was born looking just like her sisters and completing the family we had forged from the embers—the way it was always supposed to be.

“From the Embers, Eason Maxwell!”

A wave of emotion crashed into me, pinning me to my seat, so I turned into Bree as she threw her arm around my shoulders. The biggest names in the entire industry clapped and cheered. Levee and Sam stood up, shouting my name and patting me on the shoulder, but it was Bree’s voice in my ear that made my throat get thick.

“This is all you. Even when people told you to stop and the world quite literally caught fire around us, you kept going. And you did this, Eason. All of this.”

When all other words failed me, I managed to whisper, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said before releasing me. “Now, go get your Grammy.”